Monthly Archives: December 2016
Allergen Season Spice Mixture
Support your body during allergen season with this tasty spice mixture.
Ingredients:
- 3 parts turmeric
- 6 parts fennel
- 6 parts coriander
- 1 part black pepper
- 1 part ginger
Directions:
Blend these spices together in bulk and store in a jar. When you are preparing a meal, place a small amount of ghee in a frying pan and heat it on medium. Add the detoxifying spice mixture, measuring out one teaspoon of spice mixture per serving of vegetables. Sauté the spices until the aroma is released, but be careful not to burn them. Add salt and pepper to taste. Add steamed vegetables, mix lightly and sauté together for one minute, or you can sauté the spice mixture in ghee and drizzle on cooked vegetables and grains.
Source: Mapi
Detox Spice Mix
Ingredients:
- 1 part turmeric
- 2 parts ground cumin
- 3 parts ground coriander
- 4 parts ground fennel
Directions:
Mix these spices together in bulk and store in a jar. When you are cooking a meal, place a small amount of ghee in a frying pan and heat on medium. Add detoxifying spice mixture, measuring out one teaspoon of spice mixture per serving of vegetables. Sauté spices until the aroma is released (but be careful not to burn). Add salt and black pepper to taste. Add steamed vegetables, mix lightly and sauté together for one minute. Or you can sauté the spice mixture in ghee and drizzle on vegetables or grains.
Source: Mapi.com
Churnas and Ayurveda
Ayurvedic principles show that everyone has a particular personality type as shown by the make up of their doshas, or inner life energies. Your prakriti is your make up when you were born, and vikruti is what they are now as a result of life’s experiences and stresses and imbalances of other elemental influences.
In order to correct these derangements, one can use churnas, or Ayurvedic spice powders that are made up of blends of spices. These churnas are made of fresh herbs that have medicinal properties, as well as the ability to neutralize the toxic effects caused by imbalances within the body.
Ayurvedic churnas combine all six of the ayurvedic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. They are created through the combination of a number of different fresh herbs, and can be added to almost any foodstuff. Not only do churnas improve the taste of the dish and add their own nutritional kick, they also bring out the medicinal qualities of the foods they are added to. Ayurvedic churnas can also be sauteed in ghee before being added to a dish.
The spices included in Ayurvedic churnas all have strong medicinal properties of their own. Ayurveda has long been touting the health benefits of these herbs. Ground ginger, for example, provides a pungent flavor but also calms the stomach and promotes good digestion. Turmeric contains curcumin, which is thought to reduce cholesterol, provide a boost to the immune system, aid in liver detoxification, and improve the body’s response to allergens. It is a potent antioxidant, which means it helps the body fight off dangerous molecules known as free radicals, which contribute to your risk for heart disease and cancer. Cumin is also known to help the body in its detoxification efforts as well as make digestion smoother.
Ayurvedic churnas are thus not only great at enhancing flavor, they also carry a number of health benefits of their own. Since they taste great, this makes it easy to add a healthy kick to nearly every meal you eat!
Source: churnas.com
Coconut and Almond Fudge
Coconut and almonds go beautifully to create a fudge that melts in your mouth. The best part? They fit almost every diet. They are grain free, gluten free and vegan.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup coconut butter
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
Preparation:
In a saucepan , combine all the ingredients. Stir on medium heat until everything is combined. Pour into molds and store in the fridge to set. Yields 15. These should take 1-2 hours to set up in the freezer. Enjoy!
Note: I used chocolate molds to set my fudge, but mini muffin cups would work great too! If using mini muffin cups, please use a paper or silicone wrappers so they can be easily removed.
Source: My Whole Food Life
Almond Coconut Fudge
Almond Coconut Fudge isn’t only a delicate blend of sweet and savory, proteins and carbs, it is also specially formulated to keep your metabolism strong. Cinnamon and ginger not only stimulate digestion and improve absorption, they also stimulate your “agni” – your body’s natural umphh – to keep your energy levels strong. Plus, cinnamon helps to regulate the blood sugar levels.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup Almond Butter
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tbsp Coconut Oil
- 1/4 tsp Ginger (dried, powdered)
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 pinch Salt (Mineral Salt is best)
Preparation:
Place all ingredients in a bowl and mash together until thoroughly mixed. The fudge will harden in the fridge, or retain a soft consistency at room temperature.
Source: Joyful Belly
Roasted Rice with Dates, Cinnamon and Cardamom
This is a decadent dish to serve your loved one on a sweet evening in! Lovely as a side dish for Mediterranean lamb dishes, any number of vegetables, or even as a sweet dessert, you can’t pass this recipe up!
In Ayurveda, the word for juicy, sensual vitality is “ojas.” Some special foods have lots of ojas, and, as it happens, you can eat them if you feel the need to increase your sense of vitality and juiciness. (There are probably not many people who don’t yearn for that sweet sensuality in life.) In the ancient texts of Ayurveda, Ojas is said to have the smell of toasted rice. The main two ingredients in this recipe, dates and rice, increase ojas in your body, thereby giving you a healthy, happy glow.
Roasted Rice with Dates, Cinnamon and Cardamom is very easy to digest. It’s even perfect for those who are recovering from illnesses or suffering from weak digestion. Sometimes, feeling rundown leaves us feeling sad – this recipe is the remedy for both! The soft, soothing nature of rice and dates will calm your belly and help you feel strong and stable.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Basmati Rice
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Cardamom
- 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
- 4 whole Dates (dried)
- 1 tbsp Ghee
- 2 pinches Salt (Mineral Salt is best)
- 3 cups Water
Preparation:
Chop dates. Heat a medium saucepan on low, and add ghee. When it melts, add uncooked rice. Stir continually for 2-5 minutes, until it smells sweet and all the rice is coated with ghee. Add the spices and dates. Stir for one more minute. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover pot and lower to a simmer. Cook until rice is tender about twenty minutes.
Source: Joyful Belly
Spiced Milk and Honey Tonic
The secret to restoring healthy breathing is found in this spiced tea. Milk and honey are demulcents that coat dry, irritated respiratory passages. These coating properties also help you expectorate mucus lodged in the lungs. Spices in this tea liquefy mucous, so it flows freely, flushing out pathogens along the way. Finally, the warmth encourages sinuses to dilate, so you can breath easy. For added respiratory support, add 1 teaspoon of ghee to your hot milk.
Ingredients:
- 1 leaves Bay Leaf
- 3/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 3/4 tsp Cardamom
- 1 pinch Cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp Ginger (Dried)
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 pinch Star Anise
Preparation:
Bring milk to medium heat and, lower heat to a gentle simmer and add all spices. Cook for 5 minutes stirring frequently. If the milk becomes foamy, lower heat quickly or remove completely. Milk easily boils over the side of the pan when it gets too hot. It should look shiny on the surface with tiny bubbles. Remove from heat and add honey to taste.
Source: Joyful Belly
Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea
Warm and relaxing. Aromatic cardamom balances the grounding tones of nutmeg and poppy seeds. This recipe is a gentle sedative if you are having a hard time falling asleep. Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea will gently lull you into a comforting dreamscape.
Ground-up poppy seeds create an oil-rich paste that is dark & earthy, a substance that embodies night’s stillness and nurturing yin. Aromatic cardamom and heating honey moves soothing warmth throughout your tired body. When steeped in rich whole milk, this tea becomes the soothing restorative you’ve been dreaming of for ages. The next time you can’t sleep, pull on your favorite slippers, shuffle to the kitchen, and make a cup of Poppy Seed Sleepy Time Tea. You’ll be drifting off to dreamland in no time.
Ingredients:
- 2 pinches Cardamom
- 1 tsp Honey
- 1 cup Milk
- 1 pinch Nutmeg
- 3/4 tsp Poppy Seed
Preparation:
Grind the poppy seeds in a coffee grinder or pulverize with a mortar and pestle. Add to a small saucepan with 8-12 ounces of milk. Boil for twenty minutes. Add honey, ground cardamom and nutmeg, and serve.
Source: Joyful Belly
Potatoes with Lemon & Thyme
Warming lemon and pungent thyme with tender potatoes – delicious and good for you.
Ingredients:
- 1 leaves Bay Leaf
- 2 pinches Black Pepper
- 1/2 whole Lemon
- 2 whole Potatoes
- 2 pinches Salt (Mineral Salt is best)
- 1 tbsp Sunflower Oil
- 1 tsp Thyme (fresh)
Preparation:
Skin potatoes. Put potato, salt, bay leaf, and black pepper in a pot with 1 cup water. Steam covered until potatoes are tender. Cut into bite sized chunks and saute in sunflower oil. Chop thyme and sprinkle over just as potatoes begin to brown. Remove from heat, garnish with lemon juice and mix gently.
Source: Joyful Belly
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I think it's time to go shopping... maybe even buy some really cool stuff at my online shops!!
