The holidays are here again and this means more time in the kitchen and around the table. For some, this is a favorite time of year. For others, it brings a pit of anxiety in the stomach thinking about travel, relatives, those awkward social situations and that food you might not really want to eat…I feel you! This year, rather than just a recipe guide, I wanted to create an …

In summer, we move quickly. We say yes to more, pull a few more late nights than normal and push ourselves harder through our full schedules. Okay, we probably do that all year round, given the nature of our society’s pace. However, come Fall, we might notice feeling more anxious than we do in Spring and struggle to sleep well, think clearly, keep a consistent routine, and feel grounded in our day-to-day.

In Ayurvedic teachings, Fall is actually …

Taos has always held a fond place in my heart. There’s something so special about its many micro climates, of vast horizons over the sage spotted mesa, the white cotton candy-like clouds painting shadows and light across the expansive views, the cold mountain streams tracing pathways through the aspens. It takes my breath away every time.

My dear friend and I have been making annual trips to Taos for the last four …

Before I left for Kauai, my mom came to visit and provide her loving motherly support.  As all doting mothers do, they cook and clean and just generally make life better. Love you, Mom. For several mornings in a row, she kept offering to make me her favorite new oatmeal creation for breakfast. I resisted and resisted, insisting that I really didn’t eat oatmeal any more for XY&Z reasons and wasn’t …

An Ayurvedic Ojas-boosting drink for better sleep, made with dates, almonds, spices and ashwagandha.

I’ve been a bit seasonally confused lately. I left the cold Midwest winter last month and landed in Kauai on my birthday. It’s been an incredible month settling into the island and receiving her many blessings, including the abundance of gorgeous produce here. Saturday markets are filled with fruits and vegetables I’d never heard of before…soursop, egg fruit, bread fruit, longons, and over 80 varieties of avocados that I’m tasting my …

Growing up with digestive issues, holidays were a notorious struggle for me. I loved the social experience of coming together to cook and share a feast around the table, but the food invariably left me feeling less than great. I would loathe the questions about why I wasn’t eating meat or couldn’t do the gravy on the mashed potatoes. One Thanksgiving, my sweet mother announced I could plan the …

In colder weather, there’s nothing more comforting than a good hearty bowl of chili and a thick slice of cornbread. Though not a traditional Ayurvedic dish or combo, it’s pure comfort food and soul nourishment for me this time of year! Taking a healthier approach to this standard combo, this four bean vegan chili uses sprouted legumes to increase digestibility and a warming mix of savory and sweet spices. It’s the …

From stones to plants, nature provides us with an abundance of resources to nourish our bodies and minds. It’s easy to become depleted in the fast pace of urban living, but sometimes all we need are little connections to the natural elements in our homes and kitchens to help us sync back to nature’s rhythms. Working with the healing energy of crystals and the nutritive properties of plants through …