Birth Network in NMexico, and sesame balls recipe request

[Guest guest]

Kelley has been the primarily instrumental person in starting the

Albuquerque Birth Network which includes a nice home in the " Nob Hill "

area with office, midwife and network membership of many birth

professionals, with cozy great meeting spaces. She teaches yoga, is a

birth and postpartum doula, raises bees and has other hats under which

a beautiful smile radiates.

 

Her news to me about the progress of the ABNet reminds me what is on

my mind often here in this sleepy still to natural medicine town where

I'm based when not at my mother's. It is clear to me that in the

coming times Ma Nature will be most supportive of community service

and networked efforts, and there are so many ways, layers in which

this can happen. I'd personally like to hear of others doing this and

what is working for them. Our friend Shawna Doran, ARNP in N.

Florida, has opened her large parking lot to a weekly farmers/et al

market next to her office; it will serve all in that little town and

bring attention to her alternative including Ayurveda, midwifery and

family health care services. Florida does their farmers markets

opposite of the rest of the country - summer is too hot for the veg

crops! - Ysha

 

Hi Ysha,

I remember that you called them black sesame balls and I don't

recall hearing anything particular about herbs. (That doesn't help

much, does it?)

 

The birth network is going well. We finally got a sign and I've

been attending meetings with the NM Women's Health Advisory Board.

I'm looking for ways that we can hook up with the state.

 

Be well,

Kelly

 

HI Kelly!

 

So happy to hear your direction to work with the state - or other

established organizations to better serve the women already linked up

with them.

 

OK, about the black sesame ball ( " laddu " ) recipe - I just put a bunch

of things together that taste good, are nutritional, and stick

together basically. That helps about as much, eh?

 

What I remember now is

 

* I did toast the sesame, as there is some toxin according to one

of my teachers that you don't want from raw sesame. My guess it is a

strong enzyme inhibitor, but maybe something else.

* Simplest form is to toast in a lttle ghee, and

* boil sweetener in a little water to syrrupy some kind of natural

sweetener (not honey).

* I tend to always put cardamom powder in at the end, also nutmeg

or any other chai type spices (mostly warming).

* Sesame and black sesame are heating, so is agave and succanat or

mexican or Indian unrefined sugars.

* The lighter colored ones and maple are cooling, if you want to

balance that way (and maple is especially yummy with sesame, as is the

Indian jaggery). Or your yummy honey when cool enough to handle. The

syrup or honey will help moisten to hold together (maple does not work

so well here,maybe if hot),

* the optional coconut (cooling) also in another way

* or protein powder or whatever, I may have added a little rice

protein (if you use any bean incl soy, it protein complements). (in

most cases it is especially wise to use those, if at all, with some

oiliness whether ghee, sesame, peanut butter or whatever.

* I expect I put some ground flax (cooling and drying) also in

that batch; weather was hot and I probably used turbinado sugar.

* Maybe some shatavari (great herb for pregnancy, postpartum,

lactation, pittas, lungs, and other things; cooling and demulcent,

mostening.)

* In winter and with respiratory dryness, you might add ginger;

the warm things and the shatavari/ginger/sesame is tonic for the lungs

also.

* I avoid carob most of the time as apparently that also has some

slow accumulating toxin. Maybe toasted is ok, I dunno.

 

If you do come up with a recipe, please share?

Enjoy! I know you are creative enough to make them yummy and satisfying!

 

Best - Ysha