Energize, Revitalize & Thrive
Use Food as Medicine for Mind-Body Wellness
More than just cooking classes; these holistic learning experiences focus on the principles of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian system of medicine, to offer a transformative approach to cooking and eating.
Cooking and eating classes that go beyond recipes to so you can gain a deeper understanding of how to prepare simple, balanced, nourishing, yummy meals that support digestion, energy levels and overall health for you and your family.
Immediately feel the benefits found within the wisdom of Ayurveda
So much of our health originates within our digestive system, making our food choices and eating habits crucial determinants of our overall wellness. Food functions as medicine. We are not what we eat. We are what we can digest. Through the act of preparing and eating meals filled with prana, or life force energy — with gratitude and affection — each bite establishes a closer connection to nature thus maximizing nourishment for our body, mind and spirit.
In these cooking classes, we will spotlight the golden elixir—ghee—the key to Ayurvedic cooking and show you how to use it to create meals your family will love. See how ghee, clarified butter, is made and explore the versatility and enormous health benefits of using ghee from both an Ayurvedic and western perspective.
Learn how to turn your food into medicine and unlock a world of flavor, deep nourishment, and true health with this magic fat.
Each class will start with an overview of Ayurveda and the role ghee plays in achieving optimal health as you sip your ghee-infused Ayurvedic latte or hydration drink — and then as each dish is prepared and eaten, you will receive guidance on how to both cook and eat to optimize digestion and nutrient absorption.
You will leave class with an understanding of how to apply simple Ayurvedic cooking principles to easily prepare recipes and recommendations for eating.
2024-25 COOKING CLASSES @Camp Glandy
Ghee Me from Scratch! Making & Cooking with Ayurveda’s Ancient Elixir
Class 1: Friday, November 15 (on a full moon - the best time to make ghee) 6-8p
Class 2: Sunday, December 15 (on a full moon!) 6-8p
Class 3: Monday, January 13 (on a full moon!) 6-8p
Class 4: Sunday, February 16 - Breakfast Class! 9-11a
Class 5: Friday, March 14 (on a full moon!) 6-8p
Class 6: Saturday, April 12 (on a full moon!) Afternoon Tea Party 3-5p
CLASSES LIMITED TO 6 PARTICIPANTS
Leave satisfyingly full, but not overstuffed. You will also get recipes and thorough informational handouts on living an Ayurvedic lifestyle including seasonal eating and cooking recommendations.
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Class 1: Ghee Me Some Gnocchi & Paneer!
Friday, November 15 - 6-8p (on a full moon - the best time to make ghee)
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Ghee is one of the world’s most sacred healing foods with unparalleled therapeutic properties – and yet many have not heard of it.
Come learn the history, uses and benefits of this golden elixir from a western medical and Ayurvedic perspective while eating and learning to cook everyday meals. This superfood is like butter baby, but better, in how it nourishes the body, mind and spirit of you and your family. You will learn to make your own ghee at home and leave class with an understanding of how to apply simple Ayurvedic cooking principles to easily prepare recipes.
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Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Herbed Butter
Fresh Paneer and Broccoli
Date Shake -
Class 2: Ghee Me Some Breads & Soups!
Sunday, December 15 - 6-8p (on a full moon - the best time to make ghee!!)
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Roll into the Fall by discovering the warmth and nourishment of these easy-to-make comfort foods.
In this class, you’ll learn how to make ghee as we explore using it to prepare hearty soups and wholesome breads, perfect for the cooler months ahead. Each recipe is designed to be simple yet satisfying, filling your kitchen with delightful aromas and your meals with dosha-balancing nutrition.
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Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Roasted Romaine Soup and Ginger Carrot Soup
Chapati Bread Variations
Ginger Vanilla Saffron Cookies -
Class 3: Ghee Me Some Kitchari!
Monday, January 13 - 6-8p (on a full moon - the best time to make ghee!)
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After the holidays, dive into the beloved dish of Ayurvedic cooking that helps sooth, support and reset the digestive system.
An Ayurvedic staple, kitchari is deeply nourishing and is perfect for someone not feeling well. We will begin, as always, with how to make ghee. We will then dive into the medicinal qualities of spices, to prepare this simple, easy-to-digest, one-pot meal. We will make two varieties of cooktop and Instapot kitchari and I’ll also show you how to make thermos kitchari for work lunches and traveling. We will discuss ojas, our vital essence, and how we both deplete and can cultivate it with specific foods and ways of eating.
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Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Simple Kitchari and Vegetable Kitchari
Honey Tahini Miso Sauce
Date Cups and Rose Ojas Milk -
Class 4: Ghee Me Some Breakfast & Dessert!
Sunday, February 16 - Breakfast Class! 9-11a
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Get your day started right with an Ayurvedic breakfast!
Yep. You will learn to make ghee, and this class focuses on using ghee in making warm porridges (that can often double as delightful desserts) and stewed fruits (perfect as a light breakfast or a nourishing snack). Ghee is key to unlocking the medicinal benefits of the spices in our morning grains and fruits, and you’ll get a chance to make and try several options.
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Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Kunyi - THE Ayurvedic Go-To Breakfast
Date Pecan Porridge
Toasted Ginger Coconut, Cardamom Rose or Lavender Sweet Rice
TO GO (and the reasons why we don’t eat fruit with other foods): Stewed Apples or Pears with Raisins, Cinnamon, Ginger, Clove, Cardamom and Vanilla options -
Class 5: Ghee Me Some Balanced Bowls!
Friday, March 14 - 6-8p (on a full moon!)
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Feel great after you eat - everyday.
We will make ghee and use it to unlock the healing qualities of Ayurvedic spices, laying the foundation for cooking delicious vegetables, rices and legumes into an Ayurvedic masterpiece.
Learn my basic go-to stovetop/Instapot cooking method to prepare --The Balanced Bowl -- a perfect meal -- where a 60% augmenting portion sustains and builds the body, supporting its vital functions while a 40% extractive portion cleanses without disrupting digestion - creates harmony for our digestion and our mind.
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Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Roasted Beets and Brussels & Fennel Rice and Mung (& Homemade Paneer)
Maple Lemon Tahini Miso Sauce
Calming Cookies and Spiced Milk -
Class 6: Ghee Me Some Biscuits & Cookies! A Ghee Tea Party
Saturday, April 12 - 3-5p (on a full moon!)
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Wear your maddest hat into wonderland where the magic of ghee transforms ordinary treats into extraordinary delights.
We will indulge in a tea party like no other while we bake the incomparable “brown-butter” ghee into biscuits and cookies and ghee-fry delicious flatbreads. These are also the creations that make the best travel food! This is a celebration of friends, flavor, creativity, and the golden gratitude we feel for ghee.
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Tulsi Teas from The Peoples Apothecary
Ayurvedic Latte or Hydration Drink
Pecan Love Cookies
Savory Biscuits
Carob Lime Bites
Coconut Macaroons
Date Cups
In Ayurveda, ghee is highly valued for its multifaceted role in promoting overall health and well-being. Here are some key aspects of the role of ghee in the body according to Ayurvedic Medicine:
Carrier of Medicinal Properties: Ghee is used as a carrier (anupana) for herbal formulations in Ayurveda. It helps in delivering the therapeutic properties of herbs to specific tissues and enhances their effectiveness.
Digestive Aid: Ghee is known to stimulate the digestive fire (agni), enhancing the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients. It helps in breaking down food effectively and facilitates the assimilation of essential nutrients.
Nourishing Tissues (Dhatus): Ghee is considered a rasayana, or rejuvenating substance, in Ayurveda. It nourishes all seven tissues (dhatus) of the body, starting from plasma (rasa) to reproductive tissues (shukra), promoting overall tissue health and vitality.
Balancing Doshas: Ghee is believed to have a balancing effect on all three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. It is particularly known for its ability to pacify excess Pitta, making it a soothing choice for individuals with Pitta imbalances.
Supporting Mental Health: Ghee is considered beneficial for mental health, as it is believed to have a calming effect on the mind and nervous system. It is often used in Ayurvedic practices to promote mental clarity, enhance memory, and support overall cognitive function.
Enhancing Ojas: Ojas is the subtle essence of all the body tissues that contributes to immunity, vitality, and overall well-being. Ghee is said to enhance ojas, promoting strength, resilience, and immunity in the body.
Lubricating Joints: Ghee's unctuous and lubricating quality is thought to benefit the joints and connective tissues. It is often used in Ayurvedic therapies to support joint health and flexibility.
Detoxification: Ghee is believed to have a detoxifying effect on the body. It can help in removing toxins (ama) from the tissues and supporting the body's natural detoxification processes.
It's important to note that the quality of ghee, the source of its production, and individual constitution, or prakriti, should be considered when incorporating it into one's diet for Ayurvedic purposes. Consulting with an Ayurvedic practitioner can provide personalized guidance based on an individual's unique constitution and health needs.
In allopathic medicine, ghee is often viewed in the context of its nutritional components, and some potential benefits align with broader health principles. Here are some aspects of the potential benefits of ghee, as recognized in the West:
Healthy Fats: Ghee is a source of saturated fats, but it primarily contains short-chain fatty acids. It is rich in butyrate, a type of short-chain fatty acid that may have anti-inflammatory and gut health benefits. Butyrate is considered a preferred energy source for the cells lining the colon.
Vitamin A & E: Ghee is a good source of fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential for maintaining healthy skin, vision, and a strong immune system. It also contains antioxidants, including vitamin E, which can help neutralize free radicals in the body.
Lactose-Free: Ghee is clarified butter, and during the clarification process, the milk solids, including lactose, are removed. This makes ghee shelf-stable and a potential alternative for individuals who are lactose intolerant.
High Smoke Point: Ghee has a high smoke point, making it suitable for cooking at higher temperatures without producing harmful free radicals.