THE FRUIT OF LOVE BEGINS WITH THE SEED OF HOPE!
Before the month begins, you see the signs of it.. the burgeoning hearts, the splashes of red in everything, the lush, the lust, the fullness of the upcoming Valentine's rush. A cynic would laugh at the profiteering of it all. After all, love is meant to be enduring and the shenanigans leading up to "the day" need often to be simply endured. Yet, in many ways, I find this focus on the expression of love, heartwarming. Although it is simply a day to celebrate, the lead up is filled with thoughts and feelings about the 'other' - anticipation, excitement, nervousness ... in short HOPE.
Even little kid's books talk about that, love and friendship as a fulfillment of a deeper emotion - the need to be seen, to feel accepted, to be loved and to be cherished. And, so, why not revel in it?! Why not rejoice in it?! For where else is the joy but in spending a few days really thinking about making someone feel special and happy for even just a day!
This month, I am taking this feeling of hope and desire to be seen into more than the personal space, and into life in itself, for myself and for others. We are human and everything we do, think and touch is about feelings and relationships. Whether it is at work, or a hobby that brings joy, these feelings resonate. We all want to be accepted for who we are, what we like (and don't) and our choices. And, looking at it thus, I ask myself -
WHAT WILL I CREATE WITH HOPE?
When I view the world with the eyes of compassion, rather than judgement, listen with the ears of acceptance rather than censure, speak with understanding rather than criticism, what Wisdom will I glean and impart? For myself and those around me!
to SHARE and to HAVE
In the theme of love, this newsletter is dedicated to recipes and ideas that I love and cherish from the community at large.
Not intending to be cheesy but these "Corolli Rossi" from Emiko Davies's Aquacotta book is just the vision of joy for this month. I made these little cookies with my littles and if that isn't the seed of hope to bring a family together.... :)
RECIPES FOR THE MONTH
All the recipes listed here are great for your family, and, in the spirit of the month, selected from the community!
Topping the list, and, because, I actually made this twice in less than two weeks, this utterly luscious and surprisingly easyTiramisu from Jul's Kitchen. I have known Giulia for dog years now and have eaten her family's food on many occasions. Her passion for Italian food and focus on being true to it is on par with the ridiculous flavor or everything she cooks. Rustic and earthy, every dish of hers is a statement of love and hits you with the warmth of true hope.
Elise's Banana Breadwas one of the first bakes I made eons ago when I started on my journey to self-understanding through my belly. It remains to date one of my favorite recipes; and a testament that I am typing this mail while snacking on a slice!
I love my namesake Asha's work for the inspiration and sheer drool worthiness. But, I truly thank her for instilling in me a love and pleasure in using my air fryer! She makes amazing use of it and her recipes are such that if you don't one, you want the machine and if you do, you just want to make it NOW! I have found that it is particularly suited to make fried chicken, and this recipe forPeanut Butter Ginger Chickenis definitely a place to start!
I adore Kankana's work for the passion and diligence that she pours into each creation of hers and how truly anchored she is in her native cuisine. Bengali food is subtle and so flavorful; one I always was hesitant to try assuming it to be complex. Through her blog I have come to appreciate the freshness and simplicity of it. My favorite recipe I cook on repeat isDoi Begun, a somewhat version of an egglant bake.
I have long admired the Kraut Kopf blog for their stunning photography and truly exciting vegetarian dishes. Lately, I have been enamored by their journey into gardening as well. I would recommend everything on their site and I particularly love this Filled Sweet Potatoes with Sauerkraut.
Love doesn't have to be complicated. Love is everyday and grounded. And, that is exactly what I feel about theseBlueberry Muffinsby Zöe Francois, the amazing pastry chef and author of the Bread in 5 books! Yes, she has a ton of fancy bakes on her site, but really, its the simple that gets me.. :)
With Coffee or Cognac - Inspirations for the mind
On the topic of relationships, I am finding the Mindreading 2.0 series of podcasts on NPR's Hidden Brain truly insightful and leading me into thinking on the question I opened this newsletter with - the idea of hope and empathy.
How do you show your love? How do you like to receive love? A well recommended book that I felt was a good one to reread - The 5 Love Languages. I recommend taking some of these tests to help figure yourself more.
I am currently reading The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt and loving it!
On things that make me happy, I have found that -
♥ Having fresh flowers on my desk and by my bedside, fills me with joy and hope.
♥ Keeping a pretty journal at hand to jot down ideas and thoughts, makes me want to actually note them.
♥ Writing my thoughts down not only gives me clarity, it also gives me the courage to look back at events with compassion.
♥ Remembering to breathe deeply is the single most powerful tool I have found in times when my 3Cs (clarity, courage and compassion) fail. Mark it, that in itself is an act of courage!