Henny Penny Farmette

During the global pandemic of Covid-19 (caused by a novel form of the corona virus), each of us are challenged to stay healthy, protect our loved ones, and not contribute to the spread of the disease.

Many of us have family members and pets to care for. Some of us have grandparents and babies living with us. Others might have to rely on the outside help of caregivers who must enter our homes. Sheltering in place can be taxing on the physical, mental, and emotional levels, especially with many people to care for and much to do even as we remain hyper vigilant about protecting everyone.

When it’s difficult to find a moment to ourselves or when we’re living alone and finding the isolation hard to bear, suggestions for self-care might be just the thing to give us each day a new focus.

Order a copy of The Self-Care Planner for ideas about how to care for yourself. https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Self-Care-Planner/Meera-Lester/9781507211649

Self-care is a powerful tool for having a successful, meaningful, and joyful life. Regularly taking time to nourish your body, mind, and spirit helps you be more productive, improves confidence, enhances self-esteem, and ensures more meaningful relationships. You can start on any day in any moment.

Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s an act of love.

While you await the delivery of your copy (which might be delayed during this pandemic), observe the following mandates for protecting yourself and your loved ones and stay informed.

1. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with your hands.

2. Use a bent elbow in which to cough or sneeze. If using a tissue, dispose of it after use.

3. Wash hands thoroughly and often with soap and water. Use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water are not available.

4. If you are symptom-free but exposed, self isolate for 14 days.

5. If you have symptoms, call your doctor for advice.

6. Follow the rules set forth by your local and national authorities and community public health leaders.

A NOTE ABOUT THE SELF-CARE PLANNER

The book is a unique weekly guide to prioritize YOU. You’ll discover activities for Body, Mind, and Spirit that reinforce each month’s empowerment theme. This one-of-a-kind guide lets you start caring for yourself at any time, on any day, during any week or month of the year. You will set monthly intentions and create your own workable schedule. You’ll find space at the end of each month to journal about personal insights, breakthroughs, or successful achievements.

Using THE SELF-CARE PLANNER, you are answerable only to yourself. Take time, have fun, and enjoy the process of becoming more  self-aware and healthier as you achieve the life you want. This book is a perfect gift for yourself or others who often do too much but especially now with new demands on you.

The book may have activities that involve others in your community. For those activities wait until local and national public health authorities say it is safe to mingle with others. For now, however, the nation has been instructed to practice social distancing.

Stay well, practice basic protective measures, and look for the positives. Life goes on. Honor and bless your body so it may carry you forward in good health to achieve your dreams.

What could be a healthier self-care act than eating an apple? On my way to do chores yesterday, I bumped against the Fuji apple tree, knocking off several. After finishing my chores, I picked up the apples and plucked a few more to take back to the kitchen. Fuji apples (like Cortland, Macintosh, and other firm varieties) are crisp and juicy and hold their shape during baking. Plus, they’re good for you.

Apples are a rich source of dietary fiber and are loaded with antioxidants. They are considered among the healthiest foods because apples decrease the risk for diabetes and thrombotic stroke as well as lower levels of LDL or bad cholesterol.

According to research done at Cornell University, eating an apple a day may help prevent breast cancer. Some compounds in apples are thought to aid in weight loss and lower blood pressure as well.

Inside the house, I ran through my apple recipes. Should I make pie, an apple crisp, crumble, kuchen bars, cake, or some other apple dessert? Pie seemed the simplest. Also, a pie only uses six or eight apples. I could keep the other apples as fresh snacks.

Instead of a regular pie crust, I made a pate brisee in my food processor and chilled the dough for a half-hour before rolling it out into the bottom crust. In lieu of a top layer of pie crust over the apples, I made a crumb topping using oatmeal and brown sugar with a little flour and butter.

The pie turned out delicious. The crumb topping added a little crunch to the softened apple filling and tender, flaky crust. I could have made it even crunchier with the addition of chopped walnuts or pecans.

APPLE PIE with CRUMB TOPPING RECIPE

Ingredients:

8 firm apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch of ground mace

Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

2 Tablespoons of cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit

Position your pastry round over an 8-inch pie plate and press in place. Trim the pastry and crimp the edges.

Toss the apple slices with the spices and sugar and fill the crust. Dot with the butter. Cover the apples with the crumb topping and bake for 45 minutes (cover with aluminum foil during the last five or ten minutes to keep the topping from burning).  Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.

CRUMB TOPPING RECIPE

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter

3/4 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

Directions:

Place butter and flour in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the mixture becomes like a coarse and crumbly. Add the oatmeal and brown sugar and pulse with the butter/flour mixture until combined. Cover pie with crumb topping.

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Eating apples is a healthy practice for self care. If you want to learn more about making self-care a priority, check out my latest offering available this fall in time for holiday gift-giving: THE SELF-CARE PLANNER, A  Weekly Guide to Prioritize You.

Learn how to schedule personal time to accomplish your dreams and goals for body, mind, and spirit. You’ll find prompts, reminders, and checklists to help you create and stick to your self-care routine. Put this book on your holiday list and find it online where books are sold and in traditional bookstores everywhere. This holiday season, remind yourself that self-care isn’t selfish. It’s an act of love.

Also, if you enjoy reading about country living, growing heirloom vegetables and fruits, and preparing delicious recipes, check out my cozy mystery series that is chocked full of craft ideas, foods, and wellness tips for humans and pets.

All novels are available online and in bookstores everywhere. They include A BEELINE TO MURDER, THE MURDER OF A QUEEN BEE, and A HIVE OF HOMICIDES (Kensington Publishing, NY).