How’s your New Year going? If you’re already feeling suffocated by the treadmill that is our chaotic days, I offer this book titled On Rising: Recipes and Rituals for Joyful Mornings by today’s guest, Deborah Johnson. 

Reading Deborah’s book was like unwrapping a series of small, beautifully wrapped, delightful gifts. As I turned each page, I didn’t know if I would be greeted with another intriguing recipe, gorgeous image, personal essay, or invitation to rethink my rituals in a way that would, as Deborah says, “take responsibility for my thought life.”

Along with other thought-provoking quotes, Deborah includes this insightful conversation between those great sages, Piglet and Pooh:

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "What's the first thing you say to yourself?" 

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?" 

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet. 

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.

Throughout the pages of On Rising, Deborah gently - but ever so practically - invites us to create mornings full of Piglet’s peaceful wonder and excitement. Her invitation is so warm, empathetic, and actionable, you’ll find it difficult to turn down!

But also, like Pooh, Deborah recognizes that food can be an essential part of creating Piglet’s mornings full of excitement and wonder. Therefore, she offers us over 50 amazing recipes - many inspired by her Mexican heritage - to nourish ourselves and our loved ones. (And I tagged about 45 to try.