Happy Holidays! I created this yummy gluten-free, vegan cinnamon roll recipe about a month ago and have been looking forward to posting it here for you all! It makes a fun treat to share with family and friends around the holidays.

I adore cranberries as you probably already know if you've been reading my blog. This healthy cranberry orange upside down cake recipe isn't very rich or sweet. In fact, I sweeten it with just a few tablespoons of maple syrup. It's plenty sweet for my family though.

There’s something so grounding about a warm winter pilaf—the way the grains softly steam, the greens wilt just enough, and those little pops of cranberry brighten every bite. This one has been a favorite in my kitchen for years. It’s hearty, deeply nourishing, and full of the vibrant plant compounds we naturally crave during the colder months. This pilaf makes a beautiful addition to any holiday table, and it also works wonderfully as a gluten-free stuffing for turkey or roasted vegetables. If you want an extra layer of richness, scatter in a handful of chopped, roasted hazelnuts just before serving. They bring such a lovely crunch.

After my last post I received many requests to share a pumpkin hazelnut muffin recipe that was also egg-free. As many of you know, replacing eggs in grain-free baked treats can be quite a challenge.

I know it is a wee bit early to be posting pumpkin recipes. In fact, the winter squash and sugar pie pumpkins are not quite ready for harvesting yet in our garden; but these cool crisp mornings are beginning to remind me of spicy pumpkin treats!

I like to roast a whole, organic chicken about once per week for family meals. In the wintertime I will serve it with sautéed winter greens, such as kale and collards, a few spoonfuls of raw sauerkraut or cultured vegetables, and roasted root vegetables. In the springtime, I like to serve it with a light quinoa radish salad with fresh parsley, lemon, and chopped sorrel or napa cabbage. The next day I pull the meat off the bone and use it to make chicken salad, chicken pot pie, or toss it into soup.

I don't think I've shared a beef recipe yet on this blog. Beef is a concentrated source of protein, minerals, fats, and vitamins. For the deficient person, beef can be extremely beneficial.

Did you know that the food you consume actually changes how your genes are expressed? Every time we eat we tell our bodies which genes to turn on and which genes to turn off. Did you know that there is more gene expression within two hours after eating than any other time of the day? Why?

Happy Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere.

My mother-in-law was visiting earlier this month and she likes to make fruit bowls every morning along with a green smoothie right after her her morning "blissipline" routine. She's almost 70 and is in much better shape than me! Our children love to watch her do the splits and headstands.