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There’s a beautiful scripture from Psalm 119:133, “Order my steps in thy word; and let not any inequity have dominion over me.”
Those who know me know that I am not a religious person. I have never been; unless you count that week of my childhood when I would come home from Christian day-camp and set up a white board to teach my mother and step-father about God, and Jesus, and the Holy Ghost.
But I’ve always been drawn to that scripture. Perhaps it’s because I’m the type of person who craves meaning in my decisions. I follow my heart, even when it takes me down unconventional roads. For example, I studied acting in college though my parents warned me against it. I decided on a performance art BFA instead of an acting BFA simply because I wanted to spend my semester abroad in Madrid, not the required London. I let go of my career as an actress once the passion had died, and allowed my growing love of food take its place. And today I crave something a little different, something more intellectually stimulating. Should I go back to school? What would I study? Could I balance my current career with an interesting hobby? Do I just need a set change?
None of this is clear to me.
These last few months have been some of the most difficult of my life. At the same time these months have forced me to find the joy of simplicity. My anxieties race through my mind occasionally exploding into particles of peace and simplicity. Awareness and presence. Clouds part. I can chill.
Table of Contents
Simplicity
“And let not any inequity have dominion over me.” Let not vanity have power over me. Let me not be drawn into the desires, expectations, and preoccupations of the world in which I live. Let me be guided by my higher wisdom. Let me live simply in the present, the unknown, that mysterious feeling of being alive.
My joy of simplicity comes from whisking matcha in a bowl, feeling my kitty’s weight at the foot of the bed, placing my prayered palms at the spot that is my third eye, and reading a good book.
As I contemplate the next steps of my journey I ask myself what do I desire to experience in my life. For almost 3 decades I have been asking myself “what do I want?”, but the answer to that question is “I want to experience life.” Thus the logical next question is, “experience what?”. How can one decide in the midst of a constant tug-of-war for your attention, and you’ve forgotten what it means to truly experience the moment.
Simplicity my friend. Quiet, clean, inner simplicity.
This Thanksgiving I am most grateful for my roller coaster ride of a year. I traveled to Japan which was certainly a high, and I tripped into the darkness of my mind, which was certainly a low. Despite the ups and downs, for the first time in 4 years I am able to experience life again, and allow myself to be guided past inequity as I bathe in the joy of simplicity.
The following simple sweet potato cauliflower soup recipe is from my digital cookbook 5 Ingredient Vegan.
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Sweet Potato Cauliflower Soup (Creamy, Vegan, and Delicious!)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup grapeseed oil, or avocado oil, divided
- 1 large head of cauliflower, chopped
- 2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 3 cups)
- 1 tsp fine sea salt, plus more to taste
- 2 shallots, minced
- 4 cups vegetable broth
- ½ cup water
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F, and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add the cauliflower and sweet potatoes to a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with 3 tablespoons of the grapeseed oil and toss to coat evenly.
- Spread the vegetables evenly on the baking sheet, and sprinkle with the sea salt.
- Roast for 30 minutes, or until tender and caramelized around the edges.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the minced shallots and sauté for 3–4 minutes, or until translucent.
- Add the roasted sweet potatoes and cauliflower, vegetable broth, water, and thyme. Stir well to combine, then bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and carefully purée the soup until smooth using an immersion blender, or transfer it to an upright blender and blend in batches.
- Season to taste with sea salt and black pepper.
Notes
- Cut the veggies into uniform pieces so everything roasts evenly.
- Don’t crowd the pan. If the vegetables are packed too tightly they’ll steam instead of caramelize — use two baking sheets if you need to.
- Take caution when blending. Let the soup cool slightly first. If you’re using a high-speed blender, vent the lid and drape it with a clean dish towel to prevent dangerous splattering.
- Adjust the consistency. Add more broth or water a few tablespoons at a time if the soup is thicker than your preference after blending.
- Season to taste after simmering. Salt is essential to the soup’s flavor, so don’t be shy. If the soup tastes bland, it needs more.
- Delicious variations: Add a peeled, cubed apple to the veggies before roasting for sweetness; toss a few unpeeled garlic cloves onto the sheet pan and squeeze them into the pot for nutty savoriness; add diced celery with the shallots for earthiness; swap the sweet potatoes for butternut or kabocha squash; or play around with dried herbs (rosemary, Herbes de Provence).
- Toppings: A swirl of coconut milk, toasted pepitas, crispy chickpeas, or fresh herbs.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Did you enjoy this simple sweet potato cauliflower soup? Leave a comment below!
Fantastic! I’m so glad you enjoyed 🙂
Nice!! I’m glad to hear it, Renee!!
Thank you Zenorah! What a beautiful name 🙂