If you've been following me on IG or know my personal  journey of nourishing and healing through the potency of the kitchen, or even if you've just now joined me, you may wonder...what exactly makes a slow simple kitchen ? 

With every bite I  prepare do it with intention and love. Whether I pray over the food, connect to God, use medicinal herbs, or connect to traditional ancestral cooking -  you know the practices of our ancestors, I try to set an intention each time I step into the kitchen. 

However, this intention doesn't happen on its own. It takes slowing down and prayer. Here are some ways I do it. 

1. Drink herbal tea. Whether it's turmeric golden milk or just a simple pot of herbal medicinal from my backyard, I try to take time each day to enjoy a warm cup of tea. When I take the time to be silent with Yahweh (God), the plants and the kitchen itself, I welcome in creativity through prayer. 

2. I Think of my great-great-grandma. Soak, sprout, and ferment your foods. Eat simple things from time to time, like porridge , bone broths, or kitchari. Traditional food preparations take some planning, but they make each meal incredibly nourishing and easy to digest.

3. Cooking time is healing time, and your intentions matter. Think of your cooking and nourishment like a prayer, and offering,  it's a practice. The energy you put in is very important, so give your troubles up to God . Practice patience with your cooking, and gratitude and glory to Father Abba above - with each bite.

4. Eat nutrient rich wild greens, local grass fed meats and quality traditional foods. Whether your wild harvesting stinging nettle or just picking some dandelion from the backyard, add some medicine to your meals. Wild greens are a bit spunkier than cultivated varieties, and are packed with vitamins and minerals. The nettles featured below are high in vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, and fiber. Local grass fed meats and dairy from small farms are not only higher in nutrition but also support local small farms - meeting your farmers or getting to know your local markets - creates a deeper reverence and gratitude for the work and love gone into the food.

5. Power up with adaptogens. Adaptogens (sometimes called tonics) are plants that help build up the body and bring it back to homeostasis. Those who use adaptogens over a few months time notice improved immune function, the capacity to deal with everyday stressors, and improvement to overall wellness. Add astragalus to bone broths, tulsi to salad dressings, shatavari to honey, or dream up your own herbal creation.

6. Love your fat(s). Love your body, and your fats. A healthy love of fats is necessary to nourish, promote healthy hormone function, support cognitive function, and overall wellness. I love whole milk, coconut oil, avocados, raw olive oil(never cook this), tallow, ghee and butter. If you can get grass-fed and organic butter, I would highly suggest it. If you're a woman looking for hormone/thyroid support - take a look at the types of fats your maybe consuming - do they contain these mentioned or are they high in hormone disrupting polyunsaturated fats.

7. Add some flower power. Some of the strongest medicines work subtly. Take the time to explore your garden, sprinkle edible flowers on each dish, and infuse their vibrant blooms into teas

8. Clean till you can eat off the floor. Okay, we aren't really going to eat off the floor, but you get the picture. Most of us don't feel creative when there is a mess, so try not to wait till later to clean. - Keep spaces simple - so that there is not much to clean or too much creative blocking clutter

9. Make sure everything has a home. You won't have to wonder what you have or where to put things if you give it a home. This takes the thinking out of prepping, cleaning, and putting away. This way you can live more in the flow of things.

10. Create a food prep day. Take a Sunday or a Wednesday to make broth ,a big soup, chop and prep, soak your grains, or gelatin snacks This way you have at least one day a week you're committed to preparing traditional foods.  ( I prep on Fridays for Shabbat) and again on Monday for the week)

11.  Reduce waste, or give it back. Use beet tops, chop kale stems, freeze veggie scraps to make broth, and compost what you can't find a purpose for.

12. Share your food. Invite your friends and family over to enjoy a meal with you every so often. (these days drop off - I have dropped off food a few times this year and have ate with friends via zoom not the same but time and food was shared) Wellness extends beyond the plate, and I  believe community promotes good health.