Dal~icious ~Recipe Wednesday

1 cup of Chana Dal *soak in water the night before cooking*

1 yellow onion
1 tbsp chopped ginger
3 cloves of garlic
4 small little green hot peppers I got from a thai store, please use any hot peppers you want and a splash of olive oil
6 cups of water
1 tsp salt *you can always add more if you like*
1/4tsp tumeric
1/4tsp cumin
1/4tsp corriander
1/4tsp mustard seeds
1 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 handfuls of chopped spinach *goes in last*

*First soak your Chana Dal overnight*

NEXT DAY

*Onion, ginger, garlic and hot peppers a splash of oil in a pan and brown..not too brown just lightly and until fragrant...*

*After Dal is soaked over night put it in the slow cooker with the 6 cups of water and the onion,ginger,hot peppers and garlic...add all spices and lemon juice..put the cover on the slow cooker and turn on high for the day...at night turn down to low*

*Goodmorning...put everything in a blender..be careful if the soup is really hot..you want to wait till it cools a bit before blending to avoid getting burnt and avoid having Dal on your ceiling or better yet, use a hand blender. After blended put it all back in the slow cooker with the chopped spinach..back on high for 30 minutes then to low...and its done! ready to eat!!!!

You will not be disappointed..it is delicious!

Monday's mantra ~ Sing and Dance

This week let's sing or dance or both! What ever brings happiness to your day! Yesterday I was having a tough day with our 6 week old baby...it was just a fussy day for the little guy. So I started to sing...I never sing due to thinking I have a terrible voice. But I sang and sang made up songs for my boy and it brought smiles! Therefore I had decided that singing and dancing will be my mantra this week! When things get tough or you have a frown instead of a smile..sing and dance! It is the perfect cure.

Strawberry Banana Cloud ~ Recipe Wednesday

This is a delicious trifle, the original recipe is from a Nigel Slater cooking show but he made his with canned peaches and ginger cookies. I changed it up a bit.

Ingredients

6 strawberries
1 banana
1/3 cup of coconut milk
Whip cream
Cookies of your choice.

Directions for 2 servings

First cut the banana into slices and put them in a pan with the coconut milk...bring to a boil....turn off the heat and cover for 10-15 minutes.

Make your whip cream...I added cinnamon to mine.

Slice your strawberries.

Crush about 3-4 cookies of your choice.

Now it's time to layer everything. I did it in wine glasses...
First put a small spoonful of crushed cookies on the bottom...next...
add the bananas and coconut milk evenly into your glasses ...next
add your strawberries and top with whipped cream and crushed cookies.

It was the perfect afternoon snack.

Enjoy!

Be Free ~ Monday's mantra

Release your worries. Worrying is not only a waste of time it is has no nourishment what so ever. It does nothing positive for you or anybody around you. Others will feel a negative energy from you when you worry and it will deplete you of energy leaving you to feel exhausted. When we release our worrying and just flow with life like a river we are free. So this week I am walking with the mantra ~ Be Free....please join me.

Granola Bliss ~ Wednesday's Recipe

4 cups of Organic Oats
1/2 cup of wheat germ
1/4 cup of brown sugar
dash of salt
2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of dried cranberries
1/3 cup of honey
1/3 cup of coconut oil or olive oil ( I like coconut)
1/2 cup of water

In a large mixing bowl mix all dry ingredients together. Oats, wheat germ, brown sugar, cinnamon, coconut, salt and walnuts. *Do Not add raisins and cranberries*

Make a well in the center of the mixed dry ingredients pour all liquid ingredients (water, oil, honey) and mix all ingredients together well. Spread granola on a cookie sheet or flat pan, put into preheated oven (175 C or 325 F) bake for 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Be sure to watch and stir every 10 minutes the granola can burn easily. When lightly browned take out of oven put into a bowl and mix in the raisins and cranberries and cool. After granola is cooled it should be crispy if not you may want to bake a bit longer.

To store put into a jar with a tight lid. You can enjoy as a snack at anytime of the day. It is very delicious in milk or soy milk or mixed in yogurt.

Love Is The Message ~ Monday's mantra

Everyday we get up and do our thing...some of us rush around taking care of others. Some of us go off to our jobs...that we may or may not like. We are busy! Everyone is busy! So this weeks mantra is...Love Is The Message...a simple reminder that no matter how busy you may be...keep in mind that doing everything with LOVE is key. If we live from our hearts it's a bit easier to enjoy life everyday... no matter what comes your way.

What is a mantra? If you do not know...A mantra is usually a word or words that inspire you. A saying that if repeated or thought of during a tough moment in your day or anytime in your day...could bring things into perspective more easily. Some people use mantras during meditation to help them focus on positive thoughts. I enjoy waking on Monday morning with an inspiring mantra to get me through the week ahead.

Rainy Day Winter Salad ~ Recipe Wednesday

It is Winter in Japan so that is why I am calling this a Winter salad...but really it is for any season. The city I live in, in Japan, tends to be sunny, dry and usually in the 40's - 50'sF / 8 -12C December-Mid March, that's a big change for this born and raised Chicago girl. I actually love the snow but could do without the freezing temperatures that the midwestern states dish out in the Winter.....especially right now! If you are in the midwestern states please be safe and have some hot soup with this salad. I used some smoked salmon and a few pieces of cooked shrimp on my salad since I was in the mood for some seafood, but feel free to leave it off or add what you like.

SALAD Mixed greens Diakon radish cut into thin sticks Carrots Cucumbers Yellow tomatoes Red and yellow peppers A bit of shredded cabbage Avocado Smoked salmon A few sauteed shrimp

DRESSING Handful of fresh mint leaves About a 1/4 cup of good quality olive oil Whiz it up in a food processor....it's a refreshing and easy to make dressing.

Keep warm if you are someplace that is cold.....if you are someplace where it is Summertime, please soak up some beach time for me! Where ever you are stay hydrated! And enjoy this weeks recipe.

Xo

Aging is a blessing ~ Monday's mantra

This week is my 41st birthday. When I turned 40 years old last year I was not totally sure how I felt about entering my 40's....As the year progressed and I did things I never imagined doing at this age....like having another baby....I am happy to say that I HAVE fully embraced this aging thing that so many seem to fear.  I know more than I did in my 20's & 30's...I am becoming a more relaxed person...as in it is getting easier to let things go and easier to love myself just the way I am now.  I feel I look pretty damn good for my age and I am excited to see what the next year has in store for my blessed life! Enjoy where you are at in life and know that you are exactly where you need to be. Love & light!

Mikan & pomegranate juice ~ Recipe Wednesday

Easy! just juice some mikans (tangerines) and half a pomegranate...nourishment for any season!