Barbara O'Neill Daughter

Red lentils are even more delicate than their green and brown cousins - so treat them gently!

If you’re soaking and preparing red lentils, bring them to a boil and then turn the heat off rather than letting them continue to cook away.

Otherwise, you may end up with two problems: a pot that boils over and makes a mess of your kitchen… and when you go to rinse them, you could watch a good portion of those little lentils disappear right down the drain!

A little extra care in the kitchen can save you both food and cleanup. 🥣✨

Have you ever learned this one the hard way?

Lentils may be small, but they’re a little more delicate than beans, and need to be given some extra care when soaking.

A proper soak can help prepare lentils for cooking, and it’s worth remembering that they don’t always need to be treated exactly like larger beans.

Looking for simple instructions and recipe inspiration? 📖

Get your hands on a copy of Self Heal by Design. The back of the book includes some of Mum’s favourite recipes, making it a helpful resource to keep in the kitchen.

https://emmawellness.com/products/self-heal-by-design-book

As the seasons change, it’s time to start thinking about staying warm. When temperatures start dropping, I love reaching for natural fibers.

This beautiful poncho is made from a mix of natural fibers, including possum, and came home with me from New Zealand. 🇳🇿

Natural wool and other fibers can make wonderful choices for keeping cozy as the temperatures drop. Sometimes, staying warm really can be as simple as choosing the right layers!

What’s your favourite natural fiber to wear in the cooler months?

Don’t let the cooler temperatures fool you, there’s still plenty of reason to enjoy the sunshine!

As we head into fall, make the most of the daylight while the sun is still high enough in the sky to provide UVB rays that can help your skin produce vitamin D.

Instead of spending every warm, sunny afternoon indoors, take your cup of tea outside, enjoy a walk, work in the garden, or simply sit in the sunshine for a little while.

Our bodies are designed to interact with the natural rhythms of the seasons, and getting outside in the daylight is a simple habit worth keeping as summer fades.

So while the sun is still shining, soak it up, and enjoy these last golden days of the season! ☀️

Working on fibremaxxing and wondering how to prepare beans? They are a simple, nourishing staple - but taking a little time to prepare them properly can make all the difference.

Before cooking dried beans, give them a good soak in plenty of water. Soaking helps soften the beans and can help reduce some of the compounds that are harder for our digestive systems to break down, which may mean less of that uncomfortable “bean reaction” for some people.

Beans can go with almost anything - stick around until the end of the video for some of Emma’s bean meal inspiration!

A simple step that can make beans and lentils easier on your digestion!

If beans or lentils tend to leave you feeling a little… gassy, try soaking and rinsing them before cooking.

Here’s a little of the science: legumes contain certain carbohydrates called oligosaccharides that our bodies don’t completely digest in the small intestine. When they reach the large intestine, our gut bacteria ferment them — and one of the natural byproducts of that fermentation is gas.

Soaking legumes can help leach some of these carbohydrates into the soaking water. Pour off the soaking water, rinse the legumes well, and cook them in fresh water. For dried beans, a longer soak is generally helpful; lentils usually need much less soaking time.

It’s a small extra step, but if you enjoy beans and lentils, it may make them a little more comfortable to eat. 🌱

And remember: some digestive adjustment is normal when increasing fibre-rich foods. Start with amounts your body tolerates and increase gradually.

Emma recently made this hearty stew with simple, whole-food ingredients like: lentils, plenty of vegetables, herbs, and a few pantry staples.

Meals like this are a wonderful reminder that nourishing food doesn’t have to be overly complicated to be good for your wellness.

What would you add to your favourite lentil stew?

I love having roses in the garden…BUT I’m not sure I love them enough to do the Minnesota tilt!

Here in Wisconsin, I’m always looking for ways to enjoy beautiful things in the garden without making them more work than they really need to be.

Find plants that can tolerate your location with no elaborate winter gymnastics required!

Give me the roses, just leave the tilting to someone else.

Sometimes the garden gives you the best surprises.

Three years ago, during the shop construction, I thought I had lost a special plant forever. A friend had given it to me years ago, and I was so disappointed to think it was gone.

Then, completely by chance, I spotted a little young plant growing where I didn’t expect it. I knew straight away what it was - Red Orach, also known as mountain spinach!

What a lovely reminder that some plants are a little more resilient than we give them credit for. And now I get to keep growing a plant that carries a special memory with it.

Have you ever had a plant surprise you by coming back?