Please Pass the Greens: September 2011

I don't think I've ever seen a full Oprah show (I watch TV very rarely), but I love her website and newsletters. That amazing woman has access to the best of the best, and much of it is available for free online. Articles by the best writers, spiritualists and health experts out there; recipes from the top chefs; fashion tips from chic designers and stylists. I receive the weekly food and recipe newsletter, and last week a collection of recipes for ethnic street foods caught my eye. In particular, a recipe for Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Pecans, Popcorn and Pepitas. Whenever a recipe title starts with 'Moroccan', I'm interested.

I had two large sweet potatoes getting bored on my counter with question marks hanging over them, wondering what they would become and when, and this recipe calls for some of my favourite spices, so I got to work. I also love popcorn but rarely think of making it. Very exciting.

Sweet potatoes are very rich in beta-carotene/vitamin A, which of course is good for the eyes, but also for the immune system. They're high in fiber and, I think, are a fabulous vegetable for children who need nutrients, love sweet things but already eat (generally, in developed nations) way too much sugar. Sweet potatoes, when cooked, are very easy to digest and a source of complex carbohydrates: preferable to white rice, flour, cereal, etc. In fact, the recipe below calls for sugar but you could easily leave it out. I used my darkest, least refined sugar but you could also use maple syrup, date syrup or molasses. That would be perfect.

Moroccan Spiced Sweet Potatoes with Hazelnuts, Popcorn and Pepitas

I'd say the popcorn is optional. It gets a bit soft when mixed in with the rest, and mushy popcorn is...well, there's just something not right about that. Not to mention the kernels getting stuck in your teeth. It's up to you - you might prefer it on the side.

2 Tablespoons and 2 teaspoons ghee, macadamia nut oil (if you can get it) or olive oil
1 Tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon and 3 Tablespoons dark muscovado sugar, divided
3/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
about 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice or mace
1/8 teaspoon unrefined salt
2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
3 Tablespoons butter (or ghee, or macadamia nut oil)
1 cup plain or salted popped popcorn (see note above)
3 Tablespoons chopped pecans, hazelnuts or almonds, toasted
3 Tablespoons pepitas (toasted pumpkin seeds)
optional: 1/2 cup bio yogurt (optional: original recipe uses sour cream)

Preheat oven to 350 F/175 C. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons oil, cumin, 1 teaspoon maple or date syrup or molasses, paprika, pepper, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, mace, and 1 teaspoon salt. Add sweet potatoes, toss to coat, and arrange on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until just tender, about 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the pepitas: you can do this in the oven by tossing them with a teaspoon or two of oil, sprinkle with salt and then pop them in the oven for 5 - 10 minutes, until starting to brown. Or, my preferred method, toss them into a small skillet with a bit of oil and salt and toast them on medium or a touch lower until they start to brown; they will also start to pop and jump a bit, which is how you know they're almost ready. Like popcorn.

Melt butter in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons of maple or date syrup or molasses and cook for 1 minute. Add roasted sweet potatoes, popcorn, hazelnuts and pepitas; salt to taste. Cook, stirring often, until glazed and heated through, a few minutes. Serve in bowls.

The original recipe says to top with sour cream (what Americans call creme fraiche, I think; it's popular on Mexican food). I used organic soya yoghurt instead. It was nice, but I'd say it's optional. It does cut and balance the sweetness of the potatoes, nuts and sugar and the heat of the spices, which is lovely.

I have been super inspired, lately, by people like Dr. Christiane Northrup, Mama Gena and other women teaching similar "women's health, prosperity and joy through pleasure" philosophies (and backing it up with science!). I've been on a spiritual path for years now but I'm feeling like, instead of "working on our issues" and all of that heavy duty stuff, what most people really need is to create more pleasure in their lives, especially to balance out what you read and see in mainstream media news on a daily basis...or if you keep telling yourself things like "I never have enough time/money/whatever" or "life is hard" or "I'm too old/young...". It takes courage to break out of that spell because other people will say things like, "oh, you're lazy, eh?" or "how are you going to make a living if you do that?" or "how selfish of you - who do you think you are, the queen of Sheba?" and then we start feeling afraid or ashamed. Even if other people don't discourage us, our own thoughts pipe up to say "oh my god, I can't do that, I've got a book to write! When will I ever finish it?? I need to make some money, damn it!" or "but if you don't clean the whole damn house (cook the whole damn dinner, etc.) by the time (insert partner's name here) gets home, he/she might be upset." Well, scrap all of the excuses and do something that feels good, that meets your needs for fun, nourishment, enjoyment, fulfillment. Seriously. Now!

I think this is especially important as it relates to the work I do with food, teaching others to eat well, change their eating habits, enjoy their bodies, etc. It's necessary to know your "primary foods": that is, what feeds your soul? What non-food substances FEED you? Maybe it's music, art, nature, sports, dance, massages, hot tubs, singing, on and on. Bring those things that give you joy and pleasure into your life so that food is no longer the primary way of escaping the activities you don't fully enjoy but think you "have to do". Then, little by little, realise that you always have a CHOICE and start eliminating those things you don't like that you don't have to do, or work on changing yourself or your situation to create a life that is more in alignment with who you are.

That's a short and sweet way of generally summing up a process that can take years for some people, and that usually puts you on a big learning curve; but the great thing about food is that it's a great place to start a new self-care and self-love practice...and to notice your ability to receive and make time for something that is good for you. You don't have to change careers or move house or change relationships; just eat something healthy yet totally delicious today with complete mindfulness, with awareness of the tastes as they hit your tongue and the pleasure and enjoyment you feel in your body as you chew, swallow and benefit from nourishment.

Another way to start feeling great is to take dance breaks. I just made a short but great playlist of dance songs that really get me going, and danced to about three. I was sweaty as anything when it was over, and felt totally different! It also gave me the chance to confront my own resistance to feeling good: at first, I felt silly. I wondered if I really needed to be dancing. I'm a yoga teacher, aren't I?? I wondered how I should move. But then, the more I got into the drum beat and the uplifting lyrics, the more I wanted more and more! I jumped around, moved my hips and shoulders, kicked, clapped, snapped my fingers. It was so fun. And hey, it's a busy day: I worked out, I'm doing some of the cleaning around the house to get ready to go away and I have a book to write. So I needed a dance break. But it's really important to take dance breaks even when you don't NEED them. That's one way of knowing that you're making your own pleasure and joy a priority. Living a healthy, vibrant life is more infectious than saying 'yes' to the requests of others even when you want to say 'no' and then feeling over extended, overly busy and resentful of either someone else or yourself. Take care of yourself. It changes the world.

My other inspiration is my cat. Miso knows her boundaries but she's not afraid to get in there when she wants to be snuggled. She goes where she wants, scratches and stretches when she feels like it and isn't ashamed to bear all in front of the fire on cold winter days and really relish in the enjoyment of warmth. She also loves sleeping in the sun in the grass, or in the middle of the herb bed or under the kale, rolling in the dirt and pondering the lady bugs and beetles that walk under her nose. She feels no shame about eating. When she wants something, she lets me know. She knows her needs and isn't afraid to state them. She allows others to love her and take care of her. She really knows how to receive. I think these are all exceptionally admirable qualities! Miso is totally in the flow of life. She goes with it. She doesn't resist or try to force things. She may be a bit on the chubby side but it doesn't affect her self-esteem: she knows that she is worthy of unconditional love and care (which I love giving her), whatever she might look like on the outside, however many tufts of fur she innocently leaves on the carpet. Many people spend years in therapy trying to achieve what she naturally has. What a great guru.

Anyway, whether it's an aromatherapy bath with rose petals, lighting some candles on your desk while you work, eating some delicious food with total presence and awareness, lying in the sun or whatever, make sure you take time for pleasure today. Regardless of your situation!

Here are some songs from my Dance Breaks!!! playlist:

1. an amazing video to "Human" by The Killers, a great song!

2. I Can't Break Away, by Big Pig, from Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (except you have to sing "I CAN Break Away" and change some of the lyrics to be more empowering):