Joyful Salad

A day that starts with a run and ends with a meditation is a sweet day.  I enjoyed a run in the sunshine, cleaned my room, sat in the park with my friend Eric and then joined him for a meditation and dharma talk.  I had not meditated in a long while, but openly accepted my friend's invitation, knowing it would be good for me.  The teacher tonight quoted a poem by Hafiz, the Sufi poet, saying:

You carry all the ingredients

To turn your life into a nightmare-

Don't mix them!

So many days I scoop up those ingredients - judgement, self-hate, jealousy, fear, anxiety and mix them right up into a soupy mess.  It is so easy to do this, so human.  Yet Hafiz suggests we don't engage or attach to those negative ingredients.  But rather, he goes on to say:

You carry all the ingredients

To turn your existence into joy-

Mix them, mix

Them!

Though we do not have control over life itself, we do choose how we respond to it.  I was born with many health problems including asthma and allergies that I have been dealing with my whole life.  There have been many days where the reality of my health issues has made me feel depressed, helpless, bitter, and angry.  I know these are natural ways to feel, and I try to allow myself to experience them.  But I am also proud of myself for choosing to take an empowered approach to my health.  After my acupuncturist told me I should stop eating wheat/sugar/dairy, I didn't mix up any feelings of anger or frustration, but rather I have found immense joy in learning about healthy cooking and sharing my experience and knowledge with others on the same path.  

My most recent cooking adventures have been in inventing new salad recipes.  Vegetables and fruits are so good for your physical health, but also coming up with new combinations of ingredients nurture me creatively.  And they taste damn good as well!  Here is just one salad I came up with that you might enjoy.  But, please feel free to mix it up with the ingredients that will bring you joy! 

Joyful Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of kale
• 1 juicy lemon
• 1 tbs of olive oil
• 1/2 tbs of Braggs Liquid Amino Acids, or wheat free soy sauce
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1/4 of a head of purple cabbage
• 1 large handful of raspberries
• 1 large handful of sliced almonds, or any nuts you like!

Directions:

1. Wash and de-stem the kale.  Chop or rip into smaller pieces.
2. In a large bowl squeeze the lemon juice onto the kale and add the olive oil and Braggs.  Massage kale with your hands until it becomes bright green and soft.
3. Shred the cabbage and add to the kale.
4. Slice up the avocado and add to the salad.
5. Top with raspberries and almonds. 
6. Enjoy with Annie's Goddess dressing (just beware that it is not gluten free).  You could also make a simple balsamic vinaigrette for this by mixing a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar with 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Or try blending the raspberries in and making a vinaigrette out of that!

Beautiful Berry Smoothie

Ever since I got back from vacation I have been on a fruit and veggie health kick.  On the plane ride home I read Joel Fuhrman's book "Super Immunity," (cover to cover), in which he discusses the importance of eating more greens, more beans and nuts, more seeds, more berries, and less meat, dairy and sugar (sugar he says is the devil, which I already knew.)  My diet already consists mainly of vegetables and fruits, but I was so recharged by his book promising of anti-cancer effects, that I went out and bought some hemp milk, chia seeds, a pint of blueberries and strawberries, and 3 bunches of kale (they were on sale at the farmer's market!)  I honestly do feel refreshed and balanced eating all fruits and veggies.  My body was craving vitamins and minerals after my summer of gluten-free cupcakes and endless sushi rolls.   Since coming back home, I've been having a different smoothie every morning for breakfast.  Blueberries are by far my favorite fruit to put in a smoothie, and since it's also strawberry season, I've been adding them to my morning shakes.  Enjoy this berry smoothie and feel free to adapt as you like (and get ready for more smoothie recipes!)   

Ingredients: (for one serving)

• 1/4 cup of blueberries
• 1/4 cup of strawberries
• 1 handful of washed spinach (you won't taste it I promise)
• 1 ripe banana
• 1 1/2 cups of almond/hemp/soy/rice milk
• 1 tbs of almond butter
• 2 tsps of chia seeds (optional, but really good for you!)

Directions:

1. Place everything into a blender and blend until nice and smooth!

Boston vs San Francisco

I grew up outside of Boston and spent nearly 23 years of my life in Massachusetts, but I moved to San Francisco 7 years ago to create a new home.  I was drawn to San Francisco's brightly colored Edwardian houses, to it's diverse and progressive community, to the jasmine blooming in January, and to the endless number of healthy food options.  But as much as I love this city, you can't take the Boston out of me.  I walk and talk very quickly.  I can't drive.  When I see old brick buildings my heart aches.  When I make a plan, I keep it.  I still root for the Red Sox.  And I will forever be a seafood snob.  I grew up eating the freshest lobster, fish and chips, and fried full bellied clams.  On special occasions, my family would go to the famous Legal Seafood restaurant, which has now turned into a large chain, but my parents still remember going to the original location in Inman's Square.  I had not been to Legal's in many years, but during my recent visit to Boston, my sister suggested we go to their newest Harborside location.  To my surprise, Legal's now has a full gluten free menu!  I decided to indulge in an order of the gluten free fried full bellied clams and a lobster (gluten free) roll!  The clams were so creamy and delicious and the lobster meat perfectly cooked.  You just can't find that kind of food in San Francisco!

 

Something else I miss when I am in San Francisco is a certain type of hippie/hipster that you don't come across in San Francisco.  You know the type, in their Birkenstocks and flannel that is so New England and unlike the crunchy granola types here in California, their skin is not tan and they've been composting for decades, even though Boston still does not offer compost services in the city- that's how hard core they are.  Luckily, for lunch one day, my Mom took me to City Feed and Supply in Jamaica Plain, which I would say is the breading ground for this type of person.  City Feed is an organic/local grocery store/cafe that makes you feel like you are in a country store in Vermont.  Again, to my surprise they had gluten free bread options for all their sandwiches!  So I had a traditional tuna salad sandwich which was so good, plus I got my fill of the local hippie scene!

 

Finally, the last thing I miss when I am in San Francisco is good Chinese food.  You would think San Francisco would have the best Chinese food, right?  Nope.  I don't eat much Chinese food these days anyways because of my diet, but dim sum is the only food I ever "cheat" on my diet and I have tried all the best places in San Francisco, and not one of them can come compare to the dim sum at China Pearl in Boston.  I didn't have the chance to go to China Pearl this summer while I was in Boston, but I did go to Myers and Chang Chinese restaurant in the South End with some good friends of mine.  They also have a gluten free menu (plus a shellfish free menu if you're allergic.)  I ordered the fresh rolls and chicken and broccoli chow fun- so satisfying and delicious!

But, I have to admit, after eating so many lavish gluten free treats, I was dying for a bowl of kale.  Luckily, my friend told me about a place called Life Alive Cafe in Cambridge that serves amazing healthy vegan food!  Similar to Cafe Gratitude in Berkeley, the menu is full of items called "The Swami," "The Green Goddess," "The Feisty Child," and "The Frolicking Alive Smoothie."  I ordered "The Rebel" veggie bowl and a "Love Alive" smoothie.  As a chowed down on my bowl of greens, beets, carrots, tofu, hijiki seaweed, quinoa and brown rice, I instantly missed home, meaning San Francisco.  I missed my kitchen and Rainbow Grocery and eating the kind of food that truly makes me feel whole.  Though I was very sad to say good-bye to my family and friends in Boston, I am happy to be back in San Francisco, aka the land of kale and granola.