Living in Accordance with the Energy of Winter Meadow Linn taps into the ancient rhythms of nature’s cycles to enable you to make the most of the Winter’s energies to nurture and care for ourselves, with an ample dose of simple good cooking to further nourish body and soul… energy of winter. It’s not necessary to buy expensive products, spend hours toiling in the kitchen, or create elaborate banquets in order to nurture yourself with a good meal. Sometimes the simplest foods are the most nourishing. While writing and promoting The Mystic Cookbook, I’ve been feeling as though I’ve been caught in a whirlwind. The past two years have been amazing, but also they’ve been very full and at times overwhelming. Friends have gotten married, filed for divorced, and had babies, and I’ve hardly noticed. My dog has become a pudgy from lack of exercise and my garden is nothing but weeds. Sometimes my head spins out of control when I see my “to do” list, and all I want to do is crawl back into bed. However, remarkably I’ve remained pretty sane, as well as happy and joyful, throughout much of this intense time. I owe this, in large part to the fact that I rarely let myself get so busy that I skip a meal. Even when there’s an incessant pinging of incoming e-mails, the phone is ringing off the hook, and there’s stacks of
projects needing immediate attention, as much as possible I make time to sit down and treat myself to a delicious dinner. People often tell me that they don’t cook for themselves, only for friends and family. But, why should delicious, homemade meals just be reserved for others? I believe in the power of nourishing ourselves with the same love and care that we give to others. These meals are not only tasty, but also they’re infused with love and intention. When I’m short on time or energy, I might just eat a salad, fried eggs, or a sandwich, but I still make a point of arranging them artfully on a plate and sitting down to eat. For me, beauty, in addition to taste, is an important component of eating well. If you want to further take a break, you could even get take-out, but I encourage you to make time to remove it from the Styrofoam box and put it on a plate with care and attention. You might even consider lighting some candles and giving grace or
saying a blessing over your food. By nurturing yourself and savouring the little moments in your life, including the foods you eat, your life will be more enriched. As a result, you’ll be healthier, happier, and more balanced. Believe it or not, when you slow down and take the time to relish each delicious bite, your mood improves, your body better metabolizes your food, and you’re more open to hearing the whispers of our soul. By following the ebb and flow of the seasons, you’ll begin to feel increased harmony in all areas of your life. What actions can you take today to preempt your body from finding its own ways to get you to slow down? Allow yourself time for quietude. It’s easy to get caught up in the go-go-go of modern life but when you can, take time to cherish yourself with the spirit of winter.
Comforting Roasted Root Vegetables As we follow the cycle of life, every season has its own energy. Traditionally, the winter is the time to pull inward and nurture yourself. It’s a time to replenish your strength and take care of your own needs, which might very well mean getting some help with all the things on your “to do” list. In the meantime, what better way to nourish your body and soul than with a warm plate of roasted root vegetables! SERVES 6 500g (1lb.) gold potatoes (skin on), cut into bite-sized pieces 500g (1lb.) carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 500g (1lb.) beets, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 500g (1lb.) parsnips, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces 10-15 sage leaves, chopped 1 tsp. sea salt ½ tsp. coarse ground pepper ¼ cup olive oil Preheat the oven to 230ºC (450ºF). Line 2 baking pans (baking sheets) with baking paper (parchment paper).
This is a rustic dish; however, the more uniform you can make the size of the vegetables (about ½-1 inch sized pieces) the more evenly they will roast. Wash, peel, and cut the vegetables. Divide the cut vegetables evenly between the two baking sheets. Sprinkle with the sage, salt, and pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and toss together. I find that my hands are the best tools for this. Put in the oven and roast until the vegetables are cooked through and browned on the outside, about an hour. To help the vegetables brown evenly, I recommend rotating the pans from top to bottom halfway through and stirring the vegetables once or twice while they’re roasting.
Meadow Linn is a writer and a chef, living in California with her dog, cats and chicken. She believes that living well and eating well should be tasty and fun. Meadow has just co-authored her first cookbook with Denise Linn which is available now through Amazon. - Contact Meadow at: www.meadowlinn.com & www.savortheday.com
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