Lifestyle | Live Happy

Why March Madness Makes Us So Happy

The drama, the anxiety, the upsets...That’s right, it’s that time of year again when the masses turn their frenzied fervor for college hoops into all-out madness. Like moths to a flame, millions will flood into sports bars or sneak a peek at their phones to catch the scores every five minutes to see what's happening in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament. Bring on the Madness! So what is it about March Madness that draws in so many people—even many non-sports fans? Sean Farnham, ESPN college basketball analyst and former co-captain of the 1999–2000 UCLA Bruins, says it is all about the unpredictability, the fact that once a team is in “the dance,” anything can happen. Win or go home. “Inevitably, what we all love is the real-life drama of the underdog. The NCAA Tournament offers that every single year,” Sean says. “We see that small school from a couple of years ago, Florida Gulf Coast, that was the ‘little engine that could’ and got hot at the right time after finishing second place in their conference tournament. They won two games to advance to the Sweet 16 and they captured the imagination of the country, especially in the world of sports.” The bonding, the betting... It’s pageantry unlike any other sporting event, save for the Super Bowl, and it is consumed by millions. According to ncaa.com, the 2015 tournament was the most watched in 22 years, with an average of 11.3 million television viewers and 80.7 million live video streams. Ryan M. Niemiec, Psy.D., psychologist and education director of the VIA Institute on Character, says one of the interesting aspects about March Madness is that not everyone has to like college basketball to get joy from the tournament. The thrill of picking the winners on wildly popular brackets is intriguing because anyone can participate and win. Last year, global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. reported that in 2014, more than 11 million brackets were filled out just on espn.com alone and more than 50 million people participated in some sort of office pool. While your boss may not like the fact that over a billion dollars in productivity is wasted by workers following the games every year, it is proof positive that Americans love March Madness. The “Cinderella Stories” “There are always surprises—aka Cinderella teams—that aren’t expected to win but who do well. And psychology teaches us that people love to root for the underdog,” Ryan says. Yes, it’s an opportunity to kick your hope meter into gear rooting for your favorite picks, but you may be surprised by the additional character strengths that become involved. “We can learn a lot about character and character strengths in the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,” Ryan says. “We learn which players and coaches have strong and balanced levels of humility, self-regulation, social intelligence, perspective and kindness, to name a few. “These sports—and especially the intrigue and emotionality around the NCAA Tournament—offer a great opportunity for players and coaches to use their best qualities, their character strengths. The fans then can fine tune their skill of spotting character strengths in action,” he adds. It’s also a chance to connect with friends, co-workers and family, find common ground and experience something together, and maybe even engage in a little ribbing just for fun. We love March Madness for the raw, unpredictable drama “More than any other sporting event, we see the raw emotion of the moment, and it is something that is very real,” Sean says. And he should know. From the jubilation he felt in 1997 as a UCLA Bruin making it to the Elite Eight his freshman year, to the pain he felt losing in the first round his junior year to Detroit Mercy, those experiences conjure emotions that he will never forget, especially in March. “To me the NCAA Tournament every year is like Star Wars: The Force Awakens. It’s not just a movie. It’s a moment. An event,” he says. “It is something that will always be remembered.” Chris Libby is the section editor for Live Happy magazine.

Lifestyle

Kristen Bell’s Happy Juggling Act

The following excerpt is from a feature article in the April 2016 issue of Live Happy magazine. To read the full story on Kristen Bell, pick up the magazine at a newsstand or grocery store near you. Kristen Bell relies on these tips to maintain a positive personal life: Surround yourself with happiness “Our best friends are very happy people, and I look forward to sharing time with them,” Kristen says. “I look up to them and how they handle themselves because they’re truly happy. That’s so nice to be around because some people aren’t innately happy.” Use positive words Kristen looks to inspirational quotes when her positivity wavers or she’s feeling unsure. “Imagine being in the brain of the people who said them,” she says. One of her favorites is from Eleanor Roosevelt. “I love the saying, ‘No one can make you feel inferior without your consent’ because there’s a lot of responsibility in that. All happiness lies in self-esteem and self-esteem lies in responsibility. I promote responsibility, and I enjoy people who promote it, too.” Make your own traditions Work commitments that include traveling make it tough for Kristen’s family to commit to consistent family dinners or events. So they’ve started the tradition of eating anything—and everything—together to bond. “We have at least five meals together as a family a week. One may be lunch and two, dinner, but we stick to having some sort of meal together to stay connected and grounded.” Quiet down To recharge her emotional and mental batteries, Kristen powers down her mind. “Meditation makes me feel more rested than a full night’s sleep. I do transcendental meditation a couple times a week and have a mantra that I repeat in a still, calm position. I really enjoy powering down for 20 minutes because it’s like shutting off light switches in my brain. I should make more time for it, but meditating even a couple times a week makes a big difference in my stress and happiness levels.” Move around Kristen and her family are often seen biking around Los Angeles. “We do that for pleasure, fitness and the environment. We love to be out of the car, and luckily, there are a lot of restaurants we can bike to for dinner. You feel a little better about dessert if you moved a bit to get to it!” Stand by your choices Self-confidence routinely buoys Kristen's outlook. “The more you love your decisions, the less you need others to love them. My self-esteem can only come from me, not outside sources. Understanding that was my road to finding a peaceful, happy lifestyle. Gina Roberts-Grey is an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in Family Circle, Self and Essence.

The special spring edition hits newsstands today!

Lifestyle

Welcome to Our New Issue!

Step inside the lushly illustrated and photography-filled issue of Live Happy’s print magazine! This month we have Kristen Bell on the cover and Michael Strahan inside. We have a monster article about raising happy kids and an introduction to the science of savoring. You’ll find happiness on every page! Bell curves With a booming career on television, in blockbuster films and as a singer, Kristen Bell is a triple threat. The star talks about how she and her family have made laughter, honesty, kindness and happiness a priority in their busy lives. Can you be happy all day? Editor at large Shelley Levitt puts this question to the test by sharing dozens of research-tested mood-boosting practices—all in the course of one 24-hour period. The hardest-working man in any business Football hero, morning talk-show host, clothing impresario…and now author? Is there anything Michael Strahan can’t do—and can’t do well? We sit down with the author of Wake Up Happy to find out where his incredible energy and positive attitude come from. Move over meditation The latest trend in mindfulness and stress reduction— floating in a darkened tank filled with room-temperature water and hundreds of pounds of salt. Learn about this new healing technique that is spreading rapidly throughout the country. The International Day of Happiness is coming The annual festivities take place on March 20. If you can’t make it to one of our Happiness Walls, we’ve got instructions for making your own Family Happiness Board at home!

Self-Care

8 Ways to Make Every Day Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day has become the yearly symbol of all that is special in a romantic relationship: adoration, appreciation, love. It is the calendar's trigger for us to exhibit our emotions, be it with material gifts or sentimental expressions of love. In many couples, one or both of the partners anxiously await this holiday as the one time of year where they feel doted upon in a special way. Valentine’s Day—or at least the expressions of love and caring that come with it—should take place every day, not just on February 14, and not just because there are pink and red hearts in all the shop windows. Kindness and generosity John Gottman is a psychologist who has been researching couples for more than 40 years. He has developed a method to determine whether or not a relationship is happy, and whether or not it will last for the long term. Specifically, he discovered that couples that exhibit kindness and generosity toward each other have better chances at long-term success and happiness. Read more: 7 Keys to a Happy Relationship The attributes of kindness and generosity come easier to some more than others. That said, being kind to our partners can be learned through practice and diligence. One way to have a more fulfilling and happy relationship is to make the exhibitions of love that happen on Valentine's Day an everyday occurrence. Find ways to let your partner know that you love and appreciate him or her on a daily basis. Make the effort, just not all at once We are not saying you need to do all of the practices every day! These are ideas—Valentine’s Day-style romantic efforts that can be worked into everyday life. Here are eight terrific ways to get started. 1. Leave love notes on sticky notes and leave them around your house in hidden places (not too hidden) such as on a toothbrush, inside of a suitcase before travel or on the dashboard of the car. 2. Take five to 10 minutes out of your day to tell your partner all of the things that you love about him or her, everything from "You have a nice smile" to "I appreciate that you always make the coffee for me in the morning." 3. Leave a sexy or romantic message on the bathroom mirror your partner can find when going to bed at night or getting ready to leave in the morning. Read more: When it Comes to Love, Are You Mindful or Meh? [Quiz] 4. Surprise your partner by taking over one of his or her chores for the day. If your partner typically takes out the trash, let him or her be surprised by discovering you have already done it. Tell your partner you were trying to make his or her day a little bit easier. 5. Try to listen to your partner more attentively every day. Most of us are so busy and distracted that we do not always completely listen to what our partners are telling us. Make a concerted effort to focus, listen and respond in an attentive way. 6. Surprise your partner with a favorite treat. Stop by and pick up a doughnut or favorite coffee drink, and bring home, or drop it at the office when your partner doesn’t know that you’re coming. 7. In the middle of a busy day, check in and send a kind and loving email or text to your partner. Let your partner know you have been thinking about him or her, ask how his or her day is going, or just say how grateful you are to have them in your life. Read more: Redefining Love 8. Carve out some extra time to be attentive to your partner’s needs. Ask how you can make your partner’s day easier today, and then do your best to accomplish doing just that. These ideas will not only enhance your relationship, but you will also find that you’ve started a cycle that reverberates and creates more happiness for both of you—with or without the pink and red candy hearts. Stacy Kaiser is a licensed psychotherapist, author, relationship expert and media personality. She is also the author of the best-selling book, How to Be a Grown Up: The Ten Secret Skills Everyone Needs to Know, and an editor-at-large for Live Happy. Stacy is a frequent guest on television programs such as Today and Good Morning America.

Lifestyle

Mixed Berry Shortcake

This delicious berry dessert is super-quick and easy if you opt for store-bought individual shortcakes (available in supermarkets throughout the spring, during “strawberry season”), or you can use slices of homemade or store-bought pound cake—or any kind of biscuit or cake you like—as the base. Freshly whipped cream is a classic topping, but for a healthy alternative, try Greek yogurt sweetened with a spoonful of honey. Serves 6 4 cups mixed fresh berries, such as strawberries and blueberries 2–4 tablespoons sugar 6 pre-made shortcakes or slices pound cake 1 cup whipping cream or yogurt 2 tablespoons powdered sugar ½ teaspoon of vanilla A few leaves of fresh mint (optional) Gently wash all the berries, hulling the strawberries and slicing them in half. Place berries in a bowl, stir in the sugar and set aside and place in the refrigerator until ready, for at least one hour. To make the whipped cream, using a stand mixer or electric beater, beat the whipping cream, sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Spoon berries over each pre-made shortcake and top with the whipped cream or yogurt. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired. Serve and enjoy!

Jillian Michaels on the cover of Live Happy

Lifestyle

Peek Inside Our February Issue!

Our February issue of Live Happy magazine is now available. Here's a taste of what you'll find inside: Jillian’s World If you think you know Jillian Michaels, think again. She’s more than just a drill sergeant with abs of steel. The reality TV star has a new show that features her softer side—as a mom, a wife and epicenter of her own fitness empire. 90 Days to a Happier You Forget New Year’s resolutions—it’s time to try something transformative! We’ve enlisted five top experts in their fields to help us—and you—make 2016 the year we dream bigger, sleep better and conquer our greatest worries and fears. Join Live Happy staff members on a 3-month happiness challenge that will lead us to more joyful, fulfilling lives. Who’s Happier Than Hoda? Every morning America wakes up to the smiling face of Today anchor Hoda Kotb. Behind the dynamic cheerfulness and huge smile, Hoda has weathered her own challenges and come through them with the grit and wisdom of experience. She has also penned a new book about people willing to take risks and live with the consequences. Play Is the Thing Playtime is not just for kids anymore. Whether outdoors at the park or inside at the card table, research shows that play is good for your brain. Read about the science behind why we should all take time out of our busy schedules to play with friends and family. Plus Bethany Hamilton, Tal Ben-Shahar, foods to boost your mood and much more!! To find Live Happy magazine at a store near you, go to magfinder.magnetdata.net

Lifestyle

How Do You Spell ‘Santa’ in Swedish?

As we gather to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, longstanding global traditions cultivated throughout time merrily spring to life. Whether you are enjoying sweets like kourabiedes and melomakarona at your big fat Greek Christmas, or leaving rice pudding for the mythical Nordic tomte and his yule goat in Sweden, it's fun to learn how other cultures enjoy the season. The Americas On the first Thursday of December at 6:55 p.m., Canadians kick off their holiday season by lighting public trees, parks and buildings simultaneously. On Christmas Eve, you’ll find tourtiere, a meat pie filled with pork, onions and potatoes, on many Canadian dinner tables. In the United States, we decorate trees and exchange gifts while breaking bread with our loved ones over turkey, chicken, duck, goose or ham. For those celebrating Hanukkah, the eight-night festival of lights, Jewish families gather for potato latkes and jam-filled sufganiyot. African-Americans who recognize Kwanzaa will spend the week after Christmas lighting candles in a kinara, reflecting on family, community and culture. In Mexico, friends and family will eat turkey stuffed with ground meat, pork tamales, roasted pork leg and bunuelos, a sweet treat of fried dough and powdered sugar. Starting on December 13, houses will be decorated with poinsettias, evergreens and paper lanterns. The United Kingdom Most of the American holiday traditions—including the first Christmas card exchange—can be traced back to Britain. In many British homes you’ll find confectionary treats shaped like mice and candy-filled noisemakers. Brandy or similar warming drinks will be left out for Father Christmas to enjoy. In Ireland, the age-old custom of Feeding the Wren takes place mostly in small villages on St. Stephen’s Day, the day after Christmas. Young men and women dressed in masks parade loudly though the streets with a wren in a holly bush and attempt to collect money for the poor. At the end of the day the bird is released. The Mediterranean In Greek culture, families gather for massive feasts, with multiple cooks in the kitchen preparing favorites such as pastitsio, moussaka and keftedes. Mary Colias Carter, marketing director for the Greek Food Festival of Dallas, recalls the holidays filled with Greek music, dancing and an endless bounty of treats made from phyllo dough. “You would get to the point where you couldn’t look around the house without seeing pastry because my mother made so many,” she says. In Lebanon, friends and family visit on Christmas morning. Guests are served coffee, liqueurs and sugared almonds. The family gathers at the grandparents’ or eldest son’s house for a Christmas lunch of chicken, rice, bulgur and kebbah. Scandinavia On December 13, many of the Nordic countries participate in the St. Lucia celebrations. Young girls, usually of Swedish descent, wear long, white gowns with red sashes. The eldest girl picked to represent “Lucia” will be adorned with a crown of candles, a welcoming light in the darkness of winter, and will serve sweet saffron buns and coffee. Many Scandinavian households celebrate Christmas Eve with a smorgasbord, a buffet-style meal that includes a mixture of hot and cold dishes. The Julbordet, or Christmas table, plays an important role in Scandinavian tradition, with hand-embroidered tablecloths and Porsgrund Norway Nisse flatware, which is only to be used on Christmas. Asia The Japanese share Americans’ enjoyment of rockabilly music, baseball, and yes, Virginia, even Christmas. While they focus less on the spiritual aspect of the holiday and more on the festivities, the Japanese have their own version of Santa Claus known as the Hoteiosho, a gentle old man who carries a large sack of gifts. Be sure to be on your best behavior, because this jolly fellow has eyes in the back of his head to see who has been naughty or nice. In India, those who celebrate Christmas (mostly in the Southern region) prepare a special meal called the vindaloo, a popular curry dish with pork and saffron rice, and drink homemade ginger wine. Sweets are exchanged, and sounds of carolers and firecrackers fill the air. The holidays are meant for spending time with the ones who make you happy. So from our family to yours: Joyeux Noel, Feliz Navidad, I’D Miilad Said Oua Sana Saida, Christmas ke Shubhashai and Kala Christouyenna. Chris Libby is the section editor at Live Happy.

Lifestyle

Spicy Carrot Soup

Carrots are like the ideal party guest: They’re available year-round and everybody likes them—even kids. What’s more, they are easy to store, pack and prepare. They are packed with beta-carotene, an antioxidant that protects night vision and boosts cardiovascular health. What’s more, they also give you a dose of vitamins A and K, and some potassium, too. Carrots: A vegetable for all seasons In the 1980s, “baby carrots” came on the market and kids’ lunches have never been happier or healthier . No, these are not literally “baby” (they are young carrots cut small), but yes, you are literally getting your kid to eat a carrot, so a win is a win. Carrots can be shaved raw into salads, cut into sticks and dipped, sliced and roasted with cumin seeds and maple syrup…the possibilities are endless. Our favorite carrot recipe for a cold day is this simple carrot soup, spiced up with ginger and a little bit of red pepper flakes. If you don't like spice, simply leave out the pepper flakes; the ginger still gives the soup plenty of zest. INGREDIENTS: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 whole onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes 1½ pounds carrots (about 10 carrots), sliced into 1-inch pieces 6 cups chicken stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 1 tablespoon brown sugar Sour cream for garnish (optional) 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley for garnish In a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter. Add the onion, ginger and red pepper flakes and sauté over medium-low heat until the onion has softened but not browned, about seven minutes. Add the carrots and stock and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat and let simmer until the carrots have softened enough to be pierced with a fork, 25–30 minutes. Using an immersion blender or stand blender, purée the soup. Once the soup is a smooth consistency, continue cooking briefly over low heat and taste; add salt and pepper as needed. If you’d like more sweetness, add the brown sugar. If the purée seems a little thick, add water as needed. Ladle the soup into individual bowls and garnish with a spoonful of sour cream and, if using, a sprinkling of parsley. Serve hot and enjoy! Learn more: Listen to our podcast with Dr. Drew Ramsey, Happier With Every Bite Emily Wise Miller, a former cookbook editor and food writer, is the web editor at Live Happy.

Lifestyle

The Joy of Being Dolly Parton

Whether she’s commanding one of the world’s most prestigious stages in concert or seated in a Nashville studio sharing anecdotes and insights during an interview, Dolly Parton’s larger-than-life persona makes any encounter feel somewhat magical. She sparkles from head to toe—and not just from the spotlights or the bling on her custom dresses and pantsuits—carrying with her a strong inner light from her early beginnings growing up in the mountains of Tennessee. Dolly credits her parents and her Appalachian upbringing for shaping her positive personality and teaching her resilience. “There is no doubt in my mind that it’s in my Smoky Mountain DNA,” Dolly says. “My mama and daddy were the strongest people I ever met. God, family and hard work weren’t just ideas at our house, they were what made our house. I carry those values in my heart every single day, and I think it’s the best gift my folks ever gave me.” She’s celebrated that legacy this holiday season with the autobiographical NBC movie Coat of Many Colors, named for one of her best-loved songs. “Of all the songs I’ve written, ‘Coat of Many Colors’ is my favorite, and the folks at NBC have done a fantastic job bringing it to life,” Dolly says of the movie, which aired Dec. 10. “I swear, it’s just like I remember it, and all the actors remind me so much of the real people they’re playing, it’s unreal. All about the music Ask her about her life today—her passions, heartaches and plans—and she points to her songs. “Everything there is to know about me is in my music,” says Dolly, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame who has won seven Grammys, seven Academy of Country Music honors and nine Country Music Association Awards, including Entertainer of the Year. “My ups, my downs, my good- and my not-so-good times are all there in the stories I write. Every song I sing reveals a little more about my heart and what guides me through this life. I hope that if folks find it important or helpful it is because it gives them a voice and a knowledge that other people have the same feelings that they have, and that they’re not alone.” Despite her famously happy demeanor, Dolly admits she does have her down times just like everyone else. “In my stage show, I joke around and say that I’m not always happy, that it’s Botox that makes me look that way,” she says with a laugh. But I’ll tell you the truth, being happy is not always easy. No one can be happy all the time. As a songwriter, I need to feel all kinds of different emotions so I can tell my stories through the music. At the end of day, I choose to be happy.” “Everyone’s lives have ups and downs,” she says. “If there is something different in me, it’s that I make a choice each day to work hard to face challenges head-on, and keep reaching for those dreams. You’d be surprised how many I actually catch.” Or maybe we wouldn’t be so surprised. Over her five-decade career, Dolly has added her spunk and grit to iconic films such as Nine to Five and Steel Magnolias, and written and performed some of the most memorable hits in country and pop music, including “Jolene,” “Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?” and “I Will Always Love You.” For three decades, her amusement park, Dollywood, has provided opportunities for residents of her East Tennessee hometown. Everyday Dolly Dolly began singing as a child, performing on local radio and TV shows in her area. She moved to Nashville the day after she graduated from high school to pursue a career in music. Shortly after her arrival, she met Carl Thomas Dean at a local laundromat. Next year on May 30, she and Carl will celebrate 50 years of marriage. “Carl is the funniest, sweetest, kindest, most romantic man I ever met,” Dolly says. “After 50 years, he still opens my car door for me every single time and treats me like a queen every second we are together. To me, he is happiness and joy.” Away from the spotlight, Dolly says she lives a pretty normal life and finds pleasure in the simple things. “I love to read. I love good books,” she says. “I love to cook. I love hanging out with my husband riding around in our little RV, because even though I get off the road after traveling thousands of miles I’ll say, ‘Get the camper. Let’s go somewhere.’ He’ll say, ‘Are you kidding? Ain’t you tired of riding?’ But no, I’m a gypsy." Dolly also enjoys spending time with family. Though she and Carl never had children of their own, she helped raise several of her siblings and is very close to her nieces and nephews who call her Aunt Granny. She can often be found babysitting the kids in her family. Christmastime is always joyous; there’s one tradition in particular that’s a favorite. “Cookie night!” Dolly says. “I love all holidays, but Christmas cookie night has been a family tradition for years. “I get all my nieces and nephews and their kids over, and we make all different kinds of decorated sugar cookies. I think more ingredients end up on the floor than in the cookies, but it’s all part of the fun. I usually find sprinkles in my hair until Valentine's Day." God, family and music When asked what gives her life the most meaning, Dolly replies, “Three things: God, family and music, in that order.” She’s always been very open about how her faith informs her life and brings her peace. “My faith is everything to me. I’m so thankful that I grew up like I did. My grandpa was a preacher and my mom was very spiritual. I’m not religious at all, but I’m very spiritual. I communicate with God in my own way....I don’t think you have to be in a church house. I think the church is in your heart, so I try to connect and stay close to God. It means everything to me." I can’t begin to imagine what life would be if I didn’t have faith, didn’t have something to believe in, something bigger than me, something greater than us. I want to be just connected to that and be a part of that and I believe in that with all my heart and that helps me a great deal.” Prayer is important to Dolly, even if it’s informal. “I just call on Him like he’s my best friend,” she says. “Every day I ask God to take all the wrong things and all the wrong people out of my life and bring all the right things and all the right people in and let me know the difference. I ask to shine and radiate with His love and light and be a blessing.” With all the things she’s accomplished, Dolly could easily just sit back and rest on her considerable laurels, but that’s just not in her nature. “I have never been one to live in the past,” she says. “I have new ideas and dreams every single day, and I can see them as if they were already happening. “I’m still working on my life’s story for Broadway. I still want a wig line and a cosmetic line. Lord, I can’t even list all the stuff I want to make happen. As far as home versus work, for me they are one and the same. I have been working on my dreams since I was 10 years old. I’m not sure I know how to ‘not’ work. I think my best and happiest days are still ahead of me. In fact, I know it.” Deborah Evans Price is a freelance writer based in Nashville, TN.

Lifestyle

3 Holiday Cookies With a Healthy Twist

During the holidays when I was growing up, barely a surface of my home was left uncovered by faux pine or "snow," with garlands wrapped around the staircase railing. As an adult, however, I have never really gotten into winter tchotchkes or decorating for the holidays. But I do like to transform my kitchen into a sort of Santa’s workshop, with my oven turning out hundreds of cookies and other treats. Keeping in mind that these goods require an energy boost for those of us who make them, this year, I thought, why not lace my holiday cookies with some health-enhancing superfoods? Tradition laden with nutrients Matcha (a fine powder made from pulverized bright green tea) made me think of a forest of verdant little Christmas tree sugar cookies, each promising the concentrated antioxidants (and signature grassy flavor) of this special tea, higher than other green teas because it utilizes ground-up leaves, rather than filtering out whole ones. Turmeric has been in the news a lot, said to ward off everything from cancer to arthritis to heart and liver disease. In addition, turmeric is perhaps the most promising food in terms of fighting depression—a true mood food if ever there was one. Turmeric brought me to thoughts of curries, and thus coconut, and with it, my favorite coconut cookie, the ANZAC biscuit. Chewy and salty-sweet, the turmeric version brings a note to the cookie plate that is at once exotic and familiar. Finally, I wanted to include a classic holiday Linzer cookie, which has always gotten its toasty flavor from ground nuts. Why not make them with walnuts, whose health profile (one ounce boasts more antioxidants than you get from all the fruits and vegetables you eat in a day) should crown them as king of the nuts? I'm not claiming that these cookies will work any miracles, but I do promise that a little nibble will bring you that kind of whole-body good feeling that, who knows, might just have the power to transform your day. Matcha Sugar Cookies Makes about 5½ dozen cookies COOKIES: 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus additional for rolling out cookies 3 tablespoons matcha powder** 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg 2 tablespoons milk, optional ICING: 1¼ cup confectioners' sugar 2 teaspoons matcha powder 3 tablespoons milk Red, white, or silver sprinkles or dragees (silver sugar balls) SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: A Christmas tree cookie cutter. For the cookies: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, matcha powder, and salt; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together the butter, sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl once, about 7 minutes. Add the egg and beat until combined; scrape down the sides of the bowl. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, scraping down the sides of the bowl once, and mixing until the dough just comes together. If the dough remains crumbly, add the milk a tablespoon at a time and mix until it just comes together. Press into a flat brick and wrap in plastic; refrigerate until firm, at least 3 hours. Bring the dough to room temperature for 10 minutes. Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking pads. Dust a work surface and rolling pin lightly with flour. Remove a third of the dough and roll it out to about 1/8-inch thick. (Keep remaining dough wrapped in plastic.) Cut into trees and gather up the scraps; wrap scraps in plastic and refrigerate. (Repeat with remaining dough; you may re-roll scraps a few times.) Transfer trees to the lined baking sheets and bake until toasted and fragrant, switching and rotating the pans halfway through, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely. For the icing: Whisk together the confectioners' sugar and matcha powder, then whisk in the milk until smooth. Spoon the icing on top of the cooled cookies and let excess drip off back into the bowl; sprinkle with decorations. Place on a rack to dry rack to cool. **Matcha powder is available at Whole Foods, specialty and health food markets, and online. Coconut-Turmeric Oatmeal Cookies Makes about 5½ dozen cookies 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut 1 cup all-purpose f our 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats 1 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons turmeric ¾ teaspoon kosher salt 1½ teaspoons baking soda 2 tablespoons boiling water 10 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon honey Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking pads. In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut, four, oats, sugar, turmeric and salt. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together the baking soda and boiling water. In a small saucepan, melt together the butter and honey. Remove from the heat, then whisk in the baking soda mixture. Stir into the flour mixture. Pack teaspoons of the dough and turn out onto the lined baking sheets, about 2 inches apart. Bake until golden brown, switching and rotating the baking sheets halfway through, about 10 minutes. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely. Walnut Linzer Thumbprints Makes about 5½ dozen cookies 1 cup walnuts ½ cup granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon cinnamon ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1½ sticks unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon-size pieces 1¾ cup all-purpose f our A scant ½ cup raspberry preserves (not seedless) Position the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment or silicone baking pads. Spread the walnuts out in a small baking pan and bake until fragrant, about 12 minutes. Cool completely and leave the oven on. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the nuts with the sugar, cinnamon and salt until ground to sandy crumbs. Add the butter, a few tablespoons at a time, and pulse until blended before adding more. Add the f our and pulse until the dough forms a cohesive ball. Scrape the dough into a medium bowl. Remove heaping teaspoons of dough and roll into 1-inch diameter balls. Arrange dough balls about 1½ inches apart on the lined baking sheets. Press an indentation in the center of each ball. Fill the thumbprint in each cookie with about ¼ teaspoon raspberry preserves. Bake until toasted on the edges and fragrant, switching and rotating the pans halfway through, about 15 minutes. Let cookies sit on the cookie sheet on a cooling rack 5 minutes, then transfer the cookies to the rack to cool completely. Leslie Porcelli is a freelance writer living in New York. Previously she was an editor at Gourmet and Martha Stewart Living.

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