This globed, dark purple and nourishing summer vegetable must be cooked in order to eat.  I used to salt and drain cubed pieces (to drain it’s wateriness and lose it’s bitterness) like my ancestors, but I don’t anymore.

To make a basic eggplant dip, just slice, season and place the inner side down (skin up) on a greased tin.  Bake or broil for 20- 30 minutes till the flesh is soft and caramelized.

Scoop out the pulp and blend in a food processor with 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and salt or soy sauce (I used Bragg’s Liquid aminos). 

I just kept it simple today, but feel free to add garlic, yogurt to cream it up, olive oil, and fresh herbs like oregano or spices like cumin.

The following ingredients were all organic unless I specify they are not.  Feeds about 2 or in my case, lunch, dinner and maybe tomorrow’s lunch depending on how hungry I am tonight.

1 cup sliced or diced yellow onions

½ cup sliced mushrooms

¼ cup dried, crushed tomato slices (I did not have organic on hand but feel free to find and use your own) or just add ½ cup fresh.

2 cups chopped, stem removed, red or green kale

1 Tablespoon avocado, coconut, ghee, olive oil or butter

1½ cups of water

1 Tablespoon crushed garlic

1 teaspoon Turmeric

2 Tablespoons crushed Rosemary

Pinch of Saffron threads

3 Tablespoons lemon juice

Salt and Pepper to taste

½ cup coconut cream/milk (from a can)

2 cups quinoa/brown rice combination

For Vegetarians, stop there.  For fish lovers, add an 8oz. filet.  I had some wild caught orange roughy.

Very super simple:

Heat the oil over medium heat, add onions and mushrooms.  Toss and about 3 minutes later, add kale, garlic and turmeric.  Stir and cover.  After 5 minutes add tomatoes, water, rosemary and saffron.  Combine and cover so the flavors meld.  After @ 3 minutes, add coconut and lemon juice and season to taste.  Stop here if you are a vegetarian and enjoy over grains.  If you add fish, add here, season and cover for @ 3 minutes.  Lift the lid and turn the fish over.  I like to chop up the fish and let the flavors infuse the fish.

I just made this up and I believe the ingredients married well and I couldn’t have had a more healthy or delicious lunch.  Try it.

I always have to have dessert so I cut up 1 cup strawberries, mixed in 1/4 cup of raw cereal crumble from Mother’s, added 1/2 cup yogurt and 1/4 cup coconut milk (the kind in the carton – not organic btw).  Mmmm. Finished off with a decaf cafe/coco milk and stevia and wrote about it while sipping.  Buen Provecho!

Ahhhh. To live well and feel well!

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”

~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

Who are these people in your life?  Stay close to them.

Everyday, I look for a gift.  What has the day brought me, I ask before putting my head to lie on the pillow.  What lesson have I learned, what task could I have done better, to whom do I need to make amends?  This has been my personal practice for many years, almost a decade.  It humbles, soothes and instructs me well.  Then, I thank my higher power for the day and for keeping me and mine in good health and safe.

Every morning, I ask for help, guidance and to be of service.  How can I put someone else’s needs before mine? What obligations need to be taken care of today and in what order of priority?  I check in with my attitude and adjust it.  My morning writing helps me to dislodge dusty spider webs from my mood.  When I don’t do my morning meditation or writing, it shows, just ask my family.   Allowing my human energy to release problems, judgments and fear through my morning writing practice opens my soul to perform daily events in a spiritually enhanced mode. Then, I start the day, knowing it will flow exactly the way it’s supposed to and all I need to do is get out of the way and put one foot in front of the other.

Does this scenario sound saintly?  I don’t manage to do anything perfectly but my aspiration to do the right thing, let things go and be grateful sometimes does click.  Today was one of those days, so far.  Granted, nothing pressing was on my plate but then again I have lived days where everything went awry even with little of note on the agenda.  I have survived days I didn’t think were possible with grace and ease because my connection to my inner strength was strong and unwavering.  I notice my day goes better when I ask for help, show my vulnerabilities and balance that with a confident awareness that I am loved.

“Nothing is lost upon a man who is bent upon growth; 
 nothing wasted on one who is always preparing for life. 
  By keeping eyes, mind, and heart open to nature, men, 
books, experience, and what he gathers, serves
 him at unexpected moments, is unforeseen.”

Hamilton Wright Mabie 

Yesterday I found a treasure trove of books to be had for reasonable donation prices at the local, small town, Mountain Library.  After purchasing two paperbacks from the outside cart, the manager asked if I had ever been to their surplus, discarded bookstore.

I believe I had entered this magical room once with family and promptly was rushed out –  but this time I was alone and he fortuitously reminded me of it.  I could carve out time on my hands since I had no pressing plans and took advantage of it by peering at every title and even perusing inside some volumes.

Needless to say their donation box and my tree house shelves are richer.  Like a squirrel that has found the mother lode of nuts, I stacked my selections on their round table in the center of the room and couldn’t believe my luck.

They graciously helped me out to my car and I contentedly organized them once home. Super day!

I envision curling up on the deck when the weather is pleasant and curling up by the fireplace when it is not.  In either curling, there will be much and various tomes to sink into.

I am keeping my eyes, mind and heart open to nature, women, books, experience and what I gather, serves me at unexpected moments.

As you can see by my new title and website domain name, I have officially changed to a more focused but still all encompassing blogging site.

In the next few days and weeks, I will be re-configuring, re-developing and re-designing the look, layout and content.

I aim to have headings you can click on to and read by category.  I will update with new pictures and written work daily as usual (that’s a commitment to self) but I’d like to eventually have it arranged in some sort of order under a designated section.

This is my goal and I have a vision.  It might take some time to mutate and transform, but a new and improved animal will emerge.

So I ask, dear reader, please be patient with me during this process.

Whether you type in ceciliabsteger or ceciliabsteger.com, you will be re-directed or directly sent to this site.

This is a timely endeavor as we are in Mercury Retrograde and according to my astrologer, ML(BFF extraordinaire), it is a great time to re-do, renew or review absolutely anything and everything.  So, if you have plans to re-model, re-invent yourself or repair anything….this is an auspicious time to do so.  But, not a good time to purchase machinery, electrical or technical products.  Apparently, this time period extends till the middle of July.  Take advantage of successful renovations in these propitious times.

Wish me luck!

Cecilia

To all those wonderful dads out there, Happy DAY!

My own wonderful husband is at the Angel/Yankee game with his son.

His daughters lovingly drew him homemade cards that would put Hallmark to shame.  Plus, they were super personal.  They gifted him with a Champagne Brunch and Kayaking where we can all enjoy food and the outdoors.

I wouldn’t be a mom if it wasn’t for my husband. And, I couldn’t have raised such extraordinary kids without his foresight, good old common sense and initiative.

My dad passed away back in 2004.  I remember with nostalgia, his dry wit, intelligence and ability to fix or make anything he put his mind to.

Happy Father’s Day!

Could anything be better than the sweet, tangy, tart and sublime taste of fresh blackberries right from the vine?Try them with organic yogurt, raw organic chopped nuts, organic cinnamon and a little Stevia.  Berries of all kinds can be eaten in salads, smoothies and to top your cereal or ice cream.  Enjoy the health and goodness of the season!

My last chickadee graduated like her siblings, with honors, medals and proud family in the stands!

Congrats to all the Grads – whatever age, whatever grade – for it is always an accomplishment!

It seems just like yesterday we attended their kindergarten graduation.  We are looking forward to the next chapter.  We shall continue to root, encourage and attend important life moments!