Nourish: Rhythms for Soul-Care
One of my favorite soul-care rhythms is visiting our local salt room with a cup of hot tea and either an inspiring podcast or playlist of worship music. It’s my go-to way to relax & build immunity during cold and flu season or after a particularly stressful week. The first time I heard of a halotherapy, I was pretty skeptical. Then a persistent sinus infection and stressful week won out.
My mamma graciously treated me to my first salt session and I was hooked. The combination of a beautiful environment, zero gravity chair, essential oils, and salt-therapy refreshed my body and spirit. My local space for salt (and sauna) is Breathe. You can check out their website to find out more about halotherapy and the science behind it!
Grow: Encouragement for your Heart
Have you heard of Eden & Vine Magazine? I’ve been following Terrica for the past several years and am so encouraged by her passionate heart for the Lord, faith, simplicity, and love of all things vintage!
A few years ago she launched a new project, Eden & Vine magazine, and as their vision shares it’s “One part magazine, one part coffee table book, equal parts beauty and truth. Garden themed and faith based, it’s full to the brim of inspiration and hope, …”
Their Fall/Winter 2020 magazine just arrived in my mailbox and I’m currently soaking up the articles. This isn’t simply a magazine to flip through, rather one to savor with a cup of tea in hand 😉
Bloom: Beauty in the Everyday
September is the season of abundance in the garden. I’m currently up to my eyeballs in tomatoes. Speckled romas, heirloom, cherry tomatoes, slicing, and san marzano. A basket full of tomatoes mean one thing…time to put up some jars of sauce. It’s hard work, especially after a long day in the garden, but always worth it. When I crack open a jar of fresh tomato basil sauce on a cold day in February, I’m instantly transported back to the garden. If you have an abundance of tomatoes or are looking for a simple hearty sauce, I’m sharing my go-to below.
Em’s Simple Homemade Tomato Sauce
tomatoes, stems chopped off
salt
fresh herbs (basil, parsley, thyme, garlic…)
lemon juice
- Gather as many tomatoes as can fit in your largest stainless steel pot. scrub your tomatoes & chop off the stems.
- Put your tomatoes in the pot, skin & seeds included (we are breaking all the rules, folks!)
- Put the stove on low, place the lid over your pot of tomatoes & allow your tomatoes to simmer for 8-12 hrs. (you can also do this step overnight in the crock-pot)
- Wake up in the morning, check the tomatoes, stir a bit & crack the lid on the pot. this will allow moisture to escape.
- Allow the tomatoes to cook until most of the moisture is gone – about 24 hours – & the tomatoes are a mushy consistency. Using your immersion blender or food processor, process your tomatoes to your desired consistency. Once a tomato sauce-like consistency is reached, add salt & dried herbs to taste.
- Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to your pint size jars & 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to your quart size jars. The amount of jars you need is based on how many tomatoes you process.
- Fill your jars with tomato sauce & process in the water bath canner. (35 minutes for pint & 40 for quart jars). Visit Ball for canning 101 tips…
- Label & store until winter.
