Hi Reader,
This week.... my little kitchen has been busier than usual.
I’ve been cooking, recording and editing the recipes for Cook to Feel Steady, a five-day programme that I’ll be running again later this summer.
The hot weather meant I was in the kitchen much earlier than usual so I could record before the neighbourhood woke up. By the time I’d finished filming, breakfast was ready too.
One unexpected benefit was that I found myself eating a proper savoury breakfast every morning. I’d gradually moved away from that habit over the last few months, and it reminded me how steady I feel when I begin the day that way. My energy stayed more even, my mind felt calmer, and I simply felt more settled throughout the day.
It also reminded me how much confidence grows through cooking together.
For one week, someone else has already decided what’s for lunch. There’s less thinking, less planning and fewer last-minute decisions. You simply cook, eat and carry on with your day.
Sometimes that rhythm is every bit as nourishing as the meal itself.
I’m planning to run Cook to Feel Steady again later this summer, so if cooking along together sounds helpful, keep an eye on future newsletters.
This Week’s Blog Post/Podcast
This week, I’ve been thinking about summer.
Not the holidays or the sunshine, but the way a spell of hot weather can slowly change how we feel.
Patience becomes shorter. Energy drops. The mind feels busier.
Even small things seem bigger than they need to.
I noticed it myself this week. The hotter weather left me feeling more tired than usual, and I found myself appreciating the simple practices that help bring the body back into balance.
I’ve also been starting every yoga class this week with Shitali Mudra, giving everyone the chance to experience how quickly a few minutes of cooling breath can settle both body and mind before we begin moving.
In this week’s post, I explore why summer can affect us in these ways from an Ayurvedic perspective and share three simple breathing practices that can help you feel cooler, calmer and more comfortable through the warmer months.
Read & Listen Here
From my kitchen this week…
One of my favourite summer recipes is this cooling mint and coconut chutney.
It’s fresh, vibrant and takes only a few minutes to make, making it perfect alongside a summer lunch.
In Ayurveda, fresh herbs such as mint are valued for their cooling qualities during the warmer months. Chutneys also stimulate saliva and support digestion, bringing freshness and flavour to even the simplest meal.
Ingredients:
1 bunch fresh mint
- 1 bunch fresh mint
- ½ fresh coconut grated (if you use desiccated soak it and drain first)
- 1 tbsp ginger, grated
- 2 green chillies cut into small pieces
- juice of half a lemon
- 1 tsp sugar (to taste)
- ½ tsp salt
- water, if needed
Preparation
Puree chillies and ginger in a blender with some salt and lemon juice. Add the mint leaves slowly, slowly. Afterwards add the grated coconut, blend everything together. Add the sugar and salt to taste, blend again.
I’d love to know if you decide to give it a try.
🌿 Pause & Reflect
Take a moment to notice how the warmer weather has affected you this week.
Has your sleep changed?
Have you felt more tired than usual?
Has your patience been shorter, or your mind busier?
What has helped you feel cooler, calmer or more settled?
Sometimes simply noticing the season’s influence is the first step towards working with it, rather than against it.
If this Sunday Read might be helpful for someone, you’re very welcome to:
🌿 share it with someone who might enjoy it
🫖 or simply sit with it a little longer today
💭 If you have a question, or there’s something you’d love me to explore in a future Sunday Read, you’re always welcome to let me know.
Here's to finding a little more space between one thing and the next.