Three Delicious Recipes for a New Year

Every January 1, people make resolutions, set goals, and vow to set right their previous year’s failures.  

I’m going to lose weight.  

I’m going to make one million dollars.  

I’m going to find someone and marry them. 

When they fall short during the first month, they flat out give up for the remaining eleven months.  

What if we could do this differently? 

I don’t have a magic wand or a Chrystal ball; however, I do have three different recipes for you to try. Sooner would be better than later for best results. The good news, is you don’t have to be a cook to indulge. Prep and cooking time will vary with each recipe. They can be prepared and enjoyed separately or together. The first recipe is spiritual, the second is relaxational, and the third is nutritional.   

In an atmosphere of comfort, add each ingredient one by one.  

  

Spiritual: Let Go and Let God.  

In this “Let Go, and Let God” recipe, there are five ingredients. In order to access them, sit quietly in your favorite spot. Perhaps settle by breathing, meditating, praying, or listening to some music. If lighting candles bring you deeper into your heart, feel free. Once there, pick up something with which to write. Allow some time to pour your answers completely out until there’s nothing left inside.  

 

#1. Give gratitude for the good. i.e. 

Over the past year, I am grateful for: 

Over the past year, I am grateful for: 

Over the past year, I am grateful for: 

Etc. 

 

#2. Release the disappointments. i.e. 

This year I was disappointed by: 

This year I was disappointed by: 

This year I was disappointed by:  

Etc. 

 

#3. Forgive Self and others. i.e. 

I forgive — for: 

I forgive — for: 

I forgive — for: 

Etc. 

 

#4. Open to new possibilities. i.e. 

I am open to the possibility of: 

I am open to the possibility of: 

I am open to the possibility of: 

Etc. 

 

#5. Be willing to be receptive to the new. i.e. 

I am willing, open, and receptive to: 

I am willing, open, and receptive to: 

I am willing, open, and receptive to: 

 Etc. 

 

Relaxational: Gail’s 2024 Book list. 

All you need to do with this recipe is select one of the forty-four books below I’ve read this past year, add a cup of tea and your favorite blanket and enjoy. You might want to combine this recipe with the next. Feel free. Whatever feels good is the rule here. 

Books Read 2024 

Beauty in the Broken Places: Pataki, Allison. 

The Barefoot Lawyer: a Blind Man’s Fight for Justice and Freedom in China: Chen, Guangcheng 

Becoming: Obama, Michelle 

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett: Lyons, Annie. 

Calling Invisible Women, a Novel: Ray, Jeanne 

A Calamity of Souls: Baldacci, David 

Cloud Cuckoo Land: Doerr, Anthony.  

Comet’s Tale, How the Dog I Rescued Saved my Life: Wolf, Steven 

Counting Miracles, a Novel: Starks, Nicholas. 

Control Freaks: Thomas, J. e. 

Day After Night, a Novel: Diamant, Anita  

A Dog’s Hope: Wilson, Casey 

Dying to be Me: My Journey from Cancer, to Near Death, to True Healing: Moorjani, Anita. 

The Expected One: McGowan, Kathleen 

The Family Lawyer: Patterson, James 

The Final Witness, A Kenedy Secret Service Agent Breaks his Silence after Sixty years: Landis, Paul. 

Firefly Summer: Binchy, Maeve. 

Frozen Moon, a Jenny-dog and the son of light novel: Greenwald, D. M.  

Go As a River: Read, Shelley 

Good Night, Irene: Urrea, Luis Alberto 

Hello Darkness My Old Friend…: Greenberg, Sanford 

How to Say Babylon, a Memoir: Sinclair, Safiya. 

The Jailhouse Lawyer: Patterson, James 

A Light in the Window: Kummerow, Marion 

The Little Old Lady Who Broke all the Rules: Ingelman-Sundberg, C.  

My Stroke of Insight, A Brain Scientists Personal Journey: Taylor, Jill. 

Nine Perfect Strangers: Moriarty, Liane 

The Number One Lawyer: Patterson, James 

Naked in Death: Robb, J. D. 

October in the Earth, a novel: Hawker, Olivia 

Orange is the New Black: Kerman, Piper 

Poverty, By America: Desmond, Matthew. 

The President is Missing, a Novel: Clinton, Bill 

The Red Tent: Diamant, Anita 

Resurrection Walk: Connelly, Michael 

The Robe: Douglas, Lloyd 

Rogue Lawyer: Grisham, John 

So the Blind Can See: Haraway, Kay 

The Street Lawyer: Grisham, John 

Storm at Daybreak: Hoff, B. J. 

The Teacher: McFadden, Freida  

Walking with Sam, a Father, a son, and Five Hundred Miles Across Spain: McCarthy, Andrew 

Wish You were Here: Picoult, Jodi 

The Women: Hannah, Kristin 

 

Nutritional: Fudgy No-Bake Brownies  

Recipe by: Dr. Michael Greger & Robin Robertson from The How Not to Die Cookbook 

These Fudgy No-Bake Brownies are a quick, easy, and healthful way to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Interventional trials have shown that eating nuts improves artery function, and nut consumption may also improve blood sugar control, lower cholesterol, suppress inflammation, reduce oxidative stress, and feed our friendly gut flora.  

Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes 

Course: Dessert 

Difficulty: Easy 

Servings: 16 2-inch brownies 

Daily Dozen   

Equipment: 

Food processor 

Ingredients 

1 cup raw walnuts 

1⅓ cups dates, pitted 

½ cup raw almond butter 

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 

⅓ cup crushed pecans  

Instructions 

Grind the walnuts and dates in a food processor until finely ground.  

Add the almond butter and process until well mixed.  

Add the cocoa powder and pulse to mix well. 

Transfer the brownie mixture to an 8-inch square baking pan. (If you line the pan with parchment paper, it will make it easier to remove the brownies.)  

Use your fingers to press the mixture evenly into the pan. (You can place a piece of parchment paper on top of the mixture as you press it into the pan to prevent it from sticking to your hands.)  

Once the brownies are firmly pressed into the pan, sprinkle the top evenly with the crushed pecans, pressing them into the top of the brownies. 

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares. 

Receive inspiration from Gail in your inbox! We respect your privacy and will not share or sell your information.

Add A Comment