TOP POSTS OF 2014

About this time last year as I waited for the calendar to flip from 2013 to 2014, I sent up a prayer asking for a year of quiet and rest. 2013 had been filled with struggle and my physical and spiritual health mirrored the toll those twelve months [years?] had taken on my body and soul. It's 30 minutes to midnight and I'm sitting here in such gratitude for the answer to a whispered prayer - the blessing and healing found within this past year.

May 2015 be one of joy and creativity, beauty and grace. Happy New Year friends.

[TOP TWELVE RECIPES OF 2014]

Super Immunity Jell-O

Pumpkin + Sunflower Seed Butter

Quesadillas with "Cheesy" Buttercup Squash Filling

Simple Pizza Crust

Red Velvet Pancakes

Spiced Apple Porridge

Zucchini Pasta

Two Summer Salads + One Herb Dressing

Asparagus-Leek Soup

End-Of-Winter Soup

Homemade Honey Bum Cream + All-Purpose Salve

Herbal Tea for Cold / Flu

[TOP TWELVE  BOOKS OF 2014]

Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist

Falling Upward by Richard Rohr

Immortal Diamond by Richard Rohr

Energy Medicine by Donna Eden

Emotional Intimacy by Robert Augustus Masters

Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith

The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson

Living Your Yoga by Judith Lasater

What Do You Do With An Idea by Kobi Yamada

Against All Grain by Danielle Walker

Eat, Taste, Heal by Thomas Yarema, Daniel Rhoda, and Johnny Brannigan

Superfood Kitchen by Julie Morris

RAW ENERGY

I was recently introduced to this book by my friend Kim and have since used it just about every day. I don't think I can recommend this book enough! The recipes are simple, take minimal ingredients [and the ingredients used are typically well known and easy to find], and delicious. In addition, the title doesn't lie - these recipes do provide a nice pick-me-up! I especially recommend reading through the entire book. There is a lot of helpful information.

Happy reading!

NATURAL GARDEN PEST CONTROL

Your garden is probably in full swing now and that means it may have become a buffet for many destructive pests. I have found one resource in particular that has really been helpful in distinguishing between good and bad bugs, infections and how to naturally control each of these.

The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control: A Complete Guide to Maintaining a Healthy Garden and Yard the Earth-Friendly Way by Fern Marshall Bradley, Barbara W. Ellis, and Deborah L. Martin

This is, of course, one of many great resources and if you are caught trying to decipher between a couple possible problems or pests, try using other organic gardening resources to aide you in the hunt. Here are a few others that I use:

The Vegetable Gardener's Bible

Rodale's Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening

The Gardener's A - Z Guide to Growing Organic Food

Small Spaces, Beautiful Gardens

One of my favorite things about March is that, no matter how much snow we get, I KNOW that spring is right around the corner. This means I scramble to do some last minute garden research, finish writing my springtime "to-dos", perfect my garden plan and catch myself longingly looking out the window wondering if this will be the day that all the snow will disappear. If you live in Michigan you know what beautiful torture this is.

One of my favorite gardening books this season is Grow Great Grub by Gayla Trail. It is really a book for city-dwellers and people who have limited gardening space, however, I have found this book to provide some really helpful gardening tips along with some fun photos. I've checked it out of the library twice so far this year and have renewed each time! If you don't have much gardening space (and even if you do) it is really worth paging through. There are also recipes intermingled in the chapters providing seasonal ideas.

New Garden Book

Lately, I have been reading a lot of books on gardening and recently found a true treasure. The Vegetable Gardener's Bible has been a wonderful, easy read and is filled with a lot of visuals allowing me to better grasp the concepts presented. Edward Smith gives a simple gardening plan and the pages are filled with his vast knowledge and experiences.

Is it spring yet?

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

Every year, about this time, I get the itch to read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. I love the balance between story, knowledge, and recipes. I just started it again and each time I read it, I learn something new or pick up on something hadn't noticed before. I am also constantly inspired to work towards local-ism and simplicity. If you haven't enjoyed this book it is, in my opinion, a must for 2011.

"Households that have lost the soul of cooking from their routines may not know what they're missing: the song of a stir-fry sizzle, the small talk of clinking measuring spoons, the yeasty scent of rising dough, the painting of flavors onto a pizza before it slides into the oven. The choreography of many people working in one kitchen is, by itself, a certain definition of family, after people have made their separate ways home to be together." (p. 130)