Hi! Hi!
This week, I received an email from a newsletter-friend asking if I was doing ok. She was asking because she hadn’t seen a newsletter from me (true, I missed January), and I rarely post on social anymore (also true).
I felt really grateful that someone wanted to check-in. And the answer to her question is I’m doing ok!
I’ve been dealing with some personal things that I don’t really need to go into because it feels like most of us are dealing with some personal things. And I deal my “things” best going offline and doing puzzles, making art, having lots of phone calls with old and new friends (more about a new one below), edibles + Hulu, crying, (happy and sad tears), and just being ok with feeling weird. And with all the personal struggles happening, there has also come some really exciting new work things and awesomeness. It’s been a mixed bag of lots of life.
And this past week, we celebrated Lunar New Year as a family with two of my son’s friends (hoping to have a big party next year if covid allows). A lot of Lunar Year traditions were new to me, so I read a lot about the importance of this day and the symbolism around it. One of my favorite things I came across was this from my friend Michael:
“This is the year of the Tiger. Tigers are quick to act and can be fierce. With this year’s water element, look for the Tiger to influence emotions — stirring the pot to liberate and challenge us.
Embrace the opportunity to roar, to release old trauma, but remember to move catlike, lightly and quietly, in your pursuits.”
There was something about this that was so comforting. That my quietness is ok and my mind’s pot stirring might just liberate me after all. If you’re feeling weird, I hope his words bring you some comfort, too.
Here’s to more roaring and also lightly pursuing whatever you want/need/feels good.
Go get the goodies below!
Love you,
Jessica
Miso Ramen from The Vegan Family Cookbook
I asked a fellow cookbook author/friend if there were any new cookbooks she’s been loving (I’m always on the hunt for our monthly recipe here!), and she mentioned The Vegan Family Cookbook by Anna Pippus. I checked it out, and it’s soooo good! All of the recipes are super-duper simple, as in the ingredient lists are super short and don’t call for a bunch of hard-to-find/pricey ingredients (aka I already have most of them already!). Making it easy to pull together quick dinners – without a run to the store.
I reached out to Anna to see if I could include a recipe here, and she was kind enough to send over six! It was such a hard decision to choose one…but went with this Miso Ramen to honor my son (his meal wish for Lunar New Year was Miso Ramen Soup and doughnuts). Other recipes Anna sent included Stir Fry Peanut Noodles, Banana Chip Muffins, and Five-Minute Paprika Spiked Chickpeas and Greens and I will be making them all.
I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK!
Check it out here.
Miso Ramen
serves 4
4 servings ramen noodles, about 10 oz (300 g) dried
2 Tbsp (30 mL) sesame oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1½ Tbsp (22 mL) minced ginger
2 green onions, chopped, white and light-green parts separated from dark-green parts
4 oz (110 g) shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and thinly sliced (2 heaping cups/550 mL)
Pinch of salt
2 Tbsp (30 mL) soy sauce
8 cups (2 L) water
1 (12 oz/350 g) block medium-firm tofu, cut into ¾-inch (2 cm) cubes
6 Tbsp (90 mL) miso
1. Boil a large pot of water and cook the noodles according to the package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Meanwhile, heat a large pot over medium-low heat. Add the sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and the white and light-green parts of the onion. Allow the garlic and ginger to slowly brown for a couple of minutes—they should sizzle but not smoke. The onion will soften.
3. Stir in the mushrooms along with the salt. The mushrooms should start to sweat in a couple of minutes.
4. Add the soy sauce and allow it to soak into the mushrooms for a few seconds, then add the water and tofu. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer for 5 minutes, partially covered, to incorporate the flavours.
5. Turn off the heat. Ladle about 1 cup (250 mL) of the broth into a bowl. Add the miso and whisk to dissolve it. Pour the mixture into the pot and stir to combine.
6. Divide the cooked noodles among four bowls. Ladle the soup over the noodles and garnish with the dark-green onion.
7. Refrigerate noodle and broth leftovers separately in airtight containers for 2 to 3 days.
Things That Freaked My Week
A bunch of things I am currently loving…
• Others Unlimited founded by Karen Faith • This is my new friend! She is a true angel helping me better understand some new work I’m excited about (specifically, ethnography). Karen’s method of research to better understand how people think, live, and connect is fascinating, and I’m learning so much from her! On our last chat, she shared that she is hosting a free virtual event with Design Museum of Chicago called Design, Empathy, Strategy & Connection: A How-To Workshop. I really think you’ll be fascinated by her process, too. Sign up!
• B The Method by Lia Bartha • I love these workouts!! I discovered Lia via the Cap Beauty newsletter (my favorite letter for new discoveries). Lia’s workouts are super gentle and always feel pretty doable (especially during rough period weeks/pelvic pain). She designed her workouts to help you achieve the calm of meditating and the low-impact, full-body benefits of Pilates…and they do. Plus her voice is great (no GD vocal fry), and she doesn’t play music – which might not matter to you, but not having to mute my workout is incredibly helpful.
You’ll need a little pilates ball to do her workouts. Lia sells them, but I bought a cheapie one on Amazon to start them asap. And now that I know I like her workouts, will be buying one of hers. So grateful for these workouts and Lia. Check her out!
• Angela Tucker + The Adoption Files Initiative • Former podcast guest/friend, Angela Tucker amazes me yet again. She recently shared this piece about the Adoption Files Initiative she started with an adoption agency in Seattle.
Today most adoptions are “open,” and we have DNA testing which allows adoptees access to information they didn’t have before, but this hasn’t always been the case. The program is reviewing thousands of sealed adoption records to help adoptees and families get answers to questions they’ve had for decades.
One of my favorite parts of the piece:
In 2019, staff finally delivered the ring a birth mother had asked the agency to pass on when her adopted daughter turned 16.
That daughter is now 68.
“So subtle and yet so vital,” she told a local television station, pressing the ring she wore as a necklace against her chest. “I suppose it’s kind of like being born again.”
You can read the full piece here. And see all of Angela’s work here.
• Bright Sands Studio • My sister Alissa starting tufting a few months back, and I’m so mesmerized by the process (and how quickly she’s picked up this new craft)! Check out this video of how the leopard rug (above) happened from start to finish. And follow along to see more videos. I can’t get enough of them!
Endometriosis Support Group
I am hosting an endometriosis support group with The Riverside Medical Clinic Charitable Foundation next Friday and cannot wait! It’s free and virtual and you can have your camera on or off. It’s a space to share whatever you’re feeling right now with people who get it. Laugh, cry, get mad…all feelings are welcome.
If you have endo, I hope you can make it! And if you don’t, please share this with someone who does. I’ve heard from past meetup friendos that this group has changed their whole day for the better getting to connect in this way.
You can sign up here!
Me + Mary Ruth’s!
I am not a buy-500-different-kinds-of-supplements girl, I am a buy-what-I-know-I need…and MaryRuth’s is my go-to. For me, that’s B12, D3, B Complex, Digestive enzymes, and inflammation support (via straight turmeric). I also love adding in some Elderberry during the winter months. Again, this is for me. You might need iron or a new probiotic or a multi, and MaryRuth really does make pretty much everything (even for kids). It’s the best!
You can check out my Top 5 collection here and use code JESS15 for 15% off anything on the site (not just my collection!).
You can support this newsletter by checking out my books, One Part Plant and Know Your Endo. And if you really love me, please leave an Amazon review! These reviews really do matter in terms of more people finding these books. And you can leave an Amazon review even if you didn’t buy the book from there!
I receive affiliate commissions from some of the links above.