What's new in the New Year

So, at first, I dilly-dallied between whether the new year warranted one or more resolutions  (since it is so hard to keep 'em anyway!).   Now, after a whole month has gone by, after much thought and re-thought, I have decided on a new me!!  Yes, that's right - it's either no goals, or, a huge hefty ovewhelming one!  It is time for a new me - a more mindful, less stressed, much-more-pleasant-to-be-with me.  Which is not to say, I no longer care about my outward appearance, losing weight and looking great, but this time, I intend to put the focus on working from the inside-out.
Having said that (and, this is so much easier said than done...), I decided to launch a full blown attack on the best sellers out there on healthy living.  Also, I repeatedly pestered those people in my life who do nothing but support me (they may be very few, but I am so thankful to have them!), trying to evaluate my strengths and weaknesses, and how I could start on this journey to -ahem- 'nirvana'.  In my future posts, I am going to dish out advice on not just healthy food for the body, but also for the mind. For mastering the mind is mastering one's life, it is the only way to be truly happy (worded by yours truly after digesting several books and conversations on joy and peace!). 

To make sure I don't fall off the wagon without a fair shot at my new goals, I have decided to start off with easy and doable daily goals:

1) Drink plenty of water - Drink up, buttercup!   The benefits of drinking water regularly are many, including flushing the body of toxins, moisturizing the skin, increasing productivity and improving the immune system.

2) Half a minute of silence - This is not limited to observing a half-minute vow of silence, but also silence of the mind - to slow down it's galloping nature and rein in those endless thoughts of the past and future.  This helps us become aware of our inner self, our surroundings and feel at peace.  Half a minute sounds miniscule, but you will find that this is in reality a long long time to keep the mind still, at least when you first begin.

I am sure there are a lot of you out there that have similar goals and can relate and advise, and I urge you all to be a part of this excursion to attain peace and happiness.  Please feel free to post your thoughts and experiences and suggestions.

Watching that Weight in the Winter

After a major relapse in diet and lifestyle (no surprises there!), I am finally back on the wagon, where I want to eat and live healthy.  The first step is always the cleansing stage, and nothing better than soups, salads and juices to help you with that.  Of course, there is also exercise and meditation, and all that good stuff, but it’s always a good idea to start small, and if I start now, I might be able to reach a reasonable resolution by the end of the year, and actually make that in 2012.  We shall see…

I decided to go with soup for today, ‘cos it's easy and nutritious, thanks to all the fresh veggies we throw in.  My heart (or tongue, or tummy) is saying ‘Gazpacho’, so here goes:

1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup yellow peppers
1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp minced garlic
salt to taste
1 cup water
1/4 tsp red chilli powder (optional, for spiciness)

Throw in all the vegatables into a slow cooker, add water and let their goodness simmer and blend.
This colorful soup is packed with fiber, Vitamin A and anti-oxidants.  It is great to have hot or ice-cold and can be made in so many different ways by adding different vegetables, even roasted tomatoes for a subtle flavor, and you can add all kinds of herbs for variety.

Healthy start to the Holidays

I have been thinking of flavorful but healthy recipes to make during Thanksgiving.  I am still thinking about all the different items to put on the table, and have yet to come up with a full menu.  We‘ll probably have friends over and visit others too.  Let’s start off with butternut  squash for a healthy start to the holidays. 

Bold and Beautiful Butternut Squash

1 tsp cumin seeds

1 tsp ginger/garlic paste

1 cup butternut squash, peeled and cubed

1 tsp oil

Pinch of salt

Cilantro for garnish

Green chillies, finely chopped (optional)

Heat oil in pan/wok, and add cumin seeds.  When they start to sputter, add the butternut squash  and the salt ,minced  green chilies and  ginger/garlic  paste.  Mix well.  Cook covered for a few minutes until tender, then let simmer uncovered for a couple of minutes.  Garnish with chopped cilantro. 

Variations: You can make zucchini , pumpkin or potatoes the same way.  Add lemon juice for a little tang.  Add your favorite herbs for a subtle flavor.

Wish you all Happy Healthy Holidays!!

Divine Diwali Dessert

With Diwali just round the corner, I am sure all of you are feeling the festiveness and getting all geared up for greetings and parties.  But what's Diwali and parties without delicious food? So, today I want to share with all of you the recipe for a yummy chocolatey sweet that can be made in about 10 minutes!  Every year I pack cute little containers with sweets and savory snacks and gift them to my neighbors and friends during this time.  I love putting up lights around the house and decorating the porches and patios with designs (rangoli).  This recipe is a contender for this year, for it's ease and taste.  It's also rather contemporary and has been a real hit so far.

Finally, here is the recipe for:

Charming Chocolate Burfi

1 pack Instant Dry Milk powder

1 pint Heavy Whipping Cream

1 cup Confectioners Sugar

1 tbsp- Cocoa Powder (unsweetened)

2 tbsp Hershey's chocolate syrup

Mix milk powder, sugar and heavy cream.

Halve this mixture into two bowls, add chocolate syrup and cocoa powder to one and mix very well. 

Microwave both mixtures for 2 minutes, then fold in.  Repeat this process until mixture attains the consistency of soft cheese, firm enough to cut into bars.

Now, spread the non-cocoa mixture onto a baking pan, then layer it with the cocoa mixture, so you have a two-color sweet that you can cut into bars. Give it time to set , about an hour or so to cool off, before cutting into pieces.

Since this is milk-based, it should be stored in the refrigerator, but believe me, it goes fast when you have it out, so you may not need to store it at all!

Variations: You may add almond or walnut flour to this for a nutty flavor, and/or garnish with chopped nuts, or use food color in the white part of the dessert for a different look.  For a more festive look, decorate with a thin silver foil on top.

Keen on Kidney Beans

During my lunch hour today, I decided to look for fresh ideas on healthy lunches for school.  I have run out of meal contraptions based on wheat, salad/fruit and dairy.  So, I thought to myself, this leaves us with rice and beans.  Speaking of beans, I can feel my mouth watering just thinking of this delish curry with dark red kidney beans as the main ingredient.  To make this easier to prepare, I use two shortcuts.  One, I use canned beans (however, I would recommend soaking dry beans overnight and cooking them in the pressure cooker to get them to be exactly like the canned version, minus the preservatives).  The second shortcut is that I use store bought masala called Rajma masala (this is available in Indian grocery stores), for flavor.  Now, all we need to do is make the base of the curry using onions, ginger, garlic and tomatoes.  It is so worth it!

Kidney Beans Curry (Rajma)

A can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
Medium red onion - finely chopped
Medium red tomato (fresh preferred over canned) - diced
2 tsp ginger/garlic paste
1 tbsp oil
Rajma masala
salt to taste
chopped cilantro for garnishing
1/2 cup of water/vegetable stock

Heat oil in saucepan.  Add onions and saute until pinkish brown, then add the ginger/garlic paste, saute until done but not burnt.  Next, add the tomatoes and salt.  Saute for a couple of minutes before adding rajma masala.  Add beans and water, and simmer covered for 10-15 minutes till beans become tender.  Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice or naan.  Inhale the aroma and dig in!

Healthy and Heavenly Date and Walnut Roll

So, let's talk about the three things that are important to be happy  - TV, retail therapy and chocolate. Nah, just kidding!  We all know what the "right" answer is - right diet, regular exercise and adequate sleep.   This applies to the young and the old, the busy and the idle, the motivated ones and the procrastinators.  Lately, more and more emphasis is being laid on bringing about a complete lifestyle change, so that one may live life in a healthy and happy way, in other words, fully.  Below, you will find all that advice in a (very) condensed format.

Right Diet - This includes eating whole foods (raw and/or unprocessed) - stick to vegetables, fruits and grains.  Eat mindfully and in moderation.  Drink water, lots of it!

Regular Exercise - Be it yoga or aerobics, get the heart going and the endorphins flowing, atleast 3 times a week, if not daily.  For me, this also includes Breathing exercises (pranayama).

Rest or Sleep - Get 6-8 hours of sleep every night.  Sleep plays a critical role in your body's immune functions, learning, memory and metabolism.

Now that I have wrapped up that health sermon, let us move into the kitchen and make ourselves a fantastic healthy breakfast/snack/dessert item that is all natural and packs a punch!  The main ingredient is dates, which are high in vitamins (rich in B-complex group of vitamins as well as vitamin K), fiber, minerals(iron, copper, potassium) and phytonutrients(caretenoids and antioxidants).  Add to this walnuts, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.  And here's where we seal the deal - it takes no more than 5 minutes to make!  Let's get started:

Date and Walnut Roll

4 lbs pitted dates (the best ones are black and melt-in-your-mouth soft)
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
2 tbsp clarified butter (ghee)

In a heated wok, add ghee and pitted dates.  In about three minutes, you will see the dates have "melted" (soft and mushy).   Add the walnuts, mix them in and take wok off the heat.  Spread the mixture on a flat heat resistant surface, and roll it up, then cut into wheels.  Or just flatten mixture onto surface and cut into squares.  Enjoy it anytime!

Palatable Pizza

There's nothing like homemade pizza, especially if the vegetables come from your own garden.  If you do not have  a vegetable garden, fret not.  The local farmer's market always has freshly picked produce for your quick and healthy meals.  Pizza, to me, is something that can be heavily customized or eaten just plain, either way it pleases the palate no end.  With store-bought dough and sauce, this recipe is a cinch to make.

Simple Pizza

1 large tomato, sliced
1 clove minced garlic
A dozen basil leaves
1 jar pizza sauce
1 packet shredded mozarella cheese
Pizza dough

Dust a baking pan with flour, then roll out or flatten dough with hands and spread in pan .
Rub garlic all over crust.
Now, spread the sauce over crust, then the tomatoes and basil evenly.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.
Bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes. 

Variations: Add toppings like onions and bell peppers, olives and mushrooms, or try herbs like parsley for flavor.  The first couple of times, keep an eye on the pizza to make sure it doesn't get overdone.  You can make mini pizzas for the kids, make it fun for them where they can pick their own toppings.