Dec 19, 2018

Dr. Sharon's Mexican Chip and Salsa Vegetarian Soup




In October I was blessed to cater a retreat in Lake Arrowhead for 2 weeks. The Teacher was the multi-talented Healer, Mama Sharon, who shared this delicious recipe with me.

Doctor Sharon has been a healer since the age of 5, and has spent the last 30+ years teaching natural healing and mind-body medicine worldwide.


Without further ado, the recipe.

Serves: 4

Ingredients:
3.5 c veg broth
2-15 ounce cans of black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 c green onion, chopped
3 c mild salsa
1/2 tbsp green chilies, diced and canned (add more for hotter soup)
1 c fresh or frozen corn kernels
1/4 c cilantro
1/4 c garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp Spike spice mix
1/4 tsp Trader Joe's 21 Salute
Juice of 1 lime
2 c tortilla chips, broken into bite sized pieces
1 c avocado chunks
1/2 c queso fresco or Havarti cheese


Instructions:
1. Place broth, beans, salsa, corn, green onions, garlic, spices and chilies in a Crock-Pot.

2. Cook on low for 5 hours to blend flavors, or high for 2.5 hours.

3. Place half a cup of chips and 1/4 c of avocado and 1/4 c cheese into each of the 4 bowls.

4. Ladle soup over avocado, chips and cheese. Serve immediately.

Vegan version - skip the cheese.

Let me know if you make this, and if you change anything. I'm notorious for changing recipes!

Enjoy!

Oct 15, 2018

Vegan Bolognese with Zucchini Noodles


This recipe is a hit with the vegans and the carnivores! It definitely fools the plant based crowd, as I always hear "does this have meat in it?" because it is so flavorful and chunky!! This was originally from My Darling Vegan but I customized it for the retreat I'm catering this week. Let me know if you make it!!

Mushroom Bolognese with Zucchini Noodles


Ingredients
4 lg. Zucchini
3 tbsp olive oil
2 carrots, chopped
1 c. raw walnuts
¼ c fresh parsley, minced
¼ c. fresh basil, minced
¾ c. coco amino acids
2 lbs. Cremini mushrooms, sliced
28 oz. crushed tomatoes
¼ c. tomato paste
2 tbsp. Nutritional yeast
1 tbsp maple syrup
Salt and pepper to desired taste


Instructions


Begin by slicing mushrooms and cooking in 2 tbsp of oil (your choice). Once they are cooked, allow to cool.

Then

- In a food processor, pulse mushrooms until they are well minced and set aside.
- Pulse carrots and set aside.
- Pulse walnuts a few times until they are well minced, set aside.
- In a large pot heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat.
- Transfer carrots to pot and sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Once carrots are fragrant and a little soft, add fresh herbs and coco amino acids, bring to a simmer for a few minutes.
- Add mushrooms to the skillet and stir for 5 to 7 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, and maple syrup. Stir to combine, season with salt and pepper, then cover again and let cook on low for 45 - 60 minutes.
- While sauce is simmering, make your zucchini noodles with a vegetable spiralizer.
- Top noodles with mushroom bolognese and serve immediately with fresh herbs.

EnJOY!!

Jun 29, 2018

How to make vegan Sopa de Fideo With Quinoa

Photo by: www.budgetbytes.com
Sopa de Fideo is a staple in my home. My daughters love this simple soup, easily made with a few ingredients. I have to be extra, and used this recipe with a few changes. Of course my children prefer the simple ingredient version, and I usually only make that version, but Momma needs her taste buds satisfied sometimes. Without further ado:

INGREDIENTS


  • 1 medium brown onion, chopped
  • cloves garlic, chopped and minced
  • 3 tomatoes, diced
  • Tbsp ghee or grapeseed oil 
  • 8 oz uncooked Vermicelli/Fideo noodles
  • 1/2 tsp cumin 
  • 1/4 tsp oregano 
  • cups water 
  • 1/2 c. quinoa
  • Juice from 1 lime 
  • 1 bunch fresh cilantro and parsley, chopped, separated into 2
  • 1 avocado (optional)

DIRECTIONS

  • Add oil and Vermicelli (split in half)/Fideo noodles to soup pot and heat on medium low for 1 minute. Stir constantly. It will brown very quickly, so stir, stir, stir.
  • Add onions, garlic, tomatoes and spices. Stir for another 3 -5 minutes or until fideo is golden brown. Do not burn the pasta, or do and start all over, no big deal.
  • Add water, and quinoa. Stir and cover.
  • Bring to a boil on high. Cover. Simmer on reduce heat to low for 15 minutes.
  • Lime juice and chopped parsley may be added to the soup 5 minutes before soup comes to an end. 
  • Let sit for 5 minutes.
  • Serve with avocado, lime and cilantro on the side.
This is an easy and quick mealtime solution and adding quinoa makes it protein rich and nourishing. This stores and freezes well. I like to re-heat on the stove in a pot and add water, but microwaving works. This is definitely one of my comfort meals and I usually adjust flavors depending on what my body may need at that moment. I like to use parsley and cilantro for the additional cleansing factor and to balance the tomato. I've also been known to toss in some cashew cream, but maybe that will be an upgrade to this recipe and another blog post. 

How do you take your sopa de fideo?

Jun 12, 2018

How to make Vegan Chickpea Scramble with Kale

This is another recipe I used for a retreat. It was a hit! The original recipe called for Swiss chard but i had a ton of kale left so I used that. It was super easy to make, but required some prep work. I mixed the chickpeas before I sauted the onions and garlic. It allowed the chickpeas to marinate in the juice before cooking them. I also set out avocados, hemp seeds, chia seeds, and nutritional yeast for toppings, although none are necessary. The trick is to slowly saute the onions and garlic on low heat for at least 20 minutes. This allows the flavors to really develop, but feel welcomed to shorten the time as per recipe.

I can see this being stuffed into a tortilla, wrap style, for an quick and easy meal to take along when in the run.


Kale and Chickpea Scramble
1 tbsp oil
½ white onion, thinly sliced
4-5 garlic cloves
1 can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
3 tbsp nutritional yeast
Juice from ½ lemon, ½ lime and zest of both
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp salt
3 large Kale leaves, de-stemmed and roughly chopped

Heat oil, add onions, and garlic. Saute for 5 - 7 minutes.
In a separate bowl mix chickpeas, nutritional yeast, lemon & lime juice and zest, turmeric, and salt into a bowl and smash.
Place chickpea mix into skillet with onions and cook for 3 - 4 min.
Add kale and wilt slightly.

Serve immediately.

Let me know if you make it, I'd love to what you think, and any changes u made to improve this.

Eat and be merry!

Apr 20, 2018

What is a Chakra? What is the Chakra Healing Series?

A chakra is an energy wheel used for healing in the Vedic tradition. There are 7 wheels, or energy centers, along the spine which are the most common. There are many energy points in the body, but these 7 are the ones we focus on to heal the astral, or energetic body. It's always a good practice to check in with these centers, as energy can become stagnant in one area, or chakra. I tend to do chakra meditations, but felt it was time to reconnect with art and work on the chakras as well. I will be creating a 7 page chakra journal, or series for the next 7 weeks. It's a great time to try something new, and art has always been one of my favorite ways to express myself. If you would like to join me, grab a sheet of paper, or a journal and let's get started!

In my journal, every prompt I do will be for one Chakra, therefore the page will be monochromatic, to a certain extent. I want to give as little direction as possible and color is very important to each chakra. At the end we will have 7 pages, and these pages can be used as a method of meditation. It is up to you how to house them. I oftentimes frame my pages, which allows me to display them and change them whenever I feel necessary. You can even put them in a binder, or even better, use a playing card! That way you can carry them around and use them as necessary during the day. I digress, do what you like, in any size, and in any medium. It is up to you, and for you, so make it special.

Here are the tools I am using to balance my Muladhara.

Color: RED. I've been trying to meditate on the color red while focusing on the root area, or base of the spine.
Mantra/Meditation: Lam. I have been chanting this Bija Mantra. Here's a video for proper pronunciation.
Music: I'm listening to Steven Halperin's "Chakra Suite". I basically listen to the whole CD, and the root chakra on repeat for a while.
Asanas: I'm doing butterfly pose, squat leading into chair, and pelvic rotations. Please note I have a regular yoga and meditation practice and I've incorporated these things into it, and have substituted others. Feel free to use any of these things with which you are familiar and comfortable. Perhaps even become curious, be like a child and feel.
Art Prompt: Use one of the 3 affirmations below to feature on your "page", and use the color RED.

- I trust in the power of life.
- I feel safe and at home in my body.
- I am sustained and nourished by nature.
Choose whichever speaks to you.

Head on over to my IG to take a look at my journal page and explanation of my process. If you decide to join me, I would love to see your creations!!!! Tag #ChakraHealingSeries so I can peruse and be inspired by your perspective.

Namaste

Apr 18, 2018

How Mantra Helps my Downward Spiral and Depression


Japa.

Wikipedia defines the Sanskrit term as the "meditative repetition of a mantra or a divine name. It is a practice found in Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.

The mantra or name may be spoken softly, enough for the practitioner to hear it, or it may be spoken within the reciter's mind. Japa may be performed while sitting in a meditation posture, while performing other activities, or as part of formal worship in group settings."

"A Mantra being "a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit believed to have psychological and spiritual powers. The earliest mantras were composed in Vedic Sanskrit by Hindus in India, and are at least 3000 years old".

A mala is a string of beads, which is used to chant the names of God. It is similar to a rosary. A mala typically has either 108 beads (a sacred number in Hinduism) or 27 beads (which is one-fourth of 108). Additionally, the mala generally has an additional bead, called the “Guru bead,” which hangs at the connecting points of the mala.

A Hindu mala is used by the right hand, generally. The mala is held with the thumb and middle finger, avoiding the index finger. The index finger represents the Ego. The right hand, and the beads are brought toward you, one by one, using the thumb. Each bead counts as one repetition of your mantra. When you get around to the Guru bead, you don’t count it, and you don’t pass it; you stop there, mentally bow to the guru.

This process is called Japamala.
If your mala is 27 beads long, you will flip the mala around, and start going back the other way, 3 more times. Each time you come to the guru bead you awaken once more, then you turn around and head back home, until you hit 108.

Type of mala is up to you. There are so many options out there! My first piece of advice is to get them from a good source.

What does that mean?

Try and get them from a correct lineage, such as SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship) or the Hare Krshna Temple. Most of my malas come from a Temple. I like that they come infused with good vibrations and prayers via the hands which made them.

After discovering the perfect mala, for you, it's time to find a mantra. Quite honestly, the mantra finds you. So don't give up if you aren't resonating with one, make it up. I did.

My first mantra was, "I am happy, healthy, wealthy and wise".

After that, I found my mantra, and many others! Traditionally, the mantra is given to you by your Guru (Teacher) when initiated into Bramachary.

But the mantra can also come by way of a song, or meme, or conversation.

We should not limit how we receive God, but focus on staying open, and accept the message.

My mantra depends on my situation, but primarily it goes between "Om Namo Narayanaya" and "Om Namah Shivaya".

These are both names for God.

My first Hindu mantra ever was a Maha Mantra, a great mantra. The Krshna mantra, is powerful mantra in guiding love into your own being, evolving Self love within, expanding one's being to unbelievable heights.

I found my spouse while chanting to Krshna.

But I wasn't even looking for one, just looking for God.

When I begin to hear the voices telling me I'm not good enough.
When I hear the voices say I'm not doing enough.
When I hear I am not worthy of love.
When I hear I am a waste...

I chant my mantra. I cling to it, like a man climbing rocks who just had a slip of hand.

I chant louder than the thoughts.

Slowly, they subside.

Sometimes I use the mala, sometimes I don't.

I usually use my mala for morning and evening prayer, but I always have them with me.

That's how powerful they are for me.

Just like with everything else, it's all experimental. Listen to what resonates within. It's always ok to say no, "this is not for me".

Remember to use your breath, deeply.

Enjoy this epic journey!

Namaste

Apr 7, 2018

How To Heal Abandonment Issues


As a Yogi, telling a new story is something I was taught. Spiritual training requires that you tell a new story, a better story, one that uplifts not only spirit, but body and mind as well. That's when it hit me. The story I've been telling since I was old enough to talk about it.

LIGHTBULB!

Here's the story I tell -

I am an abandoned child.

My father left me and my pregnant Mother when I was 4 years old. I guess I'm a shitty person because my own Dad didn't love me enough to raise me. Instead he left my Mom, sister and I to go an raise another family. He went on and raised 3 kids, that weren't his own flesh and blood. (Bitter much?) I can't even explain the level of rejection I have felt most of my life, at least until my late 20's. Yoga helped me see things so differently, clearly.

I realized my Dad's decision to leave had nothing to do with me, and it said more about his cowardice than my pain, which I self inflicted. I realized he was human, and lost. I realized I chose him to be my Dad - so that the experience and pain would be so intense, I'd seek out healing modalities to help my broken heart. I realized suffering was optional, and boy was I attached to my pain. I had the tendency to need approval, to be liked, accepted, wanted. All of that propelled me towards Yoga and the healing community, because I was desperate. I was tired of being a victim. I was tired of that story. I wanted to be the survivor, the warrior who conquered, the Shero.

It was not easy.

It still isn't easy.

I get flashback emotional pain - even after forgiving him and myself.

"Maybe a relationship that didn’t work out" was what triggered my feelings, and Spirit. It's weird to think my relationship with my Dad didn’t work out - but that is the truth. We have an amicable relationship now, but there is no bond, it's not deep, I'm detached. 

My (new) story is of understanding parents are human, and make mistakes (which helps me with my 3 daughters because I don't want them to think of me as perfect. Ever).

A story of realization - I am supported and loved by the Universe - no matter who my parents are - I'm always being cared for.
You see, I realized that the power was within me, from the very beginning.

I realized that self love was more important than anything else.

I realized once I started loving myself, I didn't need anyone else to do it for me.

I realized this world is all Maya (illusion) and we choose to perceive it any way we want to, all it takes is focus.

I decided to change my story, for I was not abandoned, but found by the ever loving Universe/God/Energy/Most High. I was found and set on the Healer Path. I was found and set on the path of pioneering a new consciousness which began within me.

I was the spark. I was the transformer - I still am!

While it may seem strange to think the relationship with my Dad didn’t work out, it is a truth many children face.

I am consciously aware of the advancement I have made due to feeling abandoned, and know I was never truly abandoned.

Now I look forward to advancing, with a knowing I was found, to be a pioneer of healing for others.

For that, I'm grateful.

Namaste

Mar 22, 2018

What is Ayurveda?


Ayurveda, which is Sanskrit, translates to the Science of Life. It is a healing science focusing on mind, body, and spirit. Your diet is considered one of the important therapeutic tools. By bringing harmony and balance to your diet and lifestyle you then begin to practice the preventative aspect of Ayurveda. Imagine, you have to power to heal yourself based on the foods you chose to consume.

The uniqueness in this healing science is the attention to the individual and their symptoms, causes. Everything is looked at from diet, to lifestyle. It encompasses various therapies including yoga, meditation, astrology and working with gemstones, however food and cooking play a prominent role. Food is considered to affect not only our body, but also our mind. By understanding how to prepare foods best suited for our bodies and minds, we can achieve a harmony, a balance and begin to thrive in divinity.

My intention is to bring you more information about this science. Expand your awareness about food, and being in tune with nature, because Ayurveda focuses on being a partner with nature, and the elements.

Ayurveda speaks of a universal life force which manifests as three energies, or Doshas; they are Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. We're all made of a unique combination of these 3 Doshas. Most people have an abundance in one or two doshas. This combination is determined when one is conceived, and is your authentic nature. These three doshas vary based on your diet, season, environment, age, and several other factors.

The first step is figuring out your body type.

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Mar 20, 2018

Happy Equinox!


The Divine Feminine is here and she is ready to meet her children.