Cookbook Sneak Peek

plus life updates and taking a break

Every week I’ll be sharing my personal stories and my thoughts and recommendations on healthy food, intuition, movement, growth mindset and women, all sprinkled with a touch of spirituality.

I’m writing about some of my life experiences – the good and the bad - with the hope that they resonate with you. Mine is not a linear path but a winding road with twists and turns - a life filled with family, friends, gratitude and love. Where has your path taken you?

Today I am a trained Holistic Health Coach and a major foodie. I love healthy, clean, organic food and to share my passion for wellness with anyone who will listen!

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Let’s Dive In…

On August 1^st, I officially moved into a new phase of my cookbook project. After procrastinating for the past two months with excuses like writing my Substack, travel, friends, family and my daughters, I now have to pay the piper. If I am going to make this cookbook a reality I have to get back on the horse and FOCUS. In other words – sit my butt down and edit! Yes, we are at the editing stage of the book, and I didn’t anticipate how much fun this would (NOT) be! So, any advice and encouragement is welcome!  LOL

In addition to crushing my procrastination this summer, I have also been trying to heal a chronic orthopedic condition that I’ve been dealing with for far too long. As you may know about me, I picked up tennis during Covid and I fell in love with the sport. I was a quick learner and in the first couple of years, I would play five or six days in a row. I had determination and motivation to get better. I started on a beginner team, and I worked hard to win our matches. For four years my tennis blossomed, I advanced to a better team, and things went along smoothly! 

But unfortunately last summer my tennis started to go off the rails. The ache in my right forearm would not go away. I did my best to play through the discomfort, but the pain got the best of me. I have now been trying to banish this nagging and uncomfortable tennis elbow issue since June 2024. If you’ve never experienced tennis elbow, it may sound like a silly little thing but in reality there is nothing silly about it. It’s painful to pick up anything. It’s painful to type on the computer. It aches all night. It’s a chronic dull pain. Over the past thirteen months, I have spent a ridiculous amount of money on every form of tennis elbow healing. From simple DIY trials like ice and rest, to more expensive products like CBD and peptide shots, to visiting professional acupuncturists, chiropractors, and of course the number one recommendation from my tennis friends – the infamous cortisone shot.

All of this to no avail, until recently

I discovered TENEX from my sister, who had a friend struggling with the same chronic condition. I did my ChatGPT research, and sure enough, it’s the real deal. To my good fortune I found a doctor in Wellesley, MA who performs this unique procedure, which has an 85% success rate. COUNT ME IN! 

TENEX is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic tendon pain, such as tennis elbow or Achilles tendinitis. It involves using ultrasound to guide a small device that breaks up and removes damaged tissue from the tendon, promoting healing and reducing pain. The downtime after the procedure is long. Two to four months with no sporting activities allowed. No tennis, golf, yoga, or arm strength training. Yikes! For a self-professed exercise freak, this isn’t going to be a walk in the park. More than the elbow; going months with no exercise, it’ll be my mental health that will need the TLC. 

I recently shared this elbow update with a friend, and she wrote to me, “Ok so lots of meditation, walking, cooking, reading…this could be interesting finding perhaps other interests while you heal.” I really appreciated that little nugget of wisdom. I will also lean on my meditation practice I recently learned at Kripalu: land, arrive, relax. Wish me luck.

Taking some healing time

All of this to say, I will take a brief but necessary break from my Tuesday Substack. I plan to be back in September with a healing elbow in tow! But before I leave you for a few short weeks, check out my gluten-free Chicken Meatball recampe. My family loves it! It’s the newest #1 dinner request from Julie and Allie. Julie asks me to double the recipe so that she can take it home to freeze for future dinners. That warms my heart.

Thank you for being a loyal reader. The comments, emails, and texts I receive following my Tuesday posts also warm my heart. It means the world to me when what I am writing resonates with you. Please keep in touch. Let me know what topics you like and what you’d like to hear more about. 

Enjoy the summer days…they are long, warm, and special. See you in September!

Photo credit: Mandi Warner

Gluten-free Chicken Meatballs

Adapted from Pinch of Yum

Ingredients 

• 1 pound ground organic chicken or turkey

• 1 egg

• 1/2 cup panko gluten-free breadcrumbs

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

• 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional – makes meatballs moister and yummier)

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• black pepper to taste

• additional seasonings optional!

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and a little cooking spray.  Mix all the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Roll the mixture into about 20-25 small balls. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes and then turn over.  Bake for another 10-15 minutes. Serve with literally anything – personal favorites include gluten-free Jovial pasta, Palmini Hearts of Palm pasta, Carbone Arriabiata sauce, and a salad.

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