♥ Food for Pratiksha ♥: 2010

♥ Amrita Cookies ♥

Prep: 12-15 mins

Bake: 8-10 mins

Makes: ~30 cookies using tablespoon scooper

Taste: mild sweet, neutral energetics, strengthening

1 cup of whole wheat flour -- sweet, cooling, heavy

1 cup of whole barley flour -- sweet, cooling, light

1 cup milled flax -- sweet, cooling, oily, smooth, moistening
1/2 cup butter, softened -- sweet, cooling, oily, smooth, moistening

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

some powdered sugar for coating if desired

baking - warming, drying, lightening

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla until fully mixed. Add flour and flax with salt to creamed mixture, blend throughly. Add nuts and mix well. Preheat oven to 400F. Shape into 1-inch balls and bake 8-10 minutes. Do not brown. Cool, then either roll in powdered sugar sprinkle on top.

This traditional recipes can be found online under Mexican Wedding Cake, Russian Teacake, and Snowball Cookie, but I made modifications to it for more healthy cookie --- so I am calling mine Amrita Cookies.

I will bring some over --- enjoy!

♥ Ma Annapurna - Goddess of Food ♥

♥ Krishna and Radha ♥

♥ Dosa, Idylli, Utthapum Batter ♥

Julian's super fast version = No soak time.

Prep few mins + overnight ferment
Cook - pretty fast
Taste - savory and Yummy.
For 2 people.

2 c of brown or white rice
1 c of urad dhal
4 cups of water -- added gradually in step 3.
1tsp salt
sprinkle of fenugreek seeds

1. Combine the gently washed rice, dhal, and salt.

2. Blend them dry - coarse is OK.

a) DOSA and Utthapum: Batter should be uniformly smooth.

b) Idylli: Blend the dhal and rice separate. The dhal should be completely blended, the rice should be slightly coarse. When you mix them the key is to have the rice suspended in the dhal.

3. Add 2-4 cups of water and let it sit for 5-10 mins to soak. The water might completely absorb so you can add the full 4 cups - but try not to add much more because it will effect the consistency.

4. Blend until smooth and no coarseness - some coarseness OK for idylli.

5. Sprinkle fenugreek seeds on top - don't stir and let it ferment on the stove pilot overnight.

SLEEP.

WAKE UP.

6. Batter should have doubled in size.

7. For DOSA and Utthapum, OK to mix batter and pour into pan with some oil. For IDYLLI, do NOT mix, gently spoon into idylli pan which is slightly oiled.

DOSA:

IDYLLI:

♥ Coconut Chutney, v1. ♥

Version 1

Prep 2 mins.

Done in 2 mins!

Taste - GREAT!

1/4 c. of coconut shreds

4-5 peppercorns

1/4 tsp of salt

1/4 tsp of sugar

1/2-1 tsp of fennel

1 inch of ginger

Blend everything together.

If you keep everything away from water, you can store this paste away in large portions for later.

If you want to have immediately, then add 1/2 to 1 cup of water depending on the thickness you like.

Great with dosa, vada, idillis, utthapum... etc.

♥ Medicine Buddha ♥

Medicine Buddha

Mantras

[Short Mantra]

Tayata Om Bekanze
Bekanze Maha BeKanze
Radza Samudgate Soha

[Long Mantra]

Om namo bhagawate Bhaishjaye guru
vaidurya prabha rajaya tathagataya
arhate samyaksam buddhaya teyatha
om bekhajye bekhajye maha bekhajye
bekhajye rajaya samungate svaha

The Mantra word for word

1. OM: We begin with Om the under-current tone of the universe.
2. NAMO: Means yielding or full of trust also can mean to bend or bow and might mean to melt into.
3. bhagawate: means in intimate relation to the Divine and often means the entire cosmos
4. Bhaishjaye: a name for the Medicine Buddha
5. guru: Spiritual Master also means the “that” which transmutes ignorance into wisdom
6. vaidurya prabha: Divine deep blue light, like that of Lapis Lazuli.
7. Rajaya: means Great King
8. Tathagataya: means once came or once gone
9. arhate: one who has conquered the cycle of birth death
10. samyaksam buddhaya: perfectly enlightened
11. teyatha: do it like this
12. OM: Again we begin with Om the under-current tone of the universe
13. bekhajye bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness
14. maha bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness (of the darkness of Spiritual Ignorance)
14. bekhajye: do away with the pain of illness
15. Samudgate: means the supreme heights. Like this, go go go
(my prayer shall go to the highest and the widest and the deepest.
16. svaha: I offer this prayer and now relinquish it … (to you Medicine Buddha)

http://www.jivanjili.org/medicine_buddha_mantra.html

12 Vows of Medicine Buddha
1. I vow that my body shall shine as beams of brilliant light on this infinite and boundless world, showering on all beings, getting rid of their ignorance and worries with my teachings. May all beings be like me, with a perfect status and character, upright mind and soul, and finally attaining enlightenment like the Buddha.
2. I vow that my body be like crystal, pure and flawless, radiating rays of splendid light to every corner, brightening up and enlightening all beings with wisdom. With the blessings of compassion, may all beings strengthen their spiritual power and physical energy, so that they could fulfil their dreams in the right track.
3. I vow that I shall grant by means of boundless wisdom, all beings with the inexhaustible things that they require, and relieving them from all pains and guilt resulting from materialistic desires. Although clothing, food, accommodation and transport are essentials, it should be utilised wisely as well. Besides self-consumption, the remaining should be generously shared with the community so that all could live harmoniously together.
4. I vow to lead those who have gone astray back to the path of righteousness. Let them be corrected and returned to the Buddha way for enlightenment.
5. I vow that I shall enable all sentient beings to observe precepts for spiritual purity and moral conduct. Should there be any relapse or violation, they shall be guided for repentance. Provided they truly regret their wrong-doings, and vow for a change with constant prayers and strong faith in the Buddha, they could receive the rays of forgiveness, recover their lost moral and purity.
6. I vow that all beings who are physically disabled or sick in all aspects be blessed with good health, both physically and mentally. All who pays homage to Buddha faithfully will be blessed.
7. I vow to relieve all pain and poverty of the very sick and poor. The sick be cured, the helpless be helped, the poor be assisted.
8. I vow to help women who are undergoing sufferings and tortures and seeking for transformation into men. By hearing my name, paying homage and praying, their wishes would be granted and ultimately attain Buddhahood.
9. I vow to free all beings from evil thoughts and its control. I shall lead them onto the path of light through inculcating them with righteousness and honour so that they will walk the Buddha way.
10. I vow to save prisoners who have genuinely repented and victims of natural disasters. Those who are sincere will be blessed by my supreme powers and be freed from sufferings.
11. I vow to save those who suffer from starvation and those who committed crime to obtain food. If they hear my name and faithfully cherish it, I shall lead them to the advantages of Dharma and favour them with best food and eventually lead a tranquil and happy life.
12. I vow to save those who suffer from poverty, tormented by mosquitoes and wasps day and night. If they come across my name, cherish it with sincerity and practise dharma to strengthen their merits, they will be able to achieve their wishes.
Extracted from The Sutra of the Master of Healing.

http://web.singnet.com.sg/~alankhoo/Medicine.htm

♥ Date Bread Pudding ♥

Prep: 10 mins
Cooking: 3 Hrs
Taste: Sweet and DELICIOUS!

WHAT IS NEEDED:

3 cups of milk or soy milk
1/2 c. pitted dates
2 c. wheat flour
pinch of sea salt
pinch of baking soda
1/4 c. of currants or raisins

AND...

BIG Pressure Cooker
Claypot --- or something that you can cook in.
Blender
Tongs
Plates

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Blend wheat, milk, and dates together. Best is milk and dates together into a puree but okay to have dates in chunks.
2. Mix in the rest of the ingredients.

3. For samosas later, get some sweet potatoes ready to boil in the pressure cooker pot.

4. Put a layer of potatoes on the bottom of the pressure cooker (about 9 potatoes - save 3-4 for pakoras and bajis later).

5. Pour filter water up to about 4-6 inches.

6. Place clean claypot on top of the potatoes.

7. Pour batter into pot.

8. Put cover.

9. If not able to close the pressure cooker, okay to put a plate on top.

10. Close the pressure cooker. Get the water to a boil and then let simmer for 3 hours.
at about 30 mins the potatoe will be done so you can take those out and add a little more water.

STILL COOKING :) ...