Natural Sore Throat Remedy

The world around us is filled with remedies to help us be at our optimal health.  Before I began working in my current place, I shared an office duty role with a group of ladies, some of whom were breast cancer conquerers through natural means. As we worked away, there were talks about life in general and ways to improve by what we eat and exercise.  Juices were subject of discussion again and again, apart from yoga of course.  It really brought to light the power and role of nature in healing. 

The particular juice I'm sharing at this time is one for sore throats.  

Ingredients:
2 large carrots
a 3-4cm piece of ginger
1 lemon (peeled)
1 lime (peeled)

Then it's just a case of washing your carrots thoroughly and peeling if they're not organic.  Washing the ginger. Peeling the lemon and lime and then juicing them all.  One word of warning though!  It does have a little bite and you only need to take little sips at a time. Taste a little, and if you need to you can add an extra carrot for sweetener. You could add a little pineapple, but I have omitted it for me as I know it can cause mouth ulcers.  

Like any food we eat, or exercise we do, we need to be in tune with our bodies and what works for us. 

 Shaz :)

 

 


 

Goji Berry Salsa

I have been making this tasty alternative for a while now and still come back to it time and time again.  Adding goji berries along with coriander give this so many extra health benefits, not to mention a delicious taste.

Coriander or cilantro as it is sometimes known, may relieve intestinal gas and pain.  It can also soothe inflammation, rheumatic pain, headaches and mental stress.  This is definitely not something we are thinking about when putting food together, but making a few conscious decisions here and there, will change how our bodies function over time.

Developing a new flavour when left overnight or longer, you can decide whether to eat it on the same day of making, or leaving for a day. Leaving it gives it a whole new taste, as the goji berries expand to absorb the liquids.

Ingredients:

1 diced avocado

1/2 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes

1 small red onion (finely chopped)

3 tbsp. olive oil

1/4 cup fresh coriander/cilantro

1/2 cup fresh basil

1/4 cup pitted black olives

good pinch of Himalayan salt

juice of 1 or 2 lemons (about 1/3 cup)

1/2 cup goji berries 

3 medjool dates (pitted)

Method:

Slice the avocado in half, removing the seed.  Chop the flesh into small squares while still in the skin and set aside.  Place all of the remaining ingredients into a food processor, leaving aside a few tablespoons of the tomatoes and the coriander and basil.  Pulse until well chopped, before adding the reserved tomatoes, coriander and basil, and chop some more.  Leaving these out at the beginning just means you will end up with a chunkier salsa, so it's up to you how you'd like it really.  Lastly add the avocado and gently mix through with a spoon.

This salsa is delicious with corn chips as a dip, or served alongside your green leafy salad giving it a zesty lift.  Add it to your burritos.  The goji berries help boost your energy and antioxidant levels, giving your standard salsa something just a little different.   

Enjoy :) Shaz

Photo credit:Thank you Michael Cranfield

  

Purely Chocolate

I've had a few friends ask for this one many times, so I'm sharing now from my heart.  Some times when you have to cook or create food it becomes a chore and we perhaps don't really enjoy the whole process.  I don't think this would ever be the case with these raw chocolates.

They are full of goodness with only a few natural ingredients needed to make them.  But be patient, using only a low to medium heat so as not to destroy the health benefits the raw cacao holds.  As with any chocolate, low to medium heat is all that is ever needed, so don't be in a rush.

Fun fact for Emily in particular here (just because she's great at sharing lots of fun facts with me), is that cacao contains 'phenylethylamine' (PEA), which is a mood enhancer, a natural energy booster and a stress reliever.  It's also said to stimulate the secretion of endorphins to help us stay alert and focused. Oh, and it's also an aphrodisiac.  Do we really even need an excuse to consume more of this 'black gold', as the Peruvians and Spanish call it.

I have played around with a few different ratios of cacao butter and coconut oil with mine and they do need to be kept in the fridge or even the freezer.  Have a go and you will be surprised how tantalizing they are in comparison to a store bought variety.

Ingredients:
1/3 cup cacao butter (melted form)  as solid lumps this is about 50grams
1/3 cup coconut oil (in melted form)
1/4 cup cacao powder
2 tbsp. maple syrup 
a little Himalayan salt
natural peanut butter/golden berries/goji berries/crushed almonds
(Get the picture here? You can put a variety of different fillings or none at all)

Method:

Place a small saucepan of water onto heat with with a medium bowl resting on top.  Make sure no water gets into the bowl.  Shave or chop the cacao butter into the bowl and gently melt until it's all liquid.  No lumps!  Then add the coconut oil and stir together. Take off the heat and sift in the cacao powder, a little at a time.  No rush remember, and also, no lumps.  Lastly add the maple syrup a little at a time and blend through.  It will smell amazing at this stage and be rich, dark and glossy.  Not thick at all and quite runny.

Carefully spoon into your chocolate moulds and place into the freezer to set.  You have many options here.  I like to put in a little choc, then freeze for a couple of minutes. Followed by some natural peanut butter and a sprinkle of salt. Pop that back in the freezer for a couple of minutes, then top up with more choc mix until mould is full.  Set them in the freezer for a while, before gently popping them out and storing in airtight containers in the freezer ready for eating.

Play around until you find your favourites.  Enjoy the experimentation with different fillings.  Love the process and the end result will be happiness.  You can never have too much good chocolate!!!!  Well maybe a little moderation is required.

Enjoy ☺ Shaz

Lemon, Berry & Macadamia Raw Cheescake

If you are in the habit of not including much sugar in your diet, you are still human and sometimes desire those sweet treats.  Although there's a bit of effort involved in making this one, having it on stand-by in the freezer can save you in those moments, and curb the cravings naturally. It also makes a refreshing dessert to take along to a bbq or dinner to share with friends.

The sweetener in this dessert is pure Canadian maple syrup.  Not the sugary flavoured syrup, but real, pure maple syrup.  Did you know that this syrup in its pure form, is from the sap of the maple tree?  Great for the heart and boosting the immune system too. Very cool!  It is still a sweetener, so moderation is required.

Ingredients:

Base:                                                             Lemon filling:

1 cup almonds                                                1 cup macadamias

12 medjool dates (pitted)                                ¼ cup melted coconut oil

½ cup shredded coconut                                  2 tbsp. pure maple syrup              

¼ tsp vanilla extract                                       ½ tsp vanilla extract

pinch Himalayan salt                                       ½ cup fresh lemon juice

                                                                  

Berry Filling:

1 cup macadamias

¼ cup melted coconut oil

2 tbsp. pure maple syrup

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mixed berries (frozen)

Method:

Base:

Blend almonds, dates, vanilla, salt and coconut in a processor until well combined.  Sprinkle the bottom of a spring-form pan with a little extra coconut or line with baking paper and firmly press the mixture into the base.  Place into the fridge or freezer while you make the filling.

Filling:

Start with the lemon filling.  Add all ingredients for the lemon filling into the processor and blend until smooth and creamy.  Pour this into the base, evening out with the back of a spoon and pop back in the freezer.

Next add all the ingredients for the berry filling into the processor, blending until well combined.  Carefully spoon this layer on top of the lemon layer and place back in the freezer to set.  This may take a few hours.

Pull it out of the freezer for a short while close to serving, so it's not too hard to slice or eat.  If you're making it to have there on stand-by, after it has set, slice it and popped it back in the freezer with a piece of foil over the top, as well as being in an airtight container, to prevent any freezer burn.

Garnish the top with some fresh berries or crushed macadamias.  In the past, as with most raw desserts, I may have even eaten this one for breakfast ;).  Totally acceptable right!

Enjoy ☺ Shaz