Last Post of the 2008! (December 31, 2008)

Happy New Year! The fog is lifting. Last week’s birth of the Sun (or, as some interpret it, birth of the son) and the passing of the Long Night’s Moon have rekindled my spirit. December was a month of a raging unconscious and the reflection that naturally accompanies the earthward turning of the darkness – and the holidays. Now that the New Year is nearly official, I feel the momentum of the wheel surge beneath my seat. The city has felt quiet today, but now the buzz is growing, stirring – kind of like a hospital corridor as we await delivery of a newborn. I feel anxious and hopeful… and excited because I am seeing Patti Smith in an hour.

Therefore I’m going to get right to my resolutions. I make (and break) resolutions every day of my life, but here are a few very doable ones that I’ll post up here for integrity. (I’ll probably add and amend post-Patti.) Part of me feels like New Years’ is just any other day, and part of me recognizes the importance of celebrating this time-marker. Kind of like the mix that was in the stereo of my car when I went home to my mom’s house last week – I had made this mix in December 2002 and sure, some things in my life are similar to that girl’s life – I had just moved to NYC and Phish had just reunited – but otherwise it was like listening to the mix of a stranger. I didn’t even recognize most of the songs until the vocals entered. That girl’s country wasn’t six years into war, that girl hadn’t moved cross-country (twice), that girl hadn’t changed schools (thrice), that girl’s planet had six years less pollution, that girl hadn’t toured or even performed…. As time spirals on, it’s important to pause in those coils and take note of growth and changes of direction. So here’s my resolution-mixtape for 2009:

1. REST. This includes but is not limited to SLEEP.
2. Read less (see #1).
3. No more swearing. For real. It is so unattractive and it creates nothing beautiful or useful, though it can be fun sometimes.
4. Improve my French. Return to France.
5. Finally organize the 5000+ tour pictures clogging my hard drive and share them with you.
6-10. Tend to my works-in-progress – the 24 GB of music and 519 pages also clogging my hard drive – and share them with you. After I whittle them down of course.

#1. I’ve made a lot of progress on the first – making room for quiet – in 2008. This fall I started to count my hours of sleep a week, with a goal of 56 (or an 8 hour/night average). It took me a couple months to hit 50 (at first I wasn’t even clearing 40) and now I’m pretty even. Also, during the day, when I find myself beginning to spiral too quickly I lie down for 20 minutes or so. It helps my focus. And if I’m out in the city, rather than lie down on the sidewalk, I pop into a church, library, or other quiet space. Today I was walking by Grace Church (so beautiful and it always reminds me of Jeff Buckley) during the horizontal snow storm and the sign prescribed just the thing I was looking for:

You don’t have to be Christian to visit churches, just quiet and respectful. I do not follow religions, but I follow my spirit and it is often attracted to sacred spaces – there’s something remarkable about entering a place where so many people have cast their prayers/wishes/hopes/spells/thanks. I find the echoes of those spirits very inspiring. But I guess that’s why those words share the same root – spirare (oh yes, I must remember to breathe, too). Three Jewels Dharma Center near Astor Place welcomes visitors to use their rooms for meditation practice when classes aren’t in session. They also have some great books… which I am not reading.

#2. My vow to read less also has to do with nurturing the silence and creating space in my life. In 2008 I cut out all television, which was no great feat because the truth is that I’ve never liked TV. However, books are a different story (yuk yuk). My goal for 2009 is, once I’m all caught up on the 20+ I’m currently reading, I will only read two books (three tops) at one time. Right now I feel like books are draining me, rather than inspiring. I think it’s because my energy is too scattered – I’m reading about Kabbalah one minute, pesticides the next, the autobiography of a yogi, Neil Young, Canyon de Chelly, human energy systems, Nietzsche, short stories, Greek mythology, deep-sea exploration – it’s all related somehow, but enough is enough. I’ve cut down on my movie-viewing, too, but I am most definitely seeing Wendy and Lucy, Waltz With Bashir, and Slumdog Millionaire in the next couple weeks.

#3 & #4 are self-explanatory. Swearing is ugly. French is beautiful.

#5. I recently changed my screen saver to a random slideshow of my picture files. In a 60-second collage I saw flashes of places I had forgotten – an unexpected sunset at a canyon in Southern Utah, a particularly funky motel outside Houston, a park in California where I apparently took a hike. I want to sort through these before I lose them, like I recently lost 4GB of music files, one of the flash drives I carry around with me.

#6-10. Which leads me to my final resolutions – to clear out all of these works-in-progress and make room for the new! I love writing songs more than anything. However when it comes to practicing and learning the new songs I tend to procrastinate… a lot. Maybe this is residue from years of classical violin training. I do not like to practice. But I really like some of these new songs and I want you to hear them before I lose another flash drive. (Wow, I said I love, I like, and I do not like a lot in this paragraph – maybe I should resolve to be less judgmental and just shut up and play). I’ll be posting new songs over at Golden Delicious in the very near future.

However in the even nearer future I am going to see Patti! Be safe and best wishes for 2009!

Last Post of the 2008! (December 31, 2008)

Happy New Year! The fog is lifting. Last week’s birth of the Sun (or, as some interpret it, birth of the son) and the passing of the Long Night’s Moon have rekindled my spirit. December was a month of a raging unconscious and the reflection that naturally accompanies the earthward turning of the darkness – and the holidays. Now that the New Year is nearly official, I feel the momentum of the wheel surge beneath my seat. The city has felt quiet today, but now the buzz is growing, stirring – kind of like a hospital corridor as we await delivery of a newborn. I feel anxious and hopeful… and excited because I am seeing Patti Smith in an hour.

Therefore I’m going to get right to my resolutions. I make (and break) resolutions every day of my life, but here are a few very doable ones that I’ll post up here for integrity. (I’ll probably add and amend post-Patti.) Part of me feels like New Years’ is just any other day, and part of me recognizes the importance of celebrating this time-marker. Kind of like the mix that was in the stereo of my car when I went home to my mom’s house last week – I had made this mix in December 2002 and sure, some things in my life are similar to that girl’s life – I had just moved to NYC and Phish had just reunited – but otherwise it was like listening to the mix of a stranger. I didn’t even recognize most of the songs until the vocals entered. That girl’s country wasn’t six years into war, that girl hadn’t moved cross-country (twice), that girl hadn’t changed schools (thrice), that girl’s planet had six years less pollution, that girl hadn’t toured or even performed…. As time spirals on, it’s important to pause in those coils and take note of growth and changes of direction. So here’s my resolution-mixtape for 2009:

1. REST. This includes but is not limited to SLEEP.
2. Read less (see #1).
3. No more swearing. For real. It is so unattractive and it creates nothing beautiful or useful, though it can be fun sometimes.
4. Improve my French. Return to France.
5. Finally organize the 5000+ tour pictures clogging my hard drive and share them with you.
6-10. Tend to my works-in-progress – the 24 GB of music and 519 pages also clogging my hard drive – and share them with you. After I whittle them down of course.

#1. I’ve made a lot of progress on the first – making room for quiet – in 2008. This fall I started to count my hours of sleep a week, with a goal of 56 (or an 8 hour/night average). It took me a couple months to hit 50 (at first I wasn’t even clearing 40) and now I’m pretty even. Also, during the day, when I find myself beginning to spiral too quickly I lie down for 20 minutes or so. It helps my focus. And if I’m out in the city, rather than lie down on the sidewalk, I pop into a church, library, or other quiet space. Today I was walking by Grace Church (so beautiful and it always reminds me of Jeff Buckley) during the horizontal snow storm and the sign prescribed just the thing I was looking for:

You don’t have to be Christian to visit churches, just quiet and respectful. I do not follow religions, but I follow my spirit and it is often attracted to sacred spaces – there’s something remarkable about entering a place where so many people have cast their prayers/wishes/hopes/spells/thanks. I find the echoes of those spirits very inspiring. But I guess that’s why those words share the same root – spirare (oh yes, I must remember to breathe, too). Three Jewels Dharma Center near Astor Place welcomes visitors to use their rooms for meditation practice when classes aren’t in session. They also have some great books… which I am not reading.

#2. My vow to read less also has to do with nurturing the silence and creating space in my life. In 2008 I cut out all television, which was no great feat because the truth is that I’ve never liked TV. However, books are a different story (yuk yuk). My goal for 2009 is, once I’m all caught up on the 20+ I’m currently reading, I will only read two books (three tops) at one time. Right now I feel like books are draining me, rather than inspiring. I think it’s because my energy is too scattered – I’m reading about Kabbalah one minute, pesticides the next, the autobiography of a yogi, Neil Young, Canyon de Chelly, human energy systems, Nietzsche, short stories, Greek mythology, deep-sea exploration – it’s all related somehow, but enough is enough. I’ve cut down on my movie-viewing, too, but I am most definitely seeing Wendy and Lucy, Waltz With Bashir, and Slumdog Millionaire in the next couple weeks.

#3 & #4 are self-explanatory. Swearing is ugly. French is beautiful.

#5. I recently changed my screen saver to a random slideshow of my picture files. In a 60-second collage I saw flashes of places I had forgotten – an unexpected sunset at a canyon in Southern Utah, a particularly funky motel outside Houston, a park in California where I apparently took a hike. I want to sort through these before I lose them, like I recently lost 4GB of music files, one of the flash drives I carry around with me.

#6-10. Which leads me to my final resolutions – to clear out all of these works-in-progress and make room for the new! I love writing songs more than anything. However when it comes to practicing and learning the new songs I tend to procrastinate… a lot. Maybe this is residue from years of classical violin training. I do not like to practice. But I really like some of these new songs and I want you to hear them before I lose another flash drive. (Wow, I said I love, I like, and I do not like a lot in this paragraph – maybe I should resolve to be less judgmental and just shut up and play). I’ll be posting new songs over at Golden Delicious in the very near future.

However in the even nearer future I am going to see Patti! Be safe and best wishes for 2009!

Last Post of the 2008! (December 31, 2008)

Happy New Year! The fog is lifting. Last week’s birth of the Sun (or, as some interpret it, birth of the son) and the passing of the Long Night’s Moon have rekindled my spirit. December was a month of a raging unconscious and the reflection that naturally accompanies the earthward turning of the darkness – and the holidays. Now that the New Year is nearly official, I feel the momentum of the wheel surge beneath my seat. The city has felt quiet today, but now the buzz is growing, stirring – kind of like a hospital corridor as we await delivery of a newborn. I feel anxious and hopeful… and excited because I am seeing Patti Smith in an hour.

Therefore I’m going to get right to my resolutions. I make (and break) resolutions every day of my life, but here are a few very doable ones that I’ll post up here for integrity. (I’ll probably add and amend post-Patti.) Part of me feels like New Years’ is just any other day, and part of me recognizes the importance of celebrating this time-marker. Kind of like the mix that was in the stereo of my car when I went home to my mom’s house last week – I had made this mix in December 2002 and sure, some things in my life are similar to that girl’s life – I had just moved to NYC and Phish had just reunited – but otherwise it was like listening to the mix of a stranger. I didn’t even recognize most of the songs until the vocals entered. That girl’s country wasn’t six years into war, that girl hadn’t moved cross-country (twice), that girl hadn’t changed schools (thrice), that girl’s planet had six years less pollution, that girl hadn’t toured or even performed…. As time spirals on, it’s important to pause in those coils and take note of growth and changes of direction. So here’s my resolution-mixtape for 2009:

1. REST. This includes but is not limited to SLEEP.
2. Read less (see #1).
3. No more swearing. For real. It is so unattractive and it creates nothing beautiful or useful, though it can be fun sometimes.
4. Improve my French. Return to France.
5. Finally organize the 5000+ tour pictures clogging my hard drive and share them with you.
6-10. Tend to my works-in-progress – the 24 GB of music and 519 pages also clogging my hard drive – and share them with you. After I whittle them down of course.

#1. I’ve made a lot of progress on the first – making room for quiet – in 2008. This fall I started to count my hours of sleep a week, with a goal of 56 (or an 8 hour/night average). It took me a couple months to hit 50 (at first I wasn’t even clearing 40) and now I’m pretty even. Also, during the day, when I find myself beginning to spiral too quickly I lie down for 20 minutes or so. It helps my focus. And if I’m out in the city, rather than lie down on the sidewalk, I pop into a church, library, or other quiet space. Today I was walking by Grace Church (so beautiful and it always reminds me of Jeff Buckley) during the horizontal snow storm and the sign prescribed just the thing I was looking for:

You don’t have to be Christian to visit churches, just quiet and respectful. I do not follow religions, but I follow my spirit and it is often attracted to sacred spaces – there’s something remarkable about entering a place where so many people have cast their prayers/wishes/hopes/spells/thanks. I find the echoes of those spirits very inspiring. But I guess that’s why those words share the same root – spirare (oh yes, I must remember to breathe, too). Three Jewels Dharma Center near Astor Place welcomes visitors to use their rooms for meditation practice when classes aren’t in session. They also have some great books… which I am not reading.

#2. My vow to read less also has to do with nurturing the silence and creating space in my life. In 2008 I cut out all television, which was no great feat because the truth is that I’ve never liked TV. However, books are a different story (yuk yuk). My goal for 2009 is, once I’m all caught up on the 20+ I’m currently reading, I will only read two books (three tops) at one time. Right now I feel like books are draining me, rather than inspiring. I think it’s because my energy is too scattered – I’m reading about Kabbalah one minute, pesticides the next, the autobiography of a yogi, Neil Young, Canyon de Chelly, human energy systems, Nietzsche, short stories, Greek mythology, deep-sea exploration – it’s all related somehow, but enough is enough. I’ve cut down on my movie-viewing, too, but I am most definitely seeing Wendy and Lucy, Waltz With Bashir, and Slumdog Millionaire in the next couple weeks.

#3 & #4 are self-explanatory. Swearing is ugly. French is beautiful.

#5. I recently changed my screen saver to a random slideshow of my picture files. In a 60-second collage I saw flashes of places I had forgotten – an unexpected sunset at a canyon in Southern Utah, a particularly funky motel outside Houston, a park in California where I apparently took a hike. I want to sort through these before I lose them, like I recently lost 4GB of music files, one of the flash drives I carry around with me.

#6-10. Which leads me to my final resolutions – to clear out all of these works-in-progress and make room for the new! I love writing songs more than anything. However when it comes to practicing and learning the new songs I tend to procrastinate… a lot. Maybe this is residue from years of classical violin training. I do not like to practice. But I really like some of these new songs and I want you to hear them before I lose another flash drive. (Wow, I said I love, I like, and I do not like a lot in this paragraph – maybe I should resolve to be less judgmental and just shut up and play). I’ll be posting new songs over at Golden Delicious in the very near future.

However in the even nearer future I am going to see Patti! Be safe and best wishes for 2009!

Free CD Giveaway and Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas (December 18, 2008)

Congratulations to the winners of the free CD giveaway:

James from Toronto, Ontario
Arnaud from Montpellier, France
Gordon from Scarborough, Ontario
Candice from Utica, New York
Erin from Des Moines, Iowa

Your signed copies of Boys & Eros are on their merry way!

When I announced the CD giveaway to my mailing list last night my inbox was instantly flooded with responses (the first three arrived within a minute of the newsletter delivery! Apparently I’m not the only night bird). It means a lot to know that there are so many of you out there listening and reading. Thank you. It has been such a gift to receive emails from people I met on tour this past year. To all of you who didn’t win, there will be many more giveaways in 2009! Thank you for your sweet notes. This has been such fun. And to those of you who would like to be eligible for future giveaways, including a free song each month, please visit www.laurameyer.net to join the mailing list.

While I’m still wearing my Santa suit, here are some homemade gift ideas that are good for the body and spirit – as well as gentle on the planet (and wallet).

This first recipe is my version of the sublime cocoa-date-nut combination. As with any recipe, the variations are endless, so feel free to experiment with various nuts, seeds, fruits, etc. I usually make things up as I go along, but I think I’ve perfected this one. I always keep a batch on-hand.

Ingredients:

18 organic* medjool dates
2 TBL warm water
3 TBL organic pepitas
3 TBL organic sunflower seeds
6 TBL organic flax seeds
6 TBL organic hemp seeds
6 TBL organic sesame seeds
6 TBL organic 100% cocoa powder
6 TBL organic maple syrup
1 tsp organic vanilla extract
dash of salt
3/4 cup organic coconut

Heat iron skillet and toast pepitas and sunflower seeds with a dash of salt until they are slightly golden. Meanwhile, chop dates and then mash with the warm water. Remove seeds from heat, set aside, and then repeat with flax seeds, toasting until golden. Finally, toast hemp and sesame seeds. When cooled, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder (or food processor) in batches (because the seeds are different sizes, it’s best to work with them separately). Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the date mixture. Then add cocoa powder and ground seeds, mixing well.

Place in refrigerator or freezer to chill briefly. Reheat iron skillet and toast coconut until golden. Remove from heat and cool. Then get your chilled mixture and set yourself up for forming into balls and rolling in coconut with clean hands. I like to use a teaspoon to measure out portions because I’m a big fan of coconut – form into whatever size you like, depending on your preferred coconut ratio.

Use one hand for rolling and the other for dusting (keeping one hand dry makes the process a lot less messy). Set balls onto a plate as you go, and then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to give them away!

I like to place them in mason jars with a swatch of fabric on top, secured by a ribbon – very pretty and reusable/recyclable. You might want to add a tag listing the ingredients, too. (I call these treats “Reindeer Poop,” but depending on your sense of humor and, more importantly, the humor of the recipient, you might want to call them something else, like “Cocoa Date Balls” – how boring).

Another recipe which requires very little ingredients are chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and anything else you can think of. I just made some chocolate-covered tamari almonds. Just melt some organic fair trade vegan chocolate in a double boiler (or just use a bowl over a pan of hot water on the stove, like I do). Dip your nuts and/or fruits in the chocolate and then place on a baking sheet to cool and set. I use chopsticks for dipping. Once you’re finished dipping, place in refrigerator to chill, and then package them in little jars. I’ve also had great results with chocolate bark – so easy! Walnut-dried blueberry-crystalized ginger is my favorite combination. Add all of the above to your melted dark chocolate and then pour onto a cookie sheet, chill, and break into pieces. Almond-cranberry-ginger is good, too. Hazelnuts, pecans, dried cherries, peppermint stick… there are so many possibilities.

I’m putting together little gift baskets with jams and sauces I made at the end of the summer – now I have to go find some ribbon and things to make these pretty. Happy Holidays!

* Why organic? Organic foods may seem more costly at first, but buying organic means less poison for your loved ones, including this beautiful planet we live on and with. You can buy most if not all of these ingredients in bulk form, which is significantly less expensive and also environmentally preferable, as this avoids unnecessary packaging. If you live in Manhattan, I like the 4th Street Co-op, though if you do a Google search you’ll find a lot of options. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s carry many organic varieties, too.

Free CD Giveaway and Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas (December 18, 2008)

Congratulations to the winners of the free CD giveaway:

James from Toronto, Ontario
Arnaud from Montpellier, France
Gordon from Scarborough, Ontario
Candice from Utica, New York
Erin from Des Moines, Iowa

Your signed copies of Boys & Eros are on their merry way!

When I announced the CD giveaway to my mailing list last night my inbox was instantly flooded with responses (the first three arrived within a minute of the newsletter delivery! Apparently I’m not the only night bird). It means a lot to know that there are so many of you out there listening and reading. Thank you. It has been such a gift to receive emails from people I met on tour this past year. To all of you who didn’t win, there will be many more giveaways in 2009! Thank you for your sweet notes. This has been such fun. And to those of you who would like to be eligible for future giveaways, including a free song each month, please visit www.laurameyer.net to join the mailing list.

While I’m still wearing my Santa suit, here are some homemade gift ideas that are good for the body and spirit – as well as gentle on the planet (and wallet).

This first recipe is my version of the sublime cocoa-date-nut combination. As with any recipe, the variations are endless, so feel free to experiment with various nuts, seeds, fruits, etc. I usually make things up as I go along, but I think I’ve perfected this one. I always keep a batch on-hand.

Ingredients:

18 organic* medjool dates
2 TBL warm water
3 TBL organic pepitas
3 TBL organic sunflower seeds
6 TBL organic flax seeds
6 TBL organic hemp seeds
6 TBL organic sesame seeds
6 TBL organic 100% cocoa powder
6 TBL organic maple syrup
1 tsp organic vanilla extract
dash of salt
3/4 cup organic coconut

Heat iron skillet and toast pepitas and sunflower seeds with a dash of salt until they are slightly golden. Meanwhile, chop dates and then mash with the warm water. Remove seeds from heat, set aside, and then repeat with flax seeds, toasting until golden. Finally, toast hemp and sesame seeds. When cooled, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder (or food processor) in batches (because the seeds are different sizes, it’s best to work with them separately). Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the date mixture. Then add cocoa powder and ground seeds, mixing well.

Place in refrigerator or freezer to chill briefly. Reheat iron skillet and toast coconut until golden. Remove from heat and cool. Then get your chilled mixture and set yourself up for forming into balls and rolling in coconut with clean hands. I like to use a teaspoon to measure out portions because I’m a big fan of coconut – form into whatever size you like, depending on your preferred coconut ratio.

Use one hand for rolling and the other for dusting (keeping one hand dry makes the process a lot less messy). Set balls onto a plate as you go, and then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to give them away!

I like to place them in mason jars with a swatch of fabric on top, secured by a ribbon – very pretty and reusable/recyclable. You might want to add a tag listing the ingredients, too. (I call these treats “Reindeer Poop,” but depending on your sense of humor and, more importantly, the humor of the recipient, you might want to call them something else, like “Cocoa Date Balls” – how boring).

Another recipe which requires very little ingredients are chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and anything else you can think of. I just made some chocolate-covered tamari almonds. Just melt some organic fair trade vegan chocolate in a double boiler (or just use a bowl over a pan of hot water on the stove, like I do). Dip your nuts and/or fruits in the chocolate and then place on a baking sheet to cool and set. I use chopsticks for dipping. Once you’re finished dipping, place in refrigerator to chill, and then package them in little jars. I’ve also had great results with chocolate bark – so easy! Walnut-dried blueberry-crystalized ginger is my favorite combination. Add all of the above to your melted dark chocolate and then pour onto a cookie sheet, chill, and break into pieces. Almond-cranberry-ginger is good, too. Hazelnuts, pecans, dried cherries, peppermint stick… there are so many possibilities.

I’m putting together little gift baskets with jams and sauces I made at the end of the summer – now I have to go find some ribbon and things to make these pretty. Happy Holidays!

* Why organic? Organic foods may seem more costly at first, but buying organic means less poison for your loved ones, including this beautiful planet we live on and with. You can buy most if not all of these ingredients in bulk form, which is significantly less expensive and also environmentally preferable, as this avoids unnecessary packaging. If you live in Manhattan, I like the 4th Street Co-op, though if you do a Google search you’ll find a lot of options. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s carry many organic varieties, too.

Free CD Giveaway and Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas (December 18, 2008)

Congratulations to the winners of the free CD giveaway:

James from Toronto, Ontario
Arnaud from Montpellier, France
Gordon from Scarborough, Ontario
Candice from Utica, New York
Erin from Des Moines, Iowa

Your signed copies of Boys & Eros are on their merry way!

When I announced the CD giveaway to my mailing list last night my inbox was instantly flooded with responses (the first three arrived within a minute of the newsletter delivery! Apparently I’m not the only night bird). It means a lot to know that there are so many of you out there listening and reading. Thank you. It has been such a gift to receive emails from people I met on tour this past year. To all of you who didn’t win, there will be many more giveaways in 2009! Thank you for your sweet notes. This has been such fun. And to those of you who would like to be eligible for future giveaways, including a free song each month, please visit www.laurameyer.net to join the mailing list.

While I’m still wearing my Santa suit, here are some homemade gift ideas that are good for the body and spirit – as well as gentle on the planet (and wallet).

This first recipe is my version of the sublime cocoa-date-nut combination. As with any recipe, the variations are endless, so feel free to experiment with various nuts, seeds, fruits, etc. I usually make things up as I go along, but I think I’ve perfected this one. I always keep a batch on-hand.

Ingredients:

18 organic* medjool dates
2 TBL warm water
3 TBL organic pepitas
3 TBL organic sunflower seeds
6 TBL organic flax seeds
6 TBL organic hemp seeds
6 TBL organic sesame seeds
6 TBL organic 100% cocoa powder
6 TBL organic maple syrup
1 tsp organic vanilla extract
dash of salt
3/4 cup organic coconut

Heat iron skillet and toast pepitas and sunflower seeds with a dash of salt until they are slightly golden. Meanwhile, chop dates and then mash with the warm water. Remove seeds from heat, set aside, and then repeat with flax seeds, toasting until golden. Finally, toast hemp and sesame seeds. When cooled, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder (or food processor) in batches (because the seeds are different sizes, it’s best to work with them separately). Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the date mixture. Then add cocoa powder and ground seeds, mixing well.

Place in refrigerator or freezer to chill briefly. Reheat iron skillet and toast coconut until golden. Remove from heat and cool. Then get your chilled mixture and set yourself up for forming into balls and rolling in coconut with clean hands. I like to use a teaspoon to measure out portions because I’m a big fan of coconut – form into whatever size you like, depending on your preferred coconut ratio.

Use one hand for rolling and the other for dusting (keeping one hand dry makes the process a lot less messy). Set balls onto a plate as you go, and then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to give them away!

I like to place them in mason jars with a swatch of fabric on top, secured by a ribbon – very pretty and reusable/recyclable. You might want to add a tag listing the ingredients, too. (I call these treats “Reindeer Poop,” but depending on your sense of humor and, more importantly, the humor of the recipient, you might want to call them something else, like “Cocoa Date Balls” – how boring).

Another recipe which requires very little ingredients are chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and anything else you can think of. I just made some chocolate-covered tamari almonds. Just melt some organic fair trade vegan chocolate in a double boiler (or just use a bowl over a pan of hot water on the stove, like I do). Dip your nuts and/or fruits in the chocolate and then place on a baking sheet to cool and set. I use chopsticks for dipping. Once you’re finished dipping, place in refrigerator to chill, and then package them in little jars. I’ve also had great results with chocolate bark – so easy! Walnut-dried blueberry-crystalized ginger is my favorite combination. Add all of the above to your melted dark chocolate and then pour onto a cookie sheet, chill, and break into pieces. Almond-cranberry-ginger is good, too. Hazelnuts, pecans, dried cherries, peppermint stick… there are so many possibilities.

I’m putting together little gift baskets with jams and sauces I made at the end of the summer – now I have to go find some ribbon and things to make these pretty. Happy Holidays!

* Why organic? Organic foods may seem more costly at first, but buying organic means less poison for your loved ones, including this beautiful planet we live on and with. You can buy most if not all of these ingredients in bulk form, which is significantly less expensive and also environmentally preferable, as this avoids unnecessary packaging. If you live in Manhattan, I like the 4th Street Co-op, though if you do a Google search you’ll find a lot of options. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s carry many organic varieties, too.

Free CD Giveaway and Homemade Holiday Gift Ideas (December 18, 2008)

Congratulations to the winners of the free CD giveaway:

James from Toronto, Ontario
Arnaud from Paris, France
Gordon from Toronto, Ontario
Candice from Utica, New York
Erin from Des Moines, Iowa

Your signed copies of Boys & Eros are on their merry way!

When I announced the CD giveaway to my mailing list last night my inbox was instantly flooded with responses (the first three arrived within a minute of the newsletter delivery! Apparently I’m not the only night bird). It means a lot to know that there are so many of you out there listening and reading. Thank you. It has been such a gift to receive emails from people I met on tour this past year. To all of you who didn’t win, there will be many more giveaways in 2009! Thank you for your sweet notes. This has been such fun. And to those of you who would like to be eligible for future giveaways, including a free song each month, please visit www.laurameyer.net to join the mailing list.

While I’m still wearing my Santa suit, here are some homemade gift ideas that are good for the body and spirit – as well as gentle on the planet (and wallet).

This first recipe is my version of the sublime cocoa-date-nut combination. As with any recipe, the variations are endless, so feel free to experiment with various nuts, seeds, fruits, etc. I usually make things up as I go along, but I think I’ve perfected this one. I always keep a batch on-hand.

Ingredients:

18 organic* medjool dates
2 TBL warm water
3 TBL organic pepitas
3 TBL organic sunflower seeds
6 TBL organic flax seeds
6 TBL organic hemp seeds
6 TBL organic sesame seeds
6 TBL organic 100% cocoa powder
6 TBL organic maple syrup
1 tsp organic vanilla extract
dash of salt
3/4 cup organic coconut

Heat iron skillet and toast pepitas and sunflower seeds with a dash of salt until they are slightly golden. Meanwhile, chop dates and then mash with the warm water. Remove seeds from heat, set aside, and then repeat with flax seeds, toasting until golden. Finally, toast hemp and sesame seeds. When cooled, grind the seeds in a coffee grinder (or food processor) in batches (because the seeds are different sizes, it’s best to work with them separately). Add maple syrup and vanilla extract to the date mixture. Then add cocoa powder and ground seeds, mixing well.

Place in refrigerator or freezer to chill briefly. Reheat iron skillet and toast coconut until golden. Remove from heat and cool. Then get your chilled mixture and set yourself up for forming into balls and rolling in coconut with clean hands. I like to use a teaspoon to measure out portions because I’m a big fan of coconut – form into whatever size you like, depending on your preferred coconut ratio.

Use one hand for rolling and the other for dusting (keeping one hand dry makes the process a lot less messy). Set balls onto a plate as you go, and then store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to give them away!

I like to place them in mason jars with a swatch of fabric on top, secured by a ribbon – very pretty and reusable/recyclable. You might want to add a tag listing the ingredients, too. (I call these treats “Reindeer Poop,” but depending on your sense of humor and, more importantly, the humor of the recipient, you might want to call them something else, like “Cocoa Date Balls” – how boring).

Another recipe which requires very little ingredients are chocolate-covered nuts, fruits, and anything else you can think of. I just made some chocolate-covered tamari almonds. Just melt some organic fair trade vegan chocolate in a double boiler (or just use a bowl over a pan of hot water on the stove, like I do). Dip your nuts and/or fruits in the chocolate and then place on a baking sheet to cool and set. I use chopsticks for dipping. Once you’re finished dipping, place in refrigerator to chill, and then package them in little jars. I’ve also had great results with chocolate bark – so easy! Walnut-dried blueberry-crystalized ginger is my favorite combination. Add all of the above to your melted dark chocolate and then pour onto a cookie sheet, chill, and break into pieces. Almond-cranberry-ginger is good, too. Hazelnuts, pecans, dried cherries, peppermint stick… there are so many possibilities.

I’m putting together little gift baskets with jams and sauces I made at the end of the summer – now I have to go find some ribbon and things to make these pretty. Happy Holidays!

* Why organic? Organic foods may seem more costly at first, but buying organic means less poison for your loved ones, including this beautiful planet we live on and with. You can buy most if not all of these ingredients in bulk form, which is significantly less expensive and also environmentally preferable, as this avoids unnecessary packaging. If you live in Manhattan, I like the 4th Street Co-op, though if you do a Google search you’ll find a lot of options. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s carry many organic varieties, too.

Favorite Music of 2008 – A Holiday Gift Guide (December 16, 2008)

Right now it’s snowing. And this is exciting because 1) snow is exciting and 2) it was t-shirt weather yesterday. Now it’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. A teeny bit. While I’m in the spirit – before Mother Earth’s fever returns – here are my recommendations for this year’s gift-giving:

Favorite Albums of 2008:

In Rainbows – Radiohead
með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust – Sigur Ros
Modern Guilt – Beck
Tell Tale Signs (Bootleg Series Vol. – Bob Dylan
Cardinology – Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
4 – Dungen
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings – Counting Crows
Another Country – Tift Merritt
For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
Last Days at the Lodge – Amos Lee
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Where the Light Is – John Mayer
Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
Asking for Flowers – Kathleen Edwards
Soldier On – Andrew Bird

Favorite Live Shows:

Beck
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Amos Lee
Josh Ritter
Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs
Ellis
Paolo Nutini

Most of these artists have 2009 dates scheduled, so if you’re looking for a special present for a special someone check your local listings. And speaking of recent albums/shows, here are some pictures from Eric Lichter’s OWL album release party:

Eric Lichter:

Sandra Lichter and their beautiful little girl:

A glimpse of the wonderful full house (and me):

The owl:

Thanks again to everyone who came to celebrate Eric’s new album. It was an honor to play for you. Visit Eric on MySpace for info on how to purchase his music, as CDBaby shows they’re out of stock. And if you have other recommendations for 2008 albums please post a comment! I know I’m forgetting some…

Happy Holidays!

Favorite Music of 2008 – A Holiday Gift Guide (December 16, 2008)

Right now it’s snowing. And this is exciting because 1) snow is exciting and 2) it was t-shirt weather yesterday. Now it’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. A teeny bit. While I’m in the spirit – before Mother Earth’s fever returns – here are my recommendations for this year’s gift-giving:

Favorite Albums of 2008:

In Rainbows – Radiohead
með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust – Sigur Ros
Modern Guilt – Beck
Tell Tale Signs (Bootleg Series Vol. – Bob Dylan
Cardinology – Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
4 – Dungen
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings – Counting Crows
Another Country – Tift Merritt
For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
Last Days at the Lodge – Amos Lee
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Where the Light Is – John Mayer
Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
Asking for Flowers – Kathleen Edwards
Soldier On – Andrew Bird

Favorite Live Shows:

Beck
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Amos Lee
Josh Ritter
Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs
Ellis
Paolo Nutini

Most of these artists have 2009 dates scheduled, so if you’re looking for a special present for a special someone check your local listings. And speaking of recent albums/shows, here are some pictures from Eric Lichter’s OWL album release party:

Eric Lichter:

Sandra Lichter and their beautiful little girl:

A glimpse of the wonderful full house (and me):

The owl:

Thanks again to everyone who came to celebrate Eric’s new album. It was an honor to play for you. Visit Eric on MySpace for info on how to purchase his music, as CDBaby shows they’re out of stock. And if you have other recommendations for 2008 albums please post a comment! I know I’m forgetting some…

Happy Holidays!

Favorite Music of 2008 – A Holiday Gift Guide (December 16, 2008)

Right now it’s snowing. And this is exciting because 1) snow is exciting and 2) it was t-shirt weather yesterday. Now it’s beginning to feel a bit like Christmas. A teeny bit. While I’m in the spirit – before Mother Earth’s fever returns – here are my recommendations for this year’s gift-giving:

Favorite Albums of 2008:

In Rainbows – Radiohead
með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust – Sigur Ros
Modern Guilt – Beck
Tell Tale Signs, Bootleg Series Vol. 8 – Bob Dylan
Cardinology – Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Consolers of the Lonely – The Raconteurs
4 – Dungen
Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings – Counting Crows
Another Country – Tift Merritt
For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver
Last Days at the Lodge – Amos Lee
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Where the Light Is – John Mayer
Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
Asking for Flowers – Kathleen Edwards
Soldier On – Andrew Bird

Favorite Live Shows:

Beck
Ryan Adams and The Cardinals
Amos Lee
Josh Ritter
Bruce Hornsby & Ricky Skaggs
Ellis
Paolo Nutini

Most of these artists have 2009 dates scheduled, so if you’re looking for a special present for a special someone check your local listings. And speaking of recent albums/shows, here are some pictures from Eric Lichter’s OWL album release party:

Eric Lichter:

Sandra Lichter and their beautiful little girl:

A glimpse of the wonderful full house (and me):

The owl:

Thanks again to everyone who came to celebrate Eric’s new album. It was an honor to play for you. Visit Eric on MySpace for info on how to purchase his music, as CDBaby shows they’re out of stock. And if you have other recommendations for 2008 albums please post a comment! I know I’m forgetting some…

Happy Holidays!