With this unique gift of time, these last 2+ months, I’ve delighted in creating, manifesting and dreaming. The color green connotes many different things to different people: evoking feelings of abundance, refreshment, peace and security. Green is a heart balancer, and is the color of growth, spring and renewal. The word fresh truly comes to mind, like early morning dew.

MORNING DEW

In this Spring Greens blog journey, my hope is to conjure sensations for you, as I share my thoughts, through photos, a nutritious and unique new recipe, and some juicy jewelry shots, linking to my Nymph Jewels website.

The awakening innocence of Spring is here. Everywhere there is a symphony of sprouting from underground revealing itself for the first time this year. Green is all around us, and it feels so good.

I have hostas blooming as I write; the unfurling of their beautiful leaves are magnified by the drops of dew having landed from the early morning mist. Just look at those curly leaves as they grow.

SPROUTING HOSTA

UNFURLING FERN

As fresh and balanced as can be, the baby fern above change daily from the first sprout into the maturity level it will retain through late fall. Then the delicate leaves begin to tire. Spring green has a lot of yellow in it, indicating its lack of growth and maturity. There is such an automatic refreshing sense when gazing on the vegetation this time of the year.

EAT YOUR GREENS

Green foods are rich in minerals and have some of the most essential nutrients. Calcium, potassium, magnesium, Vitamins B,C,E and K are found in green foods – all of which are vital to your body’s health. Green foods protect the immune system and fight off bacteria as well as viruses. The Spring season is a host to some of the most unique green vegetables generally in abundance this time of the year.

My obsession with artichokes is no secret. Somehow, I have found them to be bountiful and available longer than just this season. I’ve prepared them at least 9 times in the past several months. My weekly staple. Not tedious-free, but still rather therapeutic to prepare, in a sense. The photo below reflects the 3 stages of the green beast. Filled with fiber, the artichoke can help regulate blood pressure, lower cholesterol, helps lower blood sugar, and definitely offers anti-cancer effects.

The recipe I follow was  created by my Grandmother, and has been a family tradition for several holidays ever since. Me? I just feel so secure and healthy knowing I can reheat them anytime, once they’ve been stuffed. The stuffing consists of a mixture of  browned ground beef, bread crumbs, Parmesan/Romano grated cheese, many cloves of garlic, parsley, oregano, basil, marjoram, salt and pepper. If you’d like full directions, please email me.

The recipe below is a terrific way to combine several different green vegetables in one dish. This was a new one for me which I made this week. It was delectable! The recipe is prepped in 3 stages.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Miso Curry

The ingredients for the paste:

• 4 garlic cloves sliced
• 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 Tbs miso paste
• 2 tsp curry powder
• 2 tsp fresh ginger or powder
• 5 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• salt, pepper

Remaining ingredients:

• 4 skinless chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/2 lb. haricot vert
• 1/2 lb. stringless sugar snap peas ( available at Market Basket in a bag)
• 3/4 cup fresh English peas ( or frozen)

Basically, mix the first group of ingredients with some of the olive oil to make the paste and set aside. Then saute the chicken- brown on one side, turn them and cook slightly. Remove to plate.

Then saute all of the beans and sugar snaps together in olive oil until just starting to get soft. Do not over cook. Remove into another plate. Heat the Miso Curry paste in a pan, stirring, then add water- about 1/2 cup- until completely blended and heated. Pour the contents from both set aside plates along with your peas. Stir gently until they have melded together and look like the photo below!

WEAR YOUR GREENS 

And then here are the green gems to adorn your body,  speaking to your heart (chakra),  protecting the spirit, and making you sizzle inside. By placing the jewelery on your neck, ears, wrists etc. The collage of healing gemstone jewelry below offers a variety of green tones. All of the pieces below are available through the Nymph Jewels Shoppe.

Take a peek! The first collage represents true spring green. The left piece with the diamond Hamsa is a combination of peridot and rainforest jasper. The larger piece is a combination of green rutilated quartz and diamond pendant with a long stone collection of green quartz, varying in tones. Rainforest Jasper is a great communication aid for speaking and listening. The stone induces patience for really hearing the other person, and receiving with an open mind. Peridot is known to enhance confidence. It unblocks stuck energy and increases mind awareness.

Green quartz opens and stabilizes the heart chakra, inspires creativity, and unleashes memory blocks. Rutilated quartz in this tone is very rare. The deep green rutile needles brings vibrations of hope- not to forget, Green promotes Hope- all around. Emotionally your dark moods can be soothed when wearing this piece. For more details click here.

And for a varying option, I am showing you the greens with a tinge of blue influence as portrayed below.  The Turquoise necklace has tones of greens within the turquoise, adding more depth.  The Tibetan turquoise is not that common, and offers protection and strengthening to the wearer. It also enhances communication.

The unique necklace with emeralds ( May birthstone) and deep green tassles evokes inspiration and infinite patience. Emeralds open the heart chakra, and enhance the unity of unconditional love.

Lastly, the beautiful Chroprase earrings are hung on 18k gold earwires- and for details, again as with all of these green hued pieces you may fine the listings on my website.

I hope you enjoyed my journey into the realm of greens.

Please stay safe, and enjoy this fresh season of Spring, with awareness of all of the beauty surrounding us everywhere. Just don’t forget to keep your mind, heart and eyes open!

Until we meet again, I remain,

Yours in joy,