Indu's World

Coconut milk is our paleo cream. It's decadent, it's luxurious, it's heavenly. But so hard to find in a non BPA free can. Yeah, BPA is everywhere, it's ruining my life! [The dramaaa]

So, I like to buy as many things as I can from the Indian store, there's a great one, Samosa House, for all my Venice people, nearby. I got Laxmi brand unsweetened shredded coconut there.

My beautiful new nut milk bag. This means soy milk, almond milk, cashew cheese (I hope). You name it.

You'll need:

1 container to store the milk

2 cups unsweetened coconut powder/shredded coconut

1 nut milk bag (got mine from Amazon)

4 cups water

1 blender

1. Put 1 cup shredded coconut (I used 1, just keep it a 2/1 water/coconut ratio) and 2 cups water in blender and blend 2-3 minutes.

2. Pour coconut stuff into nut bag over a pitcher. Squeeze until all the milk is out.

3. Pour from pitcher into cute little jar. Viola!

4. You're left with all these crumbles. Set your oven to 180 F, put them in a pan, and dehydrate them for four hours. You've got coconut flour! I'm going to use it to make some bomb paleo cookies this weekend ;)

THE STUDY - A SHORT STORY

I have been working on a study. Since birth we are told to stay far away from logu, the giant beasts that roam our land. I have forever been captivated by these large creatures. I had an intense desire to study them, build a relationship with them.

There were tales of my kind and these creatures, some of whom had even made contact. Most however, were never heard from again. What a journey they must have been on!

And so, I set camp by one of their dwellings. I would simply observe them, I thought, never close enough that their natural habitat may be sullied, just far enough to understand more about the animals. It was not without apprehension I went to camp, having already said farewell to momma, Pipkin, Nifkin, Dwif, and Porta. I missed them, but this was my calling you see.

Logu are to be kept away from, my people had said. But I felt these great giants were not evil. I told my kin that their happy expressions, colloquial chattering, and pleasant faces were evidence of their gentility.

But lo! They were a most treacherous kind of folk! I sit here today imprisoned. Ten moons have passed since my abduction. They have not asked me about endlil, my family, or where I come from. I have tried desperately to communicate with them. Why only today I set my rations all around my cage spelling to them an obvious peace treaty. But I suppose they do not understand rinrai, the language of my people.

They have occasionally picked me up to their gigantic faces, widening their mouths in an eerie toothfull expression. I do not feel this is an aggressive move, I once thought it was quite pleasant, but now I am not so sure. I do try and speak to them, when they have me this way. It seems to startle them though, as they shake with a jolting sound while curiously brushing my pelt. Or perchance, they too are negotiating terms of my stay.

It is possible then, that they are trying to study me too. They must have never seen one of my kind so close. We have kept well out of their way. But I do wonder, if they had been eagerly waiting for my arrival.

My imprisonment you see, is a sort of luxury. The logu have built me a home of opulence, away from enrai, predators. They feed me seeds of which I have never tasted! I am allowed a warm large space and the water is clear and abundant.

In January of 2013, I got really serious about getting in shape. I did  "Insanity" every single day, ate frozen vegetables with spinach for lunch and dinner, and only rarely broke the healthy streak with wine and cake rusk (it's an Indian thing, we have it with chai, yumm). I couldn't really cook, my roommates made fun of me (affectionately) for the vegetables and my complete lack of skill in the kitchen. I was a kid, I never really tried to cook anyway, I just burned stuff. Then I entered the few months of metamorphosing into an adult.

Around a month and a half ago, I started going to crossfit religiously (thank you to the boyfriend Jud for this). We'll say on average four times a week. Crossfit kicks your butt. You have to grasp your inner superhero and grab every single inspirational quote you've ever heard to push yourself further and further each day. After the on-ramp program, two weeks of learning technique and doing mini WODs (workout of the day), I felt myself already get stronger. I could run faster and further, my muscles were tightening up. It occurred to me that it takes so long to motivate oneself to eat healthy, and go to the gym, until you stop thinking about it and just do it. No more excuses. Everyone has a gym; there are videos on the internet, plenty of running space outside, and 30 minutes per day to do it.

I started to cook. Once you start to cook, your life is entirely in your hands. You know all the ingredients you eat, and are responsible for every ounce of non goodness that goes into your body. I'm a huge fan of the paleo diet  using 'cave man' ingredients (non processed, all natural earth given products), and most of my meals are the 'almost paleo' tagline I'll give them. It's not incredibly easy. Cooking takes thought, time, money, and resources. But at the same time, it's really not that hard. The way I see it, we have one life, and so far, I have never felt more healthy and happy. So start cooking!

Spaghetti Squash, Kale, and Chicken Sausage Pasta

1 3-4 pound Spaghetti Squash 3 sausages (you can really use any meat you want here, just cook it) 5 dino kale leaves 3 cloves garlic bacon grease or coconut oil 1/2 avocado salt, pepper red chili flakes

Steps: Preheat oven to 425

Chop Spaghetti Squash in half lengthwise. Scoop out middle section of pulp and seeds.

Lightly grease baking sheet, aluminum foil, or baking dish with coconut oil.

Place sqauash face down and poke some holes in the back with a fork.

Place in oven and cook for 40 minutes.

Cut sausage into little bits. I used scissors.

In the middle of cutting, mince garlic cloves and heat in oil for a few minutes.

Once garlic is sizzling, place cut sausage pieces in pan. Cook for 10-15 mins until almost well done. Season with salt and pepper.

While sausage is cooking, strip your kale and discard stems. Roll the kale strips into a ball and chop with knife.

Throw the kale into the pan with the sausage. Cover lid and cook for 10 minutes. Season with red chili flakes.

Turn heat on very low, or off, until squash is done baking.

Take squash out of oven. This is the fun part. Run a fork from the top of the squash to the bottom. It comes off in strands like spaghetti.

Do this for one half of the squash over your pan of cooked meat and kale.

In a food processor, or a bowl, mash 1/2 avocado and season with salt and pepper. Stir into pasta.

Serve and enjoy. You can save the other squash in the fridge by wrapping it in saran wrap and using it within a few days.

THE HAMSTER-A SHORT STORY

Once upon a time, there lived a little hamster. He wanted a life outside his cage. But what a cage it was. Three floors, you see. The top of the line metal, royal blue. He had his own gym, even his own food.

But his life wasn't easy, this very frightened hamster. He had chores to do. For how would the scary deity give him food, if he did not do his penance?

So every morning for fear of loss, he woke from his slumber, tired and sore, and walked to his wheel, to do his chore. It seemed like ages, how long had it been? But then as usual, the sun came out, and the deity appeared. It's presence entered the cage and wrapped around him.

It will be over soon, the hamster thought to himself. The deity is deciding whether to kill me or allow me to live. But I ran really well, live I shall. The deity set him down, and food appeared. So he chose to let me live. The hamster's heart was pounding. Another day, thank goodness for this god. Yes, it's a good thing, this god. How would I survive without him? Mother told me about this god, after she ate my brother. That he was the reason we survive. But, the fright, I can't take it. I have to get out. Maybe even if I die, I'll try and escape the cage.

Every morning, before the deity awoke, the hamster nibbled on the cage, and hid it with his poopsies. Finally, 3 suns later, he had made a hole big enough to get out of.

That morning, he got outside. Grass, air, FREEEEEE!! FREE! SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!! I'm free!!

I KNEW I DIDN'T NEED THE DEITY. I KNEW LIFE WAS BETTER WITHOUT HIM I KNE…. crunch of bone, pool of blood, heart..heart beating so fast, so slow.

mother..was right. i needed..him.

"Blast, i ran over that hamster. how'd the bugger get out?" "It's alright, John. We'll buy another before he notices. Bloody hell, third hamster this month."

-Indu Reddy

I don’t believe there are rules to love. I agree, there are social trends that have occurred in the past that lead to a long committed life together. I acknowledge that there are many social trends that lead to a quick love and failed happiness. I secede to and hear the wisdom the wary gazes, tilted heads and cocked brows; it seems that despite the forward thinking nature of our generation, falling in love in a few weeks and not even contemplating a marriage is indeed a bewildering beast.

When Dad asked me, well, give me a reason why you don’t want to be married, I hadn’t quite figured out the exact bullet point reasons for the evening’s debate. So I thought about it, here it is:

If say, J ever asked me to marry him, I willingly give my heart to him and his question. In fact, I’ve already given my heart to him. I intend on spending a future together, pursuing dreams, and facing life’s challenges in a cohesive working partnership.

I do not need certification from the law to strengthen my commitment to J. I do not believe in a set of values that announces romantic and committed love is moral only if couples pledge joint allegiance to and in the presence of a God.

I do not need a public announcement from J that he loves me and is mine, because he’ll say it privately, and I already know. And I’m happy. He shows this not just with words, but every single day since I’ve heard the words for the first time, with actions.

I understand, you can make a wedding unique, anything you want, intimate, and entirely about the two people and those they love, nothing else. I just don’t agree that’s true. Marriage is a very specific institution with defining principles and values. Every state has marriage-protection laws, most countries do as well. The bottom line here is I don’t believe relationships should ever be determined by both law and the affirmation of others.

However unengaged I am to the institution of marriage, I am hyperaware of those very important to me being very happily and comfortably stuck flies on society’s web and hive mind. I have the highest expectations of those around me, and I look forward to those I care about accepting and becoming accustomed to my independent life choices. It there is no wedding, no priest, no piece of paper from the sate, some humans just will not give any weight to your commitment—despite the high divorce rates that remind us daily that these formailities offer no gaurantee a relationship will endure.

But mine will. It will endure joy, love, laughter, happiness, and innocence. If I ever get married, oh I will be the happiest bride. If I never get married, I will still be the most loved, cherished, and happiest Indu I can be. I love you J.

I do to Love.

Week 3: So it's begun. I've gone to interviews, had phone interviews, I'm doing my best to stay positive and optimistic.

So, what is this like? I moved my entire life to Boston, I haven't seen my family since the start of January. Then BAM. Budget cut, my job is gone. Well, for now, it's like a huge vacation.

The taste of independence is fresh on my tongue and I'm ready for more. So living paycheck to paycheck, eating frozen vegetables, and staying in my pajamas all day (sounds like college minus the no money), is something I'm embracing!