Partner Yoga Valentine's Weekend

Universal Prayer and Universal Soup

Prayer

May all of the wicked return to good;
May all who are good obtain true peace.
May all who are peaceful be freed from bonds;
May all who are free set others free.

Blessings upon all the people on earth;
May all the world's rulers uphold what is right.
May only good fortune befall everyone;
May all world's creatures obtain happiness.

May the rain fall when the earth is thirsty;
May all the storehouses be filled with grain.
May everyone here be free from harm;
May all who are good be free from fear.

May everyone know a life of joy;
May everyone live a life of health.
May everyone see only good in this world;
May everyone soon be released from pain.

May everyone overcome all their woes;
May everyone see only good in this world.
May everyone realize all their desires;
May everyone everywhere be glad.

May our mother and father be blessed;
Blessings upon every creature on earth.
May our works flourish and aid everyone,
And long may our eyes see the sun.

Miso Soup

Boil 1 cup vegetable broth
Boil 1 cup water
2 tsp Miso paste when done boiling
Silken or baked diced tofu
Green onions
Cock sauce for spicy (Sriracha-red bottle)

Valentine's Card - Favorite Studio

More Food For Thought And Dessert

Grapes cure headaches!
Prunes make you poop!
Azuki beans heal kidneys!
Cucumbers and peppers make you burp!
Pickles make you pucker!
Bulgar makes you vulgar.

Lokaha Samastaha Sukino Bhavantu - May all the Beings in all the worlds Be Happy.

Happiness is Dessert

Chocolate Pudding
1 12oz package of silken tofu
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 cup chocolate chips
Blend, chill and serve in fancy glasses

What's For Dinner? Cooking 101

How To Prepare a Meal

1. Where's my protein coming from?
2. How am I going to make it taste good?
   
3. Add alliums (garlic, onions, shallots, leeks)
4. Herbs and spices (fresh tomato w/basil
5. Extras (wine, vinegar, soy sauce, broth)
6. Texture (nuts, sesame seeds)
7. How's it going to look? (feast with your eyes first - add color)
8. How much time will it take?

Black Bean and Corn Salad (Great on Tortillas)

1. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Cook onion 3-5 minutes, or until soft. Add garlic, and cook 1 minute, or until translucent and fragrant.
2. Stir in beans, chili powder and 1 cup water. Reduce heat to medium low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat. Mash beans until mixture is thickened but still chunky, and some beans remain whole. Stir in 1 cup salsa and corn, and season with salt and pepper. Cool.
3. Preheat oven to 425F. Coat 2 large baking sheets with cooking spray. Spoon 1/3 cup black bean mixture down center of tortilla. Roll tortilla around filling, and secure closed with toothpick. Set on prepared baking sheet. Bake 6 to 10 minutes, or until tortillas are browned and crisp.
4. Meanwhile, combine cilantro and remaining salsa in small bowl. Place 2 tortillas on each plate and top with remaining salsa.

What? Chili
Protein? Beans
Taste? Onion, Garlic, Olive Oil
Spices? Chili Powder, Cilantro
Texture and Color? Corn
Time? Prepared Salsa (Emeril's Specialty Salsa)

Let Your Light Shine

As you know, I can't tell jokes and I'm terrible at memorizing quotes. Last week in class, I mentioned that letting our light shine, gives others permission to do the same. Some of you were reminded of a speech by Nelson Mandela. Actually, Nelson Mandela typically gets the credit, but the class theme really came from Marianne Williamson. Her book, A Return to Love, is one of my favorites.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ----from A Return to Love, by Marianne Williamson.

What's For Lunch?

During our 40 Days to Personal Revolution Program, with the added resource of the Three Season Diet, we looked at lunch as our main meal and actually our largest meal of the day. Breakfast and supper were large enough to get to lunch or bed without hunger pangs. The goal was to skip supper all together and be able to eat two meals a day without experiencing hunger or food cravings. Supper is to be considered a supplement. If you're feeling uncomfortable about two meals a day eat a light salad or have soup for your evening meal before 6pm.

A favorite:

Cucumber Sandwich

• 2 thick slices whole wheat bread
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese, softened
• 6 slices cucumber
• 2 tablespoons alfalfa sprouts
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
• 1 tomato, sliced
• 1 leaf lettuce
• 1/2 avocado, mashed

1. Spread each slice of bread with 1 tablespoon cream cheese. On one slice of bread, arrange cucumber slices in a single layer. Cover with sprouts, then sprinkle with oil and vinegar. Layer tomato slices, lettuce. Spread other slice of bread with mashed avocado. Close sandwich and serve immediately.