What Does Your Food Mean to You? (A Tale of the Midnight Massacre)

I was sleeping soundly. It’s very quiet here, especially at night, and the only sounds that can be heard in the sacred dark hours are crickets and the occasional splash of Beaver’s tail. I am acutely familiar with the sounds of our chickens, as their coop is located directly beneath my window; ranging from quiet, conversational “buck-bucks”, to obstreperous hollers of egg-laying victory- in the night they remain silent until the sun comes up- which is when they start protesting their imprisonment and begging for release into the wide world of free-range foraging. Out of the stillness- jarring me suddenly from my slumber- was a sound from the coop that could not be interpreted as anything other than a scream of mortal-fear and panic, followed by an ominous thud.
Adrenalins pumping in the instinctive response of protection- I shoot out of my bed and emit a rebel yell- my “cat scream” as I call it- one which is truly only reserved for life-or-death instances as it renders me speechless (and worse- songless) for days to follow. I jump as high as I can and come down full force onto the hard wood floor of my rickety cabin, causing a few pictures to tumble from the wall. After grabbing my flashlight I hear the squeal of the front door of the main house and look to see my terrified parents poking their heads out to see what wild creature has woken them from their sleep. It was me.
Dad surfaces gallantly on the porch- strangely attired, shirtless and in dress-pants and thick, furry snow boots, carrying what can only be described as a caveman’s bludgeoning club, fondly termed his “attitude adjuster”, and a wild look in his eyes and mien that make it clear he wouldn’t be afraid to use it. I tell him, heart pounding, that something has gotten into the coop. For a man who seems so tough, he has a very soft spot in his heart for these hens, and is ready to kill anything that might be putting them in distress. He’s also afraid of finding a carcass, which is why I go down with him, since I am braver in the face of death than he.
He shines the light into the darkened coop- “Yep. Something got ‘em. They’re gone.”
I panic and look in. There is still one perched, quivering, and I admonish him briefly for that mistake. “Look- Bindu is still here!” However, there was a menacing pile of fluffy red feathers by the door which, from our past experiences, indicates that one of our friendly little bipeds probably bit the dust.
Dad, mustering his bravery, starts thumping the club on the ground (a thick piece of knobby pine wood which weighs at least fifteen pounds and is around my height), and I follow him shining the flashlight into the swamp which borders our yard. The light hits on something the copper color of our Rhode-Island Reds, and I run over to it. There, roosting in the tall grass and ferns, is the chicken Killer. She is petrified and lets me pick her up immediately. A quick exam assures us that she was not gravely injured, and I put her back in the coop under the watch of Bindu.
That left only one- my favorite chicken, the Alpha of the flock, Queen Hepzibah. She is a grand chicken, large and glossy, but with the unfortunate nervous habit of scratching away all of her neck-feathers, leaving the long skinny bumpy throat exposed for all the world to see. Despite this unattractive attribute, she is the friendliest and most vociferous of our girls. If she was gone, I would be depressed. Horrible! I steady myself for the worst, trying not to show my trepidation in front of my father, who is starting to babble like a bereaved parent guilty of leaving the coop door open, which was true, and I chide him for his forgetfulness as I continue making offensive predatorial noises into the night. No animal wants to get involved with a 110 pound cat with blond hair and twenty claws- at least I hope they don’t. It could have come from the coop, or it could have been out in the swamp- the night was so still and muggy I couldn’t tell- but I thought I heard a familiar noise. I wondered to myself, had that fearful cry which woke me been my dear Hepzibah’s last noodle-throated croak of death? No further luck in our search. Neither of us wants to deal with carnage till the morning. With sick stomachs and pounding hearts, we locked the coop and went back to bed.
I can only fall asleep after an hour of reading. When I wake again after sunrise to hear the familiar clucking and groaning of normal hen communication, my immediate desire is to go down and check on Bindu and Killer, who must certainly be missing their commander, the forsaken Queen Hepzibah. Nothing could have surprised me more than seeing her yellow eye stare up at me, her neck bald and scratched as ever- but not broken or bloody! There she is, my Hepzibah, alive and well, standing guard over her fortress.
My relief is great, and I happily go about breakfast. I call my dad and he tells me he found the balding leader of our pack cowering on the porch in the morning, unscathed but rattled, and commends me saying that it must have been my horrifying mountain cat scream that scared off the predator. I have since installed a pellet gun in my cabin in hopes that the next trickstser is ready for target practice.

Earth to Table

It has been a very long time since last I wrote. For all those avid followers...ahem, I apologize. I was lost on a trip to the nether-world of fast food and binge drinking. Just kidding! But really, I'm writing a novel and ended up submerged in that process for a while, wholesome food not forgotten.
I also moved. Now I am living in a place much more conducive to fantastic food experiences- Sussex County, New Jersey. For those of you who are acquainted with the area, you will know I am not talking about restaurants; although the Walpack Inn will remain a constant favorite and possibly the only worthwhile venue within an hour's drive. I am talking about FARMS. Yes, REAL FOOD from Earth to Table.
Most important in my new grocery acquiring arsenal are my own garden veggies (which are still but weensie sproutlings due to a late start and a garden relocation), our beautiful proud chickens (Bindu, Killer, and Hepzibah- 6 more to come this week!), and the super-amazing-DanaRay Farm at which I will be helping out in exchange for fresh greens, roots, and veggies! Also hoping to learn a bit about goat husbandry there, but that's for another time.
Food is our source of life, our source of "Inner Fire" which keeps us going. Without the right kind of balance we will feel tired, edgy, listless, confused, bored, angry, even ill! Even one day of imbalanced eating (or drinking) will show significant effects on our Inner Fire. Of course, we all have those days. But stocking the kitchen with wholesome roots, vegetables, grains and legumes makes it a heck of a lot easier to put something nourishing together.
Here is a favorite that I have been making a lot lately:

Sauteed Greens with Ginger Root:

(serves 4)

Ingredients:
A good two-fists-full of Greens (Bok Choy, Kale, Chard, etc)
A knob of Ginger Root minced
One teaspoon of oil (Sesame, Olive, Grapeseed)

Directions:
1. Heat oil in a shallow pan over medium-low flame.
2. Throw in Ginger and Greens, cover.
3.Give the Greens a few turns until they are brilliant in color and slightly soft but not mushy. Serve warm and enjoy the benefits of fueling your Inner Fire!

A Real Meal: The Power of Grain

This is a photo of a meal I prepare regularly, with variation. It consists of whole grain, mixed rice, kidney beans, lemony beets (recipe in post "Beet the Blues Away"), baked acorn squash, and some pretty pieces of lettuce.

It's a very satisfying meal because it has multiple tastes going on: sweet squash, sour beets, salty beans, astringent lettuce; multiple colors- vibrant magenta beets, bright green lettuce, earthy rice and beans; also a variety of textures- soft/slimy (squash), chewy (beans, rice), and crunchy (beets, lettuce). These elements are essential to creating a satisfying eating experience.

Another, less obvious element that lends to the completeness of this meal- I have included plants that grow down in the earth (beets), on the ground (squash) and up in the air (lettuce, rice). It might seem like a strange thing to think of when deciding what you are going to include in a meal, but if you try to incorporate a plant from each of three types you will really come up with something well-balanced, beautiful, and tasty. After all, we experience our food with all five senses, don't we?

It isn't easy to plan meals. In fact, just the effort of trying to come up with something to cook can be frustrating, exhausting, and discouraging! "Oh screw it, lets just order Chinese." Boy, have I been there. To avoid the incredibly crappy and strange feelings you usually have after consuming this sort of food, you must make one tiny change. MAKE IT EASY. "Huh? There's nothing easier than take-out; no shopping, no cooking, no cleaning, no THINKING!" Hm. There's a red light if ever I saw one (and yes, I do see that light sometimes myself-I'm no angel). Okay, so how do we make this easy? First of all- you do need to go to the store. Unless you are very privileged and can use Fresh Direct. I don't know you personally if that's you. If that is you, then good for you. I'm jealous. So the rest of us will go to the store. And what you need to think about- MOST IMPORTANT! is the base of your meal. What are you going to build upon?

In her book, "The Self-Healing Cookbook", Kristina Turner tells us that originally in Old English, the word "meal" meant GRAIN. (Like... oat meal). "Meals based on whole grains and vegetables were, in fact, the staple fare world-wide long before meat and potatoes became the standard Western supper." She believes that eating traditionally- preparing foods as they are in their natural state, will allow the body to come into balance and find healing on its own without the use of chemical medicines.

Whole Grains are available at every grocery store. I said I would help make this easy, so here is "easy". I bought a container of Rice Select Royal Blend with Texamati white and brown rice with red beans. The Rice Select brand can be found in the rice section, and is sold in clear plastic, cube-shaped, 24 oz. containers. This rice and bean mix only takes 15 minutes to cook, and tastes delicious and pure, and makes me feel very happy for hours to come. A serving of this provides you with 4 grams of Protein, 2 grams of Fiber, 27 grams of Carbohydrate, plus some Calcium and Iron in there to boot.

If you have access to a natural food store (I don't in my neighborhood), you can find many varieties of grain to suit your preferences and needs. If you keep grains stocked in your pantry you have the perfect base to a meal! All you have to do is open your cupboard and say, oh! There's dinner! You can serve a dish of rice, barley, quinoa, etc. as the foundation to an infinite number of delicious and nourishing meals. Try throwing them in soups, or in a salad. Serve with any combination of veggies, and you've got something good going on.

Another natural grain that is essential to any home is some kind of warm cereal. We've already gone over this in the blog and I don't want to be redundant here, but you really do need to eat your oatmeal. Any kind of whole grain, hot cereal will give you a calm, warm, enduring energy.

So, make it easy for yourself. Stock your pantry with a few kinds of whole grains and some legumes, that way you can always have something nourishing to inspire you. Be creative with your veggies- don't make a grocery list. WING IT! Go to the store and pick up whatever looks beautiful, attractive, and healthy. If a vegetable looks like it wants to be eaten by you, then put it in the cart. Sometimes I walk by the kale and just can't help but smiling when I see those crisp, verdant, ruffled leaves. Bok Choy looks like a gorgeous piece of modern art. Beets just beg to me whenever I walk and see their deep color and whiskery tails. How could you not love a root like that?

When you get home with your stuff I recommend just looking up recipes featuring each online to get and idea of how to cook them if you need one. Then just improvise. The best meals are made that way. A few general principles to follow: the harder a vegetable is, the longer it takes to cook so add veggies into a saute pan according to their solidity; greens are best cooked lightly to break down cell walls but not so long as to ruin their gorgeous color; lemon and oil makes a fantastic flavoring to pretty much anything.

I hope this gives some inspiration!

Happy cooking.

Alice

Meditation: the Art of Achieving Bliss

Meditate: v. focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. Latin, meditari, meaning 'measure'.

Meditation is not generally of common practice among Westerners, especially the young and hip who are always on the go- using their iphone for instant information and communication, facebook to keep track of their social life from a safe, digital distance, always running from place to place without taking time to sit and... well... BE. True, the rise of yoga has helped many get a taste of the nectar, but most people in today's world just can't sit still for that long. Especially here in NYC, where my community of artist friends buzzes like a hive- the day begins somewhere in the afternoon with emails and facebook and lots of coffee, continues to some form of work which lasts till the evening, and then the real day begins with performance and socialization, often ending somewhere between midnight and daybreak with a crash of alcohol-induced slumber. Oh yes, I've been there.

In the definition above from the Oxford Dictionary of English, it says that the word 'meditation' stems from a Latin word which means 'measure'. Balance. Space. Taking stock. To measure something is to gain an awareness of its proportion. To meditate is to gain awareness of our own proportion, of our own EXISTANCE.

In Pratima Raichur's book "Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda", Doctor Pratima defines the five 'strata' of existance according to the teachings of Ayurveda:

Consciousness (Anandamaya kosha) Bliss (samadhi) She describes the pure essence of consciousness as that feeling which we experience oh-so-briefly at the moment of waking, before our first thought occurs. This is what it is to simply "be", to "exist".

Ego (Viganamaya kosha) Individuality, intellectual or elevated mind, feeling, intuition, desire, values.

Mind (Manomaya kosha) Discrimination, decision making, control of behavior and attention.

Breath (Pranamaya kosha) Vital energy of the body.

Body (Annamaya kosha) Pysical substance of the body (bones, muscles, organs, tissues, etc.).

When we meditate, we are giving ourselves the opportunity to balance the five 'strata' listed above. Is our mind in balance with our body, or are we pushing the body past its tolerance because we want to stay out that extra hour, get that drink with a friend, go to work even though we feel sick? Do you wake up feeling like you were hit by a truck? Does your patience fail you when in discussion with friends, family, or co-workers and leave you feeling angry, hurt, or embarrassed? Are you struggling with headaches or digestive issues, disordered sleeping, or depression? Forgetfulness? Clumsiness? Confusion? Feeling 'fuzzy'? Do you find that you have great spurts of energy and excitement and then land in a heap of exhaustion and crankiness or even apathy? If any of these applies to you, then you are a normal person, and you should meditate daily. (If I know you personally, I am describing YOU up there; yes, Mom, yes, FRIEND, yes, BROTHER, I'm telling you now that you should start!)

Meditation is a time to find the silence needed to take measure of our being so that we can begin to establish a more sustainable and happy energy to live on.

It might seem daunting. Do I have to sit in that 'meditation' position? My legs don't bend that way. Do I have to chant? I will feel stupid. What if I can't make my mind stop 'talking'? I'm too stressed out, I have too much going on, I'm too busy, I have too much on my mind!!!!!!! Aghhh!!!!

SOUNDS LIKE YOU NEED TO MEDITATE.

It's going to be easy. Here are some directions and suggestions, improvise and use whatever feels good to you:

1. Find a time and place that is quiet and private. Give yourself at least 10-15 minutes.

2. Sit in a comfortable position. I don't recommend reclining because you may simply fall asleep, and that is not the goal.

3. Take in a deep breath, feeling the downward motion of your diaphragm. Elongate your exhalation. As you continue to breathe, continually elongate inhalation and exhalation, thereby slowing your breath, and your heart-rate.

4. As you do this, focus all of your attention on your breathing. What does it feel like the moment you drag the first air molecules into your nostrils? How does it feel passing through your throat, down into your lungs? What temperature is the air? So on. Get really into the breathing.

5. Continue this breathing for a long time. Try to achieve the feeling of Pure Consciousness, or Bliss that you experience just when you wake up, before you start thinking. Do this until you feel rested, and refreshed. If you find that thoughts are surfacing like bad, begging dogs at the table, look at them compassionately and tell them to go away. You will address them later, when you feel refreshed. Continue with your breathing.

6. When you feel ready to end your meditation, open your eyes, and say a silent thanks to your mindbodyspirit.

Some things that might enhance, or facilitate meditation:

Yoga (it helps increase circulation and tone the muscles to make them ready for sitting calmly)

Candlelight

A bell or singing bowl rung at beginning and end to 'cleanse' the space you are in.

A pillow to sit on if you like to be on the floor.

Tissues if you have a stuffy nose.

Do this practice at different times in the day. Try it at night before bed- see how much better you sleep. Try it in the morning when you wake up- see how much more gracefully you go through your day. Try it in the afternoon and see how it gives you joyful energy to complete your work. If you do this regularly you should find yourself having more awareness and clarity in matters of decision-making, communication, learning, and performance, and a new glow to your well-being that enables you to sleep more restfully, walk more gracefully, be a better lover, friend, or parent, and make choices that lead you to the strength and vitality necessary to enjoy a long and happy life.

BE WELL!

Alice

Food for Love

Ayurveda is one of the most ancient and complete systems for total health and wellness. It was developed in India during the period 2000-1000 B.C. to address physical, spiritual, and emotional needs. One of the main branches of this "science of life" is "Aphrodisiacs".

While various herbs are commonly prescribed, there are also some tasty edibles that do the trick.

Since I'm not one to beat around the bush, here are some great recipes to get you in the mood, from my kitchen to yours, with love!

Lovely Lady Fingers- This is one of my tried-and-true favorite recipes, that looks and tastes beautiful. Serve with basmati rice, and baked or grilled salmon. This makes enough for two to indulge, four to have as a side.

Ingredients

1 lb. okra, sliced in quarter-inch rounds. make sure it is DRY. (use paper towel)

1 onion, chopped

1 green pepper (serrano is great) chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

thumb's length of ginger, minced

dashes of cumin, turmeric, black pepper, ground coriander, salt, and garam masala

a handful of cilantro, chopped

the juice of 1 lime

1 tblsp. honey or agave nectar

1 tblsp. oil (I recommend olive or grapeseed)

Directions

1. Heat oil in large, non-stick pan on medium low.

2. Put in chopped okra and let sit for a few minutes, then carefully turn the okra over using a spatula. When both sides are a little browned, remove okra and set aside on a plate. It is important not to over-cook the okra because it will lose its color and succulent texture.

3. Now add onion to the pan, make sure there is still a little oil. Cook on medium low until the onion has softened.

4. Add garlic and ginger, as well as spices. Stir, and cook on lower heat until the spices have melted into the embrace of the onions.

5. Return okra to the pan, stirring. Squirt with lime juice and honey.

6. Fold cilantro into the mix, stir a few times, and serve!

Love Potion no.1 (Great for your Kapha lover, requires juicer, or a trip to the juice shop)

CARROT

APPLE

GINGER

There's not much more to say, really, besides that carrots have long been revered for their amorous qualities (whether this is due to a phallic resemblance or nutritional value I would love to know), apples represent Eve and somehow that makes them sexy, and perhaps the most legitimate Aphrodisiac here- ginger- aids and increases blood circulation, which is an essential for pleasure.

Love Potion no. 2 (The "Naughty" Potion. Serves 2.)

Ingredients:

3 cups milk (soy, whole, almond, rice....whatever)

2 tblsp. cocoa powder (I recommend Ghirardelli)

2-3 tblsp. honey

dashes of cinnamon, ground cardamom

3 drops of vanilla extract

3 drops of edible rosewater (optional. make sure it is for cooking use)

Directions:

Pour milk into a medium saucepan and heat gently over low flame, stirring, until the milk begins to steam. Add everything except rose water and stir rapidly, then let simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in rosewater, pour into mugs, and enjoy!

Sweet Dreams...Sexy Dreams?

It's Valentine's week, so I want to take this opportunity to explore one of the most interesting elements of Ayurvedic knowledge....

Ancient Ayurvedic texts addressed one of our most constant, basic, and profound concerns: SEX! According to this wisdom, partners need to be in tune with each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In Ayurvedic philosophy, a satisfying sexual union which is carefully developed over time will bestow health, vitality, and happiness on you and your partner. A whole treatise on aphrodisiacs is a part of the ancient text, and makes up one of the eight branches of Ayurvedic Medicine. Unlike Western medicine, which views each part of our life as relatively separate, in Ayurveda our spiritual and emotional health is directly linked to everything from our digestion, to our teeth, our mental state, and yes, our sexuality.

There are many things which can hinder our enjoyment of intimacy, and for each of us, they are different. For best results, partners must be involved with each other physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In order to attain sexual wellness you must maintain a balanced and nourishing diet, get restful sleep, invigorate and soothe your body with daily movement and exercise, and work on coming to a stable and peaceful mental state of being. If you are struggling with these things you may find that when it comes time to take a roll in the hay you are irritable, tired, cranky, not-in-the-mood, aching, self-conscious, impatient, or worse! If your Vata is out of wack you might find that you feel emotionally vulnerable or fear-prone in the face of intimacy. If Pitta is too high you could experience impatience, anger, or frustration. If Kapha is too high, you might feel overly possessive. Check your Dosha balance! http://www.holisticonline.com/ayurveda/ayv-basis-tri-dosha.htm

Fatigue is the primary cause of lack of libido and unsatisfactory sexual performance.

So get out there, go to the grocery store and buy some good stuff, take a walk, breathe in the fresh air, take a hot bath, and GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP!

Some things to help you rest so that you can make the most

of your time in bed (ahem):

Herbs by capsule:

You can find Valerian Root capsules at your pharmacy, which are an all-natural and gentle, calming herb. Take a half an hour before bedtime if you find that you have trouble falling asleep.

Herbs by tea:

Traditional Medicinals makes a tea called "Nighty Night", which is also very effective, featuring hops and catnip.

Simple Chamomile, which can be found at any grocery store, is known for its calming and antidepressant qualities.

Essential Oils:

Take a little lavender oil and either spray it onto your linens with a diffuser, smell it from the bottle (do not snort it into your nose, this will result in very bad things like burning nostrils) or mix it with another oil that is safe for skin, like Jojoba, and rub some onto your chest, temples, wrists, etc. Test a small area first, and with the herbs mentioned, it is always good to consult your physician before taking anything new.

Sweet Dreams!

Alice

"You've got to eat your oatmeal!"

Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy Monday morning, sometime before sunrise, sometime in the middle of puberty, just before leaving the warmth and light of home to seek in darkness the neighborhood bus stop, waiting for that big evil yellow thing to take me away....
What did I know of imbalanced Doshas then?
My mom apparently knew something, because she was always trying to get me to eat my oatmeal.

We all know what's up with oats: they are like the street cleaner for our intestines. "High in soluble fibre", "resulting in slower digestion and extended sensation of fullness", "proven to lower heart-disease"...

After eating a bowl of Quaker Instant Oats (apple and cinnamon flavor) every weekday from September 7, 1995- June 21, 1996, I grew to detest that brown, gelatinous, solid lump of goo....

Now, all grown up, non-pubescent, waking in daylight hours, I refer fondly to my favorite breakfast bowl, and unveil my secret recipe for PORRIDGE. It just so happens that currently my Vata is too high, and this combination of sweet, cooling, and astringent ingredients will aid me in working towards a healthy balance. This breakfast is good for anyone who is Pitta or Vata, but if you have a Kapha imbalance it may be unhelpful.














Magical Porridge (serves 2)

Ingredients:
1/2 cup oats (I recommend McCann's steel-cut. Whatever you do, don't use Instant or Quick)
1 cup milk (Please use organic, don't even ask why. It is BETTER.)
1 cup water
a small handful of ground almonds (use coffee grinder, food processor, or mortar-and-pestle)
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (if you grind it yourself in m&p it is super flavorful!)
dash of cinnamon
drizzle of honey or maple syrup

Directions:
I recommend following the directions on the label of your oats, just so there are no mistakes.... Cook the oats, cardamom and almonds in a mixture of equal parts milk and water instead of just water. This adds to the flavor of the oats, plus it helps produce Ojas, or "Good Vibrations" in Ayurvedaland.


See link for more about Ojas:
http://www.holisticonline.com/ayurveda/ayv-key-ojas.htm


When the oats are done, give 'em some cinnamon and sweeten with a swirl of delicious, golden honey, which is sweet and astringent, decreases Vata, and helps to cut through excess phlegm.

***If you find that your appetite is slow in the morning, try slicing up, or grating some fresh ginger and making a tea of it. This is stimulating and tasty, warming, and will help you get "in the mood" for a nourishing breakfast. It is also considered a very healthy practice to eat a piece of fruit that is okay for your Doshas 20 to 30 minutes before your regular breakfast. Your body is at its best state for absorbing the benefits of fruit right when you wake up! BRING ON THE BANANAS!!!

By the way, I will openly confess here, in my blog, that I am addicted to coffee. Depending on how things go for me, I will probably make myself the subject of a No-Caffeine Experiment at some point during our adventures together. Till then, I will remain a slave to the bean.