Sweet Potatoes with lime and sesame

remove skins

chop and lightly oiled place on baking paper and bake at 180 

When cooked toss with lime juice and sprinkle with  toasted sesame seeds

 an easy side dish

A Vegetarian Christmas lunch

The menu 

Home made Panir with spinach
Sweet potatoes with lime and sesame
Steamed chickpea bread
Tomato chutney
Mango chutney
Green sprouted salad

Panir cheese perfect for summer and balancing for pitta.

Panchakarma in Kerala India

"the miracle of the human body is that it has a natural healing intelligence which is capable of constantly rejuvenating itself.  However,wen doshic imbalance and weakened digestive capacity allow toxic impurities to form, this natural capacity of the body gets blocked. To remedy this situation, Ayurveda offers the gift of Panchakarma, the science of rejuvenation.  In this process the body is purified of the degenerating influence of these foreign substances, thus freeing it to naturally exercise its inherent rejuvenating abilities."
Ayurveda & Panchakarma SVJoshi
This is Sree Krisha Centre In Viacom Kerala where I spent a few weeks this year undergoing Panchakarma treatment under the care of Dr Vijith.  I felt very safe and nurtured in this gentle environment.  Dr Vijith and his wife are very dedicated. I loved that each morning Dr Vijith would perform a puja ceremony to pray for our healing.  I can highly recommend this centre.  for more info go to www.ayurvedapancakarma.com

Cooking lunch for Mother Meera

MOTHER MEERA COMES TO SYDNEY

After her first visit early this year, we thought we would have to
wait for a long time before she returned. And now she is coming again
in less than a year.

So we all have this other rare opportunity to have Darshan with her
again.

Mother Meera is an enlightened being from India who is described as
an incarnation of the Divine Mother. Her mission is to help uplift
humanity by opening people to the divine light, so they may become
more peaceful and happy.

This transformation of consciousness is accomplished through the
silence of Darshan as Mother Meera transfers light to every part of
your being, to help with physical, mental, vital and spiritual

healing.

I had the pleasure of cooking lunch for Mother Meera.  I made a 

Mung dahl Kitchari in a flask so it would be ready whenever she needed it.

It was a great honour for me.

Preparing Kitchari in a flask for Mother Meera

Tahini treats - great for a healthy Christmas sweet

TAHINI TREATS -Recipe makes 20 balls

1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup tahini
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup coconut grated (extra for rolling)
1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped mixed dried fruit

Mix all together and form into balls about size of walnut.
Roll in coconut and put in fridge to firm up.

Tahini Treats

Treat yourself to a Day Retreat

TREAT YOURSELF TO A DAY RETREAT

of

ART

YOGA

AYURVEDA

Suzi Poland, Sally Lockley. Kim Elliott

A day of indulgence in self,

being present and allowing the flower inside to open

Coming soon  at Palm Beach

Breakfast with Satish Kumar

Another beautiful spring day and I was invited to attend my son Gary Gorrow interviewing Satish Kumar at the home of Jamie Durie in Bilgola.  My contribution to the breakfast was to make a healthy quinoa and chia porridge for 20.

Gary Gorrow, Satish Kumar and Jamie Durie

I didn't know anything about Satish and I found myself deeply touched listening to this inspiring man as he shared his personal journey.  His dedication to service and action was awe inspiring.  He spoke of nature and that we are not just part of  nature we are nature.  Nature and resurgence a cycle of giving and receiving. The importance of being in the moment and taking action from that space. And his response as Gary asked him the role LOVE played in his life. I wanted to thank him for sharing his precious time with us all and so as soon as I could I took out a subscription to the magazine Resurgence of which he is the editor.

Its Kapha season

The first day of Spring was a beautiful day,  I felt energised and enjoyed being out in nature.  It's Kapha season according to Ayurveda - the time when we start to melt away the heaviness we have stored over winter. Just as in nature the winter snows melt and the rivers and streams start to flow.

To balance the kapha in our system we need to favour the tastes of bitter, astringent and pungent.

Barley soup is perfect for a light nourishing meal.  It has kale and kelp so good for us and the kapha balancing spices.  Actually it contains all the six tastes which is why it is so nurturing and satisfying,

BARLEY ASPARAGUS SOUP
The soup for spring- serves 5-6

Spring Spice Blend
1 TB Ginger powder
1 TB Cinnamon
1 TB dry basil
1 teaspn red chilli flakes
1 teaspn turmeric
1 teaspn fenugreek seeds
1 teaspn clove buds

Grind the seeds, cloves, chilli and basil. Add ginger, cinnamon and turmeric powder and mix well. Store in jar.

Ingredients for Soup 

2 TB ghee 

3 teaspns spring masala 

½ chopped onion 

¾ cup of barley 

2 cups vegetable stock 

6 cups water 

2 bunches of asparagus chopped bite size 

3-4 leaves of kale finely chopped 

½ teaspn seaweed 

1 TB Tamari 

3-4 stalks of basil finely chopped 

Lemon wedges

Method:

Rinse the barley and drain well. Heat ghee in large saucepan on medium heat, sauté onions and gently cook. Add the masala mix and gently fry for one minute. Stir in barley and coat well with spices. Add the stock bring to the boil then simmer for 40 mins. Stir in asparagus and kale and gently simmer for 10 mins. Adjust seasoning with Tamari, seaweed. Garnish with basil and lemon wedge

 

Roast pumpkin and dahl soup for twenty

Today I have dual tasks

to create a soup for 20 people for my sons's retreat

to mind my two grandchildren

First things first - off we go to purchase the ingredients for the soup.  

Granddaughter on her purple scooter

Little grandson with his trusty pink toy stroller,

(thats what is so great about having a bigger sister - you get to use all her toys.)  Now who would think to buy a little boy a pink toy stroller?

Man on a mission

He absolutely loves this toy and insists on taking it everywhere. Nothing is allowed to be carried in it though - its strictly for pushing.

It takes quite a long time to get the ingredients and get them home - at one crossing I had to hold the pink stroller, screaming child and guide the purple scooter to safety as well as the shopping.  I can't stop laughing and wonder will we ever get home, there are two more crossings to go.

Roast pumpkin and Mung Dahl soup

Coaxing out my creativity

How can I be more creative?  I am doing a great blog class with Suzi Poland and I want to encourage myself to come out more. I have a new garden where I am planting vegetables herbs and flowers - all so new for me. This is my favourite antique indian wooden bowl and I wrote live share cook in flowers but its too hard to see.

Live Share Cook

My photography will just have to get better - there is so much to learn.