Autumnal Stirrings

It's Autumn equinox....one of the two times in the planetary calendar when the length of the day and night are approximately equal at every place on earth, and Fall is in full swing here in Virginia.   Already the leaves are starting to change the acorns have been falling and the early evening air is crisp and chill.  The fruits of summer are starting to fade while the farmer's markets are filling up with all kinds of winter squashes, gourds, pumpkins and all the different variety of apples.   It is the beginning of soup season and so I made soup today as I was craving it all week... I'm posting the recipe below,  it is very easy and cooks in no time flat. Autumn is a time of major transition and change on so many levels and it is definitely stirring me up.  I am overflowing with a multitude of new ideas and I can barely contain myself.

My study station

Part of this is because I am learning so much through my studies at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.....I can hardly wait to get up to my woman cave to study each night after a full day's work.  You can see my portable workstation where I spend most evenings listening to lectures and watching videos and doing exercises to increase my own self awareness, release old patterns from my past and learn new and invigorating ways to build my future and my health coaching practice.  I'm working hard to build my new website which will be completed soon.  I am making new friends and connecting with health coaches all over the country and the world.  Can you tell how excited I am?   In coming posts I will definitely share with you some of the new teachers, books and resources that I'm finding amazingly helpful and inspiring. 

I'm also excited because I have been making many new connections here in my town and at the same time I am deepening existing friendships. I am indeed being nourished on many levels and that is really what it takes to feel grounded and whole and happy.   Food of course nourishes us and healthy food choices really help but the food we eat is just not enough....we need deep nutrition on all levels to live our best lives.

Taking time to cook our food is a nourishing activity and of course takes time. First we have to decide what to eat, then go buy the ingredients and on and on.  It does help to have the pantry stocked with good food so when you the urge to cook something nourishing comes you have everything you need at your fingertips. Some of the best recipes can be whipped up in very little time ...the soup I made for lunch today was a recipe that took  5 minutes to prepare, 30 minutes to cook and it was made up of all very basic staples that every natural food kitchen should have (a future blog post no doubt).  So here is the recipe for Soothing Soup which was adapted from a recipe that I obtained many years ago from a Waldorf School Parent Cookbook.

Soothing Soup (serves 4)

This is truly a favorite and it really is soothing. This will be a recipe you turn to again and again.  It is extremely easy to make and takes about 30 mins to cook.  

Make sure you have red lentils on hand all the other ingredients are staples. You can add  a TBS of chopped fresh ginger and garnish with cilantro. 

1 onion, peeled and chopped

2 T olive oil 

          1 clove garlic, minced                            

1 1/4 cup split red lentils                                  

4 cups water

2 Tbs lemon juice

sea salt and black pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in oil til soft.  Add lentils and water.  Boil until the lentils are soft usually 20-30 minutes. Can blend in blender or use hand blender or leave as is.  Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.  You will probably want to double this the next time.  Reheats well.

                                         for a printable version of this recipe click here

I'm off now to work and explore more of what the Autumn and my life is calling me to do....learn, connect, create, cook, enjoy the weather, relax and so much more. Please feel free to comment and share in the dialogue with what is stirring with you this season.....I'd love to know.

                                                          Be well and at peace,

                                                                        Lisa

                               

Autumn is here and the leaves are a' changing....

Changes abound in life. Some are self imposed like a healthier diet plan, an invigorating fitness program or perhaps a decision to change an unhealthy behavioral trait like always being late or being afraid to speak in public, or even a job change or a re-location. Then there are changes we have no control over like the seasons changing or your car breaking down, you break a leg or you lose your job. Change is a given....it could be for the best or perhaps not but one thing is certain it always comes. Just when you think you have figured something out ....it changes again. So the importance of adapting and going with the flow can not be underestimated.

How we adapt or transition into change is what truly counts. Just look at nature....the animals always know when a storm is coming and they take cover to get out of harm's way. The birds know when night turns to day and we can listen and know too. The adapting part is paramount to survival and a key to maintaining wellness. As the autumn winds blow and the days have that morning chill it's important energetically to prepare the body, mind and spirit for the coming winter. We start to drink more warm beverages and less chilled ones, we roast and bake more and grill less...this is a natural response. The time to start thinking of soups and stews is upon us and rightly so to start using warming herbs and spices like cinnamon and ginger. Protecting the physical body from the elements is vital to staying well. Keeping the neck covered with a scarf as well as keeping the low back and kidney area warm with layers is wise to protect the vital Qi or life force. Wearing socks, stockings and warm shoes and hats keep the body temperature stable as well as keeping the pernicious elements at bay. We have no control over the changing seasons but since it is a time of vulnerability mindful care must be taken to transition smoothly.

All change whether self imposed or not puts us in a state of vulnerability thereby requiring utmost attention and support. Enlisting the support of family members or friends is essential if you truly want to make the change go smoothly and have a positive outcome. The support person can help hold you accountable and also can greatly inspire sticking to your resolve to change. Recently I read in the Daily Progress, our local newspaper, about a woman who lost 73#, her story was remarkable and she emphasized support. Her husband and friends helped her greatly. It would be extremely hard to stick to a diet plan if your significant other is going to offer you candy and sweets.

Being able to reach out to others and make them aware of your need for support is a step in the right direction. Enlisting the help of a coach, checking in with them on a consistent basis is extremely helpful. Joining a group of people all going through a similar change is a good idea. It is a rare person who can go it alone and succeed wholeheartedly. Be aware also that sometimes there are people around you can somehow feel put off by your changing self and they can unconciously say things that are less than supportive, perhaps it brings up feelings inside of them of changes they'd like to make but find difficult. Change anyway and in time your efforts will inspire the best in them also. Sometimes your friendship circle will change to encompass new friends that support the change and that's very exciting.


The changing season has really been inspiring new ideas in me. The farmer's market has been bursting with vibrant colors of the harvest and each week I come home with an abundance of nourishing food. I've been busy washing and cleaning the veggies and planning the week's menus and as I am spending more time in my kitchen again I am super motivated to reach for more ease and efficiency in my small kitchen. I surprised myself as I thought of a new way to organize some of my cabinets to create more space. I'm ditching my huge spice rack for a peg board on the wall to hang my pans. Of course it's going to take a little work to find space for my spices but I've already cleared out some stuff I hardly use. I was convinced there was no more room in my kitchen but by simply looking outside the box.....poof...I found many new possibilities. The kitchen is just a start and a metaphor to a whole new me!

And now for a recipe!!!!!! Last week at the farmer's market I found escarole! How very excited I was! I grew up in a close knit Italian family and we lived in an attic apartment in my grandparents' house and would often come home to delicious aromas coming from my grandparents' kitchen. My grandfather did quite a lot of cooking and escarole and beans was a family favorite. Escarole is a bitter green that gets less bitter as you cook it....it soothes the stomach and the palate and in this recipe is quite fast and easy to prepare as long as you have a some essentials in your pantry.

Escarole and Beans

serves 3-4

1 head escarole, cleaned and coarsely chopped

4 large cloves of garlic, chopped

2-3 Tbs olive oil

1 15 oz. can of Kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 quart of broth, preferably chicken broth

sea salt to taste

In a 2 quart saucepan, heat the olive oil and lightly cook the garlic, being careful not to burn the garlic. Add the chopped escarole, the broth, beans and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Add more water or broth if it's too thick. Adjust the salt to taste.

Click here for the printable version of this recipe!

Enjoy the soup! And especially enjoy the season! And in the words of Benjamin Franklin, "When you're finished changing-you're finished!"

All my best, Lisa