I have had so many people ask me for this recipe so I am going to post it here in my blog. This recipe creates 4 large servings but it can easily be made into 6 servings depending on how much you want to pile your plate with it.  Normally butter chicken has higher calories but this one is about 292 calories per serving and even less calorie content if split into 6 servings.

Hope you enjoy it!

Ingredients

• 1 lb skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ cubes
• salt – approx 1 tsp or to taste
• 1 tsp black pepper
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• lime juice (1 lime)
• ½ large red onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1″ piece fresh ginger, grated
• ½ cup non fat yogurt
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• ½ tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• ½ tsp turmeric
• 2 tbsp canola oil
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• Cilantro (1/4 cup for garnish)

Directions

• Mix the chicken, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and lime juice in a bowl, cover and set aside in refrigerator.
• Chop onions, garlic, ginger and cilantro and set aside.
• Mix the yogurt, garam masala, cumin, coriander and turmeric and add to the chicken, mixing thoroughly. (Optional: you can marinade for one hour in refrigerator).
• Heat oil in frying pan on medium high heat. Add onions and fry until golden brown. Add ginger and garlic and fry for a couple of minutes.
• Add the marinated chicken and fry until all the ingredients are nicely mixed together (about 5 mins). Add tomato paste and water and cook for another 5 minutes until mixture is bubbly. Lower heat, cover and cook until chicken is tender and gravy is thick.
• In another pan, melt butter and pour it over the chicken. Sprinkle brown sugar over curry mixing gently and top off with chopped cilantro. Serve with basmati rice or naan.

4 Large Servings (292 calories per serving)

On my last journey to India, I was incredibly moved by some of the local children we met there.  Friendly and quick to say hello, these children seemed happy, though they have little by our standards.  Perhaps because I myself come from India, I found them to be endearing and felt a distinct connection to them.

As founder of Himalayan Boot Camp, I envision my company as one that gives back to the community.  Being that Himalayan Boot Camp is rooted in India – in its culture, food, and the adventures India offers – I believe some of the local villages which we traverse on our Boot Camp adventures should benefit from our business endeavors and success.  Himalayan Boot Camp, by itself and through its guests, can be the vehicle for contributing, even in a small way, to the quality of life for some local children.

One way in which I propose to do this is to provide my guests with an opportunity to give something small yet meaningful.  After making inquiries, I have learned that school supplies are in great demand.  English reading books for children ages three to twelve are especially in short supply.

Willing Himalayan Boot Camp guests could bring a book or two for this age group, along with a few pencils and erasers.  At a small get-together, my guests can visit and interact with some of the local children, and give them each a gift of a book and some school supplies.  I know it would be an unforgettable moment for the child and personally rewarding for any guest who chooses to participate.

Another project which I will soon be implementing is what I call my  “Socks For Children” project (I am working on a more formal name for the project).  As you might imagine, the Himalayan foothills are extremely cold during the winter, and many children could use good quality, warm, and well-insulated socks.  In light of that, each October when I travel to India for our boot camps, I will take with me a large suitcase full of 500 pairs of socks.  250 needy children will get 2 pairs of socks each.  I am certain that these socks will mean so much and will help prevent the recipients from suffering from cold during the harsh days of winter.  Contributors to this project may be, but need not be, Himalayan Boot Camp guests.

If you are interested in being part of the socks project, send me an email to connie@himalayanbootcamp.com and I will provide more details as I get this project up and running.

Himalayan Boot Camp Diaries

I have another story about two little village boys I met while traveling through one of the beautiful remote areas of Meghalaya,India after my Oct 08 Himalayan Boot Camp. My husband and I, with my sister and some friends were driving back one late afternoon after spending the day doing some fabulous sightseeing when we came across this little village. The setting sun on this village was so beautiful that we stopped the car for a moment to take some pictures.

While we were taking pictures, I noticed two little boys standing near the side of the road, by a stone quarry, looking at us. They just looked so cute I asked them if I could take a picture. The older brother (who was about four years old), as soon as he realized we were going to take their picture, shouted to us to wait and ran to his little hut nearby and brought out this little pair of shoes that he put on his younger two year old brother so his little brother can have his picture taken with his shoes on. It was just done with so much dignity for such a small child. This just really tugged at my heart as I took some pictures of them.

This experience has really been on my mind since then, and I have been thinking that I have been so blessed and take so much for granted, I really would like to do more. Perhaps there is a way for me to help some of the children in the region.  I am still investigating one of my ideas and will update you on a future blog post. Please stay tuned!

While I was in India last Oct, I was fortunate enough to be able to visit a farm that belonged to a friend of mine and asked him if we could dig up some turmeric root so I can take a picture for my blog and here it is.

Turmeric is a plant in the ginger family with an earthy, bitter flavor and a mustard-like smell. It is a root that is boiled, then dried, and finally ground into a yellow-orange powder to be used as a spice. Turmeric is the ingredient that gives curry dishes their yellow color.

On of the main components in Turmeric is Curcumin. This component has been found to have amazing healing properties. I have consolidated some highlights of Turmeric below from my upcoming book The Deity Diet. Stay tuned for the release date.

Turmeric as a healing spice has been found to do the following:
•    Produce bile that helps break down fats.
•    Detoxify the liver, and assist in blood circulation and purification.
•    Because of its antibacterial properties, used as an antiseptic for cuts and bruises.
•    Has anti-inflammatory properties and known to be effective as a pain reliever.
•    Assists in digestion and fights off intestinal parasites
•    Works as an anti-oxidant, and helps reduce cholesterol and fight arteriosclerosis.
•    Fluoride in turmeric is highly effective to strengthen teeth & prevent cavities.
•    Used as a beauty treatment by brides in India, known to enhance the complexion.
•    Turmeric’s distinct aroma and taste adds color to, & enhances the flavor of curries.
•    Turmeric is also used in eggs and in salads.

One of the significant benefits of turmeric is its potential for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. According to a UCLA study, India has one of the lowest rates of Alzheimer’s disease in the world. The incidence of Alzheimer’s among Indian adults aged seventy to seventy-nine is 4.4 times less than that of the United States. Research indicates that curcumin, the main component of turmeric, inhibits accumulation of destructive beta amyloids that form the plaques found in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Further studies are being conducted.

The next time you cook with Turmeric, think about the positive impact you are contributing to the health and well being of your body.

To your Longevity and Abundant Living!

Connie

I have come up with what I consider a fabulous idea for you to go for FREE to one of my Himalayan Boot Camps.  Here is my idea. If you are a yoga instructor and would like to take eight of your students to one of my Himalayan Boot Camps in India, YOU get to go for FREE. That’s correct! All you need to bring is your pocket money!

I feel this is a WIN-WIN situation as it provides me with another avenue to advertise my boot camps and it provides you with a fantastic opportunity to see a beautiful part of the world without having to pay for it.

If you are NOT a yoga instructor but can bring your own group and take advantage of this free offer for yourself, Himalayan Boot Camp is interested in hearing from you as well.

To obtain this FREE trip, guests must attend the same boot camp and pay the regular double room rate (share a room). Himalayan Boot Camp will pay the following for the yoga instructor or individual who brings eight guests: his/her international air fare to India, domestic airfare within India to final destination, food, lodging and all transportation in India for seven days and eight nights.

You might ask why would you want to go with Himalayan Boot Camp if you can take your own 8 students and do your own planning? Because I have done this before and have an established, proven process in plac, therefore I can offer the ultimate experience for my guests – ALL transportation in India, ALL food, ALL luxury accommodations, and ALL cultural excursions that are part of the itinerary– you do not have to worry about anything. Additionally, I have specially arranged fitness hikes, nutritious, healthy cuisine, and I will be there personally to make sure everyone has a fabulous, delightful and unforgettable experience,

Imagine yourself and your students doing sunrise yoga on a balcony (actual picture above) overlooking beautiful Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world (Everest and K2 being #1 and 2 respectively). Believe me it is quite the AWESOME experience. If you are lucky (perfect weather conditions), you will see the mountains above you in the horizon and clouds below you while you are doing your sun salutations! Or you may practice at dusk as evening settles in while the forests around you come alive with the vibrating melody of the cicadas. I can go on and on about this because the experience is so wonderful it is hard to describe.

Would you like to go on this amazing journey? Call (866-928-9911) or email me (connie@himalayanbootcamp.com)  if you are interested. I have only two boot camps scheduled for Oct 2009 and I have a feeling they will fill up fast.

Until next time,

To Your Longevity and Abundant Living!

Connie