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Mediterranean Melody Cod with Tangy Tomato-Olive Relish

Mediterranean Melody Cod with Tangy Tomato-Olive Relish

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Delicate fish, umami tomatoes and a briney contrast with capers + olives — a beautiful balancing act of satly, sweet and savory. It is a celebration of bold mediterranean flavors, kissed by excellent olive oil and bright lemon juice. It’s also just beautiful. A feast for the eyes and the palette.

Here I serve it over cod but any flakey mild fish works. The relish can be enjoyed many other ways too: on crusty toast with a fried egg on top, as ingredients for a savory omelette with added feta or as a spread to make an ordinary sandwich burst with flavor.

Note — this is a forgiving recipe so feel free to adjust tomato, garlic, caper and olive quantities to your liking.

I especially like the combination of Kalamata and Castelvetrano olives, but feel free to add your favorite olives to the mix.

You can double and triple the recipe for a dinner party. It’s a show stopper on the table and an all-time favorite of my dinner guests.


Ingredients —

For the Fish:

1 1/2 – 2 pounds cod
1 tablespoon olive oil
Juice of 1 lemon
Salt & Pepper to taste

For the Tomato-Olive Relish:

3 tablespoons high quality olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
4-5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tablespoons capers, dried and roughly chopped
Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
3 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
2 cups kalamata & castelvetrano olives, sliced
Drizzle of balsamic vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
Handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation —

For the Cod:

  1. Place cod in a parchment lined baking dish.
  2. Squeeze lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil on the fish and using your hands spread to coat the fish, then season with salt and pepper.
  3. Bake for 12 minutes on the top oven rack under broil until slightly golden on top and cooked through.

For the tomato-olive relish:

  1. Heat olive oil in a medium skillet on medium-high heat.
  2. Saute onions in olive oil until translucent but not browned, 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add garlic, capers and pepper flakes (if using) and saute for another minute until garlic is fragrant. Do not let garlic brown.
  4. Add tomatoes and stir to combine everything in the pan. Cook until tomatoes have softened and some have burst, creating a sauce. About 5-8 minutes.
  5. Season with a pinch of salt and drizzle of balsamic vinegar.
  6. Add olives to the pan and mix to combine and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
  7. Remove from heat, then add lemon juice and fresh parsley. Taste and adjust salt and lemon as needed.
  8. Serve the relish on top of the fish with a final drizzle of olive oil and lemon wedges on the side and enjoy!


Savory Onion Omelette

Savory Onion Omelette

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Simple yet sophisticated at the intersection of sweet and savory. This onion omelette has a grounding taste, earthy and comforting. A swift recipe for a satisfying meal — be it the main event for breakfast and dinner — or a supporting role at brunch.

The subtle sweetness of the fragrant caramelized onion complements the creamy eggs, created through folds during the quick cooking process. Salty feta adds an additional layer of flavor with briney delight, but the omelette is just as wonderful without cheese.

Omelettes are a kitchen’s miracle. Whether made by a self-though home cook like moi, or a French master chef. It’s magic. A couple of ingredients and a perfect meal in minutes.

Eggs and omelettes are my favorite medium in the art of cooking, a blank canvas for creating flavor and beauty.

There are many reasons I love omelettes. Perhaps i’s because that is how the inspiring Julia Child, my hero entered the American imagination by cooking an Omelette on public television (in the early days of black and white TV’s), and consequently revolutionized how we we cook, how we eat and our relationship to the homemade meal. Maybe it’s because happy childhood memories in Tehran include a savory omelette, sometimes with tomatoes (tokhmemorgh gojeh) swiped up with fresh flatbread (noon sangak) and enjoyed in pure umami delight. Maybe it’s just cooking for old times sake – eggs go way back as humans have consumed eggs, fried or beaten, for thousands of years ever since hens were domesticated…

Regardless it’s just good. A delightful addition to our weekend brunch tables or an expeditious standalone meal. Surprisingly nostalgic and modern at the same time. So make it, enjoy it and as Julia would say, Bon Appetit!


Ingredients-

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/2 large red onion, thinly sliced
3 eggs, whisked
1-2 inch cube feta cheese, crumble (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley, basil, or chives for garnish (optional)
Sea salt and black pepper to taste


Preparation-
*Video demonstration found here.

Heat olive oil to medium-high in a skillet, preferably nonstick.

As olive oil begins to shimmer in the pan, add onions and saute 3-4 minutes until slightly caramelized, stirring often to brown evenly.

While onions sizzle, add eggs to a bowl and whisk until yolks and whites are combined.

Add eggs to onions in the skillet, season with salt and lower heat to medium-low.

Gently push the egg from the outer edges of the skillet towards the center of the pan with a spatula, softly creating large folds as you go along all sides of the pan. Tilt pan if necessary to force liquid egg to the outer edges of pan and repeat creating folds towards the center. Do this for 2-3 minutes until eggs are cooked to desired doneness.

Avoid the urge to turn the heat up at any point to avoid burning the bottom of the eggs.

Turn heat off and top eggs with a black pepper, feta and herbs if using. If not using feta, season with more salt according to taste.

Immediately serve to a plate and enjoy!

Curried Lentils with Kale, Ginger and Spices

Curried Lentils with Kale, Ginger and Spices

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Fall is flirting with us and slightly cooler evenings summon cravings for cozy dinners. There is still time to enjoy heirloom tomatoes and summer bounties ripe with flavor from the local farmer’s markets- but a hearty pot of curried lentils is a delightfully delicious and vegetarian dinner any time of year.

Lentils are a versatile blank canvas to build flavor upon. Here, creamy coconut milk, copious amounts of ginger and a medley of aromatic spices adorn the lentils. A nutritious and fragrant one-pot wonder perfumed by coriander, cumin and turmeric, and dramatized by heat from cayenne pepper and ginger, all of which is somewhat mellowed out by the handfuls of fresh kale added at the end. All of these flavors harmoniously come together in the luscious and slightly sweet coconut milk for a satisfying meal. It’s a forgiving recipe so feel free to play with your favorite spices, adjust the heat levels and substitute kale with spinach.

~Tip:

*This recipe holds up well for 2-3 days in the fridge hence why the big-batch volume. It feeds 6-8 servings so feel free to cut the recipe in half for smaller portions. But the leftovers are even better the next day so we recommend making a full pot and enjoying it for several days.

* The recipe uses 2 different kinds of lentils for added texture. Green lentils have a harder exterior and take longer to cook but hold their shape better. Brown lentils are softer and will become more mashed during cooking. You can use either individually, or combine as the recipe indicates for textural contrast. Just make sure you cook long enough so the green lentils have cooked through.

Ingredients-

2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more if needed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
6-8 garlic cloves, minced
4-6 inch ginger knob, finely chopped
1 tablespoon brown mustard seeds
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoon ground coriander
2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, adjust to taste
1 cup brown lentils
1 cup green lentils
8 cups water
2-3 bay leaves
1-2 small red chilies, finely chopped (optional)
1, 13.5-ounce can unsweetened coconut milk
5-6 full handfuls roughly chopped kale, or spinach
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more if needed
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
Fresh Cilantro for garnish (optional)
Kefir or Greek Yogurt for serving (optional)

Preparation-

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
  2. Add the garlic and ginger, season with salt and pepper and saute for another 2-3 minutes until onion has softened and is just beginning to color. Add more oil if needed an lower the heat to ensure garlic doesn’t burn.
  3. Stir in the mustard seeds, turmeric, coriander, cumin and cayenne pepper. Cook, stirring often, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  4. Add the lentils, water, chili pepper, bay leaves and 1 teaspoon salt, then bring to a gentle boil.
  5. Reduce to medium-low, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the lentils have cooked through and most of the water has evaporated, about 30-40 minutes.
  6. Once the lentils have cooked add the coconut milk and mix to combine. Follow by adding the kale to the pot. It may seem like a lot but the kale will whilt down quickly.
  7. Season with lemon juice, more salt and pepper, adjusting to taste as desired.
  8. Served with fresh cilantro and a drizzle of kefir and olive oil, if using, and enjoy.


Garlicky Green Beans with Crunchy Almonds

Garlicky Green Beans with Crunchy Almonds

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Perhaps one of the simplest recipes on my Thanksgiving menu, this tasty vegetarian side dish is on rotation when I need something light to complement more decadent dishes. Bright blanched beans, highlighted by garlicky and crunchy golden almonds.

You quickly sauté chopped garlic in olive oil, infusing the olive oil with heavenly garlic aroma. Then add the chopped almonds, roast for a few minutes until golden, then pour the entire mixture over the blanched beans. Voila! A few ingredients, awesome flavor and a much lighter way to enjoy green beans for Thanksgiving, or any meal at all.

These beans are also a wonderful compliment to a classic roasted chicken or salmon for easy dinners.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3-4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 – 3/4 cup roasted almonds, roughly chopped
1 ½ – 2 pounds green beans, trimmed
Flakey sea salt

Preparation

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, on the side fill a large bowl with ice water.
Boil beans until for 3-4 minutes until tender but still crisp and bright green, careful to avoid overcooking.
Immediately after plunge beans into ice water to stop cooking further.
Immediately after the beans have cooled, remove from the ice bath and drain in a colander.

While beans drain, heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet.
Add garlic and stir quickly to avoid burning, until fragrant for about 30 seconds – infusing the olive oil with the garlic.
Add almonds to garlic-oil mixture and cook for a few minutes until evenly coated.
Plate the beans in serving platter, then pour olive oil-garlic-almond mixture over the beans.
Season with flakey sea salt and serve immediately.

Note~ For a nut free alternative, you can skip the nuts and simply dress the beans with the garlic infused olive oil and a splash of fresh lemon juice.


Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup

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Thanksgiving — my favorite holiday — is around the corner and I can’t wait to start preparing warming fall flavors to celebrate with friends and family.

I’ve been cooking a thanksgiving meal for my people for 15 years, and it brings me much joy every time. I wrote about the joy and thrill of this holiday here . I look forward to building on that and creating new memories each year. Whether cooking for 25 people or 5 people, I’m simply thankful for the privilege to indulge.

My favorite way to begin the holiday meal is with this decadent and relatively healthy butternut squash soup. The key to the depth of flavor is roasting the vegetables. I often serve this as an appetizer while the mains roast and sizzle away and everyone is gathered in the kitchen enjoying wine, light appetizers, and each other’s company.

In Farsi, butternut squash is called lazy pumpkin (kadoo tanbal), which is hilarious. Butter-nut is the perfect name for this tender, sweet and nutty gourd. I simply roast the squash along with red bell peppers, onion and garlic in the oven, then blend everything together with a bit of broth and a touch of cream for a luscious end result. You can skip the cream for a dairy-free option. I serve it with toasty bread and a garnish of thyme. It’s delicious and warming – A foreshadowing to the rest of an amazing meal to come.

Ingredients:
2-3 medium butternut squash, sliced in half and seeds removed
3 medium white onions, quartered
2 red bell peppers, cut in half and seeds removed
4-6 cloves garlic (adjust to taste)
1/2 cup olive oil, add more if needed
3-4 cups vegetable stock or water, as needed
1 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Fresh lemon juice to taste
1/4 cup cream (optional)
4-6 spring of Thyme for garnish (optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment pape
  2. Slice squash in half, remove seeds, leaving skin on- it will be easier to remove once roasted.
  3. Place squash, skin side down along with onions, bell peppers, and garlic on two baking sheets. Generously coat the vegetables with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
  4. Bake for about 40 minutes or until squash is golden brown.
  5. Roughly half way through, remove the garlic from the oven to avoid burning.
  6. Let the vegetables cool, then use a spoon to remove flesh of the squash from its skin.
  7. Working in batches, place roasted vegetables and stock in a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Note- Be careful not to fill the blender to the top with hot vegetables as it will erupt. Leave roughly ¼ of the blender empty.
  8. Continue blending in batches, adding all the purred portions to a large pot. Then adjust the thickness of the soup by adding more stock or water until you get the desired consistency. Alternatively you can use an immersion blender in a pot.
  9. Add enough liquid to thin out the soup to your desired consistency.
  10. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed, and a squeeze of lemon for balance, if desired.
  11. If using, add the cream to the pot and stir until fully incorporated into the soup.

The soup will be naturally creamy at this point — the cream adds yet another level of indulgence and more luxurious, velvety texture to the mix

Serve with homemade crostini:
Cut sourdough or baguette of choice into  ½ inch thick slices. Drizzle bread with olive oil and season lightly with salt, pepper and dried oregano. Toast in the oven at 325 for 10 -15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Pomegranate Lacquered Whole Branzino with Za’atar

Pomegranate Lacquered Whole Branzino with Za’atar

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I have fond childhood memories of eating whole fish on family vacations in the lush areas of Northern Iran near the Caspian sea. Seafood was abundant, especially trout and whitefish (ghezel ala), often fried whole. The appetizing aroma of crispy fried trout mingling with the salt-kissed ocean air was delightful. The seafood was fresh, prepared simply with herbs and garlic, and at times with a squeeze of Seville orange (Naarenj). Fresh fish, aromatic herbs, uncomplicated, delicious. The flavor memories of these relaxed summer outings co-mingle with recollections of happy weekend road trips, lush orchard picnics, and river-side camp sites where the sound of the rumbling stream was as lovely as the family banter. Often, a whole watermelon was placed in nearby streams to keep it cool for post meal consumption. This specific memory of a watermelon floating in water is filed under the enchanting simple moments of life that make you smile (photo below).

The golden whitefish were often accompanied by pickles (torshi), and steamed buttery rice, but the fish was the highlight. Enticing flavors, only second to the pleasant breeze and ruby red geraniums ubiquitous to the seaside villas we inhabited. These casual family moments by the sea and lighthearted afternoons in the sun colored my childhood with happiness and delight.

This recipe is my homage to those memories. I bake not fry the fish and incorporate another favorite northern Iranian ingredient: pomegranate. Savory zaatar and olive oil are added for a rustic but elegant dish. Baked, light and flakey whole fish is an enjoyable way to experience seafood — by the sea or in our urban kitchen, wherever we may be.

The recipe comes together quickly in about 30 minutes. Golden olive oil brings all the flavors together and the sweetness of the pomegranate molasses lacquers while cooking creating a magical sweet and sour and savory flavor combination.

You can skip the pomegranate and za’atar and simply dress the fish with olive oil while stuffing the cavity with lemons, a clove of garlic and herbs (say rosemary or thyme). Whatever you put in the cavity perfumes the entire fish while cooking.

Ingredients

2 whole fish, like branzino or black bass, roughly 1 pounds each, cleaned and gutted by the fish market
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses
1 teaspoon zaatar (adjust to taste)
Lemon
Salt and pepper to taste


Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Using a sharp knife, make four diagonal, parallel slashes on each side of the fish, scoring the skin.

Using a brush or your fingers, rub olive oil, enough to fully coat the flesh and the skin on the inside and outside of the fish, then season inside and out with salt and pepper.

In a bowl, add the remaining olive oil with the pomegranate molasses and zaatar, whisking rapidly until combined.

Cover the inside and outside of the fish with the pomegranate mixture, reserving a small amount, about a quarter for serving. Place fish in a roasting pan- ensuring the fish are not touching and the pan is not crowded.

Roast fish for about 30 minutes or until cooked through. Cooking time can vary due to fish size. Cook until the skin is browned and the flesh is opaque.

Place fish in a serving plate and drizzle with remaining pomegranate–olive oil mixture. Balance sweetness developed while cooking with a  splash of fresh lemon juice and enjoy immediately.  

~Tip~
Preparing a whole fish may seem intimidating but it’s not as difficult as it seems. Cooking a fish whole results in more flavor from the skin and the bones. Just make sure the fish is fresh. The eyes should be clear and the fish should look shiny, not dull in color. And as always with selecting any fish, it should smell like the ocean and not “fishy.”

* Persian tradition of cooling watermelons in a stream while picnicking.

Musical Inspiration – Mah O Mahi (The Fish and The Moon), Hojat Ashrafzadeh

Sassy Sofrito Beans with Garliky toast

Sassy Sofrito Beans with Garliky toast

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One of the silver linings of 2020 was learning to create delicious meals with pantry essentials and creating maximum flavor with minimal effort and ingredients. This recipe was born of the last remaining ingredients before the next bi-monthly food shopping trip. I haven’t stopped making it since, because it’s so darn delicious. It’s a hearty vegetarian dish on it’s own, super satisfying on thick pieces of toast, or as a side with soft boiled eggs for brunch. Make sure to serve it with a generous amount of olive oil for best results.

Ingredients

3 medium yellow onions, chopped

2 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more

½ teaspoon red pepper flakes

4 garlic cloves, 3 finely chopped, 1 kept whole

2 teaspoons tomato paste

2 15-ounce cans cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups vegetable broth or water

1/2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar or juice of 1/4 a lemon

Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper

1-inch-thick slices of toasted bread of choice

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives or flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

  1. Pulse onions in a food processor until finely chopped and transfer to a bowl. Repeat with pulsing the red pepper separately in the food processor.
  2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion mixture, stirring often for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add the peppers to the onion mixture, season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper and continue to sauté for another 15 minutes until vegetables have softened and little liquid remains in the pan.
  4. Add finely grated garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring often, until tomato paste turns to a deep red, about 3 minutes. If the pan is dry, add a bit of oil to help caramelize the tomato paste and prevent garlic from burning.
  5. Add the beans to the vegetables and combine all of the ingredients together.
  6. Add broth to the beans, scraping any brown bits from the bottom.
  7. Drizzle balsamic vinegar or lemon juice to the mixture and season to taste with salt and pepper. 
  8. Cook for another 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and reduces slightly. You can crush a few of the beans in the pan to make the broth creamier.
  9. While the beans finish cooking, toast thick slices of bread and rub the warm bread with remaining whole garlic clove.
  10. Serve beans with a nice drizzle of olive oil and garnish with fresh chives or parsley along with warm garlic bread.

~Tip
You can char the red peppers by roasting under the broiler prior to mixing with onions to achieve an added depth of flavor.

Savory Salmon with Fresh Herbs

Savory Salmon with Fresh Herbs

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Salmon can be prepared in a myriad of different ways with equally delicious results.

Naturally tender and easy to prepare it’s a go-to in my home all year round. In the summer, I love the smokey char of grilled salmon on a charcoal fire. But that method of cooking is the exception. I also love pan seared salmon with crispy skin action, but that method can be a bit messy and smokey. So I often turn to roasting salmon in the oven. The preparation could not be simpler. And it works even in the warmer months when oven use is not ideal, given how quickly salmon cooks.

Salmon baked or broiled in the oven is a quick way to weeknight dinner bliss or an elegant dinner party main course. My Butter Salmon and Spicy Saffron-Dill Salmon recipes are only second to this Savory Salmon baked with lemon, olive oil and herbs. It’s the simplest option which guarantees a wonderful meal in less than thirty minutes.

While perfectly delicious as is, this is a blanc canvas of salmon recipes and I encourage you to experiment with flavors. Make it your own by trying different herbs, adding a spice rub, dusting with zaatar, coating the salmon with sesame seeds. Maybe a mix of teriyaki sauce and sesame oil. Soy sauce and brown sugar, better yet, a mixture of Dijon mustard and brown sugar, yum! Tangerine and Thyme is a nice combination, but I usually save that for Red Snapper. Lemon zest and chives… Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme! You get it, the options are endless so have fun with it!

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds skin-on, center-cut salmon fillet
¼ cup fresh lemon, lime or orange juice, plus additional wedges, for serving
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
Handful of fresh dill, about 4 tablespoon, chopped


Preparation

Heat the oven to 425 degrees with the rack in the center position.
Place salmon skin-side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet.
Spoon over lemon juice all over the fish. Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper in that order.
If using, sprinkle chopped herbs on top of the salmon while reserving some for garnish.
Roast the salmon skin-side down until cooked through to your liking, about 12-15 minutes for medium.
Garnish with more dill and serve with extra citrus wedges and enjoy!

Rainbow Grilled Vegetables

Rainbow Grilled Vegetables

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Grilled veggies are a delight with minimal preparation. All you need is fresh vegetables, good olive oil and salt and pepper. To take flavors to another level, add balsamic vinegar and fresh herbs to the marinade. Basil and rosemary work particularly nicely.

Simply prepare your favorite vegetables into sizes that are easy to grill and place in a bowel. Ad olive oil, balsamic vinegar and chopped fresh herbs and season with salt and pepper.

Grill until tender, brushing with the marinade as you cook the veggies. That’s it! For presentation sake, I went with these vegetables to achieve the rainbow effect. But feel free to make this your own by trying different vegetables and herbs. Grilled zucchini is wonderful! Portobello mushrooms are a nice vegetarian alternative to burgers. Grilled eggplant has summer written all over it, only second to sweet summer corn. And grilled lemons are just wonderful squeezed on anything. Easy, fund, healthy and delicious.

Ingredients

2 large zucchini or yellow squash, sliced to 1/2 inch pieces

2 red bell peppers, seeded and halved

1 bunch asparagus, trimmed

4 large carrots, cut in 3-4 inch long pieces

1 red onion, quartered

1/4 cup olive oil

4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

A handful of fresh basil or rosemary, finely chopped

Preparation

Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat).

Place the vegetables in a large bowel, add olive oil, balsamic vinegar and herbs.

Season with salt and pepper and mix to incorporate marinade throughout.

Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred, about 8 minutes for the bell peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, carrots and onions; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions.

Drizzle vegetables with remaining marinade at the bottom of the bowl, arrange on a platter and serve warm or at room temperate.

Enjoy!

Gorgeous Grilled Zucchini, sweet and oh so savory.
Sweet Summer Corn simply grilled with salt.
Grilled Onions with a lovely char.
The Winters of Our Lives

The Winters of Our Lives

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There is a chill in the air, but I can still sense spring. The days feel longer, the birds seem chirpier, and there is a whisper of optimism in the air accompanied by hope. Can you feel it? Of course this year’s springtime aspirations are deeper than winters past, with heavy hopes of collective healing from the pandemic trauma for our global village.

These days, this winter, I reflect often on the hibernation the pandemic has forced us into. Some, unfairly, into far more difficult circumstances than others. In these moments of quiet reflection, I cook, I read, and I listen to NPR . This New York Times Cooking recipe of Lemony beans with turkey and greens by Melissa Clark is brilliant, and perfectly warming for said cold winter nights. Recently as I cooked and listened to the soulful voice of Krista Tippett on the On Being podcast interviewing the brilliant Katherine May on her book “Wintering” and “how “wintering replenishes,” I was left in awe of this perspective. That winter is not the death of us, but a time of regeneration.

“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives they did in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Wintering is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximizing scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but it’s crucible…“

“…It’s a time for reflection and recuperation, for slow replenishment, for putting your house in order. Doing these deeply unfashionable things- slowing down, letting your spare time expand, getting enough sleep, resting- is a radical act now, but it’s essential.”

That winter is a necessity with rewarding opportunities for growth was a paradigm shift for this lover of nature. I had never thought of winter that way. This profound lesson from nature humbled me. So often we are taught that life and self-growth consist of a linear movement through time. I’m realizing more and more that is not the case. Life is cyclical. It has seasons. Like nature’s Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, so go our lives. Some winters are bigger than others, some Springs may carry more joy and better new beginnings that the ones past. But onward we go, through the winters and the seasons of our lives, hopefully learning and building new and meaningful connections along the way.

A couple of years ago we had a series of tough storms in New York. One icy storm was particularly intense and sadly took down mighty trees. We were certain the sole rose which had miraculously made it to November would not make it through the icy cold attack on the garden. But somehow it did. Once the storm had passed, it stood majestically against the blue sky, rebellious, laughing at destiny. And while the rose is only a metaphor, I love how it represented getting through the storm with beauty and grace. Even if the flower had not been there, it’s roots would have been- replenishing deep within the soil and preparing for spring.


زندگی کوچه سبزی است
میان دل و دشت
زندگی حس شکوفایی یک مزرعه در باور بذر
زندگی رسم پذیرایی از تقدیر است

Life is a green pathway.
Meandering through love and Fields and deserts.
Life, is the plantations dream of blossoming in the imagination of the seedling.
Life, is the tradition of entertaining and welcoming destiny.

Above is a poem by beloved Persian Poet Sohrab Sepehri, which I humbly attempted to translate to English. I love it’s meaning and it’s promise. It beautifully captures the notion of the constant movement of life, the power of surrending to the seasons, and the infinite potential of imagination while tending to the gardens of our inner selves.

For further discovery on Wintering: Resilience and how trees illuminate the art of self-renewal in difficult times, read this incredible piece from Brain Pickings– one of my favorite corners of the world wide web, where Maria Popova shares wisdom drawn from literature, nature, science, art, philosophy, and the various nuance of the human experience.

I know I can be sentimental, and at the risk of being too cloying I had to share my sentiments on the literal and figurative winters of our lives. I’m grateful to the creators, writers, poets, recipe developers, and podcast engineers who provide ideas to support my season of self-renewal.

While restoring the spirit and nurturing the mind, nourishing the body also helps. Homemade feel-good food is an important part of self-care. You may want to try my Chicken & Rice Soup with Glorious Garlic Chili Chips. Rich and brothy with familiar flavors of home, this is a good-for-the-soul kind of delicious soup.

Or this creamy, dreamy butternut squash soup for a vegetarian option.

Meanwhile in the garden, Spring perseveres with it’s underground revolution…