Ayurvedic Cookies – Heavenly Muesli-Crunch Cookies (Sugar-free!)

Organic Home-made Sugar-free Muesli Crunch Cookies!

This recipe has been blowing my mind and deeply exciting my tastebuds and senses since I first made and intuitively put together a batch of these delicious cookies a week ago!

They are super simple, require no processed sweetener (not even beloved maple!). They are a great wholesome treat to have on hand for afternoon tea, a snack at work, the kid’s lunchbox’s and or any other excuse you can make in your day to open the cookie jar and sit down with one of these amazing treats in your mouth!

…Okay, enough cookie-talk, let’s get to the cookie-cooking!

wholesome ayurvedic sugar free cookie recipe!

Wholesome Ayurvedic

Heavenly Muesli-Crunch Cookies!

(sugar-free, nut-free, gluten-free*, vegan friendly)

Ingredients:

  • 2.5 cups of organic oats*
  • 1 cup of organic sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup of organic pumpkin seeds
  • 4 tablespoons of organic cinnamon powder
  • 2 tablespoons of organic cardamon powder (or seeds)
  • 1 tsp of fennel seeds 
  • 1/2 tsp of fine organic sea salt
  • 200ml of home-made organic melted ghee or coconut oil
  • 20 organic dried ‘desert’ dates soaked, de-pitted and mashed into a puree or blended. 
  • 1 tsp of organic pure vanilla essence
  • your love! 

* Note: If you are celiac, use ‘gluten-free un-contaminated oats‘.

Creation process:

**Pre-heat your oven to 175 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes while you prepare your cookie mix.

  1. Place all dry ingredients; oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon powder, cardamon powder & sea salt into a large mixing bowl.
  2. Prepare your dates: take the pits out of the dates and place dates in a medium bowl. Cover dates in hot water and let soften for 3-4 minutes. Once dates are soft, remove the water and mash with a fork or blend in a food processor to make a date puree. (It’s ok to leave some chunks!) Add the date puree to the dry mix of oats and seeds.
  3. Now melt your ghee or coconut oil and stir into the dry mix with the dates.
  4. Add vanilla essence and stir with a wooden spoon or clean hands until the wet and dry ingredients have mixed well together and your happy with the consistency.
  5. Take some melted ghee or coconut oil and oil your baking tray or use a sheet of baking paper.
  6. Take a small piece of cookie mix and roll into a ball in your hands then flatten with the palms of your hand to create a circular cookie shape.
  7. Place your tray of cookies in the oven and bake for approx 30 minutes or until golden brown.
  8. Take them out once they’re done and let them cool before stacking them in your favourite cookie jar or container!

Voila! Your cookies are now ready for your nourishing pleasure! Yum!! :) 

If you loved this recipe – share the love by sharing the recipe link below with your friends via facebook! 

Happy wholesome cookie munching friends!

x Lorien

Organic Ayurvedic Sugar free Muesli Crunch Cookies!

Simple Ayurveda in the Kitchen E-book is here!!

Simple Ayurveda in the Kitchen ebook by Lorien Waldron available now!

Special Announcement & Hooray!!!

Today’s the day I have been dreaming about, since beginning to write this e-book 3 and a half years ago. 

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I am beyond excited to finally be able to share the beauty of Simple Ayurveda in the Kitchen with you, no matter where in the world you are. 

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This book is a practical guide to living in balance and in harmony with your true nature, based on the wise and practical science & art of Ayurvedic Medicine, organic whole food nutrition & my own life experience of  practically applying this way of wholesome nourished living with ease.

It’s all about being empowered, confident & creative in the Kitchen! 

There are 108 pages of colour, inspiration, empowerment and support to guide you and be a wholesome friend in your kitchen!  

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These staple recipes will nourish you, inspire you, and be a foundation for your cooking legacy.

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…I’m so excited, and grateful for the opportunity in life to put this bundle of love and goodness together for you – it’s a dream come true! 

With love,

x Lorien 

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An Online Ayurveda Summit! So exciting!

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Hello beautiful ones!

Ayurveda is a sacred beautiful science that looks at health from a holistic perspective – dealing with you as a whole being acknowledging your body, mind and spirit as being important equal factors that need nurturing and attention.

This science is vast, expansive, endlessly wise and deeply nourishing… deeply!

There a many great teachers of Ayurveda in the world, however sometimes it can be hard to know where to start when you want to begin learning, growing, understanding and delving into the magic (and yumminess within) that ayurvedic medicine has to offer.

I am often asked what books or teachers I recommend to study with. I feel it is a very personal, individual journey and that finding the right teacher/mentors to suit you as an individual is vital in that learning process. Trust your intuition and see who you are drawn too.

The first book on Ayurveda I ever read (and still love to open up and read to this day) is a beautiful little book by an incredible Doctor and teacher, Dr. Vasant Lad. I have admired and devoured Dr.Lad’s writing for years now… his text books are incredible and everything of his that I’ve ever read, watched or listened to has inspired me deeply.

If you want to know where to start on your Ayurvedic journey, I highly recommend his book; “Ayurveda: The Science of Life”. It’s an easy, inspiring and beautiful read.

There are many, many other great teachers and Doctors who I have sat with, listened too, watched, marvelled at and read.

Coming up this week – starting tomorrow is a super exciting and great event happening online – globally called The Ayurveda Summit.

A bunch of the most inspiring, wise and experienced Ayurvedic practitioners and Doctors are presenting over the Summit that goes for the next week and all the talks can be streamed online for free!

I just found out about this great even happening and for the love of Ayurveda – I just had to post about it to let you know incase you would love to tap into what they have on offer.

The link to register for this amazing free event is here – click below and prepare a nice cup of warm turmeric chai (recipe on my blog!) and sit back to receive the goodness on offer. :)

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{Click this link to register for this amazing online event}

Dr.Vasant Lad (one of my Ayurvedic hero’s!) is presenting a talk during the summit along with one of my current teachers in Ayurvedic Digestion & Nutrition, John Immel from Joyful Belly Ayurveda, Dr.Robert Svoboda (amazing), Dr.Cladia Welch (incredible) and many many more super Ayurveda wise men and women!

Ayurveda is so magical. I personally fall in love with the wisdom and beauty present within Ayurveda more and more each day… and I started off head over heals (over 10 years ago now!) …the love is still growing, the inspiration is still dripping from my wholesome kitchen walls and …well, only God knows where this sacred, divine, nourishing and inspiring love affair with the knowledge and science of life will grow to as the love continues to grow… :) This science is endless – infinite and goes straight to the core of why we are here, what we are doing, our purpose, our health, wealth, love, relationships, food, nutrition and connection to the divine.

Perhaps we will share in some virtual sips of chai from our cosy homes during the next week of the Summit… :) Enjoy if you get to tap in and listen.

P.S. I have some juicy exciting ‘Wholesome Loving Goodness’ news for you real soon and a free webinar coming up that I will be announcing soon where we can sip chai together and talk all things digestion, ayurvedic cooking, nutrition, self-love, health, lifestyle and soul ! Keep your eye on your inbox! :)

Much love! :)

x Lorien

Spring Moong Bean Kitchari Recipe with fresh parsley & creamy salted avocado! Gluten Free / Vegetarian / Vegan / Wholesome!

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The best nutritional path to take in life is the one that suits you most!

We are all unique and this means that our bodies and digestive systems are unique as well! (Yay! how beautiful is that!)

Our bodies thrive when we can listen and be intuitive about our food & lifestyle choices.

Instead of following the latest food trend or getting overwhelmed by varying food philosophies – ask your body what it wants, what it needs and then listen. You are not like anyone else. Doing what everyone else does will never be truly nourishing.

In order to really nourish yourself – you must listen to the call of your tummy, your feelings, your passions and your inspirations.

Ask yourself these questions… Which foods feel amazing in your tummy? & Which foods make your heart and mind sing? and move towards those things… experiment, play and explore!

Often creating this inner connection with self is all that is needed to soothe, calm and rebalance the intelligence of our body, heart and mind. 

It’s exciting, it’s fun and it’s delicious to open up, to explore your body and to listen to what foods your body wants, loves and needs.

Master your eating and you will master your mind… this is what the Ayurvedic sages of India share with us.

“Quality of mind depends on quality of food.” ~The Vedas 


Ingredients:

  • 2 cup whole moong beans (soaked overnight)
  • 1 cup basmati or brown rice (washed 3 x and strained)
  • 1/4 pumpkin chopped into cubes
  • 1 cup green beans chopped into small pieces
  • 8 cups of boiling water
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil or ghee
  • 1 tbsp freshly chopped ginger
  • 1 clove of garlic finely chopped/pressed
  • 1/2 a red onion finely chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin seeds, 1tsp coriander seeds, 1/3 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp himalayan salt & a few cracks black pepper
  • 1/2 ripe avocado & some fresh parsley or coriander
  • your love! :)

So easy to digest, nourishing & in Ayurvedic texts said to be a ‘complete protein’!

Creation process:

  1. Add 1 tblsp Ghee or Coconut oil to your pot
  2. Once melted, add 1/4 teaspoon of Cumin seeds & Coriander seeds. Allow to toast.
  3. Add Ginger, garlic and onion to the spices & toast. (Garlic & Onion is optional).
  4. Add 1/3 teaspoon of turmeric powder & stir.
  5. Add 2 cups of soaked & rinsed whole moong beans.
  6. Add 1 cup of rice.
  7. Stir & toast in the spices for a few minutes to lighten the lentils & rice for improved digestion.
  8. Place your chopped pumpkin and green beans in the pot.
  9. Add 8 cups of boiling water & stir. Allow to gently boil.
  10. Add a pinch of Himalayan salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
  11. Continue to stir regularly – adding your juicy love! :) Cook for approx 20-30 minutes on a medium heat.
  12. When Rice & Moong become creamy, turn off the heat and serve with an extra spoon of ghee or coconut oil on top, 1/2 an avocado sliced and salted and a fresh garnish of parsley or coriander!

Voila!

A super delicious nourishing vegetarian and vegan (minus the ghee!) complete protein dish! Yum! This is such an easy meal to make during the week when it’s hard to come up with creative ideas for the family and you want something fast, nourishing AND delicious! :)

Bon appetite! :)

x Lorien

Vatta Balancing for the Festive Season

“It is better to travel well than to arrive”.

 -Buddha

W-o-w-e-e-e ! :)

This is my official way of saying, ‘wholly molly, we are almost at the end of this calendar year- 2014’!

The spring air is warm and strong northerly winds are blowing out all the cobwebs from Winter. There is movement.

Jacarandas blossoming, animals coming out of hibernation to bask in the sun, frangipani shoots sprouting! Spring is certainly in full swing here in Australia.

Similarly,  the air is crisp and fresh, evenings are cool and the flowers are tucking themselves into bed for the winter in the northern hemisphere. (I have family in Canada who give me this inside info!) :-)

There is seasonal change happening everywhere! :) And it’s a glorious thing! Without these changes and cycles, we would not experience the richness and beauty that Mother Nature has to offer in all of her forms and expressions.

Vatta, the element of Air + Ether is present during seasonal change as well as times of the year where there is more activity happening – such as the holiday season.

In my personal experience and observation, seasonal change combined with the busyness leading up to Christmas/New Years can have us feeling:

‘Crazy, frantic, hurried, rushed, and scattered!’

We move fast to get things done, resulting in being short tempered and feisty when things get out of control.

Self-care, proper nourishment, meditation practice, time for rest and proper sleep are all things that can very easily slip by the wayside when there is so much to do and so much happening.

It’s tough to keep the balance!

Ironically, these are the very things we need to be doing – more than ever!

This time of year it is important to ~ ‘slow down’…

These might seem like ghastly words to hear – when your social calendar is filled every weekend until Christmas and your diary is bursting with ‘to do’ lists that scream at you every day.

Trust me on this one though…

Taking a moment to apply some ‘slow down’ to your day, will have you feeling more like this:

Energised, calm, centered, empowered and on-top of it all! You’ll stand out at the Christmas parties, as people will notice that you did something different this year. You don’t look frazzled. You are poised and calm, centered and glowing. You are radiantly grinning and proud of yourself for being peacefully productive this ‘silly’ season. :)

In Ayurvedic medicine, health is all about balance. Any type of change we experience – such as the change of season or a busy period in life can aggravate the ‘Air’ element of the body, known as Vatta Dosha. Vata loves regularity, stillness and warmth. When the weather is windy, irregular, too hot or too cold and dry – Vatta can get upset and start to run a muck! The busyness of this time of year can throw this element out of whack. The good news is that it’s easily balanced and corrected;

~5 Simple Vatta Balancing Lifestyle Tips~

1. Drink Warm Water & Nourish Yourself:

Wake up and drink 2-4 cups of freshly boiled warm water with a slice of fresh ginger. This will warm your digestion and activate your parasympathetic nervous system, allowing you to start your day in a relaxed way. It’s the best!

Make sure you take some time to nourish your body. Start the day with a yummy grounding porridge, buckwheat pancakes or veggie soup! Look after your precious body on the inside and out.

2. Stretch/Move Your Body Daily:

In your room or lounge-room, move your body. Raise your arms up above your head and reach to the heavens.  Stretch your body, breathing with your movement, becoming one with your body :).  Move, unwind, and tune in. Do this for a minimum of 10 minutes. Stretching opens the body and allows us to be in tune and feel good in our skin. Movement releases endorphins (happy chemicals) in the brain, making you feel good. After moving the body it is much easier to sit in stillness and focus within to de-stress through meditation.

3. Meditate/Sit and Be with Your-self:

Find a comfy cushion, bolster, blanket or towel to sit on. Sit on the edge so that your knees are lower than your hips. If you are new to the concept of meditation, don’t worry. Everyone starts somewhere and now is the perfect time to begin. Sit with your spine straight to allow for proper flow of energy, then close down your eyes and simply focus on your breath. Allow thoughts to come and go. They are not important here. All that is important is your breath, and your focus inward. If you can do this for at least 10 min at the start of your day, it will set the scene for a peacefully productive day ahead. Meditation is transformational.

4. Massage Your Feet/Body 3 times per week:

Cold pressed Black sesame oil is traditionally the Ayurvedic oil of choice. If you don’t have it though, you can use organic cold pressed olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil. To prepare the oil for your self-massage, simply warm your oil by placing the bottle in a bowl of hot water for a few minutes. Before you have your shower, massage the oil into your body. Oil is beautifully grounding and balancing. Your skin will eat it up and your nerves will too. Do this for 5 minutes then rinse off in a warm shower.

5. Take Some Deep Breathes:

Before you go out for the day and get into your work or your tasks… take 6 deep breathes. Write a note to yourself in your diary to remind you to move slowly. Remember that you don’t need to be superman or superwoman. You simply need to do your best and do everything with love. If there are things on your to do list that are not high priorities, then cross them off. Free up your time so you can focus on a realistic list of things to achieve. This is a hard one for the high achievers. You can do it though. :) There are 12 months next year to complete those tasks. Remember, there is no rush, everything in life happens in divine timing.

This season is all about looking after YOU – so that you can show up being present, clear and loving with your friends and family.

After all this is what is most important. Not how much we did, but how present we were.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions.

It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

– Kahil Gibran

 Be generous this holiday season, fill your own cup so that you can share abundantly with those around you!

…Remember, nothing great is every built overnight. It is regula and consistent acts of love, that contribute to creating long-term health, wellness and joy inside! 

 Shine on!

x Love, Lorien

Ayurvedic Adzuki Quinoa Protein Bowl Recipe

This dish is a simple and delicious vegetarian double protein meal that is light, nourishing and grounding for the digestion. Perfect for Spring, when fasting on soups might be getting a bit boring. Do not fear. Adzuki Protein bowl is here to the rescue!

The secret to making this dish easy to put together is to have the Adzuki and Quinoa pre-cooked.

Adzuki beans take longer than most other pulses that I use in my cooking. They are so lovely as a change of ‘food’ scenery and are well worth the extra effort.

To save time:

  • Boil your Adzuki beans in hot water on a medium heat the night before. Allow approx 1-2 hours of cooking time. Every batch of Adzuki will be different. Some take more or less time to cook. Once you have them cooked. Time to cook your Quinoa. 
  • Rince your Quinoa then place in your pot. For every cup of Quinoa, add approx 2 cups of boiling water. Once you add the water, do not touch. No need to stir. Let the Quinoa steam the same way you would cook rice. Check from time to time and add more water if you see it is necessary. Now that your beans and Quinoa is cooked. The rest is a piece of cake! 

Serves approx 2 – 2.5 people :) :

Organic Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of cooked Adzuki beans
  • 1 cup of cooked Quinoa; white, red, black or mixed
  • Fresh Ginger
  • Spices: Tumeric, Coriander, Cummin
  • Ghee or Coconut oil
  • Fresh Coriander
  • Unhulled Tahini
  • Avocado
  • Celtic sea salt + Black pepper
  • Boiling water
  • Love! (Magic ingredient)

Creation process: 

  1. In your pot add 1-2 tbsp’s of Ghee or Coconut oil.
  2. Add 1/2 tsp of Coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp Cummin seeds and 1 tsp of fresh ginger. Toast these spices together, allowing them to sizzle and expand, then add 1/2 tsp of Tumeric powder and stir. (Onion and Garlic can be added here also/optional).
  3. Now add your pre-cooked Adzuki beans and stir.
  4. Add your Quinoa and mix the beans and Quinoa together, allowing the spices to absorb and soak in. Will be smelling really good by now!
  5. Add a pinch of salt and a few cracks of black pepper.
  6. Your dish is ready to be served. I know… could a dish that is so good, really be so easy!? …In this case, yes. :)
  7. Serve in your bowl of choice. Add a drizzle of tahini with a spoon, then a hearty pinch of freshly chopped Coriander. Slice your Avo in half, then into quarters and scoop the fruit out or leave it in its shell for a more ‘rustic’ presentation.
  8. Now, enjoy! Congratulations on preparing a hearty, nourishing, soulful dish that your body and mind will love!

Yum. Yay. You did it!

Happy nourishing & soulful eating friends! 

x Lorien

A bowl FULL of LOVE. Guest Interview with Ayurvedic Chef Stephen Galpin

There are many ways to be of service in this world…

Some choose to serve in third world countries, contributing to the quality of life and love in communities that have limited resources.

Some serve their country, some feed the poor, some sacrifice their own wellbeing in protest for the environment, mother nature and the wellbeing of others.

There are so many ways to be of service, through our thoughts, words and actions every single day.

Drum-roll please… Make a warm cup of Tumeric Chai, grab your blankey and get cosy as we take some time with a true teacher of the spirit of service.

Chef Stephen Galpin, our Wholesome Loving Goodness featured guest this month, is of service through LOVE-FILLED food and wisdom.

Stephen’s cooking of delightful ~ spice, ghee, LOVE infused offerings have a way of transforming the ‘eater’ the ‘receiver’ of this truly divine cuisine.

This morning as I enjoyed a bowl of his amazing porridge for breakfast at the Mudita Ayurveda and Mindfulness retreat in Byron Bay that I work on each year, I was reminded of the power of porridge, the power of infusing LOVE into your cooking. I was so inspired that as soon as I finished the bowl of creamy, vanilla, saffron polenta I swiftly walked to my car, got my laptop, turned it on and began writing these words in honour and praise of this amazing Chef, teacher and master of devotional cooking.

About six months ago I did an interview with Stephen. I asked him some questions about the life of being an Ayurvedic chef, his inspiration, his perspective on this gorgeous food and offering of love that he shares. He graciously agreed to share this information with me, with you – the Wholesome Loving Goodness tribe!

In nature there is a divine timing for when a fruit is ripe, when a flower opens, when the rain falls and when the sun rises. This divine timing cannot be forced or controlled.

This interview has had it’s own divine timing.

The time has come, it is the spring of introducing you to this great master and teacher of  Ayurvedic cooking, spirituality, philosophy, culinary expertise & love.

I am delighted to introduce you to a teacher of devotion, spirit and service…

Stephen’s porridge is bowl-licking good!

How did you first come to discover Ayurvedic cooking and what was your inspiration to make this a big part of your journey?

I was introduced to Ayurveda through studies of yoga, there was no real inspiration it sort of just evolved. As I changed so did my approach to cooking and health.

What does it mean to prepare ‘Ayurvedic’ food to you and what sets this type of cooking apart from regular cooking practices?

To prepare Ayurvedic food is to approach your preparation and cooking with mindful awareness, giving full consideration to every step of the process and how the ingredients will interact enhance and balance each other,  how the finished dish will then affect those that are eating it. Consideration is given to stimulating the digestive fire or “Agni” through the subtle use of warming spices to prepare food that will not exaggerate any actions.

What is your favourite Ayurvedic spice, if you had to choose one and why?

Cardamon, I love the qualities, aroma and scent. I cant imagine a cup of tea without a pinch or two. :-)

Life is full of so much magic and beauty, what is it for you that bring’s the most joy each day?

Simplicity, I love just being.

If you could share one piece of kitchen advice with families around the world to inspire some wholesome loving cooking, what would it be?

Keep cooking for yourself and others, cooking is an act of loving kindness.

What are the key elements that make a difference in your daily life?

I like to be still and have time to contemplate, mainly I try to get through each day without upsetting anyone including myself. I always think at the end of each day whether I have achieved that and mostly I have so thats pretty cool.

Finally, if you had one wish for humanity and the world at this current time, what would it be?

Mutual love and respect. I think if we can all respect each others uniqueness and extend loving kindness towards each other. We all grow up differently reaching stepping stones in our own time, so if we can allow that growth to happen naturally and not try to control, govern or force to much.

Stephen has a beautiful Ayurvedic Cook Book with 88 Love-filled Recipes called ‘The Ayurvedic Kitchen’ that you can purchase from his website.

Connect with Stephen for inspiration and wisdom on the path of Ayurveda, cooking and love on his website & facebook page.

“Ecstasy is experienced through expansion. The ecstasy of food is waiting for you to dance & play with it, to get excited.
Allow that feeling to flow from within. When your cup is full, it will overflow! Let the pot catch it. This is the gift that nature’s abundance has to share when you take the time to get to know it.”  
~ Chef Stephen Galpin
Namaste

Thankyou Stephen, such an honour to spend some time with you!

x Lorien