Easter breakfast: Carrot Cake Pancakes

If you are looking for a slightly healthier option to eating chocolate on Easter morning, might I suggest Carrot Cake Pancakes.  At this time of year, greens are starting to come in, but not much else veggie wise.  So use up those root veggies.

Carrot Cake Pancakes
Ingredients:
3/4 cup white flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 Tbs. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 3/4 c. buttermilk
6 Tbs. butter, melted
1 cup shredded carrots
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
Mix the dry ingredients together in a bowl.  Separate the eggs.  Mix the buttermilk with the yolks and add to the dry ingredients.  Stir until just mixed.  Add the melted butter to the batter, stir well.  Add the vanilla and cinnamon.  Beat the whites until they form soft peaks, fold into batter.  Fold in the carrots and walnuts.  Cook in an ungreased skillet.  Enjoy!

 

Yoga: AM or PM?

I was for a long time an after work yogini, with the occasional weekend morning practice.  During chiropractic school however, I didn't get home until way too late for practice so I experimented with a morning practice.  It was the only way, even though it required 4:30 wake-ups often leading to needing too much coffee and only yielding partial practices.  Now that I have graduated, and have more control over my schedule I am trying to figure out what works best for me, morning or late afternoon yoga.

AM practice:

• It is done, you can't get too busy later on and not get to your practice.
• It sets the tone for the day.  I feel more relaxed. 
• I have accomplished a major goal for the day before I even get to breakfast.
• I am hungry.
• I feel rushed, I worry about being late. 
• For some reason, I am more full of phlegm in the morning.  Many breaks must be taken to spit or blow my nose.
• I miss the morning dog walk.
• I think breakfast is better in pajamas.

PM practice:

• I never feel rushed, timers are not necessary.
• My mind is more at ease.
• I am not hungry or thirsty.
• I am more focused on practice.
• Practice will not make me late for anything, supper can wait.
• If I oversleep, it doesn't shorten my practice.
• Perfect way to end a day, much preferable to drinks or television.

Currently I am trying a PM practice on, but reserve the right to switch.  I like the way I can focus with an early evening practice and spend time afterward reflecting on practice and reading a sutra.  I don't hear my boyfriend getting ready and actually starting his day with a dog walk, while I'm hanging out on a mat.  My body and mind seem more primed for PM practice.  I will try to stick with this time frame for now.  I have the good fortune of starting work late or ending early to fit in a practice where it is most appropriate for me, but I do need to show up for the times that I tell patients that I will be there for them.  No running late or skipping out early 'just today'. 

What practice time have you adopted, and why?

Unplugged

This past weekend I participated in the National Day of Unplugging.  The National Day of Unplugging involves not using anything tech from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday.  No cell phone, no texting, no e-mail, no internet, no computer.  Think of yourself back in the 80s.  I consider myself someone who has boundaries around technology, and this seemed like a good idea but didn't think it would be so hard!
I did allow myself to use my cell phone, but only in any way I would have used a landline if I had one.  That means no phone calls outside my house.  No checking my text messages, or texting anyone else.  No checking e-mails.  No checking facebook.  None of it.
I found this harder than anticipated.  When the phone put out a text tone, I was programed to go pick it up.  I didn't check it though, until after sunset that day.  I was forced to find joy in the more simple things.  Reading books, long walks with the dog.  Those 24 hours seemed to last longer. 
The National Day of Unplugging was a wake-up call to just how plugged in I actually am.  From here forward I think I'll not check my phone so often for e-mail updates, etc.  They are usually junk e-mails anyway, especially on the weekend.  Spending more quality time with my books and my dog is completely worth it.