...a bowl of peas! This is my mantra before every catering job, audition, or challenge in front of me. Not a bowl of cherries, not easy as pie, not easy peasy, not a piece of cake. “May this be as easy as a bowl of peas.” Yes, it’s a silly rhyme, but the saying makes me feel lighter, like the task at hand truly has a shot of not being difficult. And it’s a sweet little request to the universe to deliver some positive results. Here’s the thing, life is NOT easy and I don’t really know what part peas have to play in delivering ease. We don’t always have control of what happens around us, but we do have control of how we think and how we speak about it. How we wish about it, and how we pray about it.
With a little research, I learned the similar phrase of ‘easy peasy’ originated in a liquid detergent commercial in the UK around 1965 for Sqezy. “Easy peasy lemon Sqezy!” The advertisement demonstrated that using their product made quick and easy work washing the dishes. Do you have a saying that brings you a little peace or hope? Share yours in the comment section below. I’d love to hear it! I highly suggest you get one. You know why? Because good thoughts magnetize more good thoughts. And more good thoughts magnetize good actions. I don’t know about you, but I think the world needs more good actions.
The Law of Attraction states: You can magnetize yourself for individual situations or nurture your inner magnet to become a person who attracts what they want. Just as a magnet will draw to it something that’s nearby without you consciously putting the magnet against it, you can magnetize your thoughts to attract more of what you want. You have the capacity to attract all the joy and abundance you would like. But, you must train yourself to monitor your thoughts. It’s important to practice recognizing where your thoughts go when you want, or don’t want, something. Does doubt or worry come into your head? Fear? Feelings of not being deserving? Any of those negative thoughts demagnetize your ability to attract what you want. Catching them before they do that puts you on your way to being a magnet for the good stuff! Turning your thoughts into positive expectations fuels the magnet in you.
I had a dinner with a new friend this week at one of my favorite restaurants here in New York City, ABC Kitchen. This restaurant is known for their seasonal menus. The restaurant is a block away from Union Square Farmer’s Market, so the chefs truly have some of the finest and freshest ingredients available to create their dishes. My friend and I started talking about positivity, manifesting, and how we take similar actions in our lives to get what we want. She gave a sweet analogy. “ We forget that every day there is a menu and we can actually choose. Just like at this incredible restaurant. They’ve only put their best items on here. We can only make a good choice.” She went on to say that we have a choice in our lives, so we need to make sure that we’re putting our best thoughts and actions front and center. My menu holds gratitude, loyalty, appreciation, devotion, service, friends and family, and loving my new little kitten. What’s on your menu?
I catered two gatherings in the last few weeks celebrating and paying tribute to two different women. The ladies were friends, they lived in the same building, died of the same disease, and passed within days of one another. My little bowl of peas looks pretty insignificant next to what’s on the menus for these families. It looks pretty insignificant compared to what’s happening in the world right now. I know this. I also know that all I can do is nurture my inner magnet, summon up the good stuff as my little one-woman-crusade against the bad stuff. So I will continue making my little “May this be easy as a bowl of peas,” wish/prayer/mantra. Ease and peas is my wish for all of you, especially to the Silber and Kraus families.
Green Pea and Herb Pancakes with Minty Ricotta
- 1 cup quinoa flour
- 1/4 cup sorghum flour
- 1/4 cup corn meal
- 3 eggs
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
- 1/4 cup basil leaves
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups peas, divided (from about 2 pounds of pods or frozen peas, thawed)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- salt and pepper
- vegetable oil for the pan
- 1 3/4 cup ricotta cheese
- the juice of half a lemon
- salt and pepper
- 1 Tablespoon mint, finely chopped
- If using fresh peas, cook in a small saucepan of boiling salted water until tender, about 3 minutes (if using frozen peas, do not cook). Drain.
- Pulse the first 11 ingredients, except one cup of peas, in a food processor or blender until just combined into a loose batter.
Heat a lightly oiled large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add batter to skillet by 1/4-cupfuls, spreading out to 3-inch-4-inch rounds with a spoon. Scatter a few of the reserved peas on top. Cook pancakes until bubbles form on top, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until pancakes are browned on bottom and the centers are just cooked through, about 2 minutes longer.
Combine the ricotta, lemon juice, mint, salt and pepper. Serve with the pancakes.