Text Box: Winter’s Text Box: Winter’s chill in sunny California comes at just the right time! For me it means layers of clothes, cozy blankets, fire-side snuggles, hot cocoa, warm soups and stews. The best part after the holiday’s stressful to-do’s are all done, is to lay at peace, is to become dormant for awhile. This dormancy fills my soul and allows the seeds of time to take stock, renew and rejuvenate. Just like Mother Nature has intended for thousands of years, She truly has a Divine plan for us to take rest. The seasons change from warm to cool to cold than back again to warm. Trees shed their leaves as they go into an initial stage of dormancy called quiescence, time to cease all growth. Nature retracts its energy back into the ground from where it will emerge again in the spring with a revitalized creative strength. We too need to learn “treeness”, stop, take a break from all the busy-ness and quiet down. Our bodies natural flow with time really works Text Box: well even in California, which I might say has seasons too! And as we grow older our bodies tend to want more time to rest. We need to listen to its request. That’s the second stage of dormancy which is called rest. During this time we must turn inward and take a well deserved break to honor our own spiritual need not to accomplish anything. Just like nature’s creative force, the energy we turn inward during winter is regenerated and renewed and thus can emerge again with new life force in the spring. No need to feel guilty. Rest is part of our lives, even though in this day and age we seem to have a mindset to keep moving and producing. We require the nourishment of down time if we are to grow and flourish. Returning to the root is called quietude. Quietude is called returning to life. — Tao Te Ching Text Box: Quiescence Text Box: Volume 3, Number 1, January, 2004 Text Box: Harvest Text Box: GA Z E T T E

                             Please visit our website www.kitchenblessings.com or call (310) 545-6529.
Text Box: Dear Readers, Kitchen Blessings is honored to share our knowledge and expertise. We are growing, changing and developing and we are proud to share with you new changes that have taken place:  Anne and I have restructured Kitchen Blessings to best fit everyone's needs.  As Anne's Royal Soy business grows and her pilot program for her healthy nutrition program at Hermosa Valley School evolves, she will be consulting with Kitchen Blessings as an Associate. Our goals remain the same: to bring about a consciousness about the foods we eat and a greater respect for our bodies, our family's, and our environment.  Anne will continue to sell and expand her Royal Soy products, as well as be available for consultations and continue with her community outreach.  Chef Shane will continue to expand as we do, helping with transitional cooking within your own homes, catering parties and small events, and Peggy will continue to teach cooking classes, be available for private consultations and also community outreach. Together we will work towards educating and bringing a new consciousness to our community.  By redefining each of our jobs we have created Kitchen Blessings and Associates to better serve you.     May the light of this new year shine bright and fill your hearts and tummies with love.   Love, Peggy, Shane and Anne  Text Box: Shane’s Coconut Lentil Soup

1 C sprouted lentils

2 C “Imagins No-Chicken Broth”

2 C sweet potato, diced

1 C green beans, diced

¼ C chopped cilantro

1 medium onion

If you want to become full,

Let yourself be empty.

If you want to be reborn,

Let yourself die.

                   — Tao Te Ching

Sauté onion, garlic, and ginger in ghee until translucent.  Add potato, lentils and curry seasoning.  Cook low for 5 minutes, then add enough stock  to cover everything.  Simmer for 25-35 minutes or until potatoes and lentils are tender.  Then add beans, coconut milk and simmer 5-10 minutes more.  Leave whole or puree.  Garnish with chopped cilantro.  Serve with a nice salad and a warm crusty bread.

1 leek, chopped

1 tsp fresh ginger, chopped

1 tsp fresh garlic, minced

1 can coconut milk

1-2 curry seasoning

Ghee or clarified butter

Salt & pepper to taste

Since joining the Kitchen Blessings team, the past few months have been fantastic.  I feel blessed to have been accepted so warmly into your community and I hope that I can help you to reach your personal goals for healthy cooking.  Working alongside Peggy with the loving energy she radiates cannot be anything but fun.  I am pleased to have been able to share a few recipes of my own in the classes too and look forward to continuing to do so.  I have been preparing healthy home cooked meals using the freshest and best ingredients and adapting some of my favorite gourmet recipes to the Kitchen Blessings style for your family to enjoy at home.  With the busy festive season now upon us, it is a time for holiday parties; throughout this time I will be helping many of you to cater for these occasions.  If you have a party to throw but don’t have the time to plan, shop, cook and organize, NO WORRIES, leave it up to me, whether it’s a small food and wine dinner, a work party, or a traditional family celebration.  I am here to help. 

 

Happy New Year ,

Shane                                                                                     310-433 4216 -  shane_brunt@hotmail.com