Hi Reader,

It's been cold, cold, cold everywhere and in northern California it's also been wet, wet, wet! I have a bundle of friends and families with family in the midwest so I've gotten to see (virtually) the blustering winds and snows resulting from the arctic storms of the holidays.

If you traveled this season I hope you are safe, warm, and cozy.

We are very fortunate to have the majority of our family living nearby us. We were able to enjoy our "normal" parties and gatherings this year. Hence, after the overindulgences and rich foods of December, nothing satisfies and settles the stomach like a simple home-made soup!

On the Menu

Recipes for 3 of our favorite soups:

​Instant Pot Cream of Barley Soup | Soup eh Jo​

​Aash Reshteh | Persian Noodle Soup​

​Vegan Moraccan Stew​

All three of these soups are vegetarian and nutritious. Soup eh Jo, the Persian barley soup, is a creamy, comforting soup. It's a good go-to soup to kick an impending cold to feel better soon. Aash reshteh is a classic Persian soup which is suprisingly hearty thanks to the noodles and beans. It also acts as a digestive cleanse since it is loaded with so many herbs and a variety of beans.

The Moraccan stew is a personal favorite. It's quick and easy to make and on the lighter side. I love stiring in bunches of fresh spinach at the end of the Instant Pot cycle for added nutrients and protein. If you're looking to kickstart your new year's fitness goals, start with a big batch of this Moraccan stew. I love the flavor profile of Moraccan spices but its easy to customize the spices with your own personal fave flavors.

Warm up on the inside with one of these soups and before you know it, things are going to start warming up on the outside too.

Book Club

​Lessons in Chemistry​

I've had to miss the last couple of book club gatherings with my southern California friends since we spent all of November and December in NorCal for the holidays this year. Playing catch up I'm finally reading Lessons in Chemistry. What a surprise! Don't judge a book by its cover which in my opinion looked a bit cheesy - my socks have been blown off at how much I'm digging reading this book. I'm half way through it and enjoying every page. This one is great for all the ladies looking to feel bold and empowered.

Gift of the Year

​The Five-Minute Journal​

I've been keeping a gratitude journal for many years by listing out blessings and gratitudes in the morning, and good things at night. Recently I transitioned to the 5-minute journal after hearing about the structured question format. Putting on my Life Coach hat, I can't emphasize enough how helpful it is to recognize blessings first thing every morning, and then reflect on the best parts the day at night, including lessons learned. It's transformative. Your mind is a muscle that can be conditioned and trained like any other part of your body. The structured questions and prompts in the 5 minute-journal help to do just that. Guess what everyone got in their stockings this year?

On the Podcast

​Episode 117: Persian Cocktails​

In this episode, my co-host Beata Nazem-Kelley and I try our hand at mixology introducing some Persian-inspired, Modern Persian Food curated drinks to ring in the holidays. It's a rebroadcast of a fun episode we recorded last year and we thought it would be worth recirculating.

I hope you enjoy the content in these newsletters. I'm getting ready to do a big clean up, not only in my closets and on my desk, but also through this subscriber list. If you have any suggestions for what you'd like to see or hear more of, let me know. If I've missed the mark, unsubscribing is always an option... although I'd love to hear how we may serve you better and what you're missing.

Happy New Year and cheers to bright things to come in 2023!!

Stay safe and warm,

Bita