Easy cleanse for September

I've decided that I've procrastinated long enough on my cleanse, so am officially jumping into the detox routine today! I'm doing an easier cleanse than I usually do (I tend to go to extremes) with a lot more "allowed" foods. Items that are a no-no include alcohol, black tea and coffee, red meat, wheat, dairy, potatoes, bread, pasta, etc. (Oh, and sugar...) In other words, I'll be eating lots of veggies. It's actually not that different than I normally eat, so it won't be too hard. I get tempted by the sugary treats and bread, so it will be good to eliminate those. If anyone is interested in trying this cleanse, let me know and I will share the details with you! Happy Labor Day :)

Kitcheree recipe

I thought I had posted this recipe a long time ago, but it looks like I haven't! The Ayurvedic dish "Kitcheree" consists of mung beans and rice primarily, with spices that assist with digestion and overall cleansing. Now that I am on a simple cleanse for the month, I will be making lots of this, and thought I'd share it as well. Enjoy! (post any questions that you may have)

KICHADI RECIPE

Great for balancing all three doshas!

• 1/3 C white basmati rice
• ½ C split mung beans (available at the Natural Foods Coop in San Luis Obispo)
• 5 C water, or use a veggie stock
• 1 tsp to 2 T fresh grated ginger root, less with high Pitta
• ¼ tsp. cumin seeds or ½ tsp. ground cumin
• ¼ tsp. mustard seeds (can omit if high pitta)
• ½-1 tsp coriander seeds or 1 tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp. fennel seeds
• 1 tsp. dried oregano leaves
• 1 clove garlic (omit if Pitta)

Heat up spices on the bottom of the pot, stirring constantly for about 1 or 2 minutes, until aromatic. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes, and then reduce heat to medium-low. As rice and beans are cooking, chop and add vegetables such as:
Carrots
Zucchini
Broccoli

After bringing water to a boil, simmer for approximately 30 minutes – until most of the liquid is absorbed, but the consistency is smooth, not mushy and sticky.

When done, take the pot off the heat and add ghee or salt/braggs liquid amino acids to taste!

It is better for your digestion to use split mung beans (and even better if you soak them overnight. However, you can use whole mung beans; however you will need to adjust the cooking time to about 45 minutes

Esalen Kale Salad

As promised on Facebook, here's my absolute favorite recipe for kale, from one of my favorite spots in the world, Esalen in Big Sur. And, because it is summer, eating it raw is fine for all doshas, especially pitta! Kale is highly nutritious and really good for cleansing the digestive system. Really, I can't get enough of this salad - enjoy :)


1/3 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos or tamari soy sauce (I like tamari better)
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup flax seed or extra virgin olive oil ( I use olive oil)
1/2 medium- sized red onion
1/4 cup sunflower seeds (you can cheat and get these already roasted, unsalted)
1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/4 cup sesame seeds (I didn't have sesame seeds the other day, so just used more pumpkin seeds)
1 lb. fresh kale (or about 2 big bunches)
1/2 cup sunflower sprouts
1 avocado, cut into 1/2 inch cubes (optional)
1 cup thinly sliced shiitake or crimini mushrooms (optional - I typically don't add these))

Combine the Bragg or soy sauce and lemon juice in a blender or whisk in a bowl. Slowly dribble in the oil as the blender turns or as you whisk vigorously. Slice the onion into thin half-moons and marinate in the dressing as you prepare the rest of the salad.

Toast the seeds in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat until seeds are just golden and fragrant (cast iron skillet is the best). Toast each seed type separately as their size requires varying roasting times. Cool to room temperature.

De-stem the kale. Stack the kale leaves and slice or tear into 1/4 inch ribbons. This is the most important step so make sure that you take your time. The success of this recipe lies in cutting the kale into small ribbons and in completely massaging the kale with the dressing.

Toss the seeds, sprouts, and kale together in the marinated onions and as much dressing as necessary to lightly but completely dress the kale. Massage the dressing into the kale with your hands. Add the avocado and mushrooms if using and toss again with your hands.

Serves 4-6!

Getting a Pulse on the Action

This morning my friend and fellow Ayurvedic practitioner Jean and I did Ayurvedic pulse readings following a yoga class at Smiling Dog Yoga in SLO. I really enjoyed getting my hands on several different pulses, and think I would like to do this regularly after yoga classes. I studied pulse reading with the esteemed Dr. Lad back in 2007 and find it a very valuable diagnostic tool - although it takes getting your hands on lots of pulses in order to be an expert at it. I'm looking for volunteers who will offer their wrist to me!

Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!
There’s nothing like a crunchy, fresh apple on a crisp fall day - I've been eating at least two a day, really, for the past month! Fall is the perfect time to enjoy apples, either raw or cooked, depending on your dosha. Apples detoxify the body, cleanse the intestines, and alleviate any accumulated pitta from summer, essential for keeping your body balanced as you transition into fall.
Please make sure the apples that you purchase are free of pesticides and preferably organic, as apples can be high in pesticides if not otherwise specified. The local farmer’s markets are a great source for fresh, healthy apples.
If you tend to be more Vata in nature, or are feeling a bit cold and dry, try the below stewed apple recipe for a sweet and healthy treat.
Stewed Apples
(Two servings)
· 2 apples, diced
· 1 teaspoon powdered cinnamon
· ½ teaspoon powdered cardamom
· ½ teaspoon fresh ginger or ¼ powdered
· 1 teaspoon ghee (you can omit if you'd like and just use a little more water)
· 1/3 cup water
Melt the ghee first, and then place all ingredients in a skillet and cook over a medium to medium-low flame until the apples are soft, about 10 minutes. Enjoy alone, over oatmeal or as dessert. I must say... Yum :)

Have a little more time this summer for reading? There are literally hundreds of Ayurvedic Books available; however here's a list of a few to get you started on your journey towards better health and wellness:

AYURVEDIC BOOK RESOURCES

· The 3-Season Diet, Dr. John Douillard

· Perfect Health, Deepak Chopra

· Ayurveda, The Science of Self-Healing, Dr. Vasant Lad

· Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners, Amadea Morningstar

· Yoga for Your Type, Dr. David Frawley and Sandra Summerfield Kozak

· The Path of Practice, A Woman’s Book of Ayurvedic Healing, Maya Tiwari

Summer Workshop coming up

For all you Pittas out there, or anyone who gets a little "out of sorts" during the summer: I'm offering a class on Ayurvedic Tips to Stay Cool and Calm this summer. It will be at Central Coast Yoga, on Saturday, June 12 for 1-3 p.m. Here's a link to the flyer. Hope to see you there!
http://www.balancedlivingayurveda.com/files/bla_flyer_june12.pdf