When themes recur in conversations and daily life, I find that it is the universe’s way of telling one to listen. Shouting for you to hush up and tune in.
A teacher of mine recently said “Have Compassion for yourself and Joy for others”. When I registered these words, I knew it wasn’t just a fluke that someone mentioned this same idea to me the previous night. And so I pondered this thought, for it is actually quite profound. Oh, we can be so hard on ourselves…making it impossible to joyfully engage with others. I certainly find that when I neglect my heart, my light within dims, making me blind to the radiance in others. But when we let go of self criticism and allow our wild quirky selves to make someone roar with laughter, we are able to recapture our natural bliss.
Lately I have found that creating healing meals is the most loving thing I can do for myself, and sharing them with others is such a joyful experience.
How do you have compassion for yourself and joy for others? Do you cook? Skip that aerobics class and sit quietly with yourself? Turn off that blaring car stereo and actually listen to your thoughts? Or curl up with a warm cup of tea and a wedge of Apple Coffee Cake? I surely did yesterday….and then I spread some love with my happiness.
Apple Coffee Cake adapted from Emeril Lagasse
Ingredients
Cake
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 & 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 & 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups peeled, cored and chopped apples
Crumble Topping
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Dash of salt
4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter
Directions
Grease and flour a 9 inch cake pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
For your cake, combine your flours and spices together in a bowl. In a separate bowl beat your sugar and butter together until fluffy. Slowly add your eggs. Scrape the bowl down and mix again. Now slowly mix in your dry ingredients, alternating with your vanilla and sour cream. Mix in your apples. Scrape this mixture into your cake pan.
For the crumble, mix your dry ingredients together. Add your butter and mix until combined.
Now evenly distribute the crumble topping over your cake batter, gently pressing it into place. Bake for about 40-50 minutes, or until done. Give yourself a little love. Enjoy a little slice and revel in your newest creation.
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