Razzle dazzled Oats

Start the morning feeling energized, and balanced. A YOU that is ready to take on the day with a clear mind, and happy belly.

This is another one of my unique creation that came to mind during a day when I was craving white chocolate with raspberry filling and sunflower butter. I wanted to add the five taste to create a wholesome breakfast . Hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

In this recipe we use milled or blended oats. You can break down the oats by blending them or milling them if you have a mill. The breaking down process allows for better absorption of the oats nutrients. While also making the oats more digestible.

1 cup of milled or blended organic oats.

1/4 Organic Raspberries

1 tsp Organic Sunflower butter no sugar /salt added

2-3 organic dates

1/4 cup of pecans

1/4 Plant based milk

1 tbsp of pecans

1/2 tsp of nutmeg powder

1/2 tsp of ginger powder

1/4 tsp of cardamom

In a small saucepan add 1/2 of water add the nutmeg, ginger, and cardamom powder, allow water to simmer and for the spices to fill the kitchen with their fragrant. Then add 1 cup of the milled or blended oats. Chop the dates, add to the spiced oats. Allow to cook, *note that the oats will cook much faster since they are blended/milled. Stir well to avoid the oats from sticking & becoming mushy

Turn off heat, then stir in the plant based milk of choice, then add the raspberries, pecans.

To serve add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup. In this recipe we used maple syrup

add the tablespoon of sunflower butter.

optional: add hemp seeds.

Enjoy

mucho amor,

Mirna

Spiced PEAR-adise

Ingredient list:

1 cup of organic ground up rolled oats

1 tablespoon of basil seeds or chia seeds

1 Bosc pear ( Brown pear)

2 cinnamon sticks

2 cloves

2 star anise

dash of cardamom powder

1/2 tsp of ginger powder

4 oz of filtered water for pear

6 oz of filtered water for oats

2 oz of plant based milk

6 sliced previously soaked- peeled almonds

To make: In a small saucepan add the 4 oz of water, bring water to slight boil, add the basil seeds, when the basil seeds become engorged with water, very similar to chia seeds, add the spices, while that is going,remove the skin off the pear, place pear in saucepan sprinkle the cardamon on top of the pear, then cover saucepan with a lid. Cook the pear in low- medium heat until it is tender and a fork pierces through. (I like to use a paring knife and cut vertical lines along the pear to poach faster. )While the pear is poaching, in a separate saucepan add the 6 oz of water, bring to a slight boil, add ground up rolled oats, mix well with a wooden spoon, then add the plant based milk, cook on low-medium heat. While the oatmeal is cooking, make sure to check on the pear for tenderness, with a spoon add some of the liquid to the top of the pear, then cover the saucepan with a lid. Wash and remove skin off almonds, then slice them or chop them. compost the peel.

By now the spiced pear should be ready, remove it from the saucepan, then slice it. In a bowl add the oats, and the pear, add the remaining sauce on top of the oats and pear, add the sliced almonds, and sprinkle some cinnamon on top.

Enjoy!

Mucho amor,

Mirna <3

Raven dancing with Mung beans

Warming Lunch or Dinner

OH! I love soup so much; I can eat it every day. I love how comforting soup can be, and it always reminds me of my grandma’s cooking. Soup brings me a sense of joy, can’t wait to make this recipe in the Fall & winter. This recipe came about while I was sprouting mung beans to initially prepare kitchari/Kitchdi. (Will be posting my version soon). While also craving tom yum soup from my favorite vegan Thai restaurant. But I decided to make my own version with Ayurvedic herbs to fire up my digestion, and far more nutritious and protein dense.

Hope you enjoy it as much as our guest from the Desert Retreat. I mean, I know I had thirds :) This meal can also be made using lentils.

If you’re in the LA region, my go to market is India’s sweets and spices, you will be able to find all the mentioned ingredients. [3126 Los Feliz Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039]

 This recipe is also fairly simple to create, I like to speed up the process by cooking the soup in an instant pot.

**Make sure to soak the mung beans for at least 1-3 days. I prefer to soak them for 3  days. The longer the better.

*This recipe is Kapha balancing, for pitta omit chili powder, garlic & replace Pippali with white pepper. Suited for Vata in moderation.

Serving size (8)

Ingredient list:

2 cups Mung beans

2 lemongrass stalks

2 medium vine ripe tomatoes

2 garlic cloves

3 Kaffir leaves

1 tbsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp of fresh ginger

Sunflower or avocado oil

1 bag of Fingerling potatoes

F1/2 a gallon of filtered water

Paste preparation:

 2 chopped lemongrass stalks, Remove all the old leaves

2 garlic cloves

1/2 lime juice & 1tsp of lime zest

1 tsp of pink Himalayan salt

1 tbsp turmeric powder

2 tablespoons of sunflower seed oil or avocado

3 kaffir leaves remove stems

About and inch of fresh ginger

2 Thai chili peppers, or 1 tsp of cayenne pepper

4 oz of water

Combine ingredients in a blender, blend into a smooth paste

In a large pot, or instant pot, sauté 2 tbsp of sunflower oil or avocado

add 1 tsp of PIPPALI POWDER

Allow the oil to absorb the pippali powder

Then when the pippali becomes fragrant, add the chopped potatoes.

sauté for a few mins until they’re a light golden color

 Add the chopped tomatoes. Sauté for a 3-4 mins, it’s okay if the tomatoes fall apart.

Then add the lemongrass paste, stir,stir,stir ingredients together.

Add mung beans, then add water

If cooking in an instant pot set the timer to 20 minutes, on high pressure, allow the soup to cook, and when the timer goes off, release the pressure for 5 minutes.

If cooking in a regular pot, cook until mung beans and potatoes are soft.

To serve top w. fresh Cilantro & a squeeze of lime & a dash of salt

Mucho amor,

Mirna

Desert Sunrise Salad

Bright,cheerful, & delicious Lunch!

For me there is nothing more appealing than enjoying a delicious salad, that leaves you feeling satisfied. Best of all this salad also satisfies the 6 tastes of Sweet, sour, salty, astringent, bitter, pungent. What more can you ask for! A salad should not be cold for it shocks your digestive system and prevents you from fully digesting what you eat. I hear what you’re thinking! But, Mirna aren’t salad healthy? Well not necessarily, if it is a cold meal then all your doing is disturbing your digestive fire. Also, a cold salad is not nourishing whatsoever. Look at food for its qualities, and ask yourself will this meal bring nourishment to all my tissues? Look for food that will ground you, uplift the spirit, and invigorate your senses.

 This salad can be enjoyed anytime of the year, but it is more recommended during the summertime.

~

This salad was inspired by a beautiful sunset that I witnessed while I was in the desert celebrating the full moon. The bright and cheerful colors that energized my spirit were the inspiration behind this dish. Not to mentioned it was  hungry o’clock.

The colors were so beautiful, you could just taste them.

In this meal, the quinoa represents the grounding nature if the mountains, & the reddish, pinkish, orange sunrise are the energizing produce, beets & mango, while the Jicama represents the white fluffy clouds

Serving size (4)

Ingredient list:

 4 cups of organic Quinoa

1 ½  cups of small jicama, 2 small beets, one firm  Kent mango

 2 oz of fresh mint

1 tbsp raw unsalted Sunflower seeds

1tbsp raw unsalted Pumpkin seeds

Dressing:

1 large lemon

1 tbsp Sunflower seed oil

1 tbsp avocado oil

1 tsp of raw honey (opt for agave if vegan)

½ tsp  of Braggs amino acid

½ tsp of dry thyme

½ tsp mustard seed powder

In a cup combine all ingredients together and mix well with a whisk.

Preparation for Quinoa:  Rinse the 4 cups of quinoa until the water runs clear, then in a medium pot add the rinsed quinoa with 5 cups of water. Allow the quinoa to cook until it is nice and fluffy like little clouds. * follow quinoa cooking instructions on package

Preparation method for fruits & veggies

Wash all produce and remove any dirt from it.

With a box cheese grater on the shred section begin by shredding the jicama, then the mango, then the beets.

(I like to shred the beets last because of the staining properties.  I like how magenta my fingers look afterwards.)

In a large serving bowl combine all shredded ingredients together and mix well.

In a small frying pan add the pumpkin & sunflower seeds and set the heat to medium heat, allow the seeds to lightly roast, turn the heat off after 3-4 minutes. Make sure to not burn the seeds!

*Prepare the dressing with above mentioned ingredients

Chop the mint

Add the roasted seeds on top of the salad, followed by the mint.

Voila! You have replicated the masterpiece, enjoy, remember to set your intentions and give thanks to your delicious creation first.

Mucho amor,

Mirna

Blueberries should be called VioletBERRIES

Nourishing Breakfast Oatmeal

Hi there! Are you bored of having regular oatmeal? Or you really despise oatmeal?

Here is an easy, healthy, wholesome oatmeal that will change your life!

This oatmeal is great for Vata & pitta constitutions Kapha replace blueberries with raspberries, & instead of sugar/jaggery add cinnamon & fresh ginger

🌺

Serving size(2)

Ingredient list:

1 cup Organic whole oats

1/2 cup of Hibiscus flower

1 tbsp of chia seeds

1 organic blueberry container

1 tbsp of cane sugar, or jaggery

1/4 tsp of coriander powder

🌺

-Place 1 cup of oats in blended,blend for 3 seconds, if you want to make it more of  a porridge them blend oats to a fine powder.

• in a sauce pan, bring 8 oz of filtered water to a boil

• When water is boiling add hibiscus

• Reduce heat to low, allow the hibiscus to rehydrate & stir occasionally

• Allow this process for 5 mins.

• Check the flowers to make sure they are soft & tender

• Add whole blueberries, sugar/jaggery, & chia seeds to sauce pan with hibiscus

• Stir for 5 mins.

• If you want a more thicker sauce add more sugar/ jaggery

• While the heat is on low allow the blueberries to absorb the hibiscus water

• Add the coriander powder ( trust me 😉)

In a small pot add ~9 oz of water

On medium heat Bring  water  to a boil, when u see bubbles

Add the blended oats, reduce heat to low & stir, stir, stir, until the oats absorb the water.

The oatmeal should cook instantly, takes about 3 mins.

Serve hot & set your intentions before enjoying this nourishing breakfast.

Mucho Amor,

Mirna

Try a refreshing beverage instead!

Summer getting to you yet?

Normally during hot days I will turn to fresh coconut water, or drink 60 oz of water a day;since my reusable water bottle and I are inseparable.

Many people today turn to ice cold water to “ cool” their bodies down, when in reality the cold water is doing more harm than actually cooling the body.

Some cons from drinking cold water include the following: Restricts Digestion, constipation, may cause headaches, shock to the body, and cause sore throat.

I created this drink after learning about “Khus” Vetiver root during the Ayurvedic program. I had worked with vetiver before but as an essential oil. I was blown away by all the benefits that vetiver root contains, therefore was inspired to make a drink to stay cool,& hydrated all day. I always have so much fun creating new fun recipes at home.

This drink can be enjoyed year long due to its powerhouse of antioxidant, vitamin dense, and hydrating benefits.

Vetiver root may benefits the following, fights acne, diminishes scars, provides intense nourishment, reduces inflammation, boosts hair health, improves mood, anti-aging benefits, deep cleanses, may relieve anxiety and supports immunity and digestion.

This cooling tea doesn’t stop there, it includes blue butterfly pea,rose petals, peppermint,hibiscus, & vetiver root.

For this recipe you will need one tea bag of the Summer Cooling Tea

Makes 2 cups

Bring 16 oz of filtered water to a boil

boil the water, turn off heat, then serve the water.

add the tea blend bag packet in the water

steep for about 5-8 minutes, For stronger brew, steep longer.

remove tea blend bag and squeeze the excess water from it.

you may sweetened with jaggery, agave,brown sugar, or stir in honey once the tea has cooled down.

Cut a lemon in half, and slice into thin slices to add inside the tea, then with the other half of lemon squeeze the juice into the mixture, stir and serve.

Enjoy!

Doshas

What Are The Doshas
Ayurveda divides the elements that make up an individual person’s constitution into “doshas.” The three doshas, as they commonly called, are Vata, Kapha, and Pitta.
Vata is involved with movement, it is always moving like the wind. Kapha energy governs fluid dynamics, and Structure. Pitta governs your “Digestive Fire.”
Every person has all three doshas, though not in equal amounts. Normally there is a primary and secondary dosha which are dominant, with some smaller volume of the third dosha present.

Dosha indicate imbalances. If your entire being was in harmony (balance) there would be no dosha impacting you. This may seem like we are mincing words, but words matter. People have begun describing themselves according to their doshas- i.e, “I am Vata, I am SO PITTA! My kapha is getting the best of me.” But that is incorrect and is not helpful. You are not your DOSHA. The presence of the dosha’s indicate something is out of alignment, it isn’t helpful to identify with them.

A Little More About The Doshas

Vata (movement) – is made of space and air. Vata dosha is involved in breathing, muscles movement, heart beat and all the internal movement within the body. When Vata is in balance it shows up as creativity and flexibility. When VATA is out of balance, you get fear and anxiety.

Pitta (digestive fire)- is a combination of Fire and Water. It governs digestion, metabolism, and temperature. When in balance, pitta brings focus, drive, and intellect. Out of balance, Pitta becomes anger, jealousy and aggression.

Kapha (hydrodynamics and structure)- Kapha is made up of the Earth and Water. It provides fluid and fluidity to the body. When Kapha is balance you experience it as love, equipoise and steadiness. Out of balance, you become clingy, bitter, sluggish and stagnant.

Why choose Ayurveda?

Often people become interested in Ayurveda because nothing else has worked, and they are at the end of their rope with the western approach to healing. They are often shocked to find that Ayurveda has answers, and has had those answers for thousands of years.

A Bit More About Ayurveda
The basic premise of Ayurveda is that all phenomenon are a made up of the same five elements:
Air, Space, Earth, Fire, Water
And from these five elements arise the three Doshas:

Vata (Air & Space)
Pitta (Fire & Water)
Kapha (Water & Earth)

Every person is composed of a combination of the three Doshas. You are not Vata or Pitta or Kapha. Every person has a mixture of these three (although two of them are normally found in higher concentrations than the third).

What Does Dosha Mean?
Dosha literally means “flaw” or “stain.” But perhaps it is easiest to think about it as “that which goes out of balance.”

In the west it is becoming increasingly popular (and incorrect) to identify with your Doshas. People are starting to say things like, “I am so Vatta” or “That’s because I am a Pitta.” The problem with this is, you are identifying yourself with things that go out of balance. The nature of the Doshas are, when left unchecked – to express themselves FULLY into your life – and take you along for the ride as they do.
The point of understanding the Doshas is to understand what within you needs to become harmonized, and how it goes out of balance to begin with, so you can manage it better. Ayurveda prescribes diet and lifestyle changes to help restore you to balance.

Restoring balance

RESTORING YOU TO BALANCE

Ayurveda focuses on bringing balance into your life through mindfulness practices, diet, lifestyle decisions and the use of ayurvedic herbs.
Ayurveda places a great deal of importance on you as individual. The Ayurvedic approach to wholistic healing is that “nothing works for everyone – but something will work for everyone.” Because you are an individual, your treatment must be tailored to you individually.
What helps you achieve balance, could throw another person off completely who has a different balance problem. This is why it is important to work with someone who has a great deal of education. They need to properly identify your constitution, help you identify the habits and lifestyle choices which are not supporting you, and come up with a plan to help restore you to harmony.

What Keeps throwing You Off Balance? Life.
Everything you encounter tends to throw you out of balance. Your food choices, weather changes of season, physical pain, sleep patterns environmental toxins, etc, all work to throw you out of balance.

Why is Balance Important?
Because balance equals order and imbalance equal disorder. Order equals good health while disorder equals disease (dis-ease). Your body and mind are always being pulled out of balance. Ayurvedic Consultants are trained to identify what is pulling you out of balance, and show you what you must do to restore it, and then teach you what you need to do to maintain it.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is a holistic system of health care and preventive medicine that was developed in India more than 5,000 years ago. The term “Ayurveda” combines two Sanskrit words: ayur (life) and veda (science or knowledge). Thus, Ayurveda is quite literally “the science of life.” The aim of Ayurvedic medicine is to integrate and balance the whole person: the body, mind and spirit in order to promote wellness and prevent illness. Ayurveda fosters an understanding of an individual’s unique mind-body constitution, or dosha. According to Ayurveda, there are five master elements that make up our world and ourselves: Space, Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Each element carries inherent qualities, such as fire – hot and transformational – or earth – solid and stable. Ayurveda groups these elements into three basic energies or doshas: Vata (Air and Space), Pitta (Fire and Water), and Kapha (Earth and Water). As all individuals are a combination of these doshas, Ayurvedic treatments work to restore balance to our bodies and minds and return us to our true constitutions for optimal health, balance, and happiness. Ayurvedic science aims at the prevention and management of disease by establishing balance through nutrition, herbal medicines, ayurvedic therapies, pranayama breathing exercises, yoga, meditation, and daily and seasonal routine. Discover how to help the body heal itself naturally with traditional Indian medicine.