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Hello beautiful humans! Oh, how I have missed writing to you all! 2024 was a much more intense and busy year for me than I ever thought possible.  I also feel like this year has literally flown by so incredibly fast. We had a blended household until August and learned so much with having extra hands to help teach and learn from. We also grieved my father in laws passing and celebrated his love of life. Having this happen in the blink of an eye has really made me appreciate all that I have. 

But also, 2024 has been A LOT. I feel like I am just now coming up for air and it’s been only a few months. 

This has always been my favorite time of year for many reasons.I always feel like taking stock of the year, clearing out the clutter not only in my home but in my mind. Throughout fall and winter-I naturally have a more inward shift. It’s a personal practice of mine that happened naturally over time. This began long before I knew about Traditional...

These energy balls are a modern day version of a wonderful postpartum/recovery treat from the East Indian tradition. I was introduced to this Qi or energy building sweet by my mentor, Master Gladys after a Qi-gong healing treatment back in acupuncture school.   Since then, I have recommended it to patients and made them at home too.

Essentially, the combination of ghee, dried fruit, nuts and spices supports digestion, builds the blood and warms the body. It is great for anyone who is recovering from surgery, an illness or giving birth.

This recipe is modified from a more traditional version from

https://shwetainthekitchen.com/panjiri-recipe/

The first thing we will do is make ghee or clarified butter out of 1 stick of butter. Ghee is considered to be very tonifying and the cooking process removes impurities from the butter. It is a little bit of added work but totally worth the time involved. See below if you need step by directions for ghee

...

3 lb Firm white fish, cubed and deboned

4 slices of thick Bacon 

1 bottle Clam juice and/or  2-3 cups chicken stock (only for allergies)

1 Onion chopped

2-3 Bay leaves

1 tsp Thyme

2 -3 tsp Old Bay seasoning

4-5 ears cooked and cut or frozen corn about 3 cupsCorn

5 to 6 small red potatoes or about 2 lbs Potatoes of your choice.

½ cup Dry white wine

Large stock pot heat to medium and add in thick 4 slices of bacon-we did peppercorn and keep about ½ of the rendered fat to cook the veggies. Saute the onions until soft for about 5 to 6 minutes. Once they are to the desired tenderness, deglaze the pan with white wine and reduce the heat. Add the potatoes, corn broth and clam juice and chicken stock for about 10 minutes. Once the potatoes are close to done, add in the fish and cook for about 5 to 8 additional minutes. Serve in bowls and top with crumbled bacon and enjoy.

4 to 6 Eggs

Sourdough toast

Chopped canned or fresh tomatoes large can

tomato paste 2 tbsp

1 box chopped cherry tomatoes

1 med sweet onion diced

3 to 4 large minced garlic cloves

2 red/yellow/orange bell peppers chopped and deseeded

cup capers 

to ½ cup green olives greek or Mediterranean 

Bay leaves

Salt and pepper

Hawaij spice mix- from:https://www.food.com/recipe/hawaij-traditional-spice-mix-from-yemen-290246

6 1⁄2 tablespoons black peppercorns

• 1⁄4 cup cumin seed
• 2 1⁄2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons green cardamom pods
• 1 1⁄2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 3 1⁄2 tablespoons ground turmeric

Saute onion and peppers until tender about 5 minutes. then add in the chopped tomatoes, both canned and fresh tomatoes. Reduce until the tomatoes cook down a bit Then add in garlic cook until fragrant then add in tomato paste and spices, capers and olives. Reduce and add in 2 to 4 tsp of hawaij until aromatic. Blend...

This hearty autumn soup is a family favorite. It's a vegan, deeply nourishing traditional Mediterranean dish, and can easily be made gluten free.

Ingredients

1 large can of chopped tomatoes

1 can of cannellini beans

1 can chickpeas

1 large onion diced

4 to 6 cups veggie stock (or chicken stock if you prefer)

 1 bunch of carrots sliced

4 to 6 ribs of celery sliced

1 peeled and chopped butternut or other orange soft-squash (we did organic, frozen chopped butternut  for a quicker weeknight dinner)

Or substitute a can of pumpkin puree 

½ cup chopped cabbage

Or baby kale/spinach

2 bay leaves

2 cloves garlic

1 to 2 tbsp of tomato paste

Salt and pepper to taste

1 to 2 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp celery salt

Directions

Use a large pot. Add add extra virgin olive oil and heat on medium. Saute carrots, celery, and onions until golden. Season with salt and pepper. Prepare your stock and set aside. If using fresh squash, add once the carrots, celery and onions...

Strawberries and kiwis are acidic fruits and sipping them in water is a great way to keep cool. Here are five ways to enjoy them! Remember to rinse fruit well, peel the kiwis, and de-stem the strawberries.

1. Lemonade Style. You can make a lemonade style drink by combining 1 cup of water, 1 kiwi, and at least 3 large or 6 small strawberries in a blender, straining, and sweetening to taste.

2. Flavored Water. It's just as enjoyable to slice the berries & kiwis into small chunks, and put them in a large glass pitcher in the fridge overnight. You can serve in glasses with fruit chunks or remove the fruit to fill water bottles.

3. Popsicles. Blend strawberries & kiwis (we like 50/50) and sweeten to taste. Pour into popsicle molds, freeze, and enjoy!

4. Fruit kabobs. Halve strawberries and quarter kiwis. Alternate on skewers. Serve fresh, or keep in the fridge for a snack. 

5. Vegan parfaits. In small glass bowls or jars, alternate layers of...

With the hot weather here to stay, this is a flavorful cooling meal featuring mint, fennel, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Carrots, currants, and shallots add sweetness, and the chickpeas are creamy and satisfying. 

Ingredients for 4 servings:

Salad

2 cucumbers (about 1 ½ pounds) cubed

3/4 cup sweet cherry tomatoes (halved)

1 ¾ cups canned or cooked chickpeas, rinsed

½ cup roughly chopped mint leaves (A sweet mellow mint like Moroccan mint or Kentucky bourbon mint works best)

2 medium carrots, peeled and grated

1/3 cup currants (raisins are fine!)

Dressing

1 ½ teaspoons fennel seeds

3 Tablespoons minced shallots (or green onion)

4 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice OR 4 Tablespoons yogurt, 1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Peel the cucumbers and cut in half lengthwise.  Scoop out the seeds with a spoon and discard the seeds.  Cut cucumbers into ¼-inch pieces.  Place...

This time of year so incredibly busy and hot. This is one of my favorite mom hacks for a healthy, fast meal that doesn't heat up the kitchen. 

Ingredients:

• Noodles--Bean thread, rice noodles, or thin sweet potato noodles
• Spinach or finely sliced bok choy
• Green onion
• Cilantro
• Lime
• Protein of your choice in thin slices--pork, chicken, tofu, beef, etc
• Salt
• Sesame oil

Instructions:

Bring water to boil. Add salt, oil, and protein. Simmer until protein is cooked (about 5 minutes if sliced thin). 

While broth simmers, place one serving of noodles in each bowl. Rinse and chop greens and toppings.

Ladle simmering soup into bowl, so noodles are completely covered. Allow the noodles to absorb the broth at least 2 minutes. 

Add ample greens, green onion, and cilantro on top plus a little lime juice. 

Variations:

You can always add more veggies to the broth or more raw veggies on top. Bean sprouts and Thai basil, or any variety of basil, are also delicious. Soft boiled or...

Anemia is one of the most common health issues for people with menstrual cycles. Whether you are simply trying to stay fit and get lots of exercise without feeling exhausted, have smoother periods, or trying to conceive, it's crucial to have healthy levels of iron and B-12.

About Iron

Heme iron, found in meat, has higher absorption rates than nonheme iron found in vegetables. Liver is a super food in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is rich in heme iron and B vitamins, as well as other essential minerals, and easy for the body to absorb. Vegetarian and vegan nonheme iron sources simply require more planning and consuming greater quantities. Many staples of vegetarian and vegan cooking are also high in phytic acid, which further inhibit absorption, so be sure to soak lentils and other legumes and grains until they germinate or sprout so that your body can actually access the nonheme iron.

About B12

B12 is especially crucial if you are trying to conceive. It is essential for...

Kitchari is simply a blend of a grain and a legume, typically cooked with delicious spices, healthy fats, and seasonal vegetables. It's a one pot meal high in fiber, soupy, and filling. It's perfect for staying hydration and maintaining healthy elimination, especially if you want to do a gentle cleanse. Grains and legumes have complementary nutrition profiles, helping to form complete proteins and give you sustained energy throughout the day. Most variations of kitchari are vegan and gluten free!

Because grains and legumes are both seeds, it is best to buy them whole (not split) and soak them so that they germinate. Prior to germination, these seeds have phytic acid, which limits absorption of crucial minerals including iron, zinc, and calcium. So if you plan to make kitchari a delicious staple in your meal planning, be sure to get in the habit of soaking the grains and legumes 1-3 days at room temperature. Once soaked, you can enjoy the full benefits of these superfoods! ...