Monthly Archives: November 2006

Gratitude

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Though I inevitably suffer from some depression during Winter, I have found ways to maintain an even keel during these shadowed times, to alleviate their unbalancing effects. I allow myself more time to get things done. I allow more “non-directed” time, such as watching TV or just staring out the window, basking in the sun. I forgive myself for not being able to keep up with the world.

Gratitude is another tool for maintaining a positive attitude. A friend of mine keeps a gratitude journal, where he daily notes whatever he can be thankful for. Giving thanks from the heart is healing. It helps us see the glass half full, or even a third full, rather than focusing on what’s missing. With conscious effort, one can reach beyond the natural waves of selfishness which lap at our awareness to a soft place in the heart for offering the gift of gratitude for all that you have.

Gratitude also takes practice! Since it’s given silently from the heart, there’s little discernible evidence that you’ve opened your heart, except to yourself. Those who don’t practice feeling gratitude in their hearts may quickly lose perspective and begin to think they aren’t getting their fair share of happiness, popularity, wealth or love from the world. They can become bitter and poisoned.

Another stumbling block to gratitude is guilt. You may remember your mother telling your to finish your food because children are starving in Africa. Well, it’s true. It’s easy to feel guilty for being selfish, for feeling unable to give gratitude. To that I say, keep it simple. Don’t feel guilty, feel blessed. Just feel blessed.

It’s no wonder gratitude is an integral part of any religious or spiritual practice. In yoga, one says “namaste” with palms together. In Buddhism, one bows with palms together. In Christianity, one prays in thanks with palms together.

So, don’t forget to practice giving thanks daily for what you have. Ask yourself if you are truly giving thanks this Thanksgiving week. Put your palms together to focus the energy of your heart and open the faucet of gratitude. It may squeak a bit at first.

Chicken Orange Stew

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I threw together a chicken stew tonight, using my favorite method, the pressure cooker. I used some pre-marinated chicken I get at a local family run food market. This had a tequila lime marinade. That inspired me to continue with the citrus theme. So I added several clementines to a mix of chopped savoy cabbage (mild flavor), sweet potato (cut up), peas (cleaned out the freezer), some leftover tofu, and I can’t remember what else. Oh yes, eggplant, cubed.

You’ll get used to me sharing my pressure cooker recipes. I almost always start by sautéing several cloves of garlic, sliced, and a shallot, chopped, to either olive oil or a butter/olive oil mix. Then I add the chicken and brown it a bit. Then I throw in all the other veggies with some good broth. I used a concentrated veggie broth this time. The brand it “Better than Broth”, which has excellent flavor and is not too salty.

For the seasoning I used sweeter spices, tarragon, cardamom, marjoram. But I always add something for zest. I squeezed a lemon, sprinkled a little cayenne and threw in some pink peppercorns.

I pressure cooked it for 10 minutes. And, voila. Delicious. Oh, I cooked up some white Basmati rice to go with it. Just LOVE basmati, with its nutty flavor. Normally I’d try to use the brown version, but I didn’t want to wait the 45 minutes it would take. The white only takes 20.a

The Room

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Moon over House

Black November air
oozes across the pine board floor,
cold molasses being poured.
Shadows of craggy oak twigs
gnaw the walls for flaws.
The moon cannot escape,
so peers helplessly
from her thin blue ark.
His cries are swallowed whole
by the feather comforter
weighted on his chest.
The room is silent.
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Domesticity

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This is my homey blog, where I can share recipes I create during fits of domestic crativity, along with wines I find delicious. I’ll also blab about decorating, gardening and how much I loathe cleaning my house. (but love it when it’s clean!)