Nice Dhal, Darl!

My first experience with dhal was at the age of 12. I went to dinner with my mother at her friend's house and was treated to an Indian banquet. My mother's friend was Australian, but her husband was Indian and they had lived there for a number of years. During that time she had learned an impressive array of authentic recipes. Sadly, she forgot to put salt in the dhal on this occasion, and my poor uncultured tastebuds immediately rejected dhal as being strange in both texture and flavour.

Fast forward 20 years and I am trekking in Nepal with my husband. We are on the Annapurna circuit and the only thing we feel safe eating for most of the 25 day trek is dhal bhat, a tasty and filling combination of potato and chickpea curry and rice. We would eat it for lunch and dinner sitting in teahouses or out on rooftop terraces watching the wind blowing the snow off the top of the mountains surrounding us.

That seems so long ago.

Now I am a mother, increasingly interested in healthy eating and so attending an Indian vegetarian cooking class held in a small organic shop in Seaford. The shop is called New Harvest Produce and is one of a number of small quality organic shops I happily notice popping up all over the place. The course is jokingly called "Nice dhal, Darl!" as this is what the shop owner's father says to her mother whenever she cooks dhal.

Teaching the class is Malini Jayaganesh, whose business card says Food Writer and Cookery Presenter, but who also works full time in IT. She is originally from Kerala, an area in Southern India and speaks about food being a time capsule of family traditions, a way to connect with your culture and a method of maintaining health and well-being by following Ayurvedic principles.  Malini is calm and friendly and although she is going to cook 4 different types of dhal for us in under 2 hours, she never seems hurried or flustered.

We are given a sheet of paper containing recipes she learnt from her grandmother and aunts, featuring West Coast Dhal, Himalayan Dhal, South-East Coast Dhal and Desert Dhal. This is to highlight the variety of different cultures and cuisines found within India. 

Malini has pre-prepared a tray containing 17 different containers of legumes foraged from her pantry. She says that she is running a bit low by Indian standards.

The tray is passed around and I am invited to inspect the beans closely. Malini discusses some of the less commonly used beans like Kala Channa- black chickpeas which are great for diabetics and Adzuki beans, which will be used in the West Coast Dhal.

We begin by talking a bit about dhal. A combination of legumes and other vegetables, it is an inexpensive form of protein and a wholesome, stomach-filling meal. Vegetarians need to include a variety of legumes in their diet to ensure they consume the full spectrum of essential amino acids their bodies would otherwise get from meat. Malini says that her family has been vegetarian for 700 years and that her grandmother would cook particular meals based on the cycle of the moon to ensure the necessary variety in the family's diet.

Cooking dhal must always begin with soaking the beans overnight (although red lentils can be just boiled for quick preparation) and the soaking water MUST BE DISCARDED before rinsing and then cooking the lentils in boiling water. When the beans are ready, discard the cooking water also. This is because there is a substance under the skin of the beans that causes gas and indigestion.

To cook the general rule is to add 1 cup of beans to 4 cups of water, bring to the boil and then simmer for about 40 minutes. Malini has pre-cooked all of the beans for our recipes and says that they can also be frozen in portions at this point.

The cooking begins with Desert Dhal, from Rajasthan in Northern India. This uses mung beans and is cooked with capsicum, mushrooms and an amazing blend of spices. The shop sells a spice blend which has the most tantalizing aroma and is well worth the investment.

When this is ready it is taken out the back and served to us on little plates with a slice of millet bread. It is fantastic! And I am not even too keen on capsicum or mushrooms!

We then move on to West Cost Dhal, which uses adzuki beans, pumpkin, zucchini, yellow button squash and coconut cream. 

Next comes the more complicated Himalayan Dhal, which uses 17 different ingredients and calls for the curry to be made from scratch. 

This is the spicy chickpea and potato curry I ate in Nepal, it smells wonderful when it is cooking and is whisked out the back of the shop when ready so that we can complete the course by cooking South-East Coast Dhal.

This includes leafy greens such as kale and bok choy, is made with red lentils, coconut and mustard seeds. It is delicious and apparently goes quite well with fish.

The Himalayan Dhal is brought out and as soon as I taste it, I am transported back to the mountains. It is lovely. 

I had a great time at the "Nice dhal, Darl!" course and if you are in Melbourne I would recommend keeping an eye out for future courses held at New Harvest Produce. 

I will include some of these dhal recipes in future posts, but for now, some golden rules to remember when cooking dhal:

* Always soak the beans overnight and discard the soaking water.

* Rinse thoroughly before adding the cooking water.

* The beans can be frozen in meal-sized portions once cooked, so you don't have to plan so far in advance every time you make dhal.

* Dhal always tastes better the longer it has to sit, so let it settle on the stove for a bit before serving and in the unlikely event that there is any left over, eat it for lunch the next day :)

Summary

Summary- Joshi's Holistic Detox

Well, it's over, I have completed the Detox and the Maintenance Program. The results are better than I imagined in some ways and not quite as good as I'd hoped in others.

- My Tongue is still slightly purple with dints along the sides, though they don't seem as distinct as they were.
- I am sure that my acidity levels are lower due to the fact that I am hardly eating any refined sugar or other acidic foods these days.
- My weight is 99kg, my BMI is now 32- I have lost 10kg overall, but I would have liked this to be more. I am guessing that this won't move much until I make some kind of strenuous exercise part of my daily routine.
- My chronic cough is pretty much gone, so I will be getting an allergy test to find out what it was caused by.
- I still seem to retain fluid at night, but not to the same uncomfortable degree.
- I still crave chocolate, and really enjoy coffee, though I am drinking coffee with soy milk now and I don't keep any chocolate, sweets or cakes in the house.
- I am sleeping better.
- I feel less achy and lethargic.
- I feel more positive.
- I am trying to exercise more.
- I have reduced my caffeine and alcohol intake dramatically.
- I now drink filtered water.
- I now buy fruit and vegetables from farmer's markets, organic/biodynamic shops or the local greengrocer.
- I now hardly eat dairy or wheat products at all.
- I eat very little red meat and when I do it is good quality and free range.
- I am making an effort to reduce the number of chemicals in my home, changing to natural detergents, shampoo and conditioner, beauty products and taking shoes off at the door.
- My overall diet has changed to include a lot more vegetables.

So yes, I would say that this Detox lives up to expectations. I wonder if would be accused of having a 'fatty liver' I had another liver scan now...

It is interesting to note how much I have learned about food, its production and healthy eating in general. I now frequent many different health food shops and I am far more interested in searching for healthier alternatives.

Overall, the feeling I get from having done this Detox is the same as the one I felt when I quit smoking. I am sure that the effects will be far-reaching.

Day 42

Day 42-
Today's diet:
On waking: Hot water with a slice of lemon.
Breakfast: A slice of rye bread toast with a sliced boiled egg.
Morning snack: A small piece of sweet bun, a coffee with 2 sugars.
Lunch: Lots of small things, a couple of small pieces of spinach and feta pie, grapes, some organic corn chips, hommus and carrot & celery sticks.
Afternoon snack: Another coffee with 2 sugars, some homemade muesli slice.
Dinner: Grilled salmon with carrot salad (grated carrots, finely chopped spring onion, mint and coriander, pepitas, sunflowers seeds, linseeds, chia seeds, lemon, flaxseed oil and sultanas) and a couple of rice paper rolls (carrots, cucumber, celery, chicken, bean noodles).
After dinner snack: Lemon and ginger tea with honey.
At least 2 litres of filtered water throughout the day.
Exercise: Nope.
Sleep: About 8 hours, didn't wake at all...

Had another lovely day, hosted mother's group, all went well, the healthy food was enjoyed, though didn't get to make the salad, falafel or rice paper rolls on time, so made them later for dinner!!

This is the last day of the Maintenance Program for me. I am very happy with the way things have gone. I will write one more post in this Blog tomorrow to see what the end result is and if Joshi's Holistic Detox has really lived up to my expectations.

For now though, back to Meditation and Visualisation....

Visualisation is also a technique that has been used for thousands of years to encourage positive influences in peoples lives. It is a great way to change your thought patterns from negative to positive which can, in turn, lead to more positive outcomes in your life. It is really just imagining what you desire, as if it was already here. For example, if you would like to become fit and healthy, you imagine yourself in fitness clothes, running without effort. Many cancer patients use visualisation to mentally cleanse their bodies, by imagining their cancer as dirt or dust within their house that they then clean up.

It is above all, a great way to train your brain to see the world, your life and yourself in a more positive light. It can help to reduce stress, depression and insomnia, to name a few conditions. I have read a bit about visualisation and also neuroplasticity, and the fact is that the more often you think a thought, the stronger the neural pathways of that thought are. The brain is just like a muscle in your body, the more you use it, the stronger it becomes and the easier it is to complete the same task with it. So pretty much, the more you think happy thoughts, the easier it is to think in a positive way generally.

Here is Joshi's Visualisation Exercise:
- After your meditation exercise, imagine there is a bright white light pouring through you from above like a warm liquid penetrating the top of your head.
- Imagine it seeps down through and over you, onto your shoulders, arms, chest, all the way down your legs to your feet and forming roots stretching deep into the ground beneath you.
- Imagine your body as this glowing white form with a bright, glowing future.
- Visualise what you would like to happen, see yourself going for a job interview and getting the job, finding a loving person to have a relationship with, imagine how you would like to look and feel in 6 months time.
- Make the picture as real and tangible as possible, imagine what it smells and tastes like, put yourself there.
- Imagine that this is all happening here and now.
- Once you feel this, Joshi suggests covering the image with a protective white light, or simply becoming aware of your surroundings.
- Try to repeat this process as often as possible, at least once a day.

Joshi uses visualisation for 10 minutes every morning, thinking about all of the good and positive things that will happen during the day and for 10 minutes after meditating each night, visualising in a positive way events in the coming days.

Day 41-

Day 41-
Today's diet:
On waking: Hot water with a slice of lemon.
Breakfast: Gluten and wheat-free muesli with lecithin, psyllium husks, honey and rice milk. Green tea.
Morning snack: A slice of rye bread toast, 1/2 with peanut butter, 1/2 with marmalade. Detox tea.
Lunch: Fried rice (rice, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, beans) with chicken.
Afternoon snack: None.
Dinner: Roast chicken with hommus, carrot sticks, celery sticks and feta cheese.
After dinner snack: Lemon and ginger tea with honey.
At least 2 litres of filtered water throughout the day.
Exercise: Housework- all day long!!!.
Sleep: About 8 hours, woke up once.

So much housework today, it was ridiculous. I am absolutely shattered. Tomorrow I am hosting mother's group, which is always fun and at least I have a nice clean house for it! I am making some seriously healthy snacks, spinach and feta pie, vegetable and chicken rice paper rolls, home-made hommus with vegie sticks and brown rice crackers to dip, mini carrot salads with falafel balls, home-made muesli slice, a fruit plate and iced fruit tea with ginger. Yum!

But, I did promise to write about Joshi's views on Meditation & Visualisation so here is the Meditation part:

Joshi states that meditation has been practiced for thousands of years in the East as a means of relaxing and enjoying quiet contemplation. It is designed to allow you to create a mental environment which is not influenced by the external stresses of day-to-day physical and emotional life. Apparently the practice of meditation has been clinically shown to not only reduce cholesterol and bring down high blood pressure, but improve the well-being of people suffering from stress, headaches, acidity, emotional vulnerability, skin irritations and insomnia.

We all meditate when we daydream, allowing our mind to wander, but concentrating on doing it is far more beneficial. Joshi says it is important to be alone and uninterrupted and suggests turning off your phone, telling everyone to leave you alone for 25-30 minutes and following these steps:

- Have a nice hot shower to relax and let go of the day's negative thoughts and energies.
- Sit in a warm room, with your back against the wall, on the floor, or in a comfortable chair, try to make sure that your spine is straight.
-  Close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Focus on your breath as you inhale and exhale.
- Try to think of nothing else and you will relax completely.
- When your mind wanders and you find yourself thinking of things that have happened, or things you have to do, try to make your mind as blank as possible, try hard to think nothing at all.
- Focus on a candle flame or create a mental picture of a place or painting or environment, like the sea or the forest, that promotes a feeling of calm.
- Keep your eyes closed.
- When you feel ready, become more aware of your surroundings and gradually open your eyes. - Do this for 10-15 minutes at the end of each day as a way of relaxing your body and Detoxing your mind.

Joshi also mentions a couple of other forms of meditation, like chanting a mantra, which is a word or sound which evokes a positive energy. There is also the practice of focussing on a chakra point (energy centre in the body), to promote balance and health.

Day 40-

Day 40-
Today's diet:
On waking: Hot water with a slice of lemon.
Breakfast: 3 homemade pancakes (flour, egg, rice milk) with maple syrup and banana. A small banana smoothie (banana, rice milk and yoghurt).
Morning snack: None.
Lunch: Ate at a brilliant Afghan restaurant, shared meal including- rice with carrot and sultanas, chicken skewers, lamb curry (mild), flat bread, salad.
Afternoon snack: A soy latte with 2 sugars.
Dinner: Scotch fillet steak with grilled slices of sweet potato, broccoli, snow peas and carrot.
After dinner snack:Lemon and ginger tea with honey.
At least 2 litres of filtered water throughout the day.
Exercise: None.
Sleep: About 10 hours, woke up once. (WOW!!)

Excellent day! Started with pancakes, which always makes me happy, then my mother in law came over and after we had gone to a brilliant Indian specialty food store, she took me me shopping for clothes!

It was so lovely to try things on and not feel like they didn't suit me or that I was too bumpy to make anything look good. Lots of things looked good and I tried on things I possibly wouldn't have considered before (like white pants). I walked out an hour or so later with 6 new items of clothing and feeling like a million dollars.

We had a lovely lunch at an Afghan restaurant. It was quite easy to be healthy, grilled chicken & salad, but I also had to try the rice, bread and lamb curry, it was all soooo good.

After we came home I took my daughter for a play in the park, but didn't get much exercise done because I met a friend there and we just chatted, very nice.

I cannot believe that I only have 2 more days left on the Maintenance Program. I'll finish up this blog after 43 days but I'm pretty happy to keep my diet going this way, I feel great!

I'll write about the Meditation and Visualisation tomorrow...

Day 39

Day 39-
Today's diet:
On waking: Hot water with a slice of lemon.
Breakfast: 1 poached free-range egg on gluten and wheat free bread with avocado, salt and pepper. Green tea.
Morning snack: 5 almonds, 3 brown rice crackers, carrot sticks.
Lunch: 6 falafel balls, a small bowl of Joshi's tomato and lentil soup (see below).
Afternoon snack: A soy latte with 2 sugars and a chocolate truffle.
Dinner: Grilled chicken thigh with Joshi's parsnip and beet fry (see Day 31), broccoli, corn on the cob and green beans.
After dinner snack:Lemon and ginger tea with honey.
At least 2 litres of filtered water throughout the day.
Exercise: 60 minute brisk walk.
Sleep: About 9 hours, woke up three times.

Joshi's Lentil Soup
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of lentils (I used canned)
- 3 cups of water
- 1 carrot, diced
- 1 small onion- chopped finely
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon of thyme
- 500g of tomatoes. chopped
- 2 tbsp butter
- (I also added 1 tsp of salt and some cracked black pepper)

Method:
(I completely changed the method, if you want Joshi's you'll need to check the book, but I prefer the ingredients cooked before they are made into soup and he just adds them to the water at the end)
- Rinse lentils thoroughly.

- Add butter and onion to a saucepan, cook until golden brown, add some water, cook until water has gone again.

- Add chopped tomatoes, cook until they begin to stick, add some water.

- Add the carrot, thyme and bay leaf.

- Add the water, lentils, salt and pepper.

- Simmer on medium for 45 minutes.


Another good day, very productive, my daughter and I did heaps of boring housework, then tidied up the spare room, finding heaps of things we don't need anymore to give away in the process. We walked into town (I pushed her on her tricycle) and after shopping for some groceries, we went to the park for 3/4 of an hour and then walked home again (she walked 1/3 of the way). But, I feel good, got some things cleared away, did some exercise and ate a very healthy diet (except for my afternoon snack of course). I do find it very difficult to resist coffee or chocolate if they are available, but in general, my consumption of these things has reduced incredibly, so I'm not too worried.

Day 38

Day 38-
Today's diet:
On waking: Hot water with a slice of lemon.
Breakfast: Gluten and wheat free muesli with psyllium husks, lecithin, banana and rice milk.
Morning snack: Peppermint tea, seed & nut mix (almonds, pecans, brazil nuts, pepitas, sunflower seeds).
Lunch: A chicken roll with mayo. Detox tea.
Afternoon snack: A soy latte with 2 sugars and a chocolate.
Dinner: Vegetable stir-fry with tofu, brown rice vermicelli and rogan josh paste.
After dinner snack:Lemon and ginger tea with honey.
At least 2 litres of filtered water throughout the day.
Exercise: 20 minute brisk walk.
Sleep: About 7 hours, woke up once.

Back to the detox again today, mainly. Not much to say about today actually, spent it running around picking up garden supplies and putting the primer on a cabinet that I am painting white. There is (unusually) a bit of time for me to spend with my husband tonight though, so I'm signing off to do that!