Category Archives: Reflections

The Comfort of Fall

The Comfort of Fall

Fall has arrived!  I was going to say fall is my favorite time of year.  And, then a small voice said, “No it isn’t”.   I realize I’ve come to appreciate every season equally.

The wind feels different in the fall, don’t you think?  It has a heavier, soothing, caressing texture, like a favorite blanket.

The fall’s light falls on my body differently – not as intense.  I can easily and with comfort turn my face into it, soaking up the rays that nourish my body and spirit.

Autumn is comfortable.  The colors comfort.  The air is comfortable.  It invites a comfortable pace – a slowing down.   All of nature sighs….Ahhhhhh.

In these times of stress and chaos unfolding around us, fall reminds us to take a deep, luscious breath.  It reminds us to take time to get out of our mind and perceive with the senses all the beauty, abundance and peace surrounding us.  It reminds us to take time to soothe our wounds.

Bring into your being the peace this season is bringing. Take a breath with nature.  Soak it in.  Let it fortify and strengthen you.  Let it heal you.

Be good to yourself.  The best thing you can do for the world right now is take good care of yourself.  You cannot give away what you do not have; and what you have you are giving to the world either consciously or unconsiously.

Fall brings comfort in many ways.  Can you say “Comfort Food”?  I’m making one of my favorite fall recipes today and I thought of you.  I hope you enjoy this as much as I’m going to.

May you find comfort and peace in all seasons of life,

Chef Gail

Comfort Stew

2 tablespoon  Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 tablespoon butter (or more olive oil for vegan version)
2 leeks, clean and chopped with a little of the green part
2 shallots, minced
1 cup button or baby bella mushrooms, roughly chopped
1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary (or ½ tsp dried)
1 teaspoon fresh chopped tarragon (or ½ tsp dried)
3 tablespoon oat or rice flour
¼ cup dry white wine, optional (chardonnay is good)
1 ½ cup vegetable stock, give or talk (I love organic Better Than Bouillon concentrate in a jar)
¾ cup organic milk (So Delicious coconut milk beverage, unsweetened for vegan version)
2 tablespoon of nutritional yeast (optional for a richer broth and adds more protein)
2 dashes fresh grated nutmeg (or ground)
1 teaspoon sea salt and cracked pepper or to taste
1 bunch collard greens, chopped (boil or sauté until just tender and still bright green)
1 can black eyed peas, drained and rinsed
2 cups cubed butternut squash, prepared (sweet potatoes works well too)

Preheat large skillet over medium high (I love to use my huge iron skillet for this).  Add butter and oil and swirl to coat skillet.  Add mushrooms, shallots and leeks to hot skillet with a dash of sea salt.  Sauté for about 3 minutes then add herbs.  Stir frequently until leeks are translucent and mushrooms have released their moisture (5-7 minutes total).

Add flour to mixture stirring for a minute until well blended.  Deglaze pan with wine and simmer for a minute.  Add broth and bring to high simmer.  Gradually add milk stirring constantly until sauce is thickening.  Stir in nutritional yeast and nutmeg.  Add salt and pepper to taste.   Fold in collards. peas and sweet potatoes.

Serve with a rustic, crusty cornbread (recipe below), polenta or quinoa.

Classic Iron Skillet Cornbread
Gluten-free, Diabetic Friendly with Vegan Option

1 cup stoneground organic cornmeal
½ cup polenta (coarse ground grits)
½ cup oat flour (replace ¼ cup oat with ¼ cup tapioca flour for lighter texture)
¼ teaspoon xanthan gum, optional (Replaces gluten so the cornbread holds together better)
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoon pure maple syrup (or powdered Stevia for non-sugar version)
1 egg gently beaten (or egg replacer for vegan version)*
½ cup organic applesauce (unsweetened)
1 ½ cups more or less of buttermilk (or unsweetened, plant-based milk for vegan version)
Note:  If using plain milk add 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar to milk
1 tablespoon grass-fed butter (Earth Balance for vegan version)

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.   Place iron skillet** in oven while preheating and mixing together ingredients.

In large bowl mix together dry ingredients.  In another bowl, whisk together all wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry, mixing until just blended.  Do not over mix or you will have flat bread.  Batter should be very thick but pourable.

Add butter to hot skillet and tilt to evenly coat the bottom and sides. Pour batter evenly into skillet.  Place skillet on center rack in oven and bake for about 35 minutes or until golden on top and a toothpick comes out clean.  Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting.  (Remove bread from iron skillet before cutting!).

*Vegan Version Egg Replacer; 2 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 4 tablespoon water.  Let stand for a few minutes until thickened.

**Note:  You can use a muffin tin, glass or metal pan for this recipe.  However; a good iron skillet is an excellent source of iron for a plant-based diet.  When it is well seasoned it is virtually “non-stick” and a joy to cook with.


photo credit/Karen Guthrie

Curious if a Food IS Talking Intuitive Food Compatibility
Session with The Intuitive Chef can help you?  Schedule a “No Charge” 15 minute exploratory session here: https://www.foodrevelation.com/schedule/

Gail’s “Intuitive Chef” journey began unfolding in 2009 as a plant-based chef.  foodRevelation.com, birthed in 2011 was the natural result of following her creative passion – recipe creation and cooking.

Shortly thereafter, she experienced a “spiritual awakening” and discovered her intuitive and spiritual gifts.  As a food and medical intuitive, she has helped hundreds all over the U.S. and Canada remember their God-given health and in-born intuition through private sessions, private and public cooking classes and workshops.

Many revelations have been revealed along the way.  Her latest book, “Quinoa Cookbook Journey” (see link below) is the first book in a series entitled “Evolution of FREE Health”. It provides a gentle and tasty glimpse into these revelations and the resulting experiences.  Being revealed next in this series is, “The 7 Missing Links to Abundant Health”.

Gail currently lives in a small town in North Texas with her furry friends Molly and Mo.  In addition to the joy of cooking and recipe creation, she finds great pleasure in long leisurely meals with family and friends, reading, writing; quiet walks in nature and sleeping under the stars.

https://www.foodrevelation.com/the-quinoa-cookbook/

For more about Intuitive Chef Gail – https://www.foodrevelation.com/about/

 

Our Creativity Leads to Expansion & Freedom

 

It’s been a while since I’ve been here.  I hope everyone is enjoying this abundant, lush summer.  I don’t remember the last time I saw so much green this late in the season.  By this time the grass is dormant and the lawn mower is at rest for the year.  I just realized has I wrote that sentence, that all the new life still blossoming in the heat reflects perfectly what has been blossoming within me over the last few months.  It has truly been a hot, sweaty uncomfortable experience that has born much fruit.  I’m embracing the heat and being refined by the fire.

During this time, I’ve been aware of this distinct feeling that something was coming to an end and something new is being birthed.  Birthing is hard work and sometimes painful.  Us women can totally relate!  This release as been building and building; coming to a head over the last few months.   One of the not so pleasant symptoms was the feeling of being in a creative desert; being totally disconnected from the creative side of me that likes to write.  I felt stuck and completely unmotivated.

These feelings were throwing a wrench into my plans; slowing down progress of the book I want to publish this year.   It has been writing itself over the last 5 years.  It should be easy – right?  I’ve already written two others books and published one.  Why can’t I just get it done!  Because something had to be “undone” first.

I finally realized I’ve been blocking my unlimited creative nature.   I’ve only tapped a small part of it.   Spirit is telling me this book needs the fullness of the creativity that lives in me that’s been dormant for so long.  The book not only is a catalyst for unleashing this creative power.  It is this creative power that fuels the book, giving it the power and range to reach its highest potential for Good.

The birthing of my God-given creativity within is helping to birth the Evolution of FREE Health.  Without our God-given natural health we are not free.

“Creativity is God’s gift to us.  Using our creativity is our gift to God” Julia Cameron

My creative outlet for years has been cooking.  It is what I have used to literally feed my creative side.  It obviously was no longer enough.  The creator in me was not satisfied or nourished.  The ego said this all I have. Translation – this is all I am willing to risk.  Spirit argued and Spirit won.  I was not going to be FREE to create this book unless I allowed the creator within to fully immerge.

“Dependency on the Creator within is really freedom from all other dependencies.”
Julia Cameron

So over the last 3 months I have embarked upon a magical journey of recovering my inborn creativity.  You have probably guessed by now or heard, I was guided to the “The Artist’s Way” by Julia Cameron as the vehicle.  Our God-given gift of creativity is what connects inspiration with manifestation.  The book inspired me – again.  This time I was ready to fully embrace it. I happened upon this book in 2011 at the same time I picked up A Course in Miracles – Imagine that!  This course changed my life – forever.

The Artist Way showed up again early in the spring of this year.  I attended a brief Artist Way Workshop facilitated by the great Robin Hackett http://www.robinhackettmusic.com/ on a women’s retreat with my local Unity church (Unity of Greenville – http://www.dallasunity.org/).  It was magical! As a guest this time (not the chef) I was not allowed my normal creative outlet.  What happened was nothing short of a miracle!  I wrote a poem that weekend, helped write songs, I drew and amazed myself with my improvisational skills and more. Wrapped up in the comfortable security blanket of genuine love and support, my creative side blossomed!  Then I came home and put it all on a shelf.  Yep, it’s funny how we do that – right?  And, it’s easy to judge it too.  Divine timing is always perfect.

It did come up again when the time was “ripe”.  When we reach the end of a rope, we realize it’s time to let go and Let God.  I needed to reach it and of course I did.  I was facing a brick wall I did not know how to climb over.  It is called “writer’s block”.  It didn’t take me long (about 10 days) to realize I already had in my possession the perfect tool for lifting me up and over this obstacle.  The Artist’s Way came off the shelf. http://juliacameronlive.com/

I embarked in earnest on this creative journey.  I worked it to the best of my ability. The book journey and workshop came to a close on July 18th.  And, as promised, it worked its magic.  On the last day in my “Daily Morning Pages” (yes, they are a life-long habit now) I reviewed what had been accomplished.  I was completely shocked at what had happened in only 3 months.  I didn’t even realize it until it came pouring out on the page.  I’m just going to share exactly how it came out:

  • I am receiving divine guidance on the page.  I ask. Spirit answers and I scribe (just like Julia said would probably happen).
  • I have “doodled” (something I don’t remember EVER doing).
  • I completed 3 vision boards. 1 for business goals, 1 for personal creation and 1 strictly for manifesting the “soulmate” partner in my dreams.  And they are manifesting.  Many have already arrived.  I did these on “Picmonkey” and it was so much fun!  I was amazed I had the creative ability to do this and the joy it brought me.  I saved the business and personal ones as the lock screen and desktop background on my computer.  The soul mate one is in my bedroom with a crystal grid in front of it.  I highly recommend this exercise.
  • I dated (something I haven’t done in 6 years – single for 33).  In the process (actually the first time out) I did undercover a soulmate.  A long lost friend.  It is an amazing story I will tell later.
  • I learned to skateboard.  You may have read this story, but here it is again – just in case. https://www.foodrevelation.com/category/soul-digest/
  • I have a whole new portfolio of pictures to reflect the “uncovered” authentic, beautiful 60 years old in August, me.  Thank you to my sweet, talented sister Karen.  I hope you are inspired to dare greatly with this amazing talent God gave you.
  • I have fearlessly embraced public speaking.  Yes!  A one hour presentation without notes or fear (on camera). This is huge!  (I’ll be sharing this when the time is right).
  • I found a Toastmasters group in my area.  I start this coming Monday.  It is on my calendar.
  • I am enrolled in Spanish 2 in the fall.  All classes are on my calendar.
  • I have a guitar teacher (haven’t started yet).  Need to buy a guitar first.
  • I ordered a drawing course – I haven’t finished, but I’ve started.
  • I’ve drawn several horses (something I loved to do as a child and shut down).  This is something Spirit is yelling at me to do now!  One particular horse is waiting to be drawn.
  • I created art with my granddaughter in the desert.
  • I bought art – 2 amazing pieces.
  • I’ve been sun gazing – amazing revelations have come in with this exercise.
  • I manifested the perfect helper to create a new; cleaner and more focused website http://niyacreative.com/ .  This is just the first phase.  A joyous work in progress!
  • I have learned to create within my new website https://www.foodrevelation.com/ thanks to Niya – something I resisted for years! Now I’m having so much fun!  Like me, one of Niya’s missions is empowering people.
  • I am spending more time being inspired by nature (more nature is a message that keeps repeating).  I frequent a nature preserve weekly.  This weekend I’m coming unplugged in the country with my new soulmate friend.
  • I have Dared Greatly! Thank you Brene’ Brown
  • I have become more and more confident of my connectedness to Source and the ability to live guided.
  • I have felt gratitude at a whole new level.  BTW – I see the color of gratitude as a glittery rose pink – beautiful!
  • I have become more and more willing and motivated to stick by my choices to love and honor myself with my thoughts and actions.
  • I am confident in my ability to bring forth onto the page what is ready to be unleased – The Evolution of FREE Health.   Whew!  That’s a bunch of creativity!

Through it all I did uncover what “I had” placed in the way of my creativity.  They were the stories I told myself as a child; childhood stories, fictitious stories I created to reconcile in my child’s brain what I could not make sense of at my level of understanding at the time.  These stories keep me safe as a child. They kept me from being hurt.  We all have these stories.  We created them for a good reason. Everything in the end does work together for good.  I love this quote (not sure where it came from). “”Everything works out in the end.  If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end”..lol.

One of the clearest recollections that came up through this process was when I was 10 (there is so much I don’t remember – I was unplugged a lot!).  I decided I had what it took to be a cheerleader.  The judges had other ideas.  I knew I was just as good as anyone, maybe better than some.  The story I created went like this; I wasn’t pretty enough or popular.  It was my glasses; I was a “four eyes” (glasses were not in style back then)…Yada, yada, yada.  That experience helped shape me.  I withdrew and became very solitary, closed-in and secretive.  No one really knew me.

There were other stories that came up during childhood that shaped my beliefs about love.  What it is and what it looks like.  Many have one of these stories.  We’ve had to learn what it isn’t to know what it is.  I went “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places” for years not realizing the love I was looking for I already had within.  There is a divine reason I have been single for so long.  I thank God for all the protection I have had while I traveled the road to awakening to this life-changingTruth.

These stories kept me safe and at the same time they kept from being authentically vulnerable.  They kept me from showing myself; the real me, the loving, lovable, lovely, born of love – me.  So, I attracted others that were living in similar fictitious stories instead of ones that were BE-ing themselves. And, the stories kept me from taking big risk; from “Dare Greatly” (thank you Brene’ Brown). Daring greatly MEANS taking risk.  Being vulnerable is the scariest risk of all.  I did take risk; for sure, but many of them were self-sabotaging.   Even those I can see now have have brought me to where I am now and I am so grateful or as Robin Hackett sings – Soul Grateful!

“All events are either uncovering who we are or who we are not”

Now I see the stories for what they were; the safety net I no longer need.  I am very grateful for the important purpose they served up to now and I’m just as grateful to be free of them.

What now?  This is a little scary too.  Who am I now without these stories?  I am FREE.  What will I do with this new found freedom?  Let creativity live me.

“We are closest to our Creator, when we are creating”

Go have a look at the new website.  By the way, I have added a new service, “Exploratory Session” at no charge; https://www.foodrevelation.com/schedule/ .  If something is coming up for you, this is a good way to tap in and get clarity of how to move through it.   I have been getting calls from clients I haven’t heard from in a while.  We are moving through some changes together…

Before I go  – Besides “The Artist Way” by Julia Cameron and “Daring Greatly” by Brene’ Brown there is one other book that has been a tremendous blessing – “Hell in the Hallway, Light at the Door”  How to Move Gracefully Through Change Into Renewed and Abundant Life” by Ellen Debenport

As always, here’s to your peace, joy, LOVE & Health!

Chef Gail

To shedule a session with Gail go to: https://www.foodrevelation.com/schedule/

 

Letting Go of the Wheel…

The last few weeks can only be described as Pure Magic!  It started with a video by Paul Zelizer, a powerfully conscious business leader.   Here is the video:  http://paulzelizer.com/conscious-relationships/

A little history to provide context:  In 2011, I experienced what some would call an “awakening”.  I call it higher awareness now.   All at once my perception totally shifted and I became aware I was more than flesh and bones.  I became aware of other senses and other dimensions.  I realized I was a part of something much bigger than me and “that something” was a part of me.   I realized I had divine helpers and they were guiding me in a very tangible way.  It was wonderfully overwhelming and I lived in a state of bliss for days.  The intensity didn’t last, but I was changed forever.

It also came to me during that time there is someone waiting for me; a soulmate I’ve been getting ready for.   It’s taken little while.  I’m been getting ready for over 30 years.  I stopped dating completely.   It came to me after this new awareness kicked in that I could trust the Universe; this Power that is constantly conspiring in my favor to put this soulmate relationship together.

After hearing Paul’s words, I woke up the next morning to this message ringing in my ears.  “Gail – work with me here.  How can I work in your favor if you put yourself in a bubble and me in a box?”   I tend to keep pretty much to myself (can you say hermit), especially over the last 6 years.   I work from home for the most part.  I enjoy A LOT of “me” time.

Paul’s words created a shift in consciousness I felt immediately!  I knew a door had just opened and I knew I was going to “Spiritual Dating School” as Paul puts it.  Which simply means, I am dating consciously (fully aware) and putting myself out there authentically.  I’m staying open to whatever kind of relationship I attract; romance, friendship or otherwise.  No matter – all relationships have something to offer.  I don’t believe any time is ever wasted.

The following Sunday an impromptu photoshoot miraculously supplied me with a whole new portfolio of pictures to reflect who I have BE-come over the last 6 years (my beloved sister is a gifted photographer).  I have never felt prettier or more comfortable in this skin.   This was all in perfect timing as you will see later down the page.

Fast forward 1 week later.  I’m on vacation at a camping resort in San Diego with friends and family.  I’m walking around, enjoying the sunshine and party atmosphere.  Standing in a lane, I am totally mesmerized by a gorgeous, talented 40 something stud skateboarding.  No helmet, no pads, total confidence.   He skates up to me and says, “I’ve been watching you.”  You are gorgeous!”  Somehow I didn’t miss a beat and my tongue didn’t roll out of my mouth.  I responded, “I’ve been watching you and you are pretty awesome yourself.  How do you do that?”  He said, “You want to learn?”  I said – “Suuure”.

I kicked off my flip flops, jumped on the skateboard, held on lightly to his bare shoulder and off I went.  I let go and was moving way too fast for comfort!  I scared the bejeebies out of myself.   I jumped off and off came the hide from big toe.  Mr. Stud saunters up and says, “You ready to go again – Oh! You’re bleeding!”  “Yep – I said.  It’s okay.   I’m game if you are, but this time with my shoes on”.  He said, “That’s my kind of girl – Not going to let a little blood stop you”.

This time I went slower and he showed me how to square my feet on the board so I had more control.  I learned how to put my weight on my toes to go right and on my heels to go left.  I learned how to do a 180.  I learned how to skateboard in 15 minutes.  Now I just need more practice (with pads:).   We ended with me asking him to our camp for dinner and expressing a heart-felt thank you.   I walked away with a hole in my hide, grinning from ear to ear.  And then, I never saw him again.

The impact however was huge.    I’ll never forget him.   Some of the shortest encounters can have the biggest impacts.  This was one of those.  He was just what I needed to remind me, even at 60 I can do whatever I want and I am still pretty hot; all to prime me for what is coming soon.

One week later, I’m back home taking a nap on my couch and I have a dream.  In it I am standing next to a guy with a lot of luggage at an airport.  He sticks out his hand and says “Hi, I’m (he gives me his name)”.  Then, I wake up.  But I remember the name.  A couple of days later I decide to search his name on Facebook and low and behold we have 2 friends in common.  What are the odds?

2 days later, I run across a dating site on my Facebook feed – “Meet Mindful”.  It resonates. I have had enough experience with synergy now to I know the Universe is throwing me another bone.  I fill out the profile, upload the NEW pictures (YES!) and take full advantage of the 3 day free trail.  Right away, I have 3 connections that are totally on my page.  One invites me to look at his Facebook page and guess what?  We have 2 friends in common!  More synergy…

This morning during my “Morning Pages”, I was questioning myself and aware of how nervous I was feeling about this new dating adventure.   Then I hear this now familiar voice say, “Gail – You are amazing, beautiful, talented, one of a kind, resourceful and fearless!  Just BE you. “THE ONE” will recognize you.  That’s powerful advice!

Moral of the story – The Universe is always working in our favor to the degree we get out of our own way.   I don’t know exactly where all this is headed.   I know I will recognize “THE ONE” when we meet.  Until then, I will have fun enjoying the company of like-minded men along the way and creating new friendships.

I do expect more magic as I let go of the wheel.

I’ll keep you posted…

Underneath It All We Are All The Same

Invisible man

Like the “Invisible Man”, our outer rags take on many forms, but underneath it all we are all the same – Invisible Energy; an individuation (a personalization) of Source Energy; God Energy.

Every creation is unique in personality and form yet still part of THAT ONE.  All that ever changes is the wrapper “The rag”.  We might judge someone’s rags dirtier or cleaner than our own, but the rags; the wrapping does not change what is underneath…”

Thank you Millie Smith for this perspective.