December is here! A time for holidays and merriment and… exhaustion? Even when we commit to a simple holiday season, it’s easy to get run down and sluggish from the additional activities, heavy foods, and seasonal colds. But there are definitely things we can do to prioritize our well-being so that we can enter the holiday with vigor. Getting proper sleep, nourishment, fresh air, rest, and an extra dose of fermented foods, will help us fortify our systems this season. Join me in a new location as we reflect on ways to bring restorative rituals into our lives this holiday. 

What am I reading?

Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay

https://bookshop.org/a/111301/9780593819753

The Little Book of Winter: A Cozy Guide to a Season of Comfort and Happiness by Brittany Viklund

https://bookshop.org/a/111301/9781507224397

https://bookshop.org/shop/witchywomanwalking

What’s playing on repeat?

Im Doing Fine by Marino

What’s for dinner?

Immune Boosting Soup

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp extra virgin oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 2 parsnip or sweet potatoes 
• 3 stalks celery, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
• 1 tsp dried turmeric
• ¾ cup red lentils
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley
• ½ tsp sea salt, more to taste
• 4 cups vegetable broth + 2 cup water
• 2 cups kale or spinach, finely chopped
• 1 small lemon, juiced

Instructions:

1. Warm olive oil in a large pot on medium heat. Once hot, add onion and sauté for 3 minutes.
2. Add carrots, parsnips, and celery and sauté for another 5 minutes. Add garlic, turmeric, and ginger and sauté for 1 minute.
3. Add broth, water, lentils, salt and several grinds of black pepper. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from heat. Stir in kale, parsley, and lemon juice. Cover and let greens steam for a few minutes. Season to taste (I did another ¼ tsp salt) and enjoy!

Turmeric Orange Tea Latte

Ingredients:

• 2 herbal tea bags (such as ginger tea, orange hibiscus, or herbal tea of choice)
• 6 oz water
• 10–12 ounces plant based milk
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves or 1/4 teaspoonground cloves
• Pinch of nutmeg, optional
• Optional pinch of black pepper for turmeric absorbency
• 1/4 cup maple syrup or honey
• Juice from 1 medium orange

Instructions:

1. Steep the tea bags in 6 ounces water to ensure a highly concentrated tea.
2. In a small pot, combine 10-12 ounces of coconut or almond milk with ginger, cloves, optional nutmeg, turmeric, pepper, cinnamon, maple syrup, orange juice, and optional coconut oil. Whisk the ingredients together.
3. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 minutes to allow the spices to infuse and the maple syrup to dissolve. If desired, add vanilla extract and mix well.
4. Strain the mixture to remove the cloves if you used whole cloves.
5. Pour 2-3 ounces of the brewed concentrated tea into a cup.
6. Whisk the golden milk (the mixture in the pot) again to create a frothy texture. Alternatively, you can use a frother.
7. Pour ⅓ to ½ cup of the frothy golden milk over the tea to create a tea latte.

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