Kidney beans in creamy cardamon yogurt sauce

This fragrant creamy sauce is refreshing and full of iron. I enjoy cooking in the pressure cooker the red kidney beans. It really is a complete different experience that using can beans. However, if you are not as lucky as me to won a small pressure cooker, you can use can beans. My pitta friends may like to reduce the red pepper in this recipe and increase fresh coriander. Serve with basmati rice or quinoa.

Ingredients for 6 servings.
1 tbs  ghee or oil for your dosha.

How to enhance six flavors from one spice

The sensuality of spices can be explore in many ways. You will be surprise how one single spice treated in 6 different ways can open 6 different flavors. The real secret of combining spices is to apply this simple techniques.

Lets take for example cumin.
flavor 1: use whole cumin seeds.
Flavor 2: ground cumin seeds.
Flavor 3 Dry-roasted whole cumin until reddish brown.

Winter moods?

Light is a source of nutrients, it is not only vitamins  D, but light serves as a catalyst to internal chemistry for emotional balance and a sense of well being.
Here some supplements you may want to incorporate in your diet if you are suffering from low energy or just feel moody.

Omega-3 fatty acid; reduce anxiety and may relieve depression. Walnuts, pumpkin seeds, mint, parsley, spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, flax seeds are rich in Omega-3.

Folic Acid ( folate) maintain mood balancing serotonin in the brain.  Find folic acid in

• Spinach — 1 cup = 263 mcg of folate (65% DV)
• Collard Greens — 1 cup = 177 mcg of folate (44% DV)
• Turnip Greens — 1 cup = 170 mcg of folate (42% DV)
• Mustard Greens — 1 cup = 103 mcg of folate (26% DV)

Coriander Detox Tea

I love this tea in early spring when the body wants to feel light and the tummy is ready for some purification.

¼ tsp cumin seeds

¼ tsp fennel seeds

¼ tsp coriander seeds

1 ½ cups water

Boil the ingredients for 5 minutes. Let the tea cool down, strain and enjoy.

Make a big jar to drink during purification times.

Cumin, Coriander and Fennel Tea is one of Ayurveda's most famous formulas for detoxification and burning up excess water weight. It is a soothing formula that reduces agitation and inflammation. It restores a calm clarity and spaciousness to a tense mind.

Coriander: Taming the Tummy

Nothing like the fresh aroma of the strong-scented leaves of the coriander plant; cilantro.Those leaves are not spices, however, the sweet nutty seeds of the coriander plant is known as a spice coriander.
In the kitchen coriander is a versatile spice that can be use in variety of dishes to give not only flavor but texture to meals. By itself coriander do not have a strong taste, however combined can be of a great companion. I personally love it with cumin and fennel.
Medicinal uses:

Cooling almond chutney

I realize this chutney was super good when I saw people in one of our retreat liking the serving plate. It is a great addition to salads, soups or just as a deep. Since the main ingredient is aloe vera gel, this chutney is not only nutritious but cooling for my pitta friends.

Ingredients:
5  fresh kumquat fruit. ( available in most oriental grocery stores.)
6 tsp almond butter or any nut butter.
1/4 aloe vera juice or gel, I prefer juice, however the gel is cooling and the juice is heating. Your choice.

Kumquat in Almond sauce over portobello mushrooms

Kumquat is not a common fruit in our supermarkets, however when you discovered in any Chinese grocery store, you will be enchanted in using this delicate fruit in a variety of savory and sweet dishes.
Although kumquats taste just like that of other citrus fruits, they are distinguished in a way that they can be eaten completely including the peel. Fresh kumquats are packed with numerous health benefiting poly-phenolic flavonoid anti-oxidants such as carotenes, lutein, zea-xanthin, tannins...etc. The kumquat peel is composed many important essential oils in it, including limonene, pinene, α-bergamotene, caryophyllene, α-humulene, and α-muurolene. Together, these compounds impart special citrus aroma to the fruit.

Smoothies and Ayurveda

4000 years ago the ayurvedic seekers did not have the revelation of a high speed blender. They did however macerate plants, minerals and other substances to form medicines and special regenerative foods.

Smoothies are usually taken cold, which in ayurveda is a big no no!!. Cold substances decrees agni or digestive fire, no really a good choices to keep top digestion. The other factor we need to consider when we make smoothies is not to combine to many powerfood. It is not true that we will assimilate all of them, specially if we combine fruits, vegetables, protein and even grains. It is better to keep our smoothies at room temperature and to use simple and compatible food.

Smoothy for High blood pressure

Apart from having the correct life style and ayurvedic purification, you can help your high blood pressure by taking certain spices, fruits and nuts.
30 days in company with this smoothy will not only purify your blood but will make an easy and complete breakfast. You can also complement this smoothy with
1 gram of garlic daily,
1 cup of cocoa, with 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa power in water daily.
200 mg black cumin seed extract daily.
Also you can increase you take of Vitamin D and magnesium.

Pomegranate chocolate chia mousse

Chia plant is from the family of mints.They are originally from central America and are now in great demands for their nutritional value. Rich in potassium, calcium, iron and omega oils chia seeds are becoming a great food supplement in vegetarians cooking. I like the texture that add to puddings, mousses and ice creams.  By themselves they don't taste very much like anything, which make them very versatile in given texture to any food. They also work wanders for vatta constitution in case of gas and constipation. This mousse is easy to make and make a great desert, snack or breakfast. You can find in health food stores white or black chia seeds.