MUSSELS IN GARLIC, WHITE WINE AND ROSÉ SAUCE WITH RED PEPPERS AND ONIONS
If you love mussels, then this easy recipe is a must try! This is a definite go to for a quick and flavourful seafood dish without the hassle of long preparations and fussy ingredients. Quite frankly, I just wing it, but then had to document my steps and quantities so that I could create this recipe to share with other seafood aficionados!
My love affair with seafood is most likely because of my Portuguese background. I grew up eating seafood simmered in white wine, garlic, onions, parsley and hot pepper paste. Thinking about it makes my mouth water. This particular recipe isn't necessarily a Portuguese dish. I've added a few extra ingredients to make it richer and saucier (yes, that's a word - haha).
I normally serve these mussels over linguine, but of course, you can have them on their own. Just make sure you have something to soak up the sauce (your favourite pasta and/or crusty fresh bread is a match made in heaven). Once all of the mussels are gone, my husband Steve finishes the sauce with a spoon like he's eating soup!
Ingredients
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 yellow onion sliced thin
- 1 red pepper sliced thin
- 2-3 cloves of garlic minced
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 798 ml of good quality roma tomatoes in sauce
- (can be whole, diced or chopped)
- 1 TBSP Portuguese hot pepper paste or 1/2 tsp red pepper
- flakes
- 1 TSP salt (or to taste)
- Fresh ground black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup 35% whipping cream
- Approximately 3 lbs of fresh mussels rinsed and cleaned (discard any open or broken mussels before adding to sauce)
INSTRUCTIONS
Over medium heat, add olive oil to a large dutch oven or large pot. Add onion and pepper and stir occasionally until onions become translucent (about 5 minutes). Add garlic and parsley to the pot and keep mixing for about 30 seconds to ensure garlic doesn't burn.
Carefully add white wine and simmer for about 5-10 minutes over medium heat until alcohol has evaporated and wine has reduced. Add tomatoes, hot pepper paste (or flakes), salt and pepper and stir to combine. Cover with lid and let simmer over medium to low heat for about 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally. If you are serving this dish with pasta, boil the water for your pasta at this point and cook pasta according to directions.
Once sauce has reduced, if desired, take a hand held blender and puree the sauce just a bit to thicken and combine even more. This step is optional, but I like to blend the sauce to incorporate the flavours and break up the tomatoes. Check for seasoning and adjust salt and pepper as needed.
Add whipping cream and allow to come to a gentle boil. Add the cleaned and rinsed mussels and cover for about 10-12 minutes. Stir mussels occasionally.
Once mussels are open, it's time to eat! They don't take long to cook so make sure you don't over cook them or they become a rubbery consistency..... and that's no bueno......Discard any unopened mussels.
Bon appetit!
These delicious pumpkin orange muffins are a must-try recipe that will satisfy your taste buds all year round. Made with the perfect blend of pumpkin, orange, and warm spices, these muffins are easy to make and will bring a touch of autumn to any day.
To make these muffins, you'll need simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, and more. You can even add a touch of Young Living Orange essential oil for an extra burst of flavor. Just make sure to use a trusted brand, like Young Living, that is safe for cooking and baking.
Once the batter is mixed, divide it into muffin cups and bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes. When they come out, you'll be greeted with lightly golden brown muffins that are ready to be enjoyed.
So, whether it's pumpkin spice season or not, give these pumpkin orange muffins a try and indulge in their deliciousness. And if you're in need of some relaxation, don't forget to check out the free Yoga Nidra Guided meditation linked below.
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Get the Most out of your Yoga Nidra Practice!Hey there! I'm so happy you're here! That must mean you've signed up for my FREE Yoga Nidra guided meditation for relaxation! So excited for you. I hope you love it and make time to fit this into your daily self care routine.
If you don't have access yet, you can sign up HERE to start listening right away.
Now that you can listen whenever you want, I want to give you some tips on how to make the most out of your practice.
A main part of Yoga Nidra is creating an affirmation to use as the focus for your meditation. If you haven't listened yet, you will have an opportunity to create an affirmation (positive statement) that aligns with your heart's desire. This is why I love Yoga Nidra so much. It combines relaxation with focusing on a desire that we have to feel a certain way, or accomplish something. I can tell you from experience that it's an unbelievable feeling when you start to see your desire unfold for you in your everyday life!
So....I want to make sure you're getting the most out of your practice each time you do it. Here are three tips for getting the most out of your affirmation:
1. When it's time to create an intention during practice, make sure it's in the PRESENT tense! For example, if your desire is to be healthy and strong, don't say "I will be healthy and strong", or "I want to be healthy and strong". It's much more powerful to state your desire as the truth (as if it's already come true) because when you do that, you'll be in alignment with your desire and not just hoping that one day it will happen.
2. Write that puppy down! When I have a new affirmation that I'm working towards, I write it on a sticky note and post it on my bathroom mirror. That way, I see it in the morning and at night before I go to bed. Don't just wait to practice Yoga Nidra to recite your affirmation, keep that as a focus in your life and watch as it unfolds for you.
3. Keep using the same affirmation. When practicing Yoga Nidra, it helps to keep the same affirmation until it becomes real for you. That's why this practice is so beneficial. It helps you to focus on a desire and to eventually see it realize in your life!
- However, don't feel like you can never switch out your affirmation. Remember, this is your practice and you can use it however it serves you. While I like to work towards my overall desire, sometimes I'm feeling anxious or upset about a certain situation. In this case, I will create a new intention as the focus for my meditation that day to help me overcome my emotions. Then, next time I practice, I go back to my original affirmation.
Ok, so now you have a solid foundation for your affirmation. Here are the three steps again:
- Make sure it's phrased in the present tense
- Write it down so you can remember it (and see it daily)
- Continue to use the same affirmation until it becomes real for you (and then create a new one)...
Enjoy your practice!
If you'd like more insights about Yoga Nidra, check out this post Yoga Nidra Guided Meditation - WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY
Namaste,
xo, Bonnie
*Please note: relaxation and meditation practices may cause you to experience upsetting memories or difficult emotions. While these practices can be a beneficial way to release these emotions and memories, it is important that you check with your health care provider before starting a relaxation/meditation practice if you feel you may have difficulties processing memories and emotions should they come up during practice.
The 5 Ws of Yoga Nidra Guided MeditationOk, so you're either curious about Yoga Nidra, or you've tried a few times, but want to understand it a bit more....I've got you covered!
In this post, I'll highlight the basics of Yoga Nidra.....the 5 Ws if you will.....who, what, where, when and why....
Who
Anyone can practice Yoga Nidra*. No experience is necessary. It's even great for kids. Not to mention my dog Coconut loves to snuggle up to me when I practice during the day. It's a great place to start if you've never practiced meditation or relaxation techniques before because it's so EASY to do.
What
Yoga Nidra is a guided meditation and type of Yoga that can be referred to as Yogic sleep. The purpose is to be guided so you can experience many levels of relaxation. After practicing for a while, you will notice that you float between being conscious and asleep. Yoga Nidra is also helpful to release emotions and focus on something you desire.
Where
There are different ways to practice Yoga Nidra. First of all, make sure you're somewhere quiet to reduce distractions....
Traditionally it's practiced lying down in a supported position. But if you prefer, you can practice sitting up straight in a seated position. Here are some tips on how you can support yourself to be super comfortable:
- When you lie flat on your back, it can cause discomfort in your lower back, so it's important to place something under your knees like a bolster, rolled up towel, blanket or pillow.
- I also like to place yoga blocks or a smaller pillow under my feet if I'm lying on my yoga mat on the floor with my knees supported.
- If you need to place something under your head, just use a very thin pillow. You want to ensure your chin is slightly tucked down towards your chest.
- Lie down with your arms by your side and palms facing up, or hands can rest on the belly.
- Your feet are just a bit more than hip width distance apart and your toes can flop out to the sides.
- I definitely recommend an eye pillow, eye mask or something to cover your eyes to block out the light. Also having something like an eye pillow has a physiological effect on the body and can help you to relax even more.
- It's important to be warm during practice. Sometimes when our bodies relax, our body temperature can go down. Make sure you have a blanket to cover yourself so you are warm.
- You could also practice lying on your side. Just make sure your head and top knee are supported.
When
I'm a huge advocate of practicing whenever you are able to fit it into your schedule. It helps to have a routine so that you can practice daily.
If you don't already have a regular practice, I suggest listening at different times of the day to figure out what suits you best. Some people find it energizing and refreshing, so they prefer the mornings, others find it soothing and calming, so they prefer night time to get them ready for sleep. Others need a break during the day, so it's great to do at your lunch hour to give your body and mind time to unwind.
Once you find a time that works for you, I do recommend practicing daily because you will start to see many benefits after developing a regular practice.
When I first started out, I did it first thing in the morning. I actually did it lying in my bed before I got up. Many people will tell you not to meditate in bed because when you're in bed, your body knows it's for sleeping. But at that point in my life, that's the only time I could do it, so I say whatever helps you start practicing is best. Then later, you can change when and where you practice to suit your routine. Just start any way you can.
Why
Why practice Yoga Nidra anyway? Well, it helps to activate your relaxation response so you can give your body and mind time to unwind, be in the present moment and let go of the other stressors in your life.
I used to think meditation was a waste of time. I didn't understand how "relaxing" and doing "nothing" could actually help you to feel better and make changes in your life. Well, now I know better. When we meditate and give our bodies and mind the time it needs to break free from all of the noise of our regular lives, it can help us to see the bigger picture. New mindsets, ideas and beliefs can emerge when we focus on the present moment (not regretting the past and worrying about the future).
Ok so now you have a pretty good understanding of what Yoga Nidra is all about.....
If you don't already have access to my FREE Yoga Nidra guided meditation for Relaxation, click HERE to get access right away.
I also offer virtual classes and courses. Click below to see my current schedule.
I hope you love practicing Yoga Nidra as much as I do!
Namaste,
xo Bonnie
*Please note: relaxation and meditation practices may cause you to experience upsetting memories or difficult emotions. While these practices can be a beneficial way to release these emotions and memories, it is important that you check with your health care provider before starting a relaxation/meditation practice if you feel you may have difficulties processing memories and emotions should they come up during practice.
Sometimes I wish I was my dog.....
She seems to know how to truly be in the present moment. Like this morning, I was practicing yoga, and guess who showed up on my mat again?? Coconut. She was completely relaxed and didn’t seem to have any other cares in the world.
Then, later on Steve and I decided to go in the hot tub. Although I was enjoying the sunshine and trying to relax on a Sunday afternoon, I couldn’t help but think of all the work I still had waiting for me inside. I was so annoyed with myself. It’s like I couldn’t wait to get out of the hot tub to go and do work!! Why do we ruin perfectly great moments thinking about the future? Then I thought to myself, I rarely go in the hot tub and it’s beautiful out today and I don’t want to waste this opportunity. So I closed my eyes and fully appreciated being in that moment. I’m so happy I did because it felt amazing. I was so grateful that I stopped the negative voice that kept telling me to go back inside and I actually gave myself permission to relax and enjoy my time.
When you take the time to appreciate and notice the moment it seems more real and can put things into perspective.
We spend so much time thinking about the past and worrying about the future. Hopefully this is a reminder to take a few minutes today to appreciate and notice the moment you’re in now.
xo, Bonnie
By the way...if you liked this post, click the link below to get access to my FREE Yoga Nidra Guided meditation for relaxation.
