Let’s face it, 2020 has been a challenging year. Joining together with friends and family has never been so complicated. But should that stop us from connecting? Absolutely Not!

And Shelley Wizen totally agrees. She is the author of What Do You Bring to the Table? A Savory, Sensory and Inspirational Guide to Living a Yummy Delicious Life. She also happens to be certified in various techniques; life coaching, end of life trainer, as well as co-founder of many non-profits and founder of Soul Diving Institute, just to name a few.

Turning her attention to food and cooking is a logical step on her path to helping people have a better life.

Her solution to the challenge of connecting is to take a creative approach with food, friends & family, and life. This includes being mindful of our thoughts, and nurturing others and ourselves with food and, of course love.

In her latest book Shelley’s dishes up her bouquet of ideas which will help you discover your inner power to positively affect others and live a delicious life, simply and effectively. Her food is bright and sprightly; her ideas the same, with a huge scoop of inspiration thrown in.

I was introduced to Shelley via an online cooking demonstration sponsored by Melissa’s Produce.

The first thing I noticed about Shelley was her vibrant spirit, and her passion, which jumps from the screen. Click here to watch her make Mike’s Mediterranean Chopped Salad and her Butternut Squash Ginger Carrot Instinct Soup.

What Do You Bring to the Table? is a book to nourish your soul, fuel your mind, and feed your body. Each chapter offers Bite-Size Reminders to ponder, Happy Mindful Meditations to shift your thoughts, and delicious recipes to create, and more.

The Happy Mindful Meditations

Take a look at these: If you are stressed out before making a meal, use one of Shelly’s meditations. These short breaks before you cook will help you to stay aware of your thoughts so you can shift your thinking, allow yourself to be fully present and then have a great experience while you are cooking. Here are a few of my favorites.

• Sitting with stillness by allowing yourself a moment to pause, breathe and relax
• Listening to music that soothes the soul and quiets the mind
• Looking at a photo that inspires wonderful memories
• Create a sanctuary by surrounding yourself with things you love
• Smile for no good reason and hold it for a couple minutes

And these….

Bite Size Re-Minders

I REMEMBER;

• to transform my thoughts, by changing my perspective
• to let go of negative thoughts before I cook
• to nourish my relationships, starting with the one I have with myself
• my home is a reflection of my heart and I will only bring in objects I love
• to bring gratitude, love, joy and fun to whatever I do with an open heart

Throughout this book you will read about the importance of focusing on healthy thoughts to better navigate your human experiences with a sense of ease and grace. All I thought when I read it was: “Count me in.”

I jumped in with this yummy Avocado Toast Tapenade recipe. I appreciate the unique blend of flavors in this fun twist on tapenade. This is Shelley’s granddaughter’s favorite recipe. I hope it becomes yours too.

Shelley encourages people to use their instinct when cooking. “Instinct Cooking” is a term Shelley has coined to encourage everyone to use their own intuition in adding to the recipes, finding their own particular tastes and making them their own.

So I used a black rye for the base instead of whole wheat, spicy pickles in place of cucumbers and topped it all off with radish chips. Use what you have and make it your own.

If you are avoiding carbs, try putting the toppings on a radish chip for a unique appetizer.

TIP: You can make radish chips paper-thin with a mandolin. Put slices in a bowl and cover with ice and cold water. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

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Avocado Toast Tapenade

Avocado Toast Tapenade is a yummy, easy, pretty and nourishing recipe with a unique blend of flavors in this fun twist on tapenade.

Servings 4

Author Shelley Whizin

Ingredients

• 3 ripe avocados pitted & scooped out of their shell
• 24 pitted black olives chopped and drained
• 2 tsps. fresh cilantro finely chopped
• 3 tsps. fresh lemon juice
• 4 Persian cucumbers peeled & finely chopped
• 10 cherry tomatoes chopped into small pieces
• 1 Pinch Everything but the Bagel Seasoning from Trader Joe's
• 1 Handful of greens of your choice finely chopped
• 4 pieces whole grain bread toasted

Optional

• 3 radishes thinly sliced

Instructions

1. In a food processor, combine the avocado, olives, cilantro and lemon, and pulse until smooth. Spread the tapenade on the toast, top with the cucumber, chopped tomatoes, chopped greens, radishes and serve.

Recipe Notes

Serves 4
Prep time: 20 minutes

Shelly teaches when you bring unconditional love to the table of life and in your kitchen when you are cooking, love seeps into the food and you can feel it when you eat. Love is palpable. Sprinkle it, lavishly pour it, or use extravagant amounts of it in everything you cook.

“It’s your life. Enjoy the journey. And remember to bring love into everything you do.” – Shelley Whizin
…and then, she paused for thought.