What are you asking for this holiday season?
Are you hoping for some fun new kitchen gadgets? Have you been trying to run in the cold weather and are asking for that investment in winter running clothes? Do you have a little one coming and are hoping for some new nursery furniture? Or are you just asking for one day off of everything, where you can sit back, relax and not have a worry in the world?
Since we spent our first Christmas as Mr. and Mrs. my husband and I have decided not to get each other gifts but instead to spend that holiday/birthday/celebration doing something together (which yes, I still see as a gift as the other person plans it, but just in a non-traditional way). First, this takes the stress off what we both hate most: shopping. I can spend hours in the grocery store and researching the best brunch spot to take my husband to, but when it comes to things like clothes or electronics, we both want to run as fast as we can away from that over-crowded parking lot. Second, we both appreciate an evening together with a nice dinner or entertaining show much more than we would know what to do with another gadget that doesn’t have room in our little apartment. Since we got married over 4 years ago, both my husband and I have gone back for graduate degrees (he’s now in the midst his second one), so to us, a weekend together without exams to study for and papers to proof-read is simply a gift in itself.
Please don’t get me wrong. This is what my husband and I do. I will never complain when that subscription renewal to Real Simple is wrapped under the tree from my mother-in-law or when my mom picked-up from my blog that a wine glass maybe isn’t the best substitute for a biscuit cutter. I just get excited more about the holidays as an extra excuse to sleep-in on a weekday and spend a few extra hours with loved ones.
Whatever you’re asking for or looking forward to most this holiday season, I encourage you to warm-up to this simple and easy Asian Dumpling Soup. I even cheated and used these pre-made Goya Dumplings from Trader Joe’s, but that meant that this warm and flavorful soup came together in under 15 minutes and gives me more time to enjoy spending time with my husband during his holiday break from school.
Or maybe I’m just on a dumpling soup kick.
Asian Dumpling Soup
Adapted from Real Simple
32 oz. low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Ground ginger, to taste
Vegetable gyoza or dumplings (I use 1/2 bag of frozen gyoza from Trader Joe’s)
1 cup carrots, sliced lengthwise
1/4 cup frozen corn
1 cup pea pods
1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1 tbs. sesame oil
Directions:
1. Bring the broth and ginger to a boil in a large pot. Add the pot stickers, carrots and cabbage and simmer 8-10 minutes.
2. Add the corn and continue to simmer about 3 minutes.
3. Stir in soy sauce and sesame oil. Serve, top with scallions and enjoy!
~What’s on your wish list this year?
