Food

Almond-Cacao Frozen Yogurt

Jane Bauer

We have an excellent organic market in Huatulco twice a month. Last week I scored some fresh plain yogurt- plain as in fresh from the cow with no extra additives. It had a chunky curd like consistency and tart flavor. Beside the woman who sold me the yogurt was a table selling a house-made almond-cacao spread and BOOM I knew what had to be done! I dusted off the Cuisinart ice cream maker and made a delicious cream based frozen yogurt that was the perfect balance of chocolate tartness.

Here’s the recipe:

In a saucepan heat

2 cups of sugar

6 tsp. of cornstarch

2 cans of evaporated milk

½ cup almond-cacao spread

Handful of chocolate chips

Cook over medium heat until chocolate is melted and the mixture is thickened. Stir constantly with a whisk to prevent burning.

Remove the mixture from the heat, and cool.

Stir in the plain yogurt. Refrigerate until chilled.

Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker, and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Serve with whipped cream and almonds.

Mexico

Restore

Jane Bauer

Yesterday I held a three-hour restorative yoga workshop. While I love a powerful practice with lots of inversiDSCN3368 ons and chaturangas, a practice balanced with poses that encourage you to let go and stay longer is equally important. We need to check-in and come back to what the essence of yoga, it is a union between the mind and the body. Restorative poses help for 5-10 minutes become meditative, and you can feel the body releasing and opening, muscles and the mind softens with each breath.

It’s the same feeling I get when I go for a massage, and I first lie down on the massage table, my entire body lets go. I feel the gentle release at the base of my spine, like putting down a bag filled with bricks. We are constantly holding the body up, even often doing things that we think of as sedentary like watching television. Wherever you are reading this right now consciously let your shoulders soften and let you head fall forward so you can feel the stretch in your neck, then soften your jaw and let the skin of your face become slack. Focus on this softening of your body for ten breaths. Then gently open your eyes and lift your head. How do you feel? Hopefully restored.

Now start the week with an open heart.

Food, Living, Mexico

Food, Yoga, Life

Jane Bauer

Happy Friday and Welcome to my first post!

I had the good fortune of following the old adage and the words of Barry Manilow ‘do what you love and the rest will follow’. Almost twenty years ago, when I was a floundering college student, I feel in love…. with Mexico. Something about the abundance of children, focus on family and not worrying too much about the future appealed to my sense of adventure. I just kept doing what I love and so many years later here I am with a growing food services company, publishing a local magazine and teaching yoga. I feel so lucky that I wake up each morning excited to get to work! I look forward to sharing this little piece of paradise with you

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