{"id":2302,"date":"2011-05-15T00:24:13","date_gmt":"2011-05-15T04:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2302"},"modified":"2011-12-07T01:11:15","modified_gmt":"2011-12-07T06:11:15","slug":"season-harmony-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=2302","title":{"rendered":"Seasonal Harmony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seasonal Harmony: Summer<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\u00a9 Ellasara Kling<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Summer is beginning again! Here comes the warm\/hot weather, more sunshine, flowers in abundance, lots of green, and depending on where you live, birds have returned and are welcoming the morning with their glorious songs and so many more delightful experiences for the senses.\u00a0 No wonder Joy is the emotion of the season. However, there are cautions to this joy not becoming too over the top.\u00a0 Balance is always the key. Laughter is terrific, hysteria is not.<\/p>\n

With all this beauty and sensual happiness, one would think that this season would be a breeze.\u00a0 Alas, it too has its challenges and opportunities for creating increased balance and harmony.\u00a0 The Fire of Summer can incite restlessness, anxiety, and various forms of uneasiness. Do not be too attached to the results that are induced by Fire such as quick judgments and rash actions. Consequently, it is important to focus on cultivating tranquility and a balanced perspective. Pause first before rushing into things. This is another time to maintain and generate neutrality and objectivity while interacting with Life. It is healthful in Summer to arise a little earlier and enjoy the long daylight hours; drink more refreshing fluids such as lemon water; refrain from heavy foods that are greasy and\/or too sweet and cultivate a balanced engagement with Life in all aspects of your personal world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Eat Seasonal, Buy Local, Think Global!<\/strong><\/p>\n

EARLY SUMMER FOODS <\/strong>Some Foods that are harmonious with Early Summer include: <\/strong> apricot, beet, bitter melon, black coffee, coffee broccoli, celery, cucumber, dark,\u00a0 unsweetened chocolate, escarole, ginger, job’s tears, lettuces such as boston, chicory, endive & romaine, emon balm, loquat, lotus root, lotus seed, mulberries, mung bean, okra, peach, peppermint, persimmons,pumpkin, radishes, red lentils, red peppers, red plums, rhubarb, soy beans, spinach, strawberry, summer squashes, tamarind, teas, tomato, water chestnuts, watermelon, Chinese yam, zucchini, and others<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/a>Celery Congee<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a favorite of mine as I love the bright flavor of fresh celery.\u00a0 Celery is said in TCM reduce body heat and relieve dampness. Its bitter flavor makes it energetically related to the Heart\/Small Intestine, and its neutral (as opposed to cold or hot) energy puts it in the \u201cbalanced food\u201d category.<\/p>\n

Ingredients and Directions:<\/p>\n

Make a simple congee for 4 to which you add about one cup of finely chopped celery when the congee is about \u00bd done. When the congee is almost complete, add 2 TB of fresh chopped parsley and some salt to taste.<\/p>\n

Wood Ear Mushrooms with Tomato<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ingredients\"Tomato\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00bc cup dried wood ear mushroom (soak in hot water for a few minutes and when re-hydrated, slice into \u00bc\u201d ribbons) 1 tomato cut in 8 wedges
\n\u00bc cup oil
\nmince:1\/2 clove garlic, 3 green onions- whites only, 1\u201c ginger,
\n4-5 dried small red hot peppers
\nsalt to taste
\n1 TB sugar
\n1 tsp. black vinegar (balsamic vinegar may be used) (optional)<\/p>\n

Directions<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Heat a large heavy skillet or wok, add and heat the oil, then add the mushrooms. After a few minutes add the garlic, green onion, ginger, hot peppers, sugar, and salt individually tossing them in with each addition. Then add the tomatoes and cook until they have begun to sweat. Remove from the heat and serve. The vinegar may be sprinkled over the dish right before serving.\u00a0 It adds just a touch of \u201czest\u201d.<\/p>\n

This is a very cooling and refreshing sweet dessert or snack that makes a different way to serve watermelon on those hot days of summer that are coming up.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Watermelon with Osmanthus Flower <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a very cooling and refreshing sweet dessert or snack that makes a different way to serve watermelon on those hot days of summer that are coming up.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/strong><\/p>\n

About a 5 lb. watermelon
\n4 cups cold water
\n2 TB Osmanthus flowers (available in the tea section of most Asian markets)
\n1 oz. cubed haw jelly
\n\u00bd cup of honey
\n5 TB cornstarch<\/p>\n

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Directions<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a large pot heat the water adding the honey and Osmanthus flowers, stir in well and bring to a boil.\u00a0 Reduce heat, stir well and remove some of the liquid to which you add the cornstarch and mix in until it dissolves.\u00a0 Then slowly add it back to the simmering sweetened water. Simmer and stir regularly until the sauce becomes shiny and glaze-like, but not too thick.\u00a0 Let it cool.\u00a0 While it is cooling, cut the pulp from the watermelon into small cubes leaving some of the rind on some of the watermelon and with the cubed haw jelly place it on a large platter.\u00a0 When the glazed sauce has cooled, pour it over the watermelon and haw and serve. Very pretty, very tasty, very cooling & refreshing!<\/p>\n

Chrysanthemum Tea<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chrysanthemum flowers are so refreshing, naturally sweet and cooling.\u00a0 They are also easily available and inexpensive.\u00a0 These flowers can cool summer heat and leave you feeling refreshed.<\/p>\n

Health Tips <\/strong><\/p>\n

When to eat what:<\/em> The \u201crule of thumb\u201d is that eating nutritionally dense foods such as cooked grains with perhaps some nuts or seeds and a bit of fruit in the morning is best.\u00a0 The Stomach meridian is at its peak from 7-9 a.m. and you are, therefore, giving yourself the optimal opportunity for healthy digestion and assimilation. The \u201cmidday meal\u201d, Lunch, is the time when we can eat a larger meal that consists of grains, vegetables, some fish or poultry and then, at dinner we would have a lighter meal. In our modern lives, however, our largest meals are often in the evening after we have worked hard all day and are at least a little fatigued and Stomach and Spleen qi is lowered. Breakfast for most people is often minimal and consists of processed foods (such as \u201cprotein bars\u201d or the \u201cNYC breakfast of a roll and butter with coffee), nonexistent, or a very heavy combination of processed wheat, eggs, dairy products all cooked in lots of oil.\u00a0 This backward form of eating that our modern lives encourage puts a strain on our digestive system.\u00a0 Much of what we eat might have an enjoyable taste, but is not enjoyable for our bodies to process and assimilate. This way of eating also encourages bloating, cramping, fatigue, sleeplessness, weight gain, and so on.<\/p>\n

When we view our food choices as energy choices, our selections become quite different.\u00a0 For example, if we want to support our Liver\/Gall Bladder function, we will choose to eat more foods whose energy is compatible with that system, such as cooked greens.\u00a0 Or perhaps, if we are aware that we have too much heat in our lungs, we might choose to have cooling teas during the day to support the Lung system in balancing itself.<\/p>\n

How do we know what foods to choose?\u00a0 We can begin by referring to flavor that relates to the season and meridian that is in charge of it. This season\u2019s flavor is bitter and many of the foods listed above have a bitter taste to them. Some do not, but are very cooling \u2013 such as strawberry \u2013 and therefore, cool the Fire (heat) of Summer. So, one way to begin to change from viewing food as a physical entity only, is to ask yourself what the result is that you are after. Keep it simple. Start with internal hot\/cold conditions.\u00a0 If there is too much heat, then you want to add cooling foods and teas. If there is too much internal cold, you want to do the opposite and maybe reach for the ginger tea! Consider eating pungent foods as part of your meals in summer.\u00a0 Ideally, every meal should contain some of every flavor and have a range of colors.\u00a0 Consistent meals that are monotone in color and flavor are inevitably lacking in balanced energetics.<\/p>\n

Viewing what we eat as part of our energy practice takes some time and study, but I know from my own experience and that of others I know who have done so that it is exceedingly well worth the time and effort expended.<\/p>\n

Wishing you good health!\u00a0 Remember to smile at all things.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Following the threads of her personal tapestry, Ellasara Kling<\/strong><\/em>, a long-time student of Master Nan Lu, weaves her life around the exploration and sharing of self-healing through a variety of modalities, primarily focusing on food, common herbal plants, Qigong Meridian Therapy and Qigong for Women\u2019s Health. For comments, questions, consultations, ellasara00@gmail.com<\/a><\/em><\/address>\n
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