CONGRATULATIONS

Ann Geddes Photo

...and a baby girl was born...




30th June 2011.....
Relief and overflowing tears of Joy as our family celebrates the birth of Buffy and Dave's baby girl......Yipeeee 
Congratulations to Buffy, Dave and Aunty Plezi, Uncle Ted, Uncle Timmy and Uncle Luke....

More Cooking with Colour - WHITE

White foods....White foods can be healthy such as multi grains, whole foods or super foods such as garlic, eggs and yoghurt....but some restriction is needed in eating refined white foods such as white sugar and white flour products so they are balanced with other colours for a nourishing diet.....

White foods are often our protein foods - Chicken Pork  Turkey Fish  Cheeses   Eggs    Fetta   Cream   Butter   Curds  Paneer    Yoghurt    Milk  and other dairy products.


The colour white has the tendency to make us  relax. It is also the color of innocence, purity and spirituality. Soothing, relaxing, calming, unctuous, satisfying, enjoyable and comforting...such as:
Cauliflower Au Gratin or potato bake comfort food perfect for winter evenings...
Fresh King island yoghurt...
Cultured butter, Brie, cheddar and a myriad of other cheeses,Corn Tortillas or Burritos
Bakery goods,
       Milkshakes and smoothies, Ice cream and sorbet, Milk based desserts or Coconut curry with basmati rice and Indian Roti and Naan, Garlic bread, Pasta and Lasagne.... I think we all know the comfort foods that we enjoy that are White....At the same time these foods are easily balanced by adding other bright colours such as fresh tomato sauce to the pasta with chopped yellow capsicum salsa on top.
Cheeses with blueberries, Quince paste or red grapes and red wine. Basmati Rice with a wide selection of colourful spices.....Creamy mashed potato served with fresh ratatouille of red and green vegetables
White foods are also Bananas  Brown pears  Cauliflower   Garlic Ginger     Leeks  Mushrooms   Onions   Parsnips  Potatoes   Shellfish    Seafood  Shallots  Turnips   White Corn   White nectarines    White peaches   White beans    Chickpeas   Sugar     Creme Fraiche   Mascapone    Rice   Noodles  Coconut and Coconut cream  Sesame seeds    Oats     Flours    and other grains. Now that we have explored all the various colours available in foods for our colour palette it  is all about balancing the colours to achieve delicious and appetising meals or snacks. Once you start cooking by colour and choosing a food from each colour group- red -green- yellow- orange - white- purple - indigo or blue it will become second nature  just steer clear of unnatural possibly harmful artificial colour agents in foods like blue and red dyes etc and go for fresh,organic if possible natural colours ......White foods can always  be enhanced by cooking with spices and serving them with fresh vegetables, fruits, and garnishes.....

Cooking with Colour ...GREEN

I'm enjoying my new drive to eat a wider selection of more colourful foods and to think colour -colour -colour when I shop and cook our meals.We all know fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals and fibre but the pigments  in the colours of bright fruit and vegetables have incredible healing powers for us to utilise.  These pigments are called Phytonutrients - and have the power to kill harmful bacteria, lower a fever, stop the growth of cancerous cells, slow down the ageing process, heal inflammation  and are also antioxidants Phytonutrients come in rainbow colours in our foods such as.......

Lycopene is a red pigment found in  tomatoes, red peppers, guavas and red palm oil. 

Betalains give foods and flowers their red, blue or purple colors, and are primarily found in beets.

Blueberries, blackberries, purple cabbage and red wines get their color from anthocyanins. 

Chlorophyll gives a predominant green color to many vegetables, even covering up the weaker coloring of other pigments. 

Lutein and zeaxanthin are yellow pigments that are also found in leafy greens and are covered up by chlorophyll.  You can see the true color of these pigments in squash, pumpkin and yellow corn.  

Curcumin is a yellow-orange pigment found in the spice turmeric.

Every day I've been selecting foods like an artist chooses paint colours  its much more appealing, appetising,fresh,bright,tasty and healthy...Besides the obvious health benefit  it is fabulous to sit down to a vivid and colourful plate of food  See previous blogs for red yellow and purple foods- we are now up to Greens and Whites....... 

Green Foods
Green vegetables contain chlorophyll, fiber, lutein, zeaxanthin, calcium, folate, vitamin C, calcium, and Beta-carotene. Our greens reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, digestion, support kidney health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals and boost our immune system.

Artichokes
  Arugula (rocket)     
Asparagus
   Avocados
   Broccoli       Brussel sprouts
             Celery
   Cabbage
   Cucumbers      Endive
 Green apples
    Green beans
      Green grapes
         Spring onion
      Green pears
        Green peppers   Green chilli
            Honeydew
     Kiwifruit
      Leafy greens
      Leeks
     Lettuce
          Limes
     Okra
      Peas
      Snow Peas  
    Spinach
    Sugar snap peas
      Watercress
  Zucchini  and Zucchini flowers Wheat grasses  Aloe vera juice  Mung beans   Watercress

Fresh herbs - basil , coriander, Oregano,  Tarragon, Chervil, Mint,  Parsley, Thyme and Rosemary.         Pesto            Salsa verde   Green Olives             Olive Oil   Chives      Pepitas Vine leaves and  Dolmades   Green pasta  Green split peas.......

Anatomy of the perfect weekend......

Firstly, it is a rare event in my work to have Friday evening included in the weekend I usually work until at least 9 pm on my weekends off. So today is extra special as I'm taking my Monday public holiday day so I'm not working and have a glorious day doing another super women clean and revamp...a swim, spa and session in the steam room afterwards so I feel a million dollars...have done shopping for the weekend......
Home looks great fresh, tidy, candles and fantastic roast chicken with chilli and garlic cooking...glass of wine a deserved treat. Watching the footy ......enjoying my company  but looks like Tigers are struggling
Tomorrow the plan is   -off early for a walk and to the health club for a swim again and continue the IP's swimming lessons...who is going amazingly well by the way.....be there about 2 hours or so
Home to a breakie of scrambled eggs and sourdough toast, tea, papers and relax....chill out for awhile......spend some time with my best friend.....
I have synching to do on my phone and laptop ...add some music to i tunes
want to upload mad men soundtrack and get some tips on my current recipe book formatting from my  IT expert .....Prepare some antipasto for lunch or dinner... later

Then walk back to the pool do it all over again.......
Be home by about 4 or 5 and just in time to make a la la la la platter of proscuitto, asparagus, cheese, quince paste and salsa style salad a few crackers or wafers and a champagne.....

Have an old movie to watch  12 Angry men Jack Lemon and George C Scott  If we want we have the ongoing delight of The Wire ... and Graham Norton show at 10.30
Sleep time so we can wake up and be off again its Premmis last weekend of swimming lessons..hit the pool early... then relax chill out its Sunday morning


Beautiful day sunny probably first sunny balmy Sunday in many weeks  (perhaps since mothers day at Picton) Supposed to be divine- Twenty degrees -clear skies no rain or cloud perhaps a chance to soak up the sun and enjoy Indian High Tea at Akis before the work of the afternoon.....Sunday evening relax some more, prepare for the week ...ooohhhh has the baby come by now ...I wonder Its a full on weekend coming up ....
Maybe a bit decadent but heh!!!! its my weekend off  and I've been a fantastic swim coach...better get back to the footy....

Ciao

COOKING with COLOURS

Cooking from the full spectrum of colours will not only help maintain health but make meals taste fresh appetising with great eye appeal.If your cooking looks unappetising, add another bright colour or a simple garnish such as diced capsicums or chopped chives, crunchy proscuitto or spanish onions, or a sprinkle of cayenne or paprika

Red foods help you to shed weight 
and are active in drawing toxins from the cells.

 

If you are subject to recurring colds and flu 

or you feel tired, they will boost your resilience......

 Try all these red foods 

Beetroot,   radishes,   red peppers,   chillies,   cinnamon  ginger   paprika        strawberries,    raspberries, watermelon,    cherries,    red onions,  red cabbage,   apples,  kidney beans,     crab, lobster, proscuitto,   lamb,    beef,    red fish,    prawns,  pomegranates,    red wine    and   grapes.........

Yellow or Orange

Yellow foods play a significant role in the energy system of the body. 

Yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in vitalising anti-oxidising sun energy and are high in Vit C

Both grapefruit and lemon juice support the liver in ridding itself of toxins or an overload of hormones. 

Yellow fruits and vegetables are teaming with carotenoids and bioflavonoids, which are a class of water soluble plant pigments that function as antioxidants and Vit A  and Vit C.

One of the vital ways that vitamin A benefits our the bodies is by maintaining the linings of the organs - eyes, lungs urinary tract, and intestinal tract. 

When these tissues are healthy, bacteria have difficulty growing and viruses are prevented from attacking and making us sick and will help slow the ageing process 

The yellow foods include nuts and seeds which are rich in vitamins B and E as well as iron, magnesium and zinc

These nutrients will help your heart, vision, digestion and immune system

Other benefits of naturally yellow foods include maintenance of healthy skin, wound healing, and stronger bones and teeth.

Butter provides Vit D and E

Bright colours in your cooking can be an instant mood booster 

This sunny hue represents happiness, joy and hope. 

When you eat yellow coloured foods, 
you nourish your body,mind and soul. 
Try yellow peppers, yellow zuchinnis, kumera, yellow tomatoes, sweet corn, parsnips, pumpkin, bananas, cheeses,  butter, ghee, star fruit,  golden delicious apples, pears, grapefruit, yellow beans, mangoes, oranges, nectarines, peaches, apricots, saffron, cumin, coriander powder  and tumeric.

Purple foods are rich in the particular natural plant pigment called anthocyanin, this has cancer fighting properties. And like yellow foods act as powerful antioxidants So. protect cells us from damage and may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.  Eating blueberries may also  foster healthy aging and increased memory function.

Purple grapes, figs, passion fruit, raisins, plums and dried plums are popular purple fruits, but many berries like blackberries, blueberries, elderberries, cranberries, count as purple foods,  and are some of the richest sources of anthocyanins. Blue and red fruits like concord grapes, cherries and pomegranates also are considered part of the family of purple foods and are rich in anthocyanins.

Eggplant is the most familiar purple vegetable, but there are lots of others you cook Purple carrots, purple cabbage, purple asparagus and purple-fleshed potatoes are colourful choices as well as endive, purple peppers, purple olives not forgetting Red wine of course.......more to come on white and green foods. 

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/246263-purple-foods-list/#ixzz1PuOpqXS6

Ayurvedic Eating Rituals

Eating Rituals in Ayurveda

Steady the mind and the body before you begin to eat  
Wash hands and feet before the meal.
Begin your meal with a blessing.
Do not eat when you are upset.
Avoid serving ice-cold water with the meal.  Sip warm or room temperature water.  


Cold water makes the stomach work harder to digest the meal as heat is required for digestion.

Serve freshly cooked food whenever possible
Serve mostly cooked foods with small portions of raw salads of easily digestible carrots, cucumber, light color greens.  Slow Cooked foods are easier to digest and they retain the nutrients besides tasting heavenly.
Avoid serving milk with the meal.  Milk is a hard food to digest and is best served by itself after it is warmed to help the milk to be more digestible.    Milk is best served warm at night before bed, as calcium is more easily absorbed when a person is lying down.

Go for a walk after dinner

Eat lightly at night and not much after 7pm

Be asleep by 10pm and awake by 6am

Eat until you are only 2/3 full

Eat in a pleasant environment not watching television or in a distracting place

Let your attention be on what you are eating so you can enjoy the experience

Foods should always be fresh, seasonal,attractive, colourful and smell wonderful

Do not eat unless you are hungry                  

Do not eat cooked honey and Let the meal be digested before you eat again

Colourful Cooking and Ayur Veda -1

-

My favourite way to cook is based on a combination of Ayur Veda and choosing foods from the whole colour spectrum...I can really be creative and experiment with a myriad of flavours, colours, tastes and at the same time improve health and balance in life. 

Ayur Veda is based on choosing our foods from each of the tastes in every meal: salty, sweet, pungent, bitter or astringent and sour foods.

By the clever use of spices and the timing of when they are added to the cooking, the combination and the quantity used, will impart either taste, aroma, heat or are used to thicken or bring a souring agent to the food.The overall effect being a delicious aromatic, meal of great delight that combines all the 6 tastes for our palettes and according to ancient texts of Ayur Veda will bring us health and balance in life

Each of the tastes have a specific effect on the individual's body type. Our bodies being made of the elements - Vata/Air     Pitta/Fire     Kapha/Earth     Jala/Water  Akasa/Air in varying degrees. It is by maintaining a balance of these Doshas  by eating from all tastes and the careful combination of foods and spices to balance the Doshas as well as following simple daily routines we can create wellness, decrease disease and enjoy life.

Choosing vegetables and fruits in season is one way to have the right tastes for that season, other ways are to use grains, beans, lentil, spices, herbs and seasonings to get the alchemy of taste right. 

Winter - sweet, sour and salty tastes are encouraged.
Summer - foods that are naturally sweet, bitter and astringent are encouraged.
Spring and autumn - pungent, bitter and astringent tastes are encouraged.

How to eat is as important as what we eat. 

Table manners in Ayur veda are guided more by balance and digestion for the creation of OJAS. Ojas is the outcome from food once it is perfectly digested. 

Ojas is positive, nuturing energy that boosts the immune, nervous, endocrine and psychological systems. The opposite is Ama -Indigestion creates Ama from toxins formed in the body due to improper digestion and imbalance.

More to come on Ayurvedic Eating Rituals and cooking the " Perfect Curry

Check out this fun movie about Spices

A day in my Life....

I'm fortunate .....because
“Blessed is the person who is too busy to worry in the daytime and too sleepy to worry at night.”
-- UNKNOWN

Monday Morning Motivation - De Clutter Day

decluttertips.org
Monday morning and I have the day off from work having been there all weekend....I could laze around, read leisurely or go out for walk and breakfast but I'm hankering for that inspiring feeling of accomplishment and a well deserved rest by the afternoon when one clears the decks, de clutters and creates order in the home. Its not so much the cleaning process but the tidying up and throwing unnecessary things out that miraculously accumulate that can make you feel so good 

This is how I do it...
First I VISUALISE  how I want my home to look...clean uncluttered and inviting
Next just START somewhere and remove everything that does not belong in that spot.
PUT AWAY- GIVE AWAY - THROW AWAY

blog.vastudc.com

Put everything away in its proper place and as you do ask yourself 
Would I buy this if I did not already have it ?
Do I Love it ?
Do I need it ?
Does it enhance my life ?
If NOT then toss it out
You will be amazed at how liberating and motivating it is to rid your home of unnecessary junk.


Our homes are our retreat from the world and should reflect who we are ...havens of peace and serenity.
We each have a unique abstract identity that we bring to our homes by the way we live and our choices of design and furnishings. This can only be truly seen and expressed when we do not over clutter so we can connect with our own inner character or spirit and can find peace and comfort in our surroundings.
You have to think deeply about what really appeals to you in a visual sense and seek out ways to express yourself in your home whether its a 5 bedroom home or a small apartment its all about creating a soothing, restorative living space.

Philippe Starck the well known designer once said " It is important to create your own environment, somewhere you are happy."
A few simple objects in the home that are easily seen in an uncluttered space will give more pleasure than a jumble.


Next after you have everything away look at how the room is set up (refer to my Vastu Tips in previous blog)
Allow fresh air and sunlight to breath life into your home. 
Remove any thing that does not make you feel good. if you get a bad feeling every time you look at an object remove it.
Furniture placement in short : the heavier items like wall units and furniture should be on Western or Southern walls and have the Eastern and Northern areas as clutter free as possible.
Sleep with your head to the East or North are just a few things that will make your living space harmonious calm and enjoyable.
Better get in to it..cheers Diyu

declutterbydesign.co.nz

Looking at Colours : RED

Image courtesy of sodahead.com

I'm enjoying the colour RED and have done so for the past year or two. I've acquired many red items at home as well as red journals and folders at work,red pieces of jewellery, red couch, red shoes and coat amongst other treasures.These  favourite things have had me thinking about why we like particular colours and how colours can alter our moods, stimulate our appetites calm us down or excite us.

RED increases ones enthusiasm and stimulates energy encouraging action and confidence.

Red can increase blood pressure, breathing, heart rate and pulse but it also can give a sense of protection and may alleviate fears and anxiety.

Image courtesy of yearseer.wordpress.com

Red foods stimulates the appetite. Just the thought of ripe red strawberries and your mouth begins to water Fresh red tomatoes, crisp red capsicum, radishes, spanish onions, pomegranates, watermelon, plums, apples and grapes last but not least my favourite, Red Cherries

 Image courtesy of Sodahead.com

Music with Red in the Title 

Black, Red, Yellow by Pearl Jam

   Image courtesy of photobucket.com

Blue Red and Grey  by The Who

The Red, White And Blue  by Toby Keith

Flaming Red by Patty Griffin

I Saw Red by Warrant

Lady in Red by Chris Deburgh

Little Red Corvette  by Prince

Red House  by Jimi Hendrix

Red, Red Wine by UB40

(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes by Elvis Costello

                                                    

RED is the highest arc of the rainbow.

Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight.

Bees can't see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees.

Red is the color that means "severe" in the color-coded threat system 

The longest wavelength of light is red.

Red symbolizes a negative direction in finance

Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity.

Driving a red car sends the vibe I'm Sexy, speedy, high-energy, and dynamic.

novavitasalon-spa.blogspot.com

RED Phrases

Red carpet treatment: VIP treatment

Caught red-handed: clearly guilty

Red in the face:  embarrassed

Seeing red:  anger

Red flag: danger

Not worth a red cent: no value

Red letter day: a memorable or joyful day

Red tape: excessive formality in Govt.
In the RED: economic or financial loss


RED around the World
In China Red is good luck and good fortune
In India Red symbolises life, energy and creativity
In Jamaica, a popular slang term for someone who is drunk is "red."
In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses are national icons. 
In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck.
Islamic, Hindu, and Chinese brides traditionally wear red.
Cochineal red, discovered by the Aztecs, was made using the female cochineal beetle. A pound of water-soluble extract required about a million insects. 
In Singapore, the color red symbolizes joy.
Chinese New Year is celebrated by wearing red decorating the house with red. 
Red envelopes with "luck money" are given to unmarried children to bring good fortune to them for the rest of the year.
www.sensationalcolor.com
Thats it for now I'll go and put on my Red coat and grab my Red bag and head home to relax on my red couch Ciao