Recipe: Mung Beans

I wish these little beans weren't so hard to find in a "regular" grocery store, because they are seriously awesome. Mung beans are used in Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic practices for detoxing the body. They are sweet, easily digestible, and versatile. Last night, I made this mung bean and butternut squash stew that was once featured on one of Food 52's recipe contests. It's both sweet and spicy, and the perfect recipe for transitioning from winter to spring. The ginger and other spices make the recipe feel warm and satisfying, but it is also light and easily digested. It made 6 servings, so I froze the rest to have again on a night I don't have time to cook. I served it with warm naan bread that I bought from Trader Joe's. Also, this recipe also gives you and opportunity to use that coconut milk you made.

I love all of the colorful veggies in this stew

 If you find whole mung beans, you can soak them the night before you make this stew. I buy them at Rainbow Grocery, they are labeled under mung daal in the bulk section. You can find this recipe here. 

Happy Friday! 

Movement for Detox

Exercising is essential for cleansing those organs, and when that isn't enough motivation for you, you can watch one of these videos.

 I long to be this strong and graceful on the mat

This video is both entertaining and educational, and proves just a little bit goes a long way.

Spring is near! Detoxing and canned foods

On my walk to the dogpatch the other day to get a fancy cup of joe, I couldn't help but notice that all of the cherry blossom trees were fully bloomed. Maybe it's because I'm originally an Arizona girl, but spring is definitely my favorite season. It's also a season for detox. I don't mean detox like, let's go on a juice fast for 20 days, but it is a good time to cleanse your body of all the warm, heavy winter foods we've been feeding on. In the next couple weeks I'd like to discuss many ways we can detox and eliminate harmful toxins from our daily lives. 

One thing we can do is limit our exposure to BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in some plastics. In our bodies this chemical disrupts our natural hormone levels. Some ways we can avoid it is to store our food in glass containers, and limit our intake of canned foods. Canned foods are lined with a BPA plastic, so the acidity of the food doesn't rust the can. Two foods with the highest found levels of BPH are tomatoes and coconut milk. 

For a while after I found this out, I avoided coconut milk all together. Which is sad because I love making curries. Until I found out how easy it is to make your own! If you don't now how, I've left instructions at the bottom of the page. 

In line at Piccino's coffee stand in the dogpatch

You can make coconut milk a few different ways. The most authentically homemade kind is from a whole coconut, however I find using shredded coconut works well and is much faster.


Homemade coconut milk
Need:
A blender or a food processor
cheesecloth or muslin
bowl
a cup of shredded unsweetened organic coconut (more like 7/8 a cup)
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 small jars

1. Place shredded coconut in your blender or food processor and add 1 cup of warm water. Pulse 5 or 6 times, or blend on high for about 30 seconds.

 2. Dump the coconut into a bowl lined with your cheesecloth or muslin, and squeeze the coconut juice out.

3. Place the coconut back into your food processor or blender and add the remaining 1/2 cup of warm water, and repeat the process. 

4. Pour the milk evenly into the jars, and store in the fridge or freezer.

5. Save for a detoxifying recipe that is coming up this week! 

Most wanted list

As I find ways to procrastinate studying for my midterms, I thought I'd share with you my top granola-ish wants at the moment.

1. An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace. By Tamar Adler.
I think this video might help you understand why I would like to own this cookbook.

2. A potted orange tree. For a never ending supply of vitamin C, and because I think it would look great in my apartment.

3. A Chemex coffee maker. For entertaining guests.

4. A free day in the sunshine. Without feeling guilty for not studying for a test. 

What's on your list?

5 granola-ish things to do for Valentine's Day

I have mixed feeling about this holiday. I'm a little annoyed by the pressure couples feel to impress each other, and how single people all of a sudden get down on themselves. Nevertheless, I always find myself participating one way or another. So I wanted to share some Granola-ish ways to I like to celebrate.

1. Skip going out to dinner if at all possible! Instead, make this rendition of Vegetarian Pot Pie. I made this last year for Valentine's Day after I was inspired by the post on Big Girls, Small Kitchen. I liked the idea so much that I always make pot pies this way. It's adorable, and you end up eating MUCH less crust. I love the recipe these girls put together, it's an upgrade on the classic. However, I love to play around with pot pie recipes and end up making it a little differently each time.

2. Save some of the veggies (raw) you used to make your pot pie and eat them with this beet hummus to share at the office or with friends. Use the heart shaped cookie cutter you needed for the pot pie recipe, and make heart shaped pita bread.

3. I'm definitely going to try and do this DIY project I saw on Honestly... WTF, I love elbow patches.

4. Homemade cards are the best. I usually make the children's type to bring back the nostalgia of Valentine's day in elementary school (and they are compatible with my DIY skills), however this one I found via Pinterest really impressed me! 

5. Lastly, make the day an excuse to give your sweetheart a massage. I recommend a foot massage, and when your fingers get tired, use this technique Shiatsu technique I learned in school. Ease into it though, elbows can be pretty intense!

***Bonus- you can listen to this animal collective song that I love, and think is very romantic.