“We do not learn from experience; we learn from reflecting on experience.”
~ John Dewey ~
I love this quotation (I use it in many of the classes I teach for my day job) because it reiterates how important taking time to reflect is. So, in the spirit of reflecting and since this is the last post of 2013, I present: Top 10 Craving Sustenance Moments of 2013. Enjoy!
In memory of the 14th anniversary of my devastating house fire, I created a shortbread recipe that was spicy hot. The house fire continues to impact me daily and this post was the first time I wrote about it on the blog. It was cathartic and the shortbread turned out delicious.
I know I should love lentils, but I don’t. Lentils mixed with cranberries, however, I do love. My tastebuds sing when they eat this recipe and my body thanks me too for not only filling it with sugary sweets during the holiday season.
Being new to detoxes, I didn’t know what to expect. The three-week long process was a journey and it has influenced how I eat today. I used to try to fill up on bread and cheese (still delicious, don’t get me wrong!) but now I try to fill up on vegetables. I feel like I’ve become even more focused on how I am fueling my body. We are what we eat!
I haven’t attended many cooking classes, but this pasta making class gave me the confidence and knowledge I needed to make mouthwateringly delicious pasta every time. I got over my aversion to using eggs in pasta and learned what the dough should feel like when it has enough moisture. I use what I learned in this class nearly every week. No more pasta blobs for me!
Refreshing, nutritious, and delicious without being weighed down by a creamy dressing, this is my go-to coleslaw. I have yet to meet someone who didn’t like this version. Just thinking about this makes me hungry for it… I do have some cabbage in my fridge…
This recipe changed my life. While I love green monsters for breakfast, in the winter I need something warmer and hardier. Regular stovetop oatmeal doesn’t do it for me. Baked oatmeal turns into soft pillows of cinnamon and cardamom encrusted oats. Add a splash of soy milk and some dried fruit and I’m set for hours. I make this nearly every day now. Love. Love. Love.
4. Bean by Bean cookbook by Crescent Dragonwagon
This cookbook changed how I look at dried beans. I had always been intimidated by them and now I rarely buy canned beans. I love the texture, the versatility, and the cost of dried beans. I love having rows of jars filled with cooked beans in my freezer. Check out this book if you haven’t already. Delicious and inspiring.
3. 100 Likes on Facebook!
November marked the 100th “like” for the Craving Sustenance Facebook page. It may not seem like much to some, but it means a lot to me. I may not get hundreds of comments on every post, but I value each of my readers. I put a lot of myself into this blog and I appreciate all of you who take the time to read it!
2. San Francisco and Sonoma County
I almost didn’t come home. Best vacation I’ve had in a while. Between the company, the wine, and the views, it was a rejuvenating and invigorating adventure. All three posts (San Francisco, Restaurants, and Wine) have a special place in my heart.
1. Homemade Pasta: A Step-by-Step Guide
I’ve been wanting to add video to Craving Sustenance for a while and when I finally decided to post a homemade pasta recipe, I knew this was the perfect topic. Cutting the pasta into noodles still makes me giggle with joy.
Looking Forward
Through this blog, I seek to find the extraordinary in the ordinary, to find new ways to find nourishment, to have many, many adventures. Have a very happy New Year and may your 2014 be filled with adventures!
It all looks so delicious! Happy New Year and may your 2014 be filled with adventures, too! AW
I’m already counting down the days until we can visit you in Florida again this year! Lots of epic cooking to be had I’m sure! 🙂