The Menopause Menu turns 3 on August 17th! It’s been such a wonderful three years, and I’m truly grateful for your global support. Here’s my final blog post celebrating this milestone… you can find links to Parts 1-3 here.
Celebrating 3 years: Wrapping up our anniversary with cake and connection 🍰 (Part 4 of 4)
Sometimes it is worth revisiting an old favorite and making a few necessary changes. 🍒
I did exactly that when I transformed a 1960s family recipe into an antioxidant-rich treat for my book.
That idea of adapting to new seasons is exactly what building a midlife community is all about.
In chapter sixteen of The Menopause Menu, I included an Apricot & Cherry Cake. It is a modernized twist on my German grandmother’s classic Pflaumenkuchen. By swapping plums for fresh apricots and cherries, it became a delicious palate cleanser.
Shortly after publishing, I attended a lovely home book party and clothing exchange. 👗
One of the guests, a professional baker, decided to make her own version of my family’s recipe for the gathering. She adapted the fruit by using apples and brought it to share. 🍏
Eating a slice of her custom creation was such an honor, and it sparked a beautiful afternoon of connection.
About ten women sat in a circle that day, spanning from their thirties to their fifties. Sitting right there with us on a comfy couch was the host’s mother, a vibrant woman in her late seventies.
Even though she was decades past the midlife transition, she fully engaged in our circle. She asked insightful questions and listened closely to everyone’s diverse experiences. 🧠
When the discussion ended, she pulled me aside, gave me a warm hug, and told me she wished I had been her physician “back in the day.” 💜
Her comment stayed with me.
We cannot change the medical care we received in the past. 🩺
However, we can actively create a more supportive, informed environment for each other today.
There is so much relief in simply gathering with other women to talk openly about our health. Hearing someone else describe their own experience often answers questions we didn’t even know we had.
It reminds us that whatever phase of life we are in, there is always room to pull up a chair and listen to one another.
As we wrap up our 3-year anniversary celebration this month, this is my greatest wish for you.
Host a clothing swap, share a customized recipe, and talk openly with the women around you. 🌻
Thank you for being part of this incredible community for the last 36 months.
To your health,
Susan
Here’s the Apricot & Cherry Cake recipe, my gift to you. 🎁
