sophie slater Archives | Page 3 of 5 | 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.

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.

A Resolution for the Earth & Your Garden: Compost!

Over the holidays, I was particularly excited to receive a new compost bin from Wei and Gregor of Arogya. I know… this doesn’t sound like the most glamorous gift, however it will play an invaluable role in nourishing my gardens and a small but still important part in combating global warming.

How a Yoga Teacher and Therapist is Giving Back

A few days ago, I published a blog about my recent visit to the Deenabandhu Trust Children’s Home, an organization in Karnataka, South India that’s committed to building brighter futures for orphaned and destitute children. Today, I’d like to expand upon the giving efforts of Anouk Prop, a psychologist, yoga teacher, and trauma-healing therapist from the Netherlands who has been volunteering at Deenabandhu for the past four months. I feel so fortunate for the time I spent with Anouk and the ability to witness her work.

A Visit to India and to a Place that’s Changing the World

Over the past 10 years, I have been very fortunate to visit India 11 times. The purpose of these travels has been to volunteer, study yoga and meditation, and, most of all, explore and soak in the rich experiences this massive land has to offer. There is one place in India that has influenced my life more than any other. This is the Deenabandhu Trust Children’s Home, an organization in the rural town of Chamarajanagar, Karnataka, South India that provides care, shelter, education, and emotional support to over 80 orphaned and destitute children.

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.

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.

Amazing, Natural Shower Scrub

It’s a bold statement, but this DIY natural shower scrub made from a few common household items has changed my life. In addition to effectively battling mildew and grime, this cleaner is non-toxic and free of nasty fumes. Plus, it’s super easy to make. All you need is baking soda, white vinegar, and water.