Greetings! Doesn't Spring feel fabulous? I have apples and pear trees blossoming and out my front window a flowering cherry (planted in honor of my mom) just about to burst. It's a continuous toss-up to spend time in the kitchen and time in the garden. I am blessed to have both.

Here's me demonstrating almond milk at my recent retreat. We had a great kitchen to work/teach/learn in and gorgeous spring weather just outside. Once again - hard to choose.

But I've promised recipes. Last month I made a recipe several times for different classes and demos and even though we're moving out of "root season" it's tempting to just keep a good thing going.

The "heart healthy" theme of February was the original inspiration. Turns out there are so many of my favorite foods that are cholesterol lowering (flax, garlic, olive oil, onion, cayenne, cinnamon, walnuts), super anti-oxidant (beets, green tea, figs, citrus) and loaded with magnesium, potassium and other alkalynizing minerals (leafy greens!)

Roasted Beet Carpaccio w/ Blood orange, Watercress and Horseradish

serves 6

5 medium beets, scrubbed and stems trimmed - use a variety if available

1/4 C. water

4 blood oranges, peeled and sectioned

1 small shallot, minced

2 t. olive oil

1 tsp. lemon juice

fresh ground pepper

handful baby watercress or other micro greens

1/2 C. creme fraiche

1/4 C. prepared (or 2 T. fresh grated) horseradish

Preheat oven to 375º F. Place beets in shallow baking dish. Pour water in the pan and cover tightly with foil. Roast until beets are pierced easily with tip of a sharp knife, about 45 minutes.

Remove pan from the oven and let beets cool. Wearing gloves, peel cooled beets (skins will slide right off). Then slice into thinnest rounds using a mandoline, V-slicer or a very sharp knife. Divide beet slices among 6 plates, arranging in overlapping circular pattern.

Peel and section blood oranges over a bowl to catch juices. Measure out 2 T. orange juice and pour into a small bowl. Add shallot, lemon juice, pepper and pinch of salt. Whisk in olive oil.

Mix together horseradish and creme fraiche.

Divide water cress and blood orange segments among the plates of beets, mounding them in the center. Drizzle with dressing, then a dollop of horseradish mixture.

Serve immediately.

Recipe for Connection

A few weeks back I called together a group of friends that all have their own businesses, services, practices and works with the intent of creating a small referral network. We met at Café Gratitude, sampled some of their food, drinks and desserts while we went around and introduced ourselves, what we do and directions we're of going in. I thought I would share them with you here and maybe their profiles will strike a chord with you or someone you know. I will keep you posted if we meet again and perhaps you will join us!

To date we are: Check us out! Enjoy!

Christine Bandettini San Rafael christine@thelightfoundation.org

Christine teaches restorative and breath/hatha yoga, ayurvedic nutrition/cooking for self-healing and mind/body fitness. She can help you find the yoga postures for your dosha type and foods that cause less toxins in the body. Her range of clients runs from kids with Down's Syndrome, couples and intimacy, through geriatrics. She teaches meditation for stress reduction as well as tools for working through the emotions.

Nancy Bennett San Anselmo www.fengshuiperceptions.com

Nancy specializes in mind and body feng shui, energy clearing and interior/exterior home- business-community analysis. She offers classes and talks as well as treatments. In addition to these practices, she is a life long musician, playing piano in the "We Three Trio" along with a cellist and clarinetist.

Christine DeCamp Pt. Reyes Station www.christinedecamp.com

Christine is a long-time painter and ceramicist specializing in dreamlike images of women, animals and nature. She has had her work published in "Inquiring Mind" magazine among other publications. Currently along with maintaining a studio in Pt. Reyes, she sells her work at the Marin Farmer's Market and various open studios around the county. She puts her new work on her blog which you can visit at passionforpainting.blogspot.com and sells through Etsy at christinedecamp.etsy.com

Hari Lubin Greenbrae hari@mcn.org

Hari is a master practitioner of "Emotional Freedom Technique" or EFT, a uniquely gentle approach to letting go of unresolved negative emotions, beliefs and feelings that get in the way of living a more fulfilled life. In addition to his private practice with individuals and couples, he volunteers one day a week working with male prisoners at San Quentin. He is deeply insightful and supportive as he imparts his wisdom through his practice.

Catherine Abby Rich Larkspur medicinewoman2006@gmail.com

Catherine Abby is a life-long herbalist extraordinaire. She is currently offering Spring Herb Walks (in the next few weeks) and will be starting her hands-on herbal apprenticeship - a series of 4 all-day wild gathering and medicine making. Send her your e-mail to be contacted about this opportunity to study with our own local treasure! In addition to the herbs, her latest modality of diagnosis and treatments is using all natural medicine Quantum Biofeedback and the Pulse device used for mitigating pain,

inflammation and other markers of dis-ease. She has recently joined the practice of Dr. Lois Johnson of Santa Rosa who specializes in herbal medicine in her oncology practice.

Delisa Sage San Rafael collage-gallery.com

Delisa, a collage artist in her own right, has owned and operated her shop in Potrero Hill, San Francisco for over 16 years. She lends her unique artistic eye to interior design, home staging, remodeling and merchandising. She recently expanded her shop to the space next door where she is now carrying locally designed and collected clothing on consignment. Her collage workshops which she offers in her fabulous vintage home in Gerstle Park are full for months in advance.

Michael Sage San Rafael atmospherestaging.com

Michael's career has included home inspection, remodel and pre-sale consulting, finish carpentry, project management, staging and interior design. He is looking at moving from physical construction into more consulting and management. But what he really dreams of doing is being a full time musician! Teaching piano, operating a recording studio and restoring music from film and video are a few of the projects that are calling to him at this time.

Jennifer Una San Anselmo www.passionpalate.com

Jennifer is working as a personal chef for persons with special dietary limitations, needs and/or challenges. She does chef food demos at farmer's markets in Santa Rosa, Berkeley and the South Bay. She just completed the first "Kitchen as Sacred Space" hands-on culinary retreat at Harbin Hot Springs and is scheduling the next one for late summer- early fall. She maintains a website and blog that shares weekly recipes and more details on her services, products, projects and events.