I love this photo. August in Minneapolis this year has been my perfect type of weather, mid 70-80′s and dew points in the 50′s meaning very little humidity, boy does my body like this!  It also makes it easy to walk to the farmers market, which totally nourishes my body and mind.  In this recipe, much of the ingredients we picked up at the farmers market this week, I love cooking what’s in season!  It makes our food taste heavenly!  I don’t always think of soups when it comes to summer, but it’s such a great way to use what’s in the fridge and create this amazing food that gives back to your heart and soul.

Do you ever think of food this way?  About how much it gives back to you?  Try it on for size as you put together this lovely mixture of what’s growing right now.

2 c. cooked cut up or shreded chicken (or in the case of the picture Pheasant)
3 c. Fresh Spinach chopped into small strips
4-5 Small Yukon Potatoes cut into 3/4″ pcs
1 c. Walla Walla Onions, or Leeks
1 c. Peas (Fresh or Frozen)
5 c. Broth 3c. Chicken, 2c. Vegi – I like the organic “Better than Bouillon” brand, for easy and yummy & Gluten Free broth
2 tsp Taragon
2 T. Olive Oil
Salt and Pepper to taste

Ok first…. to know me as a cook means, that I don’t measure things very often, I use estimates (it makes me a hell of a baker let me tell you!), and I flavor to taste, so the recipe is a guideline meant to me played with, but I getcha, I know you want some kind of measuring!  And yes, buy organic or local, no question.  In this case of the recipe, we had a friend gift us some pheasant so it was a perfect match to this soup

Saute Onions and potatoes in Olive Oil, when just shy of al dente’, add peas, and saute’ for another  2 mins.  Add 3 cups of spinach to the top, reduce heat to low, cover and let wilt.   Prepare Stock in a deep pot, large enough to hold vegi’s, add chopped up chicken when stock is boiling.  Reduce heat to simmer, Once spinach has wilted, add all vegi’s to the soup stock. Simmer for 15 more minutes.  Buon appetito!

Yoga mat need a refresher? Choose cleaning products wisely.

Stay away from conventional cleaners, you know the ones you can purchase at your local big box store, or grocery store.  Why you may ask?   The majority of those cleaners have intense chemicals that can induce headaches, cause allergic reaction, and are linked not only to infertility, but also a variety of cancers, respiratory issues and more.   At this time 80,000 different unregulated chemicals are in our market place, and are used in anything from cleaners too health and beauty products.  Many of these chemicals have very similar reactions on the body, endocrine disruption.  Essentially these chemicals mimic hormones in the body, and wreak havoc on our hormone systems causing a variety of reactions from early puberty, birth defects, reproductive problems, low sperm counts, neurological disorders, cancer, the list goes on and on.

So, when choosing cleaners for your home, yoga mat, where ever you need them, choose cleaners that are safe. Or better yet start seeking out products that are Non-Toxic. How do you find safe cleaners? I will give you more information on that in the coming weeks, let’s start with our yoga mat’s today.

Making your own cleaners is a great option, you know exactly what is in them.  Currently manufacturer’s of cleaning products are not required to list ingredients on their products, so we have no idea what is in them.  There are a few companies in the marketplace like 7th Generation, that have chosen an approach with greater integrity, and  list their ingredients.  Always be sure to read labels and choose cleaners and companies that take a non-toxic stand.

Below are a few recipe’s. When choosing essential oils, make sure they are pure essential oils, these are best found at the local co-ops or Whole Foods. If they are not pure, they often have a chemical make up, and may include phthalates, which are a suspending agents for faux fragrances.  (More to come on pthalates soon too.) Happy Spritzing!

General Cleaning
3 drops of Tea Tree Oil
2 drops of Peppermint Oil
2 Drops of Lavender Oil or Lemon Oil
8 ounces of Distilled Water Empty Spray Bottle

Deeper Cleaning
1 Cup White Vinegar
3 Cups Warm Water
10-12 drops of essential oils of your choice
Empty Spray Bottle
Tea Tree and Lemon are disinfecting so these are good
options, and remember you can mix scents too!

Summer Time Cleaning
1 hose
1 sprayer
1 Fence (or equivalent)
1 Yoga Mat
Drape mat and spray that bad boy like crazy!

Enjoy some pictures of the new studio, The Om Collective!

Can’t wait for you to see it!

The Om Collective

3350 Lyndale Ave S, Mpls, MN 55408

I am so happy and honored to announce that on November 1st, Ali Certain, Ronna Rochell, and Lisa Van Ahn and myself have opened The Om Collective, a multidisciplinary space dedicated to Yoga, Wellness and Community. Our community of instructors, have joined together to create a space dedicated to you, the yoga student. Whether you are a student of Anusara, Vinyasa or Kundalini Yoga, or maybe you are a beginning student that has never even heard those words, our classes are an open welcoming space to begin and explore your practice with all of life’s curves. We also have specialty classes that focus on building strength and cardio health, along with classes focused on women’s health.

I am thrilled to have found three amazingly grounding women to join in creating a space that has wonderful roots and amazing teachings. I will feature the majority of my classes here at the new studio. I’ll be teaching Vinyasa classes for all levels, Fertile Grounding Yoga the class for women seeking pregnancy or diagnosed with infertility, Prenatal Yoga, Mommy and Baby Yoga, and a wonderful selection of workshops.

So stay tuned and check my schedule page often!!! If you want frequent updates, join my facebook pages JenYoga, and Fertile Grounding Yoga.

Also, Check The Om Collective, for location, information, and the newest teachers!

The Om Collective
3350 Lyndale Ave S
Mpls, MN 55408

See you there!

It’s August… make the most of it my friends!!! Get outside and absorb all the good from Mother Earth. There are three times available for Yoga at the Lake now. See you there!

Sunday 5:00pm
Tuesday 6:00pm
Friday 7:00am

I just thought you would like to see a few updated photos from my classes at Lake Harriet this summer.  We are having so much fun out there I added a second class and am contemplating a third.  Come join us!!  Tuesdays 6-7:00 pm, and Friday 7-8:00am. Check my schedule page for more details.

Thank you TC Yogi, for featuring my donation based Yoga class at Lake Harriet’s Rose Garden on Friday mornings at 7:00am-8:00am, all through the summer!  See you there! Click here to see the rest of the article www.tcyogi.com

It’s started, and it’s every Friday morning at 7:00am-8:00am,  and is it ever so lovely!! Every Friday through the summer we will be there.  Here are a few photos to tempt you!  Come join us for one or all, the class is by donation, so pay what you can that day.  I love teaching this class, it’s so awe inspiring to be in the dewy grass in the morning taking in all the scents around you, the change in what’s blooming, the amazing selection of colors all around.  It just makes me expel a happy sigh…

I love these events and these women! Check out the Gorilla Yogi’s, and look at these amazing pictures by Lisa Venticinque. You can check both of their websites here;

www.gorillayogis.com

www.kidspicsbylisav.com