Cooking with Lisa~Did you know that a bit of cacao powder, or even a bar of dark chocolate, can enhance your favorite chili recipe? It adds a rich, complex depth by enhancing the savory and spicy flavors with a subtle, earthy bitterness. Cacao’s slight bitterness balances the chili’s spiciness and acidity, creating a harmonious blend of flavors that is just delicious.
Posts filed under Homemade
Growing Green Indoors All Winter
As the days shorten and the gardens are put to bed, I find I not only miss fresh greens, I miss puttering in my garden and watching my food grow. So, for several years, I’ve been experimenting with ways to grow meaningful amounts of vegetables indoors.
Cooking with Lisa: A Flavorful Winter in Michigan
In Michigan, winter can be cold and snowy which limits the availability of locally grown fresh vegetables. However, some flavorful vegetables can still be in season during winter, especially if they are grown in greenhouses, cold frames, or are properly stored. Here are some vegetables that are in season and readily available during our winters. Many root vegetables like carrots, beets, turnips, and parsnips can withstand cold temperatures and are nearly always available in winter. These are versatile and can be used in a number of ways, including roasted, and in soups like the one below.
Cooking with Lisa: Cozy Soups for Fall
As the crisp autumn air sets in, it’s the perfect time to indulge in comforting and nourishing fall soups. From hearty stews to creamy bisques, these seasonal delights capture the essence of fall flavors and warm our souls. Here are two easy and delicious fall soup recipes that use seasonal ingredients and will keep you cozy and satisfied throughout the season.
Fall Produce Preservation and Meal Prep
It’s the perfect time to preserve the abundance of the local harvest—and make meal prep a snap all through the winter! If you’ve only used your dehydrator to make apple rings and kale chips, get ready to fall in love with dehydrating some new vegetables and learn how to use them to make fast, nutritious meals.
Tea with Peggy, Mystical Pu'erh Tea
As fall and winter fast approach, night arrives earlier, and the once lush fields and gardens filled with flora and fauna are dying. The magic of fall and winter is different than that of spring. Earth emits a darker unknown quality. It’s a mystery to be explored. A time of year to tell a good ghost tale while shipping on something warm, dark, and inviting—like Pu’erh tea.
Scratch That! Tips for Cooking Real Meals at Home
Want some good news about the pandemic? Apparently, it’s finally gotten us to cook from scratch and eat at home more often.
Hand Crafting: Samhain Cauldron Hot Pad
Bring a little whimsy to your holiday table with this cute hot pad for your special Samhain dishes. Easy to make with wool felt, a few hand-stitches, and a warm iron.
Don’t Gobble ‘til You Wobble. Save Those Holiday Leftovers and Put Them to Good Use!
More than likely, this wasn’t a typical holiday season for you and your family. Maybe part of your family decided to stay home due to health concerns, or maybe they didn’t like who you voted for. Either way, you’ll probably have some major leftovers. Don’t despair! Put your leftovers to good use! Save yourself some time with meals ready to go in the oven that don’t taste like you’ve already eaten them for three days.
Handcrafting: Star Gazing Gnome Coasters
Warm up your gloomy winter days with these woodsy gnome coasters. I used both woven wool scraps and wool felt to create these whimsical little guys. Wool is a great material to absorb the water from a sweaty glass or protect your table from a hot mug. Using a hot steamy iron you can get the wool to lay nearly flat, so it’s a nice even surface for your glass to sit on, too. This is an easy no-sew project, but can also be embellished using a blanket stitch. Best of all, each gnome you make will be unique. Happy creating!
Crysta Goes Visiting, Issue #74, Winter 2020
By Crysta Coburn
In this column, Crysta Coburn writes about crazywisdom-esque people and happenings around Ann Arbor.
A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats with Adrian Leek
It is vitally important to make time for yourself and get back to you on a regular basis. But that can be hard, especially with how busy our lives are, and when you throw parenthood into the mix, when you are responsible not only for yourself but for your children, devoting time to only you can feel selfish and that much more difficult!
Ypsilanti-based A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats to the rescue! It was actually Adrian Leek’s family that guided her to learning about naturally and simply made bath and body products and launching her own business. “When I became a mother I was very, very particular about what I put on my baby for skin care, but mostly drawn to mixing my own oils for relaxing and calming effects using lavender, chamomile, and olive oil for after bath and bedtime,” Leek shared with me. “My kids LOVED the massages, and I loved knowing that I was able to make something so healthy and enjoyable for my kids.”
About starting her own business, Leek said, “When my second child was diagnosed with autism, it changed our lives...but I was already on the right track with my pursuit of natural hand-made products. With my son’s condition, it was all the more important that natural products were used because so many sensitivities come along with autism. On the flip side of this lifestyle is that we tend to live such stressful lives, and I’ve found it necessary to make a conscious effort toward self-care. A Time For You Bath and Spa Treats was created to help inspire others to stop and not only enjoy a moment to ourselves, but take better care of ourselves...so we can continue to care for the people and things that we love.”
I asked her about how she learned to make her products and where she finds the ingredients. She said, “Research, a love for these kinds of products (natural and simply made), feedback from people that use them, and of course...trial and error. My ingredients come from a mixture of places, my focus is on high quality, responsible, and clean materials.” At the moment, she sources many of her materials online and is “looking for a brick and mortar location to buy materials.”
When I asked Leek why self-care is so important in her life, she answered, “I have learned over the years that it is necessary to consciously try to balance our level of stress with something calming, positive, and relaxing. I believe that these things are imperative to keeping our balance and allowing us to continue with the necessary things that we find important to us.
Leek is hoping to have her products on boutique shelves within the next five years. In the meantime, find A Time 4 You Bath and Spa Treats on Etsy and at local farmers markets.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/timeforyouyes or ATime4YouBathTreats.etsy.com. Or you can email time4youyes@gmail.com.
Read related article: Crysta Goes Visiting, Fall 2018
Bunny and Smooch and Deborah Secord
After growing up in Canton, Deborah Secord studied theater at Eastern Michigan University “and stayed in the area afterward for the artsy, quirky, creative community that Ypsi offers.” It is through theater that I met Secord. She starred in the workshop production of my husband Greg’s play Whatever Happened to Captain Future? with the Ypsilanti-based Neighborhood Theatre Group.
Then, when Greg and I were vending at our area’s newest book festival Booksilanti, I learned that Secord is more than a talented actress—she makes delightful handmade jewelry, too! Each piece is made from the pages of children’s books. As her sign read, “Beloved books go from trash to treasure.” I couldn’t resist buying a pendant featuring the Mad Hatter from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, for which I have received several compliments since. (It was a tough choice between that and Winnie the Pooh!) Secord learned to make jewelry through trial and error and watching YouTube videos. “I went through a lot of learning what didn’t work before I figured out what did!”
When I asked why she chose books to make her jewelry, she answered, “I just hate to see books get thrown out—especially Children’s books. [...] When you are a child and you discover a love of reading, certain books just speak to your soul and become a part of you—at least that’s how it was for me. I can still remember how certain books smelled, the warmth of the sun on my back as I lay on the floor in front of the window with my pile of books, the feel of the pages of certain favorites, rough paper smoothed to soft over a thousand re-reads. I have so many books that are falling apart because I read them over and over again. To be able to carry that book with me when it’s no longer readable, to save it and give it new life as a cherished piece of jewelry makes me feel like it’s getting some of the love back that it deserves.”
In addition to acting and jewelry making, Secord also enjoys spending time with her family and loves to bake. “I made rainbow layered unicorn cakes for my daughter’s first birthday this summer and have done golden snitch cakes, pizza cakes, roller skates, and more!” The name Bunny and Smooch is inspired by her daughter and her daughter’s toy bunny. “My spare time and fun time is generally spent hanging out with my family. Most days we like to cuddle up on the couch and watch Great British Bake Off, HGTV, or old episodes of our 90s favorites like The Nanny and Mad About You. Weekends are spent running around Ypsi, camping throughout Michigan, visiting fun and funky art shows and festivals, and catching up with friends.”
In addition to selling at the occasional festival, Secord’s jewelry can be bought online through Facebook.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/bunnyandsmooch or email bunnyandsmooch@gmail.com.
Reflexolo-chiTM Healing with Greg Knollmeyer
According to the Reflexology Association of America, “Reflexology is the application of specific pressure by the use of the practitioner’s hand, thumb, and fingers to a reflex map resembling a human body which is believed to exist on the extremities.” Reflexolo-chiTM was developed by Gloria Zimet as a gentler, less penetrative variant that incorporates the body’s life energy (chi). The impact of reflexolo-chi can be felt as quickly as the first session. I decided to investigate this myself, and I made an appointment with local practitioner Greg Knollmeyer.
I have a painful tailor’s bunion on my left foot that I was eager to address. Knollmeyer explained that there is a long list of ailments that can be tackled with reflexolo-chi, such as stress, headaches, joint pain, PMS, allergies, digestive disorders, and so on. My chief concern was my bunion, however, which I could feel quite sharply as I limped into the office and hopped onto the table. Even while resting, my foot throbbed.
Rather than press on my foot, Knollmeyer manipulated my toes and lower leg to make adjustments, starting with the problematic left. (It reminded me a bit of a chiropractic exam I had many years ago in California, and now I wonder if that doctor perhaps had some of this training.) For anyone with sensitive feet, this is probably a better route than traditional reflexology.
I felt my body slowly loosen up, and the ache in my left foot gradually faded away. Knollmeyer was also easy to talk to and happy to answer any questions and concerns that I had. When he was finished with the left leg, he lifted my foot, moved it around, and invited me to get a feel for how the left side of my body felt. Aside from pain-free, I felt more connected from top to tip.
“Okay, good,” said Knollmeyer, and set down my left foot. He raised my right foot and asked the same question while moving the foot gently in all directions. I was surprised by the stark contrast. My right leg felt hollow and disjointed. Knollmeyer worked on that side until my whole body felt whole again.
After the session, I asked what I could do about my foot pain in the future. Was there anything I could do about my shoes?
“Shoes are a corset,” he answered. Having worn several corsets, I knew exactly what he meant. He suggested not sticking to only one pair of shoes. “If possible, change shoes halfway through the day.” That way my feet wouldn’t get stuck in a position they found uncomfortable.
Knollmeyer also showed me a simple exercise that I could do to slowly get my turned out duck feet back in parallel alignment. Walking and standing with feet turned outward stresses feet and knee joints, just to name a few. Which I wish I had known when I went to physical therapy for mysterious knee pain a few summers ago.
I was impressed by the results of my first visit. The pain was gone! Not forever, but it was a relief to walk around the rest of the night pain free. And I feel better armed to get my body back in alignment and pain free in the future.
To learn more or make your own appointment, visit gregknollmeyer.com, call (734) 678-9508, or email gk@GregKnollmeyer.com.
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HumusFalafil: Sharing Culture, Cuisine, and Wisdom
My first bite of Middle Eastern gastronomy was around age fifteen. There was a lovely Lebanese woman in her seventies who owned a food cart in a small shopping mall. She made her falafel like giant vegetable burgers with hearty chunks of chick peas, tahini, fresh parsley, garlic, lemon, and other magical ingredients she had in her secret stash. She would not share her ingredients or recipes with me except explaining a little cultural background and what basic ingredients went into her tasty street food. Her kibbhe was not the traditional raw ground lamb though. She instead baked finely minced lamb and seasonings into a square patty that was quite thin and crispy. I cherished her food. I later found out she was an aunt of one of my friends.
Fall Craft: Handmade Wool Dryer Balls
Wool dryer balls are a great alternative to chemical laden dryer sheets and fabric softener. They bounce around in the dryer with your load of laundry, helping to circulate air, which makes your clothes dry faster, reducing the time needed to run your machine. Of course, they work best with small to medium size loads because they need room to move around, but they will help with static cling and soften your clothes, all without the use of chemicals. Energy saving, money saving, and eco-friendly? Who could ask for more?
A Visit with the Women of White Lotus Farms Botanicals
I met Jess Tsomo and Kat Tsomo ten years ago while visiting Tsogyelgar Dharma Center, located on West Liberty Street in Ann Arbor. A few years after that I moved here to Ann Arbor from New York, so as to make Tsogyelgar the center point of gravity in my life. Kat, Jess, and I share a precious and magical bond as disciples of Buddhist Siddha Traktung Yeshe Dorje—the founder of Tsogyelgar Dharma Center. (Editor’s Note: For more information about Tsogyelgar, see the Cover Story in Issue #64 of the Crazy Wisdom Journal, September through December 2016, available in our archive online at crazywisdomjournal.com)
Embroidered Lavender-Filled Warming Pillow
With summer just around the corner and lots of gardening to be done, what could be better than a pretty warming pillow to soothe those sore muscles? Stuff the pillow with some dried lavender for soothing aromatherapy. To heat the pillow, place in the microwave for thirty seconds, pull it out and shake it, and heat it for another thirty seconds. You can also warm it in the oven by placing it in a cold oven on a cookie sheet. Turn oven on to 200 degrees. Shake pillow after five minutes, and put it back in the oven for another two to five minutes, checking it often to make sure that it is not too hot. Be cautious, it could burn you if you get it too hot. You can also try putting it in the freezer if you need a cool pack instead of a warming pack. Enjoy!
Crysta Goes Visiting, Spring 2019
In this column, Crysta Coburn writes about crazywisdom-esque people and happenings around Ann Arbor. This issue features local blogger Chrissy Barua, Author Judy Wenzel, and owner of Petals + Butters, , Sri Lankipalli.
A Little Winter Twitter--Crafting an embroidered Chickadee pin
I love seeing the flash of dark color against white snow when the chickadees come to eat at my birdfeeder. Chickadees are one of a handful of birds that stay in Michigan when the snow comes calling and their songs are sure to lift your spirits when the day is gray. This little chickadee pin looks deceitfully hard to make, but is really rather simple. It will make a great gift for a friend who needs a bit of a mid-winter cheer.
Leaps of Faith: Tales of Local Businesses, The Cheese Shop of Saline
John and Ruth Loomis opened the doors of their new venture, The Cheese Shop of Saline in the fall of 2017.
Crafting: Celebrate the Coming Winter with A Julbok
As the warm breezes shift to cool caresses on our cheeks and we pull out the warm handmade quilts from grandma and sweaters from mom, many of us turn our thoughts to gift giving. The Julbok is a pre-Christian Swedish tradition that lives on today. Some say he pulled the Tomten’s cart full of presents during the winter solstice. Some say he was the one giving out the presents. Still others claim
that he is a prankster that makes sure whomever is receiving the present is worthy of it! Traditionally, the Julbok was made of the last harvest of straw and thought to be good luck. However you celebrate as we move into winter, this sweet little Julbok is sure to be a great addition to your seasonal decorations, a Yule tree, or even as a gift topper.
A Practice of Mindfulness from Seed to Plate
I reflect on my experience with learning mindfulness cooking and eating practice during silent retreats at a Zen Buddhist Sangha in North Carolina. I examined the concept of gratitude when planting, harvesting, preparing and consuming food. Although these times were for deep contemplative study and complete silence, there was a common language spoken around the kitchen counter and table that I call reverence.
In this column, Crysta Coburn writes about crazywisdom-esque people and happenings around Ann Arbor.