Friday 25 November 2011

GRATITUDE

Feed the soul, feed the mind

Yesterday Thanksgiving was celebrated the world over. I have family in America and cherish very happy memories of time spent with them, in fact one of my happiest summers was spent there, aged fourteen. Driving around the Great Lakes, going to the Milwaukee Irish Fest, walking through Chicago and feeling like I was in Gotham City or about to bump into Alcapone! So many moments, I loved it.
Gratitude fills me up inside often. It is a feeling that is both light and transforming. The kitchen is a sanctuary for gratitude; it offers respite from the stresses of the day and gives nourishment on many levels.
Traditionally psychology has focused on understanding distress, rather than understanding positive emotions. Since 2000 a new wave of thought emphasising the importance of gratitude is cleansing us all. Positive psychology.
If we adopt the idea that,
"Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves." -Carl Gustave Jung


We open a treasure chest of realisations and forgiveness. I try every day to consciously have a few moments of quiet, where I close my eyes and think of what I’m grateful for, the list grows and my inclination to feel sorry for myself courteously takes flight!


Give yourself one of the best presents possible this Christmas ~ GRATITUDE!
The best gifts can't be seen, they are felt

You may think I’m barking mad when I tell you that I find chopping deeply relaxing. If julienne and chiffonade are unfamiliar terms check out the links below, calming chopping requires good knife skills, so it's worth watching these short clips.
Chop for calm
Cooking with love is my mantra, though sometimes it is cooking with stress, cooking with haste and even cooking with anger! (Bring out the pestle and mortar!!!)
However with this recipe, one can’t help but feel joy. It is a Thai Peanut slaw that smells of the exotic, the fresh, and the joy one may experience on holiday, light and lush. Honey sweetens, sesame oil deepens, cabbage invigorates, carrots refresh, basil beguiles and fish sauce stirs one into an oceanic taste bud experience. Served alongside cold cuts of turkey/ chicken or simply with some rice noodles – wowowowow! Joy to the world! Of course, if you have a nut allergy, simply ignore the peanuts and perhaps throw in some mange tout instead. Give a gift to your body with this Festive Slaw.

Cabbage

One cup of chopped cabbage contains just 20 calories, 2 grams fiber and is loaded with sulforaphane, a cancer-fighting chemical that’s been shown to decrease cellular damage throughout the body.
Carrots
They brighten up any dish and give you a gorgeous party glow. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is needed for healthy skin, and they also contain high levels of anti-oxidants. 


I love to read other blogs and was smitten with a Bugs Bunny like curiosity, when I read on "Eat Like a Girls" blog that she was hosting a competition. This is my carrot offering, that's in great vegetable company. Today I'm feeling GRATITUDE for other bloggers and carrots : ) 


Three reasons to keep mindful of Gratitude –  
  1. It reminds you of all the people in your life who make you happy, this could even be a stranger you pass each morning.
  2. It’s nigh impossible to worry about your weight when you give thanks that you are alive and healthy. It’s difficult to complain when you’re lucky enough to have a place called home and a computer to read this from.
  3. It nurtures a sense of thankfulness, we begin to feel more thankful and utter more often these two simple words that mean so much, “Thank you!” We all want to be appreciated at some level, thanking those around you releases a butterfly effect, that is as natural as it is beautiful – gorgeous Gratitude.

Here is some food for thought –

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
 
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
  
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
                     
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations
                      
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge
                        
Because it will build your strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes
                               
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
          
Because it means you’ve made a difference.
It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
            
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are 
also thankful for the setbacks.
GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
 
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles 
and they can become your blessings.
  
Author Unknown ~
Just before posting this I received an email to say that Feeling Food is a featured blog on The Foodie Blog roll, needless to say, I felt GRATITUDE, it has a domino effect and one I enjoy often.


With love to you and wishing you a great weekend,


FFXOXOX
Thai Festive Peanut Slaw
Delicious on its own or with leftover Turkey!

SERVES 4

FOR THE DRESSING
Olive oil, 60ml
Rice wine vinegar, 50ml
Fish sauce, 1tbsp
Honey, 1 tsp
Sesame oil, 1 tsp
Hoisin sauce, 1 tbsp
White pepper, a pinch

SLAW
Red cabbage, ¼ thinly sliced into julienne strips
Savoy cabbage, ¼ thinly sliced into julienne strips
Carrots, 2 sliced julienne
Spring onions, 7 sliced diagonally
Dried cranberries, 100g
Sesame seeds, 1 tbsp toasted
Coriander, small bunch roughly chopped
Basil leaves, 9 chiffonade

WHISK dressing ingredients together.
ADD remaining ingredients.
TOSS well to give everything an even coat.
SERVE alongside cold meats or other delights to bring life and love to your table.
GRATITUDE in abundance to you!

11 comments:

  1. Aww, love it! Wonderful memories of you over here in the summer of '93. That looks colorful, healthy and delicious- love Thai food!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy days!!! And I couldn't beleive at sixteen you were driving!!!
    Felt very cool : ) I'm delighted you like this recipe. It's a winner and not a Turkey: ) Though is delicious with Turkey! Hehehe! Hope you all had a lovely Thanks Giving!

    Huge FFXOXOX

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sinead - I can't wait to give this a try! Thank you for posting it. Love, Bridie

    ReplyDelete
  4. Darling - such a joy and an inspiration - thank you!!! huge love, Alice xxx

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bridie! I'm delighted you like it! It is scrumptious. Last night we ate it with chicken, and today I enjoyed it alongside a cheese toastie! It's delicious and very versatile.

    Big love,

    FFXOXOXOX

    ReplyDelete
  6. Lovely Alice, joy and a big hug to you. Leo and I love your blog, I'm considering investing in a few Gnomes myself for a special present this Christmas.

    Lots of love,

    FFXOXOXOX

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh, your slaw looks amazing! And I love that dried cranberries have been added. I'm copying this and hope to try it soon...YUM!

    PS...great message about gratitude~

    ReplyDelete
  8. I can eat Asian Slaws with anything- looks great and Congrats!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Lizzy : ) The cranberries give a lovely natural sweetness. Hope you enjoy!! To gratitude and beyond! FFXOX

    ReplyDelete

I'm glad you're here and would love to know what you think? If there’s a dish or a type of food you’d like to see here, please do let me know. Your comments, notes, tweets always bring a smile to my face. Thanks very much for stopping by at Feeling Food:)