The Year of the Rat - Renewal

This year marks the year of the Rat in the Chinese Calendar. The Rat signifies a great time for hard work, activity and renewal. It is the first in the 12 animal cycle and occurs every twelfth year. The Rat is also associated with the Earth energy and those who are grounded and prepared in this energy will recieve many fortunate blessings this year. If you have considered starting a new venture or trying something original and out of the ordinary, challenge yourself to do so this year. Have patience, perserverance and clarity of mind and spirit, for this year will look favorably upon you! Be joyful in this New Year!



Earth Rat Associations:


Organs - stomach, spleen, pancreas

Grains - Millet

Veggies - Collard, Chard, Eggplant, Parsnip, Pumpkin, Spinach, Squash, Sweet Potato

Fruit - Banana, Apple, Canteloupe, Coconut, Date, Fig, Raisin

Legumes and Nuts - Chickpea, Almond, Pecan, Pinenut

Animal Meat - Salmon, Tuna, Swordfish, Pheasant, Rabbit

Color - Yellow/Orange

Emotion - Sympathy, Worry

Taste - Sweet

Sound - Singing

Energy - Imagining

Body - Digestion



New Year Meal:

Butternut Squash spread with honey whole wheat chapatis

-Peel and roast squash in oven with olive oil, rosemary and salt until caramalized

In a skillet, caramalize onions in oil with cumin, curry, turmeric, corriander and salt to taste

Mix in freshly chopped ginger and roasted squash. Remove from heat and smash up

-Mix whole wheat flour, water, pinch of salt and dollop of honey in 2:1 flour water ratio until moist. Add more water as needed and need into a shiny elastic ball. Grab off little handfulls, roll into balls and slap back and forth in hands. Heat in dry skillet both sides until "baked" golden



Cedar Grilled Salmon

-Soak a cedar plank as directed on label. Prep salmon with salt and pepper to taste and grill on plank over an open flame about 20 minutes depending on size of salmon and heat of fire. Salmon should still be moist on the inside but not raw.



Braised Greens

-Chop garlic and simmer in olive oil. Wash and prep collards, chard and spinach by pulling from ribs. Place in the oil not worrying about water from washing and slowly cook over a medium flame. Toss is some salt and turmeric and turn greens frequently. Take out when bright green and just wilted.



Pecan Date Torte with Pinenut crust

Find a date compote or make your own by covering a pot of dates with sugar and some water and boiling down almost to a jam. Mix in vanilla extract and remove from heat. Prep the crust by griding pine nuts to a powder and mix with some chickpea flour. Cut in small chunks of cold butter and some sugar. Use hands to squish and spread on bottom of a pie pan. You can dry bake for a few minutes using the beans in a bag trick or simply mix pecans with the date goodness and pour over crust. Bake about 30 minutes at 350. Enjoy!