empower’s Post

Getting ahead of ourselves for Christmas. This Saturday was our “Bake Ahead” day. Put simply, so that we can enjoy the company we have around Christmas time, we prepare as much as possible well in advance of the days of Christmas. Ingredients at the ready, Christmas music on, utensils lined up. Off we go. It’s a great day, great fun during the day and very rewarding when looking at the results. The results this year: 46 mince pies from scratch, filling and all – it probably won’t be enough for the Christmas period but it’s a good start. Into the freezer to be pulled out, quick blast in the oven for 5 mins whenever a guest or 4 pop in. Great little gifts as well to take to family and friends. Block of tear and share bread rolls - in readiness for hot pork rolls as part of our family Christmas party a few days ahead of Christmas day. First chocolate roulade – one for a meal later this week with friends and then another one into the freezer for Christmas itself. Heavenly indulgence in chocolate but a flourless cake to keep it light. Meringue mushrooms – yes, they’re mushrooms made out of meringue. Light, decorative and delicious. Enough mulled white wine to sink a ship – white wine to keep it light. At the ready for the planned and unplanned guests. Mini panettones with cranberries – great by themselves but superb with homemade Christmas pate. Homemade Christmas pate – just amazing. All great but why the post? It’s all about planning, preparation, teamwork and being calm through execution. Getting all the ingredients ahead of bake ahead. Order of play for the day with the relevant timings – what can be started whilst something else is proving, resting, cooking. Who is leading on which dishes and when is support needed. How is our day broken up so we get sufficient rest throughout? How are we supported (I didn’t mention wine) throughout the day? Making sure there is room in the freezer for all the goodies we produce. This year, everything went to plan (again 🤣) and even my sister managed to pop in to sample the spoils. Result – Delicious home baked food and drink and we will get to spend maximum time with our guests when they’re here. #projectmanagement #baking #wellbeing #projectexcellence

Interrupting your daily feed of professionalism to remind you- it's the day before Thanksgiving! 🦃 Are you feeling the heat in the kitchen? Don't worry, we've all been there. 😉 Here's a quick checklist of last-minute tasks to tackle before the big feast: ✅ Chill out: Make sure your drinks are chilling in the fridge. No one wants a lukewarm beverage with their delicious meal! 🧊 ✅ Set the table: Get those plates, glasses, and silverware ready. Don't forget the festive napkins! 🍽️ ✅ Prep for sides: Chop those veggies, measure out ingredients, and get your side dishes ready to cook. 🥗 ✅ Delegate: Don't be afraid to ask for help! Guests are usually happy to lend a hand with small tasks. 🙌 ✅ Plan your outfit: You'll be busy cooking and hosting, so choose something comfy and stylish. 💃 ✅ BREATHE! Remember what Thanksgiving is all about: gratitude and spending time with loved ones. ❤️ What are your go-to last-minute Thanksgiving tips? Share them in the comments below! 👇 #Thanksgiving #LastMinuteTips #HolidayPrep #Grateful #FamilyTime #verticalmarketing

New Christmas Recipe Challenge For many of us it Christmas can be the time of additional stress and worry about organising presents, social functions, buying and preparing food, visiting or hosting relatives and friends and a few other seasonal niggles. But it is also a great opportunity to let loose our creative side, both in our houses and in our kitchens, and those creative pursuits don’t have to be massively complicated or time consuming either. In addition to that, making lovely food from scratch, as well as decorating our living spaces, both fall in the category of what is known as nesting behaviour, which can help us go through the dark and cold winter months with more resilience, energy and better mood. And while standard English Christmas menu tends to be fairly universal, with more or less the same set of ingredients used and dishes made from those by most Brits, more and more people are starting to break with that tradition and experiment with Christmas foods from other cultures, or even make up their own, new traditions in some cases. I have produced an e-book guide with healthy traditional Polish Christmas dishes and will be sharing it on here on LinkedIn at some point in December. However, I am also interested to know what sort of other foods you would like to try, or have already eaten and enjoyed at Christmas time, as feel in a mood for experimenting with different ingredients and making up some new recipes too. So, if you feel that way inclined, just let me know in the comments what sort of Christmas foods tickle your fancy to give my creative juices a chance to start flowing again. #holisticnutritionist# #mindbodyeatinghealthcoach# #healthyChristmasfoods#

With just two weeks to go until the big day, now’s the perfect time to double-check your list — and then check it again! Food Prep 🎄 Shopping: Ensure all your groceries are ordered if you’re shopping online, or add everything to your list if you’re doing it yourself. Plan where to buy specific items to save time. 🎄 Cooking Essentials: Check that you have enough cutlery, crockery, pots, and pans — and confirm they’re the right size. The last thing you want is a turkey too big for the roasting tray! 🎄 Stock Up: Don’t forget the essentials like batteries, tin foil, food wraps, and breakfast staples. It’s easy to overlook everyday items in the holiday rush. Gift Wrapping 🎄 Under the Tree: Wrap presents early and place them under the tree, but keep any Santa gifts hidden until Christmas Eve. Have a good hiding spot ready! 🎄 Pets: If any gifts include food or chocolate, keep them out of reach of curious pets until the big day. A little planning now will make for a much smoother, stress-free Christmas!

Halloween Budget Snack Ideas Halloween festivities don’t need to come with a high price tag. Here are some simple, affordable snack ideas to make your Halloween memorable without overspending: 1. Popcorn Mix – Create a spooky popcorn mix by adding pretzels, candy corn, and chocolate chips. It’s a budget-friendly snack that can be prepared in large batches and customized with Halloween-colored treats. 2. Apple Monster Bites – Slice apples and add peanut butter to one side. Use mini marshmallows or sunflower seeds as "teeth" for a fun, festive look. Affordable and healthy, this snack is a crowd-pleaser for both kids and adults. 3. Mummy Hot Dogs – Wrap hot dogs in thin strips of dough (store-bought dough works well) to resemble mummies, then bake. With minimal ingredients, these savory treats are easy on the wallet and fun for Halloween gatherings. 4. DIY Halloween Trail Mix – Make a mix using affordable ingredients like pretzels, raisins, and chocolate candies. Divide it into small bags for easy, mess-free servings that guests of all ages can enjoy. 5. Spider Crackers – Use round crackers, peanut butter, and pretzel sticks to create spider shapes. Add small chocolate chips for eyes to finish off these fun, budget-friendly snacks. Halloween snacks don’t have to be complicated or costly. With simple ingredients and a little creativity, you can enjoy the holiday’s treats without stretching your budget. #HalloweenOnABudget #BudgetSnacks #HolidaySpendingTips #AffordableHalloween

Why Does Christmas Dinner Cause So Much Stress? Something I’ve never understood is why people get so stressed about making Christmas dinner. Personally, I actually enjoy it! I don’t spend all day in the kitchen, and yes, before anyone says it it’s not because I cut corners. I make everything from scratch, but it still doesn’t take me all day. I’ve been thinking about this, and I wonder if it’s because we put so much pressure on ourselves for everything to be perfect. We think that if something goes wrong, it will ruin Christmas. But here’s the thing perfection isn’t real, and it doesn’t matter. Having sight loss has taught me that. Things might not turn out exactly as planned, but does that really make a difference in the bigger picture? Christmas is about being together and making memories, not about everything being flawless. What do you think? Do we put too much pressure on ourselves to make Christmas perfect? Photo Description: A warm and inviting Christmas kitchen scene featuring a rustic wooden table beautifully set with homemade dishes. The table is adorned with a roast dinner, fresh vegetables, and festive desserts, creating a cozy and wholesome atmosphere. Soft golden lighting enhances the warm tones of the room, and a small Christmas tree decorated with simple ornaments sits in the background, alongside a garland draped over a shelf. The setting feels calm and joyful, reflecting the simple pleasures of Christmas without the stress of perfection. #ChristmasDinner #ChristmasStress #CookingWithSightLoss #LifeLessons #ChangingPerspective #FestiveReflection #LivingMyLifeMyWay

HALLOWEEN HACK: TRANSFORM PUMPKIN WASTE INTO A DELICIOUS DISCARDED CREATION: As Halloween draws near, millions of homes across the UK light up with jack-o’-lanterns, but once the spooky fun is over, many pumpkins meet an unfortunate end. Shockingly, 95% of the 10 million pumpkins grown in the UK each year are discarded after Halloween, contributing to a huge 18,000 tonnes of food waste. This year, make a change. Instead of letting those post-Halloween pumpkins go to waste, why not transform them into something magical and creatively repurpose into a fantastically delicious cocktail. Try crafting a Pumpkin Spice Daiquiri for your next spooky soirée! This wickedly good cocktail not only helps reduce waste but also stars the award-winning Discarded Spirits Banana Peel Rum – a smooth, fruity rum made from Caribbean rum blended with banana peel extract. It’s the ultimate circular serve to sip this Halloween! Did you know that it takes 240 litres of water to grow just 1kg of pumpkin? This Halloween, make sure none of that effort goes to waste by turning those pumpkins into something delicious: https://lnkd.in/eQ4zMtxR #halloween #pumpkin #recipe #discarded #news #PR #advertising #b2b #bannerad #magazine #newsletter #emailcampaigns #eat #drink #sleep #hotel #hospitality #bars #restaurants #digitalmarketingandadvertising 

Did you know that the chance of being in a house fire over the Christmas holidays is more than 50% higher than at other times? But you can easily reduce your chance of fire by cooking your Christmas dinner safely. With Thanksgiving almost a month before Christmas Day, we can learn from the mistakes of our friends across the pond and ensure we make our festivities as safe as possible. Some safety tips to remember when cooking your turkey include: 🦃 Remain at home while your turkey is cooking. 🦃 Avoid cooking with long sleeves or loose clothing. 🦃 Keep children away from the kitchen as you cook. Find out more tips to make your Christmas as safe as possible here: https://heyor.ca/NIeEcC #ChristmasCooking #FireSafety #FireSafetyTips

🎃 Halloween Treats: Choosing Festive & Healthier Options! 🎃 Halloween is all about fun treats, but it’s easy to overindulge with candy around every corner. Here are a few tasty (and healthier!) choices to enjoy the season without going overboard: 1. Balance the Candy: Savor your favorites, but mix in fresh options like apples, nuts, or dark chocolate for a satisfying and balanced treat experience. 2. Stay Hydrated: With all the snacking, don’t forget water! Staying hydrated helps you feel fuller and less tempted to reach for extra treats. 3. Get Creative with Festive Snacks: Try making apple "monster mouths," ghost-shaped bananas, or roasted pumpkin seeds. These options are festive, delicious, and packed with nutrients. 4. Set a Snack Plan: Enjoy Halloween treats without the sugar rush by setting aside a few pieces of candy each day rather than all at once. Your energy (and teeth!) will thank you. 5. Watch the Drinks: Spooky-themed drinks can be packed with sugar. Go for fun alternatives like sparkling water with a splash of juice or infused water with orange slices for a Halloween look. Enjoy the sweets and the season, but with a few mindful choices, you can indulge and stay energized for all the Halloween fun ahead! #Halloween2024 #HealthyTreats #MindfulEating #HalloweenTips #StayFestive