~Pastry Puffs and Pigeon~

Ahh.. so its the new year. Welcome to 2011! I set a few resolutions for myself. Aside from focusing on school and my family, I try not to set the silly resolutions that we all seem to fail at every year.... 'I resolve to go to the gym more... I resolve to eat fewer french fries..' or whatever else it is that Americans resolve to do but never manage. Inevitably, the gym is back to its "normal crowd"  by the end of February, and McDonald's isn't hurting for our business. This year, thanks wholly to my yoga practice, I made some resolutions to improve my self from the soul outward. I resolve to tell the people that are in my life that I love them and I appreciate them more. I resolve to do more than just say it, but show it every time I possibly can. I resolve to focus on today, on the here and now and worry less about the road ahead. I love the path I'm on and that is what matters. Life is a journey, not a series of destinations. I can't change yesterday, but I can welcome tomorrow with open arms and be grateful that yesterday put me where I am now.

I have also resolved to end this new year in full Hanumanasana. -- Which is a full front - to - back split! Hanuman is also called 'Monkey Pose' and represents the Hindu deity's leap from the southern tip of India to the island of Sri Lanka as told in the sacred texts. To me, Hanumanasana represents courage and strength as well as freedom and openness, the embodiment of where I want to go in my life. 

Aaaand after last Wednesday's hot yoga class, I'm adding one.more posture to my goals list, if my body is willing: a bind in pigeon. One Legged King Pigeon pose is knowin in Sanskrit as Eka Pada Rajakapotasana. In its simplest form, Pigeon pose is a fantabulous hip opener and low-back tension release. It stretches the interior of the pelvis as well as the psoas muscle (the long muscle that runs under the glut and attaches to the lower lumbar vertebrae and the inside of the ilium. If you have low back issues, I highly highly recommend a daily dose of Pigeon. You won't believe how spectacular you start to feel after just a day or two. It really helped me, when doctors didn't know what was wrong with my back, the lumbar hurt so bad I couldn't sit to drive my car. They tried steroid injections and treatment with narcotics. My super.bright.amazing.beautiful yoga teacher showed me Pigeon and I found the release I was searching for. I've never stopped practicing it, and I've been free from debilitating back pain for over a year now! The more advanced you are in Pigeon the more it takes over your whole body, rising from the openness of the hips, bringing lift and space to the shoulders and heart. And in its culmination, there is a suppleness in the body that allows you to possess a firmly grounded base and back bend beautifully to grasp the feet -- the fullest expression of bravery and beauty.

Both Hanuman and Pigeon put focus on creating space and freedom in the hips, and require courage and pure warmth from the heart. I am excited to focus my practice on creating space for myself, being courageous and loving; these intentions encapsulate what I want from my life.

As for the food part of this entry -- I want to share with you these delightful pastry puffs I made for a BBQ. They were incredibly easy! I made a strawberry whipped filling for them and I dipped them in chocolate. They were a hit, easy to make and there are so many options for fillings -- you can let your imagination run wild!

Okay, lets start with the dough. This is another of the very few sucessful recipes from Martha Stewart Food Everyday! You can find the original recipe here.

Chocolate-Glazed Strawberry Cream Puffs

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 teaspoon sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
Large zip-top bag

Step 1.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. 

Step 2.

In a small saucepan, bring the water, butter, and sugar to a boil over high.

Step 3.
Immediately remove the mixture from the stove.  Using  a wooden spoon, stir in the flour. Continue to stir until mixture pulls away from sides of pan, about 2 minutes. Then let it cool 2 minutes.

Step 4.

Add the eggs, one at a time. Mix until each egg is entirely combined before adding the next.

Step 5.
Spoon the dough into a zip lock baggy (or a fancy decorating bag if you have them). Clip a small part of a corner off to pipe the dough out (or use a small round tip with your decorating bag). Pipe it into mounds whatever size you like (I thought the slightly larger ones were easier to work with).

Step 6.
Dab your finger in a little water and press down the peaks of the dough. If you don't, they'll burn.

Step 7.
Bake! For 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 and bake some more until they are golden brown and delicious looking -- about 25 minutes. Let them cool on the cookie sheets that are placed on wire racks.

Now for the filling!

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy whipping cream 

1/4 cup strawberry jam

1 Tbsp brandy

Step 1.
Using a skewer, poke 1/4 inch holes in the bottom of your puffs.

Step 2.
Whip the heavy whipping cream until firm peaks form.

Step 3.
Gently fold in the strawberry jam and brandy. Fold over and over until combined, but not soupy.

Step 4.
Using a new ziplock baggy, pipe the cream into the opening in the bottom of the puff. Then put them back on the parchment paper, hole-side down.

** You could use any jam you have on hand and it would be perfect too!

AAANNND Chocolate!

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

4 oz. semi sweet chocolate

1 tbsp light corn syrup. 

Step 1.
Heat the heavy cream until just boiling.

Step 2. Pour cream over chocolate and corn syrup and stir briskly until melted and delicious.

Step 3.
Dunk the top of the puffs in the chocolate.

Step 4.
Refrigerate for about 10 minutes. Then enjoy!

You could also use the chocolate as a filling...  Which is what I plan on doing next time. You could use a lemon custard, or just dust them with powdered sugar. The possibilities are endless!

I hope you set some good intentions for yourselves this year! And maybe you'll consider joining me on my path through food and Yoga! ;) Blessings and loving wishes this gracious 2011!