Eating Well Archives | Page 3 of 6 | Arogya Holistic Healing

Ramps & Kale Pesto

Before the ramps, or wild leeks, season comes to an end, we wanted to share this tasty pesto recipe. Made from ramps and kale, this easy pesto offers a delicious way to dress up quinoa, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, farro, or even a slice of toast. In addition to having a pleasant yet pungent garlicky flavor, ramps are loaded with vitamins A and C, as well the minerals selenium and chromium. Kale is an exceptional source of vitamins K, A, and C. It’s also rich in organosulfur compounds, which have been linked to cancer prevention. You might want to throw some toasted walnuts into the pesto, reinforcing it with nutritious omega-3 fatty acids.

Ramp Foraging 101

Something we look forward to every spring is foraging for ramps, a delightful and pleasantly pungent variety of wild allium. Ramps are actually one of the first edibles of the year, making them a welcomed site after a long winter in the Connecticut. In essence, they are a symbol of rejuvenation and reminder of the warm months ahead.

A Soup to Soothe Spring Allergies

As some of us know all too well, the splendor of spring can be dampened by draining allergies. This cleansing daikon radish soup is a wonderful antidote to soothe spring allergies and counter that seasonal congestion and scratchy throat. Plus, it’s very easy to make!

How to make Delicious Miso Dressing

A few years ago, a friend inspired me to try my hand at making miso dressing. Not only did I discover a delicious and healthy way to dress up my veggies, but I also fell in love with this Japanese fermented soybean paste. Miso has since become a staple in my kitchen. In addition to using it in this refreshing dressing, miso’s a healing addition to marinades and soups. If I’m at a loss of what to make for dinner, a warming bowl of miso soup with tofu, greens, and seaweed always hits the spot (recipe to come!).

Wei’s Digestive Spice Blend

One of my favorite spice blends to uplift a pot of noodles or rice is the Japanese spice powder called shichimi togarashi. Being a lover of DIY kitchen projects, I decided to make my own adaptation of this digestive spice blend with an Arogya-touch. Not only does this blend bring an added dimension of flavor and depth to any meal, it also has medicinal value. In Chinese medicine, healthy digestion comes with good stomach-fire. When the stomach-fire is weak, digestion is poor, which also affects other systems of the body including immunity. This well-balanced, anti-inflammatory and flavor-enhancing powder promotes healthy stomach fire, and thus, improves digestion.

Hollyhock Dressing Recipe

I recently returned from a 9-day meditation retreat at Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. It was a wonderful opportunity to tune in, slow down, observe the nature of the mind, and cultivate mindfulness and compassion. Each day involved a schedule of alternating periods of walking and sitting mediation, mediation instruction, qigong, a dharma talk, chores, and three incredible vegetarian meals a day.

Meal times were some of my favorite moments of the day. Not only was every meal delicious, fresh and varied, it was also such a delight to have the time and awareness to eat slowly and mindfully. Taking my time with each bite, chewing thoroughly, and noticing how the food delighted my taste buds and mind made each meal incredibly satisfying and nourishing.

Scrumptious Chai Almonds

I’m a big fan of delicious protein-rich snacks that travel well. With this in mind, I recently created this recipe for roasted chai tea infused almonds. These wholesome nuts have a touch of caffeine and a little sweetness, making them a delightful afternoon pick-me-up.

Plus, they’re easy to prepare and more cost-effective than buying pre-roasted nuts. Additionally, cooking or baking anything from scratch makes it easier to use better ingredients and control just how much sugar and/or salt goes in.

Turmeric Ginger Chai

Something a number of us here at Arogya have in common is a shared interest in visiting India. Our experiences there have also fostered a mutual love for traditional Indian chai, which is a creamy blend of black tea, milk, sugar, and aromatic spices, typically ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, clove, nutmeg, and black pepper. On a cold, rainy day last week, we decided to create our own rendition of a warming, caffeine-free, and sugar-free turmeric ginger chai using our most popular healing blend. The result was a nourishing and calming tonic that’s perfect to sip anytime, as well as when the weather’s hot or cold.

Savory Lapsang Souchong Tofu

I’ll never forget the first time I encountered the unique, sweet pine-smoked aroma of lapsang souchong tea. I had recently begun my work with Arogya. I walked in on a cold winter day and contently went to pour myself a cup of tea. I noticed a beautiful, warm, and smoky scent drifting up from one of the teapots. As I soon learned, this was lapsang souchong, a traditional black tea from the Wuyi mountain region of Fujian Province.

Lapsang souchong is most likely the world’s oldest black tea.

Baked Mochi – A Delightful Snack!

We have a new favorite snack at Arogya: baked brown rice mochi topped off with a bit of raw honey and sesame seeds. This warm delight is a perfect compliment to a hot cup of tea, especially in the dead of winter.