Research has found that gratitude can significantly increase your happiness, and protect you from stress, negativity, anxiety, and depression. Developing a regular gratitude practice is one of the easiest ways to counter the brain’s negativity bias – the tendency to cling to the negative things in our environment. By intentionally focusing on the good parts of our day, the positivity grows. In fact, it only takes 21 days of writing down three things you are grateful for every day to begin reaping the benefits. Moral of the story? Count your blessings daily, it has a measurably positive effect on your well-being.
As I write this, listen to the fall leaves rustle, and enjoy the last bit of Indian Summer temperatures, I am also looking forward to enjoying many seasonal fall joys. (This takes practice, as you have to pull me kicking and screaming out of summer). When summer is over and the sweaters come out, and flip flops get replaced with fall leather boots, I have to remind myself of all the things that I enjoy about the season.
For example, making homemade soups, going for bike rides, the crunch of leaves and of course their colorful displays, pumpkins and apples, getting my paints out again, looking for comfort food recipes, crock pot cooking, invitations to dinner parties and holiday parties, gathering around the fireplace or pit, dressing up for Halloween and hot chocolate. My favorite thing to look forward to is of course Butternut Squash soup;
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, chopped
2 medium potatoes, cubed (I use sweet potatoes)
1 medium butternut squash – peeled, seeded, and cubed
1 (32 fluid ounce) container chicken stock or vegetable if you prefer
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Melt the butter in a large pot, and cook the onion, celery, carrot, potatoes, and squash 5 minutes, or until lightly browned. Pour in enough of the chicken stock to cover vegetables. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 40 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender.Transfer the soup to a blender, and blend until smooth. Return to pot, and mix in any remaining stock to attain desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Savor and enjoy.
Savor the season with these fall recipes.
