CONFERENCE CRISPS

...don't you know yet?...it's your light that lights the worlds...RUMI

are you ready to make these super simple 'Pear Crisps'

to make the portion in the first photo you will need 2 x Conference Pears

cut the pears to the thickness you can see above

so pretty on the inside, looks a sand dollar 

place the pear rounds on a lined baking sheet, you will need 2 sheets, as 1 pears fills a sheet as above photo shows

place a tablespoon of soft brown sugar on a small dish and to that add a teaspoon of cinnamon (you could use ground ginger instead, if more to your liking) and mix well...then lightly dust the pear rounds with the cinnamon sugar and place in a preheated oven @ gas 110 for approx 2 & half hours...depending on your pear round thickness, it may take 3hrs, you will see by looking

 a slow bake in the oven but well worth it

when done, they will look like above, take from oven and leave to cool, give another light dusting of the sugar mixture...they are super yummy and are crispy and chewy at the same time

a few facts: the Conference Pear won first prize at the National Pear Conference in 1885 and where its name comes from and its a British Pear

pears are high in fibre, rich in antioxidants & flavonoids, great for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cholesterol and digestion and are low GI

2 stalks and a small round

love you like XO (one of my fave Beyonce songs) 😂 

enjoy!

till next time

MelXO

UNEXPECTED REWARDS

The salty air carried away her thoughts, and she was free......MHXO

Morning Mindfulness

I don't know about you but the mornings for me are like a little slice of heaven

finding silence in a world full for noise is really important for me, as I have found over the last few years with MS I cannot seem to take all the hustle and bustle, crowds of people, and the swathes of noise that comes with it...I find it enclosing and ultimately it makes me anxious 

Looking after our health and wellbeing is a vital component in living with MS symptoms and self care supports our ability to feel calm, to protect from potential stress, anxiety and the general chaos of life

getting outside, the change of air, the stillness, the quietness, they start to work their magic...for me as soon as the sun is coming up, and always with my camera in hand as

there are always unexpected surprises as your senses come into play...the scent of seaweed carried on a whisper of a breeze and the feathered choristers filling the silence with song

be present with how you are feeling inside...don't neglect the signs, you know what they are and you cannot run on empty

Morning mindfulness leaves me feeling positive and resilient with renewed inner strength and with courage to face whatever comes along with the day

sometimes life has a better plan for us and we need to adapt and take that path less trodden...to have faith and step into the unknown...create space and invest in you...the beauty of each day is that we get to press the reset button...to re-align time and do what feels good

Step 4 on the Overcoming MS Program is Meditation and Mindfulness

find what works for you and put it into practice each day

it's about making life better, seeing the beauty of each day and changing our attitude

life with MS can be something quite magical

MelXO

MINDFULNESS

...be tolerant with others and strict with yourself...
~Marcus Aurelius~

meditation means different things to each of us

there are many ways in which to meditate and we all have a method/technique personal to each of us...whether it's five minutes or longer, the aim is about clearing the mind and becoming emotionally calm, reducing stress, anxiety, depression and pain

to be present, fully present in the NOW

for me, my 'picture walks' are my meditation and I like to do these (when schedule allows) early in the morning, ideally upon rising, when the birds are in full swing, the dawn chorus filling the air and the sun, making its way from the horizon to the sky

to find that sense of balance, you need to pause, to not let time pass unseen, to focus on the present, to be present in the NOW

tasting the salt on the breeze, the morning sun kissing all it touches and feeling its warmth on my skin, knowing I'm getting my vitamin D allowance without overheating in the hot sun later in the day

lichen formation in the shape of heart

these picture walks are very healing, being at one with my senses, they make me feel alive again and ready to take on whatever may come...

at the end of my walk I sit and breathe, really feeling the rise and fall of my chest, just resting in the stillness of the morning...breathe, it has the power of peace

till next time

MelXO

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PROCESS, NOT THE FINISHED PIECE

LISTEN TO SILENCE  - IT HAS SO MUCH TO SAY

~ RUMI ~

taking time out for ourselves these days can sometimes feel like a guilty pleasure, especially when we seem to have so much to do...

that said, it is important, especially as our lives seem to run on over-drive to take time for us, me time, whatever that may be, to be present in the moment, not thinking of the past or the future but the here and right now

step 4 on the overcoming ms program is Meditation & Mindfulness

relax, breathe deeply and focus

it's all about the journey, not the finished piece 😊

I love doodling and adding in zentangles

they are great for eye-hand coordination and are particularly effective for re-building motor skills

drawing these mosaic like tiles within your design draws out the stress within, with the calming intricate strokes

practicing mindfulness is a key component to our health and wellbeing and especially living with the unpredictability of MS...for me creating is one of my favourites ways in which to get this meditative practice into my day

the finished piece framed and ready for shipping off to newborn baby Hattie

colouring and doodling is not just for kids, why should they have all they fun, that's my excuse  anyway 

see how you get on, its ultimately relaxing

MelXO

MUESLI BISCUIT BITES

WHEN YOU DO THINGS FROM YOUR SOUL - YOU FEEL A RIVER OF JOY WITHIN YOU

~ RUMI ~

These muesli biscuit bites are quick and simple to make and they don't have to be round you can make them bar shaped....

the great thing about these biscuits is that they are OMS friendly 

the recipe makes approximately 12 biscuits of the size below...you can make more by making them smaller (you may need to adjust the cooking time if you did, just keep checking the oven)

I always like to line my baking sheet, it makes life so much easier

once they are out of the oven leave to cool, approx 10 - 15 minutes 

I then drizzle melted chocolate over them...the chocolate needs to be pure 100% dark, this makes it OMS friendly and this quality is rich in Polyphenols which has many health benefits, including brain function, reduced blood pressure, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke...they also contain a powerhouse of nutrients for overall optimum health...

these biscuits are very filling and make a perfect on the run breakfast if you are short of time in a morning or for that mid-morning slump at work 

I always make a batch of these when I know my daughter is doing the night shift in A&E, due to the busy and unpredictable nature of the role, eating can be a quick 5 minutes when there is chance, so i wrap these up for a her

DRY INGREDIENTS:

4oz organic white spelt flour

6oz organic porridge oats

4oz organic pumpkins seeds (roughly chopped)

4oz organic sunflower seeds

2 tbsp organic chia seeds

3 tbsp organic raw cacao nibs
1 tbsp organic milled flaxseeds

half tsp all spice

half tsp ginger

half tsp nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon

half tsp sea salt

1 tsp baking powder

WET INGREDIENTS:

1 red apple (coarsely grated)

1 banana (mashed until smooth)

6oz organic pure maple syrup

3 tbsp of pure 100% sesame paste (tahini)

2 tsp vanilla extract

METHOD:

mix all the dry ingredients together thoroughly

mix all the wet ingredients together thoroughly

then pour the wet into the dry and mix to a sticky consistency

use a large spoon to form your biscuit shapes on a lined baking sheet (I use 2 baking sheets with 6 on each)

the mixture makes 12 palm sized biscuits 

Place in a pre-heated oven at 180 gas for approx 20mins (I set the timer for 15 mins and check then and keep checking every minute as the edge can catch easily)

so good for you they should be on prescription!

enjoy

MelXO

STUFFED PEPPERS

...if you want to cook - cook...

...plant based nutrition at its best...

simple and basic and super quick, 25 minutes from start to table

cooked without any oil, so perfect for those of us with Multiple Sclerosis and following the overcoming MS recovery program 

wash and cut peppers in half, lengthways, removing the seeds

takecare to keep the stalk intact as it adds aesthetically to the finish

pop the peppers into a preheated oven gas 180 for 25 mins (the length of time it takes for the brown rice to cook) and pop the rinsed and drained brown rice onto cook (usually 25mins)

...the stuffing ingredients...

6 x chestnut mushrooms thinly sliced

4 x large tomatoes chopped

1 baby gem lettuce

sauteed in approx 1 desert spoon of balsamic vinegar (mushrooms hold a lot of water which they release when heated)

once cooked add the brown rice to the other ingredients, mix well and add a good bunch of chopped parsley, salt, pepper and sprinkle of chilli flakes

remove peppers from oven and stuff with mixture

...serve and enjoy with some rustic sourdough bread...

MelXO

MANDALA THERAPY

you can’t use up creativity

the more you use

the more you have

...Maya Angelou...     

The Mandala - restores a sense of calm...      

...mandalas represent the universe in Hindu and Buddhist symbolism, where beautiful and intricate designs are used in meditation...

...when ever I am at the beach, especially with my Granddaughter, we go foraging and look for flat stones and shells on which we can create our designs...

...it’s incredibly therapeutic and relaxing...

...it takes very little time to become hooked... 

...have a wonderful day...

MELXO