April Breakfast Salad

Another food shot.
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

Thursdays

I cannot believe it has already been a week. A long week it was. Work was draining and I do not like that I feel so incredibly tired after work. This is not how it should be. Thursday was magnificent though and made up for the entire week. I feel indulgent on Thursdays as that is my day off. I usually do not sleep in and in fact am out of my place by 9 am sipping coffee at a cafe close by. Yesterday was no different. I also started the day off by reading my horoscope. This one I really liked and felt it resonated with me. Thank you NOW Astrologer. This Thursday was different though as I had a lovely jaunt in Queen East. I stopped in at a lovely cafe called Te Aro and felt that it immediately took me back to SF- Four Barrel to be exact. Except of course minus the regulars I came to know there. Carlos- the bike man, All About Coffee Man- Paul Madonna and the lovely staff there. Can you tell I miss SF? For a moment I thought you don't need to go to SF to get a dose of SF you can just head on to Queen Street, but that moment was dashed, but not in a bad way. Getting back to my great day though- after Queen East, I came back home and Ian and I went to the Farmer's Market at Dufferin Grove Park and then drove to yoga where we met Veena and had an amazing session and then dinner after. I am grateful for days like these.

Birthday Cake. Thanks for the recipe 10 cent!:)

Birthday Cake. Thanks for the recipe 10 cent!:)
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

Birthday means a listing of things that I am grateful for. My 31st year was transformational. I have many people, animals, relationships and experiences to be grateful for. First and foremost I am thankful to my parents for bringing me into this world. They have supported me through so much. My beautiful sister who is my life and whose relationship I cherish and could not live without. Misha and heloise-bring joy and companionship everyday. My beautiful friends- new ones and ones I have had for years. K, B, J and new friend Flickr. Friends whose relationships have changed and or grown as we have grown. M, D, N, M, S. New relationships with land and people: U, I, E, K, S, I, J, S, D, A, J. Relationships where my past was re-written or untold or told but from a distance and to relationships where we connected by relating to the ridiculousness at times of the situation we chose to be in. B, S, and the beautiful people of K. To K where I learned to let go, to connect my body to the earth and feel weightlessness. To E and SF for letting me discover my passion. To C, E, E, K, S- beautiful people who I feel blessed to have crossed paths with. I hope to see you all someday soon. To Ia, an unexpected beautiful treasure I seemed to have stumbled upon. Here is to 32!

March 4th- prelude to a three day week-end!

March 4th- prelude to a three day week-end!
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

Of course the end result was not as good as hers, but it was still reminiscent of her cooking style. I should have let the garlic, red onions and vegetables soak in more of the trio and I should have added more Honey!

Little Pleasures

Little Pleasures
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

It is rare to come across a really great book for me these days. The last book that really grabbed me was Margaret Atwood's Moral Disorder. I think perhaps, I have a lot on my mind and am finding it hard to really engage with a book. This book was amazing. I was captiavated by the title. I mean, who would not be- The History of Love? It was definitely an ambitious title and fully lived up to it. Love in all its forms. I loved Alma and Leo and was quite sad, I would not be a fly on the wall in their lives anymore. One of the lines I loved in the book was: Al Wittgenstein once wrote that when the eye sees something beautiful, the hand wants to draw it. I wish I could draw you.

Next on my list of must reads are: Let The Norhern Lights Erase your name by Vendela Vida and Too Much Happiness by Alice Munro.

For the love of Saucony

For the love of Saucony
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

I stopped and switched to these shoes yesterday as I was getting my exercise speed walking from the street car stop to home. My blunstones as well as they served me on the farm, they were never as light and resilient as my sauconys. I have never loved a pair of shoes more and perhaps I love them so much because they were with me through so much. As my birthday approaches in little over a week, I get contemplative. These shoes served me so well when I lived in SF, when I journeyed to India for Yoga, at the farm, to Uruguay and now walking on in Toronto. They are a reflection of me: well worn, yet still comfortable and open to adventure.

movie to watch: peck on the cheek

http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/2767910-film-review-mani-ratnams-peck-cheek-kannathil-muthamittal-blu-ray-dvd-release-music-

this was an amaing movie that my sister veena and i watched last night. i rented it, but i think it is hard to find. you can watch it online. it is visually stunning and has a moving story.

Steel cut Oats, fruit, yougurt and a scoop of almond butter and my 2ndcup of coffee

Wholesome goodness in a bowl. Steel cut oats are so good, especially if you like oats chewy. I really like oatmeal with rolled oats, but I love steel cut oats. I can never seem to overcook them and they never go mushy.

I actually made this yesterday and had some left over and heated it with some water on the stove. Still had that chewy texture and tasted great. This keeps me going for a really long time. I have to eat a really good breakfast/lunch at an odd time because I start work in a kitchen at 2:00 and only get a break around 4ish. This is so good for a slow release of energy throughout the day.

This book made me so happy!

This book made me so happy!
Originally uploaded by cowinthedunes

Thanks to Ian for this. The BeeKeeping adventure begins.

Goals.

I have been thinking about goals. What would I like to achieve this year.

First and foremost is to put more into friendships that I value and maintain better connected.

Others include:

Getting help to finish this scarf:

Bee Keeping Course: https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=adb671f811&view=att&th=12668a16a87694ee&attid=0.1&disp=vah&zw

Sewing Classes: http://www.lovesewing.com/toronto/Home/tabid/166/Default.aspx

Start the Holistic Nutrition Program: http://www.instituteofholisticnutrition.com/ihn.asp?section=programsoffered

We will see what all gets done.

So far, I have not been keeping up with Yoga, but tomorrow is another day and yet another day to try to do so.

I had vowed to do yoga starting yesterday. So, I got off the computer after feeling quite blue with the job search and laid my mat out and started with surya namaskar and did some asanas I remembered from Sivananada. I remembered it had been exactly a year since I went to India to immerse myself in yoga at the ashram. What an experience that was! Doing yoga yesterday was the best medicine for the winter blues and job search blues. Also, this was a lovely compliment to my yoga session. I baked these sesame cookies that turned out to be better than when I had baked them before in SF. I had a craving for these and scowered the internet for the recipe remembering that it was from the Tassajara Recipe book. Give them a try!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

2/3 cup oil

1 cup sesame seeds (toasted)

1 egg

3/4 cup sugar-I used dark brown sugar

1/4 tsp vanilla

rind of half a lemon

1/2 cup coconut (optional)

2 cups (whole wheat pasty flour) I really like Whole Wheat pastry flour because some of the husk is left unlike All purpose flour

1/4 tsp bakind soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

Directions:

Heat oven to 350

Toast the sesame seeds

In a large mixing bowl, Mix the oil, sugar and beat the egg and mix well.

Add the toasted sesame seeds

Add the vanilla and lemon rind and coconut

* You can get rid of the coconut fat by soaking the coconut in water and squeezing it out and then adding the coconut

In a separate bowl mix the flour, baking soda and baking powder and salt.

Pour the dry ingridents into the wet. Mix until all the ingredients are incorporated. Do not mix too much as the dough will get dry and the cookies will come out hard.

Make 1/2 inch dough balls and place on a baking sheet. Use you fingers to pat the balls down, so it spreads out a little.

Makes about 2 1/2 dozen

Eat and enjoy!

Fergus

This past week-end was spent in Fergus. A small beautiful town in Ontario. Fergus had a lot of snow compared to Toronto and I took advantage of that by taking long walks on a lovely trail and watching an amazing sunset.

Muesli, banana, yogurt and sesame seeds.

music

This has been playing constantly in my sister's apartment, while the world unfolds outside.

Pondering while eating an orange

At 1:00 am, I was finishing up Julie and Julia and pondering whether I should go to cooking school. I was eating an orange while pondering

Water with Lemon

My first blog post. Breakfast: Water with lemon, roasted rice green tea with rye bread, baba ganoush, arugula, cucumber and raw cheddar...yum