Sarma’s Mango Shake for Salma

I can’t take credit for this one, I apapted it from Sarma Melngailis and Matthew Kenney’s book Raw Food Real World.  So what if you aren’t a raw foodist?  The book is worth buying even if you only make their delicious shakes and smoothies.  This is one of my favorites.  You will be amazed at how smooth and decadent it is.  You just don’t need anything but pure wholesome ingredients to please your palate.  This recipe makes three medium -- sized shakes, or one very indulgent one!  J  If you’re not going to drink the whole batch, put any leftovers in individual containers and freeze.  Grab and go! 

MAKES 3 good sized shakes

INGREDIENTS

3 cups diced mango – I like to cut and freeze the mango chunks ahead.  It’s not necessary but it makes the shake very creamy

2 cups coconut water

1 tablespoon agave nectar (Sarma calls for 3 T but I just don’t think you need that  much. Mangos are super sweet on their own)

2 teaspoons vanilla, or if you’re lucky enough to have your friend Salma bring you some whole vanilla pods from Mauritius, scrap the seeds from a 2” piece

Squeeze of limejuice

Pinch of sea salt

PREPARATION

·                In a blender, puree all ingredients until smooth.  Marvel at nature’s goodness.                 

Dark Chocolate Pudding

This is wicked.  Don’t tell your guests (or your husband) this dessert is vegan and contains tofu – they will never know!  Make sure to use silken tofu, the kind often sold in aseptic containers.  Although I generally avoid using microwave ovens, if you’ve got one they are very handy for melting chocolate.  If you live in Dubai and are fortunate enough to have a friend smuggle in real vanilla, the kind with you-know-what in it, you’re super lucky.  Otherwise the fake stuff they sell will be fine.

TIME 15 minutes, plus time to chill

SERVES 6 to 8 (it’s rich!)

INGREDIENTS

1 cup dark chocolate (use good quality dark chocolate bars broken into small pieces)

290 grams silken tofu

1 ripe, but not mushy, banana or 2 to 3 small “apple” bananas

Dash of Balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract or almond extract

Slivered almonds, flaked coconut, fresh berries or powdered sugar (optional toppings)

PREPARATION

•  Melt chocolate in a heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. 
•  Alternatively, melt chocolate in microwave oven, using microwave safe bowl, stirring    often with a wooden spoon.  Watch closely as it will burn easily.
•  Cool melted chocolate slightly.
•  Add melted chocolate, tofu, banana, vinegar, sugar and vanilla or almond extract to   blender.  Blend until smooth.
•  Pour into 6 to 8 individual serving cups, or into one medium-size bowl for oneJ Chill.
•  Add one or more toppings when ready to serve.

Dubai in Haikus

It’s officially hot and humid. I can hack that part. But what I simply cannot bear is when the air gets nasty, like a brown Jell-O salad that's thick, heavy and full of sand. The last thing you want to do is be outside or open your windows. It’s been like that for over a week now and I feel suffocated. My nose is stuffed and I have a throat full of gunk. My eyes burn. My energy level lags and I could sleep for 12 hours a night. I guess this is my payback for enjoying the lovely winter months here while my Midwestern friends suffered with snow.

Last Thursday evening, the start of our weekend, Stan came home and I was like a child. I had been in self-imposed exile, refusing to leave the apartment and expose myself to the dusty air. I was bored, restless and indecisive as to what would lift the cloud I had put above my own head. I was a whiny bitch, complaining, “We never do anything because there isn’t anything to do here.”

So the next night at dinner, Stan was prepared. We’ve been married for nearly 13 years after all. “I have a dinner activity,” he announced. “We’re going to have a haiku contest. The topic is Dubai.” Oh the irony - a haiku is supposed to be about nature.

Nevertheless, here are four of our creations. In keeping with the spirit of the place, I had to censor out a few. Vote for your favorite.

#1

A city of gold

of air conditioners too

and lots of bling bling

#2

palm trees, dates, sunshine

camels in the desert sand

blue water, soft waves

#3

artificial place

soulless city, hummus good

shite summer weather

#4

biggest stuff in world

plastic surgery abounds

beaches hanging on

gulfnews : Rough sea warning for UAE residents

Seize the Day

Welcome to the week.  We start on Sunday here.  I felt a little off this past weekend: I had a cold, my head was full of snot, my body and mind tired.  I was feeling homesick and sorry for myself.  Poor me (more like poor Stan).  But I had a good night’s sleep (they have been rare lately) and felt pretty refreshed when I woke this morning. 

While Stan showered, I made my way slowly to the kitchen, savoring the silence.  I opened the window to have a peek at the sea.  Sweet!  The water was smooth as glass.  Most days as soon as I get the apartment to myself I do my meditation practice.  If it doesn’t happen first thing, it usually doesn’t happen.  But today I knew I had to take my practice to the beach.  How can someone live within striking distance of the ocean and feel self-pity?!

I gobbled half a mango, grabbed my things, threw on a floppy hat and bravely crossed the road to the beach side.  I then wound my way in front of the Royal Meridien and Habtour Grand resorts and in less than 10 minutes I was barefoot in the smooth sand.  I’m telling you, the water was crystal clear with nary a ripple.  It looked like an aquamarine mirror.  I couldn’t wait to slide into the cool silky water.  Wait a second.  Cool water?  Drat.  I forgot about that part.  Nope, didn’t even allow myself to think about it.  Instead I summoned my inner Julia, donned my goggles and waded right on in.  If there ever was a prescription to pull me out of my funk, this was it.

As it was still relatively early (for Dubai anyway) I pretty much had the place to myself.  I swam and swam and swam.  There truly is something so purifying, so cleansing, about gliding through the salty water.  I swam as far as my body was willing to take me and got out to walk back to where I started.  I took a few steps, looked back at the water and had to jump right back in.  I could have floated there with the fishes all morning long.  But I was so happy, so content, that I paddled back to my things and walked home, stopping to gaze at the Meridien’s hollyhock garden along the way.

The best meditation practice I’ve had in a long time.