Recipies
Nettle or Spinach Soup
This is one of my favourite recipes, I make it all the time. I can eat the whole lot quite easily but luckily my daughter likes it too. It is from the excellent Cranks Bible by Nadine Abensur (ISBN: 1 841 88204 6). Quite the best recipe book and that's a complement from me as generally I'm not a huge fan of vege food! Either use a bag of fresh organic spinach or fresh picked young nettle leaves - the new growth in spring of bright green nettles (pick from the top of the plant)is ideal. Just be sure to wear gloves when picking! The sting is neutralised by heating.
Ingredients
1 litre boiled filtered water with two teaspoon marigold vegeable boullion (or similar) or make your own lovely stock if you have the time!
2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
1 small - medium onion chopped
2 garlic cloves finely slivered
1 bag (usually 225g) of baby spinach or similar amount in volume of washed freshly picked nettle leaves
A pinch grated nutmeg
Method
Set the stock to boil so you can add it to the spinach boiling hot.
Heat the oil in a large pan and fry the chopped onion and garkic on a fairly low heat until transparent (not bunt!)
Add the spinach and stir quickly to wilt.
Add a ladelful or two of the stock and then blend with a hand held blender
Add the rest of the stock and stir
EASY!
If you get the book there is a whole page of lovely additions - parmasan cheese, creme fraiche, coconut milk, tamari, chilli and lemongrass... my own favourite is adding half a can of cannelini beans which you can blend in or not.
Spirulina Breakfast Smoothie
I have a variation of this most mornings. I've been a spirulina nut for over ten years. The taste takes a bit of getting used to, you may like to start off with tablets, taken separately. If you are new to spirulina start of with quarter to half a teaspoon and build up gradually (there's instructions on the jar). Too much all at once can result in a bit of an instant detox!
Ingredients
1 green tipped organic banana
1 scoop of protein powder Solgar Whey to Go Vanilla or natural (no taste) Impact Whey from www.myprotein.co.uk
Around 300 ml of organic cow's milk (Duchy milk is unhomogenised) or Oatly Milk or sometimes I use the tetrapack coconut milk substitute, but it is the least natural (best to avoid using soya and rice milk).
1 teaspoon organic cocoa powder
1-2 teaspoons of organic spirulina powder
1-2 tablespoons of Biona organic linseed oil
Method
Put everything in a blending cup and whizz together with a hand held blender.
Added extras: 1 teaspoon maca powder; 1/4 can coconut milk (full fat); kiwi fruit peeled or berries of choice (omit cocoa powder and or banana, might need a drizzle of agave syrup); 1 raw egg (MUST be organic and really fresh at your own risk - I am still alive, use your nose); 1 tablespoon hazelnut butter (good with cocoa powder); 1-2 teaspoons of chia seeds soaked overnight (really fills you up!)
Raw Chocolate
If you make chocolate yourself, by hand you have full control over the ingredients (particularly the fats and sweetner that you use) and their proportions. In this way you can make a healthy version of this "food of the gods" tailored exactly to your personal tastes. Raw chocolate is particularly high in minerals particularly magnesium. Coconut butter is good for metabolism, thyroid and bowel flora. The lucuma is a natural sweetener - the more you use the less strong and "buzzy" the chocolate is - remember chocolate contains a fair amount of caffeine. You can add nuts, dried fruits, vanilla essence or powder and other delights to your chocolate - I particularly like geranium and orange with cinnamon. Be careful with using essential oils (less is more) essential oils should not be taken internally by young children, pregnant women or anyone with stomach ulcers.
Ingredients
3 heaped tablespoons of coconut oil (you can use cocoa butter which sets harder with a more traditional chocolately texture), but I don't like the taste as much and it isn't quite as good for you)
3 heaped tablespoons of raw chocolate powder (or you can mix raw chocolate and lucuma powder or organic cocoa powder and lucuma) sift everything so there are no lumps
A few squeezes of light agarve syrup to taste (less is more!)
A 10 drops of orange or 5 drops of peppermint essential oil - best to choose organic for this purpose and omit if giving to pregnant women (it is likely to be harmless, but best to err on the side of caution).
Method
1. Make a bain marie (take a small saucepan and bring some water to a gentle simmer. Place a pyrex glass bowl over the saucepan so that the bowl does not go in the water.
2. Add the coconut oil and or cocoa butter to the bowl and melt. Take off the heat when it is liquid and leave to cool a bit, but not harden - 2-5 mins
3. Add the drops of essential oil and a couple of squeezes of biona agave syrup, stir.
4. Add the sifted powders and stir everything together creating a chocolate sauce. Taste the sauce and add more agave syrup if liked - or more chocolate powder. The consistency you're looking for is similar to unwhiped double cream.
5. Pour into rubber ice cube moulds and refrigerate or freeze to set. I pour into a glass jug and use this to fill the moulds - much easier.
6. Pop the chocolates out the woulds and store in a glass jar in the fridge. Enjoy!
Have fun!