Saturday, August 20, 2011
Studying Shadows
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Ayuervedic Detox Weekend
Kitchari Recipe
This is a mung dal kitchari, which balances all three doshas. It is particularly beneficial for the stomach, lungs, liver, and large intestine. In Traditional Chinese Medicine mung beans are also revered for their detoxification properties. This recipe makes 4-5 servings.
1 cup yellow mung dal (split or whole)
1 cup basmati rice
5-6 cups water
3 tbsp ghee (purified butter)
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 pinch asafoetida (a spice also called hing—available at Indian groceries)
½ tsp cumin seeds
2 whole cloves
1 1/2 inch piece of cinnamon bark
4-5 crushed cardamom pods
10 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
3 tbsp shredded, unsweetened coconut
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp salt
Optional: 1 cup diced vegetables like squash, zucchini, cauliflower, carrots, etc. It is best to use in season veggies.
Add to rice, bean and veggie mixture and mix together very well. Enjoy slowly and outdoors, if possible.
Monday, December 28, 2009
all these bananas
Banana Bread
makes 2 loaves
active time: 30 minutes
total time: 2 1/2 hours
Ingredients
* 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 large eggs at room temperature for 30 minutes
* 2 1/3 cups sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 3 cups coarsely mashed very ripe bananas (6 large)
* 1/4 cup crème fraîche
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 1 1/3 cups walnuts (4 ounces), toasted and chopped
* Special equipment: a standing electric mixer
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2 (9- by 5- by 3-inch) metal loaf pans, then dust with flour, knocking out excess.
Sift together 3 1/4 cups flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into a bowl.
Beat together eggs and sugar in bowl of electric mixer at medium-high speed until very thick and pale and mixture forms a ribbon when beater is lifted, about 10 minutes. Reduce speed to low and add oil in a slow stream, mixing, then mix in bananas, crème fraîche, and vanilla. Remove bowl from mixer and fold in flour mixture and walnuts gently but thoroughly.
Divide batter between loaf pans, spreading evenly, and bake in middle of oven until golden brown and a wooden pick or skewer comes out clean, 1 to 1 1/4 hours.
Cool loaves in pans on a rack 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack.
Turn loaves right side up and cool completely.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Turkey Harvest
This year I was lucky enough to reserve one of eighteen turkeys from Los Poblanos Organic Farm in Albuquerque where I participate in the work share program. I helped feed these Heritage Bronze Breasted turkeys and shovel their poop over the last few months. It was cool to have the opportunity to kill my own food and share it with my friends.
How it works: First you catch her,which was pretty easy because they were in their coop. You do this by grabbing her feet and swinging her upside down because this mesmerizes them. Then you put her head down into a bucket with a hole cut in it. You hold her straight up and down (and this is the hard part) you make two deep and hard incisions in a V shape on either side of the jugular. Once the blood has drained and she stops thrashing, you swing her around into a very hot tub of water to loosen the feathers. You pluck all the feathers out (a long and tedious process), cut the head and feet off and then remove the insides. You then clean her out and she is ready to cook. As difficult as it was to end her life with my own hands, I highly recommend this experience if you ever get the chance.