What a little Mat time and Tempeh can do......

  As most of you know my journey through life is often met with health challenges and side track journeys through the mud of my life. Moving ahead but at a slow and often dredging pace. Like the Lotus flower I keep rising towards the sun and some sense of moving out of the muck and into happiness and balance. If you have followed my Blog or my Facebook page you know I have had many starts and stops along this path. Each one getting me closer to the light but always seemly out of reach. 

  Until my recent visit to the hospital I must admit my intentions were always good and pure but I seemed to slip easily back into old patterns allowing people , places and things to distract me from what I set out to do. I am coming to realize that I had not surrendered. That might sound a bit strange coming from me, even I feel a bit strange saying it. I have surrendered to a lot of things in my life but yet it was more in a New Age kind of way. Let me try to explain. Growing up Christian surrender meant admitting you were a sinner and facing the fact that you would always fall short of God's grace, which confused me. That to me meant no matter what I did I would always displease God and not be good enough even though I was told I was his child.  New Age philosophy taught me that to surrender meant to not hold attachments to things, people, emotion, ect. So here I had been raised to think what ever I did would not please God and it was obvious that humans felt the same way because they were always judging each others worthiness and it made it harder when I stepped into the New Age culture because they were always trying to remove themselves from their reality and emotions. I must admit at time both theories and lifestyles had their challenges. My reality is I am sure I am recovering from both even now.  That leads me to my new look at surrender. 

  I am faced with the deeper questions of what makes me unworthy by just being born? because I was a mistake in Gods eyes? Because Eve sinned in some Garden years ago? I thought God was about Forgiveness not condemnation. Why must I become so detached from my feelings and my world around me that I have to escape into fantasy worlds that have no more proof of existence then God itself does. Weather that includes my own mind or mans technology? Why must I to find happiness deny my own existence and be a shamed to find my worthiness in things outside or inside myself. The truth for me is I do not. I do not have to find my worthiness in myself or others including the God of my own understanding. I just am. Strangely enough those were the words of Christ. "I am that I am" . When  Moses asked for his name he said those very words. Christ had surrendered to who he was, accepted his path as a man and as God. Both the creator and the creation. His splendor in knowing this gave rise to not needing a name to define him or even a title. You see the word Christ means "the anointed one" some called him the messiah which means "liberator of a group of people". You see those titles were given to him by his culture the same as once the word 'Mahatma" meaning "great soul" was given to Gandhi. Both were living men who came with a beautiful  message of oneness and peace and were crucified or assassinated by the very people they were trying to set free. Free from mental, emotional and even physical bondage. As the human mind tried to wrap its mind around it we created more separation and judgment instead of awaking to their message of surrender to self.  Not of denial or shame but of endless potential and inner expansion. 

  All this time I had been unknowingly fighting my own birth right to just be me. How ever that is expressed without fear of judgment and finding my worthiness not by my accomplishment or lack of them but in my potential to be all of me in honor of me, God's creation. What does this have to do with surrender you might ask. Well each day when I lay out that yoga mat, weather it be for 5 minutes or 45 I surrender to I am only me and my poses will not be perfect today, my strength and endurance might not be there and that is ok. Because I am not looking for perfection, worthiness or acceptance I am just looking to be a better me. When I expand my mind and cooking skills by taking on a new form of food I am not looking to impress, to be part of some food movement or save the planet by refusing to eat something I am just listening to my body and soul and following its guidance. I am surrendering to the fact that I am me. With all my short comings and talents, all of my past and my undetermined future and that too is ok. You see my Mat has given me something that no Religious or New Age dogma or culture has given me. It has given me time with me to discover a deeper understanding of myself and the world around me but most of all it has given me a peace of knowing that perfection is not sought there, only devotion to self and God's creation by honoring the temple in which my spirit and the spirit of God dwells inside me. 

  It seems insightful that devoting time to my mat everyday and expanding my world by adding Tempeh this week would have such a big impact on a subject that I had been seeking answers to for over 17 years but it has. It was in the final surrender and the willingness to move from mine and others comfort zone that did it. I feel like a weight has been lifted for my soul. Who knew a Orange Glazed Tempeh over some homemade Vegan Fried Rice and a Purple Mat I lay down on the Kitchen floor every morning could be the thing I needed to push my Lotus Flower through the murky water into a new day and into the sun light but they have.

  Just in case it was the Tempeh Meal I will give you the recipe below. Who knows stepping out of your comfort zone might just awaken your lotus flower and before you know it you too will be reaching new heights not for anyone else but just so you can experience you being you..

 Be True, Be You....   

Orange Glazed Tempeh and Vegan Fried Rice

I must admit I fool around with recipes and do a little research on the best way to cook things before starting so I will give you the list of ingredients and then tell you how I prepared it but remember to find what works for you. it is not perfection that counts here. Just the willingness to try something new and to be experimental when it comes to cooking. I believe if you do that no recipe can go wrong and next time you can tweak it if you need to. Well Enjoy, I sure did!!!

Vegan Fried Rice

1 c. or package Brown Rice or Quinoa { I did a mixture of both; yummy }

 {all vegetables diced or cut to your desire}
1 c. Red bell peppers

1 c. Green onions 

1 c. Carrots

1 c. Golden or Red Beets 

1/2 c. Purple Cabbage

1/2 c. Peas

1 c. Water Chestnut 

1/2 c Yam

1 tsp Jalapeno

1 tsp garlic and ginger

After gathering your Vegetables use a saute pan and you can use Olive oil or Coconut Oil as your base. Then add Veggies

Mix in  1/4 c Soy Sauce { I use Tamari Gluten Free Soy Sauce}

1/4 c. Lemon Juice

If you are using Brown Rice since it can take up to 40 minutes, while it is cooking that is a good time to prep your vegetables and your Tempeh
other wise you can prep then cook a quick rice mixer

Tempeh Original is what I used in this recipe but you can try another if your familiar with it.

I like to prepare my vegetables before starting any dish I have never cooked before it is a bit more time consuming the first time but I feel this way I am not stressing about having to many things going at once. So as I was chopping the vegetables I was also preparing my Tempeh to be cooked. 

 The Tempeh for this dish should be cut in Triangles ( you can find how to's on You Tube) its very simple.

I learned while researching Tempeh that some people steam it before cooking. In this recipe you don't have to but they say it removes some of the nutty flavor from it. Since it was my first time and I did not have time to marinate the Tempeh before I thought this would be good to help it hold the flavor.

Yes you can cut and marinate the Tempeh one hour or longer before cooking to also cut down on prep time for this dish. { see it removes all excuses... }

If you decide to steam it just place it in the steamer or a steam basket for about 10 minutes. it should turn a lighter color when its done.

While I was sauteing my veggies and steaming my Tempeh I was also cooking my rice since both will take only a short amount of time. 

while the Veggies were sauteing on a low heat I then made the Orange Glaze Marinade.

Orange Marinade

1 c. Orange Juice or if your adventurous Fresh Squeezed. 

1 Tsp Ginger

2 cloves of Garlic ( crushed would be best but follow your soul)

2 Tsp Soy Sauce

1 1/2  AJI-MIRIN (sweet cooking rice seasoning; found in the Asian section of the grocery store)

2 Tsp Maple Syrup

1/2 Tsp Coriander

add a little Black pepper

For Garnish and a special touch at the end

1/2 lime 

a stem of Clilantro

place all ingredients in a bowl in which you will pour over the Tempeh during cooking it. 

Once your Tempeh is steamed and your Veggies sauteed set the them aside by this time your rice should be almost there but just with enough time to cook the Tempeh. 

Take a large Saute pan one large enough to hold the Tempeh and the Marinade and then add some either Coconut Oil or Olive Oil to the bottom of your pan then add your Tempeh brown on each side for about 5 minutes each side or if your like me keep turned to get all sides a golden brown. and then add the Marinade and simmer for about 10-12 minutes. When its done it should have a glaze and it should of taken in most if not all of the marinade. While your Tempeh is simmering your rice should be in the final stages of being done.

Once the rice is done add your sauteed veggies and your Tempeh should be smelling wonderful and looking glazed. Remember the steaming already started the Tempeh cooking with the marinade your just cooking in those delicious flavors. 

So by this time both should be done and its time for the final touches. place the rice at the bottom of your dish followed by your orange glazed Tempeh. 

Top with a squeeze of lime if you have one or lemon will do 

add a  piece of Cilantro 

and then ENJOY!!!!!

I hope this dish and your daily devotion to you no matter what that is brings you the joy and peace it is to me and have a great Mothers Day weekend......