Before Dawn

"I've always liked the time before dawn because there's no one around to remind me who I'm supposed to be, so it's easier to remember who I am." Storypeople

Assignment from the youngest...think about the dream job if money, family, time, etc were no object!!  That's a tall order!!...where do you even begin??

...in the garden is a good place to start!!

McDougall Baja Soup

4 cups water

1 cup salsa

1 medium onion, coarsley chopped

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1 green pepper, chopped

2 carrots, sliced

1 celery stalk, sliced

2 red potatoes, cut into chunks

1 cup corn kernels

1 cup shredded cabbage

1 tomato, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup cup fresh cilantro (optional)

Place the first eight ingredients in a large soup pot. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the corn and cabbage and cook for 15 more minutes. Add the tomato and heat through. Garnish with cilantro, if desired, before serving.

Number of Servings: 6

In an instant

Cheryl Richardson--A Simple Act--"life as you know it can change in an instant."

“There is a power inside every human against which no earthly force is of the slightest consequence.” ~ Neville Goddard

Song of the Day: Hotel California....acoustic version....



Bernadette's Chocolate Mousse

6 pitted medjool dates, soaked in warm water (reserve date water)
¼ cup pure maple syrup
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ avocados, mashed
¼ cup plus 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa or carob powder
¼ cup date water
Yield 1 cup or 2 servings.

Double-batch:
12 pitted medjool dates, soaked in warm water (reserve date water)
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 avocados, mashed
¾ cup cocoa powder
½ c date water
Yield 2 cups or 4 servings.

Triple batch recipe
14 pitted medjool dates, soaked in warm water (reserve date water)
½ c pure maple syrup
¼ c agave
2 t vanilla
5 avocados, mashed
1-¼ c cocoa powder
¾ c date water
Yield 3 cups or 6 servings

Place the dates, maple syrup and vanilla in a blender and process until smooth.

Add the avocado and cocoa powder and process until creamy.

Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Add the date water and process briefly.  Store in a sealed container.

Serving suggestion:  layer in parfait glass with diced strawberries

Chocolate mousse will keep for three days in a refrigerator or two weeks in the freezer.

Comfortably Numb

Cheryl Richardson--"When we are tolerating a mediocre life, it's as though we step into this comfortably numb place. It's where we operate on autopilot. On autopilot we end up not seeing the signs that say, 'Hold on, here, something's not right.'"


Chai Rice Pudding

1 1/2 cups water
4 cups unsweetened almond milk, divided
1 cup basmati rice
1/2 cup agave nectar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons dates, chopped
1/4 cup raisins

In a medium pot, bring water and 2 cups almond milk to a boil.  Add rice, agave nectar, and salt.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 mins.

Add remaining almond milk, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger.  SImmer, uncovered, for 20 mins or until rice is very soft.

Remove from heat, add dates and raisins, cover, and let sit for 10-15 mins.  Dust with additional cinnamon and cardamom and serve warm or at room temperature.

Life Purpose

Self-Growth--Gay Hendricks: "...ask yourself a big question that reveals your life purpose. One way you can do that is by saying, 'If my life was a success at the end, what would be one thing that made it a success?' I say that each human being has the power and potential to make five big dreams or wishes come true in their life. Ask yourself to look back through your whole life and find what was it that you most loved to do? What was the thing that when I’m doing it, time disappears. For me I get that feeling when I’m doing my writing in the morning. It’s the same kind of thing I used to feel as a kid when I’d be absorbed in playing with something. It’s that same sort of consciousness that when you look back through your life you find moments where your heart, body and mind are really engaged and you’re of out of touch with time."

"There is plenty for everyone, and we bless and prosper each other."  Louise L. Hay

Song of the Day:  Stairway to Heaven.....


Agave Chocolate Pudding (food.com)

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 cups soymilk (plain or vanilla)
1/2 cup agave nectar or 1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Combine cocoa powder, corn starch, salt in a 1 quart saucepan. Add just enough soy milk to make a smooth paste. Gradually stir in rest of the soy milk and agave nectar or honey.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour into serving dishes and chill. Serves 4.