Meal Shortcuts

holiday edition - 6 recipes to make life BETTER

Good morning friends! The first snow at my new apartment fell on Friday, and with the winter solstice on Saturday, it officially feels like that holiday-cozy season is here.

Wendy’s Famous Chocolate Truffles

I love Winter because it forces me to take a deep breath, slow down, and live more presently. It is a time to relax, reflect, and savor life in a way that other seasons don't quite demand.

Lately, I've been reveling in the little joys: sipping warm, comforting drinks, baking lots, diving into puzzles, and playing board&card games. But most importantly — I've been giving myself permission to simply be bored.

That intentional boredom — the act of slowing down — is vital for my nervous system. It creates space to truly appreciate the moment instead of anxiously living in the "what’s next": the future, the endless to-do lists, or the uncertain outcomes. We live in a world that constantly pulls our attention in a hundred different directions.

While we eat breakfast, we scroll through TikTok instead of savoring each bite. While making coffee, we check emails instead of taking in the rich aroma of the espresso. On the way to work, we answer texts instead of noticing the beauty of the trees and flowers we pass. This constant multitasking robs us of the simple, grounding pleasures of life.

Being present — the art of noticing & slowing down — is healing. It creates a mindset founded on gratitude, and deepens the connection with our intuition.

So, as the days feel shorter and the nights cozier, I’m reminding myself to embrace this season of stillness, to notice and find gratitude in life’s small moments. On top of that — I am making lots of delicious bevs & eats.

On the Menu:

• Egg Nog Latte

• Peppermint Matcha

• Vanilla Bean Medicinal Marshmallows

• Date-Peppermint Bark

• Vanilla Bean Sugar Cookies

• Wendy’s Famous Chocolate Truffles

So let’s get intooooo itttt….

PS: Watch me make these recipes here. Also another thing I recommend you bake this week — my vanilla bean cinnamon rolls.

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Egg Nog Latte

Watch me make this here

Ingredients

• Coffee or espresso (measure with <3)

• 1/4 cup heavy cream

• 1/3 cup milk

• 2 egg yolks

• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup (depends how sweet you want it)

• Vanilla (Id say a tsp but I do a much bigger pour than that)

• Dash of salt

• Fresh nutmeg

Recipe

1. Add heavy cream, milk, egg yolks, maple syrup, vanilla and salt to a blender

2. Lightly pulse ingredients together

3. Add to a saucepan over low heat, and continuously whisk until warm

4. Brew coffee or espresso, and gently pour into egg nog mixture to finish tempering, whisking as you go

5. Serve in a mug with fresh nutmeg grated on top

Peppermint Matcha

Ingredients

• 1 cup milk

• 2 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 tsp peppermint extract

• 1 tbsp maple syrup or honey

• 1 serving ceremonial grade matcha

• 1/3 cup filtered water

Recipe

1. Blend together milk, vanilla, peppermint extract & maple syrup

2. If serving iced — pour over ice

   1. In the same blender blend up the matcha and water, and then pour that over the milk mixture, mix & enjoy

3. If serving hot — add over stovetop continuously whisking (can use an electric whisker to froth milk)

   1. Either blend or use a matcha whisk and combine hot water (~175 degrees F) and matcha till frothy

   2. Combine matcha with frothy milk & enjoy

Vanilla Bean Medicinal Marshmallows

Ingredients

• 1 cup filtered water

• 1/4 cup grass-fed gelatin

• 1/4 cup collagen

• 1/2 tbsp marshmallow root

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste

• 1/2 cup maple syrup

• 1/2 cup raw honey

• Pinch of salt

Other:

• Arrowroot powder, corn starch or cacao powder to dust

• Butter or oil to butter the pan for arrowroot to stick

Recipe

1. In a stand mixer bowl, whisk together maple syrup, honey, collagen, marshmallow root, vanilla and salt

2. Add water to a pan with gelatin over heat and whisk until gelatin is dissolved and simmering

3. Once gelatin is dissolved, add to bowl and whisk everything together until thick and stiff peaks form (about 10 mins)

4. Butter a large pan and dust with arrowroot, pour in marshmallow mixture

5. Let sit in fridge for a few hours or overnight

6. Cut & ENJOY!

Date-Peppermint Bark

Ingredients