How to Make More Joy this Season

Welcome to the third week of Advent. This week the focus is on the gift of Joy. It seems to be a buzzword these days. Everybody is looking for more joy but most don't know where to find it. News flash - Joy comes from God! Joy is an inner delight that springs up like a fountain of fresh water despite our circumstances. Let's take a minute and go back to that heavenly night long ago.....

Let's Go Back a Moment 

The shepherds are going about their business of tending their sheep in the dark of the night. When lo and behold, a star appears in the sky and soon angels appear and begin heralding the news of the birth of the Messiah. Imagine the great JOY they must have felt! Intrigued, they follow the star to the place where Mary had just given birth. How do you feel when you see a newborn baby? Imagine if you knew it was the Son of God. 

Back to the Present

The holidays are upon us. Are you feeling it yet? I know the year has been a rough one for several reasons, so this week I am hoping to help you cook up some joy this season. 

We're supposed to be filled with joy but -- sometimes -- joy is hard to come by. Lots of things can try and steal our joy, if we let them: a strained relationship, an illness, a job loss. The list is endless. So today, in this third week of Advent, I am here to cheer you up and help you cook up some joy in your life.

Food and festivities are plentiful this time of year and everyone has a favorite dish or recipe they look forward to. I love hearing what different cultures do for the holidays.  An Italian neighbor of mine makes 500 homemade ravioli every year for her extended family. My oldest loves stromboli and Caesar salad. Greeks make powdered sugar cookies with a clove in the middle. Americans love their eggnog and pecan pie.

Today I'd like to share with you a favorite recipe of mine. I found it in a very old "cook" book known as the Bible. All the ingredients for a happy, healthy, and successful life can be found within its pages.

So if you'd like to cook up some joy this season, follow this simple recipe:

1. Remember you are a unique and one of a kind individual. There is no one else on earth like you and God adores you! (Ps. 139:14)
2. Add a touch of kindness towards others.  This helps us get out of our self-absorbed world and into someone else's shoes. (See Eph. 4:32)
3. Add a hefty dose of prayer to cover everything that is on your mind.(Phil. 4:6)
4. Remove any seeds of worry, fear, negativity, anger, or unforgiveness.(Eph. 4:31) 
5. Stir in positive thoughts about what is true, lovely, noble, pure and helpful.

(See Phil. 4:8)
6. Mix well until you feel peace simmering within.(See John 14:27)
7. Wait for joy to bubble up. True joy is a gift from God and when we are at living at peace with ourselves and God, joy bubbles up like a fountain. (See Romans 15:13)
8. Sprinkle generously with thanksgiving. Be thankful for your many blessings and then turn around and serve a blessing to others. (Phillipians 4:)

No one has a perfect life. It may look like they do from their Facebook or TikTok posts but everyone is fighting some kind of battle. However, we can choose joy despite our circumstances. If you are reading this, chances are you have a roof over your head, a decent income, and plenty of food on your table. That is a lot to be joyful about.

For Reflection 

Joy is the third gift of Christmas. Are you feeling joyful these days? If not, what is stealing your joy? Can you look at things from a different perspective? There is always another way to see things. 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided. You'll receive my weekly posts plus a copy of my FREE eguide "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path ." 

Give this recipe a try and watch joy bubble up in you! 

Stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, and harmony to help you ignite the power within and discover YOUR destiny.

Until next time, keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Gluten-Free Veggie Pad Thai with Chickpeas

I love to cook and create as you can probably tell by this blog. So tonight I thought I'd go vegan and get a serving of legumes in for dinner at the same time. Here's a healthy, quick, nutritious and tasty version of the popular asian dish, Pad Thai. In addition, rice noodles are lower on the glycemic index for those watching their sugars.
                                      

You need:
1/2  package rice noodles - soaked in water for 10 minutes or until soft
2 c. frozen stir fry veggies
1/2 can low sodium garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
Organic Coconut  Aminos (a soy sauce substitute gluten-free)
2 tbsps tahini
1 tbsp honey
juice of 1/2 lime
1 - 2 tbsps water
1 tbsp fresh ginger, chopped
sesame oil

1. Heat wok and add sesame oil. 

2. Add stir fry frozen veggies and toss till done. 

3. Meanwhile, combine tahini, honey, lime juice, and water till desired consistency. You don't want it too thick or too thin.

4. Add rice noodles and drained beans. Add tahini mixture and toss to thoroughly coat. 

Serve immediately and enjoy!

For more delicious recipes, order your copy of my new cookbook , "Mediterranean Mom's Family Favorites: a collection of easy Mediterranean, Ethnic, and everyday specialities". Includes gluten-free, keto, and paleo recipes as well. Simply use Zelle to send me $25.99 to pattiel1108@gmail.com and I'll get it right out to you to start you on your way! 

If you enjoyed this post and would like to join our community, enter your email in the box provided and you'll receive my weekly posts in your inbox. You'll also get a copy of my free e-book entitled "7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path" for you or a friend who's seeking.

Stay tuned for more on body, mind, and spirit and remember,

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Quick & Easy Watermelon & Feta Salad

Summer is almost here and so are the fresh fruits and vegetables of the season. Since I am committed to encouraging a healthy and balanced lifestyle, today I am sharing a refreshing and easy salad idea to enjoy with your picnics and summer time meals. 

Here's what you need: (Adjust amounts depending on how much you want to make)

1/2 seedless watermelon, rind removed

1- 2 large cucumbers

12 oz crumbled feta cheese or queso blanco

3 tbsps olive oil

juice of 2 limes 

1 bunch spring onions

1/2 tbsp tarragon or your favorite herb

                 

                   

Dice watermelon. Peel and dice cucumber. Wash, then chop green onions. Mix in your favorite large salad bowl. Add cheese, olive oil, and lime juice. Add tarragon to taste. Serve chilled as a side with salmon, burgers, or all by itself.

Give it a try at your next summer get together and let me know how you like it.

For more healthy and delicious recipes and ideas, click on this link to visit my Pinterest page. And do order a copy of my new Mediterranean cookbook for just $24.99 (digital copy only). Email me to order. 

Until next time, stay tuned for more on healing, wholeness, health, and harmony.

Keep looking up!

Ariel Paz

Cinnamon Apple Brown Rice Bowl with Cranberries

Tired of the same old breakfast items? Me too! So I decided to invent my own rice bowl concoction.  This brown rice/quinoa mix only took about 25 minutes and makes a delicious hot meal on a cold winter day. This recipe makes enough for 2 days or 2 servings.

Here's what you need:

1 cup brown rice/quinoa mix or plain quinoa
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped apple
1 c water or coconut milk
2 tbsps dried cranberries or chopped dates
1 tbsp. sweetener of your choice. I use brown sugar or stevia.

Place all ingredients in rice cooker. Cover and let simmer till done. Voila! A whole grain hot breakfast with fruit, protein, and a bit of calcium.

Top with a dollop of plain vanilla yogurt for some extra calcium and protein. Try it and let me know what you think.

For more delicious recipes, visit my Pinterest board.  Enjoy!

Ariel Paz 

Korean Seaweed Soup with Mussels

Nothing is better than a hot pot of homemade soup on a cold winter day. Today I made Korean Seaweed Soup with mussels. Seaweed is packed with nutrition and is great for new mothers. It is quick and super easy to make, just be sure you buy fresh mussels and clean them well.

Step One: Assemble ingredients.

1 tbsp. Sesame oil
1 tbsp. Soy sauce (I use low-sodium)
1 pack of fresh mussels
1 package of dried seaweed
1 12 oz container organic low-sodium chicken broth
water
2 tsps. minced garlic

Step Two: Clean the mussels.
Here's how.
Video of how to clean mussels:

Step Three: Rinse and Soak the seaweed.
Break the dried seaweed into small pieces and put in a bowl to soak with cold water. The seaweed will expand a lot. Rinse and drain several times.


Step Four: Saute the garlic and the seaweed
Drain the seaweed. In a dutch pot, saute the minced garlic in a small amount of sesame oil and soy sauce. Add the drained seaweed and enough water to cover. Bring to low boil.

Step Five: Add chicken broth.
I use low-sodium, no msg organic chicken broth.
Continue to slow boil.

Step Six. Taste.
Taste the broth before adding the mussels. Add additional soy sauce if needed.

Step Seven: Add the mussels

Cover the pot. After 3 - 5 minutes, check the mussels. If any of them have not opened, discard them as they were not alive.

Serve with rice or by itself. Enjoy!

If you liked this recipe, visit my Pinterest board for more delicious recipes.
If you'd like to join our community, enter your email address in the box provided to receive my bi-weekly posts and a copy of my free eguide " 7 Steps to Finding Your Spiritual Path". .

Until next time, eat healthy and keep looking up!

Ariel Paz