Summer Soul Food - My First Cucumber

Greetings! Mary, Mary, quite contrary how does your garden grow? Remember that nursery rhyme? This has been the second year that I have had a Jardin de balcon. Anything French, makes it sounds so haute and sophisticated, gives it pizzaz. Although I think Patio Garden sounds, good, too. Well, this is the first year I decided to be brave enough to experiment with cucumbers. Here are pics of my prized possessions. I'm going to have a painfully hard time eating these beauties. The cucumbers have been not as taxing as tomatoes. Tomatoes need a lot of attention, a lot of water, and I mean lots of water!! I used to water the tomato plant in the morning and evening during the hot summer last year and had to have a friend tomato-sit while I was away on vacation.

Apart for being great for cooling you down and helping lower blood pressure, cucumbers can be used for a quick touch up on your leather shoes. Best eye mask after partying all night! Cucumbers also cause the collagen in your skin to tighten - great for cellulite and wrinkles too!!!

The rest of the jardin is such a delight! I look forward to meditating on the patio among the herbs and plants, feeling the warmth of the sun - it's such a wonderful feeling - the atmosphere enhances my meditation and connection with the universe. After meditation, I get thrilled with the little surprises that mother nature blesses me with. A little pepper bud here, a tiny cukie here, oregano and mint crawling over the balcony. When you are grateful and count your blessings, it seems as if each day you are blessed with more to be grateful for.

Baby Cukies

Pepper Ripe and Ready

Gorgeous Green Salad with Summer's Specialities

Comments

Can Can Night

Do you struggle with preparing a meal at home on Friday evenings? My legs could barely carry me home tonight - I had done a lot of running around this week and running up and down the long subway escalators. I was kaput! Did I forget my vitamins?? I ran out of my go-to-comfort food. Brown rice tortillas and Daiya cheese are my butter and toast. Trader Joe's hasn't had any brown rice tortillas recently - all the snow storms we have been having - people have been grabbing them before I reach there! After eating a few corn tortilla chips, dried coconut chips, I knew I had to make something substantial 'cause I wasn't going to survive on that or rice crackers and kimchi sauce! Enter the can can dance! I kept eyeing the can of kidney beans while my mouth salivated. "Yes, I want that!" "Nah! Who's going to chop garlic, tomatoes, etc.?" I debated with myself - I'm too tired. I gave in - made the kidney beans and have enough energy to

The New Kick in My Block

Did you know that this is the original Sriracha? Mrs. Chakkapak created it in her kitchen in Si Racha, Thailand, for her family and friends. See article from Bon Appetit by Andrea Nguyen. I came across this chopstick-licking sauce, which is hot, yet slightly sweet, during my trek to the Thai Grocery Store. I prefer it to the sweet chili sauce with loads of pepper seeds. Sriraja has the right kick! What I especially appreciate is that it is free of preservatives and artificial coloring and has no msg! Can't wait to dig in to my bowl of noodles! Bon appétit! Jyoti

How I Transformed My Life?

7 Years ago on a frigid winter morning in January, little did I know that my life was about to transform dramatically! It was my first day at Institute for Integrative Nutrition ("IIN"). Today I had the privilege of going back to school, IIN, for a live event at Avery Fisher Hall! As I entered the Time Warner Building, I started feeling happy and excited! The energy in a room full of 1,000+ health coaches cannot be described, but has to be experienced! Endorphins are released! One just wants to freeze time and stay in the present moment and savor it. At IIN I learned different diet theories, I was supported by colleagues and mentors and learned from world-renown experts in the holistic field. I addressed my own health issues and share my knowledge to help others. Today I am gluten-free and dairy-free and it's with the support I received from my colleagues at IIN that I was able to smoothly transition into this lifestyle. Most importantly, I learned to love and accep

Nourishing Spoon

Search This Blog