…because I am going to discuss aphrodisiacs.  

The “doctrine of signatures” keeps coming up, (no pun intended) so allow me to indulge us both, won’t you?

In the beautifully written and photographed book  ‘Intercourses,  an Aphrodisiac Cookbook,”  by Martha Hopkins and Randall Lockridge, it states: “the Law of Similarities  says that if one thing looks like or is reminiscent of another, then it will improve or aid that which it looks like.  So if a food looks sexual, then it is said that it will improve or aid your sex life.”  

Jacob Boehme, a German mystic (1575)  brought forth the concept of the “law of signatures” after  having visions which revealed to him the spiritual structure of the world. Plants look like the things they designed to heal.

I am reading the new book by Elizabeth Gilbert, who also wrote Eat, Pray, Love.  It’s called The Signature of All Things.  Publisher’s Weekly called it “an unhurried, sympathetic, intelligent novel.”  It is that, and much more. You will love it, I promise.  (I wasn’t paid for this,  I won the book courtesy of Linda Sivertsen, the Book Mama)

Which brings us back to aphrodisiacs, plants, and food.   Thanksgiving is next Thursday, skip the over-cooked, fake-food madness that is called “green bean casserole” and opt for asparagus instead! 

Depending upon who is coming to dinner, you can wear it,  or you can prepare it properly and feast upon it  I’m not saying you can’t have your asparagus and wear it, too…  (photo: Ben Fink)

Notice the “prepare it properly” portion of the previous paragraph?  This is imperative!  Overcooked, olive-green, limp asparagus is about as useless as…well, you get the idea. (You may as well throw it out and serve green-bean casserole).

To do this, you must either blanch it (drop in boiling, salted water for about 3 minutes. Yes, only 3!) or you can roast it by tossing about a dozen trimmed spears with  a tablespoon or two of good olive oil, some salt and pepper, and roasting it in a 450-degree oven for about 15 minutes. 

Let it cool completely, then wrap in 6 exquisitely thin slices of prosciutto that have been cut in half length-wise, making 12. Place on a platter and sprinkle with a bit of parmesan cheese.  Serve at room   temperature with a small amount of a vinaigrette dressing, or a squeeze of lemon juice. You can easily double, or triple this based on the number of people you’ll be serving.  (No, I don’t know how many spears it takes to make that beautiful skirt) 

Asparagus is loaded with potassium, calcium, phosphorous, calcium and Vitamin E. It’s also a lot of fun to eat with  your fingers!

XO Donna

Holiday photos….

some of you love this, and some dread it. I’m going to give you six sure-fire ways to  say, “Cheese!”  without it being a cheesy affair!

This photo, which The Chicago Tribune called “an all-out team blitz of holiday awfulness” is our don’t.   Unless, of course, you go in for this sort of thing. If that’s the case, skip my blog this week,  do what you wish, and I’ll see you next week!

If you want to look great, maybe even sexy, it takes just a little bit of coordination to be immortalized in style.  Start here:

1. Choose a color scheme that everyone in the portrait agrees on. It could be red tops, black tops, black & white, or denim.  If you are going to wear prints, keep them on the small side so they don’t overwhelm you.  (Note: Pastels generally wash everyone out, and are not autumn/winter tones.  Save them for springtime.)
2. A v-neck is flattering, and can be sexy, on every woman. In general, so are cowl necklines.
3. It’s cold out, but I’ll say it anyway: wear sleeves. Unless you work out and have upper-arms that you’re really proud to show off, a 3/4 sleeve, or long sleeves will look best!   (Men – sleeveless is never an option!)
4. Wear a touch more make-up than normal. Use a bit of under-eye cover-cream, lots of mascara, a fluff of powder and some blush and color on your lips. If you color your hair, have it done. You want to look and feel your very best!
5. Wear heels:  They give a you a boost of confidence, and make your derrierre and legs look fantastic…as do sheer, black hose.
6. Keep your accessories simple and elegant: Wear chic jewelry, beautiful belts, and polished shoes or boots.

These family portraits all work because of the thought and planning that went into them beforehand.

Besides providing visual continuity, the unified colors also create a unity among the people in the photo. 

 And isn’t that what it’s all about in the first place?

XO  Donna

I love November!  It’s my birthday, it’s many of my friend’s birthdays (Scorpios tend to hang around other Scorpios…professional courtesy?) and it’s Thanksgiving and Hanukkah! 

Each year I aim to make the holiday meal healthier than it was the year before.  Less breads, less desserts, no processed foods (sorry, we don’t do green-bean casserole around these parts!) no soda.  STRESS?  Glad to say, I’m learning to  keep it to a minimum. 

I want to share some excerpts from a newsletter by my doctors at Central Family Practice. I love them, and this is one reason why. The article is by Peggy Ghorbani, L.Ac.

21st Century life is so kinetic that our poor endocrine systems haven’t evolved fast enought to keep up with the demands of all our beeping and blinking devices. Constant distraction, multitasking, and unaddressed, unremitting stress all tax our adrenal glands and their production of the stress hormone, cortisol.  This is important because cortisol is a hormone that governs everything from blood pressure, to sleep patterns and cravings, to our capacity to cope with stress effectively.

From a Chinese Medicine perspective, our cortisol levels are related to the strength of our Kidney Qi (energy). The Kidneys help us deal with fear, help us sleep peacfully, and determine every aspect of fertility and healthy aging!

In an effort to practice what she preaches, Peggy made a few vital changes:

• She added yoga/meditation classes in order to slow down and notice when her cortisol levels are rising. She said that “it’s a revelation to recognize stress – like a fish noticing water!”
• She proiritized happiness and choosing to relax.
• She quit drinking coffee because despite it’s great antioxidant benefits, caffeine directly induces the adrenocortical cells to produce more cortisol.  If you suffer from anxiety, poor sleep, grind your teeth….
• She is limiting alcohol. Alcohol raises cortisol and the effects persist for 24 hours or more.  So much for having a drink or two to unwind!  She does say that it’s not necessary to completely refrain, but that it’s best to keep consumption at less than 3 glasses a week.
• Her FUN solutions:  Eat dark chocolate (70%)!  In what may be the most popular study ever performed on cortisol, 40g/day of dark chocolate for 2 weeks lowered urine cortisol levels.  
• Get a massage regularly!  Massage lowers cortisol, raises oxytocin, and has been documented to improve immune function!

(I’m going to quote somebody here…) “Just Say No,” to things that aren’t fun, that are an obligation that you don’t enjoy, to things you know you shouldn’t do.  Just because you’ve always eaten unhealthy food, doesn’t mean it needs to continue.  Just because you over-imbibe to deal with the fam, doesn’t mean that needs to continue either.  Start some new traditions, ones that support you and make you feel  healthier and happier.  Give people a heads-up! “Here is what I’m doing this year in order to be healthier,  if you’d like to participate, please come join me!”   Become a great example.

A relaxed, healthy, happy hostess is a  Very Sexy Hostess!

XO Donna