Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The Dress

I'm just back from a beach vacation which I throughly enjoyed. Whenever I take a beach vacation I like to take a book to read on the beach. Usually something light and easy to get through quickly. Anyway it turns out that in the book I chose there is an upcoming Bat Mitzvah. The mom and daughter have very different ideas about what they want from this special occasion. The mom wants a low key meaningful experience and the daughter wants all the bells and whistles. The mom is conservative and still thinks of her daughter as her baby and the daughter feels that becoming a Bat Mitzvah means she is becoming a young adult. Which is hard to argue with since that is what becoming a Bat Mitzvah is about.
So where do you draw the line? I personally feel that you need to let your daughter have some input regarding the party. Of course this does not mean that she should be wearing a dress that is inappropriate or that you have to blow your budget not only for the Bat Mitzvah but for the whole year. As much as it is difficult to see our children growing up it is part of the process so you need to find a happy medium. Your daughter does not need to look like a sex goddess she should feel like a teen princess. This is after all her special day and you want her to shine not only through the service but at her celebration. So just think back to when you were her age and whether or not you were being Bat Mitzvahed remember the aches and pains of growing up. It wasn't easy then but it truly wasn't as hard as now.

Monday, June 1, 2009

It's Summer !!!

I love this time of year school is out, the clocks don't need to be set, and we don't need to be on such a structured schedule. Everything slows down a little the snowbirds go home, we can get into restaurants and you don't need to hound the kids about homework and studying. I could live without the humidity but other than that what could be better.
I also find that summer is a great time to try some new recipes.

So I'll share one I just found I haven't tried it yet but is sounds so refreshing.

Cucumber-Avocado Yogurt Soup
This recipe will serve 4-6 people, but can easily be doubled for a crowd.

2 medium or 4 small cucumbers (best to use organic or English cucumbers)

1/2 avocado, ripe (it would also be fine to use a whole avocado, if you really love avocados)

1 8-oz container plain low-fat or non-fat yogurt

1 tablespoon lime juice

Soy or skim milk, or water, to thin soup if necessary

Salt and pepper to taste

1) Peel cucumber and scoop out seeds with a spoon. Chop coarsely and add to blender.

2) Remove pit and scoop out avocado flesh and add to blender with cucumber. Add yogurt, lime juice, salt, and pepper and blend until smooth, about 1 minute. If soup is too thick, add milk or water in small increments to thin soup to desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings.

3) Refrigerate until ready to serve. Garnish with salsa.

Salsa Garnish for soup
This is a great garnish for soups, or even to eat with chips alone.

1/4 cup chopped bell peppers (various colors)

1/4 cup diced tomatoes, seeds removed

1 tablespoon diced red or sweet onion or sliced scallions (green and white parts)

1/4 cup diced unpeeled cucumbers, seeds removed

1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno peppers, seeds removed (keep some seeds if you want it spicy)

Splash lime or lemon juice

Splash olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, taste, and adjust seasonings. Refrigerate until ready to serve, and garnish soup with salsa. Serve any extra salsa with chips or bread.

If you try it let me know what you think.