How to Get Well Quickly

My advice for getting better when you’re sick is not to get sick in the first place!  It’s actually much easier to stay well than to get over a virus or a bacterial infection (or worse.)  You can read this blogpost from many years ago about how to boost your immune system.

That said, I usually succumb to some sort of cold or virus once a year and it’s usually when I’m run down and pushing myself too much, which happened this year the day after Thanksgiving.  I was super sick for 2 days after Thanksgiving, but I rebounded very quickly.  Many people I know had a similar illness but they say it lingered for weeks.  Twice I posted a few Instagram stories about what I did to get better lickety split.  And since then, I have received many direct messages every day on Instagram which ask me to repeat my list of go-to cures because ‘tis the season.  This clearly deserves a dedicated blogpost!Continue reading

Holiday Gift Guide 2017

You know what they say, ” ’tis better to give than to receive.”  That said, even though I try to put some thought into my gift giving, I get a little overwhelmed at this time of year.  I appreciate a good gift guide and since you might too, I want to share a few favorites.  These are random, mostly geared towards females or things that have caught my eye and that I am gifting this year or have in the past.  If buying a gift from a store is not in your budget, consider making some homemade granola, Bliss Balls or Maple-Almond Popcorn from my cookbook.  The old saying, “it’s the thought that counts” still rings true.

 

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Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2017 — 1 Week to Go!

This post has been edited from the original which was published on November 17, 2011.

It’s always hard to accomplish your Thanksgiving tasks when you don’t know how many people you’re having over!  I think I have the final count and we’re only going to be 22 people this year, including my two daughters who will be home from college.  I am so excited to have all my kids in the kitchen this year prepping and cooking with me.  I had a stroke of genius six years ago, which was to tack my Thanksgiving to-do list on the refrigerator and have everyone sign up for three tasks.  Even my husband helps out!

My last class is today, but I have a few fun things to keep my busy until Thanksgiving.  Today at 2:30 pm PST/5:30 pm EST, I will be making a green bean casserole on Town & Country’s Facebook Live.  Please join me!  Friday, my friend John from the Preppy Kitchen and I will do a Facebook Live together around 10:00 am PST.  Then I am working on a special project with a great company and shooting some videos for them, so lots to do!  I’ll be getting busy on Sunday when I start making applesauce and cranberry sauce.  I always plan Thanksgiving day down to the last detail because I don’t like forgetting things and a schedule makes me feel more relaxed, which equals more fun for me! But just because Thanksgiving is the star of the show this week doesn’t mean that I can forget about normal life on very other day. So I think about regular meals and activities, too. Here’s what my schedule will look like from Sunday until we eat on Thursday at 4:00 pm (-ish). This shouldn’t make you feel exhausted, but merely show you what you can do ahead for your own Thanksgiving!  The Chalkboard Mag published a really great blogpost last year with tons of tips from lots of food experts (including me!)  I highly recommend giving it a quick read.

My Thanksgiving ebook is now available!  This PDF contains all my Thanksgiving recipes, tips and tricks, in one document!  You will have everything you need to plan and execute your best Thanksgiving ever.  Click here to access the Thanksgiving ebook.

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Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2017 – 2 Weeks and Counting!

This post was originally published on November 10, 2011.

Life is unpredictable, but Thanksgiving is not and it is 2 weeks away!  Is the exclamation point there to emphasize panic or joy?  I’m excited!  I’ve been teaching quite a few Thanksgiving-themed classes as of late and I’m feeling spirited.  Don’t let these Thursday posts stress you out.  The whole point is to show you what you can do in advance, not what you must do in advance.  All these tips and strategies are most relevant to the hosts and hostesses who are preparing most or all of the meal themselves and who have a busy schedule leading up to the holiday.  If I didn’t get a lot of these tasks completed early, I don’t see how I could pull off this meal without tons of stress.

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Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2017– 3 Weeks and Counting!

thanksgiving decor ideas | pamela salzman

This post has been edited from the one originally published on Thursday, November 3, 2011.

If you followed the advice in my post last Thursday, perhaps you now have a general idea of how many guests you will be hosting on Thanksgiving. If not, it’s time to get on the phone and do some inviting! Do you have a good, balanced menu and have you taken guests up on their offers to bring something? This week we have a few more tasks that we can check off the list.

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Planning a Happy Thanksgiving 2017 – 4 weeks and counting

This post has been edited from the original, which was published on October 27, 2011.

Can you believe what today is?  It is the beginning of the countdown!!  Thanksgiving is 4 weeks from today!  No need to panic, friends.  We’re going to have some fun over the next month!  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I love the traditions, the food, the Macy’s parade on television while I am making my pies, the football games. I love moving the family room furniture after the last football game is over to extend the dining room table. I love hearing everyone share why he or she is grateful. I have cooked every Thanksgiving for the last 22 years, as well as almost 100 Thanksgiving-themed cooking classes. I have made lots of mistakes and in the process learned a thing or two about how to execute and enjoy a very happy Thanksgiving. The key is being organized. Every Thursday from today until the big day, I will share my best tips, strategies and a few good recipes to set you up for a successful holiday. I am going to try to do a Facebook Live about planning Thanksgiving on Friday at 2:30 pm PST/5:30 pm PST!

Let’s get started!

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Adaptogens 101

Every time I add a little ashwaganda to my (almond milk) reishi latte on Instagram, many people write to me asking me what it is, why do I like it, and other great questions.  A few of my students suggested that I write a blogpost about this class of herbs called adaptogens.  Good idea!

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