For new or returning readers – I know I may get a few more people checking ceciliabsteger.com out since the article I wrote for OC news weekly just came out this morning – so to clarify….

This website is not about Hindu gods, Indian culture or poses –  although I may need to touch upon those subjects from time to time if the mood strikes me.

No dear readers, my website has evolved into a daily life vignette where I sketch in literary form, literally.

Yoga translates to mean union and I interpret Yoga to imply the fusion of mind, body and Spirit. Therefore, I attempt to illustrate daily living and thoughts with my writing and photographs on this page.  I strive to intertwine the emotional, physical and spiritual  through the window of my perception.

If you expected to see my class schedule or my latest theme of the week from my yoga classes, you’re too late.   I am on sabbatical.  Perhaps, indefinitely.

Instead, I give you little glimpses into my world, a walk through my brain, and hopefully something useful or universal that you can relate to as I permit my heart and soul to passionately and liberally pound the keys on the keyboard.

May my disappointments, my travels, my funny mishaps, my recipes, my love and my enthusiasm for life shine through my computer screen to yours.

Namaste.

If I were to write a book on herbs, it would be titled: The Top 12 Easy Herbs to Grow I Cannot Live Without and Neither Should You.

There are well over forty-five types of different plants considered therapeutic.

Herbs are plants that for centuries were used for curative purposes.  The healing quality of an herb is what distinguishes it from other vegetation.

Botanists are still discovering and studying new forms every day.  That is why the rainforests and our native habitats are so important to protect.

The original clever usage of these plants was to heal and most were steeped as a tea, long ago, in order to ingest its medicinal properties.  Later on, they became invaluable to cooks in their recipes.

Primitive Man used herbs to mask odors, foul-smelling foods and watched animals ingest them first.  There are four different regions of known and documented ancient herbal activity: the Chinese, Ayurvedic/Indian, European/Egyptian and American Indian sections of the world.

Women have always been the forgotten contributors to herbal medicine. In the nineteenth century, chemists began making pharmaceuticals using different extractions and compounds of herbs.

Many physicians overlooked or dismissed the role of midwives, witches, wise women and nurses.   Many of these undocumented (even condemned to death) females contributed to modern medicine without mention.

The common foxglove plant and flower is botanically known as digitalis, which is a poison that helps with heart attacks, taken in small quantity.  An Englishwoman folk healer, who was never recognized, unearthed this huge breakthrough in the field of medicine.

I have always believed that in a past life, I was some kind of herbal healer or chemist. I love to concoct potions.   And what is gourmet cuisine if not chemistry experiments at their finest?

But I digress. My top 12 picks are:

Rosemary* Basil* Mint* Oregano* Lavender* Thyme* Sage* Cilantro* Tarragon* Chives* Nasturtiums* and Parsley

It’s January and the Super Bowl is this Sunday, Feb. 3.  Time to make Chili con Carne or my Vegetarian(add cheese)/Vegan Good4uChili.  Here’s the recipe!

Good 4U Chili

1 Tablespoon vegetable or nut oil                                    Serves 8 – 1 cup serving

2 Cups chopped onions

1 Cup chopped red bell pepper

2-4 chopped cloves of garlic

3 cups vegetable broth

6-8 cups of chopped, Swiss or Rainbow chard (spinach, kale, etc)

1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes or 2 14.5 cans (Muir’s Organic fire roasted is delicious)

1 Tablespoon ground cumin

1 Tablespoon chili powder

1 Tablespoon dried oregano

1 Tablespoon dried parsley

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 14.5 ounce can, rinsed and drained or 1 1/2 cups cooked kidney beans

1 14.5 ounce can, rinsed and drained or 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans

1 cup TVP (textured Vegetable protein)

Salt to taste

Optional: Serve with chopped chives or cilantro and Organic Blue Corn Chips.  Add sliced avocados, stir in some corn or brown rice.

1. Heat Oil in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté onions and pepper until tender, about 3 minutes.  Covering the pot and stirring frequently ensures concentration of flavor and allows you to use less oil because the vegetables are virtually steaming and this is healthier.
2. Add garlic and stir and cook for about another minute.
3. Add broth and greens. Bring to a boil, then stir and simmer covered until greens have softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Add the tomatoes, herbs and spices. Bring to a boil again.  Reduce heat to medium low and cook covered for 15 minutes to blend flavors stirring occasionally.
5.  Stir in beans and TVP. Taste and season with salt.  Combine well and stir, reduce to a simmer covered for 10 more minutes.  Serve up warm.

Keeps for up to 5 days, refrigerated and can be frozen.

BUEN PROVECHO! (which is Spanish for Bon Appetit!)

Organic produce and even organic spices are your best choice for nutritional value and ecological reasons.  Eating at least one meatless dish per week is environmentally sound and heart/ cancer/disease smart and healthy.

 You can find Textured Vegetable Protein in the grains aisle of your better health stores like Mother’s or Whole Foods.  It is made of soy flour and is high in protein, fiber and minerals. It is also non-fat and has no cholesterol unlike meat. Due to TVP’s resemblance to ground meat and its ease of taking on any flavor, once it is cooked, it is ideal for chili and tomato sauce or other recipes requiring that specific texture.