Monday, December 14, 2009

GINGERBREAD PEOPLE- WHEAT AND WHEAT FREE



The idea of eating Gingerbread at Christmas time comes from Germany, primarily because at one stage Germany was the centre of the spice trade market and ginger was in abundance, but more romantically because ginger was good for the body and the medieval women used to give it their knights as a sign of their love!


Now gingerbread has a place in the westernized world, hence these recipes today. One traditional, one wheat free and two RAW! Hope that you enjoy!!




GINGERBREAD PEOPLE-Wheat



  • 125g organic butter, at room temperature

  • 60ml (1/2 cup) organic honey/molasses

  • 2 tbs raw organic sugar

  • 300g (2 cups)Wholemeal organic plain flour, sifted

  • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

  • 1 tbs organic ground ginger

  • 1 tsp organic mixed spice

  • 1/4 tsp organic ground cloves

  • 1 free range egg white

  • 150g (1 cup) pure organic icing sugar

  • 2-3 tsp fresh organic lemon juice

  • Pure icing sugar, extra




  1. Use an electric beater to beat the butter, honey and sugar until pale and creamy. Add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, ginger, mixed spice and cloves, and stir until well combined. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead gently until smooth. Press into a disc. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 1 hour to rest.

  2. Preheat oven to 160°C. Line 3 large baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until 5mm thick. Use an 8cm-long bell-shaped biscuit cutter to cut bells from the dough. Place on the lined trays. Use a clean drinking straw to cut a hole from the top of each bell. Bake in oven for 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

  3. Whisk the egg white in a bowl until foamy. Gradually whisk in the icing sugar until well combined. Gradually add the lemon juice, stirring until a smooth paste forms.

  4. Use a palette knife to spread half the icing over half the biscuits. Add enough extra icing sugar to the remaining icing mixture, stirring, until a firm paste forms. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a 2mm plain nozzle. Decorate the remaining bells with different designs, such as dots, stripes and snowflake patterns. Set aside until set.

GINGERBREAD PEOPLE-WHEAT FREE


½ cup brown rice flour ½ cup barley flour ¼ tsp bicarb soda ½ tsp cream of tartar ½-1 tsp organic ground ginger ½ cup pecans ground till oily 1 tbsp organic and raw honey 1 tbs organic maple syrup 2 tbs organic orange juice 2 tsps organic grated orange rind




Sift the dry ingredients. Rub in the ground nuts. Add honey, maple syrup, orange juice and orange rind. Knead lightly and divide in halves. Roll out thinly on a floured board. Cut into shapes. Place on a lightly greased tray and bake for 15-20 mins in a moderate ove. Makes 2 doz thinly rolled cookies or 5 x 13cm thick men.


This recipe is from Recipes to the Rescue,J Bonner, L Kingsmill and S Morrow




GINGERBREAD COOKIES-RAW



1 cup ORGANIC Coconut pulp or shredded coconut
1 cup Ground walnuts
10 organic Dates
1/2 cup Ground flax seeds
1/2 tsp. organic Vanilla
1/4 tsp. organic Nutmeg
1/4 tsp. organic Cloves
1 Tbs. organic Cinnamon
Pinch Salt
1 Tbs. organic Shredded Ginger

Puree all of this in the food processor. You may need to stop the machine and mash the mixture down and re-pulse it.
Then form your cookies onto the teflex sheets and dehydrate for around 10 hrs or so, maybe longer. This recipe


Or for raw to eat right now


1/4 c flax seeds & grind
1/4 c walnuts (or pecans)
1/3 c almond meal (or 1/3 c whole raw almonds that you grind)
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ground Ginger (or fresh ginger if you have it)
1 Tsp Mixed Spice (a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, lemon peel, & cardamom)
3 Tbsp Agave




Form dough into Balls & Refrigerate. The more days/time that elapses that the dough stays in the fridge, the dryer it will naturally become... YUM

ORGANIC EMPIRE, organic home delivery melbourne, local organic foods

SICK OF BEING TIRED






Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?



Do you jump out of bed every morning with a spring in your step? Or do you drag your body out of bed and struggle through your day? With our stressful, busy lives, many people are tired. However, for an increasing number of people, persistent unremitting tiredness is a major problem. If you have to drag yourself out of bed and struggle through your day, then you may benefit from some natural supplements to help give you an energy boost.






What causes fatigue?



Things that may lead to fatigue include



• Low iron levels



• Inflammation



• Infection



• Hormonal imbalances



• Digestion and liver issues



• Excess body fat



• Unstable blood sugars



• Stress and mood changes



As you can see, there are multiple reasons why you may feel fatigued. A common reason people get fatigued is poor energy production. To keep your energy levels up, you need to ensure that all your body systems are in balance and working effectively. You also need to make sure that the energy centres of every cell in your body, the mitochondria, are working effectively.






The energy "powerhouses" – the mitochondria



Every cell in your body contains energy centres known as the mitochondria, which require certain nutrients to work efficiently. No matter what else is going on in your body, if mitochondrial function is impaired, you will have reduced energy production. Support of healthy mitochondrial function is essential for optimising your energy levels. If you experience fatigue, improving mitochondrial function is an important first step toward improving your energy levels.






Would you like to know the key to unlocking the energy centres in your body?



Nutrients are the key to increasing energy in your body, as they are used to support the mitochondria. The important nutrients required include coenzyme Q10, N-Acetyl Carnitine, lipoic acid & magnesium. These nutrients are helpful in the management of fatigue as they enhance cellular energy production in one of the following ways: by transporting dietary fats directly into the mitochondria to be broken down and burnt as fuel for energy production, by crossing the blood brain barrier to assist with mental fatigue, by converting carbohydrates and proteins into energy whilst protecting the mitochondria from damage (as it is a potent antioxidant), by providing integrity and stability of the mitochondrial membrane in the body, by stimulating the growth and size of the mitochondria, along with helping to lower stress levels, which overall can contribute to higher energy levels.






Five key steps to get you bouncing out of bed



To get you bouncing out of bed, first and foremost, you need to ensure that you lead a healthy life. By following these five simple steps, you will be on your way to better energy, and a new lease on life.



1. Get adequate, regular and consistent amounts of sleep each night.



2. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, organic where possible and drink plenty of water throughout the day.



3. Exercise regularly.



4. Learn better ways to relax.



5. Avoid stimulants or excess alcohol.






Optimising energy levels can significantly improve your quality of life and help you regain your enthusiasm for living. If fatigue is affecting your life, come in and see me to help you to determine which diet, lifestyle and nutrient factors are letting your body down and causing your fatigue.






MELBOURNE NATUROPATHIC WELLNESS
Marisa Camilleri - Naturopath
Melbourne Suite 15 / 12 Collins St 9663 5940
Williamstown 95 Douglas Parade 9397 7885
marisa@naturopathicwellness.com.au

www.naturopathicwellness.com.au






* Specialist in Fat Loss, Wellness & Preventative care * Naturopathy * Herbal Medicine * Homeopathy * Nutritional & dietary advice * Ear candling * Bioimpedance Analysis (BIA)

ORGANIC EMPIRE, organic home delivery melbourne, local organic foods