Spring is synonymous with renewal, freshness, new growth, and birth. I know personally I am always looking for what greens I can throw in my blender to feel that burst of health and freshness. I put together this post to give you some freshness for your spring menus… May it grant you the clarity you need to meet your dreams!
Find at the bottom of the posting a Spring Grocery List filled with foods that will keep the Spring thaw from goo-ing up your insides!
I will also include a couple recipes from the foods on this list so you can have a bit of inspiration for your Spring elixirs.
As with all my recipes and suggestions for PURITY, please use Organic ingredients whenever possible.
Renewal Smoothie (enjoy all spring long!)
Feel free to be creative with your smoothie and add in anything you like from the Spring Grocery List
1 ripe papaya
1 cup blueberries
1-2 pinches ginger powder
a lot of spinach
3 leaves of kale
a dash of either agave syrup or maple syrup
pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
blend until frothy and delicious. add a bit of water if you like....
Spring Cleansing Soup: Kitcheree
serves 4
3/4 cup long grain brown rice
3/4 cup split mung beans (can be hard to find)
1 tablespoon ghee
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp ground coriander
1/8tsp ground fennel
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp rosemary
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp ground tumeric
1 pinch saffron
4 -5 cups water to your preference.
optional chopped vegetables of choice: dandelion greens, kale, peas, carrots,
soak split mung overnight. drain and rinse before adding. in saucepan on med/high heat add ghee and mustard seeds, allow seeds to pop and then add rest of spices, except tumeric (it is sensitive to burning). Heat spice in ghee for 15-20 seconds, careful not to burn. Add tumeric and rinsed beans and rice, stir until covered with spices. Add water and cook for 30-40 minutes until soft.
Serve with lime or lemon wedge squeezed over top and salt to taste.
Spring Chai from Feeding the Whole Family by Cynthia Lair
4 cups water
10 whole cloves
12 whole cardamom pods
12 whole peppercorns
2 sticks cinnamon
4 slices fresh ginger 1/4" thick
1 cup almond or rice milk (freshly made preferable)
maple syrup to sweeten
Bring water, spices, and gingerroot to boil in a pot. Lower heat and simmer 15-20 minutes. Add milk, turn off heat add sweetener to taste.
if this seems like too much work try Organic India's Tulsi Masala Chai
Spring Grocery List
This list is a guideline for an ideal low-fat diet taking more salads, leafy greens, veggies, beans, sprouts and berries.• indicates best choice
• please also take in account where you are at in your specific balance. My husband could not go a week with out having an Avocado which is not recommended for Spring. However, if you feel like kapha (the Spring dosha) is balanced in your system, you have more freedom to vary from this list.
FRUIT
Apples
Blueberries
Dried Fruits*
Grapefruit
Lemons
Limes
Papayas
Pears
Pomegranates
Raspberries
Strawberries
VEGETABLES
Alfalfa Sprouts*
Artichokes
Asparagus*
Bean Sprouts*
Beets
Bitter Melon
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts*
Cabbage*
Carrots*
Cauliflower*
Celery*
Chicory*
Chilies* dried
Cilantro
Collard Greens*
Corn*
Dandelion Greens*
Endive
Hot Peppers*
Kale*
Lettuce*
Spinach*
Watercress*
GRAINS
Buckwheat
Corn
Millet
Oats
Quinoa
Brown rice, long grain
LEGUMES
Bean Sprouts*
Kidneys*
Lentils*
Mungs*
NUTS AND SEEDS
Filberts
Pinons
Pumpkin
Sunflower
DAIRY
Ghee (in moderation)
Rice milk
OILS
all good in moderation
SWEETENERS
Honey*
Maple Syrup
Molasses
Raw Agave Nectar
SPICES
Basil
Bay Leaf
Black Pepper*
Cayenne*
Clove*
Coriander
Cumin
Curry Leaves
Fennel
Ginger
Marjoram
Mustard*
Oregano
Rosemary
Saffron
Sage
Peppermint
Thyme
Tumeric
