In the Esalen kitchen, Megan Patterson pays loving homage to her mother with her “cottage porridge” recipe, sharing the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings. “Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, it has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work.”
“Growing up, steel cut oat porridge was a staple in my house — my mom’s favorite breakfast," says Chef Megan Patterson. “When I developed a series of health challenges in early adolescence, my mom turned to food and nutrition as a tool for my healing, beginning our quest for simple and nutritious ways to start the day.”
“We spent many mornings in our favorite local teahouse to chow down our bowls of traditional English porridge elevated with some cacao nibs, goji berries, and local honey alongside our morning green tea. Over the years, our home porridge recipe evolved to integrate these superfoods, inviting other whole grains and seeds to offer more essential vitamins and sustainable digestive fibers, helping to fight my afternoon slumps and tending to my mind and gut connection.
“Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, this porridge has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work. Lovingly called “cottage porridge,” this recipe pays homage to my mom and the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings.”
by Megan Patterson
4 servings
Ingredients
Sweet Topping Ideas
Savory Topping Ideas
Instructions
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
In the Esalen kitchen, Megan Patterson pays loving homage to her mother with her “cottage porridge” recipe, sharing the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings. “Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, it has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work.”
“Growing up, steel cut oat porridge was a staple in my house — my mom’s favorite breakfast," says Chef Megan Patterson. “When I developed a series of health challenges in early adolescence, my mom turned to food and nutrition as a tool for my healing, beginning our quest for simple and nutritious ways to start the day.”
“We spent many mornings in our favorite local teahouse to chow down our bowls of traditional English porridge elevated with some cacao nibs, goji berries, and local honey alongside our morning green tea. Over the years, our home porridge recipe evolved to integrate these superfoods, inviting other whole grains and seeds to offer more essential vitamins and sustainable digestive fibers, helping to fight my afternoon slumps and tending to my mind and gut connection.
“Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, this porridge has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work. Lovingly called “cottage porridge,” this recipe pays homage to my mom and the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings.”
by Megan Patterson
4 servings
Ingredients
Sweet Topping Ideas
Savory Topping Ideas
Instructions
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
In the Esalen kitchen, Megan Patterson pays loving homage to her mother with her “cottage porridge” recipe, sharing the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings. “Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, it has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work.”
“Growing up, steel cut oat porridge was a staple in my house — my mom’s favorite breakfast," says Chef Megan Patterson. “When I developed a series of health challenges in early adolescence, my mom turned to food and nutrition as a tool for my healing, beginning our quest for simple and nutritious ways to start the day.”
“We spent many mornings in our favorite local teahouse to chow down our bowls of traditional English porridge elevated with some cacao nibs, goji berries, and local honey alongside our morning green tea. Over the years, our home porridge recipe evolved to integrate these superfoods, inviting other whole grains and seeds to offer more essential vitamins and sustainable digestive fibers, helping to fight my afternoon slumps and tending to my mind and gut connection.
“Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, this porridge has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work. Lovingly called “cottage porridge,” this recipe pays homage to my mom and the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings.”
by Megan Patterson
4 servings
Ingredients
Sweet Topping Ideas
Savory Topping Ideas
Instructions
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
