• Hi! I’m Monica
  • The Facebook Group
  • Blog
    • Daily Life
    • Instruction
    • Recipes
    • Spiritual Book Club
    • Yoga Challenges
    • Happiness Project
  • Private Yoga Lessons
  • Resources, Yo(gi)
  • Contact

The Yogi Movement with Monica Stone

Ready To Start Your Practice?

Enter Your Name & Email To Get Your Guided Meditation, Yoga Practice, Journal Download & 14 Days of Freedom!

Creamy Kale & Roasted Root Soup

January 29, 2014 By Monica Stone 2 Comments

Hello My Dear Friends!

If you’ve been following the blog or Facebook, I’m sure you know I just came off of a 10 day detox that started with 6 days of just juicing, and the last 4 days included slowly integrating food back into my body. This allowed me to cultivate positive and healthy food habits, and throw the bad ones in the garbage disposal!

To my surprise, this fast was so abundant that I was also able to become aware of negative habits in my lifestyle and mind, and begin to remove those. I realized some big self destructive mind patterns. By starting to let those go, I have developed more patience and compassion. By growing more in those qualities, I feel more free and happy. YIPPEEEEE!!!!

It’s important to break a fast really slowly and with food that is easily digestible. It’s also important to slowly integrate food back in the body. The first day, I added in just pureed soup (recipe here). The third day I started to add a few things I could chew, but kept everything soft and made sure to chew everything really fine. The fourth day, I added some rice at night to my soup, and the fifth day I added in protein. The first two days I still juiced, and only ate small amounts. You don’t want to add too much to quickly as tempting as it is. I still haven’t added in coffee, anything refined, anything processed, salt, or any unnatural seasonings. 

Next week, I’ll have a blog for you more focused on the effects and changes I experienced on the fast, but for now, FOOD…….

Ingredients:

7 cups water or veggie broth (Homemade veggie broth if coming off of fast / Packaged okay otherwise)

2 tablespoons melted Ghee (Leave out to make vegan)

5-7 stalks Kale chopped

5 stalks Celery sliced

1/2 Cauliflower chopped

1 tablespoon chopped Ginger

Handful of Basil 

Handful of Cilantro

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Salt to taste (optional)

 

Roasted Garlic (40 minutes)

Roasted Butternut squash

 

The Process:

Preheat the oven to 350 – The butternut squash & Garlic take 30-40 minutes. 

Prepare the Butternut Squash by cutting it in half, scooping out the seeds, and coating it with ghee. I used ghee because I wanted everything to be natural and pure, and wasn’t ready to add any packaged or refined oils. 

Squash

 

Peel the layers of the garlic away, and cut the top off, and coat the top of that with ghee also. 

Roasted Garlic Prepare

 

Next, wrap the garlic in foil

Place the butternut squash face down (so, the skin is facing you) on a baking sheet.

Place the garlic on the sheet also.

Cook for 30-40 minutes or until the squash is soft. You can test this by taking a fork and if the fork goes in smooth, the squash is done. If you have to hold to pull it out or if it gives you any trouble – it still needs more time. 

The garlic will take the same amount of time  or less, so you can check on it 10 minutes before the squash is to be done. The garlic is done when it’s just golden on the top, and you should easily be able to take a clove out with a butter knife. 

While the butternut squash and garlic is roasting, prepare the kale, celery, and cauliflower. 

 

Kale Celery Cauliflour

 

And, the basil, ginger, and cilantro

 

Ginger Basil Cilantro

Pour the water or vegetable broth in a large soup pot, and add all of the other vegetables and herbs. I used a homemade vegetable broth that I had frozen for a richer flavor, but you can easily make your own vegetable broth right here. If you’re not breaking a fast you can use any veggie broth from the store. If you are breaking a fast, I recommend using homemade so that there are no preservatives, “natural” flavorings, or anything else silly. 

Bring everything to a boil, and then cover and turn to low. Cook for 1 hour to soften everything and let the flavors soak in.

(This picture clearly hates me)

 

SOUP

 

The butternut squash and garlic should be done by this time.

It’s time to mix things up! 

Scoop out 1/2 of the butternut squash and 5 cloves of garlic  with a butter knife into the blender. Fill the blender with 5 cups of the soup with the veggies making sure it’s full of veggies, but there is enough broth so that everything is covered with liquid. (if a cauliflower head pops up to say hello, I guess that’s okay).

You’ll have some soup left over, so you’ll have to do this in two batches unless you want to save the rest of the soup for something else. 

Blender

 

Puree everything really really smooth!

Feel free to add more broth if it’s too thick, and more butternut squash if it’s too thin. Start small and then add as you go. 

Garnish with basil, add a tablespoon of fresh lemon juice.

If you feel like you need a pinch of salt, go for it!

Now,  you’re ready for some yumminess! 

 

Soup in blender

Delights & After Thoughts:

I ate this soup for a few days after the fast, and I have to say, the lemon is really essential. I didn’t want to add salt, but I knew that it needed something, and just wasn’t sure. While I was eating at work, I had a lightbulb above the head moment, and couldn’t wait to get home to try it out. When I finally grabbed the lemon, it was a breath of fresh air and I was able to say ahhhhhhhh yessssss. 

I really felt like this was the perfect vegetable soup because it was really light and creamy with a subtle tinge of sweetness from the roasted squash and garlic. You can really experiment and make so many variations with this soup. It would be great to add pureed beets, or even roast some cubed beets to add which would make it a little more hearty. 

The balance was perfect because it was full of nutrition and antioxidants, and the garlic and ginger are still helping to detox. The cooling cilantro and sweetness of the squash helped balance out the fiery garlic and ginger, so that I did not aggravate my pitta. I am already a fiery yogini, so the last thing I needed was to get all fired up! I love spicy food and onions, and I add them to everything. Now that I think about it, I wonder if my impatience and inflictions are aggravated by too much pitta foods? I’m going to have to watch for that as I add them back in. Looks like I have another project!

All in all, I loved this soup and can’t wait to keep experimenting with it. It was really nice to eat slow, add some love back into my belly.

I ate right in front of my window, on a gorgeous breezy Florida day without any technology, but you can see I had some help with that!  

 

Oliver
 
What is your favorite soup? What variations do you think would go great with this puree? Tell me in the comments below, and feel free to pin any of these pics!
 

Until Next Time!

 
love-monica.jpg

Filed Under: Recipes

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

« Asana Lab: How To Breathe Correctly During Yoga Practice
Event Review: Downtown Orlando’s Best Kept Secret…. »

Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

Start Your Yoga Practice With Me!

Join the 14 Day Yoga Challenge & Get Your Free Yoga & Guided Meditation Download & Journal With Daily Activities to Find Balance, Clarity, and Purpose.

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

Check Out The Latest Posts..!

How to get out of a rut and back to your old self again by Monica Stone, Yoga Instructor in Orlando, FL at theyogimovement.com
Most of the yoga you do should be outside of the studio by theyogimovement.com
Here's how I modify my ashtanga practice yoga with shoulder pain or injury..
Have you ever heard of the 4 seals of dharma? They are the 4 things that make you a buddhist, and all emotions are painful is the first one. That sounds crazy! What about love and happiness? How is that painful? Well haven't you ever had love and lost it? What if you got a brand new car & then got into a car accident right after? Or simply, what if you won an award, and then a few hours go by? The high goes away, right? All emotions lead to pain... but here's why it's actually a good thing... keep reading...
Two years ago I quit my day job. I didn't have a plan, and I started losing money fast! I did everything to run and grow my business, but it was so hard on my own. I don't suggest not having a plan. All of those people who preach quitting your day job do not tell the whole story. Let me help... !
There are so many misconceptions about why we practice yoga postures. I want to erase all of the rules and requirements and bring the fun back into yoga. Yoga is for everyone, and it works for you however you need it. Read more about my theory here!

All Blog Posts Here…

Check Out My Sauce Site! Learn to Make Incredible & Simple Sauces With Me!

Proudly Partnered With:

FitFluential Is Fitness Found


Legendary support for a lifetime of practice with the Manduka PRO

Insta-Love

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No connected account.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to connect an account.

Copyright © 2023 · glam theme by Restored 316

  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Contact
  • Policies
  • Web Site Agreement / Terms of Service