Well today was my last day in the kitchen and I got to sneek out early to attend the last class of level one which was desserts. I have never been a big dessert maker, but I know if I want John (my son) to embrace macrobiotics I would have a better chance with a few desserts up my sleeve. The first dessert was so easy and delicious. It is called a Kanten which is kinda of like a jellow but they use a seaweed called agar agar instead of the animal product gelatin. The dessert consisted of organic apple juice, chopped up apples and agar agar. You take about 2 cups of apple juice to 2 cups of chopped apples and 5 heaping teaspoons of agar agar. Put it in a pot to boil stirring ocassionally so tha agar agar doesn't clump. Simmer it for about 10 minutes or until the apples are soft. Take off the stove and pour into small serving dishes or into a glass shallow bowl. Refrigerate. That can be the end of it or like the chef did today you can top it off with some cashew cream that was very easy to make. The cashew cream was made by taking 2 cups of raw cashews washing them off and then pouring them into a pot with 2 cups of water bring them to a boil add a pinch of salt and cook for about 5 minutes or till they are soft. Then transfer them to the blender and add a teaspoon of vanilla and a teaspoon of brown rice syrup blend until it is creamy. The cashew cream gave the kanten a rich wonderful taste. I can't wait to get home and make it for my family and our next meeting at our church.
The other thing I got to experience with Korean Moxa on my hand. One of the students from Korea brought it and showed me how to do it. Moxa is an herb called mugwort. It is the most yang herb which means it stimulates circulation, warms the body and brings things back to balance. I burn moxa at my clinic on areas that are stiff and painful but in Korea they only use it on the hand because they say that the hand represents the whole body. The moxa has been dried and it is put on a litle clay stand. The whole thing is about one inch and you place it on different points of the hand for the digestion, reproductive, circulation, and memory.
She gave me a box and I am going to see how they worka and if I like it I will be doing it on my patients.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Day 27th at the Kushi Institute
Tomorrow is my last full day here. I will be leaving Saturday morning back to Orlando so I thought I would summarize up some of the main things that I have learned here at the Kushi Institute:
1. I have learned how to use a knife and my own one at that.
2. I have learned how to live in a dorm which I didn't get to do in college.
3. I learned how to make some great new dishes and to expand my repetoire in the kitchen
4. I learned how to do a Shiatsu massage and I can't wait to do them on my husband and patients.
5. I learned I can go a whole month without coffee and a glass of wine ( which is very good).
6. I learned that it is very cold up in the Berkshires in April and May. I think I will Qigong and will find a place to do it when I get home.
7. I learned tht it is nice to get away once in awhile but that you can't stay gone for too long.
8. I learned I can go a whole month without wearing makeup and wearing a bandana on my head. It will be nice to not have to deal with bad bandana hair.
9. I learned how to pick budock root, dandelion root, and other local plants.
10. I learnd that Lilacs and Lily of the Valley bloom during this time and they are gorgeous.
11. I learned I love to go for hikes in the woods.
12. I learned I nedd to breathe more and let go.
13. I learned how to love my father and to let go of my anger towards him.
14. I learned to forgive myself for not being at his side when he died.
15. I learned that I love being in the Alternative Health field and that I will be spending a life time learning all these GREAT things.
16. I learned to live within natures laws and that there is a price to pay if you decide not to.
I am glad I took this adventure. One of the teachers told us that 2010 is a year of change and for the people born the year of the Tiger like I am this will be a Big Year of Changes. He told me to hold on to my hat, so I am holding on and waiting to see what happens.
1. I have learned how to use a knife and my own one at that.
2. I have learned how to live in a dorm which I didn't get to do in college.
3. I learned how to make some great new dishes and to expand my repetoire in the kitchen
4. I learned how to do a Shiatsu massage and I can't wait to do them on my husband and patients.
5. I learned I can go a whole month without coffee and a glass of wine ( which is very good).
6. I learned that it is very cold up in the Berkshires in April and May. I think I will Qigong and will find a place to do it when I get home.
7. I learned tht it is nice to get away once in awhile but that you can't stay gone for too long.
8. I learned I can go a whole month without wearing makeup and wearing a bandana on my head. It will be nice to not have to deal with bad bandana hair.
9. I learned how to pick budock root, dandelion root, and other local plants.
10. I learnd that Lilacs and Lily of the Valley bloom during this time and they are gorgeous.
11. I learned I love to go for hikes in the woods.
12. I learned I nedd to breathe more and let go.
13. I learned how to love my father and to let go of my anger towards him.
14. I learned to forgive myself for not being at his side when he died.
15. I learned that I love being in the Alternative Health field and that I will be spending a life time learning all these GREAT things.
16. I learned to live within natures laws and that there is a price to pay if you decide not to.
I am glad I took this adventure. One of the teachers told us that 2010 is a year of change and for the people born the year of the Tiger like I am this will be a Big Year of Changes. He told me to hold on to my hat, so I am holding on and waiting to see what happens.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Day 26th at the Kushi Institute
Today we had falafels for lunch today. I learned that they are made out of soaked chick peas and not cooked chick peas. You let the chick peas soak over night and then you drain the water. You can then put them in the cuisinart till they break down to a meal or powder. Add parsley, carrots, onions, cumin, and some corn meal to hold them together. The chef then scooped them into a small ice cream scooper and on to a tray before dropping them in the hot cast iron skillet to fry. He made a sesame sauce to put over them but being from Florida I can make a tofu sauce with soft tofu, sweet miso and brown rice vinegar. They say it taste just like the yogurt sauce they serve in Miedle Eastern Restaurants. We wrapped them in a whole wheat tortilla with some lettuce and cucumbers.
The afternoon class was on remedies that you can make for the body. We made a ginger compress that can be put on your lower back, shoulder area, up the spine or on the belly for stagnant pain. We also made a tofu plaster thqat can be used if you sprain your ankle, wrist, or any acute inflamed pain that you were thinking about putting ice on. The tofu relieves the inflammation like the ice but it pulls the heat out of the body while the ice pushes into the body. The tofu plaster can also be placed on a child that is feeling bad. One can be placed behind the neck and the other on the belly to relieve any pain there. I hope she is going to show more remedies tomorrow. In the meantime I am trying to figure out how I can do them in my new clinic when I get back.
The afternoon class was on remedies that you can make for the body. We made a ginger compress that can be put on your lower back, shoulder area, up the spine or on the belly for stagnant pain. We also made a tofu plaster thqat can be used if you sprain your ankle, wrist, or any acute inflamed pain that you were thinking about putting ice on. The tofu relieves the inflammation like the ice but it pulls the heat out of the body while the ice pushes into the body. The tofu plaster can also be placed on a child that is feeling bad. One can be placed behind the neck and the other on the belly to relieve any pain there. I hope she is going to show more remedies tomorrow. In the meantime I am trying to figure out how I can do them in my new clinic when I get back.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Day 26th at the Kushi Institute
One of the reasons I came to the Kushi was for me to learn how to cook and advise people who were suffering with cancer because my father had died of bone cancer and I couldn't help him. I intentionaly arrived here on his 70th birthday as a tribute to my father. I did not make it to his bedside before he past and I did not get to tell him how much I loved him and how much he hurt me before he left. I kept numb through most of the funeral and did not acknowledge the fact that he was gone. I've kept it on the back burner while I kept on running y clinic and dealing with every day responsibilities. I have tried to talk to my father since he past away, but to no avail. I have not heard his voice or his spirit around me. I was hoping that since I had gotten away to here that I would be able to hear his voice. I don't know if it is because I am so busy in the kitchen working or trying to go to as many classes as I can but I have not been able to hear his voice. The one voice I have heard is me thinking about the items that I am mad at my father at run through my head asking why he did what he did and could he please explain himself. I am starting to wonder if maybe it is my job to release him of my bitter anger and the list of offenses I have against him before I will feel his love around me.
I have to tell you that my shield of self rightousness that I have covered myself with is very thick and made out of pure stainless steel so nothing can stick to my part of the problem but just their's. With it on I get to stay a hurt child that doesn;t take responsibility to her part, but when the shield comes off I have to deal with that I am almost 50 years old and I have to realize that my father did the best he could and that he was human just as I am and that it is my job to let go of the hurts because he is not here he is not suffering with his bowels I am. it is physically hurting me and only ME and my children will have issues about me and how I was as a mother and hopefully they will be gentle and loving and not a venous viper like I have been spouting all my rage at my stupid injustices that I experienced. I am hoping that I will move on and I will here my dad in the wind or the rustly of the trees or the cancer patients that I could help. Maybe I will be able to remember his loving side and some of the great memories instead of it being clouded in my muck.
I have to tell you that my shield of self rightousness that I have covered myself with is very thick and made out of pure stainless steel so nothing can stick to my part of the problem but just their's. With it on I get to stay a hurt child that doesn;t take responsibility to her part, but when the shield comes off I have to deal with that I am almost 50 years old and I have to realize that my father did the best he could and that he was human just as I am and that it is my job to let go of the hurts because he is not here he is not suffering with his bowels I am. it is physically hurting me and only ME and my children will have issues about me and how I was as a mother and hopefully they will be gentle and loving and not a venous viper like I have been spouting all my rage at my stupid injustices that I experienced. I am hoping that I will move on and I will here my dad in the wind or the rustly of the trees or the cancer patients that I could help. Maybe I will be able to remember his loving side and some of the great memories instead of it being clouded in my muck.
Day 25 at the Kushi Institute
Today for lunch we made lentil bugers. We took the left over lentils and leftover vegetables that we had like summer squah, carrots, and onions and we added them to the lentils added some breadcrumbs, tamari, and rolled them into patties. We then put them on the grill till they where brown on both sides. The chef then made a ground mustard sauce with the mustard and sweet miso to put on top. It is a fantastic way to use up beans that you have cooked before and have no clue what to do with them.
One thing that I have been realizing since I have been working on my intestinal issues is that because I have been clogged up physically I have also been clogged up emotionally and holding on to issues that I should have dropped after about two minutes. I seem to hold on to them the same way I seem to be holding on to my bodies waste. I am trying to let go both physically and emotionally because the emotional one is hurting me more than the other person. I also know that when the constipation starts I seem to then play back scenarios in my head of my perceived hurts and injustices that I felt I endured and after they start moving again I don't have them playing in my mind. I know that I don't want to end up a clogged up bitter woman so I am learning how to "Let Go" and move on because there will be more coming in the future, and it is my responsiblity to let it run over me like water on a ducks back and for me to stay in a state of gratitude and love.
One thing that I have been realizing since I have been working on my intestinal issues is that because I have been clogged up physically I have also been clogged up emotionally and holding on to issues that I should have dropped after about two minutes. I seem to hold on to them the same way I seem to be holding on to my bodies waste. I am trying to let go both physically and emotionally because the emotional one is hurting me more than the other person. I also know that when the constipation starts I seem to then play back scenarios in my head of my perceived hurts and injustices that I felt I endured and after they start moving again I don't have them playing in my mind. I know that I don't want to end up a clogged up bitter woman so I am learning how to "Let Go" and move on because there will be more coming in the future, and it is my responsiblity to let it run over me like water on a ducks back and for me to stay in a state of gratitude and love.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Day 24 at the Kushi Institute
WhileI was at Cathy's I did not follow my diet at all. I did not go on a crazy binge but my dinner did not consist of brown rice and greens. Today is Mother's Day so I am calling it a free day. Cathy made me a beautiful cup of Cafe con Leche. I do love coffee but I do not drink it every day anymore but I did splurge and have one this morning for breakfast along with her multigrain french toast. She then drove me back to the Kushi Institute so I would be back in time to work the dinner shift. The chef made a special dinner for Mother's Day. He made a vegan lasagna that was out of this world. I can't wait to get home and fix this for my family and friends. The noodles where made out of brown rice ; the tomato sauce was made out of cooked carrots and onions; the cheese was made out of ground cashews, and the filling was sauted leeks, scallions, and shitake mushrooms. There wasn't anything left to put away everybody went back for seconds and cleaned us out. The other chef made a rice pudding out of brown sticky rice, sweet miso, and cooked dried apricots. Tonights feast was beautiful, healthy, and a work of art. I think at the next pot luck dinner meeting my husband and I attend at our church I will bring this lasagna and see if people realize that it is vegan. This is one dish that your guest will feel happy and satisfied. There is definitely no feeling of deprivity on the macrobiotic diet unless you decide to do the brown rice cleanse for a few days.
Concerning the brown rice fast I have failed this weekend. I am going to try it again when I get home because I will have more control over my food and I won't have to listen to everybodies thoughts and ideas about the fast. I can say that for the 3 days that I just did the grains I felt lighter, more focused and never hungry because you can eat as much as you want. The hard part is chewing each mouthful 50 times without getting distracted or having someone talk to you.
Concerning the brown rice fast I have failed this weekend. I am going to try it again when I get home because I will have more control over my food and I won't have to listen to everybodies thoughts and ideas about the fast. I can say that for the 3 days that I just did the grains I felt lighter, more focused and never hungry because you can eat as much as you want. The hard part is chewing each mouthful 50 times without getting distracted or having someone talk to you.
Day 23 at the Kushi Institute
Today I had to work breakfast and lunch in a row, but my ex-sister-in-law came to visit and I went with to spend some time with her and to see her house. It was my first time out of the Kushi Institute since I got here 3 weeks ago. I wa excited to see her because I hadn't seen her in over 5 years and I didn't know that she was only an hour away. The drive to Conneticut was beautiful with the mountains and the river running through. We stopped at a chicken farm that has existed in the area for over 100 years. The chickens are free range. They also had a big convenience store where you could get any kind of chicken item you wanted plus a lot of other items. At the beginning I thought I might go crazy buying junk but then it passes and you realize that is dumb. We then went on to her house and hung out and made dinner. We caught up on all the news and just had a great time being together. She made a lovely dinner of striped bass, ceasar salad without the croutons, and steamed spinach, portobello mushrooms and tomatoes. I enjoyed my little escape, but I was glad to get back and finish up my last week.
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