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Kitchen ! Go from Stressed to Blessed

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20140526-141522-51322239.jpg With busy lifestyles, it is is not uncommon to be stressed about the kitchen. Healthy food that needs to be tasty, convenient and trendy! Follow these tips and feel less stressed: 1. Open your mind. 2. Be Creative. 3. Build a recipe by available ingredients and favorable tastes. 4. Add the intention of love and good health to the dish when you are preparing it. 5. Be joyful , keep it simple and have fun cooking.

RECIPE for a BLESSED PASTA DISH !

1/2 kilo or 1 pound whole wheat pasta ( fusili, penne or your choice ) 1 kilo or 2 pounds of vegetables in season and choice( asparagus, baby tomatoes, spinach or other market greens, carrots, peas....) 1/2 pound fresh paneer or 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes 6-8 garlic cloves chopped or 1 teaspoon asafetida if you don't use garlic 10-12 basil or tulsi leaves, chopped fine 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings ( optional) NO need to run and get some ! 4 tablespoons olive oil or ghee

1. Prep the vegetables that you are going to be using. 2. Heat a pan . Add the fat. Add the garlic or asafetida . Add the pepper flakes. Add the prepared vegetables. Sauté a few minutes till they are tender. 3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add some salt. Cook pasta as per instructions. Drain. 4. Toss pasta, vegetables , basil leaves ,crumbled paneer or Parmesan cheese together. 5. Season with salt if necessary. Enjoy with the family.

This will serve 4-6 people.

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STRESSED to BLESSED !

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STRESSED to BLESSED !

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Practice these simple 5 steps and go from STRESSED to BLESSED!

1.BREATHE DEEPLY. HOLD . EXHALE even more DEEPLY. Repeat THREE to FIVE times.

2.In the MOMENT find one THANKFUL  THOUGHT .....Thankful for your family, to be alive, to be healthy, friends,...

3.THINK OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD TRULY BE DEVASTATING  !  And then feel thankful that it is not so.

4.Take a moment to look at NATURE. The blue sky out of the window, a sunset, a plant , a flower, a bowl of food !

5. HUG someone . If no one is around then give a hug to yourself pouring a whole lot of love!

Nothing trendy about this. It is just following the intrinsic wisdom and human values that we already have. 

From Stressed to Blessed can be incorporated into every aspect of our lives.....work, personal, daily, weekly and everything that we do!  No game, no challenge .This is just about BEing! 

Start your journey NOW!

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Hello Namaste All !

Sorry, that The Spice Whisperer has been off the grid on the blog! Yes, life happens !Many things have been roasting, toasting and grinding in the mind ! Spring has cleansed and the focus is now on making very simple life moment a sacred one! Aaaah, the joy of a sacred kitchen. I am the goddess that stirs the living, healing, nourishing energy into the pot . Then watch that magic shared with family and friends !

FOOD for THOUGHT :

Just take a moment to simply honor what you are eating! CONNECT with the FOOD !

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Bra Bra Brassicas .......the joy of being a Brussels Sprout!

Some love these cute, baby looking cabbages! Others just can't stand them! Well ! I love them and today tried them with nigella seeds , red chili flakes , lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil.

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The kitchen always teaches some amazing life lessons. You may be making your brussels sprouts a particular way. Why not make a CHANGE !

For Sharing with 4

1 # or so of Brussels sprouts, cut into quarters 1 /2 teaspoon of nigella seeds 1 lemon, juiced 1/4 teaspoon or more of red chili flakes 2 tablespoons of olive oil Salt to taste

Heat the oil in a pan. Medium heat. Add nigella seeds and chili flakes. Toast for about half a minute. Add the sprouts. Sauté . Cover and cook for about 8-10 minutes.

Don't over cook. They should be just fork tender. Season and finish with a dash of lemon juice.

A small but daring change in the kitchen creates a freshness in the mind !

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Spring is in the air !

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Spring is in the air !

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20140319-114250.jpg We have had the winter to hibernate and reflect on. Now we awaken, reNew! reEnergize and reInvent ourselves into action. A walk to through the Farmers market has indications of spring everywhere.

Keep it Simple Asparagus !

3 bunches of spring asparagus 2 large lemons, juiced 1 cup of green and black olives, I kept them whole 6 large cloves of garlic, peeled and roughly chopped 3 tablespoons of olive oil Salt and pepper to taste

1. Wash and cut off the woody bottoms of the asparagus. 2. Heat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit . 3. Place asparagus spears in baking sheet. Drizzle the oil. Add the olives and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. 4.place in hot oven for 12-14 minutes. 5. Add lemon juice and serve. Good, hot or cold or at room temperature.

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Homecoming !

Have been savoring a growth spurt. Becoming a 50% elder has been quite a journey. Have seen my whole life in slow motion versus a flash and a deeper shift to the spirit has occurred ! What this simply means is that everyday I am more and more mindful of my intentions behind my actions and a more conscious awareness of recognizing the moment.

March 18, 1983 was a new beginning . Landed at SFO as an official immigrant . March 18, 2014 is a great day to reinforce my recognition of the true homecoming ...living an enlightened life !

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Broth and Spice! Makes simple and nice !

Hello Namaste All! A visit to the farmer's market always brings joy to me. This corn and miso broth soup was inspired by the market ingredients, the weather and the Whisperings of the spices !

6 ears of corn, husked 4 medium carrots, scrubbed, cut diagonally 2 cups shelled edamame 1 teaspoon garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ginger, minced 2 tablespoons fresh herbs, minced ( optional ),your choice. I used, cilantro, mint, tarragon 8 cups of water 2 tablespoons light miso paste 1 tablespoon Spice Whisperer blend ( you can substitute a good curry powder)

In a large pot bring the water and corn to a boil. Then simmer for about 30 minutes. When cool , slice the kernels off the cob and put back into the corn stock. I added the denuded cobs too. Add the spice blend, ginger, garlic, edamame and carrots and simmer another 15 minutes or more. Just before serving stir the miso paste and fresh herbs!!

Enjoy!

Note: You can customize the vegetable combinations to your taste and availability. Serve it with a plate of noodles and stir fried greens and you have a full meal !

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Beat the heat !!

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Beat the heat !!

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2013-06-27 13.17.54Namaste Hello All! Nostalgic food! When the heat hits !  I crave for the salted lassi ! So, while I am walking down memory lane, I am also walking in my backyard gathering a few mint leaves .

This was my lassi today !

2 cups plain, low fat yogurt

5 cups water

2 cups ice cubes

10-12 large leaves mint

1 teaspoon salt

3/4 teaspoon ground, toasted cumin seeds

Blend all ingredients . Enjoy !!

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Tea Time at Memory Lane !!

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Tea Time at Memory Lane !!

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2013-05-20 15.06.28This post is inspired by the love of sisters!! Many moons ago Punita ( my sister) and Vinita took a Teapot Trail in the UK. It was about the Tea, the Teapots, the scones, dainty cucumber sandwiches and Love !! Love that creates memories of a lifetime ! Punita is an amazing person. She inspires me with her intensity! I miss her terribly and these scones have all the love of the Tea pot Trails and more.

Inspired Scones !

Makes 8 scones
2    cups whole wheat pastry flour
1    tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ,  cinnamon powder
2/3 of a medium size banana, mashed
1/8 teaspoon salt
5   Tablespoons butter, chilled, cubed
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup hemp seeds
1/2 cup milk, low fat
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F!
  • In a food processor, add flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon powder. Pulse a few seconds to mix the dry ingredients.
  • Add butter, a few chunks at a time and pulse till the mixture resembles cornmeal.
  • Add  banana and pulse about 4-5 times.
  • Add the chia and hemp seeds and lemon zest and pulse a few more times.
  • Add milk in a few batches, and pulse a few times.
  • Transfer the almost ball of dough to a floured surface.
  • Push it together and form a disk! Flatten it to about 1 1/2 inch thickness.
  • Cut disk into 8 pieces. Lay them in a sheet pan.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 15-18 minutes
Enjoy!!
Notes:
If you do not want to use a food processor, you can work the butter into the flour with fingertips or pastry blender.

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the-spicewhisperer !

Come share my current incarnation..... The -Spice Whisperer. Some read auras. I read spices. Every transition  in my life is to bring about a new vision. The-Spice Whisperer is my new practice of  living and sharing with more intention!

The stories of the spices embody the communities, the women, the histories of the world. "The something better for tomorrow Lies embedded in the past !" And through the spicewhisperer we shall discover this !!

Spices, they resonate with me.

You pound them,roast them,

Dry them and toast them.

And they impart their essence to you No matter what!

They heal. They flavor. They whisper through our foods.

Inspiration comes from my Mother, my sister, my daughter and all the amazing barefoot goddesses of the world !!

May the spices fill your life with love and peace.

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