Locking it Down with CPM – Day 4

CPM's avatarCook Plant Meditate

NOW were on lockdown… I got that going for me! They’re not calling it lockdown or quarantine though, they’re calling it “shelter in place”. I’m lucky enough to live in one of the six San Francisco Bay Area counties who have been shut down. I had a panicky minute (or 30) after I realized that I’d be at home with a mouthy pre-teen for 22 days. At minimum. They’ll let us know later if we can leave our houses on April 7.

How to Monday the Mondayest Monday ever:
1. Get provisions
2. Get put on lockdown for 22 days.
3. Beer thirty.

I’ve been saying “I’m not going to the store.” I folded yesterday. I had explained to my daughter that we’re not spending 22 days staring at our phones. We’re going to read, do math, cook food, learn to do new things. She said she wanted to learn…

View original post 315 more words

La’au Lapa’au | Can Fungi Ease Disease in Bees?

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

by Connor Yearsley

Many people grew up with Winnie-the-Pooh, the good-natured bear who was often looking for “hunny” in rotting tree hollows. Renowned mycologist (fungi expert) Paul Stamets, however, maybe the first person to wonder if some bees are drawn to rotting wood partly because of the health benefits that the fungal mycelia can provide as they break down the wood. Mycelia are the vegetative part of a fungus’ life cycle and consist of threadlike tubes called hyphae that spread in every direction.

With researchers at Washington State University (WSU) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Stamets’ hypothesis that fungi can help bees is being validated with extracts of the mycelia of two fungal species: amadou (Fomes fomentarius, Polyporaceae) and reishi (Ganoderma resinaceum, Ganodermataceae). In laboratory and field trials on the Western or European honeybee (Apis mellifera), these extracts significantly reduced levels of viruses…

View original post 4,006 more words

La’au Lapa’au | Food as Medicine: Black Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, Adoxaceae)

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Plants commonly known as elder belong to the genus Sambucus and consist of 20-30 species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the Adoxaceae, or moschatel, family.1-3 Sambucus species are native to forested temperate and subtropical climates and grow to an average height of 32 feet (10 m).1,3 Elder shrubs have light brown or gray stippled bark and narrow, dark green pinnately compound leaves with five to nine toothed leaflets.2,4 In early summer, elder plants produce flat to roundish clusters of tiny, cream-white, saucer-shaped flowers. Depending on the species, the clusters of small fruits, botanically characterized as drupes, are blue-black, black, or red (and rarely, yellow or white).2,3 The only elder species with a history of culinary use are those that produce blue-black or black fruits. Elder species are highly adaptable and readily naturalize in an area, making them potentially invasive outside their native range.3 This…

View original post 3,417 more words

Daily Words of the Buddha for March 18, 2020

Pāli Word a Day for March 18, 2020 — pamoda— delight, joy

Yato yato sammasati
khandhānaṃ udayabbayaṃ,
labhatī pītipāmojjaṃ,
amataṃ taṃ vijānataṃ.

Whenever and wherever one encounters
the arising and passing away of the mental-physical structure,
one enjoys bliss and delight,
[which lead on to] the deathless stage experienced by the wise.

Dhammapada 25.374
The Discourse Summaries by S.N. Goenka

Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Health Benefits of Chaga Mushroom

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Chaga mushrooms contain a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
The Chaga mushroom grows on birch trees throughout the northern hemisphere. It resembles a dark clump of dirt more than a mushroom but is distinguished from other growths by its orange tissue.

Doctors, alternative medicine advocates, and researchers are increasingly interested in the potential health benefits of the Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus). Some studies on Chaga mushrooms have yielded promising results.

chaga

Nine potential benefits

In this article, we look at the potential health benefits of Chaga mushrooms and the research behind the claims.

1. Nutrient-dense superfood

Chaga mushrooms are rich in a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, including:

  • B-complex vitamins
  • vitamin D
  • potassium
  • rubidium
  • cesium
  • amino acids
  • fiber
  • copper
  • selenium
  • zinc
  • iron
  • manganese
  • magnesium
  • calcium

2. Preventing and fighting cancer

Some studies suggest that Chaga mushrooms may slow the growth of certain cancer cells.

Increasingly, researchers are taking…

View original post 2,189 more words

Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Mushrooms Boost Brain Power

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

If you’re a fan of mushrooms, rejoice! These nutritious little fungi have several known benefits to our health, including lowering your chance of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. And now, there appears to be yet another advantage to eating mushrooms. New research shows that they may help protect the brain from degenerative conditions such as dementia.

The study, which took place at the University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, found that regular consumption of certain types of mushrooms may be associated with brain changes that reduce the risk of developing dementia.1 After analyzing 10 different types of mushrooms, the investigators determined that they promoted the increased production of nerve growth factors in the brain, which contributes to the formation of new neurons in the gray matter, an important factor in our ability to retain and retrieve memories.

The Mushroom Course

What kinds of mushrooms were most beneficial? Unfortunately, not the white or…

View original post 621 more words

Nā ʻŌhana | Traditional Indigenous Kinship Practices at Home:  Being Child-Centered During the Pandemic

In our traditional kinship systems, children were the at the center of the family system. Everything we did was with, and for, the children. Women had babies on their back, breasts, and hips while […]

Source: Traditional Indigenous Kinship Practices at Home: Being Child-Centered During the Pandemic

Foodstyles | Vegetarian Samosa Recipe

A spicy filling of chunky potato and green peas with a bite of chili encased in a crisp light pastry.
 
Probably the most well known of all the Indian snacks – samosas are simply amazing and I love them. All they are made of is pastry, potato, peas and that’s it – how three simple ingredients can taste so good is beyond me, but they are just amazing and yes I will say it again amazing! For me, these are a vegetable dish and although I have cooked meat samosas in my classes it’s not something I like to do.
 
My most significant memory of samosas is from my wedding where they were part of the festivities, right from all my aunties forming a production line in the kitchen gossiping, giggling and producing the amazing triangles parcels through to being served them for breakfast with a cup of hot, sweet chai, a combination that is out of this world.
 
You can’t help eating them one after the other and I think we got through hundreds of them. My best friend Nicky and her husband Mark called me a few days after the wedding and asked me if I could pop over and make a few before we left for our honeymoon as they were having withdrawal symptoms – addictive….very!
 
INGREDIENTS
 
FILLING:
1 tsp of rapeseed oil
4 potatoes boiled (skin on)
50g frozen peas
½ tsp of cumin seeds
1 tsp of salt
½ tsp chilli powder
2 chilies, finely chopped
1-2 tsp of garam masala
1 tbsp ginger, grated
2 tbsp of fresh coriander, chopped

 
PASTRY:
200g plain flour
1½ tbsp rapeseed oil
Pinch of salt
Approx. 100ml water
 
MAKING THE SAMOSA:
Potato filling
Pastry
Paste
Rapeseed oil for deep frying
 
DIRECTIONS | The Filling
1 – Cook the potatoes gently with the skin on (do not boil too vigorously) for about 25 minutes until soft. Remove from the heat and leave to cool. Once cooled peel the skin off with your fingers.
 
2 – Cut into small 1cm sized cubes and place in a large bowl.
 
3 – In a small frying pan heat the oil and fry the cumin seeds. When sizzling, carefully add the peas and fry gently for a few minutes to soften. Remove from the heat and leave to cool before adding to the potatoes.
 
4 – Add the grated ginger, salt, chilli, chilli powder, garam masala and fresh coriander to the potatoes and stir – check seasoning and refrigerate for 10 minutes.
 
 
DIRECTIONS | The Pastry
1 – Place flour, oil and salt in a bowl and rub the mixture together.
 
2 – Using your hand begin to sprinkle in a little water at a time to bring the dough together.
 
3 – Continue to add the water in this way until the dough comes together. Using wet hands knead the dough until it is soft and no longer sticking to your hands or the bowl.
 
4 – Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Heat up a thava or frying pan on the lowest heat setting.
 
5 – Take a small tangerine sized ball of the dough and roll it between your palms to make a smooth ball.
 
6 – Flatten and roll out with a rolling pin to create a thin round disc the size of a side plate flouring when necessary. Place the disc on the thava for 4 seconds. Remove and place on a chopping board. Using a sharp knife slice the disc in half so you are left with 2 semi-circles.
 
7 – Place the semi-circles on a plate with the tea towel and cover to keep warm. Repeat with the rest of the dough so you are left with 10 – 12 semi-circles.
 
 
DIRECTIONS | The Paste
Make some flour glue by adding water to the flour and mix into a thick sticky paste.
 
MAKING THE SAMOSA
1 – Place one semi-circle on your hand with the flat edge at the top and the cooked side facing you. Dip your finger in the paste and spread it across the straight edge.
 
2 – Fold in the two corners so they meet in the middle ensuring one edge overlaps the other and press together to seal all the way down to create a smooth upside down cone.
 
3 – Turn the cone over so the pointed end is at the bottom. Using a spoon fill the cone with the potato filling to 2/3 of the way up.
 
4 – Seal the opening with the paste and seal it closed creating a triangle pastry. Lie on the tray and pat down to even the filling out. Repeat.
 
5 – Heat the oil, test it is hot enough by dropping in a little bit of pastry – if it bubbles and floats to the top immediately the oil is ready.
 
6 – Very carefully slip one samosa into the hot oil being careful that the oil doesn’t splash out. Leave the samosa to cook for a few seconds. As the pastry begins to bubble turn it over using a slotted spoon.
 
7 – Leave it to cook gently until it turns a beautiful golden brown. Once it is cooked remove from the oil and set on some kitchen paper. As you become more confident fry 2 or 3 samosas at the same time.
ENJOY!

 

Urban Gardening | 8 Vegetables You Can Grow In Your Tiny Apartment All Year Round

Growing Your Own Vegetable is Not Only Fun but you’ll know What Exactly Went into the plants at every stage which is not the case with store bought food. While growing plants in a busy city and apartment might seem like an impossible-task, There are fruits and veggies you can grow in pots that can sit pretty on a super small-porch, fire-escape, or even in a well-lit indoor area. And, unlike traditional gardens, you won’t have to deal with many intrusive weeds either!

NOTE: The materials and the information contained on Natural ways channel are provided for general and educational purposes only and do not constitute any legal, medical or other professional advice on any subject matter. None of the information on our videos is a substitute for a diagnosis and treatment by your health professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new diet or treatment and with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your health care provide.

Daily Words of the Buddha for March 17, 2020

Khīṇaṃ purāṇaṃ nava
natthi sambhavaṃ,
virattacittāyatike bhavasmiṃ.
Te khīṇabījā, avirūḷhichandā.
Nibbanti dhīrā yathāyaṃ padīpo.

When past conditioning is released
and no fresh one produced,
the mind no longer seeks for future birth.
The seed consumed, cravings no more arise.
Such-minded wise ones cease like [the flame of] this lamp.

Sutta Nipāta 2.238
The Discourse Summaries by S.N. Goenka

Foodstyles | Veggie Spanish Rice

Amelia @ CPM's avatarCook Plant Meditate

Why not add some nutrition to your Spanish Rice? Throw in some veggies!

Ingredients:
1 large carrot
2 medium ribs celery
1/2 medium onion
1 small green bell pepper
1 large tomato
1 3/4 cups white rice
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock, or water
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons oil
Few dashes cayenne or hot sauce (optional)

Instructions:
Dice all veggies into small uniform pieces.

In a large pre-heated pan over medium high heat, add oil, carrot, celery, onion and bell pepper. Cook for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently, then add tomato and cook for another minute.

Add rice and stir. Allow rice to cook for about 4 minutes, stirring frequently until it begins to brown.

Add liquid and spices. Mix. Bring to a boil. Reduce…

View original post 13 more words

Foodstyles | Locking it Down with CPM – Day 3

CPM's avatarCook Plant Meditate

It’s still raining today, but sunshine is coming. Then we can be outside, do yard work and walk the dog. I was telling my husband that I wish we had held off the cleaning and organizing we did recently… because I got time now! AND a clean garage. I suppose I can clean all the closets and cabinets again.

More restrictions keep coming. California shut down bars, nightclubs, breweries and wineries to the public. In Washington state, where my brother and sister-in-law own Uncle Dave’s Café, all restaurants have been ordered to close. They are still able (currently) to do delivery and curbside pick up.

Construction is underway on our Lego City, where the mini-figures will be able to shop at the store, eat at the diner, swim at the pool, and hang out at the gazebo in the park. The mini-figures are relieved to not be under lock-down…

View original post 141 more words

Current Events | MIT biologist says fear mongering on coronavirus will go down as biggest fraud to manipulate economies

On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global epidemic. The virus, which originated from Whuan China, has claimed over 4,000 lives with 100,000 infected cases reported worldwide. However, some think the panic over the coronavirus is overblown and could potentially do more damage to citizens and overburden our already fragile healthcare systems.  […]

Source:  Fear Mongering About Coronavirus

Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | LAVENDER’S MEDICINAL AND AROMATHERAPY USES

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

There are few scents in this world that evoke the feeling of clean – lavender is one of them. Its common and scientific name originates from lavare, the Latin word for wash or bathe. Lavender was popular as a linen-washing herb in Europe, no doubt due to its pleasant aroma, but it also possesses antiseptic qualities and can help to keep insects at bay. Discouraging or killing insects was paramount before the invention of glass windows and screens, a time when humans often shared the same roof with flea and lice-ridden livestock. Maude Grieve writes in A Modern Herbal (no longer especially modern, as it was written in 1931):

Dried Lavender flowers are still greatly used to perfume linen, their powerful, aromatic odour acting also as a preventative to the attacks of moths and other insects. In America, they find very considerable employment for disinfecting hot rooms and keeping away…

View original post 5,221 more words

Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | The Essence of Ginger

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

No modern medication can rival the range and variety of therapeutic effects that can be induced by ginger. However, the full awareness of the health benefits and value of the herbal ginger remedies is rather limited because of the monopolistic health-care systems and a historically biased regulatory environment in most countries. Out of the hundreds of species in the plant family Zingiberaceae, the ginger remains the most famous and popular herb. Ginger is a rhizome, according to the correct botanical classification, though the underground stem of the ginger is often mistaken to be a root. Many different varieties of the ginger herb exist in the wild and in cultivation, these varieties range from mild to spicy in taste, and all of them require tropical conditions and fertile soils to grow at an optimal rate. The ginger herb has traveled out from Southeast Asia to the new world, over a period…

View original post 3,891 more words

Lāʻau Lāpaʻau | Tea Tree Oil: Benefits, Uses

Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs's avatarCrooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

From antiseptic mouthwash to natural deodorant, tea tree oil is an essential oil with a multitude of uses and benefits. It tends to be pale yellow or colorless, with an aroma that is similar to eucalyptus or camphor and boasts antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties. Here’s a deep-dive into all that it can do.

What Is Tea Tree Oil?

Tea tree oil is distilled from the leaves of an evergreen shrub called Melaleuca alternifolia. The plant is native to Australia and used by Aboriginal people for cleaning wounds and other skin problems.

Benefits of Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has a 100-year history as a natural remedy. The Bundjalung Aboriginal people would crush the leaves to create a paste to apply to the skin. They also made tea from the leaves to soothe a sore throat.

Amazing Antibacterial Properties

The antibacterial properties of tea tree oil have been studied since…

View original post 4,488 more words

Astrology | March Equinox Reading 2020 —

Grandtrines's avatarGrandtrines

March is one huge deal of a month and truly the mark of some significant endings and beginnings taking place. The Equinox falls on the 19th as the Sun enters Aries and comes into a conjunction with Chiron, squaring the Nodes. This comet so named after the Greek centaur is a both a symbol […]

via March Equinox Reading 2020 —

View original post

Current Events | Coronavirus And The Sun: A Lesson From The 1918 Influenza Pandemic

Terrified, people from all around the world are waiting for news of the outbreak of coronavirus, that keeps taking its death toll. The first case of Covid-19 was identified over three months ago, and so far, it has killed thousands of people, forcing the lockdown of numerous countries. Coronavirus is a worldwide subject of conversation […]

Source: Coronavirus And The Sun: A Lesson From The 1918 Influenza Pandemic – Healthy Food House

Musings | Ready To Say Goodbye To The Dark Night Of The Soul??

What many assume is the result of a low vibration, limiting subconscious beliefs, an out-of-control ego, or the assumption of ‘evil forces’ at play is a crucial stage of awakening called “Dark Night of the Soul”. During this stage, attachments to ego are deconstructed and unraveled, resulting in much pain, confusion, fear, and frustration for many beings. While surrender is the best remedy, it’s best to employ this in a specific way so not to become the ego’s way of co-opting the beauty of surrendering as a means of trying to control its experience or preserve its false perception of power.

In order to activate the authentic power of surrender, try repeating these words out loud:

“Thank you beloved Universe for awakening within me. Please spare no expense at unraveling what needs to be unraveled, transforming what needs to be transformed, and healing what needs to be healed. I surrender to the fate of my highest potential and divine authority, inviting the change that only brings forth greater harmony, wholeness, liberation, and well-being.

I hand over the aspects of ego that were never meant to go any further in my journey, allowing a greater embodiment and integration of heart-centered consciousness to abide within me now. Even when it feels like all hope is lost or as if I’m going to die, I step forward into the mystery that cannot be understood ‘beforehand’, only to receive more awareness of the light I AM, have always been, and shall always be. With a deeper commitment to self-care and healthy choices, I surrender my patterns of addiction by allowing my surrender to be complete.

This is not a surrendering from making choices, but surrendering to the highest choices that nourish my body with the nutrition, rest, and emotional support it so deserves and desires. Thank you for this opportunity to transform ancestral lineages and help uplift the consciousness of humanity by ending the inner battle of ego. And thank you for no longer supporting the negotiation of self-defeating choices. Thank you dearest Universe. I am the vessel of your highest will. Take me, I’m yours. And so I let go. I am surrendered. Surrendered I am. And so it is.”

Whether just needing to say it once or several times per day, please utilize this healing mantra to align with the light of your rebirthing soul, instead of identifying with the unraveling of a dissolving ego structure.

On behalf of the Universe, you are loved, guided, and supported so miraculously and incredibly — now and forever. Please enjoy each section of this newsletter and know that you are loved in each and every breath.

All my love,
Matt Kahn

Foodstyles | Locking it Down with CPM – Day 2

CPM's avatarCook Plant Meditate

Day 2:

Kid went to a friends house for a bit yesterday so we watched Jumanji: Next Level. Well, I watched. Hubby slept through it. He’s been working weird and long hours trying to get remote access running smoothly for hundreds of people worldwide. I really enjoyed the first Jumanji reboot, and this one delivered as well. Adding Danny Glover and Danny DeVito was pure hilarity.

Scratched yesterday’s plans to put together a puzzle. My daughter has tens of thousands of Lego. We are making a Lego City! Did you know the plural of Lego is Lego? It’s not Legos. Lego City needs a lot of work, but hey, we got time.

Lunch: grilled cheese, fruit and Crispy Taco flavored Lays. The…

View original post 188 more words