Herbal Allies: Mugwort
When I was an herbal apprentice, we chose a plant to work with every year. We even did a meditation to connect to which plant would be that year’s ally. My first plant ally was Mugwort (Artemisia Vulgaris).
Mugwort/Artemesia (also known as Cronewort, Common Wormwood, Wild Wormwood) is named for the Greek Goddess Artemis, and is well known as a powerful women’s herb (used for menstruation, childbirth, menopause).
It is also a wonderful herb for arthritis and joint pain, and as a bitter for aid to the digestive system. In the past I have infused apple cider vinegar with mugwort and taken it for acid reflux.
Mugwort is also a wonderful plant for protection and prophecy, meditation, dream recall, psychic powers and lucid dreaming.
Back in the day brewers used Mugwort to make a beer! I have actually done this, and it was some super powerful stuff. Now that I am allergic to gluten, I should maybe pick brewing back up as a hobby and do herbal beers!
My personal experience with Mugwort has been with introducing and then re-introducing magic into my life. The above photo is of two oil blends (from Phoenix Botanicals) I won in a contest last Halloween. I had started dipping my toes back into my herbal practice and entered the contest on a whim (I rarely win contests), and voila…back on the magical road.
It has definitely helped with dreaming and dream recall, and meditation. When I was an apprentice, I took some Artemisia tincture with me to Scotland (Iona) and it definitely helped make the experience more magical…that was in October, when the veil is thin.
I highly recommend Artemisia as a first herbal ally. She’ll lay a wonderfully magical foundation to build your practice on.
Juicy
I have decided to talk about my recent acceptance of juicing. I don’t agree with extreme diets, like juice cleanses, but I have found that with my busy schedule I was not getting enough veggies in my body and the results were starting to pile up. Sometimes we get so used to feeling poorly, that we don’t realize anything is amiss!
Lately I have been doing a loose sort of intermittent fasting because I find that my digestive system runs more efficiently when I do. Eating less overall, though, reduces the amount of veggies and fruits I consume. I also tend to eat lunch at work or on the run during the week, which impacts veggie consumption. Not eating breakfast also makes taking certain vitamins difficult because they either won’t absorb properly or make me feel nauseous.
One of the reasons I don’t want to adapt a strict juicing lifestyle is that I don’t feel satisfied replacing meals (specifically protein) with just juice (I realize this is a funny thing to say since I am, in effect, replacing breakfast with juice). The other is that a lot of juices contain as much sugar as soda, and my body does not tolerate sugar well these days. So I must be mindful of what’s in the juice. Store bought juices tend to be really high in sugar and contain preservatives, for the most part, to keep them shelf stable. And lets face it…the more natural, stripped down juices are not stripped down in price.
A little while back I had some tired spinach and some no sugar added green juice from the grocery store. I added them to a blender with some grapefruit and some other things I had languishing in the fridge…like some poor avocados (a healthy fat) I had forgotten about. I mixed in a little local honey and some fresh mint and voila…pretty tasty. When I drank it, I noticed a distinct energy surge lol. It was like my body was applauding me :D.
Since then I have been pretty good about doing this and having fun with the variety. It has been a great way to use up some of the powders and herbs I have bought, with good intent, to use in other things. The photo above is strawberries, ginger, turmeric and fresh mint.
Another healthy practice I had let slide was my kombucha. I had a less than stellar batch on the counter, so used that as my base liquid and it was so good! Another healthy thing (fermented food) in my body!
Keeping my dishes washed in a timely fashion can tend to be a challenge for me, so my increased blender use will be an issue…lol. The blender method, by the way, is so much better than a juicer…in my opinion…because you get the whole vegetable and fruit. All the skin and fiber and vitamins, minerals, etc. The sugar factor is also an issue, so mostly greens and low sugar fruits…like berries. I’m also a fairly lazy cook and herbalist…so the less chopping the better…whole berries and leafy greens…huzzah!
This week I used blueberries and English cucumber…and I am going to start putting more herbs etc into them. Watch me get all herbalist with this…
Wish me luck!
Camping Out in the Essence
Perfectly Imperfect
I originally posted this on the 21st of November 2011, but the subject of my/our essence keeps coming up lately. I have been doing a lot of inner work this year, but the self help industry basically tells us that there is something wrong with us. This doesn’t sit well with me. As a wellness coach I focus on the fact that we don’t need “fixing.” We need healing, self love and compassion.
I’ve also learned that true healing is basically the process of unraveling…time and time again…back to our essence.
***
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about “essence.” What my essence is and just staying put there. It feels pretty good to take up residence there because, after all, that’s where everything is born…
I’ve been doing this by taking part in all the things I love. Whether it be cooking, attempting to make beer, going on a photo shoot, knitting, re-stringing and tuning my violin, singing, working on art projects or daydreaming about the future. I’m finding that I feel more and more at home in my skin. It also shows me where I’m headed.
Whatcould be better? I think I’ll stay here for a bit…
Before the World Was Made
by W.B. Yeats
If I make the lashes dark
And the eyes more bright
And the lips more scarlet,
Or ask if all be right
From mirror after mirror,
No vanity’s displayed:
I’m looking for the face I had
Before the world was made.
What if I look upon a man
As though on my beloved,
And my blood be cold the while
And my heart unmoved?
Why should he think me cruel
Or that he is betrayed?
I’d have him love the thing that was
Before the world was made.
XO
Foods That Fight Inflammation
Blueberries with Honey, Lemon and Fresh Mint
Inflammation has been a pretty big focus in my life for the past year. I was found to be allergic to Gluten last April/May and have also been keeping tabs on my auto immune levels. Arthritis is present in my family and my Father had lupus so I am trying to keep as healthy as possible, as naturally as possible.
Inflammation is probably one of the biggest causes of illness. It can come from so many sources: Food, Stress……
Recently I spoke to my friends at the MLK Center about foods they can incorporate into their diets that will help fight inflammation. I need to be better at this as well, for my own sake!
Turmeric is a root native to India. It is full of carotenoids, curcuminoids, and essential oils called ‘tumerones. Many studies on curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric, have shown that it is more effective at reducing inflammation than NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
Ginger is a relative of turmeric. It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years to treat digestive upset, nausea, diarrhea, arthritis and heart conditions. Add ginger to recipes where you might use garlic or another pungent spice, such as stir-fries and marinades.
Blueberries are packed vitamin C, which can limit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, a type of protein that can worsen disease. Blueberries can also lower your risk for heart disease and cancer, and their anti-inflammatory benefits extend to warding off other chronic conditions caused by systemic inflammation, including autoimmune disease.
Salmon is full Omega-3s, which support a balanced immune response. Studies have shown the benefit of fish oil supplementation in patients with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis, lupus, multiple sclerosis and migraines. Supplementing with fish oil can decrease disease symptoms and flare-ups, and reduce dependence on anti-inflammatory medications.
Avocados are high in monounsaturated fat, particularly oleic acid, which studies have shown to reduce biomarkers of inflammation. Unlike most fruits, they are a good source of vitamin E, a micronutrient that has anti-inflammatory effects and is linked to decreased risk of joint damage in osteoarthritic patients. Adding avocado to a meal will help you fight inflammation for hours after eating.
Leafy Greens Dietary nitrate, found in leafy green vegetables and beets, has been shown to have the potential to reduce inflammation and arterial stiffness, which in turn reduces your risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. Leafy greens–such as kale, spinach, broccoli, collards, and arugula–are also brimming with vitamins A, D, E, and K, all of which have anti-inflammatory benefits and are necessary for optimal health.
Bone Broth is a natural source of glucosamine and is high in the anti-inflammatory amino acids glycine and proline, which help to reduce joint pain caused by inflammation. It has also been found to mitigate the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.The collagen in bone broth helps repair your gut lining, improves detoxification and liver function, encourages optimal bone mineral density, and supports healthy hair and nail growth.
*Original Source: 7 Foods That Fight Inflammation by Amy Myers MD
A Bowl Full of CHerries
I recently scored some delicious cherries on sale the night before volunteering at The MLK Health Center & Pharmacy, and then had a patient ask me about their benefits…coincidence? Maybe not!
I’ve also had more than one discussion about superfoods lately. I don’t believe we need to pack our pantries full of fancy things like chia seeds and maca powder to achieve a healthy diet. Not only are they expensive, but they come from far away, in many cases, so they are not locally sourced and so maybe not really the best or only choice for our bodies. I’ll admit that I have both maca and chia seeds in my cupboard, but they are not easy for me to work into my every day. In fact, I forget I have them most of the time since I am not big into smoothies or overnight oatmeal.
The following is a list of simple cherry fun facts:
They help with arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.
They are loaded with nutrients and antioxidants. A superfood!
They helps lower blood sugar levels.
They help lower the risk of heart disease.
Sour cherries can reduce the risk of stroke.
They can help lower the risk of colon cancer.
They can help improve memory.
They are a natural source of melatonin, which helps regulate sleeping rhythms.
More good news is that cherries are easy to add into your regular diet. You can simply snack on them or buy them frozen and add them to smoothies…you can even add dried cherries to your oatmeal. The options are only limited to your imagination, and desire to cook
My mom used to make a cherry walnut cake for my Dad’s birthday and I reinvented the recipe with rehydrated dried cherries a few years back. You can find the recipe HERE.
SUmmer Foods for Hydration & Sun Protection
On my most visit to the MLK Health Center & Pharmacy, I spoke about foods that help keep us hydrated through the warmer months and protect us from sun damage.
Not drinking enough water can lead to dehydration, which can cause numerous health conditions including fatigue, headaches, skin issues, muscle cramps, low blood pressure and a rapid heart rate. Over time, continued dehydration can even lead to more serious conditions such as organ failure.
Luckily, for those overwhelmed with how to keep properly hydrated, there are many healthy foods that can add water to our diet.
In addition to this, there are also many foods that aid in protecting our skin from sun damage (some on the following list play double duty!)
The following is a list I shared with the folks at the MLK Center:
20 Summer Foods to Help You Stay Hydrated & Protect Against Sun Damage
1. Watermelon & Canteloupe: (90% Water) Low Calorie, Vitamin C & A, Lycopene.
2. Strawberries: (91% Water) Vitamin C, Antioxidants, Reduces Inflammation.
3. Peaches: (89% Water)Rich in Vitamins A, B & C, Potassium, Fiber, Antioxidants.
4. Citrus Fruit: (88% Water) Antioxidants, Vitamin C, Immune Boosting.
5. Cucumber: (95% Water) Extremely Hydrating, Low Calorie, Vitamin K, Magnesium.
6. Leafy Greens: (92%+ Water) Rich in Vitamins & Minerals, Antioxidants, Fiber.
7. Zucchini: (94% Water) Vitamin C, Fiber, Immune Boosting.
8. Celery: (95% Water) Hydrating, Low Calorie, Vitamin K, Fiber, Potassium.
9. Tomatoes: High in Lycopene (processed tomatoes even more…tomato paste etc).
10. Bell Peppers: (92% Water) Vitamin Rich, Antioxidants, Fiber.
11. Cauliflower: (92% Water) Vitamin rich, including Choline Which Helps Brain Function.
12. Carrots & Sweet Potatoes: Beta Carotene, Which Protects Skin from Free Radicals.
13. Green Tea: High in Antioxidants, Catechins, Tannic Acid. Protects Against Sun Damage.
14. Almonds: Vitamin E, Quercetin, Protects Against Sun Damage, Anti-Inflammatory.
15. Red Grapes: Phytonutrients, Polyphenols, Quercetin, Help Protect Against UV Rays.
16. Turmeric: Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Helps Protect Against Ultra Violet B Radiation.
17. Flax Seed: Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Protects Against Sunburn, Reduces Inflammation.
18. Dark Chocolate: High in Antioxidants Which Protects Against Free Radicals.
19. Salmon: Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin E, Antioxidants, Anti-Inflammatory.
20. Broccoli Sprouts: Sulphorophane and Glucoraphanin (Skin CancerProtection).
Healing Crisis
One by-product of energy work that I had forgotten about is something called a “healing crisis…” When you actually feel worse following a treatment. It’s basically a negative energy detox, but it can be pretty discouraging.
The first time I received a reiki treatment (something I’ve recently began again) I had the worst nightmares…and I rarely have nightmares.
This past Christmas I was feeling really balanced after returning to meditation etc., and did something called a “light language” meditation. I was fairly new to this concept and this session brought me to a super high level of peace. At first. The words from the meditation revisited during my sleep that night (apparently there was more work to be done) and I woke up cold and disturbed…a feeling that lasted for a few days.
Healing comes in cycles and the deeper we go, the more we find to clear out (kind of like our houses)!
Also, it’s impossible to stay in the stratosphere all the time. Life ebbs and flows and there are peaks and valleys. We cannot know the light without having experienced the dark. All of it.
Through all this I have learned the importance of remaining grounded. Now, when I do a deep meditation, I am better at connecting to myself throughout it. Instead of allowing a healing crisis to discourage, just know that it’s normal and means we are doing the work! So keep going!
Taking breaks between cycles is also extremely important. We can get so caught up in the journey at times that we don’t realize we still need to rest at certain intervals. In my case, I had become kind of addicted to the healing and wanted to do it all at once! But healing doesn’t work that way.
As I travel along my path, and align with my purpose and mission, I still struggle with the in between moments at times, but I am getting better at celebrating each milestone and every victory. It is so exciting when your eyes open and you can feel the changes within yourself. It’s important to recognize and be proud about how far we’ve come!
Eventually life’s cycles and spirals will become less and less of a mystery and we can surrender to the divine plan.
Heal Thyself
I started getting Reiki again on the New Moon in January. I was feeling particularly unbalanced after having done a pretty deep meditation a week or so prior (that is another blog post all together), and knew it was time to enter the world of energy work once again.
I guess it’s been a little over ten years since I was introduced to reiki. I was living in Queens New York at the time, in need of energetic healing, and I discovered there was a reiki practitioner a short walk from my apartment. The experience put me in the world of alternative healing for the first time, and really did alter the course of my life.
“Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.”
I’ve been continuing to receive treatments on or near the full moon ever since January and it has really helped pull me back into a state of balance over and over again. I learn something new to help me along in my journey every time I’m on the table.
I am actually attuned to give reiki, but currently don’t feel called to be a practitioner. Right now I am choosing to use it on myself, in my everyday life and have been experimenting with infusing my products with its healing energy.
For those in my area, I highly recommend Tara at The Peace of Mind Center!
Sounds & Silence
One of my most powerful memories of my 3 year herbal apprenticeship is when we did a chakra balancing sound meditation out in the woods. I was sitting on a huge boulder and felt the connection to the earth as soon as we began chanting the root chakra tone…
I have been using sound healing techniques a lot over the past few months. I have moved from guided meditations to pure sound recently. It’s been pretty extraordinary!
Sound healing is extremely effective in all kinds of healing—emotional, mental and physical (I have even practiced meditations to help with cold and flu, as well as tennis elbow)!
Binaural Beats and Tibetan Singing Bowls are my current favorites. Singing bowls get right in there and soothe physical symptoms very quickly. I recently had trouble falling asleep because my heart was racing a bit…so I looked up meditations for the heart chakra and was pretty instantly aided by some singing bowls. When you find the right meditation music, it will resonate helpfully in the affected part of your body.
I have long found actual singing to be highly beneficial as well. I mean, we are actually creating the healing frequencies within our own bodies! You can’t get much closer to source than that.
Sometimes, to avoid my dog interrupting a morning meditation :), I will sit on my bathroom floor with my headphones and the shower going before getting ready for the day…it’s kind of like a personal sweat lodge! And the hydro therapy of the following shower doesn’t hurt either!
YouTube allows me to find meditations of varying lengths, too, so I can fit a quick one in when I’m running behind (which is often, lol).
I had turned away from meditation for awhile…blaming my ungrounded-ness and my racing mind. Honestly, I was mostly just afraid of what I might find in the silence. Some days it’s easier than others. Some days I find tears or anger that needs release. Sometimes I find calm and balance that lets me know all is well…
One thing I always find, though, is gratitude.
Stress Management
During my February visit to the MLK Health Center, here in Shreveport, I discussed the importance of stress management in connection with our overall health.
All kinds of stress causes dis-ease in the body. Chronic stress and anxiety can reduce immunity, cause inflammation, worsen existing conditions or create new ones. Stress hormones should move in cycles…the fight or flight response is a natural defense designed to protect us, but with the ongoing stress most of us are under…we just keep fighting.
These stress hormones divert energy away from bodily functions such as digestion, and general internal healing. The fight or flight response takes our internal energy and brings it to our extremities so we can defend ourselves against whatever threat is being detected. Being on guard 24/7 is draining!
One example of the chain reaction from stress affecting something like tummy upset from stress, is that it clouds our thinking because all of our attention is focused on our stomach distress. I know I become short on patience when my belly gripes!
The constant stream of info we take in on a daily basis…from TV to our phones, the internet, advertising, creates stress alone with all the non stop stimulation. Add in our every day worries and it’s a wonder we ever find a moment’s peace.
We can help ourselves along with our lifestyle choices.
Our diets can cause stress as well. Some foods that increase stress include alcohol, caffeine and sugar. Calming foods include lean proteins, whole foods, oatmeal, yogurt, complex carbohydrates, almonds, raisins, and sunflower seeds. Eating warming, comforting foods when stressed can also be helpful.
Some herbs to try are: chamomile, lavender, lemon balm, oat straw, red clover. Adding a b complex and or magnesium supplement can also have a calming effect. Aroma therapy with lavender, chamomile and peppermint are also a positive addition to your routine.
Last but not least, we can add the following activities and techniques to our daily lives in order to relieve stress and anxiety: Yoga, deep breathing, mindfulness, living in the present, journal, or a slow hobby such as knitting.
This handout may be of help with keeping a positive mindset in order to reduce stress: Make Space for a Positive Mindset.
I also recently discovered Yoga with Adriene on Youtube. She even has some yoga sequences specifically designed to help with stress and anxiety.
For more info, you can check out this handy list of 10 Health Problems Related to Stress That You Can Fix.
My Word for 2019
2018 kind of kicked my ass. The past few years have had their moments, to be honest. I am bizarrely grateful for all the lessons I am learning and stories I have been releasing…but damn. So I have decided that my word for 2019 is HEALING.
***
I’ve been through healing phases before. The last really intentional one was probably back in 2010. So, I guess at 40 years old, I am due for another one.
Going back to school and re-entering the workforce did a number on me, on top of re-establishing a social life in a new place, and it all took me away from my herbal and alternative health practices. Not great reasons, but there you are…
In recent months I have gotten back into my herbal teas, meditation, chakra cleansing and reiki treatments.
This new website is also an expression of healing. I did go to the trouble of saving all my old posts from the previous versions of this site and I may or may not upload them here again. My past makes up who I am…the road I have traveled to get here, but I will take my time revisiting it as it serves me. It’s nice to be in a fresh space for now.
Here’s to healing in 2019….
XO
Back to Basics
16 January 2016
On of My Beloved Antique Kodaks
What's going on in my world? A whole lot of trying to rest up, to be honest. The holidays packed quite a punch and I am still getting my act together. One of the things I am realizing too, is that I need to take a lot more time for myself in terms of rejuvenation. I'm knackered...
With every washed dish and staple prepared and stocked...I feel more like myself. So I'm laying low for now.
In more exciting new though...I BOUGHT A NEW CAMERA!!!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to me!
It is a precious Digital SLR from the Canon family. As I fired her up (I think her name is Lila) I felt that old spark of excitement I hadn't realized I missed. Turning the lens to focus...mmmm, the click of the shutter...Heaven. Now all I need are some proper photo outings to really break her in....sigh.
Ooh the essence of 2012...I can feel it simmering in my bones...yum.
XO
Heading Into Another New Year
31 December 2014
New Year's Day Walk in Bircher Common, Herefordshire - 2013
As 2014 comes to a close, I am still in Northern Louisiana...a culinary and health coaching school graduate...trying to figure out what I want to do with my life. And so it goes...
I'm not really sure that will ever stop being the case. As I grow up, what I want to be keeps evolving. I never thought things would be like that when I was a kid. Although, when I was a kid I wanted to be a ballerina and a dog groomer. Things do change ;)
And they can change pretty fast.
Two short years ago I spent my New Year's Eve and Day in England with some lovely friends. We went for a traditional New Year's Day walk...it all felt very British (and new). I do miss the UK...
This year I am spending another quiet holiday at home in the throes of great change. I don't make resolutions...but I do want to set some goals for the coming year to help me move farther into my dreams. So far I've been doing pretty well.
So here are some of my goals and intentions for the coming year (I'm aware that some may spill into 2016):
Look into healthy cooking classes to learn so I can start teaching others
Take an immersion course through my coaching school
Offer coaching through my church
Design a poster for coaching services!
Really dive in to creating remote work so I can travel
Look into some supplemental design work
Start making moisturizer and medicinal stuff to sell
Open up my Etsy page once again
Begin planning my return to Scotland
Research visas
Explore employment at retreat centers once again
Keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities
Work on my own health/fatigue/aches & pains
Be even better about not eating processed food
Get enough (restful) sleep
Drink more water
Do more yoga
Be bold
Feel the fear and do it anyway
Keep Sam healthy and happy
Organize my stuff and space...purge if necessary
I think that's a pretty decent start. Looking back at last year, I think I'm doing pretty darned good.
XO
Happy New Year!
P.S. If you haven't already signed up for my free newsletter, you can do so HERE! This year I will be focusing on JOY.
All Things Merry & Bright
24 December 2014
Happy Christmas one and all! I am jumping on here really quick before going to sing in the choir. It has been a challenging year (still a week or so left!) but everything seems to be looking bright...
Spending Christmas on Iona in 2012 really shifted my perspective on gift giving and receiving. We made the majority of the gifts (something I have done for years anyway) and it was all about the simple things and creating a memorable holiday, together.
This year I have made most of my gifts once again and attended some lovely pre - Christmas events that really made me feel the holiday spirit....forging ahead and creating new memories.
Today I woke up to a surprise message that a friend from my New York days was in town and we met up for breakfast. She was also my travelling companion on my first ever trip to Scotland...which we all know changed my life. So...all good things are happening.
I am moving into the New Year trusting that all my hard work will continue to guide and direct me farther down the road I have have chosen.
Merry Christmas!
XO
If you haven't already signed up for my free newsletter, you can do so HERE!
Rennaissance Woman
23 December 2014
I remember saying, a while back, how I thought I'd enjoy making my living by doing a few different jobs (to keep me from getting bored). It was not something that I consciously pursued, but it seems to be manifesting regardless...
In the past week, I have worked at the cafe baking and doing line work, prepped at the vegan place, worked a dinner party job, taken my voice lesson and hopped onto the computer for a last minute graphic design job. I have also begun preparing to offer health coaching through my church. AND, since it is the holiday season, I have been in the home kitchen a lot (dog biscuits, cookies, preserved lemons, elder flower cordial, Whisky and vanilla infused sugar!!! Oh MY and short bread to come).
It makes for a pretty tired lady, but a pretty fulfilled one. One of the highlights of my day is napping with the dogs!
There are still financial fears, but I try to live with an attitude of abundance and gratitude and take each day as it comes. And I am very blessed to have a lot of wonderful people helping me out along the way.
XO
P.S. I can't believe it, but I will be putting out my final newsletter of 2014 very soon! If you haven't already signed up, you can do so HERE!
I’m the Chef
17 December 2014
While it is true, I am the Chef, I am still a very new one and have a lot to learn. I've been thinking about the statement, "You're the Chef" pretty seriously lately because there are so many things I still don't know, but feel like I should...
Recently I took on a last minute catering job for my church. They were in need of someone to provide a nice dinner for some generous folks who helped make our big Christmas concert happen. Enter me...the Chef.
I can tell you that I was a little freaked out because up until then I had only done menu planning/costing and portion sizing for school. Not for real people who were expecting a nice, professionally done, meal.
Yikes.
Well, after some extremely helpful input from my Sous Chef, Dawn (thanks Dawn!) I turned in my menu, got all the costs approved, and went shopping at Sam's.
Menu:
Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce
Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Potatoes
The one unfortunate element, and added difficulty, was that I was going to have to prep everything ahead of time since I was working at my vegan place on the day of the event. All the food was going to have to be re-heated (and not dry out), and most likely turned over to the wonderful volunteers who were going to plate and serve my food.
I feel my time in the Abbey Kitchen on Iona was helpful since we did all our cooking in the morning and reheated dinner in the evening AND the cook would leave directions (including every answer to every possible question the volunteers might have). I only hope I did the Abbey Cook proud with my meal.
As luck would have it, I was able to be at the church in time to take over from my Sous Chef and get the food in the ovens.
I was not super calm. I worried about everything...and thanks to my sanitation class I worried about a lot more than I would have prior to my training!
I don't know that I was that great at delegating. I must work on that...and I fear that I might have seemed short or impatient (I can get like that when I'm nervous). There were a lot of questions I wasn't prepared to answer and needed another take charge personality beside me. I was graced with a couple of these souls just when I needed them and I am grateful for their steadying presence.
The volunteers had to make me leave the kitchen in the end because I had to go change for singing in the choir! Yes...I was pulling triple duty that day/night.
All I could really tell from the food was that it made the church smell amazing and all the concert attendees kept commenting about it. I had to wait until I got home to try it out for myself, but it passed muster.
One tiny (or huge) issue was the sauce I originally made. I read the measurement for chili flakes wrong and let my nerves over-ride my intuition...resulting in a crazy spicy pot of sauce that I tried to fix by adding milk, yogurt, oil, wine...you name it. Then I ended up with a HUGE pot of spicy sauce. In the end I took it home and made a new, and different, sauce that did not have any chili flakes in it. I was not going to go down that road again. Some very happy choir member got doggy bags of the original "Amazing, Crazy Spicy Mushroom Sauce." I'm actually eating some pasta with it right now...yum-o.
Everything turned out pretty good in the end and I have a catering job under my belt. The bonus was that I was able to cook for a big group of people that I care about a whole bunch. That's why I wanted to be The Chef...
XO
If you haven't already signed up for my free newsletter, you can do so HERE! It's almost time to send out the last one for 2014! I can hardly believe it's been a year already.
Getting my Ducks in a Row
18 November 2014
Sort of how I feel these days...
I have begun experimenting with my time, now that my schedule is semi-settled once again and this website is one of the things that I am working on changing. A Monday/Wednesday/Friday posting schedule is no longer doable for me, so I am implementing some changes...
As they say, "The only thing constant in life is change," so I am going to try and do/schedule posts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the time being and then there is also The Wayfarers Journey Braid to round everything out.
Everything right now feels like a re-set. I am trying to figure out what I want the structure of my life to be (right now it is pretty much filled with early morning baking at a cafe in town and full weekends at the vegan meal service). I do enjoy both jobs and they are both pushing my comfort zone, which is good, but I also still have that health coaching certificate that I want to use as well as travel again (Scotland)!
Work-wise, I would also like to have at least one full day off a week (right now I am working every day) and I would like to be able to go back to singing in the church choir on Sunday mornings (I had to sacrifice something to leave my former job).
All these things are in the process of shifting.
As for Scotland, well...that plan is completely in flux and a total unknown right now. I had been operating under the assumption I'd be able to participate in a visa program for recent college graduates and be placed in a culinary training program somewhere...but alas, the UK border agency only accepts degree students and my certificate won't cut it. That had been plan A for over a year...plan B was when I applied for a resident cook's job on Iona (even though I didn't really feel ready for it) but was not granted an interview. So now I am not quote sure what to do. I definitely have to pay down some student load debt and bulk up my savings account once again after nearly two years of volunteering and college courses. I am thinking about taking part in a sustainable living course at The Findhorn Foundation. I stayed out in that part of the country back in 2008, at the beginning of another part of my present journey. It is where I decided to start my blog and study herbal medicine, so I think it would make total sense. However, for that, I will definitely need to get my ducks back in a row and more money in the bank.
XO
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Keeping Busy
12 November 2014
So...yes, things are quite busy in my world. I have two jobs, on top of special projects! When it rains it pours...but I would rather be busy doing things I enjoy and am learning from, than sitting around with tons of time on my hands...
I have two side projects in the works: The Wayfarer's Journey Braid and another being a book project that will be a seasonal journey through the chakras and a gentle companion for manifesting change called GatherWay. I am a wee bit behind with the second, but my friend Erin has begun posting some sneak peaks of her gorgeous artwork on the Journey Braid if you'd care to take a gander.
The Journey Braid now has posts up from the three contributors and it will continue to grow. Very exciting stuff!
I have chosen to recount my journey so far, and my first post is a bit of a somber one...but we all have to start somewhere. This blog is all in the present and new readers might not know where I began, about 10 years ago.
My choice to flashback came from the realization that we all need a reminder that things aren't always perfect and we all have baggage. Sometimes reading motivational writing can be discouraging. We might end up feeling less than or really far away from our dreams.
It's important to understand that this adventurer used to be scared of her own shadow...
We all start where we are.
XO
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Be Careful What You Wish For
10 November 2014
I am popping on here quickly today to remind everyone (and myself) how powerful intention can be. I was wishing for a change, and new work opportunities, and the Universe certainly delivered...
I was missing working in a commercial kitchen and now I have two kitchen jobs...and I was saying that not many jobs are like working in the Abbey Kitchen on Iona...
Well... my two job consist of 1. Working for a vegan meal service where we work in a small kitchen staff preparing food in bulk...with the radio on in the background (much like I did on Iona) and 2. I am baking bread and pastries for the cafe I interned at during culinary school (I baked bread and scones on Iona and loved it).
So...I asked, and received (and in record time).
I realize this is not always the case (I've had years and or months go by before things I wanted and worked for manifested); but I sure am glad someone out there moved me to the express line this time around.
XO
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Do You Validate?
04 November 2014
I'm Certified...
I have been thinking about validation a lot lately...in all its forms. Proving our worth, needing/wanting approval. And for good measure, letting go of the past and the need to feel appreciated...
When in a new place and situation, it takes a while for me to figure out who I am within that structure. It happened when I arrived on Iona and it happened all over again when I I started culinary school here in Louisiana.
I haven't been in a school setting in quite some time, so sitting through class and taking notes is quite a throwback experience (and it's much different this time around). One thing that seems the same, though, is my difficulty with the idea of being creative on demand. Back in the day at FIT it came in the form of concept classes for advertising design and now it comes with having to do Quick Fire challenges in the kitchen. I struggle with it quite a bit. I am trying to figure out who I am in that structure. How do I convey my knowledge of food in a timed and slightly foreign environment? So far I am doing okay but for me, tests are not the best showcase of my talent and creativity...
Yet I am seeking validation (and a good grade). It can be an icky place to be at times.
I have also been putting a lot of pressure on myself to do well because, well, I gave up everything to follow this path! What if after all that soul searching and Seeking out my my true essence I found out that I wasn't good at it after all???
Sometimes I get stuck in the difficult moments and start to compare myself to other students. I need to step back and remind myself why I chose to apply to culinary school. I want to combine my herbalism/health coaching/culinary skills to help people lead healthier, more fulfilling lives. So I need to remember that we, as students, are all on different paths...even though right now we happen to be in the same kitchen.
After speaking with one of my lovely new friends, and fellow health coaching student, I have decided that I need to come up with some visual ways to remind myself why I am here. I'm going to do some brainstorming. In my New York apartment I had vision boards etc all over the place. It's more of a challenge to do this when you are living a slightly nomadic existence.
I am going to keep bringing myself back to essence. As long as we remain conscious and aware and present...and keep moving back into that space, we will find our place and things will run smoothly. It's only when we ignore our instincts and push against what is happening that tension will set in and make everything go askew.
Feeling that need for validation is going to be an ongoing process of letting go. The only opinion that matters, in the long run, is mine. I just wish I could grade myself right now :D
XO
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