adventure date

Happy Spring friends... the weather has been incredible here in NYC. And, I would love to share a fun idea with you. Book an adventure date with yourself. You can invite others along as well, but the most important person to show up is you.

I just recently had a really fun afternoon in the Brooklyn Botanical Garden... with my camera. No plans, no expectations, just fun. A great reason to get myself out, get a nice walk in, surround myself with nature, and gain inspiration.

I really find that when I change my situation I feel energized... and that can mean taking a new dance class, putting on an outfit that makes me feel good, shaking up my routine by walking a different route than usual, anything that awakens my physical senses. It is how I energize my resources so I feel more resourceful.

I would like to invite you to see what makes you feel energized. Shake things up. Take a walk with yourself, see something new... it doesn't mean you have to travel to Tahiti (although, sounds like a great idea!). Challenge yourself in a new way. Have fun. Play. Hope you are well. big hug xxtbone

here's a couple more pics for you... enjoy :)

satisfied and satiated

As I was enjoying my lunch today and the exciting flavor combinations that were dancing in my mouth, I was reminded of a set of guidelines for cooking that I learned from Chef Rocco DiSpirito when I worked at Rocco's in NYC. Perhaps you remember it as The Restaurant reality tv show from 7 or 8 years ago, starring Mamma's Meatballs and a whole mess of drama. It's funny how and where we pick things up.

I learned a lot of things working at that place (I could be found in the front of the house not in cooking in the kitchen) and some of those lessons continue to inform my thinking about food, creativity, experimentation, taking chances with flavor combinations, and the importance of a satisfying sensory experience.

Try out this tip to exercise your creativity, and turn the contents of your fridge and pantry into a delicious and personal meal. They are the ones I was first introduced to by Rocco but as it turns out also have roots in the ancient tradition of Ayurveda.

It is all about balance, and if you think about it, I think it makes a lot of sense. In your dish you want to hit each flavor that your tongue can taste... that way you are left satisfied and not suffering an imbalance (read: craving).

Sweet- fruit, sweet veggies, natural sugars
Sour- sour fruit, fermented foods, even a squeeze of lemon will satisfy this one
Salty- sea salt, seaweeds
Bitter- leafy greens, herbs and spices like mustard
Pungent- things that are spicy like chilis and garlic
Astringent- legumes, herbs like sage
Umami- the Japanese term for a flavor that hits at the back of the tongue, like edamame or mushrooms... not everyone can taste this

In your next creation try to include as many of these flavors as you can. It can feel bold or against what you may normally think goes together but your taste buds will be delighted.

My lunch, the picture above, was made from things I had on hand today. Here's the recipe if you'd like to try it or use it as inspiration to come up with your own combination. The amount is for one serving, but you could easily multiply to make it for more people... it would also make a great breakfast!

Sausage and Kale

In a frying pan, heat a good dash of olive oil.

• Add 1 minced garlic clove, cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add 1 sliced pre-cooked sausage (I had an organic chicken & apple sausage left over from the weekend, so that's what I used)
• Add 2-3 leaves kale, rinsed and chopped (I actually just tore it into bite sized bits and threw it into the pan)
• Give a few shakes of sea salt, and red/cayenne pepper as desired
  
• Stir and cover for 2-3 minutes, until bright kale is bright green
• Add a half bunch chopped green onions
• Add a small handful of currants (or raisins)
• Add a small handful of sunflower seeds
• Mix until all heated through
• Enjoy!

If you want more inspiration on this topic Rocco actually has a cookbook called Flavor, that came out in 2003, check it out it is a beautiful book (thanks Rocco for my copy xoxo). He also has a bunch of other great cookbooks with quick meals. I'm actually looking forward to checking out his newest book, Now Eat This!, where he makes low calorie versions of American comfort food, it sounds very cool... I'll let you know when I try it.

Well Rocco, I guess I'll wrap up this love letter by sending you a big hug and a huge THANK YOU for your inspiration and fearlessness. It was nice having lunch with you today, even if it was only in my mind :). hope you are all well, big hug xxtbone

a brownie that's good for me? yes please!

I have been doing a lot of experimental baking lately and love this recipe. I find that I feel better when I'm not eating gluten and so I have wanted to find alternative ways to bake treats without using white or wheat flour. These brownies are a great example, I can enjoy chocolatey chewy goodness and still do something nice for my body. In this recipe, which seems like a miracle the way it works, there is a high amount of protein... like a powerbar masquerading as a brownie. They make a great snack, afternoon pick-me up, treat for the kids, and I would venture to guess they make a delicious breakfast on the go. Plus, they are super easy to make. You are only about a half hour away from home-made brownies that support your health. How cool!

Brownies

preheat oven to 325 degrees

In a large bowl combine:
1 jar natural peanut butter (or other nut butter of your choosing)
2 eggs
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1.25 cups agave

Then add:
1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Pour into greased (try using coconut oil) 9x9 baking dish. Bake 30 minutes or so, until the edges look done. Test it with a toothpick, it should come out clean. The middle may take a few more minutes to set once out of the oven, but don't let the edges get overcooked.

They have a really nice light, almost cake-y texture. I hope you enjoy them, or use this as a jumping off point for your own experimental baking. Hope you are well. big hug xxtbone

i heart deepak chopra

Hi friends, enjoy this treasure from The Dr. Oz Show website. In this video the very sparkly Deepak Chopra gives a great overview of what meditation is, why it can help us, and leads a great healing meditation. The video concludes with an easy meditation to help manifest your desires... so, here you go, it's super easy and totally awesome. Meditate and Manifest to your heart's content. hope you're well, big hug xxtbone

un-sick soup

Just to jump off today's earlier post about the wonder that is the Neti Pot... here's a quick recipe for the soup I came up with for lunch today. Matt (my boyfriend) is home sick from work, so I have had healing the flu on my mind... and figured it might help you too. So, here you have it:

un-sick soup

in a soup pot or reasonably sized sauce pan:

heat 2 Tbs olive oil on medium heat

add:

4 minced garlic cloves, let cook 1-2 min (about the time it took to chop the mushrooms)

12 chopped shiitake mushrooms, let cook 3-4 min (about the time it took to wash and chop kale)

1 bunch rinsed and chopped kale

saute for a few minutes until kale turns bright green, and mushrooms are tender

add 4 cups vegetable broth

a few shakes cayenne pepper, a few shakes garam masala, a splash of toasted sesame oil, and a splash tamari (or soy sauce if you're not gluten free)- to taste

bring to a boil, and simmer for 5-10 minutes until you feel it's done

voila!

He really enjoyed this soup. "I love this soup!" was the actual response. And confirmed that it really helped to open up his sinuses, cut through the junk, helped him feel a bit better.... and led to a nap (to complete the perfect equation of healing the flu... broth + sleep=better). If you need it, hope it helps you feel better too. (I enjoyed it as well, and am not feeling sick... it's really a tasty soup.) Hope you're not sick too. big hug xxtbone

Seems like everyone I know is fighting the sniffles right now. Soooo, what better time to talk about the NETI POT. If you haven't tried one, you know you really do kind of want to... even though it probably seems far too gross or uncomfortable to actually go through with. If you're unfamiliar with what I'm talking about check this out:

I know it seems crazy if you haven't tried it. It looks like it must hurt or feel like drowning... but it doesn't. It doesn't at all actually. It feels good to gently help whatever is irritating your sinuses to move on it's way out. It is a great help for allergies as well. The stream of salty water keeps things moving so your body doesn't have to work so hard to keep it's pathways clear. 

Personally, I like the plastic squirt bottle version made by NeilMed. I was going to put a link to the product but here's a video about it... they are so much better than pictures, and I think it's funny to see people do this so calmly. I like the squirt bottle better as I feel less awkward pouring water through my face this way... personal preference. And one more note, I know in both of these videos they are selling you their product, which you do not need to buy to achieve this treatment. The salt water mixture is simply 1 teaspoon non-iodized salt to 16 ounces water, and if you feel comfortable trying it, you can sniff it... although to me that seems scary, for now, I'll stick to the squirt bottle method.  Here's the other video, enjoy and hope you're well xxtbone

there's always room for jello... i mean "kanten"

I'm a sucker for dessert. But, I want it to do a little more for me than just satisfy the sweet tooth. I am very happy to share this idea with you. KANTEN. It's like a jello-ish, pudding-like concoction... that is a bit magical in it's transformation. (In case you haven't noticed, I'm also a sucker for magic.)

In your local store where you can find sea vegetables (read: seaweed) you will find a small package of a treat called Agar-Agar, also known as Kanten in Japan. This little miracle of the sea acts as a gelatin and has incredible health benefits when added to your daily routine. It is very high in fiber, thought to help lower cholesterol and is great for aiding in your digestion... thus a super addition to any meal. It has virtually no calories, it's a sea vegetable so it comes from nature not from a lab, and doesn't have a distinct flavor. It adds vitamins and minerals to your diet as well, including iodine, calcium, and iron. How cool. 

Here's a quick recipe for the pudding I made in the photo above, I made it with organic raisins, since I had some... but I imagine you could try it with any dried fruit.

Raisin Pudding

ingredients:

1 cup raisins

2 cups water

2 Tablespoons Agar-Agar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a small sauce pan, heat 1 cup water with raisins for 15 minutes on medium to low heat. Add cinnamon, stir for 2 minutes. Blend this mixture in a food processor or blender. Dissolve agar-agar in 1 cup water. Add to blended mixture. Give a couple of pulses to mix in the blender. Return to pan for 5 minutes. Pour into a glass or ceramic container that will go into the refrigerator for an hour or so, until set.

There you go. It's super simple. Goes great with a little granola if you want a little something more for a snack. But, thanks to the properties of the agar-agar, it helps you feel very full and satisfied. Give it a try, let me know what you think. It's kinda weird, I know... but, I'm totally into it. Hope you are well, big kiss xxtbone