I was looking through Palgrave’s Golden Treasury when I stumbled upon this little gem. It is relevant not only to Valentine’s Day but also to where we are in our evolution – a helpful reminder as to what feeds a happy heart:
The Happy Heart
by Thomas Dekker
Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers?
O sweet content!
Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexèd?
O punishment!
Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexèd
To add to golden numbers, golden numbers?
O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;
Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny!
Canst drink the waters of the crispèd spring?
O sweet content!
Swimm’st thou in wealth, yet sink’st in thine own tears?
O punishment!
Then he that patiently want’s burden bears
No burden bears, but is a king, a king!
O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;
Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny!
Here’s a quick and simple recipe for a happy heart using beets – a wonderful blood purifier – for you or your Valentine. Wash one bunch of fresh beets (usually three medium beets). Thinly slice, reserving greens, and place in medium saucepan with water, leaving a couple inches of room at the top. Bring to a boil and simmer covered until beets are tender. Let sit until slightly cooled and puree in a blender or food processor. At this point you can reheat the beet broth and eat as is, perhaps adding some miso, Bragg’s liquid aminos, or salt if you desire. Here I went on to saute the beet greens in a skillet with a mixture of seeds – cumin, coriander, fennel, sesame, pumpkin – and turmeric and then added the greens to the broth. Sometimes I also add sweet potatoes to the beets and slip the skins off once they’ve boiled, pureeing the beets and sweet potatoes together. As with anything, there are endless variations… though you can count on a beautiful Valentine color.
Hey nonny nonny! Happy Valentine’s Day!
