I trust you’re keeping warm. We’ve had a couple of sunny days but mostly it’s grey and wet in my rainforest home. The Christmas decorations are stored away until next year as we continue our inward hibernation, living and breathing slowly, our attention centered around the home. We’re deep into Wintertime.
Exercise is an important part of my physical and mental health and I’ve been enjoying Yoga, HIIT, Rebounding and Elliptical Training each morning; a freezing shower after a workout perks me up to start my day with a smile.
It’s been 14 months that I started my journey with the Wim Hof Method only falling off when I’ve had Covid and was too chilled and feverish to stand the frigid water. Cold water immersion helps to tone the Vagus Nerve (a nerve that travels from our brain to the lower abdomen and is in charge of pretty much everything from swallowing, to breathing, to our heart rate). I struggle with low vagal tone (a.k.a disordered anxiety) so doing what I can to naturally kick my body into parasympathetic mode is a priority.
Even on rainy days I like to walk in the woods – the barren trees a testament that we can stand strong, flourish and transform even in the coldest of times. There isn’t much to see in terms of plants and flowers; the quiet chill beckons me to the warmth of home and a hot cup of ginger tea.
Food is simple and comforting in Wintertime. This week I cooked:
– sockeye salmon with broccoli and yams
– garlic chicken breast chopped salad (Recipe here)
– tuna zucchini patties with kale and cabbage salad (Recipe here)
– mediterranean chicken with artichokes and olives (Recipe here)
and my coconut fish stew that is so tasty, you must try it:
COCONUT FISH STEW
You Will Need:
Cod fish fillets fresh or frozen (you can use instead other white fish like snapper, monkfish or salmon) 2 cups
Olive oil or coconut oil 2 TBS
1 small Onion finely chopped
Garlic 1 or 2 cloves minced
Carrot 1 small cut into cubes
Green peas 1/4 cup
Cauliflower 1 cup
1 medium Zucchini sliced into bite sized pieces
Full fat coconut milk 1 can/400 ml
Fish or vegetable broth 2 cups – l (I make fish broth by adding 1 – 2 teaspoons of fish sauce to 2 cups of vegetable broth and it works really well)
Salt to taste (fish sauce is very salty so taste before adding more salt)
Pepper to taste
Dried basil 1 tsp
Turmeric 1 tsp
Nutmeg powder 1/4 tsp
TO SERVE
Fresh chopped cilantro
Lime juice to taste
“Sometimes a little comfort food can go a long way“
Instructions:
In a large pot on a high heat, melt the oil and fry finely chopped onion.
When onion is translucent and golden brown, add minced garlic, carrot and cauliflower
Stir and cook the vegetables until they start to be golden brown on the edges.
Add the coconut milk and broth, salt, pepper, basil, turmeric and nutmeg, stir.
Bring it to simmer, lower heat and cook for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes add fish cut in small pieces, peas and zucchini cut in small pieces.
Raise the heat again and Cook for 10 minutes.
Serve with fresh cilantro and fresh lime juice.
Enjoy!
The home is cozy in January, the kitties spend endless afternoons napping on the feather duvet and I’m pulled to join them and dream of winter activities to do indoors.
Indoor Activities
-make a puzzle
-play a card game or jenga with my husband
-talk for hours about the universe
-play piano
-clean the pantry out of anything that is close to expiring and use it first
-dream of planning the spring garden
-binge on Netflix shows. Have you watched Wednesday? highly recommend.
-take inventory of my essential oils and order any I’m low on for our health
I hope your January is filled with the warmth of home, that you are enjoying tending to simple chores that make life comfortable. Breathe in for 4 counts, Hold for 4 counts, Breathe out for 4 counts, Hold for 4 counts. Repeat 4 times a day. Slow down, rest and smile. There will be time for busyness later. Just for today sink into the stillness of Wintertime.
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Love,
Jennifer
ALL PHOTOS BY JENNIFER PEDRAZA RICHARDSON