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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Oh When the Saints Go Marching In!!

Overindulgence and Super Bowl Sunday seem to go hand in hand. This year instead of gorging on unhealthy fatty, salty foods choose foods that will nourish your body and sustain you throughout the long haul of the game. Who wants to miss the impressive half-time show due to indigestion?

Stephen and I are going to try out y
et another awesome recipe from my great friend Tracey, black bean and brown rice burgers. We're going to pair them with some home made veggie chili, but they would also go great with Lauren's Sweet Potato Wedges.

I know that most people have money on the Colts, as a former resident of the City of New Orleans, I will be clad in gold, green and purple sequins cheering the saints on. But let's be honest I just might flip back and forth between the Super Bowl and the PUPPY Bowl on Animal Planet.

Black Bean and Brown Rice “Burger”

2 cans black beans rinsed and drained (or ½ pound dried beans soaked overnight and rinsed)
1 red bell pepper (small dice)
1 poblano pepper (small dice)
1 red onion (small dice)
1 can corn rinsed and drained (15 ounce)
2 cloves garlic (almost paste)
2 cups brown rice cooked (about 1 cup uncooked)
6 ounces V8 juice or other tomato juice product
1 egg
1 cup bread crumbs
¼ cup olive oil (more if needed to form sticky)

Spices:
Coriander
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Chili Powder
Kosher Salt
Pepper
****all to taste: the c’s about 1 tablespoon for spicy burger.
Manchego cheese for top at last minute of cooking


Tomato (large dice)
Arugula
Fresh Cilantro (small dice or chiffonade)
Lime Juice
Kosher Salt
Pepper
*****mix all together for “salsa” salad on top of burger…..really tower

1. Sauté peppers and onion with garlic until soft. Let cool.
2. Mash black beans allowing some to remain whole.
3. Add all ingredients together with the beans and mix until combined. Do not over mix since the rice will break down.
4. Form into 8 ounce balls (this recipe will give about 10)
5. Sauté for 8 minutes on each side in olive oil.
6. Last minute of cooking put shredded Manchego cheese on the top.
7. Remove from pan top with salsa salad and serve.

Keep it Fresh!
~ Terra

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Keep Your Yoga Mat Clean

Did you know that the Sanskrit word “sauca” translates to cleanliness? In fact, keeping yoga mats clean is an important part of traditional yoga, known as “kriyas,” the cleansing practices of Hatha yoga. Yogis believe that cleanliness helps to open up charkas and deepen the yoga practice and experience.

Regularly washing your yoga mat will kept it soft and sticky, prevent bacterial growth and maximize the life of your mat. The best way to keep most yoga mats clean is to wash them by hand, so here are some tips to show you how to wash a yoga mat easily.

Deep Clean Your Mat

For its first wash, or whenever your yoga mat seems particularly dirty, you will probably want to give it a really thorough cleaning.

- Run a few inches of cool or slightly warm water into a bathtub or large laundry sink and add a few drops of mild, non-oily detergent. Make sure you don’t add too much soap or it will be difficult to rinse away completely, leaving your yoga mat unnecessarily slippery.

- Submerge the yoga mat in the water. Let it soak for a few minutes (the longer you let it soak, the more thoroughly it will be cleaned).

- Gently rub down both sides of the mat, top to bottom, using the soft side of a sponge, a piece of terrycloth, or even just your hands. This will help the mat to develop that soft, ‘grippable’ surface for which sticky yoga mats are so prized.

- Rinse the yoga mat out very thoroughly in clean water, making sure you get rid of any soap residue.

- To dry your yoga mat, lay it on top of a dry towel and tightly roll mat and towel together like a cinnamon roll. Squeeze out excess water by pressing with your hands or feet. Unroll and hang to air dry. Make sure you let it dry out completely before storing to prevent mold.

Homemade Yoga Mat Cleaner

For lighter, more frequent maintenance cleaning and a quicker drying time, you can just clean your mat with a spray bottle and soft cloth. Here are two easy recipes for your own all-natural mat cleaning spray:

Lovely Lavender Spray

Take an empty spray bottle and add 3 drops of tea tree oil, two drops of peppermint oil, and two drops of lavender oil. Fill the rest of the bottle up with distilled water. Shake well. Spray your mat lightly with this solution and wipe it down gently with a damp sponge.

It is very easy to make a spray-on mat cleaner that will break up sweat and dirt and kill odor-causing molds and bacteria while at the same time extending the lifespan of your mat. Try either of these recipes.

Water/Vinegar Spray

For an even simpler, natural antibacterial/antifungal mat spray, simply mix 1 part warm water with 3 parts white vinegar. You can also try adding a few drops of essential oils like eucalyptus, lemongrass, lavender, mint, or tea tree oil to add a nice aroma and increase the germ and odor-killing potential.

Now that you have a clean yoga mat, put it to good use! Check out a yoga class in your area or stop in to a yoga class taught by one of the 3 Healthy Chicks! See below:

Fair Haven Yoga

Wednesday's with Terra – 7:00pm Gentle Hatha – a combination of traditional Hatha yoga asanas, breath work and meditation. Yoga alignment and modifications of poses accessible to all. $10 drop in fee.

The Yoga and Healing Center

Hot Mamas Prenatal Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting May 4, 2010 - Wise Mamas Prenatal will help you reconnect with your innate female wisdom and the natural process of birth, guiding you through a class specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy.

Mommy and Me Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting May 4, 2010 - Post-natal yoga class (babies and mom's 6-8 weeks postpartum) focuses on strengthening the spiritual, emotional and physical bond between parent and child. This practice will enhance your sense of well-being, connect with your body, gain strength and flexibility and connect with your baby.

Asbury Park Dance & Yoga

Hot Mamas Prenatal Yoga with Terra - 8 week Session starting June 23, 2010 - Wise Mamas Prenatal will help you reconnect with your innate female wisdom and the natural process of birth, guiding you through a class specifically designed for the journey of pregnancy.

Brahma Yoga Spa

Friday's with Lauren - 5:30pm Gentle Hatha - traditional Hatha asana, breath work and meditation. $15 drop in fee.

Keep it fresh!
- Lauren