Slow Sunday, recipe and everything ordinary

Kanji

Today I woke to a sunny blue sky which stayed brightening this corner of the planet all day. I sipped ghee in hot water, because my slow silent Sunday is the first day of the active stage, of my Ayurvedic autumn Cleanse. I had kanji for breakfast, and kitchari for lunch and supper—you can read more about the Ayurvedic seasonal Cleanse here here and here (the cleanse routine is the same for spring and autumn).

As I drank ghee in hot water first thing, I watched the sun and shadow playing on one of my walls—above photo. I saw next doors cat returning from a night out, and seagulls swooped in circles through the clear blue sky. It was I decided, going to be a very good day.

As I autumn cleansed myself, I’ve also been autumn cleaning the flat, until, like mole in Wind in the Willows I was out the door scampering into the sunshine. I’m back now and writing this slow Sunday late in the day, as the sun goes down in the evening sky, that looks like a sandy beach when the tides out, and the cooler evening air tells me, it is definitely autumn. My window boxes have become silhouettes and, with windows closed, I can feel that cold night air in my sitting room.

A few weeks ago my Bluetooth speaker died, I’ve been getting used to silent rooms. It took a while, but now I’m really enjoying the silvery silence that is rich with promises of futures yet to arrive.

For the first time in a long time, I’ve actually done my ironing, and I’m really enjoying the way it looks hanging in bundles with lamplight shining across it, before finding its way into the wardrobe. I’m on top of the week, and it hasn’t even begun yet.

Ever so gradually, lights are coming on in the windows across the street, and cars are returning home. Kids at the end of the road have been selling some of their toys, all packed up now.

As I walked along the road to the train station earlier today, the leaves were blowing off the trees in the sunshine, like flattened lemons they drifted down to the ground. It was a carpet when I returned.

I’d been on that little train track I mentioned before and the carriages were alive with the sound of people chatting. A dad reading to his son, students planning adventures, people with bikes out for the day, old people young people; all sorts. And the railway station was full of trees and wildlife.

View on the other side of the track

View at the end of the platform

I love that station, it takes me back in time to the 60’s, a slower pace of life. It’s always full of the sounds of wildlife, even though I live in a city. And the other humans, they talk to each other, like people used to when I was a kid. It’s such a lovely sound, hearing people chatter to each other, and laughter.

Recipe

Kanji

Here’s a recipe for kanji. This is a traditional Ayurvedic rice porridge which cleanses and heals. There are various ways of making it, from just using the water the rice was cooked in, if someone is too ill to eat, to making a thick rice porridge with spices. I used turmeric, a little black pepper, fresh ginger, rock salt, lemon juice, a little biolive natural yogurt and fresh cilantro. Kanji is a very simple soothing dish for any time when your gut is not happy, but it also makes a great cleanse breakfast.

Ingredients (for one serving)

• 1/3 cup white basmati rice

• 8 times water to rice

• 1 inch finely grated fresh ginger

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

• Pinch black pepper

• Rock salt (to your taste)

• Fresh lemon juice (to your taste)

• 1 teaspoon ghee

• 1 tablespoon biolive natural yogurt

• Freshly chopped cilantro

Method

Put the rice and water in a slow cooker overnight on low, or cook in the morning. Add all the other ingredients once the rice porridge is cooked. It is warm, cosy and nurturing.

It’s time for night fires, friendship and warm drinks to sooth tired minds and weary hearts. Then every day, can be a good day.

Wishing you the warmest,

Lucy x