Shabu Shabu

Wow! This is embarrassing!  I haven't posted in two months.  Okay, okay, I have been busy.   Shabu shabu is the magic word today.  Are you craving red meat but still want to keep your girlish figure?  Make it shabu shabu style.  I have done this with lamb twice and yum.  So when you go to the grocery store you buy lamb very thinly sliced.  I am talking like thin like paper. Of course, I am exaggerating when I say like paper but you get the idea.  VERY THINLY SLICED. 

To cook the lamb.  Boil water.  Once boiled, get a slotted spoon or ladle and chopsticks.  Pick up a piece of the meat with chopsticks and place on top of the spoon.  Keeping the meat on the spoon, holding it with the chopsticks, dip into the boiling water.  While it is cooking, move the meat around making sure the whole piece is cooking.  You will see the meat quickly turn dark as it cooks.  Try to keep it slightly pink because since it is so thin, it cooks very quickly.  It literally cooks in minutes.  I would say about 1-2.  Take the meat out of the water and place it on a plate and move on to the next piece.  Serve with a low fat seasoning such as soy sauce. 

Mana Food Bar Restaurant Review

Craving Vegetarian fare? or just plain vegetarian?  This is the place to go.  DELICIOUS!!  The atmosphere is pretty typical Wicker Park and a little hipster.  BUT you know what I will be the first to say this...I don't mind hipster-ish places.  Especially this one!  It is cozy and could be romantic.  It also has a heated outdoor area for those who like to dine outside.  I will admit the heated outdoor area was a little chilly for me.  I do tend to get cold easily so if you are the same then bring a sexy scarf or wear a huge sweater.  Also, it is not entirely hipster.  There were these god awefully boring people sitting next to us all night that just entertained us through out the night with their conversation.  The menu has many great options AND you can choose the size you want your food to come in so if you want many small things to share with another person, which is really the best way to dine with a friend.   So here are my ultimate favorites:

Backed Goat Cheese- O.  M.  G.  Wow Wow Wow.  Good. 
Mana Sliders- These tiny little burgers made of brown rice and mushroom you just want to keep eating and eating
Chili-need I say more?
Creamy Polenta- creamy goodness. 

BUT please try other things.  Ok go there.  Ok bye bye.

Psoriasis

 I did a little research for a friend that has psoriasis.  I also included personal suggestions for him as an individual that I left out, but I thought maybe someone else could benefit from this.  Anyone have conditions they would like me to research?  Send me an email!

Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown in some cases to decrease symptoms of psoriasis.  Look for an omega 3 that has high amounts of EPA/DHA.  I would not suggest buying Walgreens brands.

In general fatty acids are great because they release a body substance known as Leukotrienes which is beneficial to heal wounds and injuries.  This is great for a skin condition, or inflammation of any type of arthritis.  Examples of foods rich with fatty acids:

• Whole grains (a lot of companies try to sell whole grain breads, which is propaganda) you want to look for unmilled, freshly milled, or sprouted bread.  Other whole grains: buckwheat, oats, barley, brown rice
• Dark green vegetables (spinach, kale, broccoli, collard greens, romaine lettuce)
• Flax seed oil is a great oil rich with fatty acids. 
• Seeds and nuts (sesame seeds, pumpkins seeds are great and can be added to recipes)
• Seaweeds (so go out with friends for sushi.  Get some sushi rolls with miso soup)

Beta-carotene/provitamin A foods are beneficial too!

• Carrots
• Winter squash
• Pumpkin

Try Goat’s milk as an alternative to regular milk.  It is shown as the best animal product for skin diseases. 

Watch oysters and shrimp.  They can aggravate symptoms.

Different teas to try:

• Dandelion root
• Echinacea root
• Burdock Root

Beet and Avocado Salad---Beauty in a tupperware dish

I got this recipe from my school mate Lori Sherlock, who can I say has amazing style.  She has purchased the new Betsey Johnson boots that came out this fall and are these boots are everything I have looked for in a boot.  Sigh.  Well anyway back to this delicious recipe.  I would literally say this is beauty in a bottle.  The avocado is great for regulation of hormones, and beautifying skin.  The beets are great for a women's menses.  Regulate a woman's menses and the woman is even more beautiful then they were before.  Why?  Less crabby, or emotional, more energy and they just look and feel better.  So adding these two ingredients together is so beautifully harmonizing.  If you are a man, don't shy away from this recipe.  Especially if you are prone to dry skin, dry hair, nosebleeds, hemorrhoids, and are a vegetarian.
P.S.- I didn't have tarragon and the recipe will still just as good with out it.  I just added more lemon and used a garlic wine vinegar
. 
Serves: 4
Time: 20 minutes (with precooked beets)
Ingredients:  3 or 4 medium boiled beets. Cooled, peeled and sliced.   2 ripe but firm avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced.  1 small red onion, minced. ½ cup extra virgin olive oil. 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar. ¼  cup freshly squeezed lemon juice. 1 fresh tarragon leaf, minced. Salt and pepper.

• Arrange the beets and avocados in alternating layers in a dish or shallow bowl. Mix together the onion, olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and tarragon. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

TCM Analysis:
Beets- Sweet, neutral. Enter the spleen, stomach, liver, heart. Strengthen middle jiao, nourish blood, calm shen.
Avocado- Sweet, bland, cool. Enters lung, large intestine.  Strengthens spleen and stomach, nourishes yin and blood, clears heat, promotes fluids.
Onion- Pungent, neutral. Enters the lung, stomach and large intestine. Clears heat, relieves toxicity.  Transforms phlegm and damp.
Lemon- Cooling, very sour, astringent.  Generates fluids, resolves phlegm.
Red wine vinegar- Warming, moves blood, circulates liver qi, resolves dampness.
Olive oil- Lubricates intestines
Tarragon- Acrid, warming. Circulates qi
Salt- Salty, cold. Enters the kidney. Eases bowel movement, clears heat, nourishes kidney
Pepper- Pungent, warm. Enters stomach, large intestine.  Warms middle jiao, expels damp and cold.

Sweet Potato Fries

When I am craving a burger I always make these fries.  I got this idea from an old roommate I lived with over in Logan Square between 2007-2009.  Her name was Dalila and she always had this regal quality to the foods she made. 

Ingredients:
1-2 sweet potatoes, chopped into fry slivers.  The thinner it is cut the shorter time it takes to cook.
1/4 cup of olive oil
1/2 teaspoon of Salt
1 tablespoon of Rosemary- these are all REALLY estimations.

Preheat oven to 375.  Pour a thin layer of olive oil on a baking sheet, make sure it covers the whole area is spread evenly, and is not too thick.  Sprinkle chopped Sweet potato slivers on baking sheet and spread them evenly over the sheet.  Sprinkle salt and rosemary to taste.  I like a lot of rosemary.  I would normally bake for about 15 minutes but it really depends on how thin the potato are sliced.  They should be easily pierced with a fork. 

Sweet potatoes are good for constipation or diarrhea.  Added with olive oil they make have more of a benefit with constipation.  They also treat excessive thirst, and weak kidneys.  With its action on the kidneys, men with premature ejaculation or impotence problems would benefit with sweet potatoes.    The rosemary is great for different types of pain.  I would not necessarily say joint pain although it may help.  I would say mostly it is great for abdominal cramping around a woman's period and the common tension headache. 

Baked Sweet Potatoes with Ginger and Honey

Source: All recipes.com

You know that awesome dish that we eat on Thanksgiving with the marshmallows, sugar, butter, milk, and goodness?  Yes, I was craving something like  that but didn't want to use those ingredients.  Not that they don't taste amazing but that is a dish you eat once a year.  This dish has that same sweet flavoring but with out the extra pounds that you gain that time of year.  I didn't have walnut oil so I used olive oil and sprinkled raw walnuts in the dish before baking.    

This recipe is great for anyone with digestive complaints specifically nausea, vomiting, and constipation. This would be a great dish for the first trimester of a pregnancy if someone is experiencing a  lot of morning sickness, in that case, add more Cardamom. Sweet Potato also treat excessive thirst, and weak kidneys.  With its action on the kidneys, men with premature ejaculation or impotence problems would benefit with sweet potatoes.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons walnut oil
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, toss together the sweet potatoes, honey, ginger, walnut oil, cardamom, and pepper. Transfer to a large cast iron frying pan.
3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Stir the potatoes to expose the pieces from the bottom of the pan. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized on the outside.

What season is your fruit? ....Kinda sounds like a bad pick up line

http://crossfitsweatshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/fruitsveggies.jpg

As the trees, flowers, and weather changes so does our body.  Our environment changes and so do we.  We change because we are affected by the environment but also since we are a being of energy.  With energy, nothing is constant and it is always changing and transforming.   It is really easy to think we are always the same person, however don't we all have a favorite season? Aren't there small changes we notice in our moods, and emotions between winter and summer?  Not only do our moods change but our appetites and digestion change.  Sinus problems, allergies, asthma gets better or worse depending on the time of year.  Everything waxes and wanes.   This is why with each season it is important to change what you eat.  To eat what is in season.  Yes, it may be hard at times and not always possible, but effort and awareness are important.  I find myself craving grapefruit in the winter.  Does that  mean I won't eat grapefruit? Hell no, it is Yummy but I put forth an effort to eat cranberries, brussel sprouts, cauliflower too. 

I am technologically challenged and need someone to help me post links so sorry about the shotty picture.  I included the link so you can see things up close and I also suggest google searching in your area.  Epicurious.com has a great interactive map for the state you live in. 

The Health Sleuth: Whole Foods Sells Out to Monsanto

The Health Sleuth: Whole Foods Sells Out to Monsanto: The Organic Elite Surrenders to Monsanto: What Now? By Ronnie Cummins Organic Consumers Association, Jan 27, 2011 "The policy set for GE...

Hatshuhana Restaurant Review

Wow! I am pretty sure this is the best sushi in lakeview. I had some friends visiting from out of town so I thought I would bring them to the land of sushi-Lakeview and look for an all you can eat. By a stroke of luck and a little help from yelp, we stumbled onto this place. It is small and decor is like any other sushi restaurant within a 5 block radius. FYI, it is hard to find "all you can eat" for lunch so don't even bother....Back to the restaurant.. We went in for a late lunch so we were the only ones in there. The wait staff was really nice and after we ordered brought us complimentary miso soup. The broth was fantastic and the soup was filled with fresh scallions. Yum! But watch your breath. I am a poor poor student so I ordered small simple roles- Shrimp tempura, Asparagus avocado and cucumber, and the spicy california. Each role about $5 a piece so not a bad deal, huh? All very good, I wasn't in the slightest disappointed. All the ingredients were fresh. My friends got the house special role and it was to die for! Both of my friends work in the food industry and were also very impressed by the food. Check it.

Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant Review

This won't be a crazy detailed review.  I have only had Ethiopian twice in my life, but this was the far better place to have it.  A friend and I went and ordered the vegetarian tour of Ethiopia.  This allowed us to try and share multiple dishes.  We also had tea which they served a chai blend that was delicious.  Overall, the food was fantastic!!  Only one of the six dishes was spicy, so anyone with qualms about ethnic food because of spiciness should try Ethiopian.  The proportions were medium sized, but they serve you PLENTY of bread so you won't leave the table with out being stuffed.  Prices were very reasonable!  I would say the only thing lacking is the atmosphere of the restaurant lacked charm. It was kinda decorated like a cheesy banquet hall.  They do serve alcohol for those boozers out there!  Overall, recommended!

Perfect Pesto Potato Salad

Sarah Kramer does it again!  Wow is this a great dish to eat alone or share with others.  It is one of those dishes that tastes great and just happens to be vegan and gluten free.  Love that!  Be wary of the night shades in this recipe though.  Also this recipe is EASY EASY EASY


Salad:
2 lbs of potatoes quartered
1/2 lb of green beans cut into 1 inch pieces
4-6 sun dried tomatoes, chopped.   (I added a lot more because I love me some sundried tomatoes)
2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar

Pesto Sauce:
1 1/2 cup of fresh basil
1/4 cup of pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
1/4 cup of oil

In a large pot of salted water, boil the potatoes until they can be pierced with a fork.  Drain, rinse under cold water and set aside.  Pesto sauce:  In a food processor or blender, combine basil, pine nuts ( I added some to sauce and sprinkled some on potatoes), garlic, salt, and pepper.  Slowly add oil while processing.  Once potatoes are cooled add to bowl with sun dried tomatoes, vinegar, and pesto sauce.  Toss to coat.  Serve Chilled. 

Basil is really great for stomach distension with gas, some types of headaches and menstrual irregularities such as PMS.  Essentially, it helps with irritability too because if you take these above symptoms away you would just be less irritable : )  Potatoes are once again a NATURAL energizer.  I assure you take out sugar and add natural energizers of the body and within a week you will feel 75% better! 

Broccoli and Tofu in Peanut Sauce

I got this recipe from my friend Collin Campbell.  He omits the Tofu and pretty much says "fuck you tofu"  Personally, I like tofu but find that I don't like to use anything less then extra firm because it just gets to soggy for me.  Also, I did add mushrooms to this recipe and take out the cashews and yum.  AND while cooking it I tasted the sauce and thought I messed up because it tasted too 'peanutbutter-ey"  but once I added it to the veggies.  Delicious!

1/4 cup unsalted cashews
3 tablespoons of peanut oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 red or yellow pepper chopped
1-2 garlic cloves and chopped
1/2 teaspoon of dried red pepper flakes
1 pound of firm (extra firm) tofu
3 tablespoons of tamari or soy sauce
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/2 cup of stock (your choice)
 2 teaspoons of rice wine vineager
1 teaspoon of sesame oil
2 cups of broccoli florets

1.) Toast the cashews in a dry heavy skillet (preferably cast iron) over high until they brown in spots.  They burn easily so be careful.  Set aside.

2.) Heat 2 tablespoons of peanut oil in same skillet over medium heat.  Add onion, bells, garlic to taste and pepper flakes.  Saute for about 5 minutes, until soft.  Set aside.

3.) In same pan, heat remaining tablespoon of peanut oil over medium heat.  Add tofu and 1 tablespoon of tamari, saute until there are brown spots.  Transfer tofu to onion mixture.

4.) In same pan, mix peanut butter, stock rice vinegar, and remaining 2 tablespoons of tamari.  Heat over medium heat, stiring until it becomes a gravy mixture and comes to a boil.  Season to taste with soy or tamari.

5.) Steam broccoli for 5 minutes. Transfer to peanut sauce and mix.  Then add onion and cashew mixture.  Serve over brown or white rice.

This recipe is great for someone suffering from a dry cough that can be acute or chronic.  The tofu, peanut butter, and bell peppers move Qi and engender fluids to alleviate cough. This recipe is overall having an action on the lung so anyone with anytype of lung issue may benefit from the recipe. If you tend to cough up copious amounts of phlegm this may aggrivate this symptom, also the lung opens into the nose so sinuses that are hot and dry will find some relief.  Also, someone that suffers from chronic indigestion should find this easy on the stomach.  The peanut oil and butter will help if broccoli makes you gassy as well.  Broccoli brightens the eyes.  So chronic red eye suffers should try this out as well. 

Watermelon Gazpacho

I actually got this recipe from a classmate Christina Dwyer and she got this recipe from the Food Network.  It is super easy.  It is perfect for hot hot days that are 90+ and also days with a killer hangover.  I cooked it this week because of the weather, no hangover for me : ) 

The recipe has a great taste and the ingredients blend well together.  I would suggest if you are cooking for yourself to make a small portion.  Although it tastes amazing, around the third day of eating this I was soooo sick of it.  As a single cooker, I try to make things that I don't get tired of eating.  This is not one of those recipes. So impress your friends, make this as an appetizer for a dinner party.  They will love it!


Watermelon Gazpacho
Level: Easy
Yields: 4 servings
Cooking Time: 15 min
Source: Food Network

Ingredients:
1 large tomato or 2 small Plum Tomatoes
½ Serrano Chile, finely diced
2 cups cubed fresh watermelon
1 tsp red wine vinegar
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced red onion
½ cucumber, seeded and minced
2 tbsp minced fresh dill, plus more for garnish
Kosher/Sea Salt and Black Pepper to taste

Directions:
In a blender/food processor, puree the tomatoes, and ½ of the watermelon. Pour in the red wine vinegar and olive oil. Pulse to mix. Add the onion, cucumber, dill, salt and pepper. Puree until smooth. Pour into chilled bowls, sprinkle with dill, and the remaining watermelon.

Ingredient Analysis:
Tomatoes: Sweet, sour, cold; ST, LI; Promotes Fluids, Clears heat, Promotes urination, supplements the KD
Chile Peppers: Hot, pungent; SP, HT; Warms middle jiao, expels cold, invigorates blood, dispersing esp. for the LU
Watermelon: Sweet, cold; UB, ST, HT; Relieves summerheat, generates fluids and relieves thirst, promotes urination, reduces jaundice, clears heat toxins
Red Wine Vinegar: Warm, sour, bitter; promotes circulation, removes stagnant blood and qi, reduces accumulations in the LV, relieves dampness, stops bleeding, astringent
Olive Oil: Sl. Warm, sweet; moistens dryness, anti-inflammatory
Red Onion: Acrid, Warm; LU, ST, LI; promotes circulation of qi, expels cold, promotes sweating, diuretic
Cucumbers: Cool, sweet; HT, SP, ST, LI, LU; Promotes urination, Clears heat toxins, lifts depression, cleanses the blood, moistens the LU, purifies skin, Treats summerheat
Dill: Digestive aid, eradicates flatulence, detoxifies LV, reduces toxins and carcinogens in the body
Salt: Salty, cold; KD; clears heat and cools blood, eases bowel movement, nourishes KD
Pepper: Warm; Stimulates the flow of qi, esp. warming for the middle jiao, treats diarrhea and watery stool, opens the pores, counteracts food poisoning and indigestion

Overall Recipe Analysis:

Summer Heat/ Damp Heat Disorders

The main bulk of ingredients in this recipe are the watermelon, tomatoes, and cucumbers. These three ingredients are all cold or cooling , so are most likely to be used for conditions that are hot in nature. Watermelon and tomatoes are the predominant ingredients, so they will help clear heat, and resolve dampness by promoting urination.This is why I suggest it for hangovers.  It will clear out the toxicity of the alcohol will engendering natural fluids of the body. Watermelon is by far the best summer fruit to clear sweating, ravenous hunger and just that feeling of heat you get on the 90 degrees and up days.  If you suffer from loose stools meaning you having any bowel movements that are not formed, watery or you find undigested food or phlegm this recipe is NOT for you.  It WILL make these symptoms worse.   

Chizakaya Restaurant Review.

Chicago Restaurant Review

So I went to Chizakaya a Japanese Restaurant and Pub.  Chicago doesn't have too many Japanese Restaurants so I was thrilled to check it out.  The restaurant had a quick- ass mural on their wall/ceiling, and the overall feel was modern asian but still quaint.  There was a back room that seemed to be for larger parties or private parties I wasn't too sure, but was awesome is the back party gets to see the kitchen cook the food from their table. 

I went with a friend.  We shared Sake, which was overpriced.  I can admit I am a little spoiled by the Sushi madness in Lakeview...  I wanted to try everything on the menu because they had a lot of crazy things beef tongue, pig ear, black edamame...Oh, and the menu had a little glossary of items from the menu to help you figure out what things were. 

We ordered:
Bonito (skipjack tuna) tataki, spicy ponzu-this was my least favorite.  The tuna flakes kinda tasted fishey and I don't like fish that is fishy.   Hamachi, bone marrow, garlic, ume boshi-this was AMAZING.  The roasted garlic was so good.  All of the flavors came together quite nicely.  This was my friend's least favorite.  

Crab crusted salmon, asparagus, tare gelee-this dish was full of flavor. The salmon was too die for but the other two dishes were way more original with different tastes.
Ramen Noodles- yup, you can order noodles and broth.  Can't go wrong with Ramen.

Overall, I would recommend the place to check out as an experience BUT I found it to be too pricey.  I am student but with these small choices our bill came out to $90! A little too much in my opinion.  Service was ok to good, food wait was SLLLLLOOOOOOOWW. BUT it was 8 on a Friday so to be expected.  Good thing for the sake!

Grandmother's Banana Nut Bread-The perfect comfort food

NOTE: I made this recipe recently and think when I scanned this recipe in I messed up on the ingredients.  I will fix sooon!

4   to 5 tsp. Salt-KD- clears heat, cools blood, nourishes Kidneys 

5   c. Whole wheat flour- SP HT KD-Supplements Qi, Nourishes Heart and calms the spirit

                 6   Tbsp. Butter, softened-similar to milk and moistens dryness, supplements Qi 
                 3 eggs-SP ST LU-Nourishes Yin and blood, calms the spirit

1/2 c. milk-SP ST LU-boosts Lung and Stomach, engenders fluids

1/4 tsp. baking soda-

3-5 mashed bananas-LU LV ST-Clears heat, cools blood, moistens intestines

¹/2 cup of crushed walnuts-LU LI KD-Tonfies Kidney and Lung, Lubricates Large Intestine

Sprinkle baking soda over 3 mashed bananas. Add some chopped nuts.Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Mix sugar and but­ter. Add eggs, milk, bananas, vanilla and sifted flour mixture. Mix well. Bake in a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan at 350° for 1 hour or until well done.

The largest ingredient in this recipe, the 5 cups of whole wheat flour, nourish the heart and calm the spirit.  The bananas and salt clear heat and cool the blood which furthers the action of calming the spirit by draining any irritability.  The eggs also calm the spirit by nourishing yin and blood so I would think this is a huge feel-good recipe.  Anyone suffering from emotional turmoil feel free to partake in this amazing comfort feel good banana bread!

A Flurry of Curry

This is a great recipe for a woman after her period.  In Chinese Medicine, it is important for a woman to get protein sources after her period to make up for the blood that she lost through her cycle.  Sources with protein and iron help replenish the blood in the body.

2-3 Tablespoons of Cooking Oil of your Choice-moistens dryness
3 cloves of Garlic, peeled and minced-SP ST LI- moves stuck Qi, warms the Spleen
1 Medium Leek- sliced-LV LU-Boosts Qi and Yang, moves blood, expels cold
I small onion-diced into pieces-LU SP ST LV LI-Warms the interior, scatters cold, moves Qi and blood
1 pound of meat, however to go along with other ingredients I suggest a red meat Beef-SP LV KD ST LI-Replenishes Qi and blood Yin and fluids.
2-3 tablespoons of Curry-dispels cold and moves Qi and blood
1 can of coconut milk-SP ST LI- engneders fluids
2 tablespoons of Soy sauce-SP ST KD- harmonizes the middle jiao and clears heat
2-3 carrots, sliced-SP LV LU HT-strenthens spleen and heart, nourishes and soothes liver, Drains damp and corrects flow of Qi
1 head of broccoli, cut into florets-SP LV- Nourishes Liver Blood, strenghtens spleen, clears heat
3 medium tomatoes-ST SP UB KD- promotes fluids, clears heat, supplements Kidneys
1/2 Cup of Peas-HT SP ST LI-fortifies spleen, disinhibits urination, moistens intestines.

Heat cooking oil in wok or saute pan on high heat and add ginger and garlic.  Cook 30-60 seconds.  Add leek and onion and cook for 3-4 minutes.  After cooked, transfer to a different pan and set aside.  Add meat and cook until done.  Return onion mixture and add curry powder.  Cook for another minute.  Add cocunut milk, soy sauce, carrots and cook for another 3-4 minutes.  Add broccoli, tomato and peas and cook for 8-10 minutes.  You can serve it over white or brown rice or just leave it plain.

Overall, the two main ingredients in this recipe, the meat and broccoli, both nourish blood.  Anemia sufferers, woman with menstrual irregularities, dizziness, low energy, poor memory, palpitations will feel good after this recipe.  Overall, it also is strenghtening and warming to digestion without creating a sensation of heat in the body.  Bloating, feeling of food sitting in stomach after eating, belching, acid reflux suffers should try this recipe.  

Edamame and Asparagus Couscous Salad

1 Cup of Stock-supplements Qi
1 Cup of Couscous-supplements qi and nourishes heart and calms shen.
1/4 Cup of Shallots, finely chopped-LU LI-releases exterior, drains damp, invigorates blood
1 Small Red Onion-LU ST LI clears heat and resolves toxicity, transforms phlegm and damp
1 tbsp of olive oil-moistens intestines
1 bunch of Asparagus- LU SP KD strengthens spleen, nourishes yin and relieves toxicity
2 tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar- LV invigorates blood, clears toxins, astringes
1 tsp tamari or soy sauce-SP ST KD harmonizes middle jiao, clears heat
1tsp maple syrup-SP LU LI boosts Qi
1 cup of edamame beans-strengthens spleen, promotes urination, and resolves toxicity

In a small pot, cook couscous as instructed on box except using stock instead of water.  While cooking couscous, in a seperate saute pan, cook the shallots and onions on medium heat untill transluscent.  Add asparagus and cook for another 4-6 minutes.  Turn of heat.  Stir in vinager, soy sauce, maple syrup and edamame and let sit for 5 minutes.  When couscous is done, toss it in with the vegetables.  Serve warm or cold. 

Overall, this recipe seems to be clearing phlegm from the lung, releasing the exterior, clearing heat and nourishing yin.  Feeling like a cold is coming on?  Do you get frequent colds, or have a phlegmy cough?  Try this recipe!

Corn vs. Flour Tortilla

This one is easy for me: CORN!  I have a few reasons why:

1.) I dated a mexican for 2 years.  If there is anything he taught me, he taught me how to make hell-uv good tacos, and he taught me that when making mexican food you always get the MAIZE tortilla if you want authentic taste.

2.)  It is cheaper.  Corn tortillas are always cheaper then the flour ones.  I mean crazy cheaper.  You can get a pack of 10 corn tortillas for like .49 at some stores while flour tortillas cost $2-3.00.  This seems like a no-brainer to me.  Now I will say, cheaper isn't always better in a grocery store.  There are certain items that really should be purchased Natural/Organic, but save some money with this one.

3.)  Always read the ingredients on the back of your food.  When you look at the back of a corn tortilla package, it lists: Corn, Lime, Salt, Water.  This is great! 4 ingredients that you can read and understand.  I dare you to look at the back of a flour tortilla package to see the same thing.  When picking food, we really want to aim for "less is more"/"simple is better."  The less ingredients that are made to process the food means the less the digestive tract has to break down of these processed foods.  What will make you thin?  Eating foods the body can identify and easily break down. 

Now one thing that people may say is a reason for buying flour are the enriched grams of fiber that are put in.  I would say don't worry about the fiber content of the tortilla, that is what the beans are for.  : ) 

Gingery Pumpkin Soup

Ingredients:
10-12 ounces of pumpkin-Supplements Qi and warms MJ, transforms phlegm.
6 whole cloves-Warms MJ, dispels cold, and warms the kidneys.
2 1/2 cups of stock-supplements Qi.
2 tbsp of olive oil-moistens Intenstines.
1 small onion-clears heat and resolves toxicity, clears phlegm and damp.
2-3 cloves of Garlic-moves Qi and warms spleen
1 piece of fresh ginger, peeled and minced- disperse cold, transforms phlegm.
1/2 cup of Regular or Soy Milk-boosts lung and stomach, engenders fluids
Pinch of Salt-clears heat and cools blood, Nourishes Kindeys and ease bowel movements
Pinch of Pepper- Warms Stomach and descends Stomach Qi, dispels cold
1/4 cup of cilantro-balances Qi, and promotes Sweating

Seed, Peel and chop pumpkin into 1 inch cubes. Combine pumpkin, cloves, and stock into pot, Bring to boil and lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. In separate pan cook onion, garlic and ginger, Cook for another 5 minutes or until onions are soft and translucent. When pumpkin floats it is done, and remove cloves from the broth. Combine pumpkin and onion mixture with soy milk to a blender and blend til its a puree. Add salt and pepper and cilantro for taste.

Resource: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Kitchen
In Chinese Medicine, soup is recommended on a regular basis for anyone that suffers from ANY type of indigestion.  Why?  Because everything is already broken down into liquid form making it so easy on the body to break up the nutrients it needs.  Pumpkin boosts the center so it is a natural energizer.  Low energy from working all day? This will help.  Pumpkin also helps with edema, and can treat inflammation and pain of the body. 

Curry Fennel Cauliflower Bake

Resource: La Dolce Vegan
Level: Easy

Brown Rice- Supplements Qi and drains damp.
3 Cups of Cauliflower-Strengthens Spleen, disperses cold and relieves pain.
1 Small Red Onion-clears heat and resolves toxicity, transforms phlegm and damp.
1 Garlic Clove- moves qi, warms spleen and resolves toxicity.
1/2 pound of firm tofu or Chicken-both tonify Qi. Tofu engenders fluids, while Chicken boosts blood.
2 tbsp of Olive Oil-moistens Intestines.
1 tsp of Curry Powder-moves blood and Qi, resolves toxicity.
1 tsp of garam masala-this mixture of spices can easily be made at home- overall it warms and moves Qi and blood.
1 tsp of fennel seeds-disperses cold, rectifies Qi, harmonizes Stomach.
1 tsp of salt-clears heat and cools blood, Nourishes Kidneys, eases Bowel movements.
1/2 tsp of black pepper- warms Stomach and descends Stomach Qi, expels cold, invigorates blood
1/2 cup of peas- Harmonizes MJ and promotes urination
1/4 cup of cilantro-balances Qi and promotes Sweating

Preheat oven to 400F. In a medium pot, cook rice. While rice is cooking, in a baking pan toss together cauliflower, onion, garlic tofu or chicken( pre cook any way you want), curry, garam masala, fennel seeds, salt and pepper. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 to avoid burning. Once cooked, stir in cilantro and peas and let sit for 5 minutes. Serve over rice.

Overall, this recipe is dispersing cold in the Stomach/Spleen. Cold in the MJ may cause nausea, vomiting, and pain in the abdomen, and loose stools. The cauliflower, cloves, , fennel seeds, pepper, and garam masala dispel cold while the onions, garlic, curry, peas, and cilantro move and harmonize Qi.

Simple Whole Roasted Chicken

This recipe is easy-peas-ey Japanese-ey. Well actually, the hour baking takes a lot of tending. Man, is it amazing though.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons salt-clears heat and cools blood. Nourishes Kidneys.
  
• 1 teaspoon sugar-boosts Qi and moistens the Lungs.
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves-Warms the MJ, dispels cold, and Warms the Kidneys.
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice-Warms the center and moves Qi
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg-Warms the center and moves Qi
  
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon-Invigorates Yang, dispels cold,, invigorates blood, and tonifies the Kidneys.
  
• 1 (4 pound) whole chicken-Supplements Qi, nourishes blood, and consolodates Kidneys.
  
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed-moves Qi, warms spleen and resolves toxicity.
  

Directions

1. In a bowl, mix the salt, sugar, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Rub the chicken with the mixture. Cover chicken, and place in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
3. Stuff the chicken cavity with the garlic. Place the chicken, breast side down, on a rack in a roasting pan.
4. Roast 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Reduce heat to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C), and continue roasting 15 minutes. Baste chicken with pan drippings, reduce heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C), and continue roasting 30 minutes, to an internal temperature of 180 degrees F (85 degrees C). Let stand 20 minutes before serving.

Resource: Allrecipes.com-published by user

TCM: Overall, this recipes seems to have an action of tonifying Yang, and Qi.  This is a great dish to enjoy for everyone!!  It is a natural energizer for low energy sufferers.  All of the spices are very warm and moving so this is a great recipe for pain of the joints or any where in the body.

Loving food too much