words.

i am a volcano.  i am a leaf floating in the sky, so high - all i see is blue
and white - "fleecy clouds" as he would say and i replied 'i do' and that's where it begins
in the blue and out of the blue and i am not sure if i really love the blues-
oh the reds, the fuschias, the magentas, the deepest rubies glistening from my cheeks 
only to inspire others to find their cheeks 
rub around in some diamonds and let it shine
let it shine so loud that you can hardly hear yourself whine
from the tragedies of past lives and then 
drink the milk off your brow like the tongue of a kitty cat 
allow the nourishing in and create your sparkly den 
why wait for the explosion inside 
just go, go, GO
take that magic carpet ride
unbutton your pants and let your belly lay over your belt buckles  
tatooing your skin every six inches with that belt buckle thing 
creating an open fence around your belly 
or a smile 
allow that fat to rest perfectly
as though it was excepted and trendy 
you almost want to ask how much it costs
so you can make more of that lay over
resting in the truth of that letting go 
finding the regality
the crown around your body that can only hold what you so deeply long for, holding the only thing you can count on, holding love. 


*poem from the sequoia forest, june 2010*

coming home & starting again.

i have been away & i am on my way back. i did not go on an airplane or visit another language. i did not take long naps by the beach or go to exotic dinners. it's been a time of family needs. a time to stop everything & focus on family. i can hear you nodding your heads..."yes, me too, i have been there"... i have missed you, me, these words, the kitchen, the energy of the summer starting & i want to jump in and embrace it all... the only photos i have to share are of my travels since last we connected. it's been a poem of a time (other titles that could work are twlight zone or whirlwind) and this is our life as renaissance mamas... women who do it all, who live life, who make life, who create the nourishment for all to feed & grow, women who have a deep desire to change or shift the world AND women who take care of themselves and nurture others. that's the biggest one for RM: NURTURING YOU to fuel the nourishment of your family. we can only learn this one together...it's a communal effort as it's a new paradigm of truely taking care of oneself and family..we have to support each other in it.

as i am coming through to the other side of this time....i am rediscovering a whole new way with my business of renaissance mamas AND i am coming to your neighborhood!! i am determined to build and create a nurturing culture in america where families know how to cook & eat well, surrounded by beauty, inspired by what's growing locally & empowered with the confidence to know how regardless of the shame, guilt & resistance we have surrounding our daily food culture today. i see a country of people who take back their local farms by supporting their local farmers, demanding good food from the government & taking charge of what they put in the their bodies. i want to empower women to take charge in the kitchen, inspire them to create rustic meals for their families and sate their needs at the same time. there is so much more on this... for now, invite me to your school, your town hall, your kitchen & lets get this conversation going... this renaissance mama is ready to get myself & everybody back on the wagon supporting this piece in all of us. see you in the kitchenxxx

**all photos were captured by my dear friend ingrid moriarty

please check more of her work out at www.ifmphoto.com**

small magazine.

hi mamas.. happy june! i hope all is well & inspiring in the kitchen. i feel really honored and excited to be apart of this incredible collaboration of artists, mamas & papas that make up small magazine. RM is in their summer issue with a flourless chocolate cake! if you have not heard of small mag. you are in for a real treat. it's AMAZING. everything is inspiring... page after page. take some self-care time and browse.... i promise every page is worth a look. they are definitely doing something right. (now if i could just get all the outfits in my size!) see you in the kitchenxxx

hot house.

it's cucumber salad time... i mean if you want it to be. this is a sweet & sour (more sweet) so so simple recipe that comes from my mom's kitchen... she always made it as a side dish served during the jewish holidays... but i make it a lot right about now. if you can get organic hot house cucumbers, those are the best b/c they are skinny and fit in the cuisineart for a fast slice or you can thinly slice by hand which is perfect too. if you can leave some time for this to steep and sit in the fridge a bit.. that is even better. if you are in los angeles, scott from peacock farms has cucumbers that are not too thin but oh so good. you can find him in hollywood on sunday & santa monica on wednesdays.

so slice the cucs, put them in a bowl you love (preferably medium to large and wide), mix the dressing which is 1/4 cup of powdered sugar, 1/4 cup of canola oil & 1/4 cup of rice vinegar... add water to taste... mix well with whatever feels good in your hand... i usually do this in a pyrex measuring cup with a fork. then i will taste a lot to see what i need... add whatever you are feeling... it could be a little water or more of one of the key ingredients...pour on cucumbers....cover & put in fridge for an hour or more. let me know how it goes & see you in the kitchenxxx