The cold weather is setting in and we are starting to loose daylight hours and most of us feel like settling into hibernation mode.  However, it is important to maintain a healthy active lifestyle all year long.  As you may not be able to do the same activities that you did in the summer months, winter activities can be just as entertaining.  They key to staying motivated in the cold weather is to keep your workouts fun and enjoyable.  You will want to switch up your routine so that you don’t get bored and give up.  Here are some winter activities that I suggest:

Ice skating

Indoor roller skating

Indoor racquet ball

Group fitness

Indoor rock climbing

Bowling

Aerobic tapes/DVD

In-home personal training (with Big Time Results) so you do not have to get out in the weather.

Free boot camp at Dynamic Gymnastics on Saturday mornings at 8:30

Rustic onion soup

Prep: 25 min

Cook: 50 min

Makes: 4 servings

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 C. water

2 pounds red and yellow onions thinly sliced.

6 ounces shallots, thinly sliced

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

1 tbsp. all-purpose flour

1/3 C. dry vermouth

4 C. vegetable broth

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

2 tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp. light sour cream

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

1)   Heat oil in a 4-quart pot over moderate heat.  Add the next 4 ingredients (through thyme); cover.  Cook, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes or until onions begin to color.

2)   Uncover and cook, stirring, 10 minutes or until onions are golden.

3)   Stir in flour; cook for 2 minutes. Pour vermouth carefully into pan from measuring cup, scraping brown bits from bottom of the pan.  Cook 2 minutes more until liquid id almost gone.  Add broth, 2 cups water, Worcestershire, and Parmesan cheese. Bring to simmer; cook 20 minutes. Remove bay leaf and serve with sour cream and pepper.

Written by: Jennifer Hale                         Recipe from: Health magazine