This is probably my favorite time of year, you know, that part which starts the week of Thanksgiving and ends midnight December 31st.  I've always enjoyed all the activities and events which surrounds each holiday.  Sadly, with the global pandemic still very much alive, many families won't be able to connect as before.  We are always reminded of the precautions we should take when being in contact with love ones, especially high-risk individuals, the immune compromised and seniors.    Although many of us have decided to shelter in place and will plan holiday dinners for our immediate families, we still want to experience a sense of togetherness with our extended family members during this time.

While I'm not a big fan of technology (as I sit here "clicking" and "clacking" away on my keyboard - lol), I am reminded of its blessing.  This age of technology has provided us a simply way to connect with family and friends using various video chat platforms.  For that, I am grateful.  

Although you may not be planning to prepare a big feast as in prior years, you can still create fun dishes which your family will enjoy.   Also, this is a great time to consider creating and delivering contactless meals for family and friends to enjoy.  For instance, this year, I am making several vegan sweet potato pies.  I'll be boxing them up and leaving them at the door of my brother and friends' homes.   

This year, I decided to make a rich, creamy and slightly sweet dish for my Thanksgiving Eve virtual wine and cheese party.  I've always enjoyed making fresh cranberry sauce for my holiday table, so I thought I'd add a twist to this recipe and make it something which would pair well with my Cashew Cheese recipe.    The cranberry compote recipe requires a few ingredients which can be found at just about any conventional grocer. 

Before we dive into the recipe, let's chat about cranberries and its health benefits.

Benefits of Cranberries:

• High in fiber and can help you lose weight.  One cup of whole cranberries contains 16 percent of the recommended daily amount of fiber 
• Cranberries help promote a healthy digestive system.  The fiber it contains is a type of prebiotic, a nutrient that feeds your gut bacteria and helps them thrive. A 2018 review in Current Developments in Nutrition found that prebiotic fiber has significant positive effects on digestive health.
• Cranberries may help control your blood sugar. Cranberries on their own are one of the lowest-sugar fruits, with only four grams per cup of whole berries. Combine that with the high fiber count, and you have a fruit that won't cause a sugar high. (Cranberry juice and dried cranberries, however, are almost always sweetened, so beware.)  On top of that, cranberries might actually help control your blood sugar.
• Cranberries might help ward off colds. When you want an alternative to  of oranges or other mucus-eleviating citrus fruits during cold season, reach for some cranberries—one cup has about 19 percent of your daily recommended intake of vitamin C. 
• Cranberries are packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants. Cranberries contain polyphenolics and isoprenoids, both of which may contribute to cancer prevention. Preliminary research has shown that cranberry consumption in relation to breast cancer, colon cancer, and ovarian cancer may be beneficial.
• Cranberries can help lower your cholesterol. Cranberries are rich in anthocyanins (an antioxidant), which give cranberries their color and have protective cardiovascular effects [including] lowering cholesterol
• Cranberries fight gum disease. The health benefits of cranberries even extend to your mouth, since the fruit can help prevent gum disease. This is because certain compounds in cranberries prevent bacteria from sticking to surfaces, like teeth and gums, thus reducing chance of infection. But, consuming cranberry juice with added sugar will basically negate these benefits.
• The bottom line: Cranberries have plenty of health benefits—most of which you can get by eating them in their whole, unsweetened form, no vodka required. :)

Supporting Resource: Women's Health Magazine, Christine Bryne, July 12, 2018

Now...on to the recipe.

For many of the dishes I create, which are on the sweeter side, I try to find a way to incorporate fresh herbs and spices.  In this case, I used fresh thyme sprigs to add a slight contrast to the tartness of the berries and add subtle grass notes which pairs well the wine we'll  be using.  Side note: be sure to wrap thyme in cheese close and add during the cooking process.  You want to infuse the flavor of thyme without making the leaves and sprigs part of the finished product.

 While I wanted to use blood oranges for this, I found they are not no easy to find and in many cases, not as sweet, if you do find them.  So, I opted for navel oranges which add a bit brightness to the recipes and balances the flavors. Think: Madras Cocktail.  For this recipe we'll only require 1 juices orange and grated orange peel.

Rather than creating this recipe with water, I wanted a full-bodied red wine for depth and flavor.  In this case, I used a Cabernet Sauvignon, which has flavor notes of mint and jam.  As a alternative, you may always use a port dessert which will not greatly affect the final dish, but will add more sweetness to the compote, if that's what you want to achieve.

.Next on the ingredient list is Cointreau.  Other than bartenders, I find many people are still asleep on this beautiful citrus-flavored triple sec liqueur.  Just adding a splash of liqueur to certain dishes add a subtle citrus note which balances the flavor of tart, sweet, and herbaceous desserts and compotes

Now here's where you can customize this recipe by choosing sweeteners best for you.  If you are maintaining a low-sugar, you might want to consider using Stevia for this recipe.  While there's not easy way to measure Stevia for recipes, my suggestion is the add it to the recipe a pinch at a time.  To little and the tartness from the berries will overpower the recipe, too much could pretty much ruin it.  

As alternative and my personal recommendation is to use Monkfruit Sweetner, which contains zero calories, zero glycemic, gluten-free, and in my humble opinion, responds to many recipes the same as conventional crystalized sugar.  Feel free to use your favorite granulated sugar.  

Since this recipe includes a Cashew White Cheese recipe, it's important to prepare this recipe first.  Recipe Link Below. Once the cheese has been prepared, transfer to a clear wrapping sheet and form into a log or rectangle.  Due to the soft, velvety texture of the cheese, you will need to place the log into the freezer for 45 minutes, then transfer to refrigerator for extended chilling. and better slicing.  

Now this beautiful dish is ready for assembly.  Simply place the entire log of rectangle-shaped cheese onto a service platter.  Spoon the cranberry compote on top of the cheese and garnish with leftover thyme or rosemary sprigs.

Now you're ready to serve!  Use a cheese knife to place a dollop of this creamy, salt and sweet goodness on top of whole grain crackers, toast points, or gluten-free croissants.  Enjoy!  

Follow this recipe to prepare the Basic Cashew Boursin Cheese

​Let’s face it: Finding peace and relaxation in the chaos of life is really challenging- specifically when you are trying to achieve a work-family balance.
They tell you to “just relax” and you think to yourself, “That’s easy for you to say!”
However, when relaxation is your end goal, breathing becomes your best ally.
You may wonder why?
When you take deep, more controlled breaths, it lowers cortisol levels in your body. Cortisol plays a huge role to help your mind and body deal with stress.
When we talk about breathing, meditation is the best exercise to practice controlled breathing to relax, relieve stress, and fall asleep faster.
Understanding Meditation
Meditation is a simple yet effective technique for relaxing your mind and body and attaining a state of focused consciousness. It is a science that follows a particular order and some definite principles to give verified results.
When you meditate, you are fully focused and alert, but inwardly. Your mind is clear, silent, and relaxed. Mind that becomes “no mind” deepens meditation and gives you a sense of freedom, relaxation, and calm.
Meditation and Stress Management
Along with its other health benefits, meditation is a highly effective way to relieve stress and maintain a happier, healthier lifestyle.
Let me ask you a question, how does stress and anxiety result?
They happen when you feel you can’t handle the pressures and tough situations of everyday life- leaving almost no space in your mind to figure out how to sort it out.
Meditation gives your mind a space to sort out how to manage the pressure. It guides you about which tasks are actually valid, worth your energy, emotions, and attention, and which are not so important. You get the clarity you need to organize things and prioritize tasks. This way, your experience of stress and anxiety becomes much different.
Meditation offers many benefits in a stressful situation, including:

• Building skills to manage stress
• Gaining a new perspective on stressful situations
• Improving attention and focus
• Increasing self-awareness
• Promoting relaxation and restful sleep
• Reducing negative emotions
• Enhancing feelings of well-being
• Increase patience and tolerance
• Connecting you to your true self
• Reducing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression

 
5 Best Meditation Exercises to Relax
All these exercises only demand a few minutes, as little as 10 minutes, of your daily life to give you the space to relax your mind and body.
The list includes:

1. Guided Meditation

With the guided meditation, you are guided by a narrator to relax your mind and body and reach a deep meditative space before you try to reach your goal.
The guide will tell you to relax specific muscles until you feel they are comfortable. Then, you visualize the images of places or situations you find relaxing to relieve stress and attain a sense of freedom.

1. Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation urges you to be mindful- remain aware and present in the moment. You focus on the flow of your emotions, inner thoughts, and body sensations while acknowledging them without judgment.
The practice teaches you to slow down your racing thoughts and let go of things to calm your mind and body.

1. Body Scan Meditation

It often happens that you are under stress and you don’t realize- but the physical discomforts such as headache, back pain, and tense muscles are connected to your emotional state.
Body scan meditation or progressive meditation is a good way to release such tension as it involves paying attention to your body parts and sensations in a gradual sequence- from feet to head. You are aware of every part of your body- noticing aches, tensions, and pains.
Guided Relaxation Body Scan Meditation Here

1. Transcendental Meditation

A simple, natural technique to allow your body to settle into a state of rest and relaxation and achieve inner peace without needing to use focus or attention.
In this meditation type, you repeat an assigned mantra- a word, phrase, or sound, in a certain way to relieve stress and get calm.

1. Yoga

You perform a blend of various postures and controlled breathing exercises to relieve muscle tension, achieve a more flexible body, and rest the mind.
You are more focused on the moment that helps reduce stress and anxiety, increases your energy levels, and improves overall mental health.
 
In the end, I’ll suggest practicing each type and find out what works best for you. Remember, what matters is meditation helps you relax, relieve stress, and feel better overall.