 Caught in the midst of social engineering and chronic programming, I believe many souls are lost and disconnected from the source. The closer and more in touch you get with your soul, the more we realize that the illusions or, "Maya," are meaningless to our soul's purpose and fulfillment. When you discover your soul, your vibration changes. The people you meet are different (for the most part less toxic or destructive). You appreciate the small stuff and accept whatever God has ordained for your life. Whether in every leaf and in every person, there is a lesson, a story or a message. It takes time to discover your soul, but the true love that comes from within has a ripple effect on your messaging into the world. As always, inspired by the sun, Elizabeth Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 words or less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings.
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In October 2018, I'll be walking the Camino from Porto to Santiago. I would love for you to follow my journey. This isn't a typical millennial "omg" Instagram journey, this is about raw emotions and rediscovering one's self and spirituality through pilgrimage. After a tough year, it is time to push the reset button and restrengthening the mind and spirit. Subscribe to my YouTube Channel! 
In exactly one month from today, I will board a plane from Seattle in Porto in light of rediscovering my soul on the Camino de Santiago Trail, the Portuguese Central Way. 2018 has been one of most tough year's I've endured.
Divorce. Losing contract work. Can't seem to land a full-time job. Fractured Toes. Medical Bills. Getting ghosted by a so-called "spiritually enlightened and empathetic" man. Corrupt lawyers. But at least I'm still alive, and so are my cats and my family. I discovered news that the gym I work in is temporarily closing for construction. I took this as a sign from God to get the hell out of Seattle and do something. Israel? Camino? Or both? I decided to skip Israel this trip, though its my Jesus Year being 33, and felt the need to resurrect just like Christ. When I booked Lufthansa Flight 1111 from Santiago to Germany, to return "home" to Hannover, I knew I made the right decision. At some point in life you have to say, "fuck it," and stop worrying about bills, rent etc. and do something for your soul. What is it that you want to do? Whether it's to make time to read a book, or visit the land where your family comes from, at some point choose yourself. Live minimally and within your means, and when you do this, it gives you the flexibility and opportunities to choose yourself when needed. As always, inspired by the sun, Elizabeth Join Mind Body Soul Food Every Sunday for some inspiration, or Sunspiration, where we analyze quotes and sweet nothings in 150 words or less. Get inspired everyday with our Instagram account, sunspiration_everyday with inspirational quotes, motivational messages & sweet nothings. 
Stone fruits are a thing of the past. Our ancient ancestors had this fascination and deep romance with stone fruits.
Reading about the history and the origins of our food ignites this sense of appreciation of what the land gives us every day. "Back in the day," cultivating a farm and community was essential for survival. Someone baked bread and others farmed cabbage. Our peasant ancestors worked hard and found this connection to food, which has led to various festivals and ceremonies in various cultures. 
While living in Germany, it was common to celebrate the harvest of kale with a grunkohlfahrt or a town to hold a cabbage festival.
Today, the more connected we are online, the more disconnected we get to the energy of the land and the understanding of where our food comes from. And now with online grocery services, we will further disconnect ourselves from the cultivation and experience of food. In my life, I can't imagine not going into a store and picking my favorite produce. There is something about the head-hand-heart connection that is very powerful with food. Sometimes that plum you pick, just feels right. 
Stone fruits, soft on the outside, hard on the inside. This is quit symbolic of some people and their character. I do believe the outer world is a reflection of our inner world. And the seed we must plant and blossom begins in our mind.
If you change your mindset, you change yourself. If you change yourself, you change the world. Our ancestors knew this secret, but somehow on the collective, we are losing our way. Let this stone fruit dessert be an inspiration to planting a new seed in your life, although fall is approaching. 
"When the old plum tree blooms, the entire world blooms."
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Cardamom Spiced Pear Crostata
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Zucchini + Squash Blossom + Almond Cheese Crostata
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Summer Berry + Rose Sugar Crostata
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I did it again. I said I would go to Sequim, WA to visit the Lavender fields. I did not make it this year, but next for sure! It has been a dream of mine to visit the Lavender fields in France to photograph the beauty of these flowers in nature.
It doesn't matter how lavender is presented - dried, fresh, on a bush - they are some of the most beautiful and therapeutic flowers that exist.
It doesn't matter how lavender is presented - dried, fresh, on a bush - they are some of the most beautiful and therapeutic flowers that exist.
The summer of retrogrades has not been easy for many people. Ups, downs and drastic life shifts, it seems that life and the planetary energetics is more unpredictable than we give credit to. At 33 years of age, I feel more grounded than ever, and able to conquer any obstacle that life throws at me.
Although I crave life to be as whimsical as these cupcakes, that is not reality. But eating from nature and the earth is one way we root ourselves during life transitions. Just like a lavender flower that flows in the midst of a windy day, life will blow us from right to left quicker than a blink of an eye.
What I've seen not only in my life, but in others, I believe life tests us. Once we think life is fine and dandy, it throws us a bone with the ability to see how we handle the situation. Will we revert back to old ways? Or will we maintain our emotional and mental maturity to overcome this problem?
Whatever you believe in, our ancestors have used lavender for cooking and body care for centuries. It is one special place that the divine has blessed us with on planet earth.
What I've seen not only in my life, but in others, I believe life tests us. Once we think life is fine and dandy, it throws us a bone with the ability to see how we handle the situation. Will we revert back to old ways? Or will we maintain our emotional and mental maturity to overcome this problem?
Whatever you believe in, our ancestors have used lavender for cooking and body care for centuries. It is one special place that the divine has blessed us with on planet earth.
"Here's flowers for you; Hot lavender, mints, savoury, marjoram; The marigold, that goes to bed wi' the sun And with him rises weeping: these are flowers Of middle summer, and I think they are given To men of middle age."
-William Shakespeare
In cooking, flowers go a long way. It doesn't take much to get a floral taste. Some enjoy it. Some don't. But if you want a stronger taste, I suggest adding another 1/2 tsp. of lavender to the cupcakes, but it also depends on how strong you want the flavor to be.
And there is no need to use food coloring, when nature gives us berries and produce to "dye" things the way we want them. A sweet mix of lavender and vanilla goes a long way.
And there is no need to use food coloring, when nature gives us berries and produce to "dye" things the way we want them. A sweet mix of lavender and vanilla goes a long way.
"The air was fragrant with a thousand trodden aromatic herbs, with fields of lavender, and with the brightest roses blushing in tufts all over the meadows. "
-William C. Bryant
Vegan Mini Lavender Cupcakes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Makes 15-18 mini cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients:
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp nondairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp corn starch
1 cup all purpose pastry flour
1 tsp dried lavender buds
Frosting Ingredients
1/3 cup (5 tbsp) vegan buttery stick at room temperature
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup powder sugar
2 fresh blackberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
In a bowl, mix the milk and apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for a moment while in a separate bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together. Mix in the sugar and the remaining wet ingredients into the milk. Sift the flour mixture into the wet and fold the mixture with a spatula until combined.
Spray or grease a mini muffin pan. Fill the cup about 3/4 of the way. Bake at 350-degrees for 10 minutes. Check the muffins by piercing the center with a toothpick or fork. If the utensil comes out clean, the muffins are done. Let the muffins cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting, cream the butter and vanilla with an eggbeater or mixer. Gradually sift the powder sugar in 1/4 cup at a time and continue to beat until white and fluffy. Once complete, add the two black berries and beat until the frosting turns light purple. Use a small spatula to frost the cooled muffins and top with additional lavender if desired.
Let's Connect! Save all MBSF recipes on your Yummly inbox! Enjoy some of our other floral desserts below!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Makes 15-18 mini cupcakes
Cupcake Ingredients:
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp nondairy milk
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp corn starch
1 cup all purpose pastry flour
1 tsp dried lavender buds
Frosting Ingredients
1/3 cup (5 tbsp) vegan buttery stick at room temperature
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup powder sugar
2 fresh blackberries
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350-degrees.
In a bowl, mix the milk and apple cider vinegar. Let it sit for a moment while in a separate bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients together. Mix in the sugar and the remaining wet ingredients into the milk. Sift the flour mixture into the wet and fold the mixture with a spatula until combined.
Spray or grease a mini muffin pan. Fill the cup about 3/4 of the way. Bake at 350-degrees for 10 minutes. Check the muffins by piercing the center with a toothpick or fork. If the utensil comes out clean, the muffins are done. Let the muffins cool completely before frosting.
For the frosting, cream the butter and vanilla with an eggbeater or mixer. Gradually sift the powder sugar in 1/4 cup at a time and continue to beat until white and fluffy. Once complete, add the two black berries and beat until the frosting turns light purple. Use a small spatula to frost the cooled muffins and top with additional lavender if desired.
Let's Connect! Save all MBSF recipes on your Yummly inbox! Enjoy some of our other floral desserts below!
Lemon Blackberry Lilac Crepe Cake
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How to Make Fresh Rose Sugar
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Vegan + GF Cream Cheese Lilac Scones
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I just returned home from a great weekend on Bowen Island, Canada for the You Are Enough yoga retreat. The retreat sold out a couple weeks before the event and I feel I discovered my calling and passion for cooking for other people. I hope the opportunity arises again.
I love cooking. I find it therapeutic and ignites a different sense of creativity. I follow alot of intuitive cooking, which means I dont necessarily "follow the rules" on exact measurements but sometimes "go with my gut" on what spices and such are needed or necessary. I've also discovered through my cooking I don't always time things but rather use my sense of smell to indicate when a pie, or baked good is near done. Whenever the kitchen become aromatic it is a sign that whatever is in the oven is ready to be checked.
Alongside cooking, I teach yoga. Today, I focus most of my teaching on moderate and slow flows, for which require ambient or down-tempo music.
At the retreat, I played various playlists using mixcloud.com, and wanted to share my favorite tracks. I not only use these in my yoga classes, but also in the kitchen to inspire yet another culinary creation.
Enjoy!
I love cooking. I find it therapeutic and ignites a different sense of creativity. I follow alot of intuitive cooking, which means I dont necessarily "follow the rules" on exact measurements but sometimes "go with my gut" on what spices and such are needed or necessary. I've also discovered through my cooking I don't always time things but rather use my sense of smell to indicate when a pie, or baked good is near done. Whenever the kitchen become aromatic it is a sign that whatever is in the oven is ready to be checked.
Alongside cooking, I teach yoga. Today, I focus most of my teaching on moderate and slow flows, for which require ambient or down-tempo music.
At the retreat, I played various playlists using mixcloud.com, and wanted to share my favorite tracks. I not only use these in my yoga classes, but also in the kitchen to inspire yet another culinary creation.
Enjoy!
Perfect for slow flows and digestion while eating.
For meditation, healing, Reiki, yin, night-time relaxation, try anything by Kamal.
For a mix of inspirational electronic beats, perfect for yoga-Pilate combos or just a down-tempo, chillout environment. If you want to imagine lying on a beach and watching the sunset, experience these mixes by Dubtrak. Perfect for a yoga dinner party.
For a bit of German deep house, perfect for chilling.
For something ethnic and tribal.
For a bit of downtempo Buddha-ness.
Author
Elizabeth Rae Kovar M.A. is Author of her memoir, Finding Om and is a Fitness Trainer, Yogi, Reiki Master, Presenter and Lover of Life. To view her portfolio please visit www.elizabethkovar.com
Follow her travels at: lemontreetravel.com
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