Weight Watchers Celery Soup Recipe

Weight Watchers Celery Soup Recipe

A simple homemade celery soup, all about the celery and way more than the sum of its parts. Rave reviews! Skip the unnecessary cream and it's Whole 30 friendly. Also Gluten Free, Weight Watchers friendly and naturally, OhSoGood!

~recipe updated, first published way back in 2006~
~more recently updated recipes~

Awhile back, I puzzled over a tidbit in a magazine. "To have fun," it asked, "would you prefer to go to a party with lots of old friends or one where you'll know hardly anyone?"

Turns out that if FUN is the desired experience, then partying with new people is the ticket. (Okay, yes, I know, who can make such a generalization? and why is new fun better than laughing over old jokes? and were the folks who did the study, went to the parties and wrote the story all Extroverts in the Meyers-Briggs schema? and who reads this stuff anyway? Please, bear with me.)

And so it's turned out that I've been cooking and writing about vegetables for nearly an entire year now. Sure, it's great fun to try new vegetables. But it's also quite something to discover new dimensions in my standby vegetables, my "old friends" if you will.

Take the under-appreciated celery. Celery had me extolling leafy virtues in Day 247's apple and celery salad, it's my go-to salad whenever celery leaves are plentiful. It had me moaning about Day 317's simple braised celery. And here I am again, raving about a simple and yet somehow complex soup that is somehow 100% celery and yet 100% something else altogether.

The Wednesday Chef had the same reaction same reaction to celery soup, a Leslie Brenner recipe from the Los Angeles Times. Luisa's soup was as elegant as her description; mine was intentionally more rustic. Still, our two versions prove: celery can surprise.

COMPLIMENTS!
"... marvelous. ... Very nourishing yet light and spring-time like." ~ Brigette
"... it's very good! " ~ Anonymous
"LOVE love love this soup! " ~ Anonymous

CREAM of CELERY SOUP RECIPE

Hands-on time: 20 minutes
Time to table: 60 minutes
Makes 7 cups

4 cups good chicken stock or turkey stock such as No-Big-Deal Homemade Chicken Stock

1 tablespoon butter
1 large onion, diced
1 large russet potato (about 3/4 pound), peeled and diced
1 whole bunch celery, trimmed, cut in half-inch inch pieces (about 10 ribs plus leaves)
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper
2 tablespoons cream, entirely optional

Bring the stock to a boil in the microwave. (This is a time-saving tip that can be omitted if there's no rush.)

Melt the butter in a large pot or Dutch oven over MEDIUM HIGH until shimmery. Add the onion and stir well to coat with fat. Let the onion cook, stirring often, while prepping the potato and celery. Add the potato and celery and stir to coat with fat. Let cook until the broth is hot, then stir in the stock. Bring the soup to a boil, cover and reduce heat to maintain a slow simmer. Cook until celery is soft, 20 - 30 minutes. Season with salt and white pepper.

In two or three batches for safety, purée in a food processor or blender until smooth. (Readers report good luck with an immersion blender.) For an ultra smooth elegant version, strain out the solids and add cream. Serve and enjoy!

ALANNA'S TIPS & KITCHEN NOTES
TO STRAIN OR NOT TO STRAIN When I first made this in 2006, I liked the idea of serving a creamy smooth version of this soup like Luisa's as a dinner party starter. I planned to strain out the solids through my favorite chinois. But then in 2006, I made this soup again for a family gathering. It was a big hit, everyone slurped up the last drops. I did strain the soup that time but found myself preferring it with homely fiber.
SUCH A FAVORITE This lovely celery soup recipe was originally published in 2006, just as I was ending that first mad of year of cooking a vegetable in a new way, every single day. Now that I revisit old favorite recipes, again and again, I'm pleased that the recipes taste just as good the second time around. It's a classic vegetable soup recipe, so spare and simple. And in days of rising food prices, it's also cheap to make – an entire bunch of gorgeous celery this week was only $.99, about $.50 a pound. Do know that because the soup is so light, it pairs well with crusty bread, good cheese and sandwich meat for a complete meal.
POTATO The purpose of the starchy potato is to thicken the soup. A russet potato adds the most starch, it's my favorite for thickening soup. When I use a medium-starch potato like a Yukon Gold, I leave the skins on, it compensates for less starchiness. Low-starch new potatoes or red potatoes should be saved for another purpose. No potato on hand? Cooked rice serves the same purpose, about 1-1/2 cups.
WHITE PEPPER Some folks say that white pepper has little flavor. I disagree, I love its forward pepperiness. Color-wise, white pepper works better for a more "elegant" presentation. Taste-wise, black pepper is just fine.

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© Copyright Kitchen Parade 2006, 2008 (repub), 2017 & 2018 (repub)

Weight Watchers Celery Soup Recipe

Source: https://www.aveggieventure.com/2006/03/day-345-cream-of-celery-soup.html

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Protein Bars With Low Weight Watchers Smart Points

Protein Bars With Low Weight Watchers Smart Points

Whoever said the best things come in small packages must have been talking about protein bars. The superstar snack is everything when it comes to convenience–particularly when you're busy working toward a weight loss goal. No time to sit down for breakfast? A protein bar can help hold you over until lunch. Beyond hungry in the afternoon, even after snacking on a ZeroPoint™ apple? Protein bar to the rescue. In need of an easy-to-eat snack to bring with you on a hike? Protein bar. You get the picture.

RELATED: All of the Foods You Don't Have to Weigh or Measure to Lose Weight on WW

But what makes protein bars really stand out is their ability to quiet a grumbling belly. Their fill-you-up factor comes from the different types of protein used in protein bars. These include:

• Nuts (or nut butter)
  The high-protein ingredient can be found in many bars.

• Soy protein
  You'll see the soybean-based protein listed as soy protein isolate on nutrition labels.

• Whey protein
  The dairy-based protein is a byproduct of the cheese-making process.

• Meat
  Meat-based bars get their protein from chicken, venison, and other animals (think protein bar meets jerky).
  

But Can You Eat Protein Bars on WW ?

One-hundred percent yes. That said, not all protein bars are created equally—one reason why it's a good idea to check out the nutrition label before digging in. Many bars are sky-high in sugar and calories, which can cost you quite a few PersonalPoints . A number of protein bars also include artificial ingredients, including sweeteners.

Once you find a protein bar that has an ingredient list you can get behind, by all means, enjoy. Just keep in mind that because we tend to eat these snacks on-the-go, it can be more challenging to eat mindfully when chowing down on a protein bar. (And psst , people who eat mindfully are more likely to have lower body weights than those who eat quickly, shows an International Journal of Obesity study .)

Because you don't alway have the time to prepare or sit down for a snack, fend off untimely belly grumbles by tossing a bar into your gym bag or purse. You can even leave a couple in your car's glove compartment so you always have a quick bite at the ready.

5 Low-PersonalPoints Protein Bars

We asked WW executive food editor Lisa Chernick for her top picks. Here they are, and—bonus: They won't take up too much of your Budget.

For nutty satisfaction:

Protein One Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars, $32 for 60 bar-value pack at Amazon.com
Peanut butter + chocolate + 10 grams of protein? Bring. It. On.

For savory snackers:

Epic Chicken Sriracha Bar, $25 for 12 bars at Amazon.com
Bring on the heat! Sriracha adds some kick to this meat-based protein bar.

For chocolate fans:

Think Kids Chocolate Chip Protein Bar, $17 for 24 bars at Amazon.com
Made for kids but delicious for adults, this protein bar has no artificial flavors or colors and is gluten-free.

For cake-lovers:

WW Birthday Cake Baked Protein Bar, $6 for six bars at WW.com
Treat every day like it's your birthday with this sprinkles-packed protein bar. It's a sweet way to celebrate and stay within your Budget!

For something that's sweet *and* salty:

KIND Minis Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Bar, $28 for 60 bars at Amazon.com
This pint-sized, gluten-free bar gets its protein from almonds and peanuts, which are also the leading ingredients.

--

This article was reviewed for accuracy in June 2021 by Angela Goscilo, MS, RD, CDN , Nutrition Manager. The WW Science Team is a dedicated group of experts who ensure all our solutions are rooted in the best possible research.

RELATED: 10 Low-PersonalPoint Desk Snacks You'll Actually Look Forward to Eating

Protein Bars With Low Weight Watchers Smart Points

Source: https://www.weightwatchers.com/us/blog/food/best-protein-bars-for-weight-watchers

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Dog Running White Background

Dog Running White Background

What Are the Best Companion Dogs for the Elderly?

Photo Courtesy: Terry Vine/DigitalVision

Finding the right dog can make a positive difference in a senior's life. According to different studies, dogs can help their owners need fewer physician visits and boost life expectancies. People easing into their golden years will enjoy the benefits of owning a dog, including companionship, emotional support and encouragement to stay physically active. When you're searching for your companion, it's important to factor in your health and lifestyle to determine what breed of dog will fit in best in your home. Your well-being also plays a role in whether you can care for the animal. Before you get a dog, learn about the remarkable breeds that make great friends for older adults.

Things to Consider Before Getting a Dog

Companion dogs for the elderly are often easy to care for. The primary responsibilities of owning a dog include grooming, bathing, walking and setting up veterinary appointments. For some older adults, the tasks may be more challenging, particularly if they experience mobility decline, memory loss and other age-related issues. However, online platforms like Rover, Wag! and TaskRabbit offer services to help take care of dogs.

Photo Courtesy: FredFroese/E+/Getty Images

Through Rover, you can hire people to walk or dog-sit. Wag! provides similar services as well as dog training, socialization and virtual veterinary care. You can also post an ad with specific duties on TaskRabbit for people to accept and complete. If you need pet food and supplies, apps and websites like Amazon, Costco, Target and other stores can deliver them. These helpful services make it easier for older adults to own dogs and take great care of them. Now, let's review some dog breeds that make excellent furry companions for senior citizens.

Pugs Are Quiet Indoor Dogs

If you're searching for a dog that's quiet, rarely needs grooming and loves the indoors, a pug is perfect for you. This small dog prefers sitting in an armchair with its owner much more than exploring the outdoors. These animals are silly, loyal and loving toward their keepers, making them great emotional support dogs for the elderly.

Photo Courtesy: Germana Marengo/EyeEm/Getty Images

Pugs only need light play sessions and walks, so they don't require much exercise. Although they rarely bark, they have a habit of snoring while snoozing. Taking naps is one of their favorite activities.

It's also important to note that pugs are sensitive to extreme heat and cold conditions. Another issue is that the animals are prone to obesity, so make sure to go easy on the treats.

Poodles Enjoy Affection and Daily Walks

Poodles are highly intelligent, gentle and loving — great qualities if you're searching for an emotional support dog. Poodles are also ideal for seniors who want to exercise more, as these animals require daily walks to stay happy and healthy. Best of all, there are three different sizes of poodles you can choose from — toy, miniature and standard.

Photo Courtesy: kumikomini/E+/Getty Images

Caring for poodles is quite easy, but they need to be brushed daily to prevent their coats from matting. Many owners keep these dogs' coats trimmed by clipping the fur themselves or visiting a licensed groomer every month or two.

Greyhounds Are Obedient and Gentle

Known as a racing dog breed, greyhounds have become popular among older adults. These animals can help seniors boost their activity levels without overexerting themselves. Greyhounds only need to run for a short amount of time, so you don't need to worry about spending too much time outside.

Photo Courtesy: lucia meler/Moment/Getty Images

When these dogs are indoors, they're couch potatoes that like to relax for most of the day. Many owners love that their greyhounds are calm, quiet, obedient and quick learners. When it comes to grooming, greyhounds need very little care, too.

As a large dog breed, greyhounds weigh between 65 and 70 pounds. That sounds heavy, right? Surprisingly, greyhounds are easy to handle and train. Compared to other breeds, these big dogs need higher-calorie food, so make sure to feed them high-quality dog food.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Love Cuddles and Learning

Looking for an affectionate and adaptable dog? The Cavalier is a small dog that enjoys snuggling, making them ideal emotional support dogs for seniors. They also get along with adults, children and other pets. The breed is simple to train thanks to its high intelligence and eagerness to learn.

Photo Courtesy: Amy Lane Photography/Moment/Getty Images

Weighing between 13 and 18 pounds, these pets are easy to carry around. Caring for the Cavalier's fur is also not a problem, as it just needs daily brushing and a bath once in a while. There are many positives about Cavaliers, but be aware that this breed tends to chase things. When the dog goes outdoors, it will need a leash.

Labrador Retrievers Provide Comfort and Opportunities to Exercise

Due to their highly trainable nature, Labrador retrievers make great companions. Their warm and outgoing personalities also help comfort the elderly and allow these dogs to bond easily with the whole family and other pets. In addition, these obedient animals are one of the best dog breeds for owners with anxiety.

Photo Courtesy: Ariel Skelley/DigitalVision/Getty Images

Although Labradors are easygoing, they're super active and require a lot of physical exercise, like running and fetching. They make the best companions for seniors who are also energetic. In addition, Labs shed a great deal of fur, so be ready to vacuum and clean up after them.

More From QuestionsAnswered.net

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Source: https://www.questionsanswered.net/article/best-companion-dogs-for-elderly?utm_content=params%3Ao%3D740012%26ad%3DdirN%26qo%3DserpIndex

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Youtube Thumbnail Template 2018

Youtube Thumbnail Template 2018

How to make a smashing YouTube thumbnail in 5 mins!

Have you ever been to a bookstore?

What is the first thing that makes you pick up a book?

If you guessed the Book cover! You are absolutely right!

A YouTube thumbnail is just like a book cover for your video. It is the first thing that people notice before deciding whether they will click on your video or just scroll over without noticing it.

Infact, YouTube reports that "90% of the best performing videos on YouTube have custom thumbnails."

So, if you have still not started using custom thumbnails on your video, you are missing out on a great opportunity to get traffic to your YouTube video.

In this article, we will cover everything you should know to get started with custom thumbnails. We will start with the ingredients that make a perfect thumbnail and then walk you through the entire process until you make the thumbnail live on your video. If you want to directly jump to the creation part, you can click on point 2.

• 1. What makes a YouTube thumbnail clickable?
• 2. How to create a YouTube thumbnail?
• 3. How to enable the custom thumbnail option?
• 4. How to add the created thumbnail to your youtube video?

1. What makes a YouTube thumbnail clickable?

Let's first have a look at the elements that are part of every clickable YouTube thumbnail!

Our everyday conversations with 1000s of YouTubers helped us handpick some of the key ingredients to make a YouTube thumbnail truly clickable.

1. An Expressive Headshot

Human eyes are simply more attracted towards faces that one sees on a computer screen. This is especially true when the faces have some expression on them. These types of thumbnails make people curious about the reason behind the expression and hence end up enticing the viewer to click on the video.

This is why a lot of the YouTubers, have a close up shot of their face on the thumbnail.

2. Big-Bold text

When it comes to YouTube thumbnails they are displayed in a relatively smaller size. To make the font visible even at smaller sizes, a lot of the YouTubers use big-bold fonts on their thumbnails.

3. Adding sticker effect to the main subject

Adding a thick sticker like border makes the main subject stand out.

The same logic applies to YouTube thumbnails as well. YouTubers constantly use sticker effect to make their subject pop up.

4. Contrasting colored overlays for highlighting text

The main reason for using contrasting overlays on the thumbnail is to make the text stand out.

If we look at the images below, you can see that the text on the right image looks more readable because of the use of contrasting colors.

This is an awesome hack used by a lot of YouTubers while creating their clickable thumbnails

Here are a couple of images from two awesome YouTubers.

Following the pointers mentioned above will make sure that you have a truly clickable YouTube thumbnail.

2. How to create a Custom Youtube Thumbnail?

Now, let's dive deep into the process of creating a YouTube thumbnail that stands out. In this guide, we are using Picmaker to make the custom thumbnails. Picmaker is Free, easy to use YouTube thumbnail maker launched by the creators of Animaker.

1. Select the subject image for your thumbnail

The best practice for creating a thumbnail is using an image which is relevant to your video.

Let's say we have a video talking about the "10 most shocking events of 2018". Following the best practices mentioned in the previous section, let's get a headshot of yours ready for the thumbnail.

A headshot of your face with an amusing expression will work really well. If you don't have the equipment or the time to get that ready, you can take an equally good screenshot from the video and use it to make the thumbnail.

You can start by uploading the selected image into the Picmaker application using the upload section.

2. Remove the background of the image

To make sure that your subject is in focus, you have to remove the distracting background from the image.

You can do this in under just a minute, by using the Automatic Background Removal tool that is available in Picmaker.

3. Add a sticker effect to your thumbnail

Adding a sticker effect helps your subject pop up and catch attention.

Look at these two images. In both the images the guy is showing the watch, but in the second image it pops up because of the thick border around the watch.

In Picmaker you can add a similar sticker effect to your image with just one click.

You just have to click on the sticker effect icon and a thick border will be added to your image in a snap.

You can also tweak the thickness and the color of the sticker effect by using the slider and color stroke option

Once the sticker effect is applied, you can even tilt the image a bit to make it look different from the ordinary.

4. Spice up the background

Now the next step is to spice up the thumbnail with an attractive background. You should select a contrasting color for the background so that it goes well with the subject and the text you are planning to have on the thumbnail. You can also spice up things quickly by adding a pattern to the background. Something like this

To add a pattern to your thumbnail, select the properties tab from the main menu and then click on patterns.

Just pick an option that suits your thumbnails' composition and you are done!

5. Add some Big, Bold and Beautiful text to your thumbnail

When a video is displayed on the YouTube home page or the search results, the thumbnails of the video look a bit small! So, it is important to have text that is big, bold and beautiful. The text has to be big enough to make sure that the viewer can read the info on the thumbnail very clearly.

Now to add text to your thumbnail, click on the text button in the main menu. Now, you can either select a plain text box or you can select a prebuilt text template.

In the thumbnail below, we have used different fonts to stress on different words. If you notice we have made the word "Shocking" stand out more by adding a white color shadow to it.

Looks cool! Doesn't it?

6. Preview your thumbnail and download

Before downloading the thumbnail and adding it to your YouTube video, it's good to preview how the thumbnail will actually look on the YouTube layout.

This helps you make sure that the font size and style of the text used in the thumbnail is both visible and contrasting enough to get noticed.

To preview your thumbnail, click on the preview button on the top right-hand side of the screen.

Now, you can preview your thumbnail in different sizes that are available on the YouTube layout.

Once your cool thumbnail is ready, click on the Download button to download the image to your PC.

3. Enable the Custom thumbnail Option

When you create your YouTube channel the custom thumbnail option will not be active by default. To enable that option you need to first verify your YouTube account.

Follow these steps to verify your YouTube account:

1. Sign In to YouTube

2. Click on the profile image on the top right-hand side of the page.

3. Click on Creator Studio

4. Then click on the channel tab in the left-hand side panel. After clicking that you will see the verify option. Click on verify.

5. Select your country, select a call or text option to get the verification code and then enter your phone number and click on submit.

6. Enter your verification code in the text box and click submit.

7. After verification, you will see a message that says that your account is verified

The custom thumbnail option should be enabled for you now.

4. How to add the created thumbnail to your youtube video

Now that your custom thumbnail is ready, let us see how you can add it to your video.

First, upload your video by clicking on the camera icon on the top right-hand side of the YouTube screen and click on upload video.

Once you upload your video, YouTube will give you three auto-generated thumbnails options to choose from. Besides that, you can also see an option for uploading a custom thumbnail.

Click on this button and upload your custom thumbnail.

And you are done! Simply publish the video to see your thumbnail in action!

It is that simple!

Along with the features mentioned above, Picmaker also has 1000+ stock photos, 1,00,000+ graphic elements and much more to make your thumbnails truly stunning!

Do you think we've missed any other tip to make the thumbnails look even cooler? Let us know in the comments below

Youtube Thumbnail Template 2018

Source: https://www.animaker.com/blog/how-to-make-a-youtube-thumbnail/

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