July 30, 2012

Handmade Chocolate with Goji Berries and Mulberries

This recipe contains Goji Berries 'Gou Qi Zi' and Mulberries 'Sang Shen Zi', which both strengthen the body's resources of yin and blood, leading to better health (including hair, eyes, skin). Dark Chocolate also has many health benefits, including decreasing pain and elevating the mood.

Ingredients:

  • 1 & ½ bar of Non- Soy Lecithin 73% Organic Dark Chocolate (or chocolate of choice)
  • 1 Cup of Goji Berry Fruit 'Gou Qi Zi'
  • 1 Cup of Mulberry Fruit 'Sang Shen Zi'
  • 1 Cup of Raw Almonds
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July 29, 2012

Goji Power Balls

Ingredients:

  • 3 tablespoons dried Goji berries
  • 3 tablespoon mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, buckwheat, sesame, etc.)
  • 2 tablespoon dried cherries (or other dried fruit of your choice)
  • 3 pitted dried dates, roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoon almonds
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 2 squares of dark chocolate, chopped
Optional:

July 21, 2012

White Tremella Dessert (Bai Mu Er)

‘Bai Mu Er’ nourishes and strengthens the Lung Yin, which means it is good for dryness including dry cough and dry skin.  While at first it might seem odd to make a sweet dessert with a mushroom, but then again, why not? Ingredients: Dried ‘Bai Mu Er’ White Wood Ear Mushroom (soak and rinse) – […]

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July 20, 2012

Turmeric, Ginger & Garlic Roasted Chick Peas

This is a simple, yummy snack alternative.  The turmeric can help move your qi & blood and the ginger can warm and calm your belly.  Garlic boosts immunity and can strengthen the belly qi.

Ingredients:

  • • 1 cup soaked Chick Peas (also called garbanzo beans) 
  • • 3 TBS Olive Oil
  • • 2-3 tsp dried Turmeric Powder 'Jiang Huang'
  • • 1 tsp dried Ginger Powder 'Gan Jiang'
  • • 1 tsp Curry
  • • 1 tsp Garlic Powder or fresh cloves of garlic 'Da Suan'
  • • 1 tsp Salt
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American Ginseng Wine (Xi Yang Shen 西洋參)

Xi Yang Shen (American ginseng) is sweet, slightly bitter and cool. It helps to strengthen Qi, nourish yin and generate fluids. Xi Yang Shen wine is ideal to help recovery from feverish illnesses or for chronic cases of qi and yin deficiency.  In addition to making a delicious aperitif, this wine can be used for all sorts of meat marinades, especially duck, chicken and pigeon.

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Never Give Up

Filed under: Food for Thought | Comments (2) Tags: , — |
Never Give up No matter what is going on Never give up Develop the heart Too much energy in your country Is spent on developing the mind instead of the heart Develop the heart

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July 17, 2012

Classic Chinese Chicken Soup with Tonic Herbs (Astragalus, Codonopsis, Yam, Jujube)

Because of all the wonderful herbs added, this delicious soup is a qi tonic and blood tonic that can restore the body's resources. It has a good effect on brightening the eyes and slowing down the aging process. This recipe uses a 'black chicken' or 'silkie', which is considered very nourishing for the blood and essence and is available at specialty Asian markets. Locally, you can easily find it at Ranch 99 in El Cerrito or Concord, CA. You can also use a regular, organic chicken.

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Japanese Braised Burdock Root (Gobo)

braised burdock with carrot Burdock root can be used to clean and detoxify the cells and tissues of the body.  It is a great food to promote gentle cleaning from every day toxins.  In particular, it is cooling and cleansing for the liver and for the skin.

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 lb burdock root (gobo)
  • 1/4 lb carrot
  • 1 TBS organic soy sauce or tamari (non-GMO)
  • 1 TBS sugar
  • 1 TBS mirin Japanese rice wine
  • 1/2 TBS Japanese sake
  • 1 tsp black or tan sesame seeds
  • 2 tsp vegetable oil (sesame oil, olive oil or coconut oil are my favorites)
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