How to Make Tea

 Lavender : Traditionally used to calm the nervous system, relieve headache muscular tension and anxiety. It is considered a sedative, calming, digestion enhancing and uplifting herb.

Chamomile : It settles digestion, nervous system and soothes mental and physically inability. 

 I love the idea of making your own tea blend it is so therapeutic and a nice way to get to know your herbs and try new flavours . This is a beautiful blend of lavender and chamomile flowers. It is specific for stress, anxiety and calming the nervous system. 

 Once you have combined the tea put on a medium heat for about 10 mins.

 Strain through a strainer

 Pour into cup and enjoy the calming tea blend

Also I am now on tumblr check it out here tandspice,tumblr 

Barley and Lamb Soup

My very own immune boosting soup. This soup I choose to do from simple run of the mil ingredients to show how you can create a delicious healthy meal that will help boost immunity and nourish you. 

We seem to have lost the knowledge about making bone broths. Bone broths are on of the most nutrient dense and healing super foods out there.  Remember your mum making you chicken soup and how good you felt afterwards. That wasn't just placebo, that was because the bones were cooked for hours and realeasing all the beautiful nutrients. Bone broths help with digestion, mineral absorption and overall gut health. It also contains proteins that help promote collagen regeneration, this helps with skins, hair and nails health. The longer you cook the bones the better; that way you get all the benefits. I always have some bones in the freezer to add to soups and stocks. This creates a gelatine that is nourishing for your digestive tract.

The apple cider vinegar and salt help extract the minerals from the bone. If you dont have either add some lemon juice but salt is really best for this one. It also gives a beautiful flavour. 

Ingredients

2 lamb shanks

1 cup of soaked barley 

1 large carrot or 2 small ones

2 potato

1 white onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 tsp of salt
Cracked pepper to taste

1 tsp of apple cider vinager

1 liter of water or homemade vegetable stock

Method

1. Soak barley overnight in a flat bowl, see how here.

2. Chop all the vegetables into pieces.
3. Get a large pot with a lid and add all the garlic and onions, simmer for a few seconds and then add the rest of the ingredients except the barley.
4. Simmer for 4 to 6 hours on a medium heat adding in the barley about 3 hours in. Add salt and pepper if needed.
5. This is great to make at the beginning and keep in the fridge for dinner for a couple of nights.

Kefir

I love kefir its is so good for you and has so many health benefits. Kefir is a powerful probiotic made by fermenting raw milk. It is abundant in beneficial yeast and bacteria. It has proven to give superior health benefits if consumed on a regular basis. It contains essential amino acids and is extremely high in protein. The protein is kefir is easily digested and is easy utilised in the body.

 Kefir is rich in Vitamin B12, B1, and Vitamin K. It is an excellent source of biotin, a B Vitamin which aids the body’s assimilation of other B Vitamins, such as folic acid, pantothenic acid, and B12. A diet high in B vitamins are essential for regulation of the kidneys, liver and nervous system to increase energy levels and promote a long and healthy life.

The taste is quite tangy but you will get use to it. It can then be used in smoothies, drunk on its own and a topping for fruits. Because of its high protein content it has be consumed after a workout. With so many health benefits you will wonder how you survived without it. 

What you need to do is find kefir grains from a health food shop or you can order them online. If you have a friend who is already making kefir im sure they will give you some as these little things grow very fast. The grains look like soft cauliflower and will grow as you use them. 

You then place the grains in a jar

Make sure to use raw milk as it has not been pasteurised or homogenised thereofre the kefir grain can thrive from the bacteria. Pour the milk over the grains and let it ferment overnight. In the morning its ready to use for your breakfast.

Make your own rice milk

Making your own rice milk is super easy and inexpensive. When trying to avoid dairy it can be quite confusing on where to start and what to do. With all the new research emerging about soy milk  I would avoid it at all costs. Soy can cause hormone related risks and unless prepared properly is dangerous to the body. 

Rice is not high in protein so should not substitute soy or dairy for its protein content. Its a light refreshing drink that can be added to smoothies, porridge or drunk on its own. 

What to do

Rince 1 cup of rice

Put the rice into a blender

Add 2 cups of water and vanilla extract

Blend till smooth

Strain through a muslin cloth

And it's ready drink!


If you want to flavour it you can add a banana or some agave nectar for sweetness but I think it is sweet enough on its own.

Autumn Blues

In this kind of weather it is important to keep your selve hydrated and warm to protect your selve from cold and flues. What I love to do in the weather is make a big pot of herbal tea and sip on it all day. Choose a tea you love and enjoy that way you will want to drink it. We have been drinking tea for thousands of years because of it's known health benefits. This tea I absolutely love and it has a beautiful calming affect on the body. It tea can be found at  Ovvio Organics I recommend trying one of her teas they are all amazing.

And finally a little quote I found that says it all:

"Tea is liquid wisdom."  ~Anonymous

Shopping

Find a local organic grocer, its important to include as much organic food into the diet as possible. This was you reduce the build up of pesticides, herbicides and other nastys in the body. Get to know your grocer and ask them where the food is coming from its important that you know what you are putting in your body. Here are some pictures of one of my favourite stores.

Home made vegetable stock

Most conventional stocks are high in salt and sugar as well as other additives. Your own homemade stock is so easy and you are left with a nutrient dense liquid. Here is a simple way to do it your self and add flavour to any meal.

First of all when you are cooking throw any scraps into a bag, this includes the peels, skins, trimming of any vegetable. Dont throw anything out. You can put the skins of garlic, the ends of broccoli bunches, the stalks of herbs, pea shells.... anything!

I dont put any red cabbage or beetroot scraps as it will make everything red and the peels of potatoes because its to dirty. Keep filling up the bag until you have enough to make a stock.

When the bag if full empty into a large stockpot and cover with water. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 2-3 hours you can add any spices you like, as well a heap of salt and pepper. I usually put lots of garlic, ginger and onion and well as fresh herbs. I add any herbs that have seen better days to, as this prevents wastage. 

After it has cooled drain the stock into a big bowl over the sink.

 And there you have it your own stock! This can be used straight away or frozen for later use. I usually have at least one in the freezer in for those meals that need a little extra.