ginger and apple puree in glass jars displayed with apples

Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

Leave a comment December 10, 2021 jayjagger

Lovely Apple Puree with a Sweet Kick

Do you like apple puree but thought it could do with a bit of a re-vamp? Then here it is! This apple puree comes with a special warming ginger kick plus deliciously added sweetness from some succulent dried medjool dates. A super healthy go-to-snack when you need that little pick me up but don’t want to grab that naughty chocolate bar. Apple puree is also a great winter-warming snack for your kids or delicious as an after dinner or lunch dessert that won’t leave you feeling guilty.

Adrenal Healing ?

This Apple Puree is not only delicious it’s also good for your Adrenals & Your happy Hormones

The combination of ingredients in this puree delivers the right balance of glucose (apple), sodium (celery) and potassium (date) that your body needs in order to prevent blood sugar dips that force your adrenals to fill in and release adrenaline. Eating the right kind of snacks every few hours helps to restore your adrenals and brings your stress hormones back into balance. Click here for more info on adrenal snacks and adrenal health.

Dates are not only packed with potassium. Dates also contain phyto-hormones that resemble oxytocin, the ‘tend and befriend hormone’. Chewing dates slowly can thus calm you down and cheer you up in stressful situations. Date sugars also contain more complex carbohydrates than other fruits. These complex carbohydrates take longer to digest. Because of this they release their energy more slowly into your body and curb your appetite longer than simple sugars.

Feeling Vata: This is a very good snack for you, feel free to eat it a few times during the day. Especially if you are very Vata or if you’re adrenals are exhausted (adrenal fatigue, etc.). If you feel very Vata you can omit the celery and replace with half a sweet potatoe (cooked). Soak your dates before cooking.

Feeling Pitta: This snack works well for you. Leave it as it is, but ensure the apple is sweet and not sour and the dates have been soaked prior to using

Feeling Kapha: Dates can aggravate an already heavy Kapha. Simply make this recipe without the dates.

Healing Recipe

Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

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Apple & Ginger Puree – Adrenal Healing Snack

Do you like apple puree but thought it could do with a bit of a re-vamp? Then here it is! This apple puree comes with a warming ginger kick and a very delicious sweetness from the added dates. A super healthy go-to-snack when you need that little pick me up but don’t want to grab that naughty chocolate bar. Apple puree is also a great winter-warming snack for your kids or delicious as an after dinner or lunch dessert that won’t leave you feeling guilty.

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Prep Time 3

Cook Time 15

Course Dessert, Snack

Servings 1

Ingredients

1 medium apple chopped
1 thumb size knob of fresh ginger chopped
2 medium dates chopped
half a teapsoon of cinnamon optional
half a stalk of celery chopped
1 tsbp of maple syrup optional
2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

Add the chopped apple to a heavy bottom sauce-pan and turn to medium to high heat. Add one or two tablespoons of water and start cooking.
Add the chopped dates.
Add the chopped celery stalk.
Cook on medium to high heat with a lid on between 10 – 15 minutes until the apples are well cooked and a bit mushy.
Once cooked turn off the heat and let cool down for a few minutes.
Add the apples, dates & celery mix to a high-speed blender. Add the chopped ginger.
Add the lemon juice.
Blend on high-speed until you have a creamy mix.
Optional: add a spoonful of maple syrup for some added sweetness.
Optional: add half a teaspoon of cinammon.

Notes

Store in an air-tight glass jar. Keeps in the fridge for a few days.

Keyword apple, celery, dates, dessert, ginger, puree, snack, sweets

Contact Me

mail@sarahjayhealing.com

Bombtastically Sweet Yet Healthy Smoothie Goodness

Leave a comment December 10, 2020 jayjagger

This green smoothie will land in your mouth like a bomb and you will be so pleased it did! It tastes so good you’ll wonder what’s the catch.
Well, let me tell you there ain’t one. Just happy cleansing veggies, sweet fruity energy for your liver and absolutely no nasties! Turn it up, get stuck in and ENJOY your green Godess of Love.

I love this smoothie as a great mid-day pick-me up when I’m having that afternoon slump. Instead of a coffee I’ll make myself this yummy potion and BAM, I am revived and ready to get on cracking with my day.

Key ingredients:

Dates: high in potassium, vitamin A and fibre, dates boost energy naturally. Use dates during the day as great pick me up instead of greabbing a coffee or caffeinated tea. Great for people with anemia, a handful of dates a day can help: only a handful contains around 1mg of this necessary mineral.

Celery: celery and celery juice like in this smoothie has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Plus its super high mineral content is a super-bug cleanser, cleansing through your digestive tract like its no tomorrow. Whilst at the same time providing healing to the sensitive lining of your digestive tract.

Spirulina: spirulina is my go to natural multi-vitamin. It’s more nutrient dense than any other plant on the planet boosting a variety of vitamins and minerals. It’s also brim packed with protein and B12, which makes it a great food for anyone on a vegetarian and especially vegan diet. On top of that spirulina is a great detoxifier, cleansing your body of nasty heavy metals and even radiation. Organic hawain grown spirulina is the best quality you should look out for.

ayurveda scales balance vata pitta kapha

Vata: This smoothie is great for you, just make sure you soak the dates and that you stew your fruits properly.

Pitta: Enjoy this smoothie but leave out the following ingredients: banana and spinach. Simply use more mango and more leafy greens of your choice instead.

Kapha: You can enjoy this smoothie but leave out the banana and the dates. If very heavy in kapha omit the mango also You can use two apples instead of just one, and load up on double the greens.

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Bombtastically Sweet – Yet Healthy Smoothie Godess

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Yield: 1 Large Glass

Bombtastically Sweet - Yet Healthy Smoothie Godess

This green smoothie will land in your mouth like a bomb and you will be so pleased it did; and it tastes so good you'll wonder what's the catch.... well, let me tell you there ain't one. Just happy cleansing veggies, sweet fruity energy for your liver and absolutely no nasties! Turn it up, get stuck in and ENJOY your green Godess of Love.

I love this smoothie as a great mid-day pick-me up when I'm having that afternoon slump. Instead of a coffee I'll make myself this yummy potion and BAM, I am revived and ready to get on cracking with my day.

Ingredients

1 x large banana (or 2 small ones), chopped
2 x dates (soaked in water for at least 8 hours), chopped
half a mango (I usually have sliced frozen mango from the supermarket in the freezer, and use a good handful of cubes), chopped
half an apple, chopped
2 x celery stalks
handful of spinach
handful of leafy greens that I have at hand (lettuce, lambs lettuce, kale, spinach, etc.)
handful of fresh coriander leaves
1 x teaspoon spirulina powder (or 3-4 tablets)
1 x tablespoon good quality organic barley grass powder
2 x tablespoons of shredded coconut
1 x thumb-nail size pice of ginger
1 x teaspoon full of raw honey
half a teaspoon of date syrup
sprinkle of sea salt
optional: dash of cinnamon
optional: dash of ground cardamom

Instructions

Start by adding the chopped banana, the mango pieces, the dates and the chopped apple to a heavy bottom sauce pan. Add a little water to cover the bottom. Cover and cook on low heat for about 10 to 15 minutes or until all the fruit is cooked through, especially the apple.
Once the fruit pieces are cooked through, take them from the pan and add to a high-speed blender or a smoothie maker and blend on high.
Then add all the remaining ingredients (these stay all raw, only the fruit gets cooked) to the cooked fruit mix in the blender, again blend on high and Voila - ready is your greeny godess smoothie.
Serve in a nice, large glass, drizzle with some date syrup: ENJOY!

Stewed apples and pears with star anise cinnamon and syrup

Stewed Apples & Pears With Star Anise & Cinnamon

Leave a comment October 21, 2020 jayjagger

These simple stewed apples and pears are a nice alternative to a grainy breakfast that is easy to make and wipped up in minutes.

Simple but good is what this breakfast provides. It’s a nice alternative to a breakfast full of grains, and even though it’s only fruits, I feel this breakfast always fills me up nicely until mid-day. Cooking time and prep doesn’t take long, which is always a winner in the morning. I usually get up, chop my fruits and cook them on a low heat while I jump into the shower. Out the shower: voila – breakfast is ready!

Cooking your fruits slowly is important:

Stewing your fruits is best when you add a little water and or lemon juice to the bottom of the pan. Heat the fruits on low heat and cook slowly, stirring frequently if you can. This way you’re breaking down the fibre slowly and by not overheating keeping those important health benefits that you want from the fruit.

If you cook fruit too hot and too quickly. you’ll loose lots of the vitamins and minerals by destroying them in the fast and hot heat. Therefor go steady and take your time, leaving a lid on whilst your stewing your fruit slowly bit surely.

Feeling Vata: add some lemon juice to the pot when you start cooking the fruits. Experiment with adding some freshly chopped ginger and more warming spices such as cinnamon and cardamom.

Feeling Pitta: sweet fruits for breakfast work well for you. Enjoy!

Feeling Kapha: If you’re Kapha is very strong, I’d avoid sweet fruits for breakfast as this can make you tired and lethargic. However if you want to go for it, add at least a thumb sized knob of ginger (minced) when cooking your fruits and add more cinnamon and cardamom to boost that metabolism of yours.

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Stewed Apples and Pears with Star Anise and Cinnamon

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Yield: 1 Bowl

Stewed Apples and Pears with Star Anise and Cinnamon

Simple but good is what this breakfast provides. It's a nice alternative to a breakfast full of grains, and even though it's only fruits, I feel this breakfast always fills me up nicely until mid-day. Cooking time and prep doesn't take long, which is always a winner in the morning. I usually get up, chop my fruits and cook them on a low heat while I jump into the shower. Out the shower: voila - breakfast is ready!

Ingredients

1-2 apples, depending on your appetite, diced
1-2 pears, depending on your appetite, diced
5 whole cloves
about 60ml water
1 x star anise
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
maple or date syrup to serve
optional: oat or millet porridge

Instructions

Add the apples and pears to a small heavy bottom sauce-pan, together with the cloves, water and star anise, and bring slowly to a boil.
Then turn heat down to a low and simmer, lid on, for about 10 minutes or until the fruits have reached their desired consistency. I like it very soft!
Add the cinnamon, and take off the heat. Let cool for about 10 minutes, than serve.
Optional: cook yourself some nice oat or millet porridge, than topp with your stewed fruits, drizzle with syrup and serve, voila!

Notes

Feel free to experiment and add dried fruits such as raisins, figs and dates (etc. ) to the mix (soaked overnight is always best for all three doshas when using dried fruits).

amaranth porrdige with pears and dried fruits

Amaranth Porridge With Pears and Dried Fruits

Leave a comment October 20, 2020 jayjagger

Amaranth porridge is a great alternative to oats or millet and can be a great substitue for those who can’t digest traditional grains or other psyeudo grains very well.

Amaranth is great for Kapha and Pitta types. Vata’s should try it out and mix with extra oil and sweet tastes to combat the very astringent and dry nature of amaranth. Amaranth ‘s astringent taste helps to dry up excess dampness and mucus in Kapha’s system. This benefits the lungs and respiratory system.

Amaranth is completly gluten free. It also has a cooling effect on hot Pitta types. Vata’s should avoid Amaranth as it’s too light for already light and airy Vata. Amaranth is very high in protein (30% more protein than rice), and contains four times as much calcium as wheat. It is also high in magnesium and manganese. Amaranth’s astringent taste is often balanced with oily, sweet, sour and salty ingredients. Vata’s can try this breakfast by adding plenty of coconut or olive oil, and adding sweet fruits, and extra salt if needed.

Feeling Vata: try out this breakfast by adding a dollop of coconut oil and a bit more salt to taste before you serve. Sweet pears and soaked dry fruits are all fine for you. If you’re feeling very Vata swap the amaranth with simple and plain porridge oats.

Feeling Pitta: you do well on this breakfast, just ensure that the fruits you add are sweet and avoid all sour fruits.

Feeling Kapha: amaranth is great for you, but you don’t do so well on an overload of sweet fruits. Leave out the dry fruits and simply make this breakfast with pears and raisins. You can also add more ginger and cinnamon if you feel you need that extra kick in the morning,

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Amaranth Porridge with Pears and Dried Fruits

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Amaranth Porridge with Pears and Dried Fruits

Amaranth porrdige is a great alternative to oats or millet, and can feel less heavy for those who feel traditional porridge might be too filling or too heavy on the gut. Amaranth is great for Kapha and Pitta types. Vata's should try it out and mix with extra oil and sweet tastes to combat the very astringent and dry nature of amaranth.

Amaranth ‘s astringent taste helps to dry up excess dampness and mucus in Kapha’s system. This benefits the lungs and respiratory system. Amaranth is completly gluten free. It also has a cooling effect on hot Pitta types. Vata’s should avoid Amaranth as it’s too light for already light and airy Vata. Amaranth is very high in protein (30% more protein than rice), and contains four times as much calcium as wheat. It is also high in magnesium and manganese. Amaranth’s astringent taste is often balanced with oily, sweet, sour and salty ingredients. Vata’s can try this breakfast by adding plenty of coconut or olive oil, and adding sweet fruits, and extra salt if needed.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1 x cup amaranth flakes (or whole amaranth soaked over night)
1 x cup oat milk (I use oatly's organic as it's the only oat-milk I know that doesn't contain any extra added oils. Most oat-milks contain added sunflower or other fats. Try and find one without, it's better for your health!)
1 and a 1/2 x cups of water
1/2 x teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 x teaspoon turmeric (curcuma)
seeds of 2 x cardamom pods, ground in pestle and mortar
1.5 cm of fresh ginger, minced
1 and 1/2 x tablespoons maple syrup to taste
1 x pinch of salt
freh pepper to taste
2 x medium sized pears, diced
1 x teaspoon vanilla extract (try finding one without alcohol)
1 x teaspoon cinnamon
handful or more of dried fruits of your choice, soaked over night

Instructions

Add all ingredients (apart from the pears, the cinnamon, and the vanilla extract) to a medium sized sauce-pan, and simmer for 5 minutes with the lid on.
Then add the chopped pears and cook slowly on a low to medium heat, whilst stirring every now and then, for about 10-15 minutes. Keep adding water if mixture gets to dry.
Add the vanilla and the cinnamon and cook for another few minutes.
Then add the raisins to the pot and slowly mix through.
Take off the heat, then serve with maple syrup and extra cinnamon.
Voila!

warm amaranth breakfast bowl with apples and raisins

Warming Amaranth Bowl With Apples & Raisins

Leave a comment October 20, 2020 jayjagger

If oats, millet and Co. are not for you, or you simply want a bit of a change to your morning breakfast routine, try out some amaranth porridge for breakfast. It’s light and dry nature makes it an ideal grain for the Kapha dosha.
Amaranth ‘s astringent taste helps to dry up excess dampness and mucus in Kapha’s system. This benefits the lungs and respiratory system. Amaranth is completly gluten free. It also has a cooling effect on hot Pitta types. Vata’s should avoid Amaranth as it’s too light for already light and airy Vata.
Amaranth is very high in protein (30% more protein than rice), and contains four times as much calcium as wheat. It is also high in magnesium and manganese. Amaranth’s astringent taste is often balanced with oily, sweet, sour and salty ingredients. Vata’s can try this breakfast by adding plenty of coconut or olive oil, and adding sweet fruits, and salt for example.

Feeling Vata: you can try if this recipee works for you by adding coconut oil or olive oil, adding more salt and adding plenty of soaked raisins, figs or dates, and more of the sweet apple. Or simply cook this recipee but use oats instead of the amaranth.

Feeling Pitta: this is a great breakfast for you as amaranth is pacifying for Pittas. Raisins and sweet apples work well for you too, so it’s a WINNER!

Feeling Kapha: amaranth’s astringent nature is a superb psydo-grain for Kapha’s as it drys up excess mucus and helps remove Kapha’s excess dampness. Apples and raisins are fine for you too.

Weekly Recipe

Warming Amaranth Bowl with Apples & Raisins

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Yield: 1 Bowl

Warming Amaranth Bowl with Apples & Raisins

If oats, millet and Co. are not for you, or you simply want a bit of a change to your morning breakfast routine, try out some amaranth porridge for breakfast. It's light and dry nature makes it an ideal grain for the Kapha dosha.
Amaranth 's astringent taste helps to dry up excess dampness and mucus in Kapha's system. This benefits the lungs and respiratory system. Amaranth is completly gluten free. It also has a cooling effect on hot Pitta types. Vata's should avoid Amaranth as it's too light for already light and airy Vata.
Amaranth is very high in protein (30% more protein than rice), and contains four times as much calcium as wheat. It is also high in magnesium and manganese. Amaranth's astringent taste is often balanced with oily, sweet, sour and salty ingredients. Vata's can try this breakfast by adding plenty of coconut or olive oil, and adding sweet fruits, and salt for example.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Ingredients

1/2 x cup amaranth, soaked in water over night
1 x full apple, diced
1/2 x teaspoon cardamom
1/4 x cup raisins, soaked over night
1/4 x teaspoon salt
1 x cup of water
maple syrup to serve
fresh figs or other fruit to garnish

Instructions

Chop the apple into small pieces.
Heat 1-2 tablespoons of water in a medium sized sauce pan.
Add the cardamom and cinnamom and mix well with the water.
Then add all remaining ingredients (apart from the water) and mix well, whilst still heating on a medium heat.
Then add the water and bring to the boil. Turn down heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the amaranth becomes light and fluffy. Keep stirring every now and then, as amaranth can stick and burn quickly at the bottom of the pan!
Serve with extra cinnamon, maple syrup, and garnish with fresh figs or other stewed or fresh fruit.

Yummy Breakfast Compote

Leave a comment October 16, 2020 jayjagger

This delicate bowl of stewed fruits, seeds and warming spices is very deceptive in its actual breakfast prowess. Can just stewed fruits and seeds fill you up enough for the morning? YES. THEY CAN.
An absolute great addition to your breakfast repertoire, this bowl of yummy goodness won’t disappoint. Brimming with vitamins and minerals, high in antioxidants and gut cleansing seeds, this breakfast is a must for anyone who wants to start their day healthy and clean, but not skim on the taste in any way. If you’re doing a cleanse, you can simply leave out the seeds and add more apples and bananas instead to bulk out the breakfast and not go hungry.

Feeling Vata: This is a great breakfast for you. Experiment with adding other sweet fruits that you like, such a mangos, or add soaked raisins and dates. You also do well by eating this breakfast as warm as possible. If you use nuts for sprinkling you do best with re-activated nuts (soaked then roasted).

Feeling Pitta: If you’re feeling very Pitta leave out the Banana (you can replace with Mango instead or simply omit). Chia can sometimes aggravate Pitta’s. If you feel that’s the case simply replace the chia seeds with more flax seeds. Topp your compote with soaked & roasted Almonds.

Feeling Kapha: Avoid the Banana and use fresh apples that have a nice astringent taste. Use more chia and less of the flax seeds. Experiment with extra warming spices such as ginger, allspice, anise. Avoid topping with nuts.

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Yummy Breakfast Compote

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Yield: 1 Portion

Yummy Breakfast Compote

This delicate bowl of stewed fruits, seeds and warming spices is very deceptive in its actual breakfast prowess. Can just stewed fruits and seeds fill you up enough for the morning? YES. THEY CAN.

An absolute great addition to your breakfast repertoire, this bowl of yummy goodness won't disappoint. Brimming with vitamins and minerals, high in antioxidants and gut cleansing seeds, this breakfast is a must for anyone who wants to start their day healthy and clean, but not skim on the taste in any way.

If you're doing a cleanse, you can simply leave out the seeds and add more apples and bananas instead to bulk out the breakfast and not go hungry.

Ingredients

1 x thumb size fresh ginger root, chopped
juice of half a lemon
1 x Banana, chopped
1 x Apple or Pear (or both), chopped
1-2 figs (optional), chopped
1-2 handfulls of blueberries (I use wild ones from frozen)
1 x teaspoon sunflower seeds (soaked over night if possible but also works without)
1 x teaspoon pumpkin seeds (soaked over night if possible but also works without)
2 x teaspoon flax seeds (soaked overnight if possible)
2 x teaspoons chia seeds (soaked over night if possible)
1 x teaspoon cinnamon powder
half a teaspoon cardamom powder

Instructions

Add a little water to the bottom of a medium sized saucepan.
Add the chopped ginger and set heat setting to medium.
Add all the chopped fruits and the frozen blueberries, leave heat on a medium, cover the pot and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally and until the fruits start to soften nicely.
Add the lemon juice, and all the seeds (flax, chia, pupkin and sunflower), plus the cinnamon and cardamom, and stir everything in. Lower the heat slightly to a low simmer and continue to cook with the lid on for abother 8 - 10 minutes.
If the mixture is bubbling too much when the lid is on, turn the heat a little bit lower. You want to stew the fruit mixture slowly and not over cook it.
Cook like this until all the fruits are nicely cooked and the whole mixture has a nice and gooey consistency.
Take the pot of the heat and let the mixture sit and cool down for about 8 minutes with the lid on.
Pour the mixture into a bowl, sprinkle with roasted nuts of your choice, and VOILA, your yummy breakfast compote is at the ready.

NOTE: If on a cleanse, leave out all the seeds and simply stew the fruits with lemon juice, the ginger and spices. Add extra portions of fruits to make up for the lack of seeds.

Warm Carrot Cake Smoothie Bowl

Leave a comment September 25, 2020 jayjagger

This delicious grain-free smoothie bowl is super nourishing, especially on a cold winter’s day.
If fruits and smoothies are not your thing and you also don’t like ‘Porridge & Co’., try this bowl as a very healthy breakfast alternative. It’s also great for people who experience food allergies and sensitive bellies from grains and pseudo-grains, as this yummy bowl totally delivers as a filling meal that keeps you going all morning, completley grain-free.

Feeling Vata: Particularly great and grounding for Vata’s, this breakfast will soon become a staple in your morning routine once you’ve tried it.
Feeling Pitta: If your Pitta is high, reduce the ginger and the cardamom in this recipe. Skip the walnuts but topp with roasted almonds instead, or simply some toasted seeds.
Feeling Kapha: don’t use oil or any nuts and add a pinch of cayenne pepper or two to the mix, leave out the maple syrup and try adding more cinnamom and cardamom.

Weekly Recipe

Warm Carrot Cake Smoothie Bowl

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Yield: serves 1

Warm Carrot Cake Smoothie Bowl

This delicious grain-free smoothie bowl is super nourishing, especially on a cold winter's day. If fruits and smoothies are not your thing and you also don't like 'Porridge & Co'., try this bowl as a very healthy breakfast alternative. It's also great for people who experience food allergies and sensitive bellies from grains and pseudo-grains, as this yummy bowl totally delivers as a filling meal that keeps you going all morning, completley grain-free.

Ingredients

2 x medium sized carrots, chopped
1 x sweet potato, chopped into small pieces
2 x dates, dried (best soaked in water overnight)
250ml of water
1 x tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 x teaspoon fresh ginger, minced
seeds of 2 x cardamom pots, or alternatively 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
optional: 1/2 teaspoon orange extract or 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1 x pinch of salt
1 x teaspoon of olive oil (leave out if doing a cleanse)
handful of walnuts, soaked best overnight (leave out if doing a cleanse)

Instructions

Steam the carrots for 5-10 minutes until soft
Cook the sweetpotatoes until soft (usually between 15-20 minutes).
If you're not on a cleanse, roast the walnuts in a pan until fragrant
Once the vegetables are cooked, add the veg, the walnuts and the rest of the ingredients into a hight speed blender, and blend until smooth. Maybe add a little water if needed in case mixture is too thick (if on a cleanse leave out the nuts and the oil).
Taste and season with more cinnamon, maple syrup and salt, if needed.
If not on a cleanse, top with roasted nuts of your choice, edible flowers or toasted seeds suitable for your dosha.
ENJOY!

Cleansing & Warming Smoothie-Bowl

Leave a comment September 24, 2020 jayjagger

This smoothie bowl will warm you up nicely in the morning, giving your digestion a nice, gentle start to the day whilst at the same time cleansing your system of built-up toxins and filling you up with a great dose of antioxidants.

It might come as a suprise to you to stew and lightly cook the fruits in this smoothie first. After all, we’re so used to consuming smoothies and morning fruits raw and uncooked. Now trust me when I say that you will love this smoothie so much after you’ve eaten it a few times in the morning, you probably don’t want to go back to raw smoothies ever again! Especially if you have sensitive digestion or food allergies where many things can set you off and can trigger you, eating a cooked breakfast in the morning is a godsent. It gives your body the chance to warm up nicely, giving your digestion a gentle kick-start to the day, rather than dumping ice-cold fruits and juices from the fridge directly into your system. Think of your body like an engine of a car, it has to warm up first before it can start going. So does your body. Also, cooking food gently before you’re eating it helps your body to digest foods faster as it doesn’t need to invest so much energy to break them down. This in turn frees up more energy to be used elsewhere in your system: to fight inflammation, to heal, and to give you more energy during your day. Ayurveda really favors cooked over cold breakfasts, and especially for Vata and Kapha types, a cooked breakfast is a must.

Spirulina: super nutrient dense, I call Spirulina the best ‘natural Multi-Vit & Multi-Mineral’ available from the plant world today. High in B-Vitamins, Vit C, E and K, plus high in Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Manganese, Potassium and Zinc, what’s not to like. It’s also high in plant protein, so great for vegans and vegetarians that are keen to up their protein intake naturally. Spirulina also has the capability to draw out heavy-metal toxins from our tissues, liver and brain and is thus a great all-round morning addition to any breakfast smoothie.

Wheatgrass Juice: also very rich in vitamins and minerals, wheatgrass has the added benefit of being super high in chlorophyll. This makes it a great detoxifying agent and can therefor protect against abnormal cell growth also known as cancer. Also, wheatgrass has been shown to boost levels of glutathione, the body’s primary antioxidant. Glutathione is used by the liver in all of its detox duties.

Atlantic Dulse Flakes: super high in anti-oxidants, dulse flakes make a great anti-inflammatory, fighting disease causing free-radicals. Studies have also shown that dulse (and also kelp) can reduce toxic heavy metals and also clear radioactivity from the body.

Coriander (Cilantro): is a powerful anti-fungal, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory. In Aryurveda coriander is hailed for its cooling effects on the digestive tract, for calming the immune-system and rashes, and for being a mild diuretic that clears inflammation from the urinary tract. Even though it acts as being slightly drying, it does not aggravate the Vata constitution, and pacifies (calms) all the three doshas.

Feeling Vata: add more fresh ginger and try adding warming spices such as cinnamon and or cardamom to your smoothie.

Feeling Pitta: ease off on the ginger, and instead try adding more cooling herbs such as fresh mint and more coriander to your smoothie.

Feeling Kapha: give your metabolism that extra boost by adding a pinch or two of cayenne pepper, and experiment with adding some bitter greens such as dandelion to your smoothie.

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Cleansing & Warming Smoothie Bowl

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Yield: serves one

Cleansing & Warming Smoothie Bowl

This smoothie bowl will warm you up nicely in the morning, giving your digestion a nice, gentle start to the day whilst at the same time cleansing your system of built-up toxins and filling you up with a great dose of antioxidants.

Ingredients

2 x ripe bananas, chopped
2 x handfulls of wild blueberries (I usually buy these frozen from the organic store and always have some in the freezer)
1 x apple, chopped (optional)
half a mango, chopped (optional)
1 x teaspoon of fresh ginger, minced (optional)
half a teaspoon atlantic dulse flakes (if you don't like the taste of atlantic dulse you can simply buy some dulse flakes encapsulated and take them alongside the smoothie)
one orange, peeled
1 x teaspoon spirulina powder (if you don't like the taste of spirulina buy spirulina tablets and take them with your smoothie)
1 x teaspoon wheatgrass or barleygrass juice powder
1 x teaspoon fresh or dried coriander
optional: for additional sweetness you can add a teaspoon of raw honey.

Instructions

Add a little bit of water to a heavy bottom sauce pan
Add the banana, apple (if using) & mango (if using) and the minced fresh ginger to the pan, cover and simmer on low heat for about 5-10 minutes, so that the fruits are stewing nicely and slowly and don't get overcooked or burned.
When the fruits are stewed enough, take them off the heat.
Pout the cooked fruit and ginger mix into a high-speed blender.
Add the peeled orange, the dulse flakes, spirulina, wheatgrass and coriander.
Blend all until smooth.
If you need extra sweetness you can add the raw honey to your smoothie.

Notes

If not on a cleanse or detox programme, you can give your smoothie bowl some nice toppings such as your favourite gluten free granola, chopped roasted coconut flakes, roasted pumpkin, etc. Let your creative mind run wild. Just ensure your toppings are roasted or slightly steamed and not cold from the fridge, especially if you're a Vata or Kapha type.

Easy Peasy Fruity Nut Cake Recipe- Vegan & Gluten Free

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Yield: 1 x Ø 26 cm cake tin

Easy Peasy Fruity Nut Cake - Gluten Free & Vegan

This is my go to low fat, vegan and gluten free cake recipe. And as far as cakes go, I think it's a pretty healthy one too! You get the goodness of fruits and nuts, with only a minimal amount of sugar and fat. Feel free to experiment with the ingredients, and use less sugar than suggested for example. The fruits make this cake already quite nice, gooey and sweet! The winner is: you can use the base of dry ingredients (oat flour, almond meal, etc.) and exchange the nuts and fruits to your liking. For example if you don't like walnuts, use almonds or pecans, etc. And for the fruits you can simply just use one mono-fruit, like just apples or just plums. I used a mixture of apples, plums, apricots, pears and peaches (all dried). But you can also mix in sultanas, raisins or goji-berries, for example. This cake works as well with fresh fruit instead of dried fruit, so go ahead, be creative, and enjoy!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

1 x cake springform (I used one with a diameter of 26 cm)
1 cup of roasted walnuts, roughly chopped (or nuts of your choice, pecans and almonds work well also)
1 cup oat flour
1 cup almond meal
2 x tablespoons psyllium husks (or you can use ground flaxseed instead)
3/4 cup coconut sugar
2 x teaspoons cinnamon powder
2 x teaspoons baking powder
1/2 x teaspoon baking soda
1/2 x teaspoon sea salt
1 and a 1/2 cups plant milk (I find oat milk works best)
2 x tablespoons olive oil
2 x teaspoons vanilla extract
300g dried fruits containing apples, pears, apricots, peaches and plums - roughly chopped (or use fresh fruit instead, mix it up as you like and with the fruits that you love).

Instructions

Pre-heat oven at 180˚C fan bake. Line the base of a spring-form baking tin with baking paper and lightly grease the sides with olive oil.
Sift all dry ingredients (apart from the walnuts and chopped fruits) into a mixing bowl and stir well.
Add plant milk of your choice, olive oil and vanilla extract, fold through, but make sure you don't over mix.
Add toasted walnuts and chopped dried fruits, fold through and transfer to the prepared cake tin.
Bake for 25 minutes, then open up the oven and cover the cake with foil if needed, bake a further 10-15 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean (total cooking time of 35-40 minutes).
Remove from oven and let cool completely before removing from the cake tin and serving.
Dust with icing sugar or make a nice vegan frosting!

Notes

Make your own oat flour: as its not always easy to get gluten free oat flour in the shop, I always have plenty of gluten free oats at home that I order in bulk online. Then when I'm baking I simply put a cup or two in my food processor, blend on high for a few minutes, and voila: gluten free oat flour at the ready! If you don't agree with oats, buckwheat flour is a good alternative.
Try adding sultanas, raisins, goji berries or make a fresh berry cake or apple cake!
Avoid over-mixing the batter to prevent the cake from not rising well.

Gooey Apple and Cinnamon Cupcakes

Leave a comment April 23, 2020 jayjagger

Sometimes you just need something that satisfies you.
Something that is sweet, tasty, and if possible, has that gooey, tasty sensation to it.
Something that, when you put in your mouth, reminds you of autumn, of your mum’s home baked apple cake,
of gardens and of late summer blooms.
Something that when you eat it, gives you that warm fuzzy feeling,
that peaceful feeling that everything is ok.

And what better way to give into this craving, than with these pretty much guilt free, goeey apple and cinnamon cupcakes?!
Low in sugar, fat, gluten free and vegan, and plenty of apples for your 5 a day. What’s not to like?

Of course I have added plenty of spice again:
cardamom and cinnamon to help you stabilize your blood sugars, to calm you and to nourish you, every little ‘gooey’ bite at a time.

Enjoy!

Weekly Recipe

Gooey Apple and Cinnamon Cupcakes

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Yield: 12

Gooey Apple & Cinnamon Cupcakes

Delicious and gooey apple and cinnamon cupcakes, vegan & gluten free

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 oat milk ( or other plant milk of your choice)
1 tsp apple cider vinnegar
1 tsp lemon juice
8 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tsp ground cardamom
1 pinch of salt
1 and 1/2 cup ground almonds
2 cups gluten free flour blend (I use Bob's red mill)
2 heaped tsp gluten free baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda (bicarbonate soda)
3 tbsp apple sauce home made or store bought
3 medium size apples, diced and cored
1 tbsp flax egg

Instructions

Preheat oven to 190 degrees celsius .
Make the flax egg: add 1 tablespoon flaxseeds to a small bowl and add 3 tbsp warm water. Mix well. Put to one side.
Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan.
Once melted, mix the oil, the milk, the vinegar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, salt, ground almonds and apple sauce together in a mixing bowl.
Add the flax egg and mix well.
Sift in the flour, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda.
Mix well, adding a tiny splash more milk if it’s looking too dry.
Add the apples and carefully stir in.
Transfer the mixture between muffin cases in a muffin tin.
Bake in the oven for 40 minutes until risen and an inserted skewer comes out clean.
The cupcakes should still have a very soft and gooey consistency. I usually eat one fresh and warm (mhmmm, so good) and place the rest in the fridge, they will harden a bit more and keep for up to a week.

Notes

Dust off the Cupcakes with some icing sugar or top with a nice vegan frosting.

Nutrition Information

Yield

Serving Size

12 cupcakes
Amount Per Serving Calories 212Total Fat 8gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 25mgSodium 19mgCarbohydrates 30gFiber 4gSugar 24gProtein 1g

Please note that nutrition information is based on averages and can therefor not always be accurate.