Raw Dessert Demo success

Heather and I stayed at a cute little cottage up at Hahndorf, in the Adelaide Hills. I wanted to show her the pretty things Adelaide had to offer. We checked out the beaches, the hills, the organic hang-outs, Haigh's chocolates, and the Central Markets. The weather was nice and we managed to enjoy laying on the grass even though we had so much to do. Time just whizzed past so quickly...

We spent much of our time talking, talking, talking, then in the kitchen and a mix of both. The class preparation is far more time consuming than anyone realises. Getting all the ingredients, measurements, equiptment and making sure we have it all ready to go on the day.

I was her assistent chef for the day and I actually found it such so valuable for my skill set. I have no excuses not to make future creations! As I'm typing I'm recovering from the gorgeous raw chocolate clusters she left Heather left me with. We promised ourselves she couldn't leave without a chocolate kitchen adventure. The reason I say "recovering" is because raw cacao is strong and needs to be eaten in moderation. It is true, too much of a good thing ; )

The demonstration went something like this; sweet chia seed parfaits, superfood milkshake, apple and peach crumble with banana ice cream and chocolate sauce, mandarin and orange cheesecake (my personal favourite), oat choc chip cookies (another favourite), brownies, strawberry and lime cheesecake (Heather's favourite) and chocolate and blueberry mousse pie. Her tips and tricks were practical and interesting. By the end we all had a piece of everything, perhaps too much of a good thing but no doubt yummy!

All in all we had a great time, she vows to come here again (if not relocate ; ) and I will definately visit her in Canada....

Awwww MISS you Heather!

Love
Ulyana...

Introducing Miss Heather Pace...

Heather’s passion for food led her to the completion of a two year culinary school program at the age of 21. As a vegan, she used her valuable skills and experience to create healthy vegan, and later raw vegan versions of traditional foods. Heather has worked in various restaurants, bakeries, and as a personal chef. She is the author of 4 raw dessert eBooks, teaches raw food classes, and works as a certified yoga instructor. Find her books and recipes at SweetlyRaw.com.

Endings and Beginnings- Happy New Year! and Russian Christmas

2011 has a nice ring to it! I'm happy to say good bye to 2010 and a big hello to this year.



 Reflection for 2010...

It was one of my most challenging. Anyone that knows me, KNOWS just how challenging it was but considering I did everything within my power to let it run gracefully. Not without a little bang right before the end ;) I learnt many things, one of which, YOU come first and YOU know best. That there are no wrong moves. Literally, there are no wrong moves in life. Sure they have consequences but in the end, it always works out. Take each perceived mistake on the chin and keep going. Mistakes are blessings in disguise. One door closes only to open to another. There are no real dilemmas, no real dramas worth your life force. My yoga detox nicely summed up my drama-less approach to life.

The start of something new 2011...

I have a few plans for this year, a visit from a lovely raw food Chef from Canada (will keep you posted). This is how most people know her but really, she is SO much more than a raw food chef. A traveller, a yogini, writer, a young heart ready to discover the world- this girl rocks ;) my secret for now. I plan on going to yoga retreat/ training next week (plan on blogging about that), belly dance, salsa, and art therapy. I have a pile of books I need to get through, this IS exciting for me believe it or not. Possibly YouTube channel hmmm maybe maybe. Clinic wise I'll be trying to work LESS, to allow room for these other things- we shall see!

Summing up the silly season...

I do such a good job at being grounded, all year right up until  my sisters wedding, Christmas and New Years. A few stories to tell but more importantly have had/ am having a great time relaxing. I do notice without the daily work routine, my linear mind goes out the window. I forget the day, I don't use my diary and instead count on the sun and moon to tell me what time it is- kidding, but I do forget the day. Besides extra alcoholic beverages (such a technical term lol) and Christmas day. I've been very healthy. I guess I'm at the place where I don't think about it anymore.
However, it's a tradition of mine to start the year sober and to set a few intentions. They basically go along the lines of....
Health, Happiness, Wealth, Creativity, Soul, Loooove and all in between.
I realise this is an ambiguous description but I am a little secretive with my dreams and goals. Maybe that's something I can work on, be more open...
Be more open... nope! not this year ;)

Another detox...
This is my typical light cleanse that is easy to do, non- restrictive. Nothing too strict, just the basics of good healthy eating, minus the toxic stuff.

Focusing on: Organic, fresh, local and seasonal produce. Green powders, "superfoods", juices, smoothies, fruit, salads, a small amount of grains, eggs, dairy, steamed, grilled veggie dishes, green and herbal teas.

Excluding: alcohol, overly cooked, heavier, fattier dishes. (the exclusion list is limited because I'm consistently very healthy). To the average person exclude alcohol, coffee (hate the stuff, smells great but makes me tired), anything processed, white flours, pasta, red meat, conventional dairy products.

Exercise wise, I'd like to move more. Just a bit more and my body will be happier...
I love hiking/ bush walking. It always makes me feel great and allows me time to contemplate life, get some sun and air.

A couple of pictures on my latest walk...




Pretty

 


I love this perspective! This is how an ant would see the world, climbing up a tree



Looking at the sky while lying on the grass= bliss

 

I gave myself 1 week to get this post up! Done!

Love

Ulyana...

Week 3 Yoga November

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: are grouped in one because I don't have much to report on except my limitations are exposing themselves! My left side is very tense and is restricting my postures. I have discovered though, the body is mulitfacited. What I mean by that is there is always a way you just have to figure it out. It might not be the route you think it is. That a lot of the limitations are in your mind, either you're pushing a cart uphill, not really paying attention to your body or holding onto "stuff" this is where the detox is taking effect. Letting go of "stuff", frees up the meridians/ nadi's (energetic pathways in the body), which has an effect on the physicality. Self- discovery asana style. Besides this, happier than ever! Even if my sister is showing signs of "Bridezilla". . .

Thursday: Totally ungrounded today because it was brought to my attention, the 'Food Safety Modernization Act' an attempt at banning organic farming AND access to natural therapies and education in Europe. The link has the petition attached. If you value your rights to choose your own healthcare and your own NON GM food then please sign up and pass it on. Consequently, I felt pain in my back, plus the same niggly right hip flexor, which I had to work around. I made the time to "zen" and am using my HOMEOPATHIC anti-inflammatory for the pain- proudly! (in case you don't follow the link, they specifically want to ban homeopathy, herbs and nutritional supplements).
Besides that, looking at my salad and being grateful it is organic. Am starting to read an inspiring book "Authenticity Accelerator" by Robert Rabbin...

Friday: Ahh Friday again! I have a long day of clients, love my clients! Have I even mentioned that yet? I've been so caught up in my yogic transformation, I have never said just how much I appreciate these people. They are the reason I do, love, live and breathe my work. I thank each and every one of them : )
Another thing dawned on me, the silence consistent yoga practice is cultivating, brings much more clarity and confidence.

Saturday & Sunday: Totally sluggish from the yoga, feels like detox. Aches and pains, headaches, blah. Obviously the physical aspect of it is testing my body, muscles, ligaments but this feels deeper. Kefir making, organic shopping, yoga, sun, sister, reading, blogging, tree hugging and friend phone catch up. Just how I like it xx

Apple & Strawberry Water Kefir... Bubbly fruit drink

Upon request by some Russian friends here is a fruit kefir recipe, very similar to kvas, except it is made from real fruit. It taste's like an effervesant fruity soda pop but without the high sugar hit. Kvas is a fermented drink made from dark or rye bread popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. Kvas has a very unique flavour, as does water kefir, both very similar and have a nice "feel good" effect after drinking it.

Basic Water Kefir Recipe- as long as you stick to this ratio, you will have nice kefir.
1 cup filtered, spring or rain water
1 tablespoon sugar (organic table or coconut sugar if you want a honey colour)
1 heaped tablespoon of water kefir grains
Dried and unsulphured fruit or fresh fruit (optional)
eg. Sliced apples, sultanas, figs, apricots, fresh lemon, orange, lime are nice to add

What are Water Kefir Grains?
Water kefir grains are a bacteria and yeast culture, thought to have originated in Turkey. They feed of sugar to produce a fermented stable culture, a mixture of lactic acid, alcohol and carbon dioxide.
The result is a tasty fermented low-sugar fizzy drink, ideally served over ice.

Note* this is a very low alcoholic beverage.



Water kefir grains

Apple Kefir (single fermentation)
2 cups fresh apple juice (I used green apples for this recipe)
2.5 cups water
3 tablespoons raw sugar
5 tablespoons water kefir grains

1. Juice the apples, add the water, dissolve in sugar and add the kefir grains.
2. Cover with muslin cloth and leave for 24- 48 hours. The longer you leave it the stronger the fermentation.
3. Strain the grains, Chill and serve...




Apple kefir

 Strawberry Kefir (double fermentation method)
1 punnet of strawberries blended
4 cups water kefir, already fermented (basic recipe)

1. Let ferment for another 12 to 24 hours, strain the grains, chill and serve.

Strawberries

Strawberries blended



Strawberry Kefir

 *Note*
-Do not use metal, only plastic utensils/ sivs and ferment in glass or it will harm the grain.
-Use filtered water and organic produce for best results.
-You can google a local kefir enthusiast to buy or adopt some grains in your area.
-Make it with love ; )

Love
Ulyana...

Vegan Festival 2010

Sunday 14th November 2010, was the Adelaide Vegan Festival on Whitmore Square. Hosted by the awesome people at Bliss Cafe, Shane and his wife Kas. There was loads of stuff to look at and enjoy, food, clothes, music and a crowed of all-sorts. I had the best time just laying in the sun on the lawn getting a tan with my good friend Van.

He lined up for abut 25 minutes to get a funky pie! While I stuck to my salad and cold rolls ; ) Not as much of a line up there...


Salad that is a bit out of focus


I finally bought that cute ruby red t-shirt by Mudbric, organic cotton, which are Australian made and designed. Beach Organic spices had a beautiful stall, filled with organic aromatics such as curries, peppers, vanilla beans, hand harvested salts, cinnamon and the like. I walked away with the dried tumeric slices (for curries, stir fry and dressings), black pepper (smells AMAZING) and the tumeric infused coconut sugar (divine). The rest of the time I walked around the stalls and listened to the bands play, it was a perfect afternoon.



Cinnamon infused Coconut Sugar



Beach Organics- spices from Heaven!





Tumeric infused Coconut Sugar

 Love
Ulyana...

Week 2 Yoga November



Couldn't resist  a picture of the sky.... beauiful day


Monday: Cutest thing happened! I was in the middle of my sun salutations and while in downward dog I noticed out the corner of my eye, the tiniest, bright green caterpillar! So small, I'm surprised he even caught my eye in the dim lighting. He's a lucky thing because I finished my yoga and took him outside where he belonged. Besides that I'm happy to be drama free this morning. Yoga keeps my feet firmly planted, while everything else seems to whizz by. Namaste.

Tuesday: A very therapeutic day for me. I started the day with Art Therapy. I hadn't had a session with my therapist for over a year and while reflecting my progress I realised I am a completely different person to who I was back then. 1.5 years ago, I was in a different place, my my how far we come and how much better do we get! Well, that's the plan  ;) One day I hope to do a course, just for myself...

I've been doing a lot of back bends, which naturally strengthen your lower back and I can feel some mild discomfort. I was thinking this morning "oh hmmm maybe I should hold back or something, I don't want to get arthritis". My lovely art therapist brought to my attention that since when does yoga do that?!? Crazy fear based thought. I guess I treat many people with lower back issues, likely from not ENOUGH yoga, or exercise for that matter.


Wednesday: It's getting easier to wake up in the mornings. After yoga I made an AMAZING new juice concoction. It's very simple but it works! I took a risk and juiced a big stalk of fresh aloe (the dark green variety), 1/2 a lemon, added a tablespoon of MSM (organic sulphur) powder and a shot of birch juice by Weleda (the Elixir range). It didn't look great but not the worst, I diluted it with water, contemplated adding stevia.... and sipped it slowly. Surprisingly very refreshing! A touch slimy because of the aloe but I'll keep this little ritual up for a while, see if I start turning green. Outdoor personal training session after lunch today.

Thursday: Recovery from the trainer! Mild yoga session, clearly my flexibility has been restricted! Taking it in my stride. I made another aloe juice and this time with mint and ginger added- eeek, it has to be good for me! The reward was a super yum blackberry- vanilla smoothie



Blackberry & Vanilla Smoothie

Smoothie...
Black berries (frozen organic)
Chia seed
Sun Warrior protein powder (I'm convinced is the BEST protein powder on the planet)
Handful of parsley (for extra green goodness)
Maca
Vanilla bean
Pinch of stevia
Water

My thought for the day... the restrictions and closed doors in life are as important as the progressions. Going with the flow is about allowing the stops as well as the starts; this to me Universal Divine Timing.

We think we know better but we really don't. My babushka always tells me of a story when the war ended and she was at a camp in Germany. As soon as the news was heard, thousands of people wanted to return and they did, only to be shot dead by their own for being "traitors" (even though it was the Germans that took them- go figure?!? Say no to crazy politicians). She had wanted to go so badly and had many reasons to, family, a child she left to her sister and she became so sick she was hospitalised and she missed her opportunity. My babushka, a Taurean, who survived war, starvation etc is no shrinking violet but she was ill and was so distraught over being held back. She is also religious and at that moment questioned why God would do that to her. Sometimes we really want something, sometimes we think it's for the best. My thought for the day is go with the flow more and allow life to guide you a little. Make choices, for sure but see which doors open and which ones shut. The easier you flow the less the shut doors will rock your ego.

Friday: Ouchy today, my hip flexors are tight. It seems to me strength training is counter productive to yoga. I feel I'm starting from the beginning again!

Saturday: Again rigid from training and traditionally I'm not supposed to do any yoga for a couple days (wink wink). So no inversions and focussing on restoration and flexibility because I seem to have taken a step backward. Happy it's Saturday : )

Sunday: Tired waking up today. Walked the dogs and started on my yoga except noticed my right hip flexor is quite painful. I wasn't able to do what I'd like to have and will finish the day off with lots of stretches and some meditation. Right now, I'm off to the Vegan Festival ...