Blair, the slaw sounds delicious. Love jalapeno added to a tahini dressing. Here are my suggestions for asparagus and mushrooms: Frittata with gouda or pecorino Stir fry with tofu, chicken or shrimp and a sauce of tamari, mirin and sesame oil Roasted with shallot, thyme, garlic, wine, and olive oil and added to quinoa, pasta or zoodles

My creativity comes from a place of spaciousness. When I meditate, walk, hike, or garden my kind has a chance to empty and new ideas bubble up. I may visualize a dish to make, a class I’d like to teach, a friend to call and catch up with. Getting lost in time allows for inspiration.

So glad you all enjoyed it!

Hello everyone, The strawberry bars are not necessarily for good digestions but I was testing these this week and loved them so I wanted to pass them along to you. The strawberry chia jam however has some nourishing ingredients for the gut, namely the chia seeds which can act as an aid for constipation. Chia seeds are also high in soluble fiber which is a prebiotic and works to feed the gut flora.

Cooking for others is part of our human experience so it has brought up all kinds of emotions to not engage this way. It’s very natural to crave sweets when stress is high. Our brain signals the adrenals to produce more cortisol into the blood which did regulated blood sugar, causing us to crave sugar in some form to regulate itself. The important thing is not to judge but to acknowledge “this is stress”. “Stress is apart of life”. “May I be at ease”. It may also help to allow yourself a little sweet early in the day ie. piece of dark chocolate, fruit, etc

I’m so glad you liked them. And they are so easy to swap in other ingredients on hand.

Smoky Lentil and Carrot Cakes

Fennel Carrot Salad

Cooking helps me feel connected emotionally and spiritually. I can be having a terrible day and then I start cooking and forget about what was troubling me. Because I grew up with a mother who was always in the kitchen (both for her family and for Meals on Wheels), whenever I cook I feel a sense of connection to my past and for a path I'm creating for me and my family. Because my eating is much more rushed with a toddler, I'm waiting to eat breakfast or lunch a little longer when I can eat by myself and enjoy the meal. This also allows me to add spices to my meals she wouldn't normally eat.

Here are my lentils after soaked overnight and drained.

Simple black bean and kale quesadillas for dinner last nigt.

Looks wonderful! That dressing is drinkable:) Good idea to double it. Thanks for sharing.

Leftover rice is also wonderful for a quick "fried rice" with tons of veggies and your favorite protein. Add in tamari, mirin, and toasted sesame oil and you've got a quick dinner.

Beautiful!

Rice can be a wonderful way to get more dietary fiber, b vitamins and antioxidants, and when combined with legumes, a complete protein. For example rice with the tikka masala this week. I like to vary the color and texture like red rice, jade, black, etc. Some brands are higher in arsenic. I know Lundberg is lower. It’s hard to know and without doing some research. I like to use leftovers cold in a grain salad, soup, mixed into meatballs, mixed into a veggie fritter, or a grain bowl with veggies, protein and sauce. Hope that helps!

When I'm stressed I can reach for sweet or salty depending on the day. I've been trying to use different teas to help me through the stressful hours of the day. It's been nice to set up a selection and pick one according to what I need ie. a lift or relaxation. Tulsi or holy basil is my go too when I want something to ease my mind. And I usually find some kind of herbal tea is what I really crave between meals, not food.

Walnut "parm" and artichoke pesto pizza!

I did the same Blair minus the matzah brie. Eggs and pesto, so good!

Looks amazing and the mushrooms were a great idea!