Have you ever eaten a particular dish and think, oh, this tastes like a certain place you have lived or visited? It’s not only a taste, but the feeling of that place, so that when you eat that specific dish, you are transported to that place and the experience of it. It could be eating a special dessert that your Grandma used to make - it tastes like Grandma and a wave of love-filled memories washes over you and fills your soul. This is yet another reason why I love food so much. Just like music, the notes of flavor can transport you through time and space where you can magically relive the experience. Wow! Having food in front of you is a testament that you are loved by a higher power. Having special tastes that nourish all of you is a deeper manifestation of love.
This recipe for Nasu Dengaku is one of those powerful recipes for me. When I eat this, I feel like I’m in Japan. I’m surrounded by the sounds, smells, energy, deep history, and personality of Japan. I was born there and was formed in the womb by Japanese food my mother ate. Japanese food is literally in my blood. I hope this recipe sends you to an enchanted place. Nasu Dengaku (Broiled Miso Eggplant).pdf
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I remember hearing this adage when I was small, but I didn’t get the nuance until I was older and had experienced some of life’s “showers” of hard times. It’s such a nice way of saying that rainy days may not be fun, but they bring forth wonderful things. It’s a wonderful perspective, don’t you think?
Some of you may not look forward to cooking, or see it as something not fun, but making the effort brings forth amazing things. When I think of rain, I think of being refreshed, rejuvenated and replenished. That can happen with cooking! Over the weekend I made this killer tortilla with leftovers I had in my fridge. It had chicken, chipotle in adobo sauce, cheese, tomatoes, and onion. I fried up the tortilla really crispy, and stuffed it with my concoction. It was so ono! It’s so satisfying to create something “new” with things you already have. Some people may see leftover ingredients as the equivalent of April showers, but really they are May flowers! Here is something else I made with contents from my fridge. VEGGIE PASTA CASSEROLE.pdf We needed a new roof. We had someone come out to look at it and give us an estimate. We were talking about the leaks we had and the Estimator said “water always finds a way”. The way he said it, I could feel the absoluteness in his voice. Those words stuck with me. It’s another Life Lesson disguised in ordinary conversation. How can we learn and be like water to always find a way?
I pondered all the forms that water takes - liquid, mist, ice, clouds, steam. It’s really quite impressive how versatile it is. It morphs into what is needed, it always finds a way. That gave me encouragement to follow suit. Maybe instead of being frozen in fear, I can melt into a fluid form of courage; or instead of being stuck in old thought patterns and habits, I can try a new way of being - still me, but an appropriate form needed for living an extraordinary life. We are made up of about 70% of water, just like Mother Earth. Maybe that is why being around large bodies of water is so soothing. Just like the oceans and deep lakes hold all kinds of secrets, I think we do too. By secrets I mean yet undiscovered treasures within. Think of all the sunken ships filled with untold bounty. In order to find it, there is a lot of work involved, just like our own hidden treasures. It takes work, sometimes catastrophic weather to manifest them. Life is like that. We all go through challenges and trials - divorce, abuse, unfairness, loss of a loved one, sickness etc. Each experience asks us to morph into a different version of ourselves. It’s always up to us to choose to change for the better. Just like water, we can always find a way. Here is one of my favorite smoothie recipes, where water finds a way to blend with other ingredients to make something delicious. Sometimes the best things in life are simple, like this recipe. Mai's Dragonfruit & Blueberry Smoothie.pdf Some of you may be old enough to remember a song by Jackie DeShannon with the above title. It came out in 1969. If you don't know the song, Google it. It has a sweet tune and wonderful lyrics.
What does that have to do with food? EVERYTHING!! As a fellow Foodie and Sustenance Seeker, I don't think that surprises you. I'm sure you have had people tell you that they could taste the love in the food you made, or you've experienced that yourself. Everything is energy. Every thing, color, word, sound, ingredient, has an energetic vibration that is felt and interpreted. Whether it is physical food or an emotion or thought, that energy is ingested by us. Oprah used to have a sign in her Harpo office that said: “Be aware of the energy you bring into the room.” Here are some tips for a flow of good vibes:
I am in love with this cake: Best Chocolate Sour Cream Cake Ingredients
Frosting
It doesn’t hurt to make extra frosting in case you taste too much of it before you frost it. :-) Gluten Free version: Best GF Chocolate Sour Cream Cake We’ve all heard of Horse Whisperers. I’m a Food Whisperer in reverse, and I’ll bet you are too.
Food whispers to me all the time. Different ingredients offer specific guidance. I went to the Farmers Market the other day and brought home some lovely herbs and vegetables. As I was handling the Italian Parsley, its personality came through. It said, and this was not a whisper: “I am strong! I am bold! I am authentic! I am sturdy! I am confident! I am proud to be me!” Whoa! I could really feel that was true. I also knew, from experience, that it lasts a long time in my refrigerator, it stays fresh, and a little goes a long way. As I got more present, I felt the invitation from the Italian Parsley to take on these traits. I next went to the Cilantro, also called Chinese Parsley. Its energy felt feminine to me. I could hear her say, in a demure way, “I am delicate, I am beautiful, I too am proud of who I am and how I add flavor to your creations. I am perfect the way I am”. Next was a large gorgeous purple eggplant. Again, I got a feminine sense. I felt she was comfortable in her skin. She was delighted with her roundness, her width and depth. Wow, I definitely could follow her example! I assure you, I’m not crazy. I believe God talks to us in a million ways. One way is through food. So the next time you cook, pay attention to what your food is whispering to you, because you are a food whisperer in reverse! Baba Ghanoush Every year, I institute my version of March Madness by cutting our monthly budget to $100 max for eggs, milk, fresh fruit and veggies. The rest of the time we live out of what’s in our fridge, freezer and pantry. It’s amazing how quickly that pot roast you got on sale at Costco gets put in the back of the freezer and forgotten.
You can adjust this to your needs. If your budget is a lot smaller, say $300 a month, I’d suggest that you set aside $50 to buy fresh produce, milk and eggs. If you have a garden and friends with fruit trees, you can cut it down to $25 for basics. Tailor it to fit you. Tips:
Mai's Fried Rice I was working on an exercise to help me discover why I really wanted certain things.
Step 1 is to write down something you desire. Step 2 is to describe the experience you want from it. Step 3 is to go deeper and ask yourself the feelings you are seeking by having the desired item or circumstance. Here is one of the things I wrote down:
The amazing thing is that as I continued to write the list of things or circumstances I wanted, my end result in step 3 remained the same for the next 3 desired outcomes. My aha moment came when I saw that self-acceptance, self-worth, and self-appreciation was the deepest experience I desire. This includes feeling safe with what is, aka trusting God/Source that everything is as it should be. Take some time to try the exercise for yourself and discover your own aha moment. Ronda, a mentor of mine, says if you want to get from A to B, just go straight to BE. That same thought has been said in other ways by Wayne Dyer, in The Having, by Suh Yoon Lee, and by so many other thought leaders. It comes down to being in the feeling of having. Go straight to FEELING what you desire. This will bring you the desired outcome. Did you get that? You’ll know I got it - I’ll send you a picture of my dream home. Send me a picture of what you manifested; I’d love to see it! I enjoy several food websites and love trying out their recipes. Once in a while I’ll try a recipe that really isn’t very good. It usually has rave reviews from people who have made it and loved it. It just reminds me that everyone is different, and some people's tastes are not at all like mine.
I recently tried a recipe that was highly rated and raved over. My reaction? YUCK!!! So I took the basic idea of the recipe and made it my own. The results? YUMMMMM! Wow. It turned out so well that I typed up my version and will be using it for the rest of my life, - THAT level of delicious! It’s important to note that I didn’t throw away the original recipe, I used some basic ingredients and added what I felt would make it great. Food and cooking brings so many insights that we can apply to our lives. How can you use a recipe you have that isn’t working for you (and I don’t just mean in the kitchen) and make it your own? What can you keep and what can you change to make it so extraordinary that you’ll use it to improve and benefit your life? Here is one of the recipes that I’ve tweaked and made it my own: Mai's Miso Lime Dressing .pdf I had a huge lesson in the importance of setting boundaries this week. It was painful! Now that I’m on the other side of the lesson though, I have to say I’m so thankful to have learned what I have. Here is what I learned:
Don’t assume people have the same priorities or values. It sets you up for disappointment. Expectations must be stated clearly. For example, here is something I should have communicated to a friend last week: It’s not OK when you are late. It tells me that you don’t value or respect me or my time. Do not lower your values for the sake of friendship or a family relationship. It’s not worth it.It is to your own detriment. If a person is truly your friend, they will respect your boundaries. If they do not respect your boundaries, the friendship will not last. I have not been clear with my expectations and boundaries up until this point in my life. If I don’t hold to my own expectations, I can’t expect others to. It’s best to speak up when your boundaries have been violated. It is difficult to do, but it will get easier with practice. Perhaps you have been told that you are too nice or too kind. This is a wonderful thing if you start that kindness with you. Setting boundaries decreases stress and creates peace and freedom. I love things that smell good - food, flowers, and essential oils. I got the chance to work on two of my friends recently. I am also a Massage Therapist and Energy Healer. COVID brought my massage and Energy Work to a halt, so it was really nice to bust out all my “tools”. Along with my oils, I have crystals and singing crystal bowls. I had forgotten how fun they all can be. It’s fascinating all the properties they have to calm, soothe and heal.
Scents travel directly to the limbic system where the amygdala and the hippocampus are in our brains. These regions are related to emotion and memory. That’s why a certain scent can take you right back to a special moment in time or remind you of a loved one. Isn’t that fascinating? Whenever I smell Bengay, I think of my Grandpa. His muscles and joints were sore a lot, so he always smelled like Bengay. It makes sense to use scents you love to bless yourself and others. You can brighten your home with the look and smell of flowers, take a bath with scented Epsom salts, and breathe in your favorite perfume. These are all simple ways to add peace and happiness to your day. Here is my recipe for aromatic Lavender dressing which I serve on my Burrata Bliss salad. Ingredients
Preparation
Lavender Dressing
Video: Lavender Dressing with Burrata Bliss Salad Recipe: Lavender Dressing with Burrata Bliss Salad |
AuthorSpiritual Foodie, Chef, Holistic RN, Healer Archives
May 2024
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