Donna’s Beets with Walnut Chutney

A little taste of some of my pandemic cooking (hope you all are well). Not survival food, but food for the soul. Very nostalgic making this one. Beets with walnut chutney. This was one of my favorite dishes that they chef (Donna) would make at Southern Dharma Retreat Center when I worked there as Retreat … Continue reading →

ReSTOCKing the Freezer: Bone Broth

I started off this week by reSTOCKing the freezer with bone broth (you see that little pun nestled in there?  Aw yeah). Chicken back, two chicken feet, some old turkey bones, kombu seaweed.  All of these meats/bones are from a local, traditional farmer. I then add a splash of apple cider vinegar.  Some sea salt.  … Continue reading →

The Modern, Manufactured Woman

A rant?  A poem?  You chose. The modern manufacturing of the detached, disempowered feminine We try to suppress her cycles with birth control pills. We don’t give her space or support to breastfeed. We expect her to be back at work two weeks after birth. We don’t give her space to feel, grieve, express her … Continue reading →

Peanut Butter Paves

It was 2007.  San Francisco.  Coconut butter had just come on the scene.  For me, at least.  I stuffed dates with its textured, coconut-fleshy fat goodness and dunked them in chocolate to cool and harden (and soon after, completely devoured). About that time, my friend shared some recipes with that illuminated some alternative fudge-making ways … Continue reading →

Dear Madhupa Maypop, Thank you & Farewell

I finally got around to changing the name of my website. Many of you know about my site, Madhupa Maypop. There have been so many mispronunciations and question marks about this name, that it’s just high time to change it. And, it’s high time to step into my own name. It’s newness. It’s rightness. It’s … Continue reading →

Wintertime Motto: An Ounce of Prevention

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  ~ Benjamin Franklin Every winter, I sense that the viruses going around — flus and colds — well, I sense that they are getting worse.  Partly, I blame the hyper-speed we Americans seem to move at (especially during the holidays).  I also look to our … Continue reading →

Wart Story: Blistering Beatles vs. Vinegar

…a little story about the virtues of a common household item, vinegar…the discomfort of the blister beetle, and the ridiculousness of our medical system (anyone experienced the tangled web that is our health care?)… I’ll try to make this short (insert Pinocchio’s growing nose here). As you all know, I’m an herbalist. If I can … Continue reading →

Cordage and a Worthwhile Hand Cramp

I did get a hand cramp.  But, it was worth it. Let me back up a bit. Working with my hands has always been healing.  And, recently, I had the chance to learn something new…something I had been wanting to learn…basic cordage making. My first imprint of the process was at a Chumash Cultural Day … Continue reading →