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Who doesn't love a good roast with mashed potatoes? Well we've just one upped this recipe by substituting cauliflower for the potatoes. The cauliflower makes it seriously delicious, a bit more nutritious, and lower in carbohydrates for our diabetic friends and anyone else on a low carbohydrate diet.
Recipe
For the Roast 2 pounds of chuck roast 1 onion chopped 1 bulb garlic chopped 2 stalks of celery chopped 1/4th cup of carrot chopped 2 cups water 1 cup Merlot 1 tablespoon salt Pepper to taste 2 tablespoons agar agar (gravy thickener) For the Mashed Cauliflower 1 large cauliflower 1 clove of garlic minced 1 tsp fresh rosemary minced 3 tablespoons melted butter 1/4th cup heavy whipping cream 1 tsp salt pepper to taste For the roast, add all ingredients and slow cook for 8 hours. When it's done take the meat out and set aside. To make gravy add agar agar to the liquid and puree until smooth. Add the roast back in and shread. For the mashed cauliflower, chop it up and boil until tender. Drain the water and add the cauliflower to your food processor. Pulse in salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic, butter and heavy cream. Process until smooth and creamy. That's it!
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We were sitting together after putting our daughter to sleep and everything just felt like a mess - we had to improve how things were working in our household to help things be more sustainable in all the other aspects of our life. That's when we remembered a story a friend told us of her Daily 5. If we could just remember the big stuff, the little stuff wouldn't feel so overwhelming. Thats when we started the doing The Daily Five and haven't looked back.
It sounds simple, and it is. The Daily Five is our personal list of 5 household/family tasks that we make sure to get done every night before we go to sleep. We wrote our 5 things and posted it to our whiteboard. As soon as we put our daughter to sleep, we jump into action. It takes us 15-30 minutes if we do it together. Here's our daily top 5 list:
Keep It Short Keep your list to about 5 items or less - even if Your Best Self vacuums every day, prioritize what truly needs to get done on a daily basis. Update It Your daily list will change over time. When we first started we were in the midst of tax season and that took priority. Post It Once you have your list, post it somewhere you can see it. Even months later, I sometimes have to look at the list to remember what to do. Why? Because after a long day my brain isn't running on all eight cylinders. Paper is way better at keeping track of things than your overloaded brain is. Make a Habit Help yourself get off to a great start by keeping track of every day that you get your list done in the first few weeks. Create a place you can check a box each time you do the daily list. Visual trackers are great for accountability and habit-building. The benefits of doing this consistently have been surprising. Our mornings, while still a little crazy (we still have a 2 -year-old after all) are way less intense than they used to be. Dishes and trash aren't piling up. Because we know how hard it is when we don't get this list done at night, we very rarely miss doing it.
Using large amounts of the following herbs and other natural remedies should be avoided while nursing because they have been known to decrease milk supply. The amounts of these herbs normally used in cooking are unlikely to be of concern; it’s mainly the larger amounts that might be used therapeutically that could pose a problem. However, some moms have noticed a decrease in supply after eating things like dressing with lots of sage, sage tea (often recommended when moms are weaning), lots of strong peppermint candies or menthol cough drops, or other foods/teas with large amounts of the particular herb. These herbs are sometimes used by mothers to treat oversupply, or when weaning.
Herbs that may be harmful to mom and/or baby Other herbs should be avoided while nursing due to their potential for harming mom and/or baby. Here are a few herbs that are generally considered to be contraindicated for nursing mothers. This is by no means a complete list.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar to you, here are some anti-anxiety self-care recommendations that we regularly share with patients:
Chinese herbal formulas can help to correct the physical and energetic patterns underlying the anxiety symptoms, and I support people in finding safe and effective herbal alternatives to anti-anxiety medications. However, we always instruct patients to work with their psychiatrists to safely transition off these very strong medications if they are currently taking them. In particular, it is not a good idea to go off or reduce psychotropic medications during times of increased stress and transition. What defines anxiety as a disorder is that it gets triggered by non-life threatening events, or minor stressors. I have seen the power of Chinese Medicine change my patients’ long-standing patterns of anxiety again and again. By calming the sympathetic nervous system, we enable the body to better heal.
In Chinese medicine, food and herbs are used to supplement your Jing, especially if you're showing signs of deficiency, like low AMH and/or a poor antral follicle count. Preserving your Jing is so important for increasing fertility, which is why we always include dietary, exercise, and lifestyle guidelines. Even if you're not showing signs of deficiency, eating Jing-nourishing foods help to preserve and increase fertility. Because bone marrow is a form of Jing, acupuncturists may prescribe bone marrow soup to supplement your Jing supply. Bone marrow also helps to build new blood cells and heal the gut. It's excellent for building a healthy uterine lining and supporting digestion - another important element of fertility. Here's a recipe to replenish your Jing, boost egg quality and build a healthy lining. It's taken from a wonderful Chinese medicinal cookbook written by two of my teachers. Bone-Building Stock (Makes 10 to 14 cups) (Taken from "Ancient Wisdom Modern Kitchen: Recipes from the East for Health, Healing, and Long Life" by Yuan Wang, Warren Shier, and Mika Ono)
Once you have made the stock, simply add ingredients you prefer: veggies such as mushrooms, carrots, Chinese cabbage, or kale; and/or meat such as shrimp, chicken, beef, or pork. Season with salt or soy sauce to taste. You can also make one large batch and freeze the broth to use later. Ingredients:
1.) Place the bones, wine, water, and vegetables (if using) in a large pot. If the bones aren't covered with liquid, add water until they are. 2.) Bring to boil, lower the heat, and simmer, uncovered for 5 minutes. Skim off and discard any froth that rises to the top of the stock. 3.) For beef bones, simmer, covered, for 8 to 10 hours; add more water if needed. For pork or lamb bones, simmer, covered, for at least 2 1/2 hours. 4.) Remove the bones, vegetables, and ginger from the stock, using a slotted spoon, a strainer, or piece of cheesecloth. 5.) Skim off any excess fat. Season the stock with salt if desired (or wait to add until you cook with the stock). 6.) If you aren't using the stock immediately, you can store it in the fridge for a few days or freeze it in small portions for later use.
May 26th, 2017 6pm-830pm The Flood Building $115 per couple *space is limited - please call or email to reserve your spot* 415.362.4600 / sfim.officemgr@gmail.com
Meet the Facilitator!
**Please note - Because we are working on the floor this workshop is not appropriate for those that cannot lay face down on the floor for a period of 45 minutes. Please be able to spend about 45 minutes seated on the floor and have the ability to be on your knees to work. This workshop is designed for two people that want to learn to give each other massages . We will switch halfway so that each partner has a chance to massage the other and learn. Both partners should dress in a way that allows them to feel comfortable but also gives access to their bare back
Ingredients
In a large salad bowl, combine the (massaged) kale, parsley, lentils or garbanzo beans, apples, cucumber, avocado For the dressing, blend everything in a food processor or blender, with salt and pepper to taste, until the garlic is smooth. Pour the dressing on the salad and toss well to coat.The salad will keep in the fridge for a full day and slowly lose it's crunch from there. Secrets and Tips Buying and Types of Kale Kale should have a fresh green color with moist, crisp, un-wilted leaves. There are normally 2 types of kale you'll find at the supermarket
Storing Keep kale in a plastic bag with 1 paper towel (to absorb any extra moisture) in the fridge. Kale becomes increasingly bitter and strongly flavored the longer it is kept and so is best eaten soon after buying. Preparing For all types of kale its good to give it a nice wash in water to remove any dirt clinging to the inside of the leaves.
March is Endometriosis Awareness and I thought it would be a good time to let woman who are suffering with ednometriosis know that Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help.
Just The Facts ... Endometriosis generally occurs when uterine tissue migrates outside the uterus and attaches itself to organs in the abdominal cavity. It is typically seen as pigmented or non-pigmented lesions, cysts, nodules or masses. The lesions can be found on the colon, bladder, ovary, fallopian tubes, uterine ligaments or abdominal wall. The lesions can be problematic in that they are stimulated by the same hormonal cues as the uterine lining. This stimulation can lead to growth and microscopic bleeding of the lesions, which can result in scar tissue formation (adhesions), severe pain and inflammation. The only way endometriosis can be confirmed is through laparoscopy. Western medicine does have treatment for the symptoms; however a cure has been elusive. If endometriosis is found, it will usually be removed surgically. While surgery may be helpful at removing the some of the lesions or masses, it does little to stop the formation of new lesions or calm the body’s immune response to the endometriosis. The Benefits Of Chinese Medicine For Endometriosis Chinese herbal medicine can play an important role in helping women with endometriosis achieve pregnancy with its ability to treat the root and the symptoms aggravating the uterine environment.* There are many herbs to treat some of the symptoms associated with endometriosis, having effects such as:
Other helpful suggestions to help calm an overactive immune system include:
To Summarize...
What is most important from a Chinese medical standpoint is to identify the root of the imbalance and treat that accordingly. If the root is treated along with the symptoms, then the likelihood of achieving a nurturing uterine environment and healthy pregnancy increases dramatically. Interested in getting involved? San Francisco is hosting the Worldwide Endometriosis March on March 25th! More info here --> http://www.endomarch.org/ photo credit www.swoosh.com
For me personally, spring can be an exciting but difficult time. It’s a time of new beginnings, new growth, purification, and for clearing out the old. All this new growth is electrifying and wonderful but it can come with difficulties too. On these cold (to this Californian) mornings, I sometimes feel like seed that is still deciding if it wants to stay safe in the ground or take the leap and emerge from under the soil – or in my case, the covers of my warm bed. Depending on where you live, you may not have yet seen evidence of new life bursting forth; it might be a little more subtle (like that blizzard the East Coast is getting right now). But you many have noticed a shift in your body’s energy and changes in how you feel physically and emotionally as the hours of daylight increase. What gives me that extra push forward is that I fully believe that by following the rhythms and cycles of nature, we can also create balance within our own lives. In Chinese Medicine spring is associated with the Wood element, which governs the liver and gall bladder organs and maintains the smooth of Qi in our bodies. Strong winds are typical during spring (especially here in Windy Wellington). The blowing of wind in spring can offset the equilibrium of these organs, which in turn can affect other organ systems causing congestion and imbalance. When this happens, I see the most common symptoms of spring walk into my clinic: 5 Signs That Acupuncture Can Help You This Spring 1. Feeling a little extra tense or angry In TCM, the Liver is responsible for smooth flow of Qi throughout the body. When the Liver is not functioning optimally, things like emotional and situational stress tend to aggravate us more. 2. Experiencing more than the usually sore muscle or headache When the Qi isn’t flowing smoothly, we start to experience what acupuncturists think of as congestion or stagnation-type symptoms. These include pain, tension, tightness, or restriction of our muscles and body. Headaches and menstrual cramps are commonly worse this time of year as well. 3. Digestion feels a bit off balance Good digestion is dependent on consistent and smooth movement of Qi throughout the whole body. When the Liver fails to control the flow, digestive problems are most likely to occur. Don’t forget the brain-gut connection, as we know, when our emotional stress is higher than usual, our digestive system takes a hit. 4. Springtime allergies (especially bad after all this awesome rain we've had) If the liver is not healthy, it could affect other organs like the spleen and the lungs. Symptoms of this disharmony between these organs include: chest congestion, sneezing, running nose, itching eyes and other symptoms that are associated with allergy problems. 5. Difficulty sleeping through the night A weakened Liver can also affect your sleep. When the Liver is not controlling the smooth flow of QI, you might notice you’re up thinking all night or still upset about something that happened at work. The time of the Liver is also between the hours of 1am-3am and this is when most people wake and have a hard time falling back to sleep. 
Have you noticed that you are tired all of the time? Do you have trouble concentrating? Are you cold and achy? Maybe that you have you been gaining weight even though you eat right and exercising? Are you depressed or do your emotions seem off? If you are having these feelings it is important to know that you are not alone and your symptoms could be the result of a dysfunction in your thyroid
When functioning properly, the thyroid gland secretes just the right amount of thyroid hormone to regulate almost all the metabolic processes in your body. Too much or too little of these vital body chemicals and it can drastically influence energy levels, body weight and your mental health. With over 20 million Americans living with some form of thyroid disease, much attention has been given to the many ways that acupuncture and Oriental medicine can treat thyroid problems. What is the thyroid? The thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the front of the neck. It is responsible for energy, metabolism, hormone regulation, body weight and blood calcium levels. Thyroid disorders stem from either an overproduction (hyperthyroidism) or underproduction (hypothyroidism) of thyroid hormones. When your thyroid is not functioning properly, your body can experience a variety of symptoms: Hyperthyroidism: • Weight loss despite increased appetite • Increased heart rate, heart palpitations, higher blood pressure, nervousness, and excessive perspiration • More frequent bowel movements, sometimes with diarrhea • Muscle weakness, trembling hands • Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck) • Lighter or shorter menstrual periods Hypothyroidism: • Lethargy, slower mental processes or depression • Reduced heart rate • Increased sensitivity to cold • Tingling or numbness in the hands • Development of a goiter (an enlargement in your neck) • Constipation, heavy menstrual periods or dry skin and hair Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can be diagnosed by testing the levels of thyroid hormones in your blood. Hormones secreted by the thyroid are measured, as well as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), a chemical released by the pituitary gland that triggers hormone production in the thyroid. Some milder forms of hypothyroidism can also be detected by a consistently low basal body temperature. How can acupuncture help? Both Western and Eastern medicine offer various methods to restore thyroid hormone levels. Western treatments rely mainly on drugs and surgery while Eastern treatments aim to restore immune function as well as balance the production and release of thyroid hormones through a variety of approaches ranging from acupuncture and herbal remedies to lifestyle changes and special exercises. Acupuncture can be used to restore hormonal balance, regulate energy levels, smooth emotions and help manage sleep, emotions and menstrual problems. There are several powerful acupuncture points on the ear and the body that can be used to regulate the production of thyroid hormones. Treatments take all of your symptoms are taken into account and are aimed at balancing the energy within the body to optimize health. When it comes to lifestyle changes, a diet rich in protein, calcium, magnesium, and iodine helps support thyroid function while certain foods known as goitrogens may interfere with thyroid hormone production and should be limited. These include cruciferous vegetables (such as cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts), peanuts, and soy. Stress reducing exercises such as yoga or tai chi can also be beneficial. If you have a thyroid problem or have a question, call for a consultation. A custom-tailored treatment plan will be created to suit your individual needs so that you can feel better! |
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