Adding New Color to Your Home

Do you agree that you can use items already in your home? Children use watercolors in their artwork, women use colors for their eyes, everyone can use colors in life!

Why not try using your child's artwork by using a thin black frame and a clean white mat. You can create a look that is ideal to showcase color and art. You can develop multi-colored baskets or boxes that you can display in bedrooms, hallway, and dining area.

I tried a vibrant colored paint for my room and I was surprised by how it added vitality to the whole room. I used an orange color to give strong look in my usual living room and used a trick from a designer to leave strip of the original wall colors to soften the bold new color. The strips also act as a frame and add to the daring mood of the room.

To pick which color would work best for you and your home, consult magazines and decorating books for ideas. Focus on the color schemes used in the rooms featured and not the furniture. You want to choose colors that you like, so maybe you can pick one that also matches your furniture.


I think the secret is to think about the overall feeling you want to have in your home. If you want your living and dining areas to feel formal and sophisticated or inviting and casual to your guests, then opt for the neutrals, or if you want your sleeping areas to feel bright and more energetic, then go bright and vivid.

Fried Cauliflower

Do you hear people talk about dieting and how to lose weight? With New Year's comes some serious thoughts of cutting down, on the budget, on baked goods and especially on the calories. So we see folks trying to focus on change for the new year - some call this "New Years Resolutions"


If you're a newsletter subscriber for Your Smart Kitchen, you will enjoy their Fried Cauliflower that is so easy to prepare and surely be part of your New Year's resolution.

Fried Cauliflower

Ingredients

• 1 Head Fresh Cauliflower
• 1 cup Flour
• 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 Egg
• 1 cup Milk
• 1/4 cup light olive oil
• Extra Virgin Avocado Oil
  (for frying)

Preparation:

Wash and chop the cauliflower into bite-sized chunks. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together. In a separate bowl whisk the milk, egg and light olive oil (you will want to use light olive oil to avoid an overwhelming olive oil taste). Mix the dry and wet ingredients together to create batter. Dip the cauliflower into the batter completely coating each piece.

On medium/medium-high heat a layer of Extra Virgin Avocado Oil in a stainless steel frying pan. Place the coated cauliflower in the pan and fry until golden brown (turn as needed). Drain the cauliflower on paper towels.

What Makes Ginger Cookies Seasonal

I don't know but I find something about ginger cookies that make it so sensational on the holidays, particularly Christmas and the New Year's. Perhaps it goes well with how the snow starts to fly in the air that the feel of baking something sweet and spicy starts to unveil.

I grew up with the smell of ginger cookies always in the air when the holidays are approaching, perhaps this tradition has what made me cherish ginger-spiced goodies too. I love its friendly spiciness and sweetness that is wholesome for all ages. I love the way the sugar sparkles on the outside hitting your tongue with that first hint of sweetness. My kids love them so much that they truly enjoy making the little dough balls and roll them in sugar.

Allow me to share to you my old-fashioned Ginger Cookie Recipe, it's very easy even my 6 year old boy does it himself!

Old Fashioned Ginger Cookies:

You simply have to mix ¾ cup butter and 1 cup of sugar. Add 1 egg and 4 tbsp light Molasses. Next is to add 2 cups of flour, 2 tsp soda, 1 tsp ginger, 1 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp cloves.

When all is set, preheat oven to to 350. Roll dough into small balls or drop from a teaspoon on a cookie sheet. Bake for 15-18 minutes.

Now you can have the wonderful smell and taste of Old-Fashioned Ginger Cookie to match your hot cup of chocolate after your New Year's midnight bash!

Enjoy & A Happy New Year to you all!

Traditonal New Year's Dinner Table

Probably more food is consumed during the New Year celebrations than any other celebrations of the year. In some countries, families always prepare a vegetarian dish to symbolize good health. Although various ingredients would be root vegetables or fibrous vegetables, many people attribute some good superstitious beliefs in them.

Traditional New Year foods like filling the table with abundance of fruits are also thought to bring luck. Many cultures believe that anything in the shape of a ring is good luck, because it symbolizes “coming full circle,” completing a year’s cycle. Others believe circle symbolizes a coin, so it could bring one more money. For that reason, the Dutch believe that eating donuts on New Year’s Day will bring good fortune.

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by hog jowls or ham, either one. The Southern States like Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, will always have the full blown full southern soul dinner or supper just steaming with money and luck.

No matter what food you are preparing, following the traditions of your heart is still the best choice for food on your New Year's table, after all it's the New Year's so welcome it with all your might!

May you all have a bountiful and peaceful New Year!