find your soul....if you dare...
Good morning Wake and Bakers. A week of good deeds and no leavened bread is finally over. The Easter cakes will be consumed later today, and please bring the PC Rainbow Sprinkle Cake from Joe’s Bakehouse, but this morning Israeli and American reform Jews are running to the bagel store. The Orthodox and Hasidim insist on an eighth day of restraint. The reason for the extra day is tied to the expulsion of Jews from the land of Israel. Our religious forefathers decreed, for the six biblically mandated holidays, that all Jews of the Diaspora would tack on an additional day of observance. That was one way of insuring lessons are passed from generation to generation.
It also a lot to do with our quarrelsome and inquisitive nature when it comes to issues of religion and life. There were huge judicial courts, where 71 sages would argue sagaciously about each specific law. In short we have been arguing, like skilled lawyers, about the meaning of all words since the time of Moses. Is it no surprise then that our own Congress continues to argue about what is the best clock time. Standard or Day Light Savings. Is it really about early golf in the spring versus darkness and sadness during our long cold winters. There have been a line of experts, who are all well paid experts, testifying for twenty years.. Oy Vey I say…Make a decision.
The removal of bread and cake is great for one’s health. This was the easiest week to lose a few pounds as long as you stayed away from the Passover section of the supermarket. The best part of this week has been figuring out different ways to eat healthy. It does take discipline, canned sardines and tuna, and plenty of water. When you are hungry and cannot find that healthy snack, water will get you to that next meal. Luckily for me that means going to Soul Bowl for texture, taste and health more often this past week.
Soul Bowl is a bowl company dedicated to providing healthy soulful nourishment. They feature acai, pitaya, banana whip bases that are filled to capacity with Soulnola, chia, almonds, peanut butter and other goodies. They also feature tasty shakes, savory grab and go items, and juice drinks that make a perfect breakfast punch. Look in the fridge for the protein balls. They come in peanut butter or cookies and cream. When you partner them together with the bowl or the shake you are set until the next refill.
The company has two locations in Scotch Plains and Metuchen. The owner is featured quite often on their Instagram page. Her philosophy is the sacred ingredient and her secret magical ingredient makes her acai the best in New Jersey. Playa Bowl is not even close. In Michelene’s own words,"That’s where my inspiration comes from… my soul.. and my goal is to see yours, feed yours and at the end of the day it is all love and I really hope somebody can feel that”. When someone is that authentic it lights up everything they create. There is a great team, including mom and sister, that is working to make this franchise grow bigger.
The lessons one learns from restraint are not easily learned or taught. There have been many years that this author did not comply with the rules of any Jewish holiday. However this year the act of not eating bread and cake has been quite fulfilling and educational. The discipline of eating correctly is the most valuable tool left in our aging tool belt. Is there any way to eat right and do a column about bakeries. There is this sweet tooth addiction that needs to be dealt with. That conflict will be something to work on for the rest of this year. In the interim, there will be many more visits to Soul Bowl.
Have a Happy Easter
Peace to Everyone.
Thank you to Michelene, Alicia, Nancy and the crew at Soul Bowl..
Hike of the Week: Jugtown-Tower Hill Preserve, Exit 12 Norton New Jersey.. 3.2 miles, 1 hour 30 minutes, white tailed deer , rushing streams , NO BUGs. Spring blossoms are popping by the riverside..
Music of the Week. “The Brothers” performing Allman Brothers Band, The Gang of Four saw them this past Tuesday along with 18,000 other old people, but mostly old white guys. The shows on Tuesday and Wednesday were enthusiastically received by everyone. Derek Trucks and Warren Haynes are outstanding players but the drumming of Joe Russo really kept the whole band pulsing all night long…. Outstanding!!!