Eating Well Archives | Page 4 of 6 | Arogya Holistic Healing

Aunt Gayathri’s Ragi Roti

During my most recent trip to South India this January, I had the privilege of spending time with my dear friend Gayathri Muralidhar and her family. I met Gayathri in 2006, when I visited Myosre, Karnataka for the first time. In the years since, Gayathri has become like an aunt to me, and her house a second home. In addition to being one of the most kindhearted and generous individuals I have ever met, Aunt Gayathri is an exceptional chef. In fact, her food is by far some of the best I’ve ever had in India (and the world) and I find myself longing for it all year long.

Overnight Raw Muesli Recipe

I recently returned from a trip to central Brazil, far from the rain forest, and days from the beach, in a savannah-like region known for its national park, hundreds of waterfalls and quartz crystal deposits. There’s nothing like escaping the cold of winter to a warm climate! Though it was challenging to leave behind the sun, waterfalls, fresh mangos and papayas, I was able to bring back something that is as easy to enjoy here as it is in Brazil; a recipe called Muesli Viva, or “raw muesli”. It’s a combination of rolled oats, soaked nuts and seeds, rehydrated dried fruit, and whatever seasonal fruits are available. Muesli Viva makes a wonderful breakfast, hearty snack, or healthy dessert. I’ve been enjoying this treat in the mornings and whenever I need a nutritional boost.

A Perfect Breakfast or Anytime Biscuit

In August of 2006 I did two things for the first time. First, I made a trip to Karnataka, South India and fell in love with the place. Secondly, I tasted what would become one of my favorite grains of all time: Ragi, or finger millet.

Ragi is a red, gluten-free millet varietal that’s notably high in iron, calcium, fiber, protein, and the amino acid methionine.

Dense & Nutritious Banana Bread

I was at the grocery store the other day and noticed that they were selling dozens of very ripe bananas. This sparked my desire to try and create a healthier yet dense version of banana bread. After some experimenting, I was really satisfied with the following recipe and wanted to share it with you. It uses a combination of nutritious barley and protein-rich almond flour. Barley is is a low-glycemic grain that’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, as well as hearty amounts soluble and insoluble fiber.

Homemade Almond Milk

Something I find so comforting on a brisk autumn day is a glass of farm-fresh milk, warm or chill, with a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg.

Baby Butternut Squash

Last Sunday, my husband and I biked to Sport Hill Farm, one of our favorite places in our hometown of Easton, CT. It was a cold and blustery fall day, so we were happy to warm up in the market farmhouse. My eye was caught by the cutest squash I have ever seen: a miniature variety of butternut squash called honey nut. I decided to throw a few in my backpack, alongside fresh eggs and cider, and later roasted them up for supper. I enjoyed these personal-sized squash so much I wanted to share the recipe with you!

Delectable Delicata Squash

The autumn harvest is here! It’s the perfect time to fire up the oven and roast squash, root vegetables, apples, and more.

This is one of our favorite, easy-to-make oven recipes: roasted delicata squash. Though technically a summer squash, delicata has a hard flesh that’s entirely edible and delicious. This versatile squash is also high beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber.

Enjoy as a side dish or a nutritious snack.

Pickled Watermelon Rind

I have many fond memories from my childhood in Shanghai in the 1970s. Like many households at that time, my family did not own a refrigerator. The healthy consequence of this is that my parents would visit the local market every morning. Their ritual was to wake up at 5:00 and be back home by 6:30 with seasonal fare grown by farmers who lived beyond the city bounds.

Tahini with Love

Just over two weeks ago, my mother cooked a delicious Middle Eastern supper for our entire immediate family. We were so excited to be together as my older brother and his husband had just returned from a couple months of summer travel. The menu included yogurt marinated lamb kabobs, hummus, tabouli, and tzatziki. Eager to contribute, I offered to make babaganoush with a bulbous eggplant I had recently purchased at Easton’s Sport Hill Farm.

Iced Berry Blend Tea

Our organic berry blend is one of our favorite teas to serve over ice for a refreshing summer brew. Made from raisins, hibiscus, cranberry, elderberry, and blackberry, it’s delicious as is or with a bit of lime juice and natural sweetener like honey or agave.