Love, Love, Love apple & plum compote

Cooking to engage the senses and wake up in best way

How are you feeling this morning?

Not in a passing fleeting way but really sit with it. I’ve come tor realise that the first choices i make in the morning– what i eat, how i move, set the tone for my entire day. They either lift my spirits or pull them down. So i’ve grown more intentional about these choices.

Discipline is devotion to your higher self.

• Wake up early and create a sacred morning (no phone first hour): tea, journaling, meditation.

• Move your body daily: weights, yoga, walking.

• Eat to feel alive: Less sugar, more nourishment.

• Skincare: slow, intentional, tactile. You’re not just applying products—you’re saying I care for you.

For the past year, I’ve been seeing an acupuncturist who has been helping me balance my energy and digestion. One of the most transformative things i’ve learned is how much warmth both physical and energetic, we need in the morning. In Chinese medicine, the stomach’s digestive “fire” thrives on warm, gentle foods—ones that don’t force our bodies into overdrive but rather nourish and support. Cold breakfasts or raw foods first thing can dampen that internal fire, while something warm, soft, and soothing helps your system wake up harmoniously.

So now, my mornings begin with a pot of soaked oats and a small batch of stewed fruit. Soaking the oats overnight is a tip I learned from my acupuncturist. It softens them, breaking down the starches so that when I cook them, they’re not only creamy but also easier for my body to absorb. This small act—soaking them the night before—feels like I’m offering myself a little bit of care before I even wake up.

I pair those warm oats with a simple compote of seasonal fruit, like apples, plums, or pears. My favorite version includes cinnamon. Sow, gentle cooking. For about 15 minutes, the fruit bubbles and softens on the stovetop, filling my kitchen with a scent that feels like a hug. I’m someone who finds so much beauty in scent, and this small sensory moment in the morning lifts me before I even take my first bite.

There’s a calm kind of liberation in this routine. I don’t have to wonder what I’ll eat every day, because it’s always ready. I know this breakfast will make me feel light yet energised, steady yet inspired. It nourishes my body in a way that clears the path for creativity. And it sets my day on a foundation of beauty—through the taste, the scent, and the simple act of

beginning each day with something so warm and intentional.

It’s a practice of consistency and care, one that reminds me how simple choices can ripple outward into the rest of the day.

The Compote (4 servings)

• 4 baby apples, cored, and diced

• 5 market plums, pitted and sliced

• Water

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1 pinch of cardamom

• 1 teaspoon of honey

• A pinch of sea salt

1. Place the chopped fruits in a small saucepan.

2. Add a few tablespoons of water and honey, just enough to barely cover the bottom of the pan.

3. Sprinkle in your cinnamon and cardamom.

4. Cook, covered, over medium-high heat until the fruit is softened but not completely mushy, stirring occasionally.

5. Your home will smell so good.