Micro of the Macro

The Amazing Science of Grounding

Through the years, I’ve written a lot about the healing powers of Nature. In Escaping Normal, I shared how my experience of spending many months exploring areas of natural beauty rehabilitated me from burn-out and loss, bringing me back to life. The Waterfall Effect outlined a number of health benefits of natural crashing natural waters. Smellscapes told of how the scents of trees and other plants can bless us physically and mentally. And Healing Made Simple presented the idea that we’re only as healthy as our connection with Nature. But only recently have I learned of and experienced the power of grounding, and I am so excited to share it with you!

Grounding, or earthing, is a technique that realigns the human body with the electrical charges of the earth. When our skin makes contact with the ground, or natural elements touching the ground like trees or lakes, we absorb electrons that act as potent antioxidants. (Manufactured items are also available that allow you to bring this incredible technology into your home.) Studies show these electrons reduce inflammation, lessen persistent pain, help with sleep, and significantly improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, and chronic fatigue. I have read many self-reported benefits related to a variety of other conditions, as well.

Indigenous peoples of long ago received ongoing benefits of grounding by being closer to Nature: sleeping on natural materials on the earth and wearing shoes like leather moccasins. In modern times, with our indoor beds and plastic or rubber-soled shoes, we’ve lost that daily connection. (For more on the history and science of it, I encourage you to check out The Earthing Movie: The Remarkable Science of Grounding on YouTube.)

As for personal experience, I have been using a grounding mattress pad for about 4 weeks now, and I’ve really noticed a difference in my sleep: I fall asleep more quickly, awaken fewer times, and fall back to sleep faster than before grounding. I also sleep more deeply and feel more rested each morning. (My kitty, Izzy, really likes the mattress pad, too!) Additionally, the swelling and pain in my knuckles that almost always results from climbing disappears fast. And an ongoing pain and tightness in the palms of my hands, also from climbing, is completely gone. In general, I have more energy and stamina, which helps with everything!

Mother Nature offers amazing healing potential; it’s up to each of us to take advantage of the gifts we’re extended. Grounding is an old way of being in the world that may be more advantageous now than ever. Your chances of getting or staying healthy can be greatly enhanced by this natural technology.

Grounded Blessings,

Lisa

The content of this article is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented herein. Any statements about the possible health benefits of any subject discussed have not been evaluated by medical professionals or the Food & Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or illness.

5 Ways for All of Us to Work with Our Body’s Hormones

In my last post, I shared that I’d begun a Nutrition Certification Program. Today, I’m excited to share with you some info on hormones from a recent module.

*Even if the morning sun is obscured by clouds, it still helps.*

I knew hormones were important for good health, but never really understood just how important until now. In case you’re unclear like I was, I’ll start with a definition: hormones are chemical messengers secreted in the body that travel through the blood, regulating tissue function. They are produced by both our larger organs, like the kidneys, brain, stomach, and liver, as well as our smaller endocrine organs, like the thyroid, pineal gland, pancreas, hypothalamus, and adrenals. All of us, regardless of sex or other differences, share the same hormones, found in different quantities. There are more than 50 total, including estrogen, testosterone, progesterone, insulin, adrenaline, cortisol, human growth hormone, and oxytocin.

When our hormones are working in balance, health is optimal on all levels. But that is seldom, if ever, the case. This fragile system is hindered by lifestyle choices such as poor sleep, stress, & unhealthy foods, as well as chemicals (found in plastics, can linings, nonstick cookware, cosmetics, cleaning products, conventionally-grown food, tap water, & many other sources) called endocrine disruptor compounds. These hindrances can lead to abnormal functioning including cancer & other chronic diseases, infertility and birth defects, nutritional deficiencies, impaired immunity, anxiety, depression, and ever-present fatigue.

Making changes to our daily activities can help correct hormonal imbalances and avoid dire outcomes. Below, I’ve listed some important changes for your consideration.

Find ways to manage your stress, and practice daily. Sing, write, spend time outside, snuggle with pets, meditate, do yoga, get a massage – whatever works best to chill you out. Stress decreases insulin sensitivity and increases cortisol production, leading to diminished progesterone, a hormone which acts as a powerful antidepressant.

Prepare for quality sleep. Make your bedroom cool & dark, turn off screens an hour or two before bed, get out in the morning sun, go to bed & get up at the same time each day whenever possible, and minimize caffeine & alcohol. Quality sleep helps stabilize stress-related cortisol and regulates the release of anxiety-reducing progesterone.

Choose your body’s fuel carefully. Limit or avoid processed foods, fast foods, and factory-farmed meat, eggs, and dairy. Fast and processed foods are not real foods that aid in hormonal balance. And the hormones used in factory farming have adverse effects on animals, including humans. Choose organic whole foods like fiber-rich cruciferous veggies, healthy fats like nuts, avocado, chia, olives & coconut oil, and good proteins like organic tempeh, tofu, and pasture-raised meats, eggs, and dairy products.

*If you don’t love these crucifers, you haven’t had them prepared well.*

Avoid buying and using plastics whenever possible. Switch out your plastic storage containers for glass. If you purchase water, use large refillable glass or steel containers at a refill machine. Don’t microwave your leftover take-out in its plastic container. A compound called BPA found in plastics has been linked with diabetes, cancer, infertility, obesity, and heart disease.

Use clean cosmetics, toiletries, and cleaning products. When feasible, buy organic. Otherwise, buy products with mostly natural ingredients. A great way to check the cleanness of a product is by scanning its UPC code on an app called EWG Healthy Living. (EWG stands for the Environmental Working Group, the same folks who bring us the Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen each year.) Over 85,000 chemicals are used in US products, the great majority of which are unregulated, meaning manufacturers can use them as they wish, regardless of the harm they cause our bodies.

I know, I know. The situation is overwhelming and we need to change almost everything. But our new chemically-laden world is dangerous to our ancient biology (as well as that of all forms of life); we must protect ourselves. It is critical for us to adopt new ways of being in the world for the benefit of our health and longevity. (You may have noticed, these changes benefit the planet, as well!)

Hormones are an intricate part of the workings of our entire body, and imbalances are common in our modern world. Making efforts to correct them by managing stress, sleep, food intake, and otherwise limiting chemicals can help us avoid disease, feel better, and live longer.

Blessings for Balance,

Lisa

The Superpower of Antioxidants

Recently, I enrolled in a Nutrition Certification Program. Currently in week 5, I’m surprised at how much I’ve already learned. I’m guessing I’ll be sharing quite a bit of information from the program with you over the next few months. I’ll start today by focusing on antioxidants.

Wikipedia explains: antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation (usually occurring as autoxidation), a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals. Free radicals are oxygen molecules that are missing an electron, making them unstable and dangerous to our health. Wiki continues: Autoxidation leads to degradation of organic compounds, including living matter. In doing so, it establishes the groundwork for disease and premature aging. Any kind of stressor can contribute to oxidation, including chemicals in our food, water, & air, as well as the stress we feel at work or home, so getting more antioxidants into our diets is always a good idea.

According to Christa Orecchio, clinical & holistic nutritionist, there are two primary types of antioxidants: direct and indirect. Direct antioxidants (DA) include those that donate an electron to a free radical, rendering them harmless, after which, the DA is no longer effective. Indirect antioxidants (IA) work for hours at disabling free radicals. Who knew?!

We need both direct and indirect antioxidant foods in our diet, and I’ll share with you some of the best of each. First, because I know you’re as excited as I am to learn about them :-), the IAs include turmeric, broccoli sprouts, ceylon cinnamon, and cloves. Sources of other high antioxidant foods are wild blueberries, pecans, artichokes, kidney beans, green tea, cilantro, parsley, basil, ginger, and garlic.

Superfoods were discussed a little later in the program, and many of them include antioxidants in their arsenal of health properties, as well. They include raw cacao, acai, maca root, goji berries, medicinal mushrooms, and bee products such as royal jelly, bee pollen, and wild honey.

A great way to incorporate lots of these free radical tamers into your daily fare is to toss them into a green smoothie along with some good organic veggies and fruits, which may contain even more antioxidants. This can be done as a sub for any meal, not just breakfast. Additionally, a concentrated form of green tea called matcha combined with medicinal mushrooms, turmeric, and cacao is a potent morning boost!

After just beginning my Nutrition Certification Program, I’m already making alterations to my diet, like getting in more powerful antioxidants, and considering other changes. I hope you can benefit from my learning as well.

Radical Blessings,

Lisa

Where Have All Our Bird Friends Gone?

*With no birds at the feeder, Izzy watches dogs walking their owners*

We were away for the majority of last month, and although I filled the bird feeder before leaving, I was surprised to find it half-full upon my return. (Normally, between the birds and squirrels, the feeder is emptied within 3-4 days’ time.) Even more surprisingly, I’ve seen a total of only 5 birds in our front yard during the 4 weeks I’ve been back.

During the pandemic, I read an article about hundreds of thousands of birds, including warblers, bluebirds, sparrows, blackbirds, and flycatchers, that were found dead in New Mexico. It is thought these birds were forced to flee areas further West that were burning with widespread wildfires before they had enough fat on their bodies to complete their regular migrations. This sad & frightening result of global warming still haunts me.

*Steller’s Jays usually frequent our yard*

And after weeks without birdsong outside my Northern Arizona home, my thoughts have returned to the planet’s ongoing destruction. I find the absence of that auditory delight both sad and terrifying. And my precious kitty Izzy is now starting her daily naps by 10:00 am, two to three hours earlier than usual, because she has no friends to interact with at the front window. 😦

At first I thought the birds abandoned us because they didn’t like the new feed I had purchased, so I ordered another bag of seeds I’d used in the past. Still no birds. Then I decided the cat next door had “hunted” and killed one of them near the feeder & word had gotten out through the all-bird network to avoid the area. After a couple weeks of silently cursing the neighbor cat each time I saw the vacant feeder, I overheard a couple ladies at a gardening presentation discussing the disappearance of their birds.

*Acorn Woodpeckers are typically a common sight here*

Since then, I’ve learned from a local Nature expert that birds can still be found in large numbers in surrounding forest lands. Maybe the combination of almost 14 feet of snow over the winter and the untimely monsoon-like rains that fell last month created watering holes that they find irresistible. I did see many large areas covered with water on my return flight from Phoenix, a sight I can’t remember ever having seen.

I am grateful for the abundance of moisture we’ve had this year, and I’m thrilled to know our forests are still teeming with the little feathered guys. But Izzy and I continue to hope for the return of our bird friends to the feeder & woods around our house. Our world seems eerie without the sweet sights and sounds of them.

Winged Blessings,

Lisa

The Consequences of Choice

Our lives are a sum total of the choices we have made. ~Wayne Dyer

*Florida has orchids (and lizards!) in abundance. This giant beauty belongs to my mom.*

Hello, friend. How are you? What’s new for you over these past few weeks? My experiences this month have been unusually deep, so my post today will be a heavy one. If you’re looking for some light reading today, you might want to pass this one up.

My primary focus this month has been life and death and the choices we make that structure our existence. Like I said, heavy. Sitting by the deathbed of a loved one can give rise to that.

While working with hospice, I learned that a component of the dying process for each of us is a life review: the process of recalling past events and memories in an effort to find meaning in and achieve resolution of one’s life (a description from a paper out of the University of Utah.) I was curious: Where in this process is my loved one? Is the life review detailed at times or one quick summary? Does he have unresolved conflicts that sadden him even now? If he never recognized the meaning of his life before, (too many of us don’t, in my opinion) will finding it now feel like being wrapped in a warm blanket or create a sense of having missed out?

*Magnolia trees were blooming everywhere. This shot was shared with me by a friend in Michigan who had just visited the South.*

After days of pondering, I began to think of how my life review might go. Will I have regrets? Will I wish I had reconciled relationships, or at least attempted reconciliations? Thoughts of two individuals popped into my head. Each of them was a huge part of my life for many years, and I still feel great love for them. But now, we no longer communicate. Not even Christmas card exchanges. I’ve decided to work at bridging the chasms between us.

I’ve also given a lot of thought to lifestyle choices: the environments in which we work and live, the water we drink, the foods we eat, and the activities we pursue. Each of these is important in its own right, and if you’ve read my past posts, you got loads of info on the reasons why. But considering all of them together at the end of someone’s life, after witnessing intense prolonged suffering, creates a lump in my throat and brings tears to my eyes. What if . . .

*Moss hangs from many trees in rural Florida. The water bird on the dock is scanning for breakfast.*

The profundity of life viewed from this angle inspires me to be more grateful, act with more generosity, and love more deeply. It’s as though a reset button has been pushed.

Every choice we make, big or small, has far-reaching consequences. Each one builds on the other and affects us down to the cellular level over our entire lifetime. I strongly agree with the words of French Existential Philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre: We are our choices.

Blessings,

Lisa

A Change in Course (For Now)

Hello, my friend. I appreciate your visit today. I’m sad to report that my family concerns continue, and I just don’t have the oomph for a regular post. Do you know what I mean? But I miss you. So for now, I am changing course.

*My version of cashew tempeh, which was sold in the deli of New Frontiers Marketplace* *before Whole Foods replaced them*.

Tell me, what’s going on with you this month? What are you reading or watching? Are you taking a class? Joining a club? Learning to play an instrument? Planning a journey? Volunteering? Building/creating something? Planting a garden? Making a lifestyle change for health reasons?

As for me, frequent travels over the past few months have allowed for a good bit of reading and online classes, and I would like to tell you briefly about what I’m learning. At some point, I’ll probably flesh out these ideas into full posts. But for now, I will enjoy reading anything you might want to share about them.

*Izzy popping in to say hello*. *(She’s not big on eye contact.)*

Transcendental Meditation (TM) – I have recently completed TM training, and am presently reading about different aspects of it, including its fascinating history and health benefits.

Master Gardener (MG) Continuing Education – I’ve attended online classes to maintain my MG Certification, and I’m hoping to plant in early June. (That’s the normal planting time for my area due to the regularity of May frosts.)

Pollution’s role in disease & early death – Pollution is a much bigger problem than we are being told. Not only is it a strong contributor to debilitating diseases, but in many countries, it is sending 10% – 18% of the population to an early grave.

*We had almost 14 feet of snowfall here this winter* *season*.

This is my new format for now. What do you think? Fun? Boring? Let’s chat. (And please know that my response times may lag a bit.)

Many Blessings,

Lisa

5 Ways to Nudge Your Body Toward Optimal Function

Family challenges have me busy physically & mentally this month, so I hope you’ll enjoy this repost from April of 2021. You won’t be able to comment below – let’s be sure to catch up next month.

The human body is a marvel. Its ultra-intelligent design allows it to function in large part without your attention. The billions and billions of chemical reactions occurring each second are nothing short of symphonic. The habits that become your lifestyle radically influence that symphony, for better or worse. By providing your cells with the support they need to function at their highest levels, you make it possible to prevent or reverse disease, increase energy, and lengthen your time on the planet.

In his book The Healer Within, Roger Jahnke, Doctor of Classical Chinese Medicine, explains, “Dozens of spontaneous self-healing mechanisms are programmed to sustain or restore our health and vitality automatically.” And further, “The foundation of all self-healing, health enhancement, stress mastery, and personal empowerment is deep relaxation.” Below, you will find some of the best techniques I know to help you develop that foundational sweet spot.

Yoga – It took me many years to understand the statements get out of your head and drop into your body, bits of advice often dispensed by well-meaning yoga teachers. But finally, it hit me: by placing attention on my breath and body alignment during poses, I put aside the process of jumping from one distracting thought to another for the duration of the class. Dropping into my body calms my mind, and this calm stays with me. According to an article in Psychology Today, regular yoga results in the central nervous system’s release of GABA, a chemical which works to suppress anxiety for hours after the practice ends.

Massage – According to an article from Mayo Clinic, massage is good not only for stress release, sore muscles, and circulation, but also insomnia, nerve pain, fibromyalgia and digestive disorders. I have been a huge fan of massage as long as I can remember, primarily because it feels so good on tight fascia and sore muscles. My twice-monthly massages are a prerequisite to my ability to continue being active. No massage therapist? No problem. Even self-massage can yield benefits.

*Massage tables on the cliffs of Big Sur, CA*

Meditation – This practice dates back for thousands of years, and I believe the reason it’s still around is because it is so advantageous. U.C. Berkeley’s Greater Good Magazine published an article stating that in addition to meditation boosting emotions, decreasing anxiety, and helping with depression, it also improves heart function, slows age-related cognitive decline, and strengthens the immune system. What’s more, I’ve read from other sources that it increases creativity. Years ago, when living and working at a Buddhist Retreat Center in Northern California, I began my first regular meditation practice. I have recently renewed that commitment.

Music – Research shows that Celtic music, jazz, classical, and Native American music are great for reducing stress, says an article on Chopra.com. In addition, playing an instrument or singing causes endorphins (happy chemicals) to be released in the body. The article goes on to say this is especially beneficial for children and cancer patients. Personally, I can’t imagine getting through a single day without listening to music, humming, and singing. Can you?

Nature – I’ll bet you knew this was coming, didn’t you?! As I wrote this post, I was sitting outside in the warm Arizona sunshine listening to birdsong and wind blowing through the trees. According to the article Why Nature Sounds Help You Relax, According to Science on Health.com, sounds such as rustling leaves and a babbling brook can help reduce stressful fight or flight feelings and increase the body’s capacity for relaxation.

As you can see, these techniques not only help you achieve the foundation of relaxation needed by your body for optimal function; they have beneficial side effects as well. Combining one or more of them with other healthy habits can be the key to unlocking your best possible life. What could be better?

Blessings for Healthy Foundations,

Lisa

Understanding the Pleasure Trap

*Brightly colored goodies at San Diego’s farmers market*

Last year, I came across a TEDx talk by psychologist Douglas Lisle on what he calls the pleasure trap. It is a hidden force in today’s world, he says, that can hijack your inborn satiation circuitry and undermine your pursuit of health and happiness. After a little more exploration, I discovered that he co-authored a book by the same name with Alan Goldhamer, DC, that goes into much greater detail.

The ideas presented in this work answer the question When it comes to eating, why do we make choices that harm us? In the book, the doctors review evolutionary history, throughout which our ancestors ate only amounts needed to sustain health. Any more or less, they write, would have resulted in an unsuccessful perpetuation of our species. What happened over the course of the centuries to change that so dramatically? Why is much of the current population (in industrialized countries) afflicted with obesity and disease?

The doctors explain that humans, like other complex animals, are innately motivated to survive and reproduce. The mental tools for this motivation include neural feedback by means of good and bad feelings. We are wired to seek pleasure, avoid pain, and conserve energy. In the short TEDx mentioned above, Dr. Lisle gives a clear (and entertaining) talk on how this motivational triad works – and can malfunction – in the life of a desert bird called the gray shrike.

The shrike goes about its business day to day, happily doing the things needed to stay alive and produce offspring as long as it’s in a natural environment. But if that environment is disturbed by the introduction of unnatural substances or situations, the gray shrike, via this system of seeking pleasure, avoiding pain, and conserving energy, can begin making bad decisions. This can lead to poor health and early death.

The same applies to humans. For example, cocaine prevents dopamine from its normal process of reabsorption, resulting in an extended sense of pleasure. Processed foods, loaded with calories, unhealthy fats, refined sugar, and salt, act on our brains in a similar manner. Like cocaine, these magic foods, as they’re called in the book, cause neuroadaptation, a gradual decrease in sensory responsiveness. That causes us to need more and more of a substance to make us feel as good as before. This can result in habitual overeating, leading us down a perilous path.

*My Southern roots are showing: beans, mustard greens, cornbread & onion*

It is possible to change poor eating habits, lose weight, and halt or reverse disease. By eating only whole, healthy foods from the earth for several weeks, Dr. Lisle points out, dopamine receptors can normalize, leaving us feeling better without a desire for the bad stuff. But those weeks are tough, he says. A better way to downregulate neural signals and cause taste buds to become more sensitive is a 24-hour water fast (with physician approval.) However it’s accomplished, making the change to healthy eating habits is one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.

*Homemade muesli soaked overnight served with fresh orange & banana*

In the modern world, we are subject to a great many unnatural foods and other substances that can quietly steal our health, leaving us with chronic disease and a shorter life span. The Pleasure Trap elucidates why and how easily it can happen, but also how we might recover proper brain response and health. Cheers to eating well and avoiding disease!

Blessings for Healthy Pleasures,

Lisa

Winter Vaca and a Change of Schedule

I’m back! My month-long break was superb. I visited family on the East Coast, and vacationed with my life partner on the West Coast. I had never before seen an ocean generate such huge waves or roar so loudly! If you were unaware, a series of storms out of the Pacific pummeled California & points north for weeks. Thankfully, our vaca weather was not all bad. We soaked up lots of yummy sunshine.

We also immersed ourselves in plenty of culture and other delights in the San Diego area. In Little Italy, after watching a few bocci matches, we sat outside at an Italian restaurant and had an incredible vegan meal. In La Jolla, seals, sea lions, sea birds, squirrels and a solitary lobster on the sand were most entertaining. We discovered a rooftop vegan cafe there, as well, with drool-worthy food. In Ocean Beach, we found the world’s best espresso in a truck on a corner a couple blocks from the beach. A sizable Saturday morning farmer’s market in downtown San Diego presented lots of new-to-us goodies, including delicious cherimoyas, accurately described by the seller as exotic pears with flavors of banana & pineapple. We visited museums, walked on beaches, and ventured out onto a long pier where we watched surfers young & old riding the enormous waves. Point Loma, at 300 feet in elevation, offered us panoramic views of the city and the bay, although we didn’t catch sight of any highly anticipated migrating whales. Back at our Airbnb, we witnessed an incredible pink sunset that reflected in a pool of water deposited by high tides.

I want to express my sincerest gratitude for your reading, liking, commenting, following, and sharing my posts over the years. You have taught me that being a good blogger comes with responsibilities requiring commitment. I have enjoyed getting to know you through your comments and posts. And although this paragraph sounds as though I’m ending my blogging career, I’m not. I’m just changing things up.

I will continue posting, but only about once a month. I want to spend more time in Nature than I spend writing about Nature this year. And less time sitting. It’s funny how, in the process of doing what we feel called to do, we sometimes lose sight of what’s most important. Have you experienced that?

I wish you a 2023 filled with unexpected goodness. I hope to maintain your special friendship, and I’ll look forward to your visit each month.

Blessings of Friendship,

Lisa

Peanut-Cinnamon Christmas Stir-Fry and A Holiday Note

Ok, it’s not your normal Christmas dish, but who wants normal all the time?! We’ve prepared many Italian dishes for holiday eating through the years – so why not Asian?

Stir-fries are much easier than traditional ham and sides, and take a lot less time than lasagna. And they are super healthy, with a wide range of colored veggies (see this post for more on that) and a higher total nutrient count due to being cooked only to a firm-tender consistency. (Prolonged cooking kills much of the health-enhancing potential of foods.)

This recipe includes the alliums of garlic & onion, which are antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and immune boosting. The crucifers, broccoli and cabbage, assist our bodies in producing more glutathione (a high-powered antioxidant that our bodies typically produce less of as we age) to help us continue looking & feeling younger. The ginger rhizome has chemical compounds that help with nausea, pain relief, and blood sugar regulation. And as I shared in my Kitchen-Crafted Broth recipe, studies show that mushrooms help protect the brain from cognitive impairment, boost gut health, and reduce cancer risk.

If you’ve never had cinnamon and peanut butter together, you will be surprised how tasty the combination is. So don’t be afraid to try it!

Now that you can feel really good about serving this dish to your family, let’s get on to the yummy recipe!

Peanut-Cinnamon Christmas Stir-Fry

Yield: 3 – 4 servings (when eaten with rice)

Ingredients (use all organic or non-GMO if possible)

For the sauce:
2 tbsp tamari
2 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
2 tsp freshly grated or minced garlic
1 1/2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
1/4 tsp cayenne (optional)
6 tbsp peanut butter
1/3 cup warm water
mineral salt to taste, if needed

For the stir-fried veggies:
2 tbsp coconut oil
3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
1 inch ginger, minced or grated
1 med onion, sliced into 1/2 inch thick pieces
2 med carrots, julienned
1 med red bell pepper, sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces
1/4 med head green cabbage, sliced into 1/4 inch thick pieces
1 large head broccoli, cut into medium florets
1/4 lb mushrooms, thickly sliced
mineral salt to taste

For the top:
ground cinnamon

Directions

Place the first 7 ingredients (tamari through peanut butter) in a small blender cup & spin until creamy and well combined. Add the water & spin again. Taste for salt, adding a dash if needed.

Heat the oil over medium heat in a wok or large sauté pan. (When using coconut oil, high heat should be avoided, as it has a low smoke point.) Add garlic & ginger and stir for a minute. Toss in the next 5 ingredients (onion through broccoli.) Stir-fry on medium heat for about 8 minutes, or until the veggies start getting soft. Add the mushroom slices and stir-fry for another 3 minutes, until the mushrooms are medium-soft. Add salt to taste.

Turn the heat down to low and pour the sauce over the veggies & mix well. If you find that your sauce is not thin enough, add more water in very small amounts, stirring until the sauce covers everything well. Once the sauce has warmed, remove from heat.

Divide into individual bowls over your choice of rice, adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to each. Enjoy & happy Christmas!

For the first time in 3 years, I am taking a blogging break, so this will be my last post until mid-January. I hope the specific holidays you celebrate find you surrounded by love and taking time to recognize more of life’s simple, sublime blessings. I am grateful for your continued support, and I look forward to reading your stories and poetry after the start of the new year!

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