Holiday wishes and holiday treats

First, a warm welcome to Shana Ronayne, who is joining our circle from Austin, Texas! She sent a lovely note with a link to her website:
I'm so grateful to have found your beautiful website. I was searching for
articles on preparing food mindfully because I'm in the middle of writing a
series of articles on mindful eating inspired by Thay. I am also writing a
book on living simply that weaves in many of Thay's teachings

I'm so happy to have found you. Thank you for creating this space.

Peace,
Shana
http://www.live-simply.com

Thanks, Shana----we're happy to have you with us.

I also heard from Anna Berkowitz, who joined us last week from Los Angeles:
I found your website actually just by googling "mindful cooking," while in search of some exercises that I can do while cooking. I work in mental health and was reading an article recently about a program that utilizes cooking as a therapeutic intervention for troubled youth, which led me to my googling endeavors. I like to cook as a stress reliever and thought I could introduce a mindful intention. I am very intrigued by many parts of yoga, mindfulness, and meditation, even though I am still early in my journey. I decided to join the mailing list to gain some new insight and yummy recipes!

Kind regards, Anna

This is so interesting ----cooking having therapeutic effects ----does anyone else have thoughts about or experience with this?

Last week I called for holiday recipes and Christel in Germany came through for us: here is her colorful Mixed Winter Salad:
Mixed Winter Salad

And here are some chocolate confections she made:
http://www.gluten-free-vegan-girl.com/2014/09/guilt-free-peanut-cream-da...

And some special cookies.
http://www.veganpassionenglish.blogspot.de/search?q=choco+choco+cookies

The next two I couldn't get in English, which may not be a problem for you, but if it is, please enjoy the photos at least. I don't think I have ever seen such delicate cookies:
http://veganpassion.blogspot.de/2010/11/zitronen-mandel-kekse.html
http://veganpassion.blogspot.de/2011/11/mandel-aprikosen-platzchen.html

And to finish off, here is my favorite holiday sweet bread, Cranberry Pumpkin Bread. The recipe has been on our website for years but I just realized I hadn't entered the GF version and I hadn't revised the original (I discovered I don't need egg replacer) so I just did those things. I will be making this tomorrow:
Cranberry Pumpkin Bread
GF Cranberry Pumpkin Bread

What a sweet time of year this is---in so many ways. I received a holiday letter today that said it so well: whether you celebrate St. Nicholas Day, Bodhi Day, St. Lucia's Day, Hanukkah, the winter solstice, Christmas, Boxing Day, Kwanzaa, or just Life itself, may this season bring you joy, peace and love!

Warmly,
Eve