A Cup of Coffee or a Minute of Downward Dog?

• Calm the brain and relieve stress and mild depression
• Energize the body
• Stretch the shoulders, hamstrings, calves, arches, and hands
• Strengthen the arms and legs
• Prevent osteoporosis

• Mild laxative and diuretic
• Stimulates alertness
• Can keep you awake when needed
• May reduce risk of diabetes

Sources:
Dr. Weil's Tip of the Day 7/14/2009
Reader's Digest Food

More on health benefits of coffee:
http://men.webmd.com/features/coffee-new-health-food

On Coffee and Yoga:
http://souljerky.com/articles/coffee_with_yoga_inspiration_a.html

Perhaps, yoga asana in your mug?

Place your order here.

Stir Fried Mixed Veggies with Fresh Ginger

The secret to this recipe is to add the grated fresh ginger just before serving.

Ingredients
1 ripe tomato, chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp carrots, julienned
A handful or two of mixed veggies (I used snow peas, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, fresh button and shitake mushrooms, baby corn, bokchoy)
A handful of fried tofu cubes
1 tsp chili garlic paste
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp vegetarian mushroom sauce
1-2 tsp brown sugar
1 tbsp oil used in frying the tofu

In the oil, quickly fry the tomato, onion, garlic, chili-garlic paste and carrots until fragrant. Add the mixed vegetables and stir fry for a minute or two. Turn off the heat and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well and return to heat. Stir fry for a minute. Add the freshly grated ginger, mix well and turn off heat. Serve with steamed organic red rice.

Because I already cooked the rice in advanced, it was already a bit cold so instead of reheating it, I mixed it with the stir fried veggies for a Mongolian-like treat.

The Xocolat brownie photo has to wait. M will send me her "Blondies" recipe so I'll use the Xocolat brownie photo to go with it. The brownie story will be unfolded soon. For the meantime, allow me to finish the rest of the brownies. ;-p

Try Cafe Xocolat's Taza de Xocolat for a really chocolatey treat. Get the small one if you still want to live... order the big one if you want to experience samadhi.

Noodles... noodles... noodles...

Because North Park didn't have vegetarian noodles on its menu... I made my own.

Honestly, how difficult can vegetarian stir fried noodles be?

It's quick and easy to prepare... plus it's a complete meal on its own. But because I'm a Filipino, I eat it with rice. :-p Nah... didn't do that today. I did that when I was in India because the Singaporean noodles that I ordered from Veg Park was too hot! Chili hot! The Pinoy solution is, of course, to "tame" it down with plain rice. Nice.

Ingredients
500 grams fresh noodles
1 small carrot, julienned
a handful of bean sprouts (about 2 cups)
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped
shitake mushrooms, sliced thinly
2 heads (?) baby bokchoy
2 3x3in hard tofu, sliced and fried
2 tbsp vegetarian mushroom sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1-2 tbsp light soy sauce
Fresh ground black pepper
Some chili sauce/oil of your choice, optional

Instructions
Saute the garlic and onion over medium heat for about 30 seconds. Add the carrots, mushrooms bean sprouts, and bokchoy then stir fry for 60-90 seconds over high heat. Lower heat to a minimum and add the rest of the ingredients except black pepper. Mix well. Serve and top with fresh ground black pepper.

Hao chi.

Moon day...

citta vrittis... too many. Om.

Death by Chocolate Cake

The last of the Calea

Deep Dark Classic

Death by Tablea

Had my lunch from Bodhi at SM North food court. On my way home, I decided to check the Chocolat Deep Dark Chocolate Cake Shop just outside The Block. From the food court exit, just cross the street towards The Block and you'll see the Chocolat sign. Beside it was Bo's Coffee which was closed as they'll be moving near the garden area.

I just wanted to compare it to Calea so I bought a slice of the Deep Dark Classic. Being a supporter of local creations, I also bought a slice of the Death by Tablea. Remember that I'm also a fan of Tsoko.Nut Batirol, so anything related to Philippine version of hot chocolate drink is a must-try for me.

The texture of the 2 Chocolat cakes is different from that of Calea. It has more moisture and almost melts in the mouth. The Calea cake is dense and eating the "icing" is like you're eating a chunk of melted chocolate bar. I won't really call it an icing but melted chocolate spread over the cake.

I only had a slice of both as I'm still going to have my afternoon nap. It should be eaten properly with freshly brewed Monk's Blend coffee from Bukidnon. Hence, I'll have it later for afternoon "tea".

Zzzzzzz...

The Yogi... The Monk

The body changes... but the Self remains...

The Self, has no beginning nor any differentiating qualities. Though it dwells in the perishable body, it is deathless; it is not the doer, nor is it at all affected by anything that is done.
- Bhagavad Gita XIII:30

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Or the camel?

Of Dark Raisinets and Prakriti

Had a wonderful satsang with the ladies after practice this afternoon.

I received an invitation from Allen to attend an ayurvedic cooking class tomorrow with Fr. Jason and that started our conversation on food and prakriti. (Sorry Allen, can't go. I made plans already).
In applying ayurvedic concepts in cooking, one needs to understand prakriti and doshas. Prakriti means nature or the natural form of build or constitution of the human body (Sundar, 2000), and doshas are characteristics or energies that make up one's prakriti. There are 3 types of doshas - vata, pitta, kapha. Most people are of 2-dosha type.

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Vata is dry, light, mobile, expansible, quick, cold, rough, clear and astringent in taste. So vata prakriti individuals tend to have dry and rough skin, are lightly built, quick in their mental process and initiation of action.

Pitta is hot, penetrating, slightly foul smelling, liquid, sour and pungent in taste. So pitta prakriti individuals tend to sweat a lot and tend to have a higher than normal body temperature.

Kapha is unctuous, smooth, soft, sweet in taste, stable, dense, slow, rigid, cold and clear. Kapha prakriti individuals tend to have soft limbs, slow gait and are slow to understand. The cold quality means that their agni or digestive power is low.

http://www.hinduonnet.com/folio/fo0010/00100240.htm

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I'm Pitta-kapha

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Prakriti test identifies you as a PITTA-KAPHA Prakriti

Since you display qualities of two doshas � Pitta and Kapha, Prakriti test identifies you as PITTA � KAPHA Prakriti. This means that in your Prakriti no dosha is predominant and yours is a two-dosha type Prakriti. Most people are two-dosha types.

The following are the characteristics of Pitta-Kapha Prakriti

Of your doshic balance, your physical traits show a Pitta domination, while mental traits are governed by Kapha. People with this prakriti usually are muscular, quite bulky and have excellent physical health.

They have reliable organizational ability, adequate drive to grow and have cascading energy levels.

They also have a fairly good level of endurance and emotional stability.

They are prone to recurrent respiratory track infection, pyoderma, skin infection, photodermatitis, wrinkling of skin, premature graying & hair loss etc�

They tend to adopt a very calculative approach towards their acquaintances.

They are likely to have conflicts with persons having equal caliber. However their peace loving, patient kapha prakriti helps them to prevent or resolve serious conflict.

Their charisma helps them gain acceptance as a leader among their followers.

People with Pitta-Kapha prakriti perform best in a field which exploit their calculative abilities and poses them too many challenges. Thus they can do well in the fields of Politics, Art, Defense, Sports, Financial analysis & Management, Personnel Management, HRD & Administration etc�

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Take the test here.

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Basically, one needs to know one's prakriti in order to know which food is not good for your type. There are certain fruits, vegetables and spices which may aggravate one of the doshas and bring it our of balance.

And where does the raisinets come in? Nowhere... I'm just eating it while I'm typing this entry. :-p

Om.

Focus... Surrender...

"Your life’s work is the assemblage of activities that allows you to express your intelligence and creativity, live in accordance with your values, and experience the profound joy of simply being yourself." - Read on here.