November - the season of hazelnuts and hearth ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
November 2025 Hazelnut Harmony Happy November my friend,
The season of hazelnuts and hearth. As this energy of autumn settles in, the world softens into gold and amber. The air carries that crispy chill, inviting cozy layers, slower mornings and candlelit evenings. It's the season of appreciating small things - the curl of steam from a cup, the sweet scent of roasted hazelnuts, the hush that comes with early twilight. Autumn reminds us to savour - the textures, the tastes, the fleeting moments between one breath and the next.
I read a quote by Mirabai Starr a couple of weeks ago that I've been contemplating, about finding the magic in the mundane, and I think that is what November is all about for me. This month is a kind of in-between, which can feel challenging, especially as we dive deeper into the darkness of the season, the cold, the more isolated. It's all part of the cycle of course, but remembering that life isn't only about peak moments, that there is sacred space held for us in the prosaic. Finding the glimmers in simplicity surely helps our hearts move through.
"Welcome to the temple of your regular life. The garden of your days, the harbour where you catch your breath, the theatre of your relationships. This is the terrain where you wake up and transform. The sometimes chaotic, frequently fraught, unexpectedly beautiful domain of the everyday. Your life is holy ground. And you are a mystic."
So let's find some joy in the simple pleasures this month, like roasting hazelnuts and baking blondies. The hazelnut is such a precious little package of autumn sweetness , and a favourite of mine to work with. I am so thrilled to share this recipe that I worked so hard to perfect (and ate A LOT of hazelnuts in the process!). My Hazelnut Fig Blondies are a treat that also nourishes, with fibre, fats, protein, and minerals. They are gluten-free, grain-free, and easily made vegan if you don't eat eggs. Make a batch for fireside evenings and lingering afternoons with tea. | | | | |
1. Blood Sugar Balance Despite their richness, hazelnuts have a low glycemic index and help stabilize blood sugar when eaten with carbohydrate-based meals. 2. Skin and Hair Nourishment
Vitamin E + healthy fats = natural radiance. These nutrients support cell repair, elasticity, and hydration from the inside out.
3. Gut-Friendly Fibre
A handful provides about 3 g of fibre, feeding beneficial gut bacteria and supporting digestion.
| | Nutty Facts
Ancient Origins: Hazelnuts have been eaten since prehistoric times — evidence of wild hazelnut groves dates back over 9,000 years in Scotland and China.
Eco-Friendly: Hazelnut trees are hardy and low-water crops — a sustainable alternative to many other nuts.
Tree of Abundance: Each hazel tree can produce 25 pounds of nuts per year once mature | | | | |
This time of year just begs for something to be baking in the oven, filling the home with nutty, cozy aromas! And there's nothing quite like blondies made from roasted hazelnut butter - come ON! The final result is a fudge-y treat that satisfies on another level. Chunks of dark chocolate, chewy figs, it's surprisingly not-too-sweet, and thanks to its real-food ingredients, is blood-sugar balanced and great for any time of day.
These were inspired by the Nut Butter Blondies on the blog, but I wanted to make a fully plant-based version that was sweetened with maple syrup, instead of coconut sugar. I also wanted to start with whole nuts instead of pre-made butter. I am totally thrilled with the results, and still can't believe it's possible to have a grain-free, gluten-free, and plant-based blondie that is THIS GOOD! I really hope you love it! | | INGREDIENTS
2 ½ cups / 340g hazelnuts
1 tsp. baking soda
½ cup / 125ml pure maple syrup
2 tsp. vanilla extract
¼ tsp. fine grain sea salt
1 -2 eggs optional, see notes
80 g dark chocolate 70% or higher, roughly chopped
3.5 oz / 100g dried figs roughly chopped
a generous pinch flaky sea salt such as Maldon
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 300°F / 150°C. Place hazelnuts on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes until skins have darkened and the nuts are fragrant. Remove from oven, let cool until you can easily handle them. Working in handfuls, rub the hazelnuts together to remove the skins. Discard the skins and place the nuts in a food processor.
2. Increase the oven temperature to 325°F / 160°C. Line an 8×8″ (20x20cm) brownie pan with parchment paper. See aside.
3. Pulse the hazelnuts in the food processor until you have a sandy flour. Remove 1/2 cup / 65g and set aside in a small bowl. Stir in the baking soda.
4. Blend the remaining hazelnuts, scraping down the sides every so often until you have nut butter. Add the maple syrup, vanilla, salt, and egg(s) if using. Blend until combined, but do not over-process. Add the hazelnut flour and baking soda mixture, pulse to incorporate. Lastly, fold in the chocolate and figs, reserving some for garnish.
6. Transfer the dough to your prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate and figs over the top and press each piece slightly into the dough. Sprinkle with a pinch of flaky sea salt and place in the oven.
7. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the blondies are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan completely before cutting. Say thank you and enjoy! Store leftovers in the fridge for up to seven days.
NOTES
If you want a lighter, cake-y blondie, use two eggs. If you like a dense, fudge-y blondie, leave the eggs out entirely. If you want it somewhere in the middle, use one (one is my favourite). If you'd like to substitute the maple syrup with another sweetener, 100g / ¾ cup of coconut sugar works well.
Makes 20, 2″ / 5cm blondies
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Enjoy some inspiration below: | | | | |
Y'all. This movie. It's so stunningly beautiful and the coziest autumn must-watch! Set on a French countryside estate in 1889, it depicts a romance between a cook and the gourmet she works for. Never have I seen food preparation portrayed in such exquisite detail - it is not background activity, or supporting the plot, it is a character, a central focus of the plot. There are sumptuously-lit kitchen scenes with details and sounds that capture the true magic of making a meal, served up alonsidgside plenty of sexual tension - what could be more titillating combination, I ask!? Written and directed by Trần Anh Hùng starring Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel, this is a film to indulge in, to savour, and inspire you to romanticize how you cook at home too. | | | | Solsnack is an IG account from cinematographer and content creator Solmaz Saberi. It's not only her mega-creative recipes that I've fallen in love with, it's also her retro video vibes, cool colour stories, and sense of humour. If you're looking for some out-of-the-box thinking and boundary-pushing vision, this lady is sooo talented, thorough, and just plain FUN. I love that her reels take you on her journey of experimentation, since I am dying to know how this woman brainstorms and processes ideas. I'm excited to try her No-Bake Vegan Kiwi Cheesecake, Birria Focaccia, and fermented Mandarin Peel Soda. Give her a follow! | | | | One way I beat the November blahs is moving my body. Ecstatic dance is a favourite way, because it gets me out of my head and the house, and into community, even though we're all often in our own flow. For those that aren't familiar, this is a practice of free movement to music that takes you on a journey. A good DJ knows how to craft a melodic arc that inspires different types of movement, and encourages curiosity and exploration. There is no talking or touching on the dance floor, and it's a very safe and inclusive environment where people can really be themselves. No matter where you live, you're probably not far from a local venue that hosts ecstatic dance, because they take place practically everywhere - this site has a global map. Get out and shake yer booty! Remember who you are! | | | | There are a few spots left—is one of them yours?! "This retreat came into my life at exactly the right moment, when I needed to rest and recharge – it was deeply nourishing in every way. Most importantly, the experience helped me reconnect with myself and my feminine energy, and to listen to my intuition, something I have struggled with for too long." The women who attend our Golden Circle Retreats leave forever-changed. We have many who return year after year to deepen their practice, and to get back in touch with the sacred circle that forms from a week of intentional connection, invigorating movement, inspiring cooking classes, transformational breathwork, and more. Find the spark to reignite your own health journey—join us! | | | May this November bring you comfort, sweetness, and the quiet joy of something freshly baked.
With love and gratitude,
Sarah B | | | | |
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