Fresh in a Blink of An Eye

So, I’m between traveling. I got back day before yesterday from New York and am leaving day after tomorrow to Dubai. Today, I’m sitting in Muscat. During times like this, I buy the bare minimum amount of veggies possible. I usually have a mental tussle during times like this – how do I eat healthy, but still manage to minimize wastage?

Today, I made an extremely fast and easy before-meal salad. You’ll be surprised on how easy it seems and how come you didn’t get in the kitchen earlier, instead of calling that pizza delivery guy.

A rule of thumb that I usually like to follow is to MAKE SOMETHING RAW AND FRESH BEFORE OUR MEALS. Fresh veggies have so much intact energy that I feel like I’m ‘doing my body good.’

All I had in my fridge tonight was a few tomatoes and a lemon (leftover from the Indian meal that was cooked up the day before). So, I whipped up this:

 

QUICK, EASY Tomato Starter

 

2 tomatoes

½ small red onion

Juice from a quarter of a lemon

Pinch of Himalayan Pink Salt

Freshly Ground Pepper

 

Chop up the tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion. Mix everything together and voila!

I know this sounds like the easiest thing. But, to be honest with you, seeing two meager tomatoes at the bottom of the fridge seemed quite un-appetizing and boring. Until, I made it my number priority to eat healthy no matter what. So, I kicked my lazy side to the curb and chopped up those tomatoes and onions. No more excuses. Eating something fresh like this helps keep me on track for that holistic, happy, and healthy lifestyle.

And, what was for dinner?

Leftover Indian food. Cooked up a batch of basmati brown rice. In a teaspoon of ghee, I added a little garlic and added the leftover French beans bhaji (vegetable dish) and Cauliflower bhaji. On top of this, I mixed in the cooked brown rice. To top it all, I added some fresh, chopped coriander leaves and a squeeze of lemon. We ate it with the leftover masoor daal (cooked pink lentils).

The Inspiring Can of Beans

My inspiration for today is this wonderful can of Organic Chickpeas. You must be wondering: A can of beans is your inspiration? YES, it is.

The key to healthy living is not only what you put in your body; it’s not only your emotional or mental well-being; it’s not only about that yoga or meditation class; it’s also about how well-stocked your pantry is. It is all in the preparation. How prepared are you for rainy days like today? Pulling a can of beans like this out of your pantry is great for when 1) It is a rainy day and you don’t want to leave the house 2) You’ve decided to stay in for dinner at the last minute 3) You are looking at the fridge and you have ABSOLUTELY no clue what to make.

Well, this is where this handy dandy can of beans comes in (it doesn’t have to be chickpeas, your can of beans can range from black beans, pinto beans, mixed beans – whatever your lovely heart desires!). Just open up the can of beans, rinse and the easiest thing to make is a quick bean salad, throwing in any veggies from your fridge. Squeeze a bit of lemon or lime, drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil or flax oil, and add a smidgen of himalayan salt or sea salt; and Voila! you’ve got a hearty, healthy, and filling salad for your meal.

Some other recipe ideas with a can of beans:

1) Bean Salad – can even throw some salsa and grated Cheddar cheese on it for a quick, Mexican-inspired salad. Don’t forget the veggies that might be tucked into the corners of your fridge.

2) Hummus.

3) Cuban Black Beans and brown rice.

4) Bean spread for a sandwich.

5) Refried beans. (my personal favorite!)

6) Indian chickpea curry (Channa masala).

7) And, the list can go on and on.

 

What are some of your favorite bean recipes? What would you do with a can of beans?

Vegetable Juice

I just got back to Muscat from Bombay and all my body is craving is fresh VEGETABLE JUICE. I had an amazing time in Bombay with my family celebrating my cousin sister’s engagement. But, you all know what family celebrations call for: fun celebration food, do as the Romans do (eat as the others do), and sitting around many cups of chai and coffee chatting away. I’ve had a great couple of days enjoying my usual ‘taboo’ foods, so I’m definitely not going to beat myself up for it. But, I believe in balance, and now, that I’m back in Muscat – my body is screaming for some very satisfying vegetable juice. So, here it is.

Step 1: Take out the veggies

 

Ingredients: Cucumbers, Beets, Parsley, Apples, Carrots and Celery.

The Final Product

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s thought.

God speaks through intuition. The stronger your spirit, the clearer the voice and the bolder your actions. – Robert Kiyosaki

Shiitake Spinach Soba Fry

I was never aware of all the cool, healthy things hanging around my pantry and chilling in the distant corners of my fridge. You all know what I’m talking about. Our life gets super busy; buying new and exciting things at the grocery store puts a smile on our face; and those so-called “older” items get pushed to the corners.

Since I’m leaving for New York for 2.5 months, I’ve gone on this crazy rage to consume everything in sight (the extreme heat does not do wonders for un-processed food, but to me, that’s a good sign). Little did I know, I had these great prunes sitting on a dark, dungy shelf of the fridge. I soaked them overnight (will consume tomorrow). Prunes are a great way to move the digestion around a bit, if you know what I mean. Anyway, I want to tell you about this great dinner I whipped up by using up whatever was in the fridge. I was a little full today, so mind you, it’s a light dinner. On a normal day, it would make a great side!

Shiitake Spinach Soba Fry

50 grams of soba noodles

100 grams of frozen organic spinach (I prefer fresh, but I wanted to finish up the packet that was lying in the fridge)

5 dried shiitake mushrooms (I washed and soaked these overnight; squeeze out the water before using). Note: Make sure to chop off the stems of the mushrooms.

5 grams of fresh ginger

1 teaspoon of miso

Seasonings: Toasted sesame oil, Tamari

Sesame seeds, toasted

Peanut oil

Thinly slice the ginger and mushrooms. Add hot water to the miso to make a nice, watery paste. Put peanut oil in the pan. Once hot, add the ginger. Allow to get fragrant and add the mushrooms. Toss until the mushrooms become soft. Add the spinach. Once the spinach is cooked (don’t cook too long,; you don’t want to lose the nutrients!), add the miso paste. Toss the soba noodles in as well. Lower the flame to low and allow to cook for 2 minutes. Garnish with tamari, toasted sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Voila!

I only made enough for one person. So, if you are making for more people, please adjust the quantities accordingly. I challenge you to use your intuition and scrap the given quantities. It makes the cooking process even more fun. What a satisfying, healthy dinner!

In Transition.

I’m back to Muscat from a month and half long trip to Bombay. The whole purpose of my trip was to take time out to heal the annular tear in my back. After one relapse and seven months of an irritating pain in my lower back, I was determined to do it right this time around. I went to weeks of physiotherapy where I was strictly told to avoid bending, picking up heavy items, and to make sure I change my position every thirty minutes. And, finally I learned the importance of strong ABS, which I always knew, but never really listened to – especially, since it changes my old, lazy concept of exercising. You have to actually think while exercising! I used to always think, “walking on the treadmill is so easy – mindlessly walk, and get some ample time daydreaming. Pure bliss” Don’t get me wrong, walking is still an amazing form of exercise but, now I know a little AB workout here or there does the body good (especially, to put an end to those recurring lower back issues).

Now that I’m back in Muscat for a few days, I really want to eat as healthy as possible and focus on my health. So, I did a few key things to help me out during this week before we head to Dubai:

• Grocery Store. I bought local lettuce, parsley, celery, cucumbers, carrots, bananas, pears, and oranges.
• Home. Washed the local lettuce and parsley and kept it in containers in the fridge for later use. (Make sure you run it through the salad spinner once washed. I also allowed it to dry on clean washcloths on the dining table to make sure it stays fresh in the fridge). This process made it easy for me to whip up green smoothies or salads on demand (when not prepared, laziness prevails and the take-out menus make their appearances).
• Morning. I cut up salad sticks (celery, cucumbers, and carrots) for the hubster and me. It’s a great thing to keep in the fridge, when you are starving and reaching for those cookies. It gave us the option to be healthy! And, don’t forget to store half in a Ziploc bag. It makes it easier for another family member to grab and go with a healthy snack. And, with the leftover sticks that didn’t get consumed and carried over to the next day, I chopped them up and threw them into the dinner salad.
• Anytime. I was experimenting with a hummus recipe a kind friend sent to me. It was great to have a tub of hummus in the fridge to accompany those lovely veggie sticks.
• Hungry moments. I realized it’s time to experiment with green smoothies. So, I took out my handy blender and threw in some washed lettuce, washed parsley, a banana, and some frozen blueberries that were hiding in the corner of my freezer. A tablespoon of hemp seeds, a tablespoon of flax seeds, and a tablespoon of Greens powder also went in. And, to top it off I added a splash of agave nectar (eventually, I want to wean myself off of it, but just added it in so I could get used to that green-y taste). It was great! I made a little extra and threw it in the fridge for another hungry moment for the next day. Green smoothies last two days in the fridge.
• Bored, hungry moments. Keeping a fruit basket on the dining table really helped with those bored moments. Working from home has its moments. Many times of the day, I venture towards the kitchen and then towards the deadly snack cupboard to see what to munch on. Usually, when I’m bored, the snack choice I make is never a smart, healthy one. But, this time, as I walked towards the kitchen, I saw beautiful, bright fruits staring at me in the face, screaming, “Eat me!” Couldn’t resist.
• For the family of ten. There are only two of us at home: the husband and I. But, as soon as I arrived back to Muscat, I cooked off a bunch of rice to keep ready for the following days (I cooked enough for a large family. But, quantities vary from person to person. So, you decide how much you’d like to cook). It helped to whip up a quick meal. Three things I made with the rice: 1) Chicken fried rice 2) Breakfast rice porridge 3) An accompaniment to some chole (Indian-style garbanzo beans).

                          

I’ve been able to be healthy, without being stuck in the kitchen for hours. It took a little planning and some usage of mental space, but it was well worth it. Loving every moment.

Inspiring.

So, I just watched this awesome video on Sarah Blakely, the inventor/owner of Spanx.  Spanx is what saved me the day of my high school prom. We can all learn a thing or two from her. It’s inspiring to see someone follow her dream to the end.  As new entrepreneurs, her video provided a lot of valuable insight on how to follow-through and run a business.  I have a lot to learn.

I’m starting to think that doing something that we love career-wise or as a hobby is imperative for us to lead that happy, healthy life.  In two days, I’ve gotten three signs indicating to me how important it is to do something/things that we love to do and that fulfills our heart.

1) This video I saw on Sarah Blakely‘s story inspired me to listen to my gut.  A must-see!

2) A visit to my physiotherapist this morning: He was telling me how important it is that we do something we love. In his experience, he stated that he sees a lot of people carry work stress in their joints because they’re not doing what they love to do.  And indication that we all need to re-think our lives.

3) Listening to the audio class for the course I’m currently enrolled at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition: Joshua Rosenthal stated how important other aspects of our life are in comparison to food. Our primary foods are our relationships, career, spirituality, and exercise routine. Nutrition is just a secondary source of energy. (Note: Check out the picture below).

This is all so exciting! I’m actually racking my brains to come up with an invention…

I’m not kidding. 🙂

©2007-2011 Integrative Nutrition Inc.

Cuppa of Matcha Tea

Siestas are over-rated.  Actually, they are not overrated.  I was just trying to convince myself otherwise.  I’m really starting to like them.  It’s slowly starting to creep up into my daily routine.  And, my New York self is screaming, a big fat “NO!” It’s just that, there is something in this air.  Its island air; the sea breeze, the shops are closed, the little birdies chirping. And, once it hits 2:30 pm, my head starts nodding off.  And, I just can’t keep my eyes open anymore.  I try fighting the urge, all the while envisioning toothpicks holding my eyelids open (hoping the beauty of visualization will work here).  Majority of the time, my New York self is not screaming hard enough, and I eventually give in to that beautiful nap.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I actually love the siesta. I love the idea of taking a nice, relaxing nap during the middle of the afternoon  But, for myself, I don’t think it’s the best idea to make it a habit at this point in my life.  On one note, I’m not able to fall asleep at a decent hour at night since I sleep during the day.  And, the next day, I can barely wake up at an appropriate hour.  And, I just have too much to do. So, these afternoon naps must go.

The past couple of days I’ve been having a latte to stay awake.  And, its even more tempting since the cafe downstairs just makes an amazing cup of coffee on this side of the world. The part of me that is a strict follower of her PCOS-friendly diet, knows that coffee in excess sends my hormones for a toss.  Too many days in a row will send my body out of balance. And, this coffee is slowly becoming a habit. First, the siesta, and now the coffee. Ah! Sometimes, green tea doesn’t cut it. One just needs something a bit more robust; something a bit more satisfying than hot water poured over green tea leaves.

This is where matcha comes into the picture.  My matcha-addict brother left his Graffitea matcha powder with me during his last trip to Muscat.  He would tell me to mix a teaspoon in some water and gulp it down. This method is great and effective, but I love my teatime. I love the act of teatime. I wanted something exciting but healthy for my teatime.  So, I made a hot matcha tea latte!

Hot Matcha Tea Latte

Heat a teacup of hot water and a dash of milk.  While that’s heating, mix half a teaspoon of matcha powder with a little hot water to make a paste. Add some raw sugar and mix well. Pour the water/milk in the teacup over the paste. Mix and enjoy!

I’m a bit of an extremist, and I think matcha tea is going to be my next obsession. So, why matcha? Matcha is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, fiber, and chlorophyll.  The health benefits of matcha exceed those of other green teas because matcha drinkers ingest the whole leaf not just the green tea brewed water.  One glass of matcha is equal to 10 glasses of green tea in terms of nutritional and antioxidant value. Some other health benefits include: boosts metabolism, enhances the mood, fights against viruses and bacteria, and calms and relaxes, to just name a few. A bit of history: over a thousand years ago, matcha was used in Japan to aid in meditation practice.  During long hours of sitting, monks would have matcha to stay alert and calm.  Matcha is rich in L-Theanine, a rare amino acid that actually promotes a state of relaxation and well-being by acting upon the brain’s functioning.

I think I’m going to kick this siesta habit in the bum, with matcha as my savior.

Achieving that balance. Om.

So. Finally, I’ve mustered up some courage to start writing to you. It took a lot of analyzing, a lot of prodding, and a lot of mental angst in deciding on whether to consume a glass of cold coffee with a generous squirt of Elle & Vire whipped cream (or, iced coffee, depending on what part of the world you’re reading this from) before I sat down to write. And, THAT is where the inspiration for my first blog post came from. THAT is referring to this glass of cold coffee that is sitting right next to me.

I love eating. I love matcha (thanks to my brother who could be the ideal spokesperson for matcha). I have a daily morning love affair with my banana, agave, spelt muffin. I miss my cheesy, NY-style pizza. Overall, I love food. But, like all of us humans, I want to live a healthy, holistic, and happy lifestyle – but, where does the pizza fit into all this. For me, it all boils down to balance. Eat at least three meals a day. Don’t forget breakfast. Green tea. Exercise. Meditate. A walk on the beach. Leafy greens. A good conversation. But, after all this if you’re craving that coffee (coffee is not ideal for my PCOS-friendly diet) or pizza, then go for it! Or, if you’re like me, you’ll start dreaming about it. Balance, it’s all about balance. I rewind many years ago to my college-going years: I would’ve felt so guilty that I actually would start feeling around for my nonexistent double chin to make sure it didn’t develop miraculously over the hour.

Before I confuse you more, let me first begin by telling you the intention behind my blog, onlypure. I want to encourage holistic, healthy, and happy living! A life full of energy! Majority of my day’s research includes reading up on holistic health, trying out the joys of mindful cooking, testing new recipes (especially ones that include spelt or agave), and reading my favorite food blogs. And, this is the place where I want to exchange notes on how to create that ever-perfect balance between living in 2012 and being organic and natural. Please feel free to help me out along the way. A little nudge with some supportive advice or constructive criticism is always appreciated. Let us encourage and inspire!