I'm Dreaming Of A South Beach Christmas

Wanna win this new South Beach book? I'm giving 10 of them away!

Don't you just LOVE Christmas? I know I sure do! It's a time of happiness, good will, and FREE SOUTH BEACH DIET books!

Yep, you heard me right. Do you see that big bright book at the top of this blog post? That's the new Arthur Agatston book called the South Beach Diet Quick & Easy Cookbook and it is selling like hotcakes (without the carbs, of course!) at Amazon.com (in fact, you can get one for yourself or a friend right now by clicking here).

But you will also have a chance to win your very own copy of this bestselling book in an upcoming contest at the "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb" blog. Details will be coming in just a few short days, but I wanted to let you know about it right now so you can tell all of your friends and family to visit this weekend to learn how they can win. I'll have TEN copies of this book ready to ship to you if you are selected as one of the winners in the contest.

Be thinking about all those yummy recipes you'll be making from this book because it could very well be YOURS just in time for Christmas. It could!

In fact, how about if I share with you one of the recipes from the book right now:



Apple-Butternut Squash Soup

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes

Unsweetened apple cider adds body and a natural hint of sweetness to this thick and flavorful soup, and creamy winter squash delivers ample amounts of beta-carotene, B vitamins, and fiber. This recipe is very easy but it does take slightly longer to cook, which allows the flavors to meld perfectly. Look for packaged cut squash to help you save prep time.

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
3 cups lower-sodium chicken broth
½ cup unsweetened apple cider
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat oil in a large heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened and lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add squash, cover, and cook 10 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add broth and simmer until softened, 15 to 20 minutes.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer solid ingredients to a blender with apple cider and purée until smooth. Add 1⅓ cups of the cooking liquid and purée until smooth. Stir back into the pan. Serve hot.

Makes 6 (1 1/2-cup) servings

Nutrition at a Glance
Per serving: 160 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 6 g protein, 28 g carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 135 mg sodium

Mmmmm, doesn't this sound GREAT now that the cold weather is here? Full details on the FREE SOUTH BEACH DIET BOOK GIVEAWAY will be coming this weekend. In the meantime, I'll be singing...

"I'm dreaming of a South Beach Christmas...."

12-10-05 UPDATE: Contest details can be found here.