A Seasonal Delight

Scrumptious!

Best birthday dinner EVER! 

Everyone in my family knows that one of the best gifts they can give me is a yummy meal, and Ron took me out to dinner yesterday for a belated birthday bonanza of food. I had heard about the restaurant called Feast from a man who works at Whole Foods, so it was my first choice. Sure enough…I was in heavenly bliss for the entire meal. My photos aren't the greatest, but you get the idea… :-)

For appetizer, we chose the:
Eggplant Napoleon~ Crisp eggplant chips layered with herbed goat cheese. Served with chunky roasted tomato beurre blanc.

For my dinner, I chose:
Roasted Beet Cake ~ savory cake of roasted beets, caramelized onions and garlic, served over sautéed spinach with braised fennel, red wine syrup and goat cheese lumpia.

Ron chose:
Pan-Roasted Chicken Breast with dukkah marshmallow, sautéed haricots verts and tahini chicken reduction.

We shared an order of:
Roasted Sweet Potatoes with fresh corn, sautéed kale and poblano chili cream sauce.

Our desserts were (shared, though Ron let the Birthday Girl have nearly all the exquisite, melt-in-your-mouth Exploradora):
Lemon-Date Verrine~ Lemon-tequila curd and date cream, layered in a glass with toasted almonds. 
and
Exploradora~ Girl Scout Cookie Shortbread Crust with cayenne caramel custard, salted chocolate ganache and smoked paprika. Candied hazelnut garnish.

I salivate recalling every scrumptious bite! Plus, as an added bonus, the atmosphere was quite, relaxing, and the chef came around greeting customers about the time our dessert was served. Even Ron (who prefers very basic meals without much spice or sauce) said it was an excellent meal!

Overall, a fabulous, decadent experience, and the quality of the food has moved Feast to the very top of my favorite meals list.

Healthy Finger Food

Roasted Chick Peas, Sliced Yams, Asparagus, and Kale

This is one of my favorite easy dishes for dinner. It serves two purposes: dinner and snacking! Now, granted, my husband isn't as fond of it as I am, but since I'm the cook, I decide, and sometimes that means we eat what I'm craving. The roasted chick peas are seasoned with a masala specific to easing the dry, cold Vata-deranging season of winter, while the yams offer sweetness. The kale and asparagus are rubbed with olive oil and tossed in at the very end of the roasting period. YUM!

Green Juicing

A couple weeks ago, I started paying more attention again to what I eat ... and how much I eat (once more trying to focus upon quality rather than quantity). I love food, so I find myself 'falling off the wagon' repeatedly. I started focusing on healthy eating habits about 7 or 8 years ago (before that, don't ask), but have to repeatedly bring myself back to an aware state. Like many people, after I hit my 40s the weight gain was more rapid, and the subsequent weight loss much slower. After being stick-thin most of my life, this was a shock! Egads, you mean I have to actually pay attention to what I'm eating?! Crap.

Anyway, I have a healthy system established for losing the weight at a moderate pace, and it works well for me. But there was something that I had been wanting to try for a couple years to see if it would assist in healthy weight loss. And that would be Green Juicing. Not Fruit Juicing, although fruits can be a percentage of the juice, but rather maximizing the source of tremendous nutrients we can obtain through green foods. I like vegetables both raw and cooked, but with our soils depleted of nutrients, I wondered if juicing might not be a good way to obtain significant amounts of micronutrients. Because of my training, I was pleased to find that many Ayurveda practitioners were supportive of juicing within boundaries--like knowing your body type, your tendencies, and how to maintain balance within them. See Juicing in Ayurveda.

Enter our new Breville Juice Plus, as seen on the inspirational movie Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (I highly recommend this movie and it's available through Netflix); a friend had suggested the movie and shared her recent experiences with juicing on her blog - Annette's Asylum.

Now, Ron and I didn't want to go to the extremes that the two men in the movie did. But we did want to try a 3-day juice fast to kick-start healthier eating habits, and get us on our way with some inspiring results up front. And it provided that this weekend. Yay! We don't intend to get obsessive about juicing, but we are very pleased we bought a juicer. Every bit helps, don't you think? :-)

Here's to happy, healthy eating along with compassionate, peaceful lifestyle!

warm drinks!

With the onset of our lovely, cool autumn weather, most of us are drinking more teas and warm liquids. One of my favorites for years now has been the herbal 'coffee substitute' Teeccino. Ever tried it? My current favorite is the organic Maya Chocolate -- they put a touch of cayenne in it -- YUM! And, while I have a large supply of the loose for here at home, they now offer it in "tee-bags" for on-the-go. The winner of a recent contest gave a delightful use for these little tee-bags or, really, any tea-bag: "to send one in a nice card to a far away loved one (with a time to drink it as a long-distance get-together)". Isn't that a wonderful idea?!

And Teeccino is a healthy drink as well; non-acidic, energizing (but without caffeine), containing inulin (a prebiotic inherent in the chicory root that is good for the gut) and potassium (an alkaline mineral and a much-needed electrolyte). Most of us have systems that are far too acidic; Teeccino can help with this.

I have memories of my parents using Chicory in their coffee, so I was already a little familiar with the flavor. I'm guessing that they were introduced to it via their love of visiting New Orleans (French roast coffee regularly included chicory), but maybe it was a southern Missouri favorite as well? Hmm. I'll have to ask Mom.

So anyway, no, I don't sell Teeccino, but I sure like it!

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free photo of chicory flower © Yan Zommer | Dreamstime.com

Pomegranates as Food

It's that precious time of year when I can easily get Pomegranates in the grocery store! I'm so excited as I absolutely LOVE this fruit and, with its growing season a relatively short one, I like to make sure I eat them as often as I want. They are not considered a food to favor for Vata-types or necessarily good during Autumn due to their astringency, however, if you are still feeling over-heated from the summer, they are balancing for Pitta, or if you are feeling heavy, weighty, and congested, they can be balancing for Kapha. Because of how Pomegranate can aggravate Vata, especially during Autumn, if you eat them, just be sure to balance them out nicely with some Vata-pacifying foods! Because my hot flashes tend to flare up in late summer, early fall, I find Pomegranates to be a wonderful coolant. Enjoy them!

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photo © Melinda Nagy | Dreamstime.com

Roasted Chickpeas

While I didn't produce a fancy meal yesterday, I did try a new recipe from my Ayurvedic cookbook "Eat Taste Heal". The dish was roasted 'crunchy' chickpeas - something that sounded delicious and simple! I think they're yummy, although Ron isn't fond of them at all. However, next time, I'll have to roast them just a wee bit longer as mine didn't make it all the way to crunchy! LOL I used a Pitta-pacifying seasoning - flavor but not hot - and look forward to being able to have them more often in the future. After cooking them, I found quite a few recipes for 'roasted chickpeas' online so get out there and roast 'em up! YUM!

Best Sandwich EVER

Okay, first off I realize that this is probably one of the worst food-combining choices, and as I learn more about Ayurveda (tastes, foods, digestion, AMA, etc.) I'll probably look at this sandwich objectively and think "OMG, I can't believe I ate that!" However, having been blessed most of my life with a 'cast-iron' stomach and overall fast metabolic rate (although I'm realizing now that I'm nearing 50 that the metabolism could use a boost) -- Go Agni! -- I confess that I'm drawn to some very strange combinations. So, this isn't necessarily a recommendation - and I won't make it myself very often probably, especially once the fruit is no longer in season - but I just have to share the recipe! LOL Here goes...

Use Tapioca/Rice bread, toast it, smear peanut butter on both sides, then put a big ole tablespoon of Pomegranate seeds in the center, spread them around, and smash those sides together! Voila! Positively mouth-watering scrumptious!!!! Best sandwich EVER!

Pomegranates etc

For class last night, I set out a nice little display of apple slices and pomegranate seeds which lent a festive appeal while also being a healthy, seasonally-appropriate snack. Thankfully, I had learned a clean, relatively simple way to extract seeds from pomegranate (immersing the fruit in water as fingers dislodge the seeds) and they were worth the minor trouble -- yum!

The class was titled Transitioning Into Autumn and I had such fun with it! We started with learning about various flower essences that provide emotional support, whether for letting go of the warmth we liked or dreading the coming cold, or in the case of fears or anxieties surrounding the current Swine Flu hype. Then we listened to a three-minute resonance remedy for flu prevention, followed by discussion about three Homeopathic remedies for cold/flu prevention or to 'nip-it-in-the-bud'. In addition, there are two cell salts perfectly suited for transitioning from summer into fall/winter. With all these situations, I mentioned how EFT could be helpful.

Then, we moved into lifestyle and the many ways available to support our bodies, minds and spirits, including some that are part of the daily and seasonal routines in Ayurveda. It was exciting to be able to already share with others some of the lifestyle tips I'd learned through my KSA studies. I also mentioned a few simple yet deeply grounding techniques.

I enjoyed the class so much that I'm pleased I'll have another opportunity to facilitate it this Saturday at a different location! I'm deeply grateful to be able to share this supportive and self-healing information with others.

Cramming with Chai

Okay. Not really healthy. I admit it. Well, sort of healthy in that it's organic and all natural but not in that it's got caffeine AND sugar (evaporated cane juice). And certainly not healthy in such large amounts as what I've drank today and likely will be in the coming week! LOL But, I'm down to the wire on my A&P studies - last chapter and final test - that simply HAVE to be done by early next week because I start KSA on September 13th and have an assignment to complete for that course prior to the first class! And, I'm running a bit out of steam when I need to be stepping it up... So, enter Oregon Chai Tea Concentrate. This is my 'jolt' of choice. I knew that it was stimulating to my system from pre-health food days (I found Oregon Chai about a decade ago and immediately fell in love) but I generally have tried to keep it to a blissfully decadent one cup (maybe two) on special occasions, taking it with organic rice milk instead of cow's milk. However, during the past year, with my return to vegetarianism and heightened food awareness, caffeine and sugar have been exceedingly minimal. So, today was quite the stimulating blast to my metabolism!

While the wonderful self-healing modalities I use like Flower Essences, Homeopathy, herbs, bio-algae, and energy work are incredible supports, they still work within the template of my own constitution and Vital Force. So, the temporary measure of a Chai Tea 'lift' takes me a step more intense than what I would naturally be able to achieve. The beautiful thing about the natural modalities is that they also will support me during this temporary shift into a higher gear than that in which I'm normally comfortable, allowing for a dynamic equilibrium that is outside my usual patterning. The Flower Essences allow me to focus the extra energy from the Chai Tea, while some natural remedies can help my system to detox some of that excess caffeine and sugar so as not to overload my organs. Balance all these with awesome nutrition and I'm doing GREAT.

Eggs

I have eggs on the brain this morning!

It started Friday when I was excited to see that Rippling Waters organic farm just down the road from us was open for the season. I quickly bought some eggs produced by a local farmer; these chickens are free-range and fed organic grains and allowed by the farmer to live out their natural lives as fully and comfortably as possible. We only eat a modest number of eggs so this works out well for us and the chickens.

Then, this morning, breakfast at krista's (our favorite local eating place!) was enticing: eggs benedict with fresh asparagus. It was absolutely DELICIOUS. Honestly, I was oohing and ahhing throughout the entire meal! Her sauce is divine and I had never had it with asparagus before - but certainly will in the future (with or without the eggs). I don't have eggs too often when we eat out because I'm never sure where the restaurants buy them, but krista tends to buy local whenever possible (and I give thanks to the chicken for her offering).

This brings me to awareness about eggs. I recently returned to the state of not eating meat or poultry - and rarely fish. When Ron and I first met in 1999, I had been a vegetarian-type for about four or five years, but somehow let that slip as time went by. With renewed energy these past few years toward health of mind, body and spirit, I knew I would return to conscious eating. Along with this, of course, comes an awareness of how most chickens in 'factory farms' are treated in order to get their eggs -- so I am as careful as possible in where I get my eggs (same thing with dairy products).

This state of awareness of food (animals, plants, world, environment) is one I'm cultivating, and of which I'm mindful. I'm far from perfect but then none of us are. I simply do my best, one step at a time. Being mindful. Being present.

"Quantum wellness, when it comes to eating, is about keeping your eyes open and scrutinizing the process from beginning to end, as well as thinking about how your dietary choices affect others. ... Any food choice that is truly good for your health will also be beneficial to your spiritual well-being (meaning that no spiritual principles, such as mercy, compassion, environmental stewardship, or kindness, have been violated)." ~ Kathy Freston, Quantum Wellness

Last year, during the Women & Wellness Goddess Within party, each of the women attending created their own 'egg of creativity and new beginnings'. I had done this same thing several years earlier with a small group of friends and found it fun and rewarding. I always enjoy how the eggs reveal themselves to reflect inner guidance. The photo is of my own egg creations; the green one was from my earlier party - revealing a devotion to the divine feminine - while the others are from last year's party - sharing my new direction toward love, peace, empowerment and play! Spring egg decorating is not just for kids - I encourage you to try it! Even more simple, just cultivate egg symbolism through meditation or another art form. Draw an egg and within it place all those things which you would like to bring into your life!

Udana

I had an intimate experience with Udana on Saturday...

First, briefly, you may be wondering who or what Udana is? :-) Udana is a sub-dosha of Vata Dosha in the Ayurvedic system of healing. This particular sub-dosha has an upward movement, thus my familiarity with it this past weekend when I had food poisoning. Ugh.

I ought to have known better, of course, but ate the restaurant left-overs anyway that consisted of a mushroom sandwich in a mayo sauce. I can see you shaking your head. I know! What was I thinking?! LOL Anyway, within an hour, there was some cramping but I didn't put two and two together as I had other things on my mind. After four hours came the nausea and then my intimate - and violent - experience with Udana.

Luckily, I was able to use Homeopathy to provide support. I went to bed at eight o'clock Saturday night, woke up around one in the morning, took another remedy, then got up at three in the morning to get ready to drive down to Kripalu to audit a class in their Ayurvedic program. The four hour drive down wasn't really pleasant -- I was extremely tired from lack of sleep not to mention lack of food and slight dehydration -- but I was determined! I was thrilled I went as the class was excellent (and, as it happens, the teacher also talked about Udana!). Of course, when I got home last night, I dove into bed again at eight and have pampered myself most of today but I've been eating lightly so feeling well overall.

I will have some turmeric on my quinoa for dinner, as it's a wonderful herb to support the GI tract.

I feel blessed to know of natural methods that are inexpensive and easy to use when these kinds of acute ailments crop up. These are the kinds of modalities I enjoy sharing with other people during my classes -- of which I hope to do more in the future.

Mushroom and Hummus

Having one of my favorite dinners tonight so thought I'd share it with you! On the bottom is baby spinach, next layer is quinoa, topped with a Portobello mushroom cap filled with a thin spread of hummus and ground flax seed sprinkled over it. I made 'smashed' red potatoes with seasoning and cheese, plus baby carrots, as the sides. All organic, all YUMMY!

What is one of your favorite meals?!