Month: June 2023

Posted on

Day 10 – Sounds of your day

“To have a great idea, have a lot of them. When you have exhausted all possibilities, remember this: you haven’t”
Thomas Edison

  1. TODAY on one of your errands do not use your headphones, don’t listen to music or take a call or look at your phone.
  2. Instead listen to the sounds of your day for 5-10 minutes.
  3. Try to focus on every sound you hear around you. Try to remember them.
  4. Try to write them down.

If you feel like it, try to make a rhythm out of the sounds you hear or make up a story of what is happening around you. A honk, a bird, people having conversations, etc.

Extra: Send me a message describing one sound that was unexpected, how it made you feel or the story you made up @IG, DM or send to unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com

This activity helps you develop Convergent Thinking.

Comments

LAU: I have done the exercise around leaving the children in tennis. I have turned off the air conditioning and opened the windows.

The first thing I hear is the noise of the engine and immediately birds singing. Then the bell of a cow. First a dog barking loudly as my car passed and then another more subtle bark.

But more than perceiving the sounds, which also caught my attention the intensity of the colors, the reds were redder, in the greens of the field there were more nuances and they were fresher and the sky seemed bluer. The sensation has been that of returning to a brighter place. I was under the influence of the attention drug!!

I’m going to practice this trick more!!!

JP: Súper interesante!
I walk or try to do 10,000 steps a day and today I’m in a special place in portugal and went out in nature instead of city streets and metros to do my steps, I didn’t place my AirPods and just focused on my waking and breathing. I started to feel that all my senses enhanced also I would focus on which leg I moved forward and which arm as well as my posture. I just kept going and tried to feel not think and I started to hear the birds louder, the trees and the leaves with the wind become more poignant and the most surprising thing was that I went way past my goal.

Mar: This morning I was listening to car horns in the distance and I realized that this is the breed that my impatience would make, if I had it.

Later I was out for a walk and a little horner was singing and it made me think of what the sunrise would sound like if it did.

Greetings!!

JP:

 never realized until focusing on it how many sounds go through us and which ones stay, yesterday I got to a point where I couldn’t write down anymore…
Wind..
Birds…
Waves…
Glasses clinking…
Window shutters…
Toilet flushing….
Knock on door….
Water running…
Nespresso machine…
Nices laughter…
Sons calling…

And then the sound that stuck with me was after 25 years of not seeing him my first college love, I see him we talk like it was yesterday remembering the past and bringing ourselves up to speed and he says want me to take you home, of course he still rides motorcycles and 25 years later I get on and I hear, I feel the sound of what we portuguese call saudades. Very surreal.

ISA: Didn’t write them down… but here are a few I could remember:
Alarm
Truck
Gate opening
Birds singing
Bark of a couple dogs
A siren (sounded like an ambulance but could be police too)
Clicks (like chains)
Keys
Steps (so many of them)
A thunder – then many more
An unexpected bang that cause a tremble. – found out two hours later that a big tree (more than 15mts long) fell. Could see its roots down out and it laid flat very close to the power line.

Posted on

Day 9 One at a Time

“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.”
Marie Curie

  1. Choose an ordinary activity like brushing your teeth, getting dressed, making breakfast.
  2. Pay attention only to what you are doing while doing this activity.
  3. Avoid multitasking. Look at the steps you take, what comes first, second and third.
  4. Reflect on the task and the objects involved in the task, Ask yourself why?
  5. Reflect on the order you do things.
  6. Reflect on how it feels.
  7. If you wander off, bring it back to what you are doing.

Extra Points: Send me quick note of what you noticed by IG, DM or email unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com

This develops Lateral Thinking…
Lateral Thinking: is a straightforward, logical thinking process that must follow steps in order. It requires that you follow a mode of thinking, one way or another, to end up in a new place. When solving Math problems, you tend to use lateral thinking.

Comments

MON:

this all happened yesterday and today!

How to Close a Pool Cover

1.     It’s summer in Madrid. The kids are complaining because the pool water is too hot. This is ironic, since you just spent 20,000 euros and six months remodeling what was previously referred to as an unusable icebox. 

Thanks to the remodeling, the pool now has: a shallower section, smooth new tiles, a heater system connected to recently installed solar panels, and a 10,000 euro pool cover.

All of which has made the pool water too hot.

2.     Your youngest child is learning to swim. He’s athletic for his age since he was a fetus. In a week of classes he can (mostly) hold his own. 

Your four-year old is also adventurous and has been known to get himself into precarious situations.

3.     It’s summer in Madrid and the thermometer reads a dry 38 degrees Celsius. 

Part of which has made the pool water too hot.

4.     It’s been determined by the family: the most effective way to cool the pool down is to leave the pool cover open overnight.

5.     Earlier this morning, Jose, the gardener, delivered a story:

In a house in a nearby neighborhood, an older sibling opened the pool fence. When he walked out, the fence didn’t close. An unknown amount of time later his younger brother walked through the open gate, fell (or jumped?) into the water, and sank to the bottom of the pool, drowning.

The boy was one and a half years old. 

There were no witnesses.

6.     It’s been determined by the family: despite the horrific story, the most effective way to cool the pool down is to leave the pool cover open overnight.

7.     Reluctantly, you agree, second-guessing this decision about a dozen time.

As you’re about to fall asleep, your husband reminds you again about the boy.

8.     The next morning, you find your four-year-old boy happily playing Playmobil in the living room.

9.     According to the gardener, the child’s mother is still in the hospital.

10.  It is 9:51am and you’re late to your last dance class before summer. You remember how the pool cover is open and decide to close it. Yes, this means sacrificing some dance time, but who needs the warm-up anyway? 

You run to the deep end of the pool and turn the key to the left, which is the wrong direction. Wonder why you always do this, then turn the key right. Hear the motor running. See the cover moving across the pool, guaranteeing everyone’s safety while you dance (presumably). Think about how ironic it is that you have to hold the key all the until the pool cover closes, but not when it opens. The sun is hitting your head. Think about the fact that you’re late to dance class.

11.  In Zielo, the shopping mall where dance class is held, a lady in the elevator laughs while pressing all the buttons. “I never know which floor is mine, and I come here a lot!” she says. Another woman is there and she is laughing too. You are not laughing. The only thing you’re doing is thinking about the fact that you’re late.

12.  Run into dance escool and notice the receptionist there, which seems strange. 

Hear her ask: “where exactly are you going?” 

Discover that adult dance classes ended on june 23rd (last week).

13.  Think about going back home, and how this was all a waste of time. Change your mind and go to a café, where you sip a hot americano.

14.  In the afternoon, play with your kids in the pool. Hear them complain about how the pool water is still too hot.

15.  Picture the boy in the pool, the woman in the hospital. Consider how lucky you all are to be alive, in this very breath.

ISA: Making coffee
Loved this exercise!!!
Systematic way to make coffee that in fact brings pleasure with each step. Enjoyed reflecting on them.

Posted on

Day 8 Alternative Uses

Day 7
“Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way.” Edward de Bono

  1. Look around you.
  2. Choose an object in your range.
  3. List as many possible uses you can for that object. Unusual things….

For example: a book can be used as an umbrella, a hat, a doorstop, a pedestal, a weapon, a tray, etc, etc.

Extra points if you share a photo with the object doing the “unusual” thing.

Comments

LAU: Object: Table -scenery, sled, cradle, shield, balloon slope, ship, costume, Landing track, bonfire, cattle feeder, goal.

MAR: Lanyard – To identify yourself in an event, to carry your keys, to tie something, as a necklace, to carry bags, to tie things together.

MON:
1) to write
2) to draw
3) to color
4) to scribble
5) to demark an imaginary line
6) to use for spells, as a magic wand
7) to use as a pointer, as in “it was her, no me”
8) as a weapon, as in pretend sword-fighting
9) to stick in the middle of a book you’re reading, as in to remember where you are
10) to keep in the car just in case you need to write something, as in a story
11) to hold up the top of a box, as in for no reason in particular other than to find another use for it 
12) to use as a reference for color, say, against a deep purple or dark brown

ISA: Spoon to:
Eat
Drink
Hit
Hold
Carry
Support a case
Lift an ingredient / or any other food
Pass along
Mix
Shoe “calzador”
Music instrument
Reach an object behind or up
Screw
Decorate
Break an egg or something else
Measure
Gift
Water plants

Posted on

Day 7 – Say Yes…AND

Day 7

“To say Yes is to make a leap of faith, to risk oneself in a new and often scary relationship.” Patricia Ryan Madson

Choose a person close to you: and for one day agree with all of their ideas. Find something right about everything they say. Look for every opportunity to offer support. Give them the spotlight. Notice the results.

See how often it may not be convenient or easy to do.
Obviously use common sense!!

Use these phrases to help through the day (they count as a YES):
You bet, you are right, I’m with you, Good idea. I support you. I’m here for you. I have your back.

Fenomenal, Estupendo, Estoy contigo, Te apoyo, etc.

Extra points: Share your reflections on how you felt, if the relationship changed for that day.

I know it is more than five minutes…but sometimes we only spend 5 minutes with our loved one….try it for as long as you feel comfortable. Have Fun!

Comments

MON: My intention was to do this with my husband and my response to the first thing he asked me was no!!! i decided to cut myself some slack and start over. it was a pretty intense day today so the yes intention lightened things up and brightened up the house. i told the kids they will each get a yes day on a random day this summer so that was a hit, especially with Carlitos who is always asking when he’s going to have a yes day 🙂 then we talked about watching the movie together 

JP: I am on holiday with my brother and his family we don’t usually get along and so I tried the exercise throughout the day, it was tough to be agreeable, yes and …helped me keep calmer Also being agreeable I think threw him off, I realized by the end of the day it helped the communication. It was tough at first but by mid day it was more natural and helped us reach better communication for sure!

AG: I tried it with my partner. I always say NO to him. It really changed our day. It was hard. He noticed. He did not expect it. I felt different.

Posted on

Day 6 What does Music Look Like?

Day 6

“Creativity is not a talent you have, it’s a skill you learn. It’s something you get better at the more you do. It’s something that you do by practicing it.”
Ed Bell

  1. Choose a song.
  2. Take a paper and a pen or colored pencil.
  3. Play song.
  4. As you listen to the song, make lines on paper how the song sounds to you. Do not lift the pencil until the song ends. Better if you eyes are closed, but not a must.

Extra Points: Share a photo of what your song “looks” like.

Comments

Lau: Mana – Vivir sin aire. Her comment- art is not my thing.

MON: New Light by John Meyer. Comment: “Really love this one, it lightened me up! And the image didn’t look at all the way it felt as I drew it. Will do this one again!”

SF: Did not specify song

Posted on

Day 5 – Word Associations

Day 5 Word Association

  1. Pick a book from your home or office,
  2. Open to a page and pick a word from that page.
  3. Repeat and pick a different word.

Write down both words.

Write down all the different ways that those two random words can be connected.

Find at least 10 ways.

Extra Points: Share your list!

Comments:

MON: I wasn’t sure how to do this exercise so I wrote a poem.
Words: Friendship and Chamber.
A friendship can be a chamber
in this chamber you are 
always trapped
sharp edges
icy concrete
metal bars
a little window
close to the ceiling
the air
rarely 
moves.

A friendship can be a chamber
in this chamber you are 
always welcome
silky couches
fluffy pillows
pijama parties
swamps
laughter
the air
flows
freely.

M: fingers and continue
1) from the fingers the love continues
2) Continuing with the fingers, we reach the end of the hand
3) Fingers continue the body beyond the skin
4)Continue stroking with fingers
5) the fingers continue the work without the mind knowing.
6) fingers continue to dance to the sound of emotion
7) every time I continue contact, the fingers are the first to notice
8) even when I remain silent, my fingers speak
9) It is impossible not to continue dancing when the fingers are the ones that keep the rhythm.
10) fingers allow or not continuity. There’s something definite in how they express themselves

Caro: Algorithms and follow

  1. Robots
  2. Addiction
  3. Control
  4. Power
  5. Belonging
  6. Tribe
  7. Rebelion
  8. Freedom
  9. Social Media
  10. Zombies

ROCIO: Guests / Cruel
Friendship
Home
Relatives
Honesty
Conversation
Kids
Diet
Mask
Halloween
Birthday

JP: Never & Prickles
1. Ouch
2. Sensitive
3. Avoid
4. Sharp
5. Cranky
6. Creature
7. Tickle
8. Touch
9. Run
10. Nightmare

SF: 2 words – music – illusion
1. Sound 
2.notes
3.dream
4.intention
5.. intuition
6.learning 
7.cook
8.love
9.dance 
10.acting

AG: Solution + Emotional
Therapy
Meditation
Creativity
Mindfulness
Laughter
Running
Exercise
Love
Family
Friendship

Lau: Mujeres y Mar– Women and sea
|1. Vida Life
2. oleaje- waves
3. mareas – tide
4.luna – moon
5. belleza – beauty
6.impredecible – impredictible
7. bravio – courage
8. calma – calm
9.fuerza – strength
10.profundidad – depth

MAR: Invitation and Notes

GISE:

My two random words:

Play

Family

1. Happiness

2. Memories

3. Tradition

4. Life

5. Holidays

6. Games

7. Laughter

8. Growing Up

9. Joy

10. Fulfillment

Posted on

Interesting Articles and sites I have read and inspired me.

The Art of Design

Weird Questions to ask…

National Institute for Play Dr Stuart Brown

Hoopla Improv

Project Zero. Harvard university

New teacher center

Playing for Impact: The Design of Civic Games for Community Engagement and Social Action

Pretend Play British Library

Esculturas de Joana Vasconcelos

A new kind of Human

Flex your creativity

Creativity can be taught

Tracking Happiness

Problem Solving Ability

11 Books to Foster your creativity

Research on Future of jobs

Design Lab on Creativity

How to be more creative.

Test my creativity

Curious know how Creative you are. Take this test.

How to Kill Creativity

Group Games

Naming unrelated words

Future of Works report

Creativity at work

Oswald Spengler

Socrates Concept of the self

Robert Kim Product Design

Emotional Science

Mental Health monitoring

Coaching Bright Morning

Coaching by Diana Sweeney

Instructional Coaching

Fundacion Cotec

11 books to Foster creativity

Forced Collaboration

Posted on

Daily Reflections from 21 day Creativity Challenge

I will record feedback here of things that were written or talked with from participants throughout the challenge. I will also record my own thoughts of me doing the challenge.

Participant A: Left challenge on day 5. She is a very creative person, she is a graphic designer and an illustrator, she has published a children’s book and posts creative DIY projects on IG. She felt that the challenge was not for her, she felt uncreative. She asked maybe I am not creative. She felt instructions were too hard or too long for her.
My thoughts- these games make you work on other aspects of creativity that is not art, like word associations, problem solving, allowing day dreaming to occur and reflection. It also requires vulnerability.

Participant B: She wanted there to be a way where she could see all her responses together, like a diary. So she can see her own personal journey, and asked it she could see other peoples, she missed sharing experiences with other people.

Both comments made me think if I should do a survey to ask for feedback or keep going. I did not want to overwhelm people with messages, for now I offered my IG account so they can post in the comments of every post. Every post gets sent through whattsapp and posted to IG account created for Challenge. 133 participants but in IG account only 41 followers so far.

Today is Day 9 of the challenge.

Suggestions form participants:

  • Some people wanted to see what other people had done, so they could feel part of a group project. Others said they prefer to do it but privately. It makes them feel vulnerable.
  • They would like to know what part of the brain they are working. What is the exercise for. Today June 26 I added to the prompt the type of thinking being used for this particular exercise.
  • A participant commented she did not respond more because it took an extra step- if it was directly on the chat she would have. I decided to send the IG account, offer DM message and email to see if that improved feedback. Don’t feel comfortable opening the group to comments since I think I would loose the main message.
  • Another participant said she would love to see all her prompts in one place, so she could ser her journey from beginning to end. I told her several people are sending me notes from their notebooks, I suggested to get a diary.
  • Some people have apologised to me for not doing every day or no day, I have tried to be empathetic and say it is hard for me too, comparing the activity with going to the gym but for creativity.

I decided to do a poll to see how many people where doing it (on day 8), which ones they had done, sent it last night, so far 33 people of the 133 have responded. I am happy about that. Also every day I receive around 4-5 emails, some days more some days less. Sometimes the same people, sometimes different ones that send me 3-4 days at at time and sometimes a one off.

Today is Day 12 of the Challenge. July 1rst. I thought I had lost people, since less people responded some days, but the window activity got around 6-7 responses. I am beginning to realice that this touches on vulnerability with people. When people share they are sharing a private moment, a poem, a small moment, a vulnerability.

Results from Poll sent on June 26

I conducted a WAPP poll in the group saying the following:

We are at the end of week one! Please select all the challenges you completed. Don’t feel bad if you only did one or none! This is like going to the gym- but for your creativity! It requires effort! It’s hard sometimes. Hard for me too! Thank you!

Following was a list of the first 8 challenges.

Although 133 people have signed up not everyone has answered the poll, or participated. I started with 138 participants and 5 have left the group. Today in Day 12. Two new people joined today.

July 4th – We are on day 16. People seem to continue to be engaged. Poll from WAPP group continues to receive answers. So far, 42 people have answered. I did a new survey in Survey Monkey and sent it to the chat, it has been 24 hours and only 3 people have responded. I wonder if it is because they have to click on it instead of responding directly on the chat. I did it in survey monkey because a participant said she would not answer it since it was not private. I am thinking it was only her that wanted privacy since 40 people responded to the other one. I will wait another 24 hours and if not repeat the poll in the chat.

July 10th. The challenge ends today.
– 40 people of 140 have answered the first poll.
– Choose your color seems to be the most popular activity from week 1
– Laugh Out Loud was the favorite overall and favorite from week 2. People sent videos, comments, said they would do it every day, did it in groups, loved it.
– People were vulnerable, share beautiful poems that were very personal.
– I think the challenge was too long. I also did it and missed some days, fount it hard to do daily unless I did it with another person.
– Between 3-10 people sent me emails every day with their activities.
– Second poll I tried survey monkey and only received 12 responses, general comment was it was a link, too much work, people prefer it in the chat even though it is not private.
– Last poll I launched today on the 21st day, I am doing a hybrid. Chose 4-5 questions that did in the chat and in seconds people were responding. Also added a longer survey in google forms and offered both.
– I think future challenges should be shorter, not sure what the right number of days. Thinking of trying 5-7 days

Since first poll resulted in better response than second survey in Survey Monkey, 40 people vs 12. I decided to try both in the last survey. So did some important questions directly in chat with these results so far. And one in google forms, So far 30 people have responded the chat poll vs 10 the google form, but responses are still coming in today- poll was sent three days ago.

SO far these are the results from the chat poll:

Will keep adding learnings to this page!

NEXT STEPS

  • Analyse results of all surveys.
  • Would love to do two more challenges before September
    1. For Creatives- limited to a group of 10 people, open chat, everyone shares their daily activity with group and we answer questions like: I see….I think….I wonder…
    2. For Non -Creatives – also limited to 10 people, open chat, different exercises, everyone shares and maybe some exercises are in teams.
    3. Challenge for Employees – teachers and staff of University of Hesperides. Online university would offer their staff to join the challenge and activities from 21 day would be sent daily, people would be able to comment and share if they wanted. This challenge would be aimed at reflecting on how exercises can be used in the classroom, how they can build community and teamwork within the group and the classroom. (if successfull). In conversations with head of Teacher training to launch end of July.
  • Have done games in small groups informally to see how it makes people feel and connect. Will continue to do so over the summer.
  • Are trying to approach Brixton Library to do a monthly workshop at the library that involves Creativity and Civics.
  • Interview Eva Katherina Herber. (not yet confirmed)
    Am analysing her book Activate your Strengths to investigate her methodology. Would like to have exercises where participants discover their strengths and have to use them in creative activities.
Posted on

Day 4 The Gift

Day 4

“I’ve learned so much from my mistakes, i’m thinking of making a few more.” Anonymous

  1. Imagine a box beautifully wrapped in front of you.
  2. Take a moment to “see” the box.
  3. Now touch the box,
  4. What color is the box?
  5. How does the box feel?
  6. Open the box
  7. Describe what is inside?
  8. Notice a detail about the gift and examine it.
  9. Thank the giver.

Trust your imagination – there is always something in the box.

Extra points: Share your description of the box with me. unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com

Reflections:

Erin:

Alberto: Yo he visto una caja de carton, color naranja, de textura suave, color naranja mate (sin brillo) y agradable.
Dentro hay unos zapatos de goma, azules, super cool y comodos, tal vez para correr.
Me los regalo la chica que mas me gusta del mundo, y estoy super feliz de que me dio este regalo.

JP: I see an Emerald green box, satin like feel, it’s squishy once I touch it, it leaves an indent, I can’t seem to tell where the top of the box and the bottom start or finish so it’s difficult to open. When I finally do, I see inside the ring that was left to me by my grandmother, each granddaughter got one. Mine had a Colombian emerald , a light I had never seen before, flashes came to me of seeing my grandmother with it. I close my eyes and thank her for all the beauty she gave me inside and this special family treasure she has trusted me with.

MON: The box is wrapped in a dark purple felt which is very soft, with a light purple ribbon. underneath the wrapping is a plain white box and inside the box is a carousel, those that you turn and music plays. The gift is from my higher self and is reminding me about the joys and innocence of childhood, and how I should embody that child-like feeling no matter what happens today.

LAU: The box is large, round and has a wine red velvet bow. When you touch it, your hand goes through the box as if you were in virtual reality. I open it, intrigued, and inside there is a paradisiacal beach, with warm, crystalline water, white sand that does not burn your feet, and palm trees on which multicolored hammocks sway. The temperature is warm but pleasant and there is a slight breeze.
On a bamboo table rests a cold natural fruit juice and an open book.
Thanks to my imagination for showing me the exact place where I would like to be right now and offering it to me in this magic box.

CARO: I receive a box and all my memories are inside it. Little moments. The first time I made my own dinner or payed for my own trip. When my dad taught how to make a mustard sauce for a barbeque, or the “Oscar” parties in NY, Rise graphics R,C, L, ME, M V, L, C, M, MC, A, S, C, N, BCDEFGHIJKLMONOPQRSTUVWXYZ….., I cannot count all the special people in my life. I would need to fill up a humongous box of friends from all over the world. My box would have photos of all those moments. Life gave me my box.

A: I imagined a big box placed on a table. The box was blue, sort of a vibrant blue (my fav colour) with white polka dots. It was wrapped with a white ribbon with a beautiful bow at the top. The blue paper of the box feels smooth with a matte finishing. I untied the ribbon, and opened the lid. To my surprise, all four sides of the box fell apart, revealing images, notes, cards and pieces of memories from different parts of my life. It was a great gift! Thank you to the imaginary friend who gave it to me

ISA:
Got a box- at least it looks like a box.
It is clear yet nothing shows.
I’m curious- how do I open it? How does it work?
I now know or rather I know now… it is this moment, this present moment what I have in front of me. Love it! Can’t wait to hold it, enjoy it and make the most out of it.
Grateful to life and all around it for this moment.
Ubarikiwe!

ISA2: Received a box unlike the other daily parcels I receive every day from amazon. This one was furry, covered with black smooth silky fur.
It smelled of geranium and I couldn’t wait to open it!
It wasn’t big, or small either.
It took me a while to find out that it had a button that I had to press in order to unleash it.
It had 5 pictures: one in a jungle, the Amazon, I think; one of a huge desert, no one in the picture, just sand; a large picture of a family portrait, all riding horses, one small passport picture of a dog and one of my grandmother!!!
Nothing was written anywhere, where did these pictures come from? Why my late grandmother? What is this all about??
Thank youAbu, for being present everyday…

Gise:

In front of me is my golden box which is almost a reflection of myself. Sparkly and bright.

When I open my box, by unwrapping the big bright shining golden bow, I see the gift that is inside and I am instantly filled with joy.

Inside the box, there are multiple crystals and good luck charms representing health, abundance, good virtue, gratitude, happiness, and more!

Posted on

Day 3 What do you taste like?

Day 3
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Albert Einstein

Create a recipe OF yourself.

If you were a dish and had to break YOU up into ingredients, what would those ingredients be?

How would you prepare yourself?

Get as descriptive as possible and write down the ingredients and recipe, step by step, as if it were in a cookbook. Put timer for 5 min and write it all down. Or take photos, or draw it. However you want to express it.

You can also choose another person to do this with. (your spouse, kids, friend, coworker)

Extra Points: Share your recipe with me. Send it to: unpackyourcreativity@gmail.com

Comments

I: Prepare for 2 days of incredible cooking: the HALLACA!
Ingredients:
The dough:
Corn flour Harina Pan: one of the most magic ingredients, it is a thin sandy dry flour that only with water and salt, turns into a smooth dough versatile qnd ready for so many possible uses. Hear it will be for the hallaca.
Lard: animal fat is super important. A source of energy for us and the “glue”to all ingredients.
Color: the yellow/orange color that makes it beautiful to see (imagine a white pale hallaca…? Pretty sad…)
The filling:
Diversity in meats: chicken or hen, pork and beef. Each one in a proportion that’s just right.
Capers: love them! The acidness in life.
Olives: nice to find.
Almonds give the balance: they are the Ohmmmm element.
A bit of onions very thinly chopped.
A broth: without this as a base, they are disconnected.
Brown sugar: subtle but present sweetness
Hot ají : spicy with flavor, can’t live without it.
A lot of string and scissors.
The platano leaves, impossible without the most beautiful element: the shield, the skin, the cover that protects the hallaca. It comes direct from nature, which I love. I I dind need to learn to develop a certain “shield” in my life, to protect myself the outer world, and not be so transparent. It is my missing ingredient!
I am de allá y de acá: I am the 4th generation from Spain -Venezuela- Spain. The Hallaca is made up of ingredients from allá and acá… and I couldn’t conceive life without both countries, both cultures, both ways of being and seeing life.
Preparation:
The first day we spend it slow cooking the broth with the meats, and chopping everything very small. 

We also prepare the dough.
We wash the leaves, very important!
The second day we assemble it, and we tie it up in a beautiful gift package!!
This is ME!

MONICA:

Ingredients
1 cup experience
1 cup heart
1 cup honey
½ cup empathy
½ cup boundaries
¼ tsp lemon zest
¼ tsp cayenne pepper
Directions
Grease a pan with butter and sprinkle some flour too, so the cake does not stick. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Celsius.
Start with the experience, which includes a whole bunch of unrefined traumas such as having a mother who recently birthed a stillborn, having to become parent to one of your parents at age 11, being subject to violence from the other parent, and not being allowed to explore your sexuality or pursue creative passions for danger that you might become too powerful.
Next, add the heart, which is the easiest and most effective way to soften these hardships. Make sure you sift the experiences and heart together slowly, allowing the contents to settle. Only when you’re ready, mix in some premium unprocessed honey, a sweet reminder that life is short and the only thing that really exists is the present moment.
Add in empathy towards yourself and others, and then shortly thereafter, add the boundaries. Make sure you don’t skip this step; these are necessary for the cake to remain whole as it rises.
Put the mixture in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Once baked, remove and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of lemon zest and another ½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper on top. A measured quantity of each should pack a punch, but feel free to add more depending on your preferences.

GIS:

JUL: Definitely fusión!
Portuguese bacalao because I love the sea, I’m sometimes salty but tender love and care I can become sweeter;) mango topping with tomate de árbol bring just the sason and Latin touch from Colombia with a side of sweet potato fries new york style. It’s kind of the dish you read off a menu and you thing, um, interesting yet doubting yourself but when you take the first bite you realize and say to yourself one more time, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Loved the challenge!

LAU: Las delicias de Laura
Ingredientes
Líquidos
-Bondad (nunca hay suficiente)
-Tranquilidad (al gusto y según circunstancias)
-Vive y deja vivir (incluir en todas las recetas).
-Empatia (la tienes en casa o no pero debería incluirse siempre)
-Lectura (al menos un libro por receta)
-Amigos (de los que ya tienes y abierta a añadir más)
-Familia (imprescindible y la mejor materia prima)
-Risas (con atracón, aunque duela la tripa)
-Experiencias
Sólidos
Chocolate (negro o con leche pero que no falte)
Un café con leche bien acompañada ( sustituir por descafeinado a partir de las 6 de la tarde).

Preparación
Tratar con mimo los ingredientes líquidos, que son los más delicados.
Tamizar a algunos miembros de la familia o maridos, mujeres de amigos que son más densos para darles aire.
En un bowl mezclar el café con el chocolate y reservar para cuando se necesite.
Añadir un viaje o una cena con amigos.
Cocinar a fuego lento y servir en tu mejor vajilla. Disfrutarlo a tope!
Congelar una parte para ir sacado cuando estés baja de moral.

CARO (me): My recipe would be a full meal, because I taste different every time, sometimes it has sesame oil, other times a bit of spices from my dad’s dinner table, Aji picante for sure, some Some dark Chocolate (Venezuelan of course), some Almond Butter- very smoooooth., Some suspiros hand beaten from my abuela Rodriguez, and the curry rice salad from my granma’s house made by Elsa, definitely a bit of centollo from La Castanal, and a gamba a la plancha from Menorca and some chopitos, tequenos and one Hallaca but only the one that Carmen makes. Eggs Benedict from brunch in NY with friends, Smoked Salmon from my first night living alone in NYC. ohhhh and the spicy crispy chicken from Bulgogi in London and my friend Maria’s aguacates from some local farmer, my delicious carrot cake that my mom loves and my friend Mercedes makes for me that makes me feel loved and a chanchito from Maria Elba. I would mix it all up and invite all my wonderful friends from all spaces of life.

ARI:

ERIN:

Isa Recipe
500 gr Alberto
500g Illeana
1 measure of independence
3 servings of spirituality
a bit of rebellion

Combine the first two ingredients in a large trusty container and with the curiosity palette.
I added little by little the independence, making sure it blends very well.
Let rest in an atmosphere of love and freedom for as long as necessary.

Knead the mixture with the spirituality portions – securing one at a time and through the 3P (passion, patience and purpose) strainer.
I sprinkled the rebellion and allow the surface to soak well and then carry all the content inside.
When you have a bright color, cut into 3 portions and start to shape. Let it grow in controlled exploration environments.
You don’t have to worry about whether the shapes look alike or not, remember that eventually the mixture comes back together and is allowed a mash in an open container to any other ingredients you want to add according to taste.
This recipe is ideal as a companion to strong and sweet dishes.
Enjoy!

Ubarikiwe!

M: This is my recipe. My husband says that I’m going to increase the amount of control and impatience. And the truth is that he is right. But I like the way I wrote it:
two cups of enthusiasm
a cup of tenacity
a jet of joy
a spoonful of foolishness
a spoonful of impatience
a pinch of humor
100 gms of curiosity chips
A bunch of intensity
A bunch of control
Procedure:
Mix enthusiasm with tenacity, add a little bit of joy and when the mix is ​​homogeneous, add foolishness, impatience, a pinch of humor and chips of curiosity. Knead gently, stretch gently and once extended let fall as a rain drop the intensity and control. Bake in a moderate oven for 40 minutes. Serve warm with whipped cream