Mistletoe-ing on Xmas Eve
I don't know about you but I'm planning to stand under some mistletoe today.
In the book Fantastic Voyage, Live Long Enough To Live Forever, Terry Grossman (my friend and anti-aging guru) suggests one way to live more fully and even live longer is to "give yourself to someone". When we are involved in activities with people we are close to we secrete higher levels of the hormone oxytocin. It's linked with trust and bonding and love.
Touch with feeling - Your brain receives information from thousands of touch detectors and temperature sensors. The secret of touching with feeling is an attitude of staying in the moment of the touch. You know people that give you a hug and mean it - a nice long hug..... it's as if there is nothing more important in the world at that moment. They are using their sense of touch and their open sensitivity to closeness to zero in on you, the most important person in the world. They are spreading some love. Their oxytocin levels are soaring - sending a great message to every cell in their own bodies. A message of peace and contentment.
What's on my mind today at 59 ...........enjoying some laughing, kissing, romancing, hugging and holding. Touching some folks I love and receiving back some love from them. It's essential. We'd all die without love.
This is a dessert I'm making today. This recipe offers a high level of nutrients and antioxidants as compared to most desserts. It calls for squash, pears, oats and some whole wheat flower, along with spices and nuts. Adjustments have been made (by the folks at the Kardea Kitchen) to the ingredients in the original recipe to cut down on simple carbs and half of the sugars are natural to the fruits (pears and dates), not added.
Butternut Squash, Pear and Date Crisp from the Kardea Kitchen
This smells so good while it is cooking. Permeates your entire home with goodness.
Filling:
2 C butternut squash, 1" cubes
1/4 c maple syrup
2 T lemon juice
1 T dark brown sugar
1 T cinnamon
1/4 t cloves
1/4 t nutmeg
1/4 t ginger
1 1/2 C water
3 pears, peeled, cored and cubed 1/4 " cubes
1/4 c chopped dates
Topping
1/3 C old fashioned oats
1/4 C pumpkin seeds
1/4 C walnuts
1 egg white
1/8 C dark brown sugar
4 T canola oil
3 T whole wheat flower
In large saucepan - squash, water, spices, maple syrup, lemon juice
Cover and simmer until tender, about 6-8 min.
Add pears and dates
Cook uncovered 10 min.
Strain mixture, reserving syrup
Reduce syrup in pan for about 4 min. or so - until you have 1/2 C syrup
Put in pan
Combine oats, pumpkin seeds and walnuts on a sheet pan.
Bake 350 F oven 10 min. or until lightly toasted
Remove from pan and cool
While cooling - Add to food processor - egg white, brown sugar, oil and flour
Pulse mixture until just mixed
Combine oat mixture with food processor mixture
Place on sheet pan and bake 15-18 min.
Remove from oven, let cool and break into lumps
Sprinkle crumb mixture evenly on fruit
Enjoy every single bite!
Check out the links to Terry Grossman's wellness clinic and to the Kardea Kitchen.
Sending you a big, long warm holiday hug!
No comments:
Post a Comment