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  Rites of Passage Institute

The "Tea" in Party

1/31/2015

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Let's do tea!? This phrase is the catalyst for a ritual I'm sure was started by ancient Nubian women looking to release dis-ease from the body. Tea can be any time, hot or chilled, solo or not, and it requires little preparation: at its most basic, hot water and dry herbs. I use tea time as an opportunity to teach manners, how to set a table (visual-spatial math art skills), conversation skills, fashion (art),
 properties of herbs (science), serving (pouring technique and order of presentation), and jazz and classical music.  I have even gone so far as to do themes inspired by my sons: space tea party, super hero tea party, safari tea party, and tea parties based on books. Tea time is an integrative educational experience, but most of all, it is fun and relaxing. 
And what is more fun than tea time with the girls! When it comes to my girlfriends, tea time is all about exhaling as well as sharing woman wisdom. Sometimes it is a spontaneous girl-we- need-to-talk or I'm-just-dropping-by moment tucked away in the comfort of our homes, but other times it's an all out event at some posh venue.
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My obsession with tea time probably has something to do with my obsession with tea. My earliest memories involve my great grandmother shoving cow patty tea at whoever took ill, my grandmother gifting my sisters and me a delicately painted tea set that we shattered to pieces, and carrying a heavy glass pitcher of sun tea to the backyard for my mother.
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 I have always maintained a tea closet (yes, a closet) in which I house a tea for every illness or mood. As a mother, my tea closet has proved to be invaluable during late nights of fevers or teething irritability. Coming from a long line of tea pushers, it is no wonder my children have had tea from the time they were infants. We drink tea, bath in it, and use it as medicine. 

"If people drank a cup of tea every day, the pharmacists would starve." Chinese proverb

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Love for Alllllll Families!

1/25/2015

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Kudos to my girlfriend who gave this onesie to my daughter! An amazing accomplishment according to some. Many of our friends have complained that gifting clothes to our children is too challenging. Not because we are too posh or crunchy. But because we prefer not to dress our children with clothing bearing cartoons or name brands. 

But this onesie, I do so love it. Not "I heart" Mom, or Dad, or Step-Mom, but "I heart my FAMILY!" Usually, I get a lot of "I love Mommy" gear (which is necessary because I carried her for 9 months), but then hubby is like "Where's her "Daddy's Girl" stuff and brothers are like "Where's her Little Sister onesie." This way everyone feels included and it makes the statement that no matter who your family is or what structure it consists of (extended, nuclear, foster parents, single parents, etc) there is love for and acknowledgment of all families! Ahumdil'Allah, I have such fashion forward open-minded friends. I give this onesie 2 thumbs up and a faire la bise.
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Mung Bean on the Brain

1/25/2015

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On my gluten-free, dairy-free adventures I discovered the mung bean. I found them at my local Asian Mart. Boiled, baked, steamed, or sprouted, they are delicious savory or as a dessert. The mung bean, native to India, but cultivated in the U.S. since 1830, is a power house. It's high in protein, magnesium, iron, etc. It protects against  several chronic, age-related diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Pictured above is my mung bean pie, a Vietnamese dish, with the following ingredients: mung beans, coconut milk (brain food), coconut oil (brain food), eggs (brain food), vanilla extract, tapioca flour, rice flour, etc. With Love--from my family table to yours!
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What's Soaking tonight?!

1/25/2015

1 Comment

 
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Prepping for a meal in my kitchen probably looks a lot different than what you usually see. Typically prepping involves chopping veggies or gathering ingredients. Prepping for me starts with soaking. If you've read my cookbook (The Rites of Passage Meal Treasury), then you know the importance of soaking.  I soak everything: nuts, seeds, grains, beans, flour, even meats. Here I have dehydrated apple slices soaking (for muffins), walnuts (for a nutmeat ), amaranth (for porridge & smoothies), lentils (for soup, lentil burgers, and sprouting).  Soaking solutions (vinegar, salt, brines, and marinades) and duration vary depending on type of food etc. Soaking may occur on the counter top or in the refrigerator. Click HERE for details on how to soak. Either way it goes my family knows that something good is brewing in the kitchen when they see soaking bowls.

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Autism vs. Neurodiversity

1/21/2015

8 Comments

 
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Our sons doing art.
My son has autism. But if you told someone I said that, I would say you are a bold faced liar. I am not afraid of the word "autism." In fact, I don't believe in it. Let me back up! I don't believe in labels.  No, no, I don't believe labels are beneficial for my son ("No Crutch" Zone). 
I may inform people that my son has autism because it is the easiest way for them to understand his challenges. Labels make people feel comfortable. If they can fit you into a category, then they relax. Perfect scenario.  Someone strikes up a conversation with my son. He ignores them.
They:  a. try speaking to him in another language b. make a screwed up face c. call him a name.  However, if I lean over and whisper, "he has autism." Then they relax and give me the pity look as they become ultra polite. In fact, when we are going to big events, in which there will be 

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Our son hiking with friends.
crowds, my son wears a really cool medical bracelet that says  "Autism, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Phone  Number" on the inside, complementing  his Neurodiversity shirt.
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My husband and I w/our son (when he was younger) who is on the spectrum.
However, I have never told my son or his siblings that he has autism. My son is a human being, who has strengths and weaknesses like everyone else. He is sensitive to gluten, fluoride, and electromagnetic frequencies, but these things are bad for everybody! He is like that canary miners send into the caves to see if it's safe. He has taught us a more healthy and spiritual way of life. 
On a typical day, he can be found carrying his little sister around (who he calls the pretty princess), doing his chores (with an uncanny enthusiasm that I hope rubs off on his siblings), playing tricks on his brother, wrestling with his dad, riding his bike, strumming his guitar, practicing his reading, reciting poetry, watching trains on You Tube, or telling me how he is not going to brush his teeth or get dressed. 

Don't get me wrong, it's not all peaches and cream; he repeats things (in creepy voices), ducks and weaves when he hears a hand dryer in a public bathroom, is regimented with some things, and struggles with making/ keeping friends. He is a different kind of normal. We were having dinner and I asked my son a question (sometimes he answers, sometimes he doesn't). After a period of silence, my other son said, "he answered you with his mind." Of course he did! 
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Giving his siblings an Arabic lesson
My son is "high functioning" with mild autism according to the professionals. They also told me that he would never potty train, talk, give eye contact, etc. They said, "Don't get your hopes up."  He was potty trained by age 4, he talks in sentences appropriate to the situation, etc.
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Greeting the waves!
Not only do I have my hopes up, but I truly believe (insh'Allah) that my son will accomplish everything he sets his mind to accomplish. He will reach his highest potential. After all isn't that our purpose?
So will we ever sit down and say, "Son, you have autism?" We don't plan on it. My son knows who he is and why he is here. Using a label doesn't validate that.

8 Comments

Cooking Disasters

1/13/2015

1 Comment

 
A client lightly mentioned that everything I cook comes out perfect. I think I heard a record scratch right at that moment. Nothing is further from the truth. I have epic fails in the kitchen everyday. I present to you: "Cooking Gone WRONG!"


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Do not look at a close up of this "soup" because you might have a sci-fi flashback. This was supposed to be pho. Pho is a delicate Vietnamese SOUP, which resembles a quiet lake in spring time. Well, I always have trouble determining how much rice noodle to put in the broth. And it doesn't help that my husband claims that I never put enough noodles. Like a Ninja Turtle, this dish morphed into a delicious noodle stir-fry type of dish. So much for the delicate lake.

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So in an attempt to make "sand" for a bento box I ended up with this mush you see on the left. Disaster! So I take this mass of bananas and almonds and throw it in the food processor with dates and Voila! Date Rolls... Banana Date Rolls saved the day.
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Meringue cookies are pretty intense. It'll be awhile before I attempt these again. The beautiful meringue cookies picture is from Silly Simple Living.

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 I noticed my oven had clouds of smoke pouring from it, I opened it and flames lept out at me. I put on my oven mitt and decided to fight the flame as my children stood by wide eyed. I pulled out the cake and flames were dancing all over it. I turned off my gas oven and blew the fire out. When it cooled, I peeled the burnt layer off the top, and let me tell u, this cake is delicious. Besides, ppl burn desserts like creme brulee. Lesson learned though, don't "brown" a dish on the top rack while ur gas oven is on broil.

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Mighty Mooringa!!

1/13/2015

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How could I not write about Mooringa?! You only have to be around us for 2 seconds and you'll be drinking Moringa Boba Tea or rubbing the oil on your nails. To say Moringa is a staple in our home is an understatement. Everyone from the baby to my husband drinks, eats, and moisturizes with it. So what is it? 


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Moringa Oleifera is a drought-resistant tree native to India which is grown mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. This nutrient rich whole green food is nothing new under the sun. It has been utilized for centuries. 1 tsp will provide all the nutrients needed for a day. It is rich in calcium, vitamins a & c, potassium, iron, and amino acids.

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I put it in my patties, meatballs, burgers, smoothies, scrambled eggs, soups, and since my children are unable to swallow capsules, I make moringa gummies too (some of these recipes are in the Rites of Passage Cookbook available in our Shop). 

Then there is the oil. Very emollient and a pain reliever. Hair, lips, diaper rash, mouth sores, cuts, sinuses, massages, etc. 

Moringa is so versatile. I hear it's even been used to purify water!

This article is the tip of the iceberg. We'd be selfish not to share this superfood, so it's available in our 
Shop.
We grow it, but mainly we use it in it's powdered from. We encapsulate it, but mostly I cook with it. Most mornings start with a hot cup of moringa tea for everyone (lemon, honey, moringa powder, hot water, and chia seeds are optional) for a great energy boost. In the summer, we keep a pitcher of moringa lemonde in the fridge.
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