Divine Appointments and Three "Divine" Recipes

My body has arrived home, but the adventure in my heart continues...
My journey to Europe for 4 weeks was, to the say the very least, heart opening and soul filling (my satiated taste buds held no complaints either.)

Now that the dust has settled and the grounding effects of home catch up to me, I feel a tremendous pull of memories. It seems as though I can remember every taste, every detail, and the very essence of each person we met along the way.

Have you ever experienced those moments where your control of events are suddenly relinquished, and a so called "divine appointment" shows up in the place of your desired event? For instance, you plan to go to the beach on vacation; but suddenly the rain is pouring down... and you arrive at a coffee shop only to meet an individual that changes your life. This trip was a divine appointment.

I mentioned in my last blog that I went to Spain to connect with my Father, with whom I have been distant to for awhile. The divine appointment was sitting with him for 2 hours as he shared stories and held my hand with sincere love. It's incredible to observe the way that 2 hours can change 31 years. A simple shift in perspective, an open heart, and a strong will to be in the present was all it took to receive and give love fully. A single moment of healing that flows through my veins even now.


"If they can live with it, I can live without it."
My Grandfather used to say this when he felt someone had "wronged" him. Whether it was somebody who stole from him, someone who lied, or even a dear friend who had betrayed him. It was this saying that allowed him to easily release it and find the peace within it.
"If they can live with their choice, than I can live WITHOUT the pain."
I was reminded of this saying on this trip, and it has brought with it incredible peace. In one single moment, POOF: A healing treat.
When we traveled through each country--Spain, Italy, and Greece--I kept this reminder with me, and my life felt perfectly light.
I felt a divine appointment with this saying. I wasn't necessarily looking for it; but it found me when my ears and heart could hear--and use it--fully!


I had numerous divine appointments with food! Anyone that knows me, knows that I savor the abundance and pleasure from eating and talking about food! Food is life! We cannot live without it (nor would I want to!) Desire for our food is analogous to our desire for life. The hunger sensation that comes from the stomach is the same sensation we feel in our center, when we are desiring growth and movement in our lives. We satiate the pleasure centers in our body when we satiate our taste buds, and we go even further by nourishing our cells when we eat food that is both incredibly tasty AND healthy. It's not enough to simply fill our stomaches; we must also fill our hearts with the pleasure that only delicious and nourishing food can deliver. Then, we can call it a healthy meal.
One of the easiest way of making a meal healthier is by eating it with people you love! Greatest medicine around: Vitamin L (love)!

In each of the 3 countries we visited, I observed the cuisine of the locals. I also observed the love that was used in making certain dishes. I had certain love affairs with the regional meals and distinct flavors along the journey. However, there were three recipes that I brought back in my heart's memory. They embody both taste AND nutrients; and they are simply divine!

SPAIN: Boquerones--small fried fish (usually fresh Sardines or Anchovies)
ITALY: Zuppa di Ceci (Chickpea and Rosemary soup)
GREECE: Horta (Mountain Greens with Garlic)

Boquerones:
(I usually use Sardines because I find they work better in the States. If you can find fresh Sardines, that's even better.)

Ingredients:
1 can of Sardines (in water)--I use Crown Prince
4-5 T. olive oil
1/4 cup of Cornstarch (non GMO)
Sea Salt
Pepper
1 lemon

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a Skillet on medium-high heat. Dry the sardines off with a paper towel so the skin is dry to touch. Pour cornstarch on a small plate and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Coat the Sardines with cornstarch.
Once the oil is heated (test it by flicking water in the oil... it should bubble up when hot). Add the sardines carefully one at a time to the hot oil in the skillet.
Pan fry on both sides until crispy brown on the outside (it doesn't take long.)
Remove from pan and lay on a plate that is coated with paper towels (to soak up the excess oil). Immediately season the hot sardines with sea salt and pepper, and top with the squeeze of half a lemon. Enjoy hot!



Zuppa Di Ceci (Chickpea and Rosemary soup)

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups finely chopped onion
8 garlic cloves, minced
4 cups water
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 (15 1/2-ounce) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
1 to 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
6 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces) grated fresh Parmesan cheese (raw is best)

Preparation
Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, and cook for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water and the next 5 ingredients, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.

Place 2 cups soup in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Pour the pureed soup into a bowl. Repeat procedure with 2 cups soup. Return all pureed soup to pan. Stir in the vinegar, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Spoon 1 1/2 cups soup into each of 6 bowls; sprinkle each serving with 1 tablespoon cheese... and drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil or rosemary infused Olive Oil.


Horta: (Mountain Greens with Garlic)
*In Greece they use Wild Mountain Greens for this recipe but I can't find the same greens here, so I use the ones listed below.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds of chopped dark leafy greens (I use collards, dandelion, kale, nettles, or wild spinach)--with the thick stems cut away.
Water
1-2 lemons
Olive Oil
2 cloves of garlic
sea salt

Directions:
Fill a medium sized sauce pan with 2 inches of salted water. Bring water to a boil, and immediately add the chopped greens. Put the lid on the pan and allow to simmer on a low-medium heat for 5-7 minutes (or when you see the greens wilted and bright green.) Drain off the water (I keep it to drink later). Squeeze the excess water from the greens so that they are dry. Allow to cool on the serving plate.
Meanwhile, finely chop the garlic. Add to a mortar and pestle (if you don't have one then just add to a bowl), and grind the garlic with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt, until the garlic is smooth. Drizzle the garlic and oil mixture over the greens and finish by squeezing the juice of 1/2 lemon over the greens. Toss all together. Usually you allow the greens to sit in the fridge for an hour to get chilled and pick up all the flavors. However, you can eat them as soon as it's put together.
Enjoy! They eats these greens daily in Greece and profit from great health!


I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do! I also hope that there are many divine appointments throughout your day as a special reminder of the internal guidance that is alive in all of us. Perhaps, this is why we are led to the people and places that we need the most!

A world of love sent your way~