Lindsey,
Congratulations! You’re about to be a mom. For many months you’ve nurtured, nourished and cradled the life inside you. Your child has grown into a beautiful, perfect being and is ready to enter the world. I have no doubt that you, with your kind heart, generosity, compassion, and strong values, will raise a child capable of making a difference. In honor of your baby’s birth I wanted to share one of my favorite poems with you. May your family be blessed with happiness, health, strength, boundless love and contentment.
Sending lots of virtual hugs as you begin this new journey.
Sasha
Winter By Mary Oliver
And the waves
gush pearls
from their snowy throats
as they come
leaping
over the moss green,
black-green,
glass-green roughage-
as they crumble
on the incline
scattering
whatever they carry
in their invisible
and motherly hands:
stones,
seaweed,
mussels
icy and plump
with waled shells,
waiting
for the gatherers
who come flying
on their long white wings-
who comes walking,
who comes muttering:
thank you,
old dainties,
dark wreckage,
coins of the sea
in my pockets
and plenty for the gulls
and the wind still pounding
and the sea still streaming in like a mother wild with gifts-
in this world I am as rich
as I need to be.
This post was created as part of a virtual baby shower for Lindsey of Dolly and Oatmeal. The pudding is flavored with sweet almond extract and packed with protein. The grapes are roasted with cozy fall spices and the granola and pine nuts add a little savory crunch. It’s a delicious combination of textures and flavors and whips up easily for breakfast or dessert.
Check out the links below for some more great recipes created in Lindsey’s honor.
Sweet Potato Millet Pancakes | The Full Helping
Mushroom and Kale Tacos | Brooklyn Supper
Butternut Squash French Toast | Edible Perspective
Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches with Honey Olive Oil Ice Cream | Cake Over Steak
Roasted Green Tomato Soup with Herbed Oil | With Food + Love
Tart Cherry, Chocolate & Hempseed No-Bake Oat Bars | Kale & Caramel
Dark Chocolate Hummus | A Couple Cooks
Maitake Steaks with Cauliflower Purée | O&O Eats
Cucumber & Chamoe Melon Salad | Two Red Bowls
Strawberry Rhubarb Jam | The Sugar Hit
Miso Edamame Hummus with Baked Furikake Sweet Potato Chips | Fix Feast Flair
Mini Hazelnut Cakes | I am a Food Blog
The Magic of a Mandolin: Vegetable Carpaccio | Eat Boutique
Almond Chia Pudding with Roasted Grapes | Tending the Table
Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Puffed Millet Bars | Heart of a Baker
Almond Chia Pudding with Roasted Grapes
Serves 2
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 teaspoons almond extract
pinch of salt
5 tablespoons chia seeds
8 oz concord grapes or black grapes
1/4 cup cocchi americano or white wine
1 tablespoon honey
1 cinnamon stick
1 tablespoon cardamom pods
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
granola and toasted pine nuts to garnish
PROCEDURE
Combine the almond milk, maple syrup, almond extract, and salt in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Sprinkle the chia seeds over top and whisk to distribute the seeds and prevent clumping. Let sit for 30-40 minutes, stirring every now and then to prevent lumps from forming.
Meanwhile roast the grapes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Place the grapes on the baking sheet and set aside. Combine the cocchi, honey, cinnamon stick, cardamom, and ginger in a small sauce pan and bring to a simmer over medium heat until the honey has dissolved, 1-2 minutes. Pour the syrup through a sieve, evenly over the grapes, discarding the spices. Roast for 10 minutes, until the grapes are soft and bursting. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
Once the pudding has set, serve, topped with granola, toasted pine nuts and a few clusters of the roasted grapes.
oh sasha, thank you sweet, friend! your words are so deeply touching. and that mary oliver poem – how lovely! this recipe and the accompanying photos are nothing short of stunning and delicious! thank you for showering our little family with your beautiful spirit, it is well felt here! XO
My pleasure! XO
Loving all the flavour and texture combos you have going on here. I’m still on the fence about chia pudding, but adding some crunchy topping might just be enough to convince me. And as usual, seriously stunning photos Sasha!
Thanks so much! I was on the fence too but I think in small amounts with good toppings it’s pretty fun
I always love chia pudding and this recipe is a little bit different. Looks delicious. I’ll have to try it soon.
I hope you enjoy it!
This is so sweet! What a thoughtful idea to do for Lindsey, she is amazing. And this recipe with the roasted grapes is just brilliant Sasha! xx
Such a sweet thing to do for Lindsey! And this chia pudding looks totally delish, I’ve never thought of combining roasted grapes with anything besides goat cheese, so thanks for the inspiration! xo
You bet! Hard to go wrong with goat cheese though
What a great idea…a virtual baby shower! I love it! And I enjoyed clicking on every link. It was fun to read all of the welcomes and blessings of other bloggers, not to mention their recipes. An extra treat for me. Thanks! (Keep us posted about Lindsey and her new little one!)
Yes. It was super fun and I think Lindsey really appreciated it. Having internet friends is a strange thing for sure but things like this make it more real.
Photos, recipe, poem, this is all so beautiful, I can’t wait to try!
Thanks!
Wow – so gorgeous!!! Thanks so much for joining in on this.
You bet! Thanks for including me. Such a great idea to do this for Lindsey
I’ve said it before and I won’t hesitate saying it again: such amazing photographs. Seriously. Yet another breathtaking post, not only with a wonderful message, but also a super interesting recipe. Thanks Sasha! xx
Awww thank you!
Such amazing photography!
Thanks so much!
I never thought of roasting grapes before! I’ve cooked with them but never roasted them. Looks great!
They’re pretty awesome roasted! Hope you enjoy