Same As It Ever Was

Michael Franti and Spearhead have released a new song about Eric Garner and the Ferguson protests, and after the grand jury decided not the indict (as expected).  Video below, Same As It Ever Was (Start Today), written by Michael Franti and Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor; also featuring the Agape Choir.

Goodnight Irene

In the youtube below, Goodnight Irene, an award winning short film from director Sterlin Harjo of the 1491s.  With tongue-in-cheek on a few existentialist classics, Sterlin Harjo tells a beautifully poignant, very funny, and "all too painfully real" short story about “3 ships in the night” (so to speak) waiting together in an emergency room serving a poor Native American community.  As an eternity seems to pass, tales are shared and truths emerge … touching the lives of these characters in important ways .. starring Casey Camp-Horinek, Robert A. Guthrie, and Jon Proudstar.

Holiday Hot Tumeric

Hot Tumeric  

(adapted from Dr. Sanjay Gupta's Calming, Creamy Tumeric Tea)

Ingredients

1 1/2 - 2 (8 oz) cups of plain almond milk or cow milk, regular, low-fat, or non-fat (Dr. Gupta's recipe uses almond milk)

1 teaspoon tumeric powder
1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder

1 teaspoon honey

whipped cream & additional cinnamon sprinkled, a few almonds

Optional:  a shot of amaretto


Procedure

1.  Heat mug of milk in microwave for 1 minute 30 seconds.

2.  Stir in well, tumeric, ginger and cinnamon.  

3.  Then stir in honey.

4.  Heat in microwave another 30 seconds.

5.  Stir again, well.

6.  If using amaretto, now add the shot or portion thereof.

7.  Add whipped cream, sprinkle a bit more cinnamon, and a few almonds.

Enjoy!
 
Discussion

I seem to be acquiring a regular taste for this hot drink, and as long as I can dress it up, and with a "less intense" ratio of tumeric to milk, than the good doctor prescribes.  The drink is quite spicy, while creamy and comforting at the same time.  As Dr. Gupta discusses, the tumeric has anti-inflammatory health benefits, among others.  He emphasizes heart-health;  it occurred to me, however, that another consideration could be gum health since it's described as an anti-inflammatory.  Ginger, cinnamon, and honey also have their cited health benefits, along with the hot milk. 

Consider this drink, too, a substitute for hot cocoa, during the holiday season, and especially if it's challenging to find slavery-free hot cocoa mix in your area. 


Optional 

Adults, you can also dress this holiday hot tumeric up with a shot of alcohol;  amaretto blends in very nicely, and right before you add the whipped cream, a dash more of cinnamon, and some real almonds.  

And I'm sure it goes good with cookies!

I suppose cow milk or whipped cream that is not non-fat, would take this drink out of an entirely heart-healthy category, according to Dr. Gupta.  Though I have no idea what the good doctor (or yours, if you can even see one in the U.S.A.) would advise there, and as far as cookies, alcohol, or gum health, either. 

The almond milk is really good with it, as long as you get a good brand for the almond milk - otherwise, I found regular milk better than poor quality almond milk.  With the good stuff, I used plain, not these flavored kinds like vanilla, etc.
 

Photo credits: via wikipedia, top, Botanical view of Curcuma longa, second, photographer: John Hill, "Native turmeric in the bush near Cooktown, Queensland, Australia," third, photographer: Simon A. Eugster, "Turmeric rhizome and powder," fourth, photographer: Rajkumar6182, "Turmeric field in an Indian village."