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/