Slovak Mushroom Soup

Stephanie | January 27, 2015

This mushroom soup recipe is part of our Slovak Christmas dinner. However, after moving from Ohio, we discovered that finding sauerkraut juice can be a little bit challenging. So, we have been ordering it from the internet (Got to love the internet). That way we can still enjoy this part of our traditional Slovak Christmas meal. With so many other mushroom soup recipes (that taste nothing like this), it should probably be call Sauerkraut Soup, because that is the strongest taste.

My children love to eat it and then go around and give everyone “sour” kisses. That is my favorite part!

Aunt Bette’s Slovak Mushroom Soup

2 pounds kolbasi (I try to use the natural kind from Trader Joe’s)
7 cans of kraut juice (We use Frank’s Quality Kraut Juice)
7 large cans of mushrooms
1/4 box of the smallest noodles you can find. Baba (my grandma) used pastina, but we haven’t been able to find those in a long time, so we have been using star-shaped pasta.
1/2 stick of butter
1 TBS flour
1/4 tsp salt and pepper (or to taste)

Fill a large pot 3/4 of the way full of cold water and add 2 pounds of kolbasi and 4 cans of kraut juice. Boil for 1/2 hour.
Take the kolbasi out and put it in a bowl.
Add remaining sauerkraut juice and mushrooms with juice.
Add salt and pepper to taste to the soup.
In a small frying pan, melt the butter on low until it is brown. Add 1 TBS of flour a little at a time to the melted butter. Mix constantly for about 3 three minutes. Add a little soup to the butter mixture and stir until smooth. The picture below should help you tell how it should look. Cook this a little and then add it to the soup.
About 30 minutes before you are ready to serve the soup, add the noodles to the soup and cook them.

If you decide to try this, please let me know how you like it or if you have any questions. You can also reduce the amount of sauerkraut juice you decide to add and then add it at the end, so it isn’t too sour for you! Do you have any traditional family recipes? Please share them below or on social media!

Enjoy,
Stephanie

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Souper Bowl 2015 Soup & Chili Cook Off Linky Party

Stephanie | January 26, 2015

Even non-football fans know when the big game is taking place. I remember once in my single years, I went to Meijer during the Superbowl and I think I was the only customer there! While I may not be crazy about watching the actual game, I love watching the commercials and eating the yummy food. That is why I am so excited to be part of this soup and chili recipe party! I hope you enjoy all of the recipes. Please let me know your favorites, too!

Welcome to the Souper Bowl 2015 Soup & Chili Cook Off Linky Party

Please use #SouperBowl2015

Did you know that January is National Soup Month? Well yes, it is, so we decided to celebrate with a party and what better food than Soup, Chili and Stew!

We know you have some family favorite recipes and we want you to share those with us so they may become favorites of our family too!

This party is all about sharing and what better place than Pinterest to be able to keep your recipes where you can easily find them? We have a group board for the party! Scroll down for the link.

Souper Bowl. Soup & Chili Cook Off Linky Part. Jan. 25-31.intelligentdomestications.com

A heartfelt thanks to all 18 of these hard working bloggers who are bringing you this party!

Shirley at Intelligent Domestications //Pinterest

Erlene at My Pinterventures // Pinterest

Jen at The Evolution of Mom // Pinterest

Misty at The Lady Prefers 2 Save //Pinterest

Amanda at The Kolb Korner // Pinterest

Stephanie at Sharing A to Z // Pinterest

Jennifer at A Glimpse of Our Life // Pinterest

Ida at Second Chances Girl // Pinterest

Barbara at A Life In Balance // Pinterest

Kallee at Creative Southern Home // Pinterest

Alli at An Alli Event // Pinterest

Tania at Run to Radiance // Pinterest

Lauren at Mom Home Guide // Pinterest

Amanda at Busy Mama 911 // Pinterest

Reesa at Momma Lew // Pinterest

Brianna at Mending the Piggy Bank // Pinterest

Marilyn at Marilyn’s Treats // Pinterest

Amanda at Diary of A Semi-Health Nut //Pinterest

Join the Souper Bowl 2015 Group Pinterest Board by following the board, then send your Pinterest email to me so I can add you to the board. Contact me: (shirleywood97@gmail.com)

Follow intelligent domestications’s board Souper Bowl 2015 on Pinterest.

Link up to 7 post
You may link to your post or to your Pin.
Link Soup, Chili or Stew Recipes Only, anything else will be removed.
Please Don’t link and run, Pin and Re-Pin, or comment if you have time.
Please be sure you are following your Host on Pinterest.
By linking to this party you are allowing permission for your hosts to feature your post on their blogs or social media including the use of your photos for those purposes only.

Let’s Party!

Share please with #SouperBowl2015

French Onion Soup

Stephanie | January 26, 2015

My mom used to make french onion soup when I lived at home and it was so good. Whenever I ordered it at various restaurants, it never tastes as good and who knows what they put in there! When I asked her for the recipe, I could ‘t believe how easy it was to make myself! Now I always make it and have added a few of with my own special ingredients. My family enjoys it, too! (Although, my kids don’t enjoy the pieces of onions, so I serve theirs without them.) I hope you enjoy it, too!

Mom’s French Onion Soup

2 TBS butter (I use Kerrygold)
2 large onions, sliced
2 cloves of garlic
32 ounces of broth (I use Pacific organic beef or vegetable broth)
4 tsp bragg liquid aminos or salt to taste
3 tsp worcestershire (I like Annie’s vegan Worcestershire)
1/4 cup Nutritional Yeast* (this is optional, but so delicious and good for you)
1 heaping tsp of miso* (optional, but so good for you)
Piece of bread* (if desired. I used 1/4 of a whole wheat bagel.)
Provolone cheese* (this is optional, but a nice added touch. Buy organic if possible.)

Sauté the first three ingredients in your pot.
Add the next three ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat and cook for thirty minutes.
Add remaining two ingredients if using. If you use miso, make sure not to let the soup boil after it is added as I have read that boiling destroys some of its’ beneficial properties.
Add the bread to the individual bowls (if you are using it).
If you are using cheese, slice it and put it on top of the soup. Melt it in the oven.

Total cook time: 1 hour Serves: 6

You can make it in fun little mugs, too!

This is what it looks like inside the cheesy top. Do you have any favorite soup recipes? I would love to hear them!

Enjoy,
Stephanie

Prenatal Vitamins

Stephanie | January 20, 2015

Prenatal vitamins are an important part of pregnancy. One of my frequently asked questions is: what are the best prenatal vitamins to take while pregnant? Unfortunately, I did not discover Shaklee until after my pregnancies, however many ladies in my Shaklee family are pregnant and have been pregnant while utilizing Shaklee (some even swear it helped them to get pregnant)! Whatever supplements you choose to use while pregnant (and afterward) I hope you research and choose wisely. You are feeding another person now! I chose Shaklee supplements and swear by them.

Shaklee’s been around for over 50 years and is the number one natural nutrition company in the USA. You can read more about the Shaklee difference here.

I am not a doctor but Shaklee has lots of doctors on board and this is what they recommend for pregnancy. Below is a short 5 minute video from one of them: http://youtu.be/6kiPKjMPy-M

Because the nutritional needs during pregnancy and lactation are unique to this stage of a women’s life, we strongly urge all women who are pregnant or nursing to discuss the use of dietary supplements with their obstetrician.

However, along with our general recommendation to eat a healthy, well balanced diet to ensure pregnant and nursing women are meeting their nutritional needs, we also recommend a combination of Shaklee supplements that can be used as alternatives to a standard prenatal vitamin once discussed with the Obstetrician.

An excellent “Shaklee alternative” would be:

2 tablets of Vita-Lea with Iron

2 tablets of B complex for the basic prenatal nutrients, in particular folic acid to help prevent neural tube defects

For women who do not drink milk or eat the recommended number of servings of dairy foods the addition of:

2-4 tablets of OsteoMatrix can help meet needs for calcium,vitamin D and other bone health nutrients

To provide a safe and beneficial amount of omega three fatty acids (ie. DHA):

3 softgel capsules of OmegaGuard per day are recommended to support fetal brain development

It is not uncommon for some pregnant women to need additional iron:

1 tablet of Iron plus C can be added providing an additional 18 mg of Iron and 60 mg of Vitamin C

And lastly:

Shaklee 180 meal smoothie prepared as directed, and used as part of healthy breakfast or midday snack provides a mother and her growing fetus with an additional 270 calories, 24 grams of high quality protein and 6 grams of fiber.

Although Vitalizer is a comprehensive nutritional foundation for virtually all adults, there are some components that might not generally be considered essential in a standard prenatal nutrition program. In addition, certain nutrients such as folic acid were not included at levels intended to support a pregnant mother and her growing baby. The use of Vitalizer during pregnancy should be discussed with the Obstetrician, who may wish to suggest an addition 1-2 B complex and OsteoMatrix as stated above if approved for you.

Additional recommendations:

Get Clean Non-Toxic Cleaners and Natural Laundry Proudcts because you should not be cleaning with toxic cleaners (no one should). If you haven’t switched to natural cleaners now, you really should ASAP. If not for you, for your baby. This kit has everything you need to start cleaning your way to a healthier home.

Enfuselle Skin Care and Natural Hair Care because you should remove all toxins from your home including and especially your what goes on your skin. Did you know that anything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body? Your body is now home for your baby.

Natural Daily Care like toothpaste, deodorant, lotions, etc. because I believe you should take out all toxins.

Go here to shop Shaklee.

Congratulations on your pregnancy! I wish you a happy & healthy pregnancy, birth, and baby!

Thank you for letting me help you create a healthier life for you and your family. Please research the vitamins you are taking. Click here for more information (Coming soon).

Enjoy your time being pregnant,
Stephanie

For more information, please contact me at sharingAtoZ@gmail.com with the subject line SHAKLEE or click HERE to get started as a member.

If you enjoyed these tips and would like to hear more, please subscribe (on the middle right sidebar) to get our SATZ newsletters. To stay connected with Sharing A to Z, please see Facebook or Pinterest.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase through my link. Thank you for supporting my blog and small business! (Please review the disclosure tab at the top for the full disclosure.)

On this blog I share what I’ve learned about health and nutrition, but there are certain things I need to disclose: * I make money from my Shaklee links! If you want to start your own blog and make money too, contact me here: sharingAtoZ@gmail.com * I’m a mom, not a healthcare professional. I am Shaklee Independent Distributor. The information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental health condition. Please consult your healthcare provider. I share personal uses. Please check the Shaklee labels and get advice of a qualified healthcare professional.

Disney World resorts that we have visited

Stephanie | January 18, 2015

Disney is such a fun time! However, planning for it can be quite the challenge. We have visited Disney World several times since having children. Most of the time, we were blessed to stay on property (they were mostly trips with my husband’s work). Here are the resorts we have visited.

Disney’s Polynesian Resort
Is on property and was my favorite Disney hotel. The resort is decorated like the South Pacific and is so beautiful. They are going through renovations, which will probably make it even more breathtaking.

The Gaylord Palms Resort

During our most recent two-day trip to Disney World, we were fortunate enough to get a discounted rate at the Gaylord Palms Resort. The Gaylord Palms is a beautiful hotel minutes away from Disney. It is now part of Marriott, so you can earn Marriott points with your stay. They have baby alligators, turtles, fish and other reptiles for your viewing pleasure. I have been told they have a great breakfast, but we didn’t get a chance to enjoy it. I have also been told they have a wonderful ice display in winter. We didn’t enjoy that either, but it is on my to-do list for next year!

This is a view from the balcony in our room. The kids had a blast seeing all of the animals.

The Swan Dolphin
This resort is on Disney property and is two beautiful hotels. It also has an amazing pool with activities for the kids (if you need a break from the park one day). From what I have seen, this is one of Disney’s more reasonable properties. You may also be able to get a discount from AAA.

The Peabody
We stayed at this hotel a few years ago and I don’t really recall much from that trip except for the ducks (they march in on a red carpet) and the chandelier.

J.W. Marriott
This hotel is close to Disney, but not on property. It has a beautiful pool with a lazy river!

I would think that any of Disney’s hotel’s are wonderful and I hope to visit more!

Off-property
There are many hotels near Disney. Some Florida friends have recommended the following:
Orange Lake resort in Kissimmee
Hilton Bonnet Creek
Wyndham Bonnet Creek
Works Quest

I hope this helps you plan your trip to Disney. Have you stayed near any Disney hotels? I would love to hear your review of them.

Bon voyage,
Stephanie

Meal Replacement Bars and Shakes

Stephanie | January 17, 2015

Our fast paced and convenience driven lifestyle has us conditioned to demand things now. While I strive to eat and feed my family real, clean food; sometimes food that is fast or pre-made is necessary. For example, on those rushed mornings, I feel better choosing a Shaklee smoothie over a bagel or cereal. Another example, is when my children (child I should say as it only happens with one of them) won’t eat breakfast before school, I would rather them get protein and vitamins than junk or nothing at all! I also despise fast food chains. Therefore, my go-to for a fast meal on the go is Shaklee’s meal replacement bars. The meal bars and snacks are great to throw in my purse for when one of my children says they are hungry while we are out or for a quick meal while we are traveling.

I feel Shaklee’s snack bars are better than other prepared snacks my children can eat. I know and trust the company!

Additionally, if you have been reading my blog, you can probably tell that I love smoothies. Sometimes, we make fruit smoothies and sometimes we make protein smoothies. Some of my favorite smoothie recipes are below.

Lastly, for many people (myself included) after eating not-so-well, a reboot is a great way to jump start healthy eating. For me, it resets my body and drastically reduces my sugar cravings. When I need to lose weight, it helps me to have the structure of the Turnaround program and 180 app. You can read more about them here.

Smoothie recipes

Peppermint Mocha

Beginner’s Luck Fruit Smoothie (from Simple Green Smoothies.com)

Healthy Shamrock “Shake”

Carrot Cake

Chocolate Covered Strawberry

My little man’s fruit smoothie (coming soon)

Please note: All meal replacement bars and smoothies are not the same. Please check the labels and make sure there is no artificial colors or flavors.

To your health,
Stephanie

For more information about Shaklee, click here and for more information about the savings you get by becoming a member, click here.

Additionally, I am Shaklee Independent Distributor. The information provided on this website is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental health condition. Please consult your healthcare provider. I share personal uses. Please check the Shaklee labels.

Losing weight: Let’s do this!

Stephanie | January 16, 2015

Many people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight (myself included). Now is a great time to start fresh – especially after all of the holiday treats! Are you looking for something to help your with your goal to get healthier? Well, Shaklee can help! They have several programs and I would love to help you find the perfect one for you. Let’s do this…together! You can click on the links for further descriptions from my Shaklee site or please email me at SharingAtoZ@gmail.com.

**Shaklee Turnaround Kit: This program includes smoothies, meal replacement bars, snacks, energizing tea and a boost for your metabolism. It helps you lose fat and keep muscle! This kit includes two Shaklee meals a day with a few snacks and tea. It is perfect for someone trying to lose weight.
**Shaklee Lean and Healthy Kit: This includes smoothies and Shaklee’s multi-vitamin pack. This kit is designed for one smoothie and vitamin pack a day. It is a great way to introduce a healthier lifestyle!
Body reboot: To get a jumpstart on weight loss or to stop cravings, this five day body reboot may be right for you.

**Until 1/31/15, Shaklee is offering a free box of meal bars with both of these kits! That is a $30 value!

Shaklee is different from anything you’ve tried before because the Shaklee 180 Program is Powered by Leucine®—an essential amino acid—and is designed so that nearly every pound you shed is fat.*

Are you ready for your turn around? If so, click here to order and join me in a healthier 2015!

Let’s do this together!
Stephanie

You can also check out a 180 video by clicking here. For more information about Shaklee, click here and for more information about the savings you get by becoming a member, click here.

* Based on a preliminary 12-week clinical study and skin fold caliper measurements to estimate lean body mass and fat mass.

Easy Rolo treat

Stephanie | January 15, 2015

I love easy recipes! This one only has three ingredients. How’s that for easy?!?! I wasn’t sure what exactly to call this; so I’ll just call it a treat! It’s not a cookie nor candy, but it is so simple and delicious (although not healthy) that I had to share. I believe my mom got this recipe from the back of a Rolo candy bag. It would be perfect to make with the children, especially for Valentine’s Day! I also brought them to a cookie swap, when I was pressed for time.

Rolo treats

pretzels
Rolo candies
pecans (if desired)

Place pretzels on a cookie sheet (for easy clean up line it with parchment paper)
Add a Rolo piece on top of each pretzel
Bake at 350 degrees for 1-2 minutes until the candy is soft, but not melted. (You can also use a microwave, but I try to avoid them.)
Top with a pecan or another pretzel

It doesn’t get any simpler than that! Enjoy! Do you have a easy treat recipe? I’d love to hear it in the comments below or on social media!

Sweetly yours,
Stephanie

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Pumpkin (Cranberry) Bread and muffins

Stephanie | January 9, 2015

This pumpkin (cranberry) bread or muffin recipe is so delicious and easily adapted to suit many individual tastes. It can have cranberries or not. It can also be a bread or a muffin. My children like the pumpkin muffins and my favorite was the cranberry pumpkin bread. Thanks to my mom for coming up with that great idea for them!

Pumpkin (Cranberry) Bread or Muffins

(Makes three 4×8 loaves)

4 eggs
2 tsp baking soda
2/3 c water
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
1 tsp cinnamon
1 (16 oz) can of pumpkin (preferably BPA free)
1 tsp nutmeg
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/8 tsp cloves
2 cups sugar
2 cups chopped cranberries (optional)

Beat the eggs.
Add water, oil and pumpkin. Mix.
In a separate bowl, sift flour, sugar, baking soda, salt cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves together.
Add flour mixture to egg mixture.
Stir in cranberries (if using).
Divide batter among loaf pans.
Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour. For muffins bake 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Happy baking,
Stephanie

How do you make your favorite bread or muffins? I would love to hear it in this comments below or on my Facebook page!

Slovak New Year Traditions

Stephanie | January 1, 2015

I believe traditions make holidays more fun. That is one reason why I make sure to celebrate my Slovak traditions whenever I can. Ever since I was little, we washed our face with a Silver Dollar on New Year’s Day. It is supposed to mean money for the rest of the year. Now that I am older (and a borderline germ-a-phone), this is not my favorite Slovak tradition, but I am not about to test it! I do not want to be without money this or any year.

Another New Year’s Day tradition is having Pork and Sauerkraut. I don’t believe it is just a Slovak New Year’s Day tradition as many people partake in this tradition, however we still celebrate with it. Sauerkraut is thought to bring blessings and wealth for the new year. Pig’s snouts are said to root forward instead of backward, signifying progress.

Now that I don’t eat much meat, I just eat the sauerkraut, with a single bite of kielbasa (for some reason my immediate family uses kielbasa instead of actual pork). I also love to enjoy the Slovak Christmas traditions of Mushroom Soup and Kiffles.

What are you New Year’s Eve and/or Day traditions?

Happy and healthy New Year,
Stephanie