We even have a cookbook that many people use when they are beginning their journey with Ayurveda. But when we cook for ourselves, we rarely use recipes. Why? Because we prefer to connect to our creative energy and let inspiration be our guide.
Cooking is a natural process that people have been doing for thousands of years. Yet so many people these days are accustomed to eating prepared foods or at restaurants, which makes cooking at home seem daunting. But the truth is, cooking requires little more than quality ingredients, basic supplies, creative energy and practice.
How to cook without recipes
Giving your creativity some guidelines is the key to becoming an intuitive cook.
Recipes are helpful in the beginning, but once you have experimented enough to see how different ingredients produce different results on the plate and in your body, you are ready to use those recipes as tools for inspiration. We use our Love Loaf recipe for Carrot Love Loaf, Coconut Love Loaf, Nut Love Loaf – whatever flavor of love we want to create. By tuning into your body and mind to see what will bring you balance, you can modify just a few ingredients to create an entirely different result. Suddenly the possibilities in your kitchen become endless!
Try this experiment with our Coconut Love Loaf recipe below. After you’ve made it and feel comfortable with the basic structure, use different types of flour, replace the shredded coconut with nuts (we love macadamia nuts in this recipe) or modify the spices based on what your body or mind needs.
Let go of the fear of mistakes
Perfection is unattainable, yet many people avoid cooking because they fear they won’t attain it. The focus on perfection halts creative energy before it can even emerge. To move beyond perfection, bring in a playful attitude. Maybe your Love Loaf doesn’t look the way you thought it should – but how does it taste? How does it make you feel? What would you do differently the next time? What would you do again? Keep a notebook to track your results so you can see patterns and learn to trust your intuition.
Cooking is not difficult, but if it is new, it can take some time to get used to how things work. Give yourself time, structure and a playful approach. Eventually you will find the intuitive cook within and be able to make food at home that is nourishing, grounding and delicious.
Coconut love loaf
Serves 12
Preparation time: 45 minutes
Augmenting
You’ll need:
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup coconut flour
1 cup dried coconut, soaked for 4+ hours (use fresh if available)
1/2 tsp. mineral salt
1/2 tsp. cardamom powder
1/2 inch piece of vanilla bean, cut into tiny pieces (optional, be sure to purchase it from a quality vendor. We like Mountain Rose Herbs)
1/3 cup coconut oil or ghee
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/2 to 1 cup water
Here’s how:
Combine flours, coconut, salt and spices. Stir in vanilla bean, oil and maple syrup. Add enough water to create a sticky, soft dough.
Gently press into a glass baking dish and bake at 375 degrees F for 12 minutes in a convection oven, or about 30 to 40 minutes in a regular oven until a toothpick comes out clean.
Visit our Ayurveda Lifestyle page for kitchen essentials