Vegan Coconut-Curry Rice with Snap Peas

Curry, rice, and coconut are a inseparable stable in my kitchen, and especially when I am cooking vegan meals. With these simple ingredients, anyone can create a flavorful plant-based dish, that is healthy, filling and will satisfy even the
meat-eaters. I do not like bland food, and there is nothing bland about this quick, and cheap meal.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups of rice (choose your favorite – for this dish I make it either with brown rice, or Basmati, depending on
what I have in the house)
3 cups of water
1/4 cup of raisins (optional)
1/2 cup of raw unsalted nuts (you can use walnuts, cashews or Almonds for this dish)
1 can of coconut milk
1 package (which is about two large handfuls of snap peas, trimmed)
curry powder, salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Prepare rice according to the direction on the package. Add the coconut milk, the snap peas, the raisins, nuts and
spices to a large pan, allow to simmer for 5 minutes or until the snappeas are tender. You can add as much curry powder
as you like, we like it a little bit more spicy, so we add more. It also depends on what curry you use.

Serve immediatly.

Enjoy!

As I mentioned on my facebook page, and previous blog posts, Creative Live is conducting a free 30 Day Genius interview series, It began today, with Mark Cuban, the owner of the Mavericks, Multi-Billionaire, and a member of the Shark Tank television show. Today, he spoke about passion, hustle, out-working and out-learning others. If you have not signed up for this free series, that you can watch anytime, you should do so now. The list of the upcoming geniuses, artists and creatives is extensive and includes the most prominent in their  field. And best of all – it is totally free!

This blog post is a part of the following blog hops:

Making Monday’s Marvelous

Amaze Me Mondays

Family Fun Blog Hop

Farm Girl Friday

No Rules Blog Hop

Inspire Me Wednesday

Let’s Talk Mommy Blog Hop

Stunning Custom Notebooks That Make Journaling Fun

I am a fan of daily journaling – specifically regarding gratitude, appreciation and goal setting, so I am always on the look-out
for journals that actually inspire me to write in them. RedBubble artists design some of the most amazing spiral and
hardcover notebooks that make it easier to follow through on this positive daily routine. Check these out:

“Fall”

 

Weather Balloon

Splash

Surfer On Horizon

Forest Treasures

I have chosen RedBubble as one of the affiliates for Avalon-Media not only because they make high-quality products, but because they make it easy for independent and new artists to showcase their work and bring them in front of a diverse  audience. A purchase of one of these stunning designs, not only makes it possible for me to continue to bring you content, but it also helps those artists, who at no point lose any of their profit, by me, promoting them.

Thank you

Fiercely Independent Blessings!

Claudia

When The Student Is Ready, The Teacher Appears

I have been lucky to find and learn from many teachers, who would probably not consider themselves such. People who are successful and empowering in their own way, and many from very different backgrounds, careers, and interests.

Every once in a while some of these teachers choose a platform to connect, and to give their knowledge openly and
for many to see. This May, many of these teachers have decided to give some of that knowledge for free – to all of us via the exciting platform: Creative Live.

This month, the learning platform Creative Live will share with us a motivational and inspiring video every day, featuring
the most interesting, creative and innovative people of our time.

Richard Branson
Jared Leto
Seth Godin
Arianna Huffington
Brene Brown
Marc Cuban
and more…

This is just a small portion of the people participating. I know that I am excited to experience these interviews – which can
be watched throughout the day and month at your leisure – and see what I can learn from them. These are all Greats in their field, from Academy Award Winners, and Guinness Book Record Holders, to self-made billionaires.

Throughout this month, I will be posting about the most profound lessons that I have learned from this video series. I hope
you will join me here, and on the Creative Live platform for profound insights, that might be exactly the information
you need to reach your goals and dreams.

Remember, this is completely free – sign up here – the series begins tomorrow, May 1st! 

Question: Which person on the list are you the most excited about watching this month? Share your favorite in the comment section.

I am looking forward to hearing from you

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Empowered Blessings!

Claudia

Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Dictionary: Letter Z

Welcome to the last day of the April Blogging Challenge. I hope you all had a great month and enjoyed this series. I enjoyed visiting the many participants, who had some of the most interesting themes. But, as with all challenges, I am glad it is over.

Today, I am going to leave you with the Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Letter Z:

Letter Z:

Zebra: Disappointment. Travel that does not go as well or as great as you thought. You will realize that the grass is not always greener on the other side.

I hope you will stop by throughout the month of May, as I have quite a few exiting things to share with you – starting from a wonderful video series that is beginning tomorrow via Creative Live (it’s free), and a few more exciting things.

Blessings!

Claudia

Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Dictionary: Letter Y

Hi, and welcome back. I am sharing with you today the letter Y of our tea leaf reading symbol dictionary. I hope you had fun during this series and learned a lot about tea and tea leaf reading. As I mentioned yesterday, I am working on a book about the subject, and will share with you more information about that soon.

But not before sharing with you a picture of one of my adorable rescue dogs, Athena. She was posing for me this morning, which in her case is rare. She is usually rather camera shy. Not today:

Let me share with you today’s letter:

Letter Y:

Yacht or large boat: a symbol of wealth and financial freedom

Yew Tree: Someone is leaving you an unexpected help or fortune. A better position is offered to you.

 

Wishing you a fiercely independent day

Claudia

 

 

5 Facts About Mortar And Pestles You Might Not Know

——– The following post may contain affiliate links ——————–

Mortar and Pestle are not a beautiful but also a functional pair of tools to have in your kitchen, especially if you do
a lot of cooking with herbs and spices. But as you already know, I always want to know more about the tools I use, so I
decided to dig up some facts about this interesting contraption you might not have known before:

5 Things You May Not Know About Mortar And Pestles

1. Did you know in some places there were used for meat preparation? Large stone mortars with wood pestles were used in West Asia to grind meat for a type of meatloaf called kebbeh as well as a type of hummus called masabcha.

2.Here is a non-food use of the mortar and pestle: It is traditional in various Hindu ceremonies such as weddings and
upanayanam to use the mortar and pestle to crush turmeric.

3. Mortar and Pestles are a big part of Thai history: The Thai mortar and pestle dates back to the Sukhothai period which was the 1st Kingdom that was founded in 1238 A.D. and was used to grind foods and medicines.

4. the results of your grinding depend on the material of the mortar and pestle. I will get more into the details of that
in a moment.

5. The oldest mentioning of the mortar and pestle stems from Ancient Egypt, in a medical manuscript called the
Papyrus Ebers, which dates about 1550 BCE.

What are the best Mortar And Pestle material for which use?

Ceramic:
stains easily used to create powdered substances

Stone/Granite:
very heavy, durable and sturdy, look for a not so porous mortar for best use. Good for general cooking uses

Wood:
best for griding seeds and salts. Do not use with moisture. Never leave in water so it won’t warp. Delicate.

Porcelain:
Easy to clean, usually dishwasher safe, need salt in order to make grinding easier. General household use

Marble:
the heaviest of them all. Easy to clean, very sturdy, easiest to use. does not absorb odor.

 

Maxam Mortar and Pestle Available on Amazon now

I was recently given the chance to review the Maxam Marble Mortar and Pestle, and here are my thoughts:

My first impression was, that is was as heavy and beautiful as I expected from a marble piece. Of all Mortar and Pestles, I prefer marble as the material, as it is the most functional, as well as aesthetically pleasing, allowing me to leave  in full display, rather than hiding it in the cupboard somewhere. The Maxam Mortar and Pestle is not exception to that rule. With a large bowl,  it is  wonderful to use for the larger patches of spice mixes I tend to make, cutting my work time.  It is almost completely white, with the slight colors I also expect and love from marble. The pestle rests well in my hand and is well balanced, which makes working with this item easier and more convenient. Overall I am very happy with this item, which is available on Amazon at a very reasonable price.

Disclaimer: I was given the Maxam Mortar and Pestle for free in return for an honest and unbiased review.

Stay tuned for some more interesting facts about every day items, you might not have thought about before.

This post is a part of the following blog hops:

Weekend Blog Party

Wednesday Blog Hop

Inspire Me Wednesday

Too cute Tuesdays

Amaze Me Mondays

Wordless Wednesday: Be Of Service

This  blog post is a part of the following blog hops:

Happy Spring WW

Wordless Wednesday 

Wordless Wednesday @ 5 Minute Mom

Wednesday Blog Hop

Let’s Talk Mommy

Be Inspired 

Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Dictionary: W Is For What’s Next

Welcome!

As we are getting closer to the end of the series of our April Blogging Challenge “Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Dictionary”, the question of what will be our posting schedule like is on the mind of many who participated. Will you continue to write every day? Or will you take the lessons you have learned from this blogging challenge, and implement them throughout your blogging year?

Here are Avalon Media, I am beginning to formulate a plan for the next few months, one that I had already had in place, but had to be replaced, due to the many occurrences of the last few weeks and month – my Mother’s death being one of them. The tieing up all of the matters associated with such loss, while not being in the same country, heck the same continent has its challenges and takes a toll on our entire family.

So, now it is time to take a moment and ask: What next?

Here is a rough outline of the plans for this blog, books, and courses coming up over the next few months and weeks. While some of the content is the same as I had spoken about earlier, the timeline has completely changed.

1. I will be releasing two books about tea. One I have spoken about “Happy Tea”, has been pushed toward the end of the year, while the book on Tea Leaf Reading, will be pushed forward, with a release date of mid-June.
2. There will be another book in between those two, one which is currently in the developmental stages, about Positive Co-Creation for creative people.
3. I am in the development of a course for Print-On-Demand/Product-On-Demand Designers, specifically, those working with Zazzle and RedBubble. This course will be available sometime after August – I will keep you updated, during the development.
4. This blog will be moved toward WordPress.org within the next two months. I had tried to move it to a platform called Wix earlier this year, and that website builder did not serve my needs. I am working with Wealthy Affiliates to set up hosting there, and once I have learned everything I need  to navigate there, it will be moved. For those who are wondering what Wealthy Affiliate is – I will be writing about them in the near future. (It’s really cool!)

This is as far as I can plan right now. Once everything has settled within our family (which will also include our move to California – which I will share with you here), there will be more to announce, but that is it for now.

What are your plans for the upcoming months for your blog/business?

Now lets, get back to our Tea Leaf Reading Symbols for today:

Letter W:

Wagon: things are about to get better

Wall: There is something blocking your way. Depending on the thickness of the wall, deepens on how much resistance you can expect

Wasp: Not a good sign. Someone’s gossip or words will cut you deeply.

Wedding Cake: A quite literal sign that indicates a quick engagement and a favorable marriage

Wheel: If it is intact, it is a sign of good fortune, if it is broken, then you can expect financial trouble

Windmill: You are hopeful about your situation and endeavor. That is to be encouraged. Good for you

Window: is it open? You are receiving good news and conversation. Is it closed? You are disconnected from others, and you may experience some embarrassment of some kind

Witch on a broom: someone you know disapproves of you getting a reading, or of anything related to magick, divination or new age spirituality. They will be persuaded by good results. ( I spell  Magick with ck in order to distinguish the Craft of Creating Change from the Slight of Hand which would be spelled with a g)

Women: Watch the other symbols with it closely. They add negativity to an overall disappointing reading.

 

I am glad you took the time to spend with me today. I am looking forward to hearing from you – blessings!

Claudia

V Is For Variety – Tea Leaf Reading Symbol Dictionary

Hi there, thanks for being back.

When practicing Tasseomancy or Tea Leaf Reading, you should experiment with the variety of teas you use that work best for you and the one you read for. Keep in mind that some teas create a stimulating experience, while others are calming. I suggest, as a practitioner, and someone who has read for quite a few people, that you should gage the person you are reading for before you choose your tea. Is the person agitated, give them a calming tea, do they look defeated, give them some energy. Always have a variety of teas available. Over the last few weeks, we have spoken extensively about the different types of teas, so feel free to visit those posts again, and compile a list of teas that work the best for you.

Here are today’s tea leaf reading symbols:

Letter V:

Van: Whatever you have been trying out, will work in your favor

Vase: A symbol of overall good health

Vegetables: After the current trouble ends, more pleasant times are on their way

Violin: A positive sign – if you are a musician it speaks of success in your niche.

Vulture: You have received a warning. Be wary, and be cautious in the proceeding. Also, can mean a more overall negative situation in your country or location

 

Do you like coconut? Then check out this creamy and delicious Vanilla Coconut Tea Blend from Octavia! Available on Amazon now! 

 

Vegan Spaghetti Carbonara (Creamy Coconut Leek Sauce)

—- The following post contains affiliate links, see disclosure page for details ——- 

I like eating creamy dishes – which is why I almost always have coconut milk in the house. It is no wonder then, that I had to find a replacement for one of my favorite pasta dishes – carbonara. Not exactly the most healthy meal in its original form,
but yummy enough to break all of the rules.
But now I don’t have to feel guilty about my creamy indulgence anymore because I came up with a carbonara that replaces the real thing. I hope you like it as much as I do, just one warning – it is addicting.

You will need:

1 package whole-grain pasta (you can use gluten-free, or regular whole-wheat, whichever you prefer)
1 leek
2 tablespoon of coconut oil
1 can (about 250 ml) coconut milk (for this do not use the low-fat variety – trust me on this, it is time to splurge)
salt, pepper, and ground nutmeg to taste

Preparation:
Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions. Rinse and set aside.
Meanwhile, cut the white part of the leeks in thin rings. Add the coconut oil into a deep pan, cook until the leek becomes
somewhat translucent, similar to cooking onions. Add the coconut milk to the leek and simmer for 5 minutes, or until
the leak becomes soft. Add salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
Top your pasta with the creamy coconut sauce – and you are done!

Another simple, yet yummy meal, that is easy to make, and satisfying enough for a meat eater. If you are participating in the Meatless Mondays’ this is the perfect easy, and decadent meal for you, that keeps you full, energized, and will not make you miss the meat, dairy or any other animal product!
Variety: I have made a variety of this dish by adding broccoli instead of leek to the sauce. It is just as yummy!

CuliChef Silicone & Stainless Steel Spatula Available On Amazon Now

To make the creation of this dish even easier, and keep your food from sticking, use this great CuliChef Silicone & Stainless Steel Spatula that I have recently discovered. I love this heavy duty kitchen instrument, as it can hold some weight, does not stick and can handle heat up to 445 Degrees Fahrenheit (220 Celcius). I have become a fan of anything silicone when it comes to kitchen gadgets, and this spatula is no exception. It has a long handle, which prevents any splattering on your hands, which is great, especially when you are trying to teach children how to cook. As an extra bonus, I found it very easy to clean, no matter what sticky mess I made.  Try it out, it is available on Amazon now.

(Disclaimer: I have received the CuliChef Silicone & Stainless Steel Spatula for free in return for an honest and unbiased review. )

 

Have a wonderful day!

Claudia