Winter's Welcome ~ A Seasonal Starter Kit

Bring it down, bring it in.  To ready one for winter, be the yin.  Focus on the introspective, the receptive, and inner you.  Rest, refine, and recharge.  And listen.   The sound of rain falling, the silent slush of snow, and the bubbling up of soup on a stove.  

Speaking of soup, winter's welcome, according traditional Chinese medicine, starts in the kitchen.  Think warm hearty soups, whole grains, roasted nuts, small dark beans, seaweeds, and steamed winter greens.  Slow cooking, roasting, and warming foods helps bring the body heat deeper and lower.   As for flavor, both salty and bitter foods are best for winter's warmth, as they provide a sinking, centering quality heightening the capacity for storage. 

In the coming posts we’ll focus on these foods and more, with recipes to help attune your body to winter and better live in harmony with the season.  Enjoy the posts, the recipes, and most importantly, winter itself.