“People who love to eat are always the best people.” - Julia Child Nothing says summer like a classic Caesar salad. This is a delicious vegetarian take on the classic. The Most Delicious Caesar Salad Dressing Recipe Ingredients: 2 Tbsp mayo 2 tsp Dijon mustard (I used “Grey Poupon” brand) 2 large garlic cloves, pressed 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice (about 1 1/2 small lemons or 1 large lemon) 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1 cups mild or extra light oli

Natural Self-Care & Beauty for a Balanced, Healthy Fall “The trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let the dead things go.” – Unknown Fall is a very special time of year, as we transition from the hot, expansive energy of summer to the cooler, more inward season ahead.  In Ayurveda, fall is considered "vata season" where we have the opportunity to pay special attention to the air and ether elements of the body-mind. Here are a few tips for balance and self-care thi

"Verily, He is the inner self of all beings.” - The Upanishads Celebrating Maha Shivaratri : The Great Night of Shiva Last week, we celebrated Mahashivaratri or "the Great Night of Lord Shiva" in Kerala. On this day, women (and some men) were fasting and staying up all night to pray for a husband with the qualities of Shiva. In the Vedas, Shiva is known as the absolute husband, despite the fact that he lives in the mountains, is constantly engaged in meditation, has no posses

"Our lives are not in the lap of the gods, but in the lap of our cooks." - Lin Yutang Roasted Cauliflower in Herbed Yogurt Sauce This is a classy vegetable side dish that's easy, sophisticated and delicious. We used baked cauliflower here because we love it, but you could use substitute for any other baked, steamed or sauteed veggie such as carrots, peas, zucchini, or other veggies. Serve with a dal soup or quinoa and steamed greens. Fermented foods -- such as fresh yogurt o

"Through love all that is bitter will be sweet, Through love all that is copper will be gold, Through love all dregs will become wine, Through love all pain will turn to medicine." - Rumi Chocolate Chip Spice Cookies These cookies are lovely, grounding, vata-pacifying Ayurvedic treat for the fall or winter. If you wish, you can substitute the chocolate for raisins, but why would you want to? Ingredients: 4 cups almond flour (I used freshly ground almonds in the food processo

We start with a story... The Story of Chyawan and the Young Princess Long ago, there was an old sage named Chyawan. This sage lived in the forest and spent much of his time in meditation and seclusion. Often, he would go into such deep states of meditation that he would become covered in moss, twigs, leaves, branches and ants. One morning, Chyawan was a deep state of meditation when a young princess named Sukanya came along the path. By chance, the princess' hand grazed the h

“Surely a pretty woman never looks prettier than when making tea.” ― Mary Elizabeth Braddon Ginger is a supreme medicine in the fall and winter to boost circulation, digestion and immunity. Enjoy this warming drink 30 mins - 1 hour before meals. 1. Boil 1 cup of water in your kettle 2. Add 1/4 teaspoon of dry ginger powder and one squeeze of lemon and stir. Allow to steep for 3-5 minutes. 3. Reduce heat by adding 1/4 cup cool water 4. Add 1/2 - 1 teaspoon raw local honey Lea

"In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things, the heart finds its morning and is refreshed." - Kalil Gibran On the 6 Tastes (Rasas) You may already be aware that the taste of your food has a direct impact on your mind, body and emotional wellbeing. For example, the sweetness of a cherry pie evokes memories of comfort, relaxation and well-being. Meanwhile, a dark cup of coffee stimulates focus, drive and achie

"The deliciousness of milk and honey is the reflection of the pure heart. From that heart, the sweetness of every sweet thing is derived." - Rumi Ashwagandha is a popular ayurvedic herb known to promote endurance, immunity, resilience to stress, muscle tone, sound sleep and sexual vitality. It is ideal for balancing vata and kapha dosha, and a great tonic for the fall and winter months. This drink can be taken at bedtime to promote sound sleep, or anytime you need a boost. I

"A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures for anything." - Celtic Proverb A good sleep cycle is so important: sleep heals you from the stresses and strains of your day and supports the development of new neural pathways in the brain, strong immune function, emotional resilience and hormonal balance. In modern culture, however, insomnia is all too common, especially in the fall. In the mind-body science of ayurveda, this is explained by the change in the element in

We know ojas when we see it : the glow of a woman in love; the magnetism of sages and saints; the power of a person living their purpose; or, the insatiable attraction we have toward the babies and young children. Ayurveda recognizes a subtle bodily substance called ojas (pronounced o-jahs) as the foundation for our overall health, happiness and resilience to stress. Its name translates as “strength”, “splendour”, “lustre” or “powerful expression”. Ojas is a very refined, pro

What is a Seeker? We call those who seek the truth of who they are as "seekers". The seeker is one who is called to curious pursuits. They are our healers, mystics, poets, creators, dreamers, visionaries. The seeker is usually an artist-type, without necessarily having touched a paint brush or mastered any particular art form. The seeker is drawn to express the creative self, because at its core, the awakened heart is creative. A seeker is born sensitive. They are often calle

A well-spiced dahl is one of the best foods that you can eat at any time of the year. Light, tasty and easily digestible, it’s one of the best meals for balancing the body and mind. It’s also a great source of protein and is easily digestible, making it a perfect food for young children, busy adults and the elderly. Dhal is traditionally eaten with rice, chapatis and an optional side of chutney. I also usually serve it with a side of steamed greens. This recipe cooks in 40 mi

One of the things we all have in common is that we want to be happy: to experience pleasure, joy, good health, fulfillment and a sense of purpose. The ultimate state of happiness is known as “bliss”, an all-pervading sense of love, peace and well-being with what you are and all that exists. Bliss is the feeling of heaven on Earth, a perfect state of contentment, balance and peace which is undisturbed by any external circumstance. Bliss: the ultimate state of happiness, peace,

Ayurveda: The Mother of Natural Healing Traditions Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of healing on the planet. It is widely considered to be the mother of all of the world’s healing traditions, including naturopathy, acupuncture, traditional chinese medicine, chiropractic medicine and aromatherapy. Ayurveda originated in India over 5,000 years ago, and is still broadly practiced across the world today. In modern times, interest in ayurveda is living a kind of renaissance