One of the very best spring meals!
This recipe is light, warming, & soothing; it's particularly good on a cold, wet,spring day.
You could substitute other veggies, but the snow peas are delicious this time of year. I used just 2 table spoons of red curry paste--instead of 3
Read MoreDear Friends,
In this time of global suffering and uncertainty I've heard from several people they'd like to establish, or return to a prayer practice to support all the people affected by the war in Ukraine. It's an excellent time to do this.
Read MoreDear Friends,
You might know from past emails that I've been taking time for a pause these last few months. The last two years have been challenging for me, and perhaps for you too. So often I found myself in an "argument with reality."
Read MoreOur bodies require movement, a lot of it, to operate fully. And that's the reason exercise is nearly always listed as beneficial for health issues. But it's not just our joints and muscles that are protected by movement. Did you know that the health of our eyes and thus our vision can be impacted by lack of movement, as well as our digestion? And without movement we just don't FEEL our best each day.
Read MoreIt's so important to remember it's never too late to make changes that support our health over the long term. Our bodies are resilient, and when we learn to stop running ourselves ragged and turn toward the life we want to be living, things get better. And it is best to start is very simply.
Read MoreIt's mid-December and we are finishing up another year. And, for many of us, what a challenging year it was! I'm a very big fan of slowing down, especially at the end of things, and December is an especially potent time to slow down.
Last Saturday the Nourish Your Vitality group met for our monthly retreat and together we honored 2021, and went through a process of pausing, reflecting, journaling, and acknowledging our year in order to let it go.
Read MoreOne of my favorite fall treats. Crisp greens like endive and escarole (endive is pictured below the kale in this photo) are heartier than lettuce and have more "bite". These greens can be slightly bitter and stand up well to a blue cheese dressing. This dressing also works beautifully as a sauce for steak, or dip for carrots or cucumbers.
Read MoreWhen it comes to making changes for your life or health are you "love-drawn" or "ego driven"? I've borrowed these terms from Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar, author, and teacher, & Founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, NM.
Read MoreDid you know about a third of people who have had covid -19, even mild cases, can have lingering symptoms? These range from headaches, to extreme fatigue, memory problems, joint pain, loss of smell and more. It's common to feel unwell for weeks or months. It's mysterious as to why this happens.
Read MoreI recently read an article published in Vermont Medicine that really got me thinking and I wanted to share it with you; "Study Shows Better Way to Pay for Pain Management".
When we have a pain issue, our medical system typically pays for things like shots, pills, and surgeries. Often these are a blessing, and can help those with unrelenting pain manage each day. But, sometimes these approaches don't work, and addiction, or despair and depression set in.
Read MoreYou probably guessed I'm referring to yoga asana practice, or postures. The health benefits of yoga are very real, but sometimes we're enjoying practicing so much we forget about that fact.
Here are some recent studies that helped me to take my practice more seriously:
Read MoreLet your body be your guide in terms of nourishment. I've seen there's no "one size fits all" when it comes to food, but one rule of thumb we can all use is to avoid processed foods, or anything you couldn't create in your own kitchen. (For instance, Pringles can't be made at home!) And remember, a hamburger is a whole food, as is an egg, an apple, brown rice, fresh veggies, and fruits. The more processed a food is the more likely it is to have additives that harm us--and over a lifetime those additives can add up.
Read MoreIt's more important than ever these days to ground ourselves in self-love and self-care. We can weave this into our day in this in simple but powerful ways: taking a few deeper breaths, grocery shopping so we have food in the house, including some downtime on our schedule, and above all, being kinder to ourselves.
Read MoreOver the years I've heard my meditation teachers emphasize the great importance of "Keeping Good Company". What we focus on matters, and when I'm with people who have a good effect on me, I receive so many benefits. When we come together with kindred spirits we are more likely to be able to maintain healthy patterns and perspectives.
Read MoreSometimes we struggle with stubborn patterns of behavior, thinking, or with an illness, and despite all our hard work and effort, the pattern won't budge; in fact the pattern seems to be totally intractable, and set in cement! Some patterns are indeed entrenched and longstanding. They seem to be etched into our very being, and most often they don't go away on their own.
Read MoreAfter The Autumn Equinox: We Move Towards the Season of Hibernation and Deeper Reflection
--Take good care of your body as the fall progresses with exercise every day. Make time to get outside and walk twice a day, and if possible, work next to a window, to get as much natural light as possible. This will tend to help your body stay warm, keep your mind focused and clear, and keep seasonal sadness at bay.
Read MoreI usually double this recipe for Bruce and I, and triple it for bigger groups. It's a huge late summer favorite when eggplants are in season, and can made quickly, served warm or at room temperature. This variety of eggplant is delicious, not bitter, so easy to prepare, and the peanut sauce is fantastic on other veggies or on noodles.
Read MoreDo you know the old joke about why Vermonters lock their car doors in August? To keep people from leaving zucchini in the back seat! There's an abundant supply of this vegetable right now, I myself have an entire crisper drawer full of it, and this is one of my favorite August cakes.
Read MoreThis recipe is from our years of living in Portland Maine, and it really does melt in your mouth. I pulled out this recipe last week, on a stained index card in an old friend's handwriting. Remember when we used to actually write out recipes for each other?
Read MoreThe antidote to stress is relaxation, and one of the most incredible ways to learn to relax is through restorative yoga. This kind of yoga can help you heal pain, ease fears, and turn off the constant buzzing of anxiety in your brain.
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