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reading time: 13 min





Episode 12.
 
Happy Samhain everyone!

Everyone loves chocolate, right? But what if I tell you that there is more, way more to cacao than the simple joy of dying a slow and sweet death by chocolate?

Cacao is a powerful medicine plant and healing substance that is able to uplift and energize, and help to create feelings of pleasure and emotional intimacy. While it does not take you on a trip like a psychedelic dies, a high dose of raw cacao can create a "warm, fuzzy feeling" due to the anandamide (named after ananda, the Sanskrit word for "bliss"), theobromine, caffeine and tryptophan which have a stimulating, sociable effect. This is why in rituals, cacao is used to help people connect. (source)

A feminine energy, the Cacao goddess Ixcacao, was worshipped and called upon to help the drinker deepen into the essence of their heart. Often facilitating profound spiritual journeys, she was a reminder to the people of their inherent connection to the earth. Bitter in taste, rough and earthy in texture, and grounding in its effect, cacao reminds us of our innate connection to the earth and her fertile soil.

Due to the feminine energy present in cacao, it is very receptive so whatever good intentions you put into it, it takes it in, and the one who drinks it receives this energy.


What is a Cacao Ceremony?

Ceremonial grade cacao and the sacred ritual of a cacao ceremony to unlock euphoric and even ecstatic states, release negative emotions, and connect to pure heart energy has been used by ancient Aztec and Maya civilisations for thousands of years. While the Aztecs reserved their sacred cacao for priests and other high-status men to offer to the gods, the Mayan people used the potent drink as part of their everyday life, and in particular during special occasions such as betrothal and marriage ceremonies as well as other community-based rituals.

A cacao ceremony is when ceremonial grade cacao – which is very different from your regular cup of cocoa or hot chocolate – is consumed with mindfulness and intention
as a Sacred Hot Chocolate. Cacao ceremonies can be done either alone – to connect deeply to yourself and harness your inner power – or in company – to allow for open communication and connectedness.


Cocoa powder (pronounced "coco") has been roasted for long periods of time at high temperatures, which changed the molecular structure of the bean, lowering its naturally abundant nutritional value. Cacao powder (pronounced "cacaow") may be organic, raw and a superfood, but is also highly processed. The bean's natural fat – the cacao butter – is removed, which means that many living enzymes, healthy fat, fibre, and most of the subtle energetic properties of cacao have been destroyed. It can be overstimulating to your nervous system and taxing on the liver. Ceremonial grade cacao, however, is made by fermenting and lightly toasting or sun-drying the beans, then hand peeling the husks followed by stone grinding creating to a paste which is then set into a block – nothing added and nothing removed. The bean's fat remains intact which helps in the absorption of its nutrients over a long period of time. (source)


Raw cacao is a natural aphrodisiac and mood enhancer, rich in antioxidants and nutrients. It is known to improve memory, reduce heart disease, help you shed fat, and boost immunity. On an energetic level, it also increases feelings of bliss and love, comfort and excitement, as it builds energy.

Ceremonial cacao can be used for deep healing and transformation, especially for love, partnership, connection, and sexuality.


My Experience with Cacao Ceremonies

I first learned about the existence of cacao ceremonies from this video by Caro Arevalo which was very inspiring and informative, so go check that out if you are interested.

So far I have done this cacao ceremony three times: once on my own and twice with my fiancé J, which were all very impactful and very different from one another. The first time (which was with J., and only using the beginner's dose, pure) I could really feel the energizing effect of the caffeine-containing cacao which gave me a sort of "high" that made me feel both connected and giddy, almost euphoric, similar to coffee but without the jittery body-state. (By the way, I love the "couples cacao ceremony" that Romany & Eduardo brought into being! Such a lovely relationship ritual.)
 
My second ceremony (which was on my own on the night before my birthday, and using the ceremonial dose, still without any additives) was entirely "high"-free, but instead lead me to open up emotionally and weep for almost half an hour, which was incredibly freeing and healing. The third time – on a full moon, and using the ceremonial dose again, but this time with lots of spices and dates to sweeten – I felt quite "normal", only slightly more calm and blissful. Who would have thought!

I want to incorporate holding a cacao ceremony on several special occasions each year, such as my birthday, New Year, J and I's wedding, as well as some of the Wiccan festivals, or even just on full moons. If you are working in the creative field, having a cup of cacao right before working on your projects can be incredibly energizing, spark your inspiration and ignite your creativity.

In the future I would also love to do this cacao ceremony with a small group of women one day – kind of like a witchy women's circle. I can imagine this concentrated female energy to be very
powerful and healing in its own way.




The Benefits of a Cacao Ceremony

  • it acts as a heart-opener
  • it aids with releasing old emotional blockages
  • it helps to release negative emotions and negative self-talk
  • it re-connects you with others 
  • it helps re-connect yourself and with your creative energy
  • it enhances your own intuition and inner sense of knowing
  • it enables access to stuck emotions, conditionings, patterns of behaviour and addictions 
  • it expands your capacity to love and be loved
  • it enhances focus, clarity and mental agility
  • it helps you discover and explore your purpose in life
  • it acts as a tool for visualization and manifestation 
  • it relaxes, regenerates and rebalances

The Recipe

Ingredients for 1 serving:

- organic raw ceremonial grade cacao *, chopped into small pieces, either the meditation dose (25g) or the ceremonial dose (up to 42g) – if this is your first time doing a cacao ceremony, use 25 grams!
- 250 ml of hot, but not boiling water and/or plant-based milk (I recommend almond milk, barista oat milk, or coconut milk; in my opinion half water and half plant milk is ideal)
- an optional sweetener: dates, raw honey, coconut blossom sugar, or maple syrup
- optional spices or superfoods: a pinch of chilli powder or cayenne pepper, Himalayan salt, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, maca, reishi, chaga, turmeric, vanilla, rose nectar, lavender, rosemary, ginger, orange peel, coconut oil ...

* this is not the same as regular cacao or even cocoa! Make sure it says 100% ceremonial grade cacao on the packaging. Ceremonial cacao can come as a paste, powder or discs.

Directions:

Cut your desired amount of cacao into small pieces with a sharp knife. As mentioned above, the amount of cacao per serving should be somewhere between 10 and 42 grams. 20 to 25 grams are great for meditation or for everyday life. Anything over 25 and up to 42 grams is considered a ceremonial dose, which is used for in-depth spiritual practice. If this is your first time doing a cacao ceremony (or if you're drinking this daily) make sure you use only 20 to 25 grams!

Rather than heating up the liquid and pouring it over the cacao, enjoy the process of stirring (or even better: whisking) the pot and make an effort to connect with every element of the process. Move mindfully, handle your utensils with care, smell the cacao and all the other scents in your kitchen ... 

Perhaps even "bless" your beverage while gently heating up the cacao chunks in a small cooking pot along with your water or plant-based milk, or light a candle to open the ritual.

Keep stirring / whisking on low heat, making sure it never boils. You'll want the cacao to melt, not boil, as
we don't want to burn the cacao and destroy its valuable healing ingredients. A temperature around 42 °C up to 50 °C is perfect. If you can still stick your finger inside, you're golden 😁

While the cacao heats up, you can begin the ritual by singing, dancing, chanting or tuning into that open-minded, open-hearted energy. If you like, think about your intention as you stir the cacao to infuse it into the drink.

When all cacao chunks are melted and the consistency is creamy, turn off the stove. Feel free to add anything your heart desires – for me, chai spices are a wonderful addition to this beverage. Make sure to only use high-quality ingredients that you love!

To make iced cacao, combine shaved or chopped ceremonial cacao, 200 ml chilled plant-based milk, sweetener and spices of choice, and a generous handful of ice cubes in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth.

NOTE:
- Avoid caffeine on the day of the ceremony 
- Don't drink alcohol on the day of the ceremony
- Don't eat meat on the day of the ceremony
- Don't add cows milk into the cacao because dairy products dampen the effect of the cacao
- It's best to follow a fairly simple and alkaline focused diet the day before, and on the day of the ceremony
- If you're really into it, you should not eat anything 3 to 4 hours prior to the ceremony
- Since cacao is a powerful stimulant, it's best not to do this ceremony after 7 pm, or within 4 hours of bedtime
- Make sure you drink enough fresh water before and after the ceremony (also have some at hand during the ceremony), as the cacao is very bitter and slightly dehydrating



How Does It Work?

Now that you've prepared your beverage, it is time for the actual cacao ceremony. You can either do it by yourself, in the comfort of your own home or outside in nature (perhaps under a tree or by a stream), and enjoy the silent dialogue with your (Higher) self – or you can do it with a group of people you trust. If you are doing the ceremony as a couple, sit facing each other; if you are doing this as a group, it's best to sit in a circle to support and empower one another during the following ceremony.

Either way you'll want to choose a place where you are undisturbed and feel comfortable and safe, perhaps your meditation corner or a quiet spot under a tree. 

If you like, you can also put up an altar with objects that are important and a source of inspiration to you – such as pictures, crystals, plants ... Perhaps light some candles, place some greenery or flowers, burn incense, or smudge the space with sage or palo santo to remove negative energies and impurities. Maybe play some soothing music, if you feel like it (for example this shamanic playlist).

Sit on a chair or cushion in a comfortable pose, such as with your legs crossed and a straight spine, and with both hands lift up the cacao to the centre of your chest, where your heart chakra is located. Close your eyes and inhale the scent of the cacao. What are your intentions for this ceremony? Do you want to connect with your higher self or a certain person in your life? Release negative thought patterns? Or gain clarity or confidence? Are you looking for a solution to a problem, or trying to let go of something from your past? Do you want to feel more abundance? Do you want to follow your intuition more?

Whatever it is, set your intentions – either mentally or out loud – and "ask the cacao" to assist you in this process.

If that up your alley, you can imagine the mug of cacao being filled with golden light, or with a sacred nectar perhaps. Feel the energetic power of this beverage. It is pure light, positive energy, fluid medicine. 

Then slowly start to drink the cacao – still imagining it to flow through your torso and into your belly like golden flow of energy. With every sip let yourself sink deeper into a state of peacefulness.


Now just be, and see what happens. Notice what thoughts, images and feelings come up. All you have to do now is to stay connected to your body by breathing deeply and fully and always bringing yourself back to the present moment. This ceremony is basically a meditation.

Allow all body sensations to rise up. And if you don't notice anything, that's okay too. Trust the process.

And if you like, you might start to hum or sing something, following your intuition and imagination. Perhaps play a singing bowl. Do some breathing exercises, such as pranayama. Pick an oracle card. Paint. Or move and dance, activating the cacao within your body and heart. Whatever connects you to your innermost power, and to your heart.

Take as much time as you need. Opening up your heart chakra is powerful, but can also be painful, so be gentle and patient with yourself. Give yourself space to reflect and self-commune. Maybe you'll even want to journal during or after the ceremony. If you are doing this as a group, hold space for each other to open up and speak from your hearts. Listen. A great way to start a heart-to-heart conversation going is to share what each of you is grateful for, express your intention for that day, or complement each other.

Traditionally, cocoa ceremonies last about 3 to 6 hours to allow for in-depth spiritual work. However, if you are doing this at home by yourself I would recommend to spend at least 15 minutes, ideally 30 minutes to 1 hour with this process.

Close the ceremony by having a quiet moment of giving thanks or a short prayer. If you are holding the ceremony in company, take a deep collective breath, and perhaps give each other a hug.

If possible, arrange a quiet, gentle afternoon or evening for after the ceremony, as symptoms of physical and emotional detoxification can arise unique to each individual.

If that's not possible, don't worry. You can continue your day as you would normally, just take it easy and see how this ceremony transforms the way you perceive your everyday life, perhaps bringing more inner peace, fulfilment, joy, focus and a sense of light-heartedness to it 🙏🏻❤️
 
Don't forget to drink plenty of water at the end of the ceremony to avoid dehydration.


How Often Should You Do a Cacao Ceremony?

In general, you can do a cacao ceremony whenever you feel the need for it. Due to the powerful healing and euphoriant effect of the cacao, I would suggest consuming no more than 25 g of cacao per day.

There are no set rules as to when a cacao ceremony should take place. Use ceremonial cacao if you are feeling confused, blocked, upset or out of touch with yourself. Use it as a heart opener to peacefully and compassionately communicate with your partner. 
 
Great times to do a cacao ceremony are during a full moon or a new moon, or during the four seasonal transitions: spring equinox, summer solstice, fall equinox, and winter solstice. A new moon cacao ceremony is wonderful to set intentions for things you want to manifest. A full moon ceremony helps you delve deeper into yourself and reflect on what you are "harvesting" in your lives right now.


Contraindications for the Cacao Ceremony

Because of the potency of the ceremonial grade cacao, and the amount consumed in the ceremonial dose, there are a couple of contraindications to be aware of:

- Prescription anti-depressants: Those that use MAO inhibitors to treat depression are contraindicated with chocolate. Check your meds to see if this is the case. These tend to be less common nowadays. 
- Serious heart conditions: Cacao increases heart rate and is a vasodilator, so be careful if you have a serious heart condition.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding: Go with a lower dose as cacao is a stimulant.

 
Where to Get Ceremonial Grade Cacao

There are probably many more suppliers of ceremonial grade cacao, but this is what I found through my research:

United States: Cacao Laboratory

Central America: Keith's Cacao

Australia: The Cacao Club

United Kingdom: Ritual Cacao

Germany: Heart Solution (the one I've been using is this organic Peruvian one from Papa Inti, but it is currently sold out, and I want to try the one from Heart Solution next time)

International 100 % Maya owned, all indigenous women's collective: Ruk'u'x'Ulew



If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear about your experiences with cacao 🙂



♥

Maisy

 reading time: 4 min



This year I got to meet J's grandmother on his father's side for the very first time! She kindly invited us to her house, and we brought a homemade cake (mainly because she doesn't know we're vegan and we didn't want to cause any trouble for her). Since we already had an open dry red wine bottle, I decided to go for this dark, rich, chocolaty red wine cake that combines red wine with pieces of bittersweet chocolate and a hint of raspberry, and a red whine ganache for an intensely flavoured cake.

BTW: My Dad dubbed this the "Red Riding Hood Cake" because we were paying grandma a visit with red wine and cake, lol. Luckily, we weren't eaten by a wolf.


Red wine works great in chocolate cake because both the cacao and the red wine have dark "berry" notes that make for a decadent, slightly fruity cake. Especially chocolates with a higher percentage of cocoa (I use 70 %), and dry, full-bodied wine such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, pinot noir or even ruby port are great choices.

DARK CHOCOLATE RED WINE CAKE

Preparation time: 2 hours
Main ingredients: spelt flour, margarine, chocolate, red wine
difficulty level: easy
serves: 10–14 (1 bundt cake)
suitable for: vegan, lactose-free, wheat-free, soy-free

Ingredients

Cake:
1 1/8 cup (150 g) whole grain spelt flour
1 cup, loosely packed (100 g) spelt flour (type 1050) *
3/4 cup (50 g) ground hazelnuts

1 cup (200 g) raw cane sugar or brown sugar
1 pack (15 g) baking powder
4 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of sea salt (I use kala namak for that "eggy" taste)

1 tsp vanilla essence
4 tbsp soy flour
10 tbsp (100 ml) non-dairy milk

1/2 cup (125 ml) vegan red wine (dry, full-bodied wine is best)
2 tbsp rum
1 cup (2
00 g) margarine or vegan butter
3/4 cup (100 g) vegan dark chocolate, chopped
1 large handful of raspberries, fresh or frozen and thawed *


Ganache:
1/2 cup (80 g) vegan dark chocolate, broken into pieces
1/2 cup (100 g) margarine (or sub vegan cream)
2 tbsp vegan red wine
3 tbsp powdered sugar


* If you are confused about that flour type, check out this website which explains the difference between German flour types and US-American flour types.  



Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F / 180 C.

For the cake:

Lightly grease and flour a bundt cake pan. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, soy flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon and salt. Add chopped hazelnuts. Whisk.

In a large mixing bowl, beat the margarine and sugar until fluffy and lighter in colour. Add the liquid ingredients (vanilla essence, non-dairy milk, red wine, and rum if using). Whisk until smooth.

Slowly whisk in the flour mixture until just combined. Resist the urge to overmix the batter.

Lastly, fold in the chopped chocolate and the raspberries.

Pour batter into the prepared bundt cake pan, and bake on the middle rack at 350 F / 180 C for about 50–60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

Cool the cake in the pan for 15–20 minutes. Gently invert the cake onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

While the cake is cooling, prepare the ganache.

For the ganache:

In a heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of gently simmering water, melt the chocolate pieces and margarine over low heat, stirring constantly.

Remove the bowl from the heat, and add in the red wine and powdered sugar. Whisk until smooth. Allow to cool for about 30 minutes, or until the ganache has thickened and reached a creamy consistency that is easier to spread and stay neat.

Once the cake is cooled, pour the ganache glaze over the cake and let it naturally drip down the sides. Let the glaze set at least a few minutes before serving.

Share because there's plenty!



TIPS:

- Use white wine instead of red wine, (vegan) white chocolate instead of dark chocolate, and almonds instead of hazelnuts for a lighter cake!
- To make this cake alcohol-free, swap the wine for grape juice, orange juice or cherry juice (or simply non-dairy milk).
- For a low-fat version, replace the 200 g margarine with 120 g unsweetened applesauce or plum puree and 80 g margarine.
- * Instead of raspberries, use finely grated zest of 1 organic orange (about 1 teaspoon). You could also use blueberries, chopped cherries or even apples! If desired, soak the fruit in the red wine overnight.
- For a more wintry version of this cake, add 1 tsp of ground cardamom to the batter, and/or 1/2 tsp of ground ginger and/or 1/4 tsp of ground nutmeg. You could also use mulled wine instead of regular red wine, for that extra Christmas-y "punch"!
- You can also make cupcakes with this recipe, but use less baking time, about 18–20 minutes.
-  If you have any glaze leftover, either drizzle it atop pancakes or waffles, or on top of vegan ice cream, topped with fresh fruit. Or stash it in the fridge for a couple of hours, then roll the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls (mix with ground hazelnuts, if it's not firm enough to roll), and coat in cocoa powder, nuts, or sprinkles. Voila! You've got truffles!



Looking for more chocolaty dessert recipes? Here are some of my favourites (and yes, I am a chocoholic 😜):


Vegan Banana Split Cake
Vegan Dark Chocolate & Cherry Brownies
Vegan Chocolate & Basil Cupcakes
"Chocomole" – Raw Vegan Chocolate Pudding
The Ultimate PMS Smoothie


♥

Maisy



 reading time: 8 min




This cute DIY clay giraffe planter isn't only great for your own windowsill, but it would also be a perfect gift for someone who loves plants (especially succulents) and animals. Of course, you could also try another shape such as an elephant, a cat, a llama, a hedgehog, or whatever floats your boat. Heck, you could even create a whole fleet of animals and set up your own mini safari!

So on my 30th birthday last month I invited a couple of good friends over to eat homemade butternut squash soup and gluten-free apple cake, and to get creative with white air-dry
modelling clay! We had loads of fun, making things like a doggie bowl, name tags, jewellery dishes, garlands, an ashtray, an incense holder, and tokens for a pen-and-paper role-playing game. It probably won't come as a surprise that one of my birthday gifts was a pottery course :)
 
The day after my birthday I used the leftover clay and used the tutorial on the German website Ella Mattsson as a guide to make this little DIY clay giraffe planter that is the perfect addition to any shelf or windowsill, or for a kid's room to hold your plants. It also makes for a great creative project with your kid. (I also learned during this project that there are nine different kinds of giraffes, the most common in zoos being the Somali giraffe and the Rothschild's giraffe, and the largest being the Masai giraffe that has super cool jagged, star-like blotches on its body.)

For this giraffe planter you don't need a wheel or any special pottery tools, and you also don't need a kiln! 

Basically, all you need is some air-hardening modelling clay (think of it as playdough for adults), an empty container as the base for your planter, and your hands. Full disclosure: This was the first time I ever worked with modelling clay!! So if I can do it, so can you! :)

Air dry clay is a natural clay that dries into a hard solid when exposed to air. There is no baking or firing needed and once it becomes dry, you can paint and decorate the clay. Since air-hardening clay is water-based, it is also very easy to clean up this kind of clay.
 
So let's get started!

reading time: 7 min

https://be-alice.blogspot.com/2017/10/how-to-do-breast-self-massage-and-why.html



Episode 11.

Why are breasts still a taboo topic when it comes to self love and body care even though they are one of the most sensitive and important parts of the female body?

If you have read my article on going braless, you may know that breast are an important topic on my personal self love journey. They are what I've struggled most with growing up (and becoming sexually attractive to men), as they are a major part of my female identity. They symbolize softness and nurturing/giving, and most importantly: they are what protects our heart space. Female breasts are very sensitive, but have been objectified as a sex symbol by both men and women. For that reason many women struggle with a loving relationship with their breasts, criticising their size, shape or firmness. Even breastfeeding has become taboo and totally sexualized – it's insane!!

Our breasts are mostly fat tissue, connective tissue, milk ducts, nerves, and lymph glands, which enable the lymphatic system to drain toxins and waste out of the body and that can get restricted by tight bras.

However, our breast are so much more than that.

Did you know there is a strong connection between our yoni / vagina / libido and our breasts / heart? Although they are not located near each other, the breasts and are considered to be an extension of our heart – housing our deepest emotional wounds as well as our ability to love. They are the gates to the heart chakra and therefore the key to truly opening up and accessing the power of the yoni. So if the only contact during intercourse is between the genitals, the energy of the woman will not flow into the higher heart centre, and so it remains pure sex, not lovemaking.

So get in touch with your breasts – literally!

Given that October is known to be the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought this was the perfect opportunity to share my step-by-step tutorial for a healing self massage – for healthy and happy breasts.
 
I have also done my best to demonstrate the individual steps with my mediocre drawing skills combined with my mediocre photoshopping skills, haha!

 reading time: 2 min




Mabon – the pagan autumn equinox sabbat and main harvest festival, the "Witches Thanksgiving" – has just passed, and Samhain – the "Witches New Year" and last of the three harvest festivals – is soon to come, but this rustic apple cake recipe would fit both Mabon and Samhain perfectly!
 
Apples are found in many legends all around the world – from Norse mythology where the goddess Idunn fed young apples to other deities to help them remain immortal, to the Greek Goddess Hera who had orchards of apple trees that also granted eternal life. It is no coincidence that the misty island of Avalon was also known as the Isle of Apples and eternal youth – Avalon literally means fruit or apple – where fruit grew in great abundance. In Wiccan rituals, apples are also important for divination, being used to spell out the initials of one's true love's name using apple peel.
 
So far I can't attest that apples really do grant eternal youth or immortality, nor do I know if they really can predict your true love, but they are definitely traditional foods for celebrating the harvest and the arrival of fall and therefore perfectly fitting for this time of year.
 
Long story short: You should make this apple cake!! :) It's super good and healthy!

   reading time: 5 min





Hello my fellow homemakers! Have you ever spent half the day cooking and preserving like a mad woman (or man) to build up stocks and share a freshly cooked warm meal with your family? Well, I have recently! And today I'm going to share them with your as well – four home-cooked autumn harvest recipes that included hand-picking some of the fruits, and then batch-preserving them.

I hope you find some yummy comforting recipes in here, or at least feel inspired to get into preserving yourself!


The Joy of Preserving

Over the past few months I've talked repeatedly about the perks of foraging for food in the "wild", with some of my favourites being the Himalayan Balsam jelly, the wild garlic nettle strudel (and anything nettle, haha), the wild herb & garlic butter, and the vegan blueberry cheesecake crumb cake (although that one is technically not really wild-crafted, but rather harvested I guess).
 
Anyway.
 
There is a joy to foraging and preserving your food. The simplicity of it. The involvement of your hands that work in an almost meditative state. The fragrance of jam or chutney or stew simmering on the stove.  
 
– You are literally preserving the feeling and smells of autumn! –

Not only is preserving very rewarding, knowing that all the work you put in will result in a bunch of delicious meals or even a well-stocked pantry that will get you through the winter months. It also slows you down, and grounds you. Or at least that's what it does for me.

Hand-picked, homemade food is pretty much the most "sustainable" and "zero waste" you can go in terms of eating, especially when it's homegrown or wild food as well. It is the definition of slow food, and a wonderful way to connect with nature and all the abundance surrounding us.

There are many preservation techniques out there, such as drying, fermenting, pickling, freezing, juicing, infusing, and canning to preserve your food for the months to come. So far, I am mainly focussing on recipes that require the food to be consumed relatively soon after it has been harvested and processed, such as in the form of a crumble or bread or relish or pesto or homemade applesauce or pear sauce, like in today's blogpost.

Speaking of which.

The four recipes I will share with you today are easy to make, and relatively quick. I did spend a good six hours total in the kitchen that day, and we had even hand-picked some of the pears (they are from my mum's garden who harvested most of the pears herself and also collected these apples in her neighbourhood – the plums were harvested by my fiancés aunt!) – and at the end of the day I was quite exhausted from all the work in the kitchen, but also felt very accomplished and pleased with my work. And at least I got to eat a warm plum crumble
afterwards with melting vegan ice cream on top, yum!

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Well, hello! My name is Maisy (pronounce: macy) and I’m the creative spirit behind this blog. You are welcome to join me on my journey to a more natural, slow-paced & healthier life!

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      • How & Why to do a Cacao Ceremony
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