If you’re 50 or older, make sure you really are the picture of health. 

All our best wishes for a peaceful and healthful holiday!

Carrie Maffeo, Isabel Hagedorn, and Mary Proffitt

Just in time for chilly weather!

What says love more than soup?
Nourishing, warming, comforting, sustaining… With family coming home and friends stopping by for holiday cheer, start some of these simmering on the stove. Fragrance is only one reward!

Tuscan Bean Soup with Kale – a classic from my first book child, One Bite at a Time. Never fails to disolve those at the table into making “mmmmmm” sounds.

Chicken Stew from My Nana – Light, lovely, and bountiful — a little patience while this stew simmers pays off, big time.

Rockin’ Black Bean Soup – This one’s sure to rock the kitchen for you! Tested at conferences where I’ve served it to hundreds of happy, hungry eaters, and my own family table. Don’t skip the Avocado Cream topping. Major YUM factor.

Rustic Lentil Soup – Lentils are great for regulating blood sugar levels (everyone should be eating them, lots!). But even if you don’t think you like lentils, I blatantly lure you into this soup with mushrooms, red wine, swiss chard, garlic, herbs and spices…

New to cooking?  Need a refresher? Looking to use a new ingredient?

Check out this instructional video from Cook Smarts on how to prep asparagus.

Like what you see?  Check out the awesome content over at cooksmarts.com.

The average tank of gasoline for your car is $1 less than it was even six months ago. For a car with a 20 gallon gas tank, this is a $20 savings per fill up. We do not know when the pump prices will increase or decrease, so the extra money is likely temporary savings.

So, what are you doing with the extra $20?

• Possibly, consider saving it, or putting it in a child’s college savings account.
• Create or add to a rainy day fund.
• Put it toward paying off debt, or spend cash at the holiday season rather than adding charges to a credit card bill.
• Consider trying a super food with the savings.
• Maybe purchase new walking/running shoes, yoga mat, or a balance ball.

Consider this,if someone makes $10 per hour who is filling up his/her car each week, this is 2 hours of work they have to increase their financial wellbeing.

Meal planning can be a great way to save money on groceries and take some of the stress out of dinner time preparations.

Check out this helpful guide from CookSmarts.

Like what you see? Check out more awesome meal planning content at cooksmarts.com.