finding joy around the chaos
recipes + activities to nourish your body and soul this holiday season
These last 4 weeks of the year always feel like a sprint, so this edition of the newsletter is designed to hopefully give you a moment of calm and refocus. Often times focusing on the small things that can help nourish your mind and body is the best thing you can do for yourself.
So my big advice for you right now as we start to wrap up the year is picking 1-2 things you know you can manage that help to refill your cup. Maybe it’s making sure to stay hydrated through the day or picking up a little hobby that you do before bed to unwind. Don’t overcomplicate it! Keep it as simple as you need it that way you always have something you know you are doing that makes you feel well. Sometimes those little habits pave a way for new habits to thrive.
So find below some hobbies I’ve been slowly incorporating this year plus some recipes that have been helping me to get through this month.
I feel like starting this section during the holidays is fun because while I’ve been away I feel like I’ve fallen in love with so many things that I want to share with you. So here’s a mini round up of things currently bringing me joy and pulling me away from the holiday chaos.
Bernice, my sourdough starter
Oh don’t worry, I am well aware that I am behind on this trend. However, this was something I desperately wanted to learn for a long while and I finally got the courage. If you’ve ever made your own starter or have tried making bread it can all feel overwhelming and frustrating at first. After much trial and error, Bernice is thriving! And 2 things got me moving in the right direction: getting a sourdough kit and having Flour Water Salt Yeast by Ken Forkish (plus a lot of TikTok dives) to figure things out along the way.
Crocheting
Learning to crochet was not on my bingo card for this year, but I’m very happy I did try it. My friend had mentioned the Woobles a while ago, and I became very intrigued, so I ordered a kit for me and my hubby. You make cute little stuffies while also learning some basic crocheting techniques. A great way to stay off the phone for a while too. Honestly, if you are struggling with ideas for what to get someone, get them a hobby to try out or if you make some of these little stuffies you can always gift them to family.
Growing your own food even in the smallest of spaces
So in the last few months my hubby was also looking to enjoy a hobby and stumbled upon hydroponics. Essentially, growing plants using water. It may sound really fancy, but the setup is pretty simple, and we ended up prioritizing growing some food. We started with lettuce and kale then moved on to growing shishito peppers. You might think a lot of this requires a backyard, but we’ve been growing everything mostly using this hydroponic set up and a few mason jars in our apartment. There is just something really cool about growing your own food.
It’s all about balance and finding ways to get in both the nutrients and warm winter experiences that make us feel our best. I feel these recipes get us closer to that sweet spot.
Pickled Jalapeño Edamame Spread
This spread is currently saving my life during this crazy time period that is the end of the year. Sounds a bit dramatic, but I am always the most thrilled when a full meal can be tackled in just 10 minutes. This spread is versatile, but I use it mostly for breakfast to help get a boost of protein and fiber at the very start of the day.
Creamy Potato Leek Soup with Garlic Scallion Oil
A creamy soup with no cream. Crazy! But, it is possible and still manages to be delicious. The secret is in the beans. To be specific, cannellini beans. When blended along with all the aromatics and potatoes, you get a beautiful velvety soup perfect for adding greens to. Make a large batch and feel free to freeze it, so you have a yummy soup at the ready.
I think with prioritizing all those veggies up front that it leaves us an opening to fit in dessert. These are one of my favorite cookies that I’ve ever made and are based on the Korean street food Hotteok, a sweet pancake stuffed with a sugary walnut filling. When they cook that filling becomes perfectly gooey. That concept lead me to trying to create that same gooey feeling in these cookies. The ultimate stuffed cookie treat that also happens to be perfect for any cookie events you may be up to.
It’s still so surreal to say this, but my book is out in the world and you can grab copies of the book at most major retailers! And is it not the best time of year to potentially gift yourself a book that is designed to help you properly nourish yourself with plants?
If you’re ready to dive into some nutrition and all the veggie goodness, you can find current sales and all available retailers for my book here. If you’ve made any recipes at all, I appreciate you beyond words! Thank you for sharing the kindness and spreading the word. This whole experience has been one of the wildest journeys.
eat well,
your nutrition elf