My Favorite Soup – Well, one of many!
Back in June I planted some seeds in the garden. A few weeks later I had some shoots. A few weeks after that this enormous vine outgrew its trellis and moved into the bushes. I picked some amazing butternut squashes from said vine. Produce doesn’t get much more local or seasonal than that!
Butternut squash is great. One can do a lot with it and it’s a perfect food to transition from the heat of summer to the winds of fall.
One of my favorite things to do with butternut squash is make soup. Making soup is just as nourishing as eating soup. Here’s the recipe. It’s perfect for a light dinner or an after yoga class snack. It also travels well in a thermos. (If you come to my Wed 5:45 class at Studio Vibe next week, that’s likely to be what’s in my thermos! I’m happy to share.)
1 Butternut Squash – medium to large
1 Shallot or onion – diced
1 – 2 cloves minced garlic
Coconut Oil
2 Vegetable Bullion Cubes (I like Rapunzel Brand)
or 32 oz Chicken or Vegetable Broth
1tsp each, Allspice, Cinnamon, Cardamon (more if desired)
Dash of ginger
Lite Coconut Milk to taste (1/4 – 1/2 cup)
- Preheat oven to 350. Bake Butternut Squash for 45-60 minutes until fork tender. Let cool. Then slice and scoop out the seeds. (I think this is easier than trying to peel and slice, but you can do that if you’d prefer. Just cook the soup longer.)
- In a large pot sauté garlic and onions in coconut oil until tender.
- Scoop butternut squash flesh out of the skin and add to onions and garlic.
- Add bullion cubes and several cups of water, enough to cover the veggies, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add spices to taste and simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste. Add more spice if needed.
- Use an Immersion Blender or transfer soup to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Add coconut milk until soup reaches desired thickness.
- Let simmer another minute or two.
- Serve.
- For added green flare and nutrition, serve with a side salad or top with sprouts.
Yummm!!!!! Doesn’t it sound like a warm and loving hug for your insides? Want more great tips to make this fall one of nourishment and grace? Join me for a FREE Live Call Thursday, September 20th from 7 – 8pm. And if you can’t make the call live, don’t worry, be sure to register and I’ll send you a special link with access to the recording. I’d also love it if you’d help me out and tell your friends!
Other opportunities for Autumn nourishment include a balancing Empower Practice on Saturday, October 5th, and the start of the next Bringing You to Balance: Daily and Seasonal Rhythms to Harmonize Your Life Course on October 1st. If you’re looking to shift from feeling dull, depressed, stuck in a rut, overworked or disconnected to finding more vibrant energy and a deeper connection to Nature and your Spirit in any season, Apply Now to see if you’re a good fit for the course and we’ll chat.
Yours in Soul-filled Soup,
Melinda
Embracing the Borders of August: Balancing Summer Heat
“I love borders. August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know.
Twilight is the border between day and night, and the shore is the border between sea and land. The border is longing: when both have fallen in love but still haven’t said anything. The border is to be on the way. It is the way that is the most important thing.” ~ Tove Jansson
In general I’m pretty in love with the border spaces both in the rhythms of my day and the rhythms of my life. I know how to lean into their possibilities and navigate their mysteries. But I have often found the liminal nature of August to be a challenge. Perhaps it’s a function of being stuck in the heat; motionless when the anticipation of summer and our family vacation in July has already passed, but the release of fall and shift into its crisp rhythms has yet to occur. Perhaps this is because no matter how “cool” of summer we’ve had, August is humid. Pressurized.
This August, instead of getting pulled into the depression and lethargy that often 
accompanies this kind of border heat, I’ve decided to embrace it; to give myself fully to the swelling of whatever vision is being brought forth for the days and months to come. I invite you to do the same.
To embrace this border heat without trapping it in excess that can lead to burn- out, anger, lethargy and depression, it’s helpful to apply some simple, cooling lifestyle, spiritual, and yogic techniques to remain balanced. Here are some of my favorites.
Cooling Foods and Drink
- Watermelon! Enjoy as much as you can. Try it in-between meals to avoid unpleasant bloating.
- Enjoy other seasonal, cooling foods such as sweet berries, peaches, cucumbers and summer squash.
- Add a few sprigs of fresh mint or cucumber to your water.
Cooling Breath
- Step outside into the morning air and take a few deep breaths.
- While you’re at it, spend a few moments in quiet meditation to cool and calm your mind. Notice the deep maturity of color on the trees, the vibrant blue of the sky.
Cooling Movement
- Balance your intense, summer activities with the cooling poses on the sequence card above. Hold each pose for 5 breaths (or longer if you’d like), and Viparita Karni (legs up the wall) for up to 10 minutes.
Cooling Skin, Calming Nerves
- Rub coconut oil into your skin before or after your shower. Let it soak in before you dress.
Whatever your feelings toward the month of August, I invite you to pause, enjoy the warmth and the light, notice the deep, mature green of the trees, use the tips above to keep yourself balanced, then reflect on and give thanks for the border spaces that lead the way in your life.
Terrific Travel Tips
Ease of travel is one of the great joys of the modern age but the changes of food, activity, sleep, altitude and sometimes company can wreak havoc on your system, leaving you feeling ungrounded, unsupported and irritable. This summer, bring along key bits of your daily routine to help you stay steady and nourished so you can enjoy the adventure.
Sleep Well
As much as possible, stick to your regular sleeping and waking times, but allow variation for special events. Too much light? Try a sleeping mask or small towel over your eyes
Hydrate
Traveling can be very drying. Pack a thermos and/or water bottle. Drink hot water in cooler weather and on airplanes; room temperature water in warmer climates. Drink up to a quart of hot water first thing in the am… before any coffee or tea… This will wake up your body, stimulate digestion and help stave off constipation.
Start Your Day with Silent Inspiration
Take a few quiet minutes to yourself to breath in and out. Read a passage from your inspiring daily reader or bit of poetry. You can do this anywhere, your hotel room, a bathroom, a back porch. Notice how this leaves you feeling more centered supported and able to go with the flow. Do the following yoga routine.
Oil to Avoid Getting Sick
Ever notice how your nose gets crusty and dry during travel especially on the plane? Dryness makes you more susceptible to infection from germs and other nasties. Put a small dab of sesame or coconut oil on your finger tip, rub it into your nostrils, maybe even your ears. While you’re at it, rub the oil all over your body. Let it soak in then rinse off.
Terrific Tummy
Travel can be hard on the tummy. Take ginger capsules for motion sickness. Try two prior to starting travel, then as often as needed. Digestive issues? Mix equal parts cumin/coriander/fennel in a small jar and pack in your travel bag. Take up to a tsp full with water prior to meals. Or, chew on a small hand-full of fennel seeds before meals or any time you have indigestion.
Save Your Skin
Commercial sunscreen is loaded with chemicals we don’t metabolize well. Try switching to a sunscreen made with non-nano zinc oxide. GreenScreen® from kabanaskincare.com is good. (I am not affiliated with Kabana Skincare and don’t get anything from them for recommending. I just like the product!)
Enjoy the Ride
Taking a break from the daily views of life is a great joy. Relax, let go of rigid agendas and enjoy the flow of whatever comes along!
The HouseHolder's Path 