Pesto Quinoa Vegetables

Although light and vegetarian, this is a well-balanced meal with both protein and fat (yes, it’s possible to get protein without meat!) Quinoa is the gold standard of grains, which is funny because it’s actually a chenopod, which makes it more closely related to spinach or beets than to cereal grains like wheat. Quinoa originated in the Andean region of South America and was considered to be a sacred plant– which is easy to believe when you look at its nutritional information. Quinoa is packed with essential amino acids, meaning it contains more protein than most other things we consider “grains.” One serving of quinoa also has almost 50% of daily recommended magnesium intake. And if that’s not enough, quinoa is low on the glycemic index, high in fiber and has a considerable amount of iron.

For the Pesto:

¾ cup olive oil

2-3 bunches of basil

1 cup pine nuts

1 tsp salt

Put all ingredients in a food processor and blend until creamy.

For the Quinoa:

1 cup of quinoa- red, white or tri colored

2 cups of vegetable broth

Bring broth to a boil, add quinoa, reduce and simmer

For the Vegetables:

In 1 tablespoon of olive oil sauté some red onion, asparagus, red bell pepper and broccolini. (You could also use mushrooms, zucchini, or whatever other vegetables you like.) Once the vegetables are soft, toss in pesto and quinoa and coat evenly.

Ginger–Lime Tahini Sauce

Sauces are a great way to transform every-day vegetables into a tasty treat.  You can make the sauce ahead of time and keep it in the fridge so it’s ready for a batch of steamed vegetables or salad whenever you are. Having ready-made sauce makes healthy eating quick, easy, and delicious. This sauce is one of my particular favorites because the flavors are so well balanced. The tahini adds a satisfying richness to the lightness of vegetables, the ginger gives it some warmth, and the lime juice helps brighten it up a bit. I love it with tri-colored quinoa and a bunch of chopped raw veggies– usually shredded chard, red bell pepper, carrot, broccoli, and snow or sugar snap peas with green onion and sprouts. This also makes a great dipping sauce for spring rolls or wraps.

½ cup nama shoyu

½ cup tahini

¼ cup of sesame oil

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons agave or honey

2-inch piece of ginger (I like it really gingery and use 2-3 times this amount)

the juice of 1 lime  

a healthy dash of olive oil

Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

Homemade Salt Scrub

Salt scrubs are a great way to get that decadent, just-left-a-spa feeling at a fraction of the cost. Aside from being totally luxurious, salt scrubs also have detoxification benefits. They exfoliate and slough off dead skin cells, helping to regenerate the top layer of your epidermis. Rubbing the salt in circular motions during application can increase circulation and combat cellulite. The increased circulation also cleans pores and removes toxins from the body, leaving the skin feeling firm and moisturized.

1 cup of sea salt (or dead sea salt is even better if you want to splurge on a treat)

Almond or Apricot oil

Essential oils of your choice (I like the brand Aura Cacia- but cheaper generics are fine for the purpose of a scrub)

Put the salt in a jar or bowl (I like to use a jar, that way if you don’t use it all, it’s already in a storage container). Pour enough oil over the salt until it becomes coated evenly, with just a little tiny bit of extra oil. Add 40 drops of your favorite essential oils and mix together. Take the scrub into the shower and rub it into the skin in circular motions. Rinse off with water and pat dry. Your skin will feel really oily when you get out of the shower, but give it some time and the oil will eventually soak in. This scrub leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft for days.

A few of my favorite aromatherapy blends:

Basics: lavender, rose, lemongrass

Bright and uplifting: citrus scents- blood orange, lime, tangerine, grapefruit mixed with lavender and rosemary

Warming aphrodisiac: ylang-ylang, nutmeg and vanilla

Heavy floral tones: jasmine, geranium, neroli, frangipani, or rose

Have fun and be creative. It’s your treat so go with whatever feels comforting to you. If you’re new to the aromatherapy world and not sure of what to choose, try a pre-made blend or just start with one of the basics.

Love Elixir

Herbal tinctures take 6-8 weeks to extract, so if you put this one together immediately, you could cheat and have it out by Valentine’s Day. This year I’ve switched up my recipe and I think it looks very promising (If the smell is any indication, it’s going to be amazing!). There are so many herbs with aphrodisiac properties and depending on the desired effect, you could really go a number of different ways.

This year I’m starting with Damiana, a classic, mild aphrodisiac that has a tonic effect on the nervous and hormonal systems, producing actions similar to testosterone. Damiana is used primarily as a nerve tonic and anti-depressant- meaning it’s going to have a mellowing, soothing effect. To balance these yin-like properties, I’ve added some Yohimbe, a more stimulating, yang-like herb. Yohimbe is a stronger aphrodisiac that increases heart rate and blood flow. In it’s pure form it’s used to treat sexual dysfunction, and has also been used as a diet remedy. Muira Puama, also known as “potency wood” is a South American herb known to…well… I think the name just about explains it. Cardamom, and cinnamon are warming, stimulating herbs and added mostly for flavor.

To make the tincture:

Crush up the cardamom pods so that you have both seeds and shells exposed to your menstruum (the liquid part). Put all of your herbs in a jar and cover them with the brandy so that the herbs are completely immersed, and there is a small amount of liquid at the top. Keep the jar in a cool, dark place. Every few days shake the jar and check on your herbs (remember to think happy, loving thoughts as you shake it- you’re manifesting your love intentions). As the herbs start soaking up the liquid, you might need to add more brandy. If you see that the top is getting dry, add more brandy until you get that small amount of liquid reserve over the top again. After 6-8 weeks, strain the liquid out and put it in small dropper bottles. For a mild effect, take a few droppers full. If you’re looking to howl at the moon, try taking a small shot glass full. **NOTE: Yohimbe increases heart rate! Go easy if you’ve got a partner with a heart condition (or leave it out altogether- better to be safe than sorry.)

3 parts Damiana

1½ parts Yohimbe

1½  Muira Puama

½ part Cardamom

1-2 Cinnamon sticks

Orange Zest

Brandy

Welcome

I’ve written and re-written the first post for this blog many times now. Every time I do, I realize that it just sounds like random rambling. And to be honest, that’s all this really is. It’s simply giving myself the space to ramble on about the things I love most. It is not meant to be profound, academic, or organized. It is nothing more than my mind gone wild on wellness, a space to share the things that bring me happiness, joy, and peace of mind. I hope that sharing them offers you a bit of the same. My intention is to encourage and support others in their quest for healthier, more balanced, and heartfelt living.

Feel free to share the inspirations you find here. All I ask is that you honor these offerings by linking back to the blog so that others may also share and be a part of the community created here.

In love, gratitude and wellness~ KN