Benefits of Cinnamon and a recipe

Winter is a good time of year to think about using cinnamon as it has many wonderful properties in addition to enhancing the flavor of food. It has both a sweet and spicy taste, and it is warming. It can balance blood sugar so it is good to sprinkle it on fruit, especially apples. It is also helpful for improving circulation and can be effective in relieving cold and flu symptoms.

Here is the promised recipe using cinnamon. It is warm and great for this time of year, vata season.

Easy Apple and Pear Crisp
(adapted from a recipe in the Washington Post)

3/4 cup flour (half unbleached white and half whole wheat pastry)
1/2 cup light brown sugar or sukanat
1/2 cup regular oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 t salt
3/4 - 1 t ground cinnamon
6 T unsalted organic butter, plus extra for greasing pan
2 1/2 cups peeled, cored and sliced tart apples, about 2 or 3
1 1/2 cups peeled, cored and sliced pears, about 1 or 2
1 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 t grated or minced lemon zest
1 t peeled and finely minced or grated fresh ginger root

Put oven rack in the middle position, and preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease an 8 x 8 baking dish with butter.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, oats, nuts, salt and cinnamon. Add the butter, using 2 knives or your fingers until it is evenly mixed, and the mixture resembles clumps. Set aside.

In another large bowl toss together the apples, pears, lemon juice, lemon zest and ginger. Add 1 cup of the crumb mixture and mix to combine. Spread the mixture evenly in the baking dish.

Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly over the top, using your finger tips to break up any large clumps.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, until the top is well browned, and the fruit is bubbly. Cool the dish on a wire rack. Serve warm either plain or topped with freshly whipped organic cream. Enjoy!

Come to my Second Fall Cooking Workshop on November 19th!

Please come to my Fall Cooking Workshop on November 19th from 2 to 5 pm at my house in Silver Spring!  The cost is $45.   There are a few openings.

My workshops are hands on. Participants help in preparing the food and take home copies of all the recipes. You will learn about Ayurveda, particularly as it pertains to healthy habits for the fall season and cooking for the fall. After cooking, we eat together in a peaceful setting.  These workshops are lively and fun!

If you would like to reserve a spot send an Email to me at dhelfeld@starpower.net.   If you cannot make it but would like to come to a winter workshop, please let me know that too.

At the October workshop we made Mung Dal Soup with Greens, Butternut Bhaji, Indian Fried Rice with Peanuts, Date Tamarind Chutney and Masala Chai or Spiced Tea. Here are a couple of pictures from the October workshop.

Come to a Fall Cooking Workshop: October 23 or November 19!

Please  come to a Fall Cooking Workshop!

 These are hands on workshops.  You will learn about Ayurveda, particularly as it pertains to healthy habits for the fall season and cooking for the fall.  All participants help in preparing the food, and then we eat together in a peaceful setting.  These workshops are lively and fun!

There are a couple of openings in the Sunday, October 23rd workshop, which is from 2 to 5 pm at my house in Silver Spring.

I will be holding a second workshop on Saturday, November 19th.

The cost is $45 which includes recipes and other handouts.

If you have not already signed up, reserve your space by sending me an email along with which workshop you want to attend to dhelfeld@starpower.net.

If you are unable to make either of these dates, either wait for the winter workshops or gather 3 to 6 friends and schedule your own workshop with me.

Thanks, and I look forward to seeing you!
Attached is a picture of the food prepared at a cooking workshop last winter.

Fall Cooking Workshops

Come to a Fall Cooking Workshop and learn about delicious foods to prepare to help us stay healthy in this season!  As usual, you will learn about Ayurveda as we cook the food and then all eat together in a fun and collegial setting.

One date is set:  Sunday, October 23rd, from 2 to 5 pm.
Please send me an Email at dhelfeld@starpower.net to reserve your space.   Cost is $45 per person.

If you cannot make the October date, there will be another one either on Sunday, November 13 or Saturday the 19th.  Let me know if you are interested in a November workshop.

Pictures from Second Summer Cooking Workshop in July

Here are some pictures from my Second Summer Cooking Workshop held on July 23rd. 

We started out with Hibiscus Mint Cool Tea.  After talking a bit about eating to stay in balance with the season and our individual constitution, we made good foods for the summer.  They included Rice and Quinoa Kitchari, Simple Green Beans and Carrots, Cucumber Ratia, and Fresh Mint Chutney.
The dishes are all in my handmade pottery.

Pictures from "Advanced" Summer Cooking Workshop in July

Here are some pictures from my "Advanced" Summer Cooking Workshop that was held on July 17th. 

We started out with Hibiscus Mint Cool Tea.  Then we made Palak Paneer (the cheese as well as the greens), Coconut Rice, Chana Dal, and Pitta Churna (a spice mix good to use in the summer). We also had some yogurt with a little cilantro mixed in!

Last reminder about July 23 Second Summer Cooking Workshop!

There are still a couple of openings in  my Second Summer Cooking Workshop on July 23rd from 10 am to 1 pm! 

We had a spirited and successful cooking workshop on Sunday, and the second one on the 23rd should be just as much fun!

It is at my house in Silver Spring.  We will talk about good foods for the summer, prepare several dishes, and eat what we have made. Pictures of two of the dishes, rice and quinoa kitchari and mint chutney,  are below. The cost is $45 and includes copies of the recipes, seasonal eating tips, information about Ayurveda and the 6 tastes,  as well as where to find the ingredients. 

Please send me an EMail at dhelfeld@starpower.net to reserve your space!
Thanks!

Upcoming Workshop on July 23

Come to my Second Summer Cooking Workshop on July 23rd from 10 am to 1 pm! 

There are a couple of openings.  We will talk about good foods for the summer, prepare several dishes,  and eat what we have made.  One of the dishes, rice and quinoa kitchari, is pictured above.  Handouts include the recipes, seasonal eating tips as well as where to find the ingredients.

Please send me an EMail at dhelfeld@starpower.net to reserve your space!
Thanks.

Update on July Cooking Workshops

I had to cancel the July 9th workshop, and the July 17th workshop featuring palak paneer is full!

 

If you would like another opportunity to get tips for staying cool and calm and keeping your digestive system healthy and balanced during the heat of summer, I can hold another workshop the weekend of July 23 and 24, either 10 to 1 on Saturday the 23rd or 2 to 5 on Sunday the 24th.   You will get hands on experience making simple and delicious dishes as well as eating what we prepare!

 

Please let me know if you are able to come and which date is better or if you can come either time.  Send me an Email to reserve a space, and it will go on one of those days if enough people sign up.  The next cooking workshop will not be until October.

 

Let me know if you have any questions, and I look forward to seeing you!

My Email is dhelfeld@starpower.net

Upcoming Cooking Workshops in July!

I am planning a couple of workshops during the month of July!

 

One will be a Cooking for Summer workshop to include good foods to prepare that help us stay cool during the hot months.

The tentative date for that is Saturday, July 9th from either 2 to 5 or 1:30 to 4:30.

This is open to everyone. Participants learn about diet and the 6 tastes and prepare the dishes in a fun and collegial atmosphere.  We all eat what we have made in a peaceful setting.  Handouts include the recipes and seasonal tips, as well as where to find the ingredients.  We will make several dishes, including mint chutney and cucumber raita, see pictures below.

 

The second workshop, set tentatively for Sunday, July 17 from 2 to 5, is for those who have either taken one of my workshops before or are experienced cooks, familiar with Indian food.  This is where we will be making Palak Paneer, which several people have requested.  We will be making our own paneer (cheese) as well as preparing the rest of the recipe.  We will prepare several simple dishes to accompany the Palak Paneer, and below is a picture of the dish that I made last month.

 

If you are interested in the workshops, but cannot make either of those dates, gather 3 to 6 other people, and contact me to schedule your own workshop at a mutually convenient time. 

 

Send me an Email to reserve your space at dhelfeld@starpower.net.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of the cooking workshops!