Amazing. Crazy. Fantastic.

Well, I've done it. I've gone back to America. I felt so excited looking out the window as north eastern Canada came into view...I have so missed living in this part of the world. Despite its faults, my feet feel more grounded here, my heart feels anchored here! Every time my yoga/cooking/health business would pick up in England, I would start to feel frozen: “If I get something great going here, then that will tie me to this place and that's not what I want!”  Ironically, as soon as I committed to do something about this feeling – either to move back part-time, full-time or to do some travelling – my business picked up, enabling me to save up a small nest egg to get started here.

And at the same time, what a wonderful time I've had in England! Never have I had such amazing female friendships. Never have I been able to give so much to others and make such a positive difference in people's lives. The cards, hugs and parting words from yoga students, cooking students, friends and colleagues gave me such gratitude that I can do something that helps others, makes them feel good, improves their quality of life.

I also feel so grateful that I've made this move, despite not having a job to move to, and having to spend time away from a wonderful partner and kitty.  I think there are so many people who, like me, have a burning desire in their heart that seems too impractical, expensive, unconventional, or “I'm too old” or “what would people say?” and so we compromise on our desires. Sometimes that's necessary – but in my case, it was only fear that was in my way, so after (at least) two years of thinking about it, I signed up to be a student at Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts in Manhattan (What on earth is a School of Womanly Arts, you say? More on that in a moment), to give me a great reason to move back, as well as a huge community of positive, innovative, successful women to join.  I will be spending this time to exploring my dream and desire to work as an artist – a lifelong dream, and something I've been terrified to commit myself to – and also to find my own rhythm again, enjoy the art and culture of New York, and see what it's like to be an American after five years away. I've been here since 15^th March and it's brilliant!

I am one of 250 students at the School of Womanly Arts MASTERY PROGRAM, created and taught by Mama Gena (Regena Thomaschauer), with some absolutely amazing guest speakers, including Dr. Christiane Northrup, Cheryl Richardson, Debbie Rosas, Sheila Kelly, Barbara Stanney and more. I've had some funny questions: “Do they teach you to cook and clean?” (SLAP!) “Is that how to please your man?” (NO, it's learning to be the primary source of your own pleasure, and I'm talking generally, not necessarily sexually!) “Is that, like, stripping or something?” (No, at least, not for men! But there is dancing!).

It covers the areas of relationships and sensuality, finances and career, health, self-esteem and confidence (something I think almost all women need much more of!), dancing (as you can see above!), and much more. The whole idea is to discover and pursue your desires, no matter how outrageous, from a place of fun and pleasure, and throw the “no pain no gain” model out the window like a moldy old apple core. It's women learning to take care of themselves exceptionally well, filling their own cup so that they have true inner reserves from which to give to the world. Leaving self-doubt and second-guessing and fear behind. It's a school where you learn to feel confident and beautiful regardless of how you measure up to conventional standards of beauty. Where you learn to have fun and celebrate life no matter what, while at the same time embracing your dark side, your anger, and learning to “party with your inner bitch” in a healthy way that isn't self-destructive or hurtful to others (I'm particularly curious about this skill).

There are activists, artists, actresses, coaches, CEOs, financial advisors, singers, photographers, nutritionists, mothers, students, lawyers, business leaders, teachers and more. We take lots of dance breaks, instead of listening to lecturers and taking notes until our wrists ache and our heads loll forward with sleepiness. We will be going out on the town in NYC en masse, going out to lunch in groups, spending one of the five long workshop weekends at Miami Beach, Florida. The course is for women of any age, sexual orientation, shape, size, economic background, stage of life, regardless of whether or not she feels fabulous at the time. Sound good? Check out the school's website, they also have a virtual program if you live far from NYC and don't feel like moving here.  It is truly cutting edge. The first weekend blew me away, and believe me, I was sceptical.  I was thinking, "This better be worth it, damn it. I've paid a lot of money. I've moved my ass all the way across the Atlantic. I am going to be PISSED if this is disappointing or feels overpriced for what I get." I am beyond pleased with my decision to sign up. I highly recommend it. Reserved it is definitely NOT. In fact, the SWA is purposefully outrageous, blow-the-top/roof/lid-off, pink feathers and glitter, out of this world, fabulous, magnificent, shocking. It's shaking everyone up. But it's also sincere, true, generous, real and profound.

Now, onto life in New York. I met my now roommate on my first day here. Regena Thomaschauer (Mama Gena) cried out, in the classroom on March 17^th, “Where's the woman who moved here from England??” and I yelled, “Meeeeeeeeee!!!” She handed me the mic and I told everyone how jetlagged but thrilled I was, and how I didn't have anywhere to live after the 26^th but that I was sure I would find a wonderful place. Then, during lunch, a lovely young lady told me that she was a grad student at NYU styding public health policy and nutrition, and that she wanted to turn her 1-bedroom in the east village into a 2-bedroom and get a roommate. I had a great feeling about it, and about her.

Long story short, I moved in on the 26^th and never had to do a SINGLE MINUTE of apartment hunting! We share the kitchen and a small living space, and with the addition of a big curtain, the living room divides nicely into a second bedroom, without anyone having to walk through someone else's bedroom to get to the bathroom, kitchen, or anything like that. The apartment has great natural light, a gas stove (yay!), and is on East 10^th Street. Basically my dream neighbourhood: the villages in lower Manhattan are absolutely fantastic, it's easy to walk to so many places, and the tasty affordable food is ALL AROUND US!  Mexican street food, vegan Vietnamese, a Venezuelan arepas bar, one of the oldest Italian bakeries in the city, a gluten-free bakery, a dairy-free ice cream shop, tons of amazing cafe's to work in, tons of adorable bohemian wine bars, the Union Square Farmer's Market a 10-minute walk away, many sushi joints, organic/local restaurants, oh the list goes on and on.

I thought I had until the 27^th to move in, but then realized I had my dates wrong, and needed to move in on the 26^th. I learned this on the night of the 25^th, and so I had 24 hours to procure a bed, a computer monitor (to do some remote work for my two-day-per-week day job in England) and a small desk, plus get my luggage to the east village from my temporary spot in Brooklyn. Luckily, my roommate was fine with my early arrival. My friend Katy found someone who needed to give away a big airbed (fancy air mattress); a guy down the street in the east village was selling a used, small, nice monitor; and I saw a small desk on the street a few blocks away, light enough to carry home, not fancy but adequate and free. So, miraculously, within the space of 24 hours, I moved into a room in the east village with everything I needed to be set up and working remotely at 6:30 a.m. on the 27^th.   I was overwhelmed and shocked and relieved and grateful, needing at times to stop and take a deep breath.   I was also exhausted: lugging things all over the city, wondering at each step of the way how the hell I was going to make it happen, and feeling in awe of how it all came together.

My roommate and I are having a ball: we are both total foodies and love cooking for each other. She also sings and performs, loves the private yoga classes I'm giving her, we both dance, and she dreams of teaching cooking classes (she really ought to be doing this – she's an amazing cook!). It's been great living with someone who is also a student at the SWA.  We're up til midnight talking, most nights.

I have already been back to the singing teacher I studied with from 2004 – 06, who I will work on some songs with for auditions.  I hope to do a few fun, impromptu performances at the piano bars in Manhattan where anyone can get up and sing.  I also had new headshot photographs taken by Debora Lopez, the amazing woman who took my pictures in 2003 and gave me a great reapeat-customer deal. She works with tons of working actors, authors and more.  It felt so glamourous and FUN FUN FUN and RIGHT to work with her. I will be able to use the photos for headshots, for professional portraits on LinkedIn, for anything professional.  This is my "smiley" one:

In other good news, I've been asked to be a blogger for the online community of the School of Womanly Arts.  Probably thousands of women, students present, past and future from all of the school's various programmes are on the site, and there are only three bloggers at a time, for three months at a time.  I'm told it's quite an honour, and it is something I was not looking for or expecting, especially as a new student. I'm really looking forward to sharing more of myself with this huge community of amazing women and seeing what it brings, as well as stirring up some adventure in NYC with my fellow students to create material for my blog. Sorry I can't share it with you, it's a members-only site for just the ladies! But if any women want to join the online community and practice bragging, being grateful and talking about your desires, and having other women encourage your dreams, your outrageousness, and being exclusively positive and supportive of you, then visit www.sistergoddess.com.

I think that's all for now. Sending everyone love from New York City! I hope to continue posting about health and food, but I wanted you all to know what I'm up to...AS CRAZY AS IT MAY SOUND. Over and out, lovely people. xx

Yoga Classes and Cooking Classes in Warwickshire for 2012

Hello internets!  This is just a quick note to say that I've been busy planning my cooking classes for 2012 and preparing for at least three months in New York City, starting in late March.  Sorry about the lack of recipes lately.  I did recently make up a great dish with leeks, white wine, sweet potatoes, spinach and a few spices and herbs, topped with goat's cheese and crumbled hazelnuts, made into a bake/gratin sort of thing, which was delicious.  I need to either post here or add to the cook book.

And now for a little "shameless self-promotion" as they say...to let you know about upcoming events in 2012.  As always, these are all FUN, very affordable, pleasurable (!!!) and all designed to increase your vitality and wellness!  Why?  So that you can enjoy your life, enjoy the amazing body that carries you around every day and have more energy to be there for yourself, your life, your dreams and the people you love.

My regular Thursday night yoga class, the only one I teach that's open to the public, starts again on the 5th of January at 7:30 pm, at Motionhouse Dance Studio, Leamington Spa, CV31 3SY.  Please check out the poster for it.

Cooking classes start the weekend after New Year's with what will be a very fun and delicious "Naughty but Nice" baking class, including the always amazing Black Bean Brownies, pumpkin ginger hazelnut bread and more.  There will also be a detox class to get your body bouncing back after Christmas and New Year's indulgence, and to help you accomplish your health goals in 2012 - whether that's weight loss, better skin, strong and healthy digestion, relaxation or something else health or wellness-related.  If it's just mouth-watering, delicious and absolutely healthy food you want, there is a Thai class and a Mexican Feast class.  I've even got two Cooking and Nutrition for Menopause classes scheduled, which will cover how to flourish at any time in your life, reshape your body if you so desire and prevent illness over the long term.

There's also my "You Don't Need Chocolate" workshop in late January, which helps participants overcome unhealthy eating habits by giving them tools to change whatever isn't working in their lives.  It's a physical, emotional/mental and spiritual approach to eating and loving your body!  It also includes a cooking class for lunch!  Please contact me for more info by viewing my website for my email and phone number.

So, that's what I'm up to!  If you'd like to get in touch, to know more about the lady teaching these things, or to hear what others say, feel free to stop by my website: http://www.michellepalmer.net.  It's under construction, but soon it will look fabulous.  Or my LinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=13571131&trk=tab_pro 

Whatever you do to start off 2012, I wish you much abundance, fun, health, vitality, joy and fulfillment.  Lots of love and peace on earth.
Michelle xx

Dublin, Ireland: Jonnie Fox's, Dunne & Crescenzi, Queen of Tarts and more...

(This post would take me for-EV-er to do as a one-part thing, so I'm dividing it in two: first Dublin, later Kerry.)

If you're single and you love to travel and experience new cultures, I recommend dating a foreigner.  You know your country, they know theirs and you get to show each other around.  It's even better if you meet a European and get married, because besides having a lovely partner you now get to spend as much time in European countries as you like (or as much time as you can afford to spend away from daily life).  And Europeans usually like America...or at least parts of it.  Sometimes, as in my case, they like it very, very much...so the benefit is mutual, a la "I scratch your back, you scratch mine."

It's also nice if you each speak another language or two; and if those languages are different.  In our case, I speak Spanish and he speaks Irish Gaelic and passable French (some Parisians actually listen to him).  That enables us to get around in a good few Western countries.  Now, finding an Italian, Spanish or French-speaking European that you have chemistry with is another matter...

For the past two weeks, we were in Ireland - which is great because that's his turf and it's lovely visiting a foreign country with someone who's completely at home there.  We spent a week in Dublin for work, a week in Kerry for play and a few days in Mullingar, visiting family.

I love finding little gems of places to eat, shop, hike, see, etc. and so I wanted to share some of those from Ireland...as usual, the eating places are healthy or at least high-quality, with good vegetarian or seafood options.

Let's start in Dublin, a place that many Americans swoon over due to their heritage and love of the Irish people.  I've been there about five times now.  Colm studied at Trinity and now he does some work, sometimes, at UCD.  We usually stay at the Stillorgan Park Hotel, a nice hotel with a strange name.  It isn't central, but it's near UCD and they have a gym in the basement and bring you complimentary tea while you're sitting in their lobby.  It's very comfortable, and if you're going to drive to Jonnie Fox's, Ireland's highest pub just outside of Dublin towards the Wicklow Mountains, a great venue for Irish music and really nice pub food, it's a good place to stay at.  There are buses every 10 minutes for under 2 euro that go to the town centre in about 20 minutes. 

We went to Jonnie Fox's twice.  First with one of Colm's students.  I had escargot, which I love, and somehow I feel, as an animal lover who's 95% vegetarian, that it's really not a big deal to eat escargot.  Snails have to be about as low on the food chain as you can get.  They're also fairly good sources of protein and vitamin E.  Just like almonds.  And they sure are nice with herb butter on brown Irish soda bread.  There were also mussels in cream sauce, Irish lamb stew, smoked salmon or fresh crab salads, vegetarian curry and plenty of other delicious things.

Jonnie Fox's is full of entertaining antiques and kitsch.   Chamber pots on the loo doors, stockings hanging above the fireplace as though you've traveled back in time to before the invention of washing machines, old 'WANTED' posters and ladies toiletry ads on the walls, mining tools from two centuries ago secured to the ceiling, portraits of someone's great great grandparents...you get the idea.  You don't run out of things to look at.

They also have live music seven nights a week.  On Monday, our first visit, a man started singing very nice traditional Irish music on acoustic guitar at 9pm.  The same guy was there on Thursday in the main dining area, but then as we were about to leave (after a dinner of smoked salmon salad, mussels in white wine sauce, an amazingly good carrot and sorrel soup, and a shared slice of whiskey cake), I passed a hallway on the other side of the bar and could hear a very enthusiastic fiddle, coming from some undiscovered part of the pub and saw people walking towards it as if they were on a mission.  I pulled everyone down the hall and into a huge room full of long tables with benches, a stage at one end (in front of a giant old fireplace with more long stockings pinned to it) and a bar at the other.  The tables were lit only with candles, some incredible Irish music was blasting and a four-piece band was setting up.  Everyone was tapping their feet and clapping to the recorded music while bar staff fixed audience members with pints of Guinness.  We managed to find seats and proceeded to have the best night I've ever had in Ireland.

The lead singer was a total comedian, making jokes in a lovely Irish accent the whole time.  One of the members was supposedly one of the best musicians around, and from the way he played the fiddle and the tin whistle, I believed it.  The other band members were awesome too, great on the guitar with lovely singing voices.  It was one of those magic serendipitous things that you just can't manufacture.  But going to Jonnie Fox's on a Thursday night at 9 pm would be a good start.

Two friends from Arizona arrived in Dublin a few days after we did, to get a much needed break from the 40 C/100+ F degree weather they'd had for months.  One woman's cold and dreary is another man's paradise.  I was entrusted with finding a dinner spot.  I had made reservations at The Winding Stair, a bookshop/restaurant I've been wanting to go to for four years, but that didn't work out; instead, we ended up at Dunne and Crescenzi, which was atmospheric with gorgeous food.  Their prices are in the middle, the Nero d'Avola wine we had was excellent and they served some of the best pesto I've ever tasted.  I really love pesto.

I don't know how they did it: maybe they flew the basil in from Italy that afternoon.  Maybe it was the olive oil.  I'm guessing it was light on the cheese, medium light on the garlic, plenty of amazingly tender juicy basil and exceptional olive oil with pine nuts and gourmet salt.  It was ground very fine, perhaps by hand in a mortar and pestle.  Whatever was in it, it was good.  The hake with artichoke puree and balsamic reduction was pretty nice, too.

After dinner we walked over to Dawson Street (which has restaurants like Carluccio's and The Farm, bars like Cafe en Seine and classy clubs like Sam Sara) and had half a pint at The Dawson Lounge.



Colm said it wasn't much bigger than a closet.  The sign claims that it may be the world's smallest pub.  It's actually not as claustrophobic as all that.  But it is cozy.  Go just to say you've been in there.  Or go to Porterhouse Central on Nassau Street, just around the corner from Dawson Street in the direction of Trinity College, an independent brewery (no Guinness! good for those who want to support smaller companies, more artisan-crafted real ales and micro-brews).

The next day I googled "best cafe Dublin" and came up with Queen of Tarts, which has two locations very near to each other: a small tea shop on Cork Hill, Dame Street and a more spacious location on Cow's Lane, also off of Dame Street.  I went to the shop on Cow's Lane and had a roasted vegetable, rocket and hummos sandwich on gluten free bread. Gorgeous and easy on the digestive system.

Obviously I had a tart, too: a plum tart, with a nice surprise of marzipan under the sweet-tangy plums.

There were many other tempting items...oh if I only had three stomachs...

 Cow's Lane is perhaps my favourite street in Dublin in my favourite area of the city.  It's in Temple Bar, a very touristy area, but Cow's Lane is away from all the touristy stuff: away from the chain stores, the high street stores, and full of independent shops like Cows Lane Designer Studio, full of collections by Irish artists: clothing, hats, jewelery, ceramics and other art.  There's also the studio of Claire Garvey, an amazing designer whose creations I always stop to drool over.

There's more to Cow's Lane...a shop that combines antiques and art objects, a wine bar, another bakery or two if you walk downhill (toward the river, away from busy Dame Street) and turn right, a bookshop...spend a couple hours wandering around.

Other places to check out in Dublin: Powerscourt shopping centre has tons of great eye candy.  I'm not a fan of malls or shopping centres but everything in this place is unique, beautiful, and they have some nice restaurants on all levels, like Cafe Fresh on the top floor with organic vegetarian food and a cupcake stand on the bottom floor that usually has free samples on its counters.  Avoca, which is sort of like Anthropology but more, is located very near to Trinity Uni on Suffolk Street, but it also has other locations, including one on the Ring of Kerry.  Avoca has lots of overpriced stuff that you don't really need but can still enjoy looking at, as well as an upscale cafe, which is also pricey.  We ate at their Ring of Kerry spot later on in our trip and the lemon meringue pie was fabulous (and HUGE).

There were a number of other restaurant that I scoped out and took cards from while I was walking around, such as The Cedar Tree, a Lebanese restaurant that looked amazing; Salamanca, voted Dublin's best tapas in 2010; and Bruno's in Temple Bar, an elegant looking spot with upscale traditional Irish food.

Want a facial?  There's a place called Lotus on Temple Road in the neighbourhood of Blackrock, near where we stayed, with a second location in the city centre at 54 Talbot Street.  Aimee gave me a back massage and a facial with something called an "ultra-sonic scrubber" that was much more pleasant and far less 'scrapey' than it sounds.  Actually, it was super fantastic and I plan to go again next time I'm in Dublin.  I even contemplated buying my own ultra-sonic scrubber online.  Check their website for internet specials.

Last but not least, we took a tour of the Bru na Boinne area in County Meath, about an hour's drive from Dublin centre, and went inside Newgrange, the oldest surviving building in the world (I think that's what they said - over 5,000 years old, older than the pyramids).  Newgrange is a passage tomb built with sophisticated astrological knowledge, and probably not enjoyed by claustrophobics. Book your tickets in advance, by at least a week or so, because it's probably the most popular historical site to see in Ireland, aside from Dublin.

That's about it for Ireland part une.  Ireland part deux coming soon!

Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts, Popcorn and Pepitas

I don't think I've ever seen a full Oprah show (I watch TV very rarely), but I love her website and newsletters.  That amazing woman has access to the best of the best, and much of it is available for free online.  Articles by the best writers, spiritualists and health experts out there; recipes from the top chefs; fashion tips from chic designers and stylists.  I receive the weekly food and recipe newsletter, and last week a collection of recipes for ethnic street foods caught my eye.  In particular, a recipe for Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Pecans, Popcorn and Pepitas.  Whenever a recipe title starts with 'Moroccan', I'm interested.

I had two large sweet potatoes getting bored on my counter with question marks hanging over them, wondering what they would become and when, and this recipe calls for some of my favourite spices, so I got to work.  I also love popcorn but rarely think of making it.  Very exciting.

Sweet potatoes are very rich in beta-carotene/vitamin A, which of course is good for the eyes, but also for the immune system.  They're high in fiber and, I think, are a fabulous vegetable for children who need nutrients, love sweet things but already eat (generally, in developed nations) way too much sugar.  Sweet potatoes, when cooked, are very easy to digest and a source of complex carbohydrates: preferable to white rice, flour, cereal, etc.  In fact, the recipe below calls for sugar but you could easily leave it out.  I used my darkest, least refined sugar but you could also use maple syrup, date syrup or molasses.  That would be perfect.

Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts, Popcorn and Pepitas

I'd say the popcorn is optional.  It gets a bit soft when mixed in with the rest, and mushy popcorn is...well, there's just something not right about that.  Not to mention the kernels getting stuck in your teeth.  It's up to you - you might prefer it on the side.

2 Tablespoons and 2 teaspoons ghee, macadamia nut oil (if you can get it) or olive oil
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon and 3 Tablespoons dark muscovado sugar, divided
3/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
about 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or mace
1/8 teaspoon unrefined salt
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
3 Tablespoons butter (or ghee, or macadamia nut oil)
1 cup plain or salted popped popcorn (see note above)
3 Tablespoons chopped pecans, hazelnuts or almonds, toasted
3 Tablespoons pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds)
optional: 1/2 cup bio yogurt (optional: original recipe uses sour cream)

Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, cumin, 1 teaspoon maple or date syrup or molasses, paprika, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, mace, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add sweet potatoes, toss to coat, and arrange on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until just tender, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the pepitas: you can do this in the oven by tossing them with a teaspoon or two of oil, sprinkle with salt and then pop them in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes, until starting to brown.  Or, my preferred method, toss them into a small skillet with a bit of oil and salt and toast them on medium or a touch lower until they start to brown; they will also start to pop and jump a bit, which is how you know they're almost ready.  Like popcorn.

Melt butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons of maple or date syrup or molasses and cook for 1 minute. Add roasted sweet potatoes, popcorn, hazelnuts and pepitas; salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until glazed and heated through, a few minutes. Serve in bowls.

The original recipe says to top with sour cream (what Americans call creme fraiche, I think; it's popular on Mexican food).  I used organic soya yoghurt instead.  It was nice, but I'd say it's optional.  It does cut and balance the sweetness of the potatoes, nuts and sugar and the heat of the spices, which is lovely.

Dance Breaks for Joy and Pleasure

I have been super inspired, lately, by people like Dr. Christiane Northrup, Mama Gena and other women teaching similar "women's health, prosperity and joy through pleasure" philosophies (and backing it up with science!).  I've been on a spiritual path for years now but I'm feeling like, instead of "working on our issues" and all of that heavy duty stuff, what most people really need is to create more pleasure in their lives, especially to balance out what you read and see in mainstream media news on a daily basis...or if you keep telling yourself things like "I never have enough time/money/whatever" or "life is hard" or "I'm too old/young...". It takes courage to break out of that spell because other people will say things like, "oh, you're lazy, eh?" or "how are you going to make a living if you do that?" or "how selfish of you - who do you think you are, the queen of Sheba?" and then we start feeling afraid or ashamed.  Even if other people don't discourage us, our own thoughts pipe up to say "oh my god, I can't do that, I've got a book to write! When will I ever finish it??  I need to make some money, damn it!" or "but if you don't clean the whole damn house (cook the whole damn dinner, etc.) by the time (insert partner's name here) gets home, he/she might be upset."  Well, scrap all of the excuses and do something that feels good, that meets your needs for fun, nourishment, enjoyment, fulfillment.  Seriously.  Now!

I think this is especially important as it relates to the work I do with food, teaching others to eat well, change their eating habits, enjoy their bodies, etc.  It's necessary to know your "primary foods": that is, what feeds your soul?  What non-food substances FEED you?  Maybe it's music, art, nature, sports, dance, massages, hot tubs, singing, on and on.  Bring those things that give you joy and pleasure into your life so that food is no longer the primary way of escaping the activities you don't fully enjoy but think you "have to do".  Then, little by little, realise that you always have a CHOICE and start eliminating those things you don't like that you don't have to do, or work on changing yourself or your situation to create a life that is more in alignment with who you are.

That's a short and sweet way of generally summing up a process that can take years for some people, and that usually puts you on a big learning curve; but the great thing about food is that it's a great place to start a new self-care and self-love practice...and to notice your ability to receive and make time for something that is good for you.  You don't have to change careers or move house or change relationships; just eat something healthy yet totally delicious today with complete mindfulness, with awareness of the tastes as they hit your tongue and the pleasure and enjoyment you feel in your body as you chew, swallow and benefit from nourishment.

Another way to start feeling great is to take dance breaks. I just made a short but great playlist of dance songs that really get me going, and danced to about three. I was sweaty as anything when it was over, and felt totally different! It also gave me the chance to confront my own resistance to feeling good: at first, I felt silly.  I wondered if I really needed to be dancing.  I'm a yoga teacher, aren't I??  I wondered how I should move.  But then, the more I got into the drum beat and the uplifting lyrics, the more I wanted more and more!  I jumped around, moved my hips and shoulders, kicked, clapped, snapped my fingers.  It was so fun.  And hey, it's a busy day: I worked out, I'm doing some of the cleaning around the house to get ready to go away and I have a book to write. So I needed a dance break. But it's really important to take dance breaks even when you don't NEED them.  That's one way of knowing that you're making your own pleasure and joy a priority.  Living a healthy, vibrant life is more infectious than saying 'yes' to the requests of others even when you want to say 'no' and then feeling over extended, overly busy and resentful of either someone else or yourself.  Take care of yourself.  It changes the world.

My other inspiration is my cat. Miso knows her boundaries but she's not afraid to get in there when she wants to be snuggled. She goes where she wants, scratches and stretches when she feels like it and isn't ashamed to bear all in front of the fire on cold winter days and really relish in the enjoyment of warmth.  She also loves sleeping in the sun in the grass, or in the middle of the herb bed or under the kale, rolling in the dirt and pondering the lady bugs and beetles that walk under her nose. She feels no shame about eating. When she wants something, she lets me know. She knows her needs and isn't afraid to state them.  She allows others to love her and take care of her. She really knows how to receive. I think these are all exceptionally admirable qualities!  Miso is totally in the flow of life. She goes with it. She doesn't resist or try to force things. She may be a bit on the chubby side but it doesn't affect her self-esteem: she knows that she is worthy of unconditional love and care (which I love giving her), whatever she might look like on the outside, however many tufts of fur she innocently leaves on the carpet.  Many people spend years in therapy trying to achieve what she naturally has.  What a great guru.

Anyway, whether it's an aromatherapy bath with rose petals, lighting some candles on your desk while you work, eating some delicious food with total presence and awareness, lying in the sun or whatever, make sure you take time for pleasure today. Regardless of your situation!

Here are some songs from my Dance Breaks!!! playlist:

1. an amazing video to "Human" by The Killers, a great song!

2. I Can't Break Away, by Big Pig, from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (except you have to sing  "I CAN Break Away" and change some of the lyrics to be more empowering):

3. Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire.  Needs no introduction.

4. What A Feeling from Flashdance - never fails to make me feel good.  "I can have it all, now I'm dancing through my life!":

That's all for today.  Take a break from work and go have FUN!

Dino Kale with Pasta and Pesto

The organic farm down the road keeps us supplied with the most wonderful kale all year round.  Red Russian, Dino Kale (called Cavalo Nero in the UK) or good ol' Curly kale.  I adored dino kale when I was in New Mexico, sometimes eating a dinner composed entirely of sautéed kale with spices, ghee, garlic and a bit of lemon juice.  Yum.  It's also great in dal, any hearty soup, or steamed with a soft boiled egg on top.  In really cold wintry weather, I love making a kale bake with stock, onions, garlic, plenty of dark kale, gluten free breadcrumbs and gruyere cheese on top.  That's one reason to accept the chilly weather in England these days.  I've also started juicing vegetables again, so I save my kale stems and juice them with a small apple, half a cucumber, maybe some lettuce or a carrot.  The apple (or pear, or carrot, etc.) balances the bitter green flavour, making it palatable.

If you have some basic knowledge of nutrition, you probably know that kale is really good for you.  It's linked to the prevention and reduction of five types of cancer, it lowers cholesterol when you eat it cooked, and is basically one of the best foods out there (click on link to read more).  It's best to cook your vegetables a bit because your body isn't really able to digest plant cellulose unless it's cooked, and kale's cholesterol-lowering ability is aided by the cooking process.  Very tender greens such as rocket and lettuces eaten raw are okay: it's a good idea to have some raw vegetables along with the cooked.

We grow kale in our back yard.  It grows all year round, doesn't mind cooler climates, even developing a sweeter taste after a frost.  It's a good plant to start with if you're just getting into growing your own food.

One easy, quick and delicious way to eat dino kale is with pasta, pesto and pine nuts.  I use gluten free pasta (I like Orgran's buckwheat spirals).  Any sort of pesto will do.  I used a variety with almonds and lemon instead of cheese, from the nearby organic shop.  Pine nuts are very pricey these days, so feel free to use walnuts or maybe sunflower seeds, pepitas or almonds.  Other types of kale, or any green cruciferous vegetables, also taste lovely.  I used some tender young broccoli shoots along with half of a large bunch of dino kale, all from Canalside Farm.



Dino/Cavalo Nero Kale Pasta with Pesto and Toasted Pine Nuts
serves 2-4 depending on how hungry you are and what else you're eating

pasta: enough for two to four people
pine nuts or other nuts: between 2 tablespoons and 1/4 cup, depending on how many people you are serving
1 bunch dino kale (or other cruciferous green vegetable)
2 large garlic cloves
1 small onion (optional)
1 tablespoon (one glug or spoonful) of ghee or butter or macadamia nut oil
several large spoonfuls of pesto
1/2 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika powder
pinch of chili flakes (optional)
liquid: stock, broth or water
juice of 1/2 lemon, or to taste
optional herbs: oregano, parsley, thyme
unrefined salt to taste (not table salt)

De-stem the kale to the degree that you prefer (some people like stems) and slice the leaves widthwise into thin strips.  Dice the onion and mince the garlic.  While you're prepping, you can boil a pot of water for the pasta, and pour in a bit of oil and salt.  When the water is boiling, pour in the pasta and cook until done (this can be done while cooking the kale to save you time). 

The other thing to do while the kale is cooking is toast the pine (or other) nuts.  I recommend doing this in a small skillet.  Nearly every time I toast nuts in the oven, I forget about them and they burn, so I recommend keeping them where you can see them.  Pour them into the small skillet, heat over medium and toss occasionally to toast evenly, adjusting the heat as needed, until lightly browned, perhaps 5 - 8 minutes.


Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium or a touch hotter. When it's heated, add the (optional) onion and cook until soft and beginning to brown.  Now add the garlic, stir and cook for another minute or so.  Add the kale, stir again until coated in the oil.  Add the paprika, cumin and (optional) chili flakes; stir.  Begin adding the liquids with the stock or broth, a generous splash at a time.  Turn the kale over occasionally to let the heat and steam get to all the leaves.  Turn down the heat a bit to medium/low so that the pan doesn't dry out.  Add the lemon juice when you don't need too much more liquid: it has a tendency to caramelize quickly on the bottom of the pan.  Towards the end, when the kale is nearly done, add any herbs you fancy using and mix them in.

Stir several spoonfuls of pesto through the pasta, then add the cooked kale and toss.  Sprinkle with pine nuts, maybe some grated grana padano if you eat cheese, and serve.

Reducing Sugar

I think I need to set the record straight, before people start telling me to re-title my blog as 'please pass the browns.'  Ok, I post a fair number of recipes for desserts.  They're crowd pleasers, or they're in response to requests.  Sometimes, they're just pretty.  It's always good to have a gluten-free cake recipe for special occasions.  But I actually think that eating sugar is one of the worst things for you, and have been re-examining my intake of it, swapping simple carbohydrates for protein and vegetables.

When I say sugar, I'm usually talking about white sugar and products that have similar effects, like high-fructose corn syrup (even worse that normal white sugar), golden syrup, demerara, unrefined cane crystals, etc.

Most days, I try to avoid sugar altogether, and I never eat sweeteners like aspartame.  I don't care if the FDA has approved it - for one thing, companies like Equal, NutriSweet, Spoonful, etc. are subsidiaries of Monsanto and the less money you send their way, the better.  Also, I think it's a terrible idea to take the government's advice as gospel when it comes to health.  They're much better at supporting companies and economic interests than they are at supporting your unique needs for vitality and well-being.  But if you're reading this blog, you probably already have a sense of that.  Artificial sweeteners also keep you craving overly-sweet things instead of allowing your taste buds to adapt to real, unprocessed food.  I recommend Stevia if you are looking for a sugar substitute.

Refined sugar is ultimately dehydrating, it actually depletes your body of nutrients and after the initial buzz, leaves you feeling lethargic.  It's addictive (if we consider an addiction as 'continued use despite adverse consequences'), it's one of, if not the, main contributor to weight gain, obesity and diabetes.  The list goes on but you get the idea.  Research suggests that high carb, low protein diets create a release of seratonin (the relaxing 'feel good' hormone), one possible reason why we turn to sugar for comfort when most of us feel too short on time to run a bath or take a walk.  We get desensitized to the presence and intensity of sweetness due to it being added into so many foods (sugar in mayonnaise??), creating a dependency on and continual craving for it.

I see people abusing their bodies with sugar everywhere I go.  It's a socially acceptable addiction, and sadly, often the cheapest food option due to big-business farming practices (for affordable vegetables, check out Community Supported Agriculture farms or learn to grow your own vegetables in your yard or at an allotment).  I sat in a coffee house yesterday, working, while the woman next to me ate a slab of carrot cake and slurped down a large frappuccino-thing with whipped cream for lunch.  On the plane back from America, the woman in front of me, traveling with a group, announced, "anyone want snacks?  I knew we'd get bored so I brought MnM's, Oreos, Nutter Butters..." the list of branded, sugary junk rolled on and then she produced a large plastic bag full of it.  The food they served on the flight was also loaded with the white stuff, plus extremely high gluten white rolls, muffins, crackers.  These foods feel much like sugar to me when I eat them, in terms of their effect on my energy levels.

The sugar thing has also come up recently from listening to podcasts by Dr. Christiane Northrup and reading "The Four Hour Body" by Tim Ferriss, author of my favourite business/lifestyle book, "The Four Hour Work Week".  Christiane discusses sugar (and a high glycemic diet, which also includes white flour, refined grains, white potatoes, milk, alcohol, etc.) as a major contributing factor to digestive issues such as heartburn, IBS, etc. not to mention hormonal problems, fertility, depression and weight problems.  Additionally, our sugar cravings can actually be a sign that we need protein or water.  Eating sugar with caffeine (coffee and donuts, anyone?) creates a release of stress hormones in your body because of the huge jolt to your system of stimulants.  I'd say most of us already have enough stress.  I can't help cringing when I see all of the energy drinks in stores: on their own or coupled with the high amounts of sugar in American's diets, it looks like a recipe for adrenal fatigue (your adrenals sit on top of the kidneys and one of their functions is the production of stress hormones like adrenaline).

So why not decide to enjoy the potentially marvelous human body that we walk around in, instead of enjoying another cinnamon roll or brownie that won't really nourish you?  Well, depending on where you start from, that can be a long process but it's fully worth the work.  I'm not promoting perfectionism, just more awareness of what you're really eating and how it affects you.  I eat sugar occasionally: when my brother, a professional pastry chef, whips up chai creme brulee or his dark chocolate covered salty caramels for Christmas, I tuck in, in moderation.  You'd be mad not to!  But, over the years, I've noticed a direct connection between the amount of chocolate I eat (regardless of the quality of it) and the amount of skin breakouts I get.  And the less sugar I eat, the more I'm able to feel the buzz, the crash, the sticky sour taste it leaves in my mouth.

So, for these reasons and more, I've been starting my days with an egg or two and vegetables, or maybe brown rice or oats.  I've reintroduced small amounts of poultry and fish.  I never really stopped eating fish completely, but for a long time I only had it once every one to six months, and I haven't eaten chicken in years.  My energy levels feel steadier, I have less of that "wilting, must eat now!" feeling and it's just nice to be eating less sugar.  At first, I tried Tim Ferriss' idea from T4HB of having 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, but this was making me gain weight, or retain water, or something.  I don't seem to do well with objective rules about food that don't come as an answer to "what feels nourishing to me?"  When I listen to my body, I get the nutritional answers I need.  Under the 30 grams of protein plan, I had to supplement my breakfast eggs with protein powder, and it never works for me to eat 'edible food-like substances' such as whey.  I always end up back with my beloved vegetables.  Also, I'm a yoga teacher who cycles and hikes.  I need some starch, some energy-rich food.

My cardinal rule is 'listen to your body.'  Many of us listen to our minds when we make food choices.  That's why we end up trapped on a plane with bags of junk.  Your body wants to be nourished, it wants real food that contains nutrients that it can process in the way it evolved to do.  Food is the best medicine there is, or it can be poison, depending on what you're eating.  And the voice of your body, and what it truly wants, is much quieter than the voice of your cravings, especially if you're not used to a wholesome diet.  If you want to listen to your body, you usually just have to sit down, take a relaxing deep breath into your belly and ask your body or your belly (as a thought, so that you don't look like a nutter), "what would nourish and sustain you right now?"  Wait a bit and see what comes up.

They say that 'the path gets narrower' and I have found that as I refine my health, my body's tolerance for junk gets lower and lower.  I'm far more sensitive to and aware of the true effects that substances (food, products, etc.) have on me.  Ten years ago, three quarters of my diet was sugary, floury things.  My body had adapted to my lifestyle and I often felt sleepy and unwell but didn't see the correlation (or didn't want to).  Our bodies are amazingly adaptable, for better or worse. 

Growing up, ice cream or something sweet was nearly required after dinner, and if we ate out, I ordered desert, because why else would one eat at a restaurant if not to 'treat' yourself?  That was my thinking then.  Trips to Dairy Queen or other ice cream shops were a way of spending family time together, or celebrating any occasion.  These days, I almost never order dessert at a restaurant, because I'd rather leave without feeling stuffed and sleepy, and be able to look back on that dinner as a lovely time without negative after-effects.  I enjoy my dinner far more now that I'm free of that remorse.  It also reduces the cost.

And so, in the end, I've reduced my sugar intake and slightly increased my protein intake while keeping my main focus on vegetables, always vegetables.  I get a couple of egg whites or a bit of fish or chicken almost daily, and make up most of my diet from vegetables, whole grains without gluten, nuts and seeds, lentils and beans.  I've done this because, in following my 'listen to your body' rule, it feels right.  I don't eat much fruit, but if it's seasonal I'll have a bit.  While in Oregon recently, I freely noshed on the fat, sweet blueberries that were in abundance in my mom's front yard.  Heaven.  I get starches from brown rice, sweet potatoes, corn chips (with hummus or a bit of aubergine pesto) and oats.  Oats, being low in gluten and sometimes gluten free, seem to suit me best.  Perhaps that's a genetic thing, being of Celtic heritage.  I love the big, organic rolled ones.  Home made granola is easy to make: I sweeten it lightly with apple juice or maple syrup, and add cinnamon, ginger, coconut flakes, sesame seeds, maybe a bit of grated ginger root, chopped almonds or hazelnuts.  It's delicious with rice or nut milk.

If I eat sugar now, what form does it take?  While on holiday, I had some dairy-free coconut lemon sorbet several times, and a slice of wedding cake, and some really amazing local ice cream on my last night there.  It almost never gets hot enough to properly enjoy ice cream or sorbet in England, but that's not the case in the USA at the moment.  Day-to-day, I'll have a couple of pieces of candied ginger.  Good for digestion and small.  I sometimes put honey in my tea (I add it in after the tea has cooled a bit so that the heat doesn't reduce the fabulous health benefits of honey - it also comes from the hive that my friend keeps, just a five-minute drive away).  I bake, probably twice a month, vegetable-based low-gluten breads with a little bit of organic unrefined demerara sugar in them (zucchini bread, pumpkin bread...).

What do I avoid?  I never eat breakfast cereals, fast food, processed food, commercial cakes and pastries (unless in France - their wheat harvesting, baking traditions and process are totally different than the ones that produce your Tesco criossants and baguettes).  The food I eat (or don't eat) in the morning sets the tone for the day, and my ideal breakfast is one or two soft-boiled eggs over steamed greens, or lentil vegetable soup.  If you're a coffee and muffin type, that probably sounds crazy, but it tastes great and feels great.  If you're looking to make one small change in your life that will have tons of positive effects, breakfast is a great place to start.  I actually almost never eat granola, even though I mention it above.  Dessert and ice cream are only for special occasions.  I drink very little alcohol (your body processes alcohol just like sugar).  I also avoid other foods that contribute to high blood sugar levels, like white potatoes, white flour and any other whites.

All that being said, I don't sweat it too much.  I don't want to spend my life obsessing, and at the moment, if I avoid most chocolate and keep my gluten, cheese and cream, alcohol and coffee to a minimum, I can eat just about anything and feel great.  But that's because in the past, I committed to periods of several months where I cut out all dairy, gluten, soy, sugar, chocolate, alcohol.  Not all at the same time, but as I improved and refined my health, I had to heal my digestion.  I've never felt better than when I was totally dairy, gluten and soy free for 90 days.  And since then, my body can tolerate a bit of gluten occasionally, especially if the source is organic, non-GMO or grown in France.  Thank GOD for French baking...

All of this is food for thought.  The point is that it's probably a good idea to reexamine your intake of sugar and high-glycemic foods.  It's also no fun to be a perfectionist who restricts food.  There are other sweet, pleasurable things in life, like massages, taking in some fresh air and beautiful scenery on a hike, a good movie with friends (without MnMs), loving your pet, allowing yourself some much-needed rest, snuggling on the couch.  If all else fails, there's always candied ginger.