Nourishing Us ~ twenty-five EIGHT with Erica Mock
Balanced and organic meal delivery for new mothers and all of us
Once in a while, someone contacts you out of the blue, and your intuition says ‘just say yes!’ That’s how I felt when I first met Erica the chef and creator of twenty five EIGHT. When Erica asked if I wanted to try her delivery meals, I 
thought of the meals I’ve tried in the past, and I was a bit skeptical. In this case, though, I was truly blown away. twenty-five EIGHT “delivers deeply nourishing, hormone balancing, fresh, mood uplifting, organic meals designed for all stages of motherhood,” as finds its clever name from a mother’s job which is even more than 24/7. I may not be the mother of a newborn, but according to Erica, all mothers are always working extra hard. I was so impressed by how fresh the ingredients were. The meals, the incredible milks, (black sesame milk is one of the best things ever) and the amazing muffins like the banana walnut muffins, were so good I had to reorder for the whole family.
I had such a great time with Erica preparing one of her treats, the Salted Tahini Chocolates together! I hope you will be inspired by her interview and recipe! I know for myself, if I have a meal prepared for me, I feel like I can conquer the world. It’s a great gift for new mothers, and maybe friends that need some love once in a while.
1) What makes your heart sing?
My family, my son, my horses and puppies. Truly it boils down to the relationships in my life that make my heart sing. Without the incredible spirits that we attach to, life would be so mundane wouldn’t it?
2) Truly your meals are so delicious and nutritious I’m not sure how you are able to put so much love into it. What is your secret to fulfilling your business and creative goals so efficiently?
You are very kind, thank you for the beautiful compliment. There truly is no secret, and I am just figuring it out myself. I try to take each new day as a new opportunity. An opportunity to grow, to recieve universal messages, and translate them into my business and existence. I try to be a conduit for this energy as much as possible becuase without the support of universal alignment things can drag on and get sticky. So riding that wave is how I manage to incorporate everything into this lifetime!
3) As a young mama and business owner, do you have any self-care rituals or regimes to help you replenish?
YES! I ride my horses. Being with them is the only way I can truly fill my cup (and fill theirs at the same time), and leave feeling replenished recharged, revitalized, and ready to take on anything! In running my own business I tend to spend a lot of time in the masculine (decision making, linear, expansive) self, so it is important to nourish my yin feminine soft reflective self as often as possible.
4) What item on your menu do you consider a beauty food?
I would say there is a lot of buzz around things like collagen and rosewater and pearl (all of which are in our goodies) that can be considered beauty foods. But honestly, I believe energetically all of our food serves the inner and outer beauty of the mothers we serve.
5) Do you have a mantra or motto you live by?
Not particularly, but I do have a litmus test for anything I commit to in this lifetime. It has to both 1) bring me joy and 2) align with my universal path. When I commit to something and I am met with great opposition and resistance, I try to remove myself from the situation and reevaluate its purpose in my life. If it is to teach a lesson (like labor and birth) I continue, but if it truly doesn’t serve me I move on.
6) Are you a mermaid or forest fairy?
100% forest fairy!! I come alive in the woods.
7) What is on your nightstand?
A salt lamp, an assortment of essential oils, and Cat in the Hat! My little man loves that one.
8) Where do you see Twenty Five Eight going in the next few years?
Nationwide! It is on my vision board to take this mission and service as far and wide as I can to serve women and mothers all across the country. At the same time, continuing to source nourishment with the highest good of both our clients and the great Mother Earth at the forefront.
Salted Tahini Chocolates
1/3 C raw organic tahini
1/4 C organic maple syrup
3 T coconut flour
1/4 t sea salt (plus more large flake salt to sprinkle on top)
1 paleo chocolate bar OR 1/2 cup paleo chocolate chips
1-2 T coconut oil
Instructions:
In a medium bowl mix the tahini maple syrup and salt until combined. Next, add the coconut flour and stir until well combined. Place batter into silicone squares (we use this silicone sheet from Amazon). Freeze for 20 minutes. While you’re waiting, melt the chocolate in a double boiler and add 1-2 tablespoons of coconut oil to thin it (if needed) to make it easier to drizzle. Once the batter is very cold, pull it out of the freezer and drizzle a bit of chocolate on top of each square. Sprinkle with a few flakes of sea salt and rose petals, then place back in the freezer.
Keep the squares in the freezer until frozen (or very cold). Then pop them out of the mold and enjoy! They can easily store in the freezer for a month in an airtight container.
