Because this past year has been filled with so much new.

A new city. New faces. New rhythms and routines. New experiences that stretched me in ways I didn’t quite expect.

When I first stepped into this next chapter, I didn’t know what it would bring. I only knew that something deep inside me was ready — ready to move, to explore, to open up to life again. But as anyone who has started over knows, new can be both beautiful and disorienting. It asks us to loosen our grip on the familiar and trust that the unknown has something to offer.

There were moments when I questioned everything — when the unfamiliar felt heavy and I longed for what I knew. Change, even when chosen, has a way of humbling us. But slowly, quietly, things began to shift.

Each small yes — to a new opportunity, a conversation, a connection — led me a little further down a path that was beginning to feel right. I began to notice how the unknown softened when met with curiosity instead of fear. I started to find meaning in the in-between moments: morning light spilling through a new window, laughter shared with people who were once strangers, the comfort of creating rituals that grounded me in this new space.

And somewhere along the way, I realized that I felt… home.

Not just in the physical sense, but in that deeper, quieter way — the way where your heart feels at ease, your shoulders drop, and you can finally exhale. It’s the kind of home that doesn’t need walls; it lives in connection, in presence, in gratitude.

Saying yes — even when I didn’t have all the answers — brought me here. To a place that feels sacred and alive. To people who inspire and uplift. To a version of myself that feels more rooted, open, and whole.

This year has reminded me that new doesn’t always mean uncertain or uncomfortable. 

Sometimes, it’s an invitation — to rediscover who we are when we let go of what no longer fits.

I am deeply grateful — for the courage it took to begin again, for the kindness I’ve received along the way, and for the quiet knowing that I am exactly where I need to be.

Here’s to this season of new beginnings.

To trusting what unfolds.

And to finding home — again and again — in the most unexpected and beautiful ways. 

Thankful for you.

- Barkha

Envision mesquite like a souped-up cross between cocoa and cinnamon—it’s sort of spicy, kind of smoky, and entirely delicious. It’s also rich in protein, fiber, magnesium, calcium, iron, and zinc. And despite being low on the glycemic index, it’s delightfully sweet!

Some mesquite flours are made from seeds and pulp, so you can use a good amount wherever you would cocoa or a high-protein flour in your favorite recipes. Burlap & Barrel grinds only the inner fruit for their Wild Mesquite, resulting in an intensely concentrated flavor. So you only need a spoon or two to add chocolatey, spicy sweetness to both savory and sweet dishes.

It offers a rich pumpkin flavor without cloying sweetness, with hints of warming cardamom and earthy ginger from both ground and crystallized forms running throughout. (If you’re not familiar with the delights of cardamom, check out my October newsletter.) 

I’ve worked the recipe so that you can make it into muffins or in a loaf pan. (I devoured both versions—it’s that good.)