A few weeks ago, I renewed my passport. In the process, I dragged out my old passport and couldn't help but reflect on the amazing places I'd visited in the last ten years. My mind whirred with the sites, sounds, and (perhaps most vividly) tastes of dishes I'd eaten across the globe. I smiled thinking of friendships forged across oceans, deepened by conversation and good food, and since-sustained by social media. My heart was thankful for each hug goodbye and each opportunity to explore somewhere new.
While I spent a great deal of time thinking about the places I'd seen and the things I'd done, I hadn't given much thought to how I'd changed in the last 10 years. It wasn't until I saw my new passport photo that I realized how different I am now than the 20 year old version of myself who traveled solo for the first time. As I stared in the face of my new passport photo, the woman staring back seemed confident, healthy, and content. My old passport photo showed a girl who looked tired, unsure, and not super healthy. I was blown away at the difference that good sleep, exercise, meditation, prayer, self-kindness, grace, balance, and self-care could make! It's been quite the journey to make these changes in the last few years, and one tiny 2x2" photograph was all the confirmation in the world to keep on the path I was on :)
In light of embracing balance and self-care, I decided to treat myself to a long weekend of doing things that made me happy and that I wanted to do. I indulged in some guilty pleasures (I'm a big fan of hot dogs), and also made myself some super healthy smoothie bowls. I spent an entire day purging things I didn't need and another day laying on the beach reading. I also treated myself to my favorite summertime activity--strawberry picking.
I picked a total of 11 lbs of strawberries in all and I have major plans for all of them! I'll likely make some acai bowls, some sorbet, freeze some, and then save the tiny guys for some strawberry preserves from my pal Autumn's new book, Beyond Canning.
To keep the theme of balance and treat yo self going, I'm also adding strawberries into the mix to celebrate one of my favorite national food holidays, National Donut Day! To celebrate the balance of indulging and eating on the lighter side, I made baked donuts instead of fried (compromise, amiright?). These are pretty closely adapted from a recipe in Saveur, only instead of using 1/2 cup chopped strawberries, I used a combo of strawberries and raspberries. (head on over to Saveur for the recipe!)
To make the glaze, I simmered 1/3 cup chopped rhubarb in 1/2 cup prosecco until the rhubarb broke down and got nice and mushy. I strained the liquid from the solids and added the liquid to 2 cups powdered sugar, and a tablespoon of corn syrup. I gave that a good whisk and then dipped my donuts and placed them on a cooling rack to let the glaze run off :)
How do you treat yourself? Do you have a favorite donut recipe? Leave a link in the comments! Happy #NationalDonutDay!