Food Fog

Coconut Curry Butternut Squash Soup

Sunday, 20 February 2011

After seeing Brother Echo, from Raw Sangha, make a butternut squash soup, I was inspired to try one myself, considering I had eight small butternut squash in the fridge, some of which I was considering just throwing in the yard for the dog to play with! I tweaked his recipe a bit, using stuff I already had, and it turned out quite good!

If you want to try making it yourself, I suggest you watch his video... it's far more engaging and professionally edited than mine! Just search for Raw Sangha on YouTube and look for the butternut squash soup recipe. :-)

My recipe went something like this:

3 c diced butternut squash
2 c diced carrots (orange and deep purple - which turned the soup brown)
1 young coconut meat and water
1 c orange juice
4 pitted dates
1/2 cup hemp seed
1 garlic clove
1 T coconut aminos
1 T curry powder
1/2 tsp cloves
1 T cinnamon
1 t sea salt

Blended it all up...

black pepper sprinkled on top
sprouts and chopped parsley for garnish

Vision is More Important Than Motivation

Saturday, 12 February 2011

Motivation is defined as the drive or incentive to do something. This is a necessary element in the process of creating long-lasting change. But, is it really what carries us through the ups and the downs? After going through the weight loss process, and maintaining it for many years, I've come to discover what many people who overcome addictions and negative patterns of behavior realize after conquering the first major challenge in the process; whether it be compulsive overeating, drinking, smoking, whatever. Desire or intent to do something is not the same as a clear vision about how that looks and feels in your mind, and why it's important to you, above all else to maintain as a focus and priority in your life.

It took me a year or two to really understand the difference between my motivation and my vision for my life. Then I spent another while really defining that vision for myself. But, from the start, it was never a number on the scale that I felt would liberate me from the self-destructive habits and lifestyle choices I kept repeating. It was going to be the hard work of going inward and getting in touch with myself that would bring my vision into reality. And, I'm happy to say, that I'm ALMOST there. There's always work to be done!