ENTERTAINING

AT YOUR SERVICE

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SINGLE SERVING Holiday gatherings are going to be a little different this year. With social distancing guidelines in place, it will be necessary to rethink how we entertain. Never fear, a solution is near. Passing around platters of food that everyone touches or setting up a buffet style meal may not be the best practice, but you can still ‘wow’ your guests with a little ingenuity. The solution? individual portions. This may take a bit more work and planning, but it’s worth it to have everyone together and know that everyone is comfortable and safe.

THE MENU First things frst… decide on the menu. Think in normal terms at frst, then work on how that translates to single serve. Use smaller, individual serving containers to portion out the larger casserole type dishes you will be cooking in advance. For example, make a big pan of your famous macaroni and cheese, but portion it out into cute paper takeout boxes before everyone arrives. Also consider making some dishes in smaller portions from the start. You might want to fnally try stuffns… or stuffng made in muffn tins. You can use cupcake papers to line the muffn tins and then everyone has their own, individual serving to ‘grab and go’.

THE SERVICE Put condiments, sauces, and snacks like nuts and olives in individual cups. Paper souffé cups are a great option for this. You can fnd them at restaurant supply stores and many supermarkets. They even come in black and kraft paper. While you are there, check out some takeout containers. You can dress them up with a bit of twine, ribbon, or other decoration to maintain a bit of style. Best of all, if you use these and other disposable containers, clean up will be a snap. Think outside the bowl for containers. You will likely need many different single serve vessels if you have several things to serve. To make sure you have enough different options, it may be necessary to get creative. Check the list on the right for tools to use to serve individually. Get creative with drinks. Make a signature cocktail in advance and put them in small mason jars. Set them up individually with an instruction card telling guests how to prepare (add to ice, stir, etc.) Not only will you be off the hook for playing bartender, but it will also be an interactive affair. Serve wine in small, individual carafes or buy small bottles. These are available from many winemakers now for wine and champagne. Make fnger foods that are easy to take without having to touch anything else. Put out small rolled rim baking sheets (also available at restaurant supply stores) and let guests pick out the fnger foods of their choice. You might even consider a small set of tongs for each guest. Lastly, stick to single serve desserts like cookies, cupcakes, and bars. They can still be decadent and even over the top… just on a small scale.

single service tools

WHAT TO USE

MASON JARS TEA CUPS RAMEKINS MINI-COCOTTES SKEWERS TAKE OUT CONTAINERS SHOT GLASSES PAPER SOUFFLÉ CUPS TONGS SMALL BAKING TRAYS MUFFIN TINS

by MÁRCIA DE LUCA

REMAIN CALM AND CENTERED. LEARN THE THE INS AND OUTS OF THIS ANCIENT INDIAN AYURVEDIC BREATHING TECHNIQUE.

In today’s uncertain world, where working from home combined Breath is life, and between sitting in front of computers for most with homeschooling children or grandchildren, combined with of the day, or dealing with other stressful situations, many of us fnancial or health stresses are more often the norm than not, our are often breathing shallowly through our chests, and depriving nervous systems can easily be overloaded. our body of the essential oxygen it needs to perform at its optimal And now, with the Fall season of entertaining family and friends level in helping to clear our stress. By practicing this breathing here as well, many of us are asking: “How can I counterbalance the technique daily, you will soon feel calmer in every situation. stress I feel in safe ways that don’t eat up too much time?” We are fortunate to be able to take advantage of this moment, in One way is through learning the ancient technique of Ayurvedic which we have to stay at home, to develop healthier patterns of deep breathing. living - alongside actively expressing emotions of understanding,

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GET COMFORTABLE

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NICE AND SLOW

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LET IT OUT

Sit comfortably, lengthen your spine and lace your fngers together and rest them on your belly. Close your eyes and mouth. Take a slow, deep breath through your nose, sending your breath into your belly. Feel your belly expanding through your hands.

Breathe out slowly and deeply through the nose. Feel your hands drawing towards you and your belly contracting.

Repeat two or three times, then: • With your next breaths, lengthen your inhalation to a count of fve and then exhale for a count of ten. • Repeat this nine more times, inhaling for fve seconds, exhaling for ten. • When you’re fnished, release your hands and return to natural belly breathing. Feel the peaceful energy fowing through your body.

empathy, and compassion that help to calm and soothe our minds. As you welcome your family and friends into your homes for the holidays, or you travel to enjoy their generous hospitality, we invite you to use your breath to open your mind to see the beauty in every person, to enjoy sharing the love and friendship that characterize this season of gratitude.

AUTHOR BIO: MÁRCIA DE LUCA has studied Yoga, meditation and Ayuverdic practices for more than 40 years. She attended the well-known Chopra Center for WellBeing and has deepened her knowledge in this area with American Dr. David Frawley and several leading Indian Ayurvedic Masters devoted to wellness. Marcia resides in Brazil and has written several books on wellness including: The Age of Power – Transformation, Health and Beauty For Women (Tornado), Philosophy of Well-Being (Fontanar), and Mindfulness in the Family (Fontanar) to name a few. Each year, Marcia travels to India in search of deeper knowledge for holistic living.

Link tree: linktr.ee/Marciadeluca

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WALK YOUR WAY TO HEALTH

More than ever, there is an interest in caring for ourselves. Under the current conditions, however, it may be more practical to exercise at home or outdoors. Walking is a great way to exercise and provides many health benefts. It is free, easy to do, and works for most people of all ages and ftness levels. Best of all, it gives you a chance to be outdoors and connect with nature all year long.

WAIST WATCHERS A brisk 30-minute walk per day burns around 200 calories. Over the span of a week, that adds up to a signifcant amount.

. . . LEFT FOOT RIGHT FOOT LEFT FOOT RIGHT FOOT

LIVING LONGER Even walking at an average pace can reduce the risk of death by 20%. However, researchers have discovered that walking at a brisk pace (4 mph or faster) can reduce the overall risk by 24%, factoring in normal causes of death, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

HAPPY HEART You can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by almost 20% with just a 30-minute walk, fve days a week. The results could even improve by increasing the duration and distance. CLEAR THINKING Research has shown that creative thinking is improved while walking. The research shows that walking outdoors is even more benefcial. Fresh air, physical activity, and creative ideas… that’s a winning combination.

LUNG SAVER Walking outdoors among the trees can be benefcial to lung health. Trees remove carbon dioxide from the air and replace it with oxygen. Even better, they act as flters for the many pollutants in our modern world.

TOP WALKING TIPS

WALK IN WELL-LIT AREAS WEAR A REFLECTIVE VEST IF YOU WALK IN DARK HOURS INVEST IN GOOD, STURDY WALKING SHOES WEAR COMFORTABLE CLOTHING PROTECT YOUR SKIN WITH SUNSCREEN STRETCH BRIEFLY BEFORE AND AFTER YOUR WALK CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE STARTING ANY NEW FITNESS ROUTINE THIRST QUENCHER Don't forget the water. Not only is it necessary to regulate your temperature while exercising, but it also aids in weight loss, increases energy, improves focus, fushes out toxins, and improves skin complexion.

safely scented

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Essential oils are becoming increasingly popular. As we look for new ways to improve our health and wellbeing, many are turning to aromatherapy. The delivery method for many people is a diffuser. This method is effective and enjoyable, but there are some important safety points to understand before starting your aromatherapy adventure.

Buy essential oils in sealed, dark, glass bottles. The oils break down when exposed to sunlight and heat.

To reap the rewards of essential oils, focus on the purity. Essential oils can contain many different types of chemicals. Buy only medicinal grade essential oils, like those pictured right from Amrita.

Go slow. Start with very little oil and increase to suit your taste. Starting with too much could overwhelm your senses.

Essential oils do not affect everyone in the same way. Many experts recommend that oils and diffusers not be used near children in closed spaces or with pets. Be sure to do some research on the type of oil you will be using and what effect it could have.

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. . . DID YOU KNOW? SCENT IS THE MOST POWERFUL SENSE LINKED TO MEMORY.

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