To bring a little warm sunshine in your heart during these cold and dark Winter months..
Warming sunshine porridge
1 cup organic oats
1 banana - chopped
1/2 sharon fruit - chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp maca
2 tsp bee pollen granules *
1 cup soya/rice/almond milk
Start by warming your dairy free milk on low heat in a small pan, then stir in the spices and the maca, gradually adding the oats. Stir well and gently, then add the chopped fruit and stir until all warmed and combined.
Serve in your favourite breakfast bowl and sprinkle on some bee pollen granules.
* These are a new addition to my daily medicinal superfood collection. As a vegan, I went a long while without having honey in my diet, then after researching and developing my own opinion on the idea, I began to start using it again, not only for it's health benefits, but because I liked it, and I wanted to, and I no longer wanted to deprive myself of something I really enjoyed. I think there is a fine line between food choices for health and for pleasure, after all, isn't true pleasure the golden key into good health? And if your body likes something and there are certain health benefits..then why deprive yourself of it any longer? If it feels right for you, go with it. Every body is different and we all have things that are good for us that may be not so good for another. It's good to try new things and experiment, maybe trying something that once you swore on your beloved peanut butter you would never try again. Our bodies are our teachers, our healers and our guides, and the more we intuitively listen and love our teaching temples, the more we learn, the more we grow and are able to open up to ever more love and a deeper understanding of the true workings of nature.
I came across bee pollen when reading 'Raw Magic' by Raw foody Kate Magic (mentioned in my earlier post). When I was fully vegan and restricted myself of honey, I did so because I was under the impression that I would be helping to save the bees, and I felt that by having honey in my diet I was adding to that line of people that were taking the beloved food from these amazing creatures. ''Strictly speaking, pollen is not a vegan food, but I personally feel it is unlikely that Mother Nature would have designed the perfect food for humans and not meant us to eat it.'' *
Bee pollen is different from honey in that it is 100% natural, pure and raw - totally untampered with.
''Bee pollen is a bit of a misnomer because pollen does not come from bees, it comes from flowers, and is collected by the bees and brought back to the hives. The bees bind it with enzymes and carry it back to the hive in their pollen sacs. Beekeepers place fine brushes at the entrance to the hive that brush the bees' legs as they enter releasing the pollen from the sac, to later be collected by the beekeepers.''*
The list of health benefits of bee pollen are endless, here are but a few:
* Preventative against cancer - reduces tumors
* Good for fertility and improves libido
* Increases stamina and endurance
* Rich in complex B vitamins - particularly good for veggys and vegans
* Rehabilitates the gut - strengthening the intestines
* Great pet food - boosting their immune systems and increases longevity
* Treats anemia, boosting circulation, regulating blood sugars and treats a variety of weaknesses and illnesses
* (From the book 'Raw Magic' by Kate Magic)
For more information on this magic food, have gander here: http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-bee-pollen
And if you're lucky enough to find locally harvested fresh bee pollen, then go for it. I am yet to find it, but found a great online shop in the UK that make and sell their own pollen in granules. I found the taste a little odd at first, but when sprinkled on porridge and in cereals it is quite nice, and it certainly gives a warm and boosting buzz that I so do need in these cold Winter months..
...as well as a good hot dinner in the evenings -
1 cup organic oats
1 banana - chopped
1/2 sharon fruit - chopped
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp maca
2 tsp bee pollen granules *
1 cup soya/rice/almond milk
Start by warming your dairy free milk on low heat in a small pan, then stir in the spices and the maca, gradually adding the oats. Stir well and gently, then add the chopped fruit and stir until all warmed and combined.
Serve in your favourite breakfast bowl and sprinkle on some bee pollen granules.
* These are a new addition to my daily medicinal superfood collection. As a vegan, I went a long while without having honey in my diet, then after researching and developing my own opinion on the idea, I began to start using it again, not only for it's health benefits, but because I liked it, and I wanted to, and I no longer wanted to deprive myself of something I really enjoyed. I think there is a fine line between food choices for health and for pleasure, after all, isn't true pleasure the golden key into good health? And if your body likes something and there are certain health benefits..then why deprive yourself of it any longer? If it feels right for you, go with it. Every body is different and we all have things that are good for us that may be not so good for another. It's good to try new things and experiment, maybe trying something that once you swore on your beloved peanut butter you would never try again. Our bodies are our teachers, our healers and our guides, and the more we intuitively listen and love our teaching temples, the more we learn, the more we grow and are able to open up to ever more love and a deeper understanding of the true workings of nature.
I came across bee pollen when reading 'Raw Magic' by Raw foody Kate Magic (mentioned in my earlier post). When I was fully vegan and restricted myself of honey, I did so because I was under the impression that I would be helping to save the bees, and I felt that by having honey in my diet I was adding to that line of people that were taking the beloved food from these amazing creatures. ''Strictly speaking, pollen is not a vegan food, but I personally feel it is unlikely that Mother Nature would have designed the perfect food for humans and not meant us to eat it.'' *
Bee pollen is different from honey in that it is 100% natural, pure and raw - totally untampered with.
''Bee pollen is a bit of a misnomer because pollen does not come from bees, it comes from flowers, and is collected by the bees and brought back to the hives. The bees bind it with enzymes and carry it back to the hive in their pollen sacs. Beekeepers place fine brushes at the entrance to the hive that brush the bees' legs as they enter releasing the pollen from the sac, to later be collected by the beekeepers.''*
The list of health benefits of bee pollen are endless, here are but a few:
* Preventative against cancer - reduces tumors
* Good for fertility and improves libido
* Increases stamina and endurance
* Rich in complex B vitamins - particularly good for veggys and vegans
* Rehabilitates the gut - strengthening the intestines
* Great pet food - boosting their immune systems and increases longevity
* Treats anemia, boosting circulation, regulating blood sugars and treats a variety of weaknesses and illnesses
* (From the book 'Raw Magic' by Kate Magic)
For more information on this magic food, have gander here: http://foodmatters.tv/articles-1/10-amazing-health-benefits-of-bee-pollen
And if you're lucky enough to find locally harvested fresh bee pollen, then go for it. I am yet to find it, but found a great online shop in the UK that make and sell their own pollen in granules. I found the taste a little odd at first, but when sprinkled on porridge and in cereals it is quite nice, and it certainly gives a warm and boosting buzz that I so do need in these cold Winter months..
...as well as a good hot dinner in the evenings -
Soothing Sunshine Squash
1/2 organic squash - chopped
3 cups red lentils
half pint water
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp Himalayan rock salt
sprinkle of ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 180oC, put the squash onto a baking tray along with the garlic, I like to leave on the skins whilst they roast and then slide them out of their skins like butter..yum! Whilst the squash is roasting, pop the lentils in a pan and cover with the water, bring to the boil and simmer gently until the lentils have absorbed the water. Add the spices and the squash and garlic when cooked. This will make a good 5 servings. Of then which you can add any veggys of your choice. For this dish I added some mushrooms, tomatoes and some fresh organic orange chard. So nice and so warming. I'll probably be turning orange by the end of the week..eek!
Happy cooking and happy health..
1/2 organic squash - chopped
3 cups red lentils
half pint water
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tbsp coconut oil
1/2 tsp Himalayan rock salt
sprinkle of ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 180oC, put the squash onto a baking tray along with the garlic, I like to leave on the skins whilst they roast and then slide them out of their skins like butter..yum! Whilst the squash is roasting, pop the lentils in a pan and cover with the water, bring to the boil and simmer gently until the lentils have absorbed the water. Add the spices and the squash and garlic when cooked. This will make a good 5 servings. Of then which you can add any veggys of your choice. For this dish I added some mushrooms, tomatoes and some fresh organic orange chard. So nice and so warming. I'll probably be turning orange by the end of the week..eek!
Happy cooking and happy health..
x