Earl Grey Citrus Mocktail
This refreshing drink combines the distinct flavor of Earl Grey tea with the citrusy notes of orange and lemon, creating a perfect non-alcoholic beverage for any occasion.
Earl Grey Citrus Mocktail
Ingredients
Ingredients
Instructions
Instructions
- Place the Earl Grey tea bags in a heatproof container. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over the tea bags and let them steep for about 5 minutes. After steeping, remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool to room temperature.
- In a pitcher, combine the freshly squeezed orange and lemon juices. Add honey or simple syrup to sweeten the mix. Stir well until the honey or syrup is completely dissolved.
- Once the tea has cooled, add it to the citrus mixture in the pitcher. Stir well to combine.
- Fill glasses with ice cubes. Pour the tea and citrus mixture over the ice, filling each glass about two-thirds full.
- Top up each glass with sparkling water or club soda for a refreshing fizz.
- Add a slice of orange and lemon to each glass. If desired.
- Stir gently before serving. Enjoy your Earl Grey Citrus Mocktail!
- This mocktail is perfect for those who love the aromatic flavor of Earl Grey tea, complemented by the zesty freshness of citrus fruits. It's a sophisticated and enjoyable drink for any time of the day!
Notes
If you prefer your drink sweeter you can add 2 tbsp of maple syrup.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Lemon and Chickpea Soup
This soup is vibrant, with the tanginess of lemon and the earthiness of chickpeas and spices. It’s a comforting yet refreshing dish, perfect for any season!
Lemon and Chickpea Soup
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 medium Onion finely chopped
- Garlic minced: 3 cloves
- 2 medium Carrots sliced
- 2 Celery stalks diced
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Ground coriander
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 2 cups Chickpeas cooked or canned drained and rinsed
- 4 cups Vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 Lemons juice of
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or cilantro chopped for garnish
- Lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, garlic, carrots, and celery. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the ground cumin, coriander, and turmeric. Cook for another minute until the spices are fragrant.
- Add the chickpeas to the pot. Pour in the vegetable broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.
- For a creamier texture, take out about a cup of the soup and blend it until smooth, then return it to the pot. This step is optional.
- Stir in the fresh lemon juice—season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Ladle the soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro and a slice of lemon.
- Serve hot, ideally with a slice of crusty bread or a side salad for a complete meal.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Luxurious Wild Mushrooms and Creamy Polenta
This dish is a comforting earthy delight that brings out the deep flavors of wild mushrooms.
Ingredients
For the Mushrooms
- 1 lb wild mushrooms like chanterelles, porcini, morels, etc., cleaned and sliced
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter vegan: Sub with olive oil or high-quality vegan butter or margarine.
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup white wine optional
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley finely chopped (for garnish)
- Grated parmesan or pecorino cheese Optional for garnish. vegan: sub with a vegan parmesan alternative, found in health food stores, or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
For the Polenta
- 1 cup polenta or grits
- 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth you can also use water, but broth gives more flavor
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese vegan: sub with a vegan parmesan alternative, found in health food stores, or nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor.
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter vegan: sub with high-quality vegan butter or margarine
- Salt to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Creamy Polenta
- a. In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil.
- b. Gradually whisk in the polenta or grits. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and the polenta is tender. This will take about 20-25 minutes for polenta and about 5-10 minutes for grits.
- c. Stir in the butter, Parmesan cheese. Season with salt. If the mixture becomes too thick, you can add a bit more broth or water to reach your desired consistency. Keep warm.
Cook the Wild Mushrooms
- a. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter with olive oil. Once heated, add the sliced wild mushrooms.
- b. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms release their moisture and start to brown, about 8-10 minutes.
- c. Add the minced garlic and fresh thyme leaves. Continue to cook for another 2 minutes until the garlic is fragrant.
- d. If using wine, pour it into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom. Allow the wine to reduce by half.
- e. Season with salt and pepper.
Assemble and Serve
- a. Spoon the creamy polenta or grits onto plates or a serving dish.
- b. Top with the sautéed wild mushrooms.
- c. Garnish with fresh parsley and optionally, more grated cheese.
- Serve hot and enjoy the delicious harmony of earthy wild mushrooms and the creamy texture of the polenta or grits. This dish pairs wonderfully with a glass of white wine or a light red.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Energetic Cord Cutting: Releasing Emotional Ties
Energetic cord cutting is a practice designed to sever negative emotional ties and release unhealthy beliefs and behaviors. It’s a powerful tool for healing, self-improvement, and moving forward from past relationships or experiences. By focusing on our own energy, this practice creates space for personal growth and positive transformation.
What Is Cord Cutting?
Symbolically, bonds formed with others create invisible energetic cords linking us. While these cords can stem from any relationship—romantic, familial, or platonic—they can sometimes become burdens. Negative cords may drain our energy, hinder personal growth, and block inner peace.
Cord cutting involves grounding, visualization, symbolic severing, and cleansing your energy field. The focus is entirely on shifting our own energy, not altering anyone else’s. Success is often marked by feelings of relief, peace, and vitality.
When to Perform a Cord-Cutting Ritual
A cord-cutting ceremony can help us release emotional ties when:
-
A relationship has ended, and we’re struggling to move forward.
-
Someone in our life leaves us feeling emotionally drained.
-
Past experiences or events keep causing distress.
-
Resentment or bitterness is holding us back.
-
We find yourselves obsessing over another’s opinions or actions.
Signs of Unhealthy Energetic Cords
Unhealthy cords may manifest as:
-
Depleted energy or frequent exhaustion.
-
Feelings of being stuck, sad, or unmotivated.
-
Obsessive thoughts or frequent judgmental talk about someone.
-
Lowered immunity or recurring illness.
-
Addictive behaviors or unhealthy habits (e.g., overeating, over-exercising).
Steps for a Cord-Cutting Ritual
-
Ground Yourself
Begin with a breathing or relaxation exercise to center your energy and create a calm, focused state. -
Visualize the Cord
Imagine the energetic cord connecting you to a person or situation. Picture its location and strength, bringing awareness to its presence. -
Symbolically Sever the Cord
Visualize cutting the cord with a symbolic tool, such as scissors, as an act of deliberate release. If you feel like you are hurting the other person, tie a ribbon at the end of the cut cord and lightly blow the person and cord away with a kiss. -
Cleanse Your Energy Field
Use visualization to clear residual energy, replacing it with positive energy, love, and compassion. Imagine the space left behind being filled with light and warmth. -
Set an Intention
Seal the practice with an affirmation. For example:“I sever and release all energetic cords that no longer serve my highest good. I reclaim my energy, creating a boundary of love and light.”
-
Reinforce Energetic Boundaries
Visualize a protective layer of light surrounding you, acting as a shield to maintain your energy and peace.
Patience and Practice
Cord cutting is a progressive process. Emotional ties are complex and may require multiple sessions to fully release. Each ritual peels back layers of attachment, allowing transformation to unfold gradually.
Does Cord Cutting Affect Others?
Cord cutting is a deeply personal practice that focuses on reclaiming our own emotional balance and inner peace. It does not impact the other person’s energy or perceptions. Cutting the cord to an unwanted tie—such as the need for someone’s approval—does not mean severing the relationship itself. Instead, it allows us to release unhealthy attachments while maintaining the connection in a healthier way, if we choose.
The Power of Cord Cutting
By severing unhelpful emotional ties, we create space for empowerment, inner peace, and self-care. This ritual can heal past wounds and guide us toward a future of emotional well-being and growth.
A Blessing for Energetic Cord Cutting
You may choose to speak this affirmation:
“I now sever and release any and all energetic cords that do not serve my highest good. I release you and myself from these binds. My energy returns to me, filling me with vitality. I am surrounded by a peaceful boundary of love and light.”
Follow the blessing with quiet meditation, visualizing your reclaimed energy and strengthened boundaries. Carry this sense of renewal as you step confidently into the next chapter of your life.
References
Edwards, S. (2015). Love and the Brain. Harvard Medical School. https://hms.harvard.edu/news-events/publications-archive/brain/love-brain
Lang, M., Krátký, J., & Xygalatas, D. (2020). The role of ritual behaviour in anxiety reduction: an investigation of Marathi religious practices in Mauritius. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 375(1805), 20190431. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2019.0431
Solan, M. (2022, December 1). The real power of placebos. Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-real-power-of-placebos
Tropical Fruit Salad
This Tropical Fruit Salad is easier to achieve than you would think. I found pink pineapple and dragon fruit (pitaya) at my local Ralphs. I like to make something like this to mix up the fruit in my diet. If you haven’t tried dragon fruit, I highly recommend it. It is sweet and subtly earthy, with a texture reminiscent of kiwi. Its gentle taste provides a perfect counterpoint to the vibrant tanginess of the pink pineapple, which is sweeter and more aromatic than its yellow counterpart. The papaya, with its buttery texture, is like a soft embrace that melds the flavors together, offering a creaminess that balances out the zest and sweetness of the other fruits. This is an easy and delicious salad that will delight you, your family, and friends!
Get the Gift of Wellness Today
Click to Learn More
Hi, I’m Christine Crawford, CCHt—a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master in Therapeutic Imagery, Author, and Art Therapist. I empower individuals to overcome challenges, whether it’s managing stress, breaking bad habits, or pursuing life’s biggest dreams. I also provide specialized hypnotherapy and art therapy for cancer patients, fostering resilience and peace during difficult times.
My book, Nurturing Mind, Body, and Soul: Demystifying the Journey, is an award-winning bestseller, featuring over 20 recipes with beautiful pictures alongside tools for personal growth and mindfulness. It’s designed to nourish not just the mind and soul, but also the body. Whether it’s through one-on-one sessions, workshops, or the pages of my book, I’m here to help you embrace transformation and achieve your goals. Let’s connect and create the life you envision!
Real Yummies
- Light & Lovely Crustless Quiche with Turkey Bacon & Mozzarella
- Super Easy Lemon Ricotta Pasta
- Golden Garden Tomato Mini Tarts
- Nordic Crab and Smoked Salmon Bites
- Cranberry White Chocolate Bliss Bars (Starbucks Copycat)
- Apple Cider Donuts (Super Easy)
- Chicken Meatball Soup with Lemon and Spinach
- Summer’s Easiest Cherry Cream Tart
- Banana Cream Pie
- Herb-Roasted Salmon with Blistered Tomatoes