Stuffed Aubergines {Baby Eggplant} in Coconut Curry Sauce

This sauce is so thick and creamy and slightly sweet you'll want to slurp up every last drop and then lick the bowl clean. I'm not ashamed.....  

No one is questioning whether or not this is a busy time of year, least of all me. While there are countless different traditions, faiths and even circumstances across the globe the Holidays are a unique and special time of year for most of us. I think it's safe to say that the people of the United States, while multi cultured are known for their spending and splurging habits. Myself included.


While I like to pride myself on being fairly modest and non self indulgent when it comes to material things, I find myself getting wrapped up {no pun intended} in the American way of Christmas most every year. More, more, more, more. And then the guilt sets in. It's not enough, it's too much, I need to volunteer/donate, why do I only do that once a year....... and so forth.

I made a small change this year. Very small yet extremely significant to how I feel about the Holidays and about myself.  This year, I refocused. 

I still bought the children several small gifts and one large one which was most definitely NOT on the initial plan, an Xbox One. Mind you I have major reservations about video games due to the tantrums, lack of the children's priorities and overall hassle involved. I still somehow got talked into (yeah, my arm was twisted) into buying one for the BIG family gift this year.  Again, too much???

Nevertheless, I made a small change within this year. I have spent more time volunteering, giving and truly focusing on the immaterial parts of Christmas, which really, are what Christmas is all about.


While I have a lot of self reflection to do on this subject, I noticeably feel a warmth in my heart. The funny thing is, it's been one of the most hectic Holidays ever and yet I'm more at Peace than I have been in quite a while.




Of course being in my kitchen making stuffed eggplant in a rich and creamy spiced curry helps with the whole being at peace thing for me! Perfect for a cold night, I love how curries warm your tummy and soul and are my idea of the perfect comfort food.




This sauce is so thick and creamy and slightly sweet you'll want to slurp up every last drop and then lick the bowl clean. I'm not ashamed.....

TIME      40 MINUTES               SERVES      6

7-8 baby eggplants (Indian eggplants), cut off end parts & make a cross cut (like Brussels sprouts, only cut halfway down the eggplant)

For the CURRY: 

1 c yogurt
 2 c water
 1/4 c chickpea flour (besan)
 1 t salt
 1/2 t turmeric
1/4 t red chili powder

Blend w/whisk. Let stand at least ~15 min. (overnight is best)


Remaining Ingredients:

1/4 cup raw peanuts
1/4 cup sesame seeds (not toasted)
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon black pepper
2-4  tablespoons coconut oil {divided}
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
2 inch piece of ginger root, peeled and finely chopped
3/4 cup diced red onion





To a hot dry pan {cast iron or a ceramic Dutch oven is best}, add  peanuts, sesame seeds and coconut flakes.

Stir and dry roast over medium-high heat. 

Add salt, garam masala, & black pepper. 


Once they are nice and brown, put in a blender & add 1/4 c water. Blend to a smooth paste. This is the stuffing. With a spoon,  fill the eggplants as much as you can.



Heat a pan and add 1-2 T oil.  Place eggplants in pan and roll in the oil; fry til they are nice and brown on all sides and about 80% done.



In another pan, prepare the curry using the ingredients above.  To the hot pan, add 2 T oil and heat. 



Add  fenugreek seeds, cumin seeds,  ginger root  chopped red onion. Sauté for a few minutes so that onions are no longer raw. Add any leftover stuffing or any masala. 



Add curry base (yogurt+water, spices and chickpea flour) and keep stirring until it comes to a gentle boil and thickens. Add eggplants that are mostly done and let them simmer in the curry sauce for a few minutes.



Serve w/rice or flatbread.

WHY WAIT FOR NEW YEAR’S?

I am all about celebrating, having fun, and ringing in the New Year with a smooch and cheers with my hubby, but the whole making New Year’s resolutions thing I just do not understand.  Mainly due to seeing so many people not follow through after a few weeks, or even days.  It sounds like all fireworks, and excitement in the beginning, but the flame usually dies down as old habits, lifestyles, and the “norm” way of treating ourselves and allowing ourselves to be treated nestles back into the day to day. Further, why wait for New Year’s to make a positive decision to change our life and become healthier people?  Today is New Years in my book and I like that saying “never put off to tomorrow what can be accomplished today”.  It is time to stop using the New Year’s holiday as a crutch to continue living unhealthy lives, to pack in as much unhealthy crap food as possible, and not go to the gym or start a home exercise program until that so called “magical perfect time”. 

The reality is that no perfect time exists and life does not wait for our decisions.  It goes on whether we join in the positive decision making process or not.  The straight up truth is that while the procrastination of taking care of self continues, the body will eventually let you know through illness, poor blood test results, obesity, heart issues, diabetes, hypertension, increased stress and the list goes on. Wouldn’t it be great to go into the New Year with choices to adopt a healthy lifestyle already in place, and to feel great about celebrating all the fabulous things being done to become our best healthy self?

I am not trying to be a “Darla Downer” when it comes to the upcoming New Year.  I am trying to get you to wrap your head around the reason for waiting to become a healthy person.  I say let’s celebrate and I would be the first to raise my glass and applaud all the efforts being made to adopt that healthy lifestyle, but that does not have to wait until January 1^st.  I also understand that Christmas and New Year bring food, family and fun, and much is not on the usual healthy meal plan that would maintain a healthy physique.  There is nothing wrong with enjoying a little of this and that and I will be doing the same, but also will be including my regular healthy foods and exercise.  Let’s not use this holiday as an excuse to not take care of ourselves and promote a “hall pass” to a month of junk because when the so-called fun is all said and done, what will be left is discouragement and frustration knowing it will be that much longer and harder to undo what has been done. 

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Stay Healthy!

Darla

WISHING, WANTING, AND DOING

All of us wish and want, but sadly not all of us follow through with the doing.  There seems to be something that stands in the way of completing what needs to be done to make the wish a reality.  It does not matter how much internet surfing, article reading, or people watching that takes place to check out fit bodies, if the inspiration isn’t motivating you to take action, it is nothing but wasted time.  In fact, all that time on the web could be time used to complete a workout or meal plan and prep.  I even have to catch myself and implement a certain amount of time for social media work so that I have the time to not only work with my physical clients, but also to do what it takes for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  That means shutting down my computer and making the choice to exercise and prepare my healthy meals for the week. 

It is fun to wish and want, and I will be the first to applaud and be motivated by a fit physique because I know the effort it takes, and the “doing” on a daily basis that occurs to get there.  Wishing and wanting turns ugly when the “doing” is not taking place, but somehow feelings of resentment, bitterness and disgust are happening toward self and others even when no action to fix anything is occurring.   We are adults and make choices every day on what will take place, what mood we allow to invade our mental space, our outward behaviors toward self and others, and ultimately taking care of our bodies.  If the choice is to not “do”, then all the wishing and wanting are merely thoughts.  I am a “doer” and that is how I am able to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  I do not care if I only have twenty minutes to workout, if that is all I have then I will give it my all during that amount of time. I will never say “I only have twenty minutes and that is not enough time to workout” so I am going to skip today.  That would be the same as looking at the glass half empty instead of halfway full.  All steps taken to improve our health regardless of the time are positive progress. 

It is time to move past the wishing and wanting, and into the doing. It will be the action that makes the wants happen and feelings of accomplishment, increased confidence, and overall improved health are just some of the rewards from becoming a “doer”. Achieving the fit body we want and think about all the time takes responsibility, time, and effort on a consistent basis.  This is true for all things in life: our jobs, how far we go in education, our relationships, and spiritual life for example.  Sitting around thinking that things are just going to fall into our laps without effort is unrealistic, and sadly some people really do believe that life works this way, are unmotivated, and feel they are owed this and that. Life has never promised easy, and many times we make life much more difficult than it needs to be.  This is no reason however to fall into a wish and want pity party when the “doing” has not even been attempted. Time to “wake-up and smell the coffee” look in the mirror at the person not “doing” and ask … why?  The follow-through is what will bring success and the “doing” is what will create the fit body, and overall healthy lifestyle.

Enjoy a short video clip of my fun leg routine

DON'T MISS MY FREE UPDATES

Thanks for stopping by my Blog, hope you enjoy the content, and if you have not become a follower yet, I would love to see your face on my friend's list, or if you want to receive my free updates, use the button at the right to select your feed preference. I look forward to responding to your comments and appreciate your shares.

Stay Healthy!

Darla

Hot and Sour Soup with Shrimp

Nothing makes you feel better on a cold and crummy day than a bowl of piping hot soup. O.K. maybe a hug helps too, but soup is the best. Take this hot and sour soup for instance, tons of good for you veggies and a sweet and tangy broth you'll want to slurp up every last drop of. 

Sorry about the crummy pic's guys. I've been feeling icky and all I had in me was a handful of half hearted shots. I'll tell you though I'm SO glad I saw this thing coming and made this soup yesterday so I could have some today in between naps. O.K., my mommy made it for me. You're never too old for your mom to make you a bowl of home made soup right?

I almost always make home made chicken and veggies soup with tons of fresh herbs when I'm feeling  sick but something about this sweet and sour one I saw on Eats Well With Others really caught my eye. The broth is spot on with fresh ginger, a bit of tamari and a splash of rice vinegar and I love all of the healthy veggies in here. If this doesn't snap me out of my head cold, nothing will. 

For an extra kick in the head, sprinkle in a few drops of Sirachi Hot Sauce! That'll clear ya up!

recipe adapted from Eats Well With Others

TIME        20 MINUTES           SERVES       6

Ingredients

3 tbsp sesame or peanut oil
1 onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and sliced very thinly
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 cup diced carrots
½ savoy cabbage, coarsely chopped
1 lb medium size shrimp, peeled, deveined
2½ quarts water or vegetable broth
½ cup tamari sauce
⅓ cup Organic rice vinegar
2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground black pepper
½ cup cold water
¼ cup cornstarch
1 cup shitake mushrooms, stems removed and sliced thinly
1 yellow bell pepper, diced
2 cups bok choy, chopped
14 oz canned diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
Hot Pepper Flakes to taste

Instructions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in the onions, ginger, and chiles and cook for a few minutes, stirring. Add in the sweet potato, carrots and cabbage and bok choy. Cover and cook for about 3 minutes, or until cabbage starts to wilt. Add in the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.

In the meantime, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, salt, pepper, cold water, and cornstarch in a separate bowl. Set aside.

Add the mushrooms and bell peppers to the pot. Simmer until the veggies are tender, about 8 minutes. Add in the soy sauce mixture and stir until the soup thickens, about 8 minutes. Add in the tomatoes and bring the soup back to a simmer. Remove from heat and stir in the sesame oil.