Rainbow Wintergreens

Pink on white

Colour transforms our cold winter days, sometimes we struggle to find it, though it's always near. Rainbow wintergreens will bring warmth to a table near you in minutes, such is the beauty and simplicity of this stew.

Simple recipes and simple songs, I love them both. Here's a wee challenge, imagine if you will, a beautiful voice singing this classic song;

Somewhere over the rainbow

Skies are blue,

And the dreams that you dare to dream

Really do come true.

What would you dream? For me, I'd love to be in a place . . . 

Close to calm in Kota Kinabaloo

Where women and men alike love and accept who they are, for what they are. Idealistic, yes, true, totally. Years ago I led a class and included an affirmation from the  inspirational Louise Hay. It was a poignant moment when each person said, sometimes with great difficulty, the affirmation; 

I love and accept myself for who and what I am.

Easier said than done. To truly love oneself? Wow, that is love at its deepest level, and from there endless goodness surely follows? Recent research from the University of Oregon suggests that junk food is as addictive as cigarettes, alcohol and hard drugs. There's a lot of talk right now on the link between creativity and drug use. No doubt some will argue the benefits of mind-altering substances and sight Coleridge’s Xanadu as an example. The masterpiece was written when he was smoking Opium. My Father often re-sighted it, it's a beautiful poem.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree

Where Alph, the sacred river ran

Through caverns measureless to man

Down to a sunless sea…..

For he on honeydew hath fed,

And drunk the milk of paradise.

Alph? 

Ah, his words are food for the soul.  Though how many beautiful poems, songs, paintings, films, plays, musicals have been created without such influence, hundreds upon thousands. Thirty something hedonists have a new nick-name, Gravers. The time is nigh to embrace the joys of health and good choices, that bring lasting happiness in place of a fleeting malignant mirage. The mind needs feeding just as the body does. 

An apple a day keeps the Doctor away?

This recipe I'm sharing is sumptuous and hits healthy notes at an Operatic level! Tofu, the cheese of Asia, makes for a great source of protein, combined with beaming vivid colours that bring sunshine to   dark winter nights.

Special Tip - Aim for around three varying colours on your plate, this will help ensure a well rounded nutritional meal. So the next time you see a rainbow, hopefully you'll feel the pot of gold in your heart, and remember you're beautiful just the way you are.

Love,

FFX

Tofu rainbows with wintergreens 

Serves 4

Wintergreens 200g

Olive oil 2 tbsp

Tofu 300g

Red onion 1 finely chopped

Garlic cloves 3 bashed

Flageolet beans 1 tin

Sweet potato 3, 400g peeled and chopped into mouth sized chunks

Thyme sprigs 3

Vegetable stock 500 ml

WASH and shred greens.

HEAT oil and gently fry garlic and onion in a large saucepan for a few minutes.

STIR in sweet potato, beans, thyme, stock and season generously, place on lid.

SIMMER for 15 minutes.

ADD tofu followed by greens and season well.

STIR and replace lid, cooking for a further 5 minutes.

SERVE in warmed bowls and enjoy this savoury sensation.