Indian version TAKOYAKI

No Octopus inside. But there are two versions: sweet pancake like tasting one and spicy version. Funny to see how people think the same way all around the world. They were delicious and HOT!!

Found my new love!!

Dosa is becoming like my old time favorite. But found another great snack in Mamallapuram!!! It's kind if Nan meets croissant!! Very chewy yet with many thin layers. Eat with very spicy curry. 2 pieces for 15 rupees ( 30 cents)!!!

Keralan Food Day

Here at Ayurvedagram, Karalan special meals are served on every Sunday. Kerala is home for Ayurveda, and so Keralan meals provide all six tastes ( sweet, sour, salty, pungent, astringent, and bitter) that we all need to keep us in balance (as Ayurveda says). The amount of each taste one needs is different from person to person depends on the body type and current health condition, but still we all should include all these tastes in our every day meal.

Clockwise:
• Red rice (very common rice in Kerala. It's easier to digest than regular rice, and has more nutrition.)
• Inji Puli (swee/sour sauce made of ginger, jaggery, tamarind)
• Thoran (shredded cabbage, coconut, with curry leaves, mustard seeds)
• Avial (steamed veggies roughly coated in ground coconut and yogurt)
• Pachadi (a bit bitter tasting mix of yogurt, onion, coconut, yogurt, curry leaves, mustard seeds, coriander leaves)
• Morucurry (yogurt, mustard seeds, curry leaves, ginger, garlic, green chili, hint of turmeric)
• Dhal with Ghee
Middle:
• Errissery (not so spicy curry of red pumpkin and red grams)

Dessert:
• Paripu Payasam (sweet rice and mung bean pudding with cashews and raisins

It'll be very interesting to sample Keralan food in Karala!!
This is my last week at Ayurvedagram. After this, I'll be starting my journey clockwise through south of India～!

Breakfast at Ayurvedagram

Day 8 of Panchakarma

Finished my first main treatment of therapeutic purgation, feeling very light and cleaned! And now, I'm allowed to have my favorite meal of the day, Indian breakfast!!
• Freshly made crispy Dosa
• Rava Idly
• Tomato chutney
• Coconut chutney
• Sweet Ada
( steamed rice cake with sweet coconut paste wrapped in banana leaf)
• Uthappm (pancake)

Ayurvedically, the breakfast should be light, but after taking only Ghee and some plain rice porridge in the morning for the past 5 days, I needed to try all of these.... And all of these are actually quite light in my stomach.
Love dipping crisp warm dosa into fresh tasting chutneys.

Panchakarma Day6

Getting oiled up!!!
There are three parts to the Panchakarma treatment: prep, main therapy, afterward rejuvenation. So, today was my last day of preparation stage. What was done to me during these time? Basically I was getting oiled inside and out. Getting synchronized oil massage by two women and taking Ghee ( clarified butter) internally every day. I must smell like popcorn now. Now my body is supposed to be softened inside and out so to wash out all toxins. Tomorrow, I'll have Virechana, which is therapeutic purgation. I'm excited to find out how much toxin will be coming out of me.... This is my medicated ghee for today. 25ml. Cheers!!!

Panchakarma treatment

Panchakarma is Ayurvedic treatment to remove all the toxins from the body and to rejuvenate from within to bring you a total new balanced body, mind, and soul. Program will be customized to everyone very differently depends on your body type, PRAKRITI, and your current imbalance state, VIKRITI.
So, for me, they planned my daily routine as follow:

6:00 - 6:45am walking
7:00-7:30am doctor check/ eye wash, Nasyam(nostril cleanse)
7:30-8:15am yoga exercise
8:30am therapy (oil massage)
9:45am breakfast
12:15-1:00pm PRANSYAMA (breathing excercisd)
1:00-2:00pm lunch
3:15pm meditation
4:45pm therapy (lower back basthi)
5:30pm walking
7:30-8:15pm dinner

I'm trying to keep my mind focus on what my body is experiencing. Trying to bring the attention to body, mind, soul connection to bring the healing experience to its optimum.

It's amazing to be able to spend 21 days according to this very simple routine.

I found the blooming lotus on the side of road this morning. Lotus flower is only open in the morning. One more good reason to start day early.

Panchakarma treatment in India

Day 1

Finally made to Ayurvedagram!
Arrived at 4am after 27hrs of traveling from Portland, OR. Starting 21 days of Panchakarma treatment.

First Dosa Making!

DOSA DOYA~SA?

It's been a long time~!
Move to Portland in Oct, miss making Bento Box for Akanekke.
But, now I enjoy cooking with MISOMAGIC!

Today is our First trial making DOSA
(south Indian Pancake dish)
It take time to make DOSA.
need to soak rice and lentil in water for 7-8 hours
and then still let it sit for 8-10 hours~!
Enough to make you hungry~?
Followed this recipe: http://www.top-indian-recipes.com/plain-dosa-recipe
(but we used Brown Basmati Rice instead of plain rice)

It really need practice to spread evenly....

looking bubbly and good~
yay! it's crispy!!!

Made Potato Masala curry & Fish Curry
to eat with Dosa
And here is my plate!!!!