Spring-clean body and mind

Spring has sprung and as we move into summer, so has the time to detox and get yourself into tip top shape for summer. I know my chickens have already started, I can see them grazing more often than eating their corn and they're also taking a lot of grit and crushed egg shells in preference to other foods. 

I always know when I'm ready for a detox - my palette seems to move away from spicy foods and I seem to crave cool, fresh greenery. Without my body asking for it, it's actually a waste of time for me to even try it - it's actually more a mental than a physical thing for me and happens easily when I'm ready.

FIRST, DO NO HARM (to yourself) 

Avoid all processed food (another reason to cook from scratch) as they contain preservatives that you don't want or need. Eat fresh organic, seasonal produce as far as possible to ensure you get the optimal nutritional value from your food. 

Free-range beef and chicken are super choices as this meat contains the correct fatty acid (Omega-3 - 6) profile, plus the animals never received any growth hormone or antibiotics during their lifetime, which is the case with regular meat. But don't focus too much on meat, it can be acid-forming. 

READY, SET - DETOX! 

All types of fruit and vegetables (nutrient-rich, alkalising foods) as well as nuts and seeds are recommended. Nuts (cashews and almonds are best) and seeds (pumpkin and flax) should be unsalted and drinks and juices should preferably be consumed without added sugar. 

The key to a gentle detox is to eat light meals, full of raw and whole foods (as opposed to processed). Aim to have at least half of the food on your plate raw. And avoid the 'whites' like white sugar, rice and flour or flour products and choose foods with lots of fibre such as whole-grain bread and pasta and raw fruit and vegetables. 

 Detoxing happens via the kidneys, colon, liver, lungs, lymph and skin, so all these organs should see an improvement as you eat more healthily. 

FOODS THAT AID IN CLEANSING THE BODY 

Garlic gets the liver to produce detoxification enzymes that help filter out toxic residues in the digestive system. 

Use freshly crushed garlic in all dishes and add to cooked dishes just before serving to preserve the anti-bacterial benefits of allicin that's formed when it's crushed.

2. Geen tea helps flush toxins out of the system through its liquid content, and contains a special type of antioxidant called catechins, known to increase liver function.

3. Fresh coriander leaves have been clinically proven to remove mercury, but should be taken with Chorella (fresh-water algae supplement with the antioxidant chlorophyll, available from your health shop) for proper elimination. 

It's also known as a popular healing herb that contains natural antibiotics, lowers blood sugar, lowers bad cholesterol, improves eye health and is rich in nutrients.  

  4. Lemons are the detox fruit, containing lots of vitamin C which helps convert toxins into a water-soluble form that's easily flushed away. Add a squeeze to your daily 8 glasses of water and use over salads instead of vinegar.

5. Raw veg are alkalising and high in fibre, which helps cleanse the colon. Veg like onions, carrots, artichoke, asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, kale, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, garlic and beet are high in naturally occurring sulphur and glutathione. Sulphur helps the liver detoxify harmful chemicals. The combination of these foods will help your liver purge toxins during the cleansing process. Use them in salads and raw-food platters 

6. Radishes - besides being fat-free and low in sodium they are a good source of fibre. They rejuvenate the skin because of high sulphur, silicon and vitamin C content, while the sulphurous mustard oil in radishes stimulates the circulation system as well as the liver and kidneys to improve elimination of toxins. Use them raw in salads and with healthy fatty foods (avocado, nuts, some seeds, etc.) for optimal digestion

7. Turmeric: This mild but mighty spice is a powerful antioxidant that also increases anti-inflammatory enzymes in the liver. Add a teaspoon to your meals, or stir into warm milk with raw honey.

8. Sesame seeds: These little golden seeds of detox magic are proven to protect liver cells from the damaging effects of alcohol and other toxins. Their secret lies in amino acids called methionine and tryptophan, which encourage the liver and kidney to function optimally, banishing harmful toxins quickly and effectively. Sesame seeds add crunch and flavour to salads. 

9. Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that kills toxins in your colon and digestive system. Use it in a yoghurt and raw honey dessert and it's great in salads with grated carrots, papaya and mixed leaves.

10. Cabbage activates not one, but both of the detoxifying enzymes in the liver. Stir-fry it with a little bit of butter and garlic for a mouth-watering side dish. Red cabbage is wonderful fried with apple, onion, balsamic vinegar and orange juice. 

Info from Woolworths TasteMag, where there are plenty of links for you to follow! 

Delicious Egg Salad With Mango Vinaigrette

 Ingredients:

Romania lettuce - 1 head wash cut
Tomato - 1 diced
green apple - diced
Hard boiled eggs - 2, shell off and cut in half
Onion - 1 finely sliced
Carrot - 1 handful shredded

For Mango Vinaigrette
Cider  Vinegar - ¼ cup
Honey mustard - 1 table spoon
Curry powder - 1/2  tea spoon
Lime juice - 1 table spoon
Ripe mango - 1 peeled seeded and chunked
Vegetable oil - 1 cup
Sugar - 1 tea spoon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Procedure:
Put all the ingredients for the vinaigrette except salt, pepper and oil in a food processor and purée. With the machine running, drizzle in the oil and salt and pepper. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator not for ages (ha ha) but for a week or two. 

Mango vinaigrette delivers a vibrant, healthy burst of flavor. This refreshing sweet- tart combination is perfect for fruit salad or mixed greens. If you are not preparing this salad for a big party then you will not need the whole of the prepared dressing but just few spoon according to your taste for this salad and rest you can use it later.

In a bowl take all the salad ingredients except the eggs now drizzle the mango vinaigrette and mix with soft hands . Now place this salad in a serving platter and then add the halved boiled eggs over the top of the greens. Your delicious egg salad with mango vinaigrette is ready to relish.

 

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Spring and Peach blossom bath oil

Spring is in full swing and it's been a couple of weeks now that my almost 40-year old peach tree has been blossoming and this year I decided to make some Peach Blossom bath oil! I was afraid we might get a cold spell (not that it can't still happen!) and that her buds would be killed. 

Did you know that peach blossoms are edible? The flavour isn’t very strong; the petals are sweet, and taste like nectar. The flavour has been likened to almonds.

 

Peach blossoms are used for adding colour and flavour to dishes. Scatter pink peach blossoms onto a salad or soup or use as a garnish for a dessert. Peach blossoms can also add colour to drinks or punches. Pluck the petals from the base of the flower because the rest of the flower can be rather tough.

Peach Blossom bath oil

This time of the year is when I make my own bath oils with whatever is available in the garden. Using an essential base oil like Almond oil, I pour it into a clean Nescafé instant coffee bottle (because it has a wide mouth), add a couple of handfuls of peach blossom petals, screw the lid on tightly and leave it for about a week. I then pour it carefully into a pretty bottle (I have a great collection of those!), careful not to disturb the peach blossoms as they tend to break up and make the oil look murky. Once in the new bottle, just for good measure and for prettiness, I add a couple of fresh petals and voila! your own peach blossom bath oil!

Some interesting facts on peach trees :

- The blossoms of the Peach tree are pale to dark pink in color and have five petals.

- The Peach blossom appears before the Peach leaves.

- The delicate pink Peach blossoms may be large and showy, but sometimes are quite small.

- Peach trees (Prunus persica) grow 15-25 feet high. Their slender leaves have toothed edges.

- Peach trees start to bear fruit at 3 to 4 years old, reaching a peak at about 12 years.

- Peach trees are native to China and have been cultivated there for over 2500 years.

- Peach blossoms are in the same genus as plums, cherries, apricots and almonds.

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Green Tip #4 - Entrance feature

 (Image scsnned from a magazine)

Garden tools displayed at the back door make a nice arrangement as well as being on hand and quickly accessible.

There is nothing worse for me than, when I'm wandering through the garden and I see a branch or two that just needs a quick pruning, to have to go all the way to the garden shed, find the key, unlock the door, and fetch the pruning shears.

Why not just keep it all close and handy and at the same time make a beautiful feature at the back door? An old vintage coat rack with pegs makes an ideal place to keep you most used tools within easy reach, - even a piece of wood with nails hammered in will do the job.

Enjoy your ease and comfort and add a pretty feature to your entrance at the same time! 

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Pita met krakerige slaai

Vrydae maak ons besigheid vroeg toe, 4nm, en laat-Vrydagmiddag is wanneer ek en my man dit geniet om te ontspan op die voorstoep met 'n koppie tee of koffie en 'n ligte versnapering. Hierdie Pita met krakerige slaai is een van ons gunstelinge (albei van ons eet nie juis vleis nie) en is vinnig om voor te berei. 

PITA MET KRAKERIGE SLAAI

JY BENODIG

pita-broodjies
1 koppie wit kool, fyngekap
2 medium geelwortels, in dun repies gesny
2 eetlepels rosyne
3 eetlepels grondboontjies
2 eetlepels pampoenpitte
2 eetlepels mayonnaise
1 eetlepel olyfolie
sap van ½ suurlemoen
1 eetlepel pietersielie, gekap
seesout grofgemaalde swartpeper

METODE
Berei of verhit pitabroodjies volgens aanwysings. Laat afkoel en sny in helftes. Plaas kool, wortels en rosyne in mengbak. Rooster grondboontjies en pampoenpitte liggies in ‘n droë pan. Voeg by slaai. Voeg mayonnaise, olie en pietersielie by. Geur liggies met sout en peper. Skep in pitabroodjies.

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Green tip #3 - Coarse Salt

Add coarse salt in water before bathing . It will relax you and remove all toxins.

Bath Salts have many benefits:

Salts, when added to bath water, change the chemical balance of the water. This change makes it so that less water is absorbed into the skin, reducing the "pruning" effect that prolonged exposure to fresh water can have on your skin.

High concentrations of salts increase the specific gravity of the water and increase buoyancy which makes the body feel lighter in the bath. Flotation therapy has extremely high concentrations of salts in the water.

A Coarse Salt Bath can not only soften dirt and supply salt and minerals in your body, but also lose weight. The reason of this weight loss way is that coarse salt has the effect of sweating, and can speed up the metabolism of the skin, remove the waste in your body, so Coarse Salt Bath can not only help lose your weight, but also can make your skin tender and tight.

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Along the herbal path

I've always found herb-strewn stone paths and terraces incredibly appealing. Herbs tucked amid the stones seem to give a path, no matter how new, a sense of history and romance. There are several plants that thrive in these restricted spaces, ignoring the trauma of being trod upon, and when the Slasto path was being laid, I asked the gardener to leave s space here and there where I could tuck in some creeping thyme.

I bought several different varieties at the local nursery, dug them in the small pockets that had been left, watered them well and waited. Before long, the path had lost its harsh, just-finished look, and tiny purple and white flowers covered the little clumps of thyme that grew here and there, releasing their fresh fragrance whenever anyone walked by. Soon other plants joined the thyme. A few springs of mint escaped from the culinary garden, chamomile seeded itself here and there and even savory, yarrow and fennel popped up between the cracks. I pulled out most of the trespassers, with the exception of the chamomile with its tiny white flowers.

Eventually, the thyme threatened to cover the entire path, so several times a year I must harden my heart and ruthlessly lift great mats of it off the stones and cut them back. For a day or two, the plants look ungainly, but shortly they begin to spread out again, the edges of the patches softening once more. Through it all, the bees continue to buzz joyously among the thyme flowers, relishing this herbal path as much as I do.

A new stepping stone path taking shape leading to the cottage at the bottom of the garden planted with Nasturtiums, Rosemary and Wild Garlic. This area was surprisingly free of harmful insects, probably due to the Wild Garlic planted at intervals.

I find that any spot that's doing poorly in the garden,  especially shady spots under trees, benefit from laying a couple of paving slabs or adding some crushed stone and with a garden ornament or two, can be turned into a really stunning area.

 

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The BEST Spaghetti Bolognaise!

One of my favourite dishes is Spaghetti Bolognaise because of the ease with which it is prepared and also the fact that one can have many variations and come up with something different every time!

Ingredients

• 500g Fresh Beef Mince.
• 400g Dried Spaghetti.
• 4 Rashers of Smoked Streaky Bacon, finely diced.
• 2 Tins of Plum/Chopped Tomatoes.
• 6 Fresh Cherry Tomatoes.
• 2 Medium Onions, peeled and finely diced.
• 2 Sticks of Celery, trimmed and finely diced.
• 2 Carrots, trimmed and finely diced.
• 2 Cloves of Garlic, peeled and finely diced.
• 1 Medium Chilli (optional), seeded and finely sliced
• 75g Freshly grated Parmesan Cheese, plus extra for grating over.
• 2 tbsp Tomato Puree
• 1 Beef Stock Cube.
• Glass of red wine (optional)
• Herbs:
• 2-3 Sprigs of Fresh Rosemary.
• Handful of Fresh Basil, plus extra for Garnish.
• 1 tsp Dried Oregano.
• 1-2 Fresh Bay Leaves.
• Olive oil.
• Sea Salt and Black Pepper.
• Crusty bread, to serve.

Method

1. Get yourself a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, and place it on a medium heat. 
2. Add a good lug of olive oil and gently fry your bacon until golden and crisp, then reduce the heat slightly and add your onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Next remove the leaves from the Rosemary sprigs and add them to the pot, discarding the sprigs. Move everything around and fry for around 8-10 minutes until the veg has softened.
3. Next, increase the heat slightly, add the mince and stir until the meat is browned all over.
4. Stir in your tins of plum/chopped tomatoes, (plum tomatoes are best as they contain less water, but either will turn out great!). Add your remaining herbs, tomato puree, stock cube, chilli and if using, the wine. Slice your cherry tomatoes in half and throw them in aswell.
5. Give everything a stir with a wooden spoon, breaking up the plum tomatoes as you go and bring to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low-medium, put the lid on and leave it blipping away for about an hour and 15 minutes until the flavours develop into a wonderfully rich tomatoey sauce. Stir occasionally to make sure it doesn't catch.
6. Just as the sauce is nearly ready, Add the parmesan and season to taste. Meanwhile add salt to a pan of boiling water and cook the spaghetti according the the packet instructions. Once the spaghetti is ready, drain it in a colander and add it to the pan with the sauce. Give it all a good stir, coating the pasta in the lovely tomato sauce. Serve with a little grated parmesan and use the extra basil leaves to make a great little garnish. Beautiful!

This recipe is from Good Food 

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Green tip #2 : Baskets and cut flowers

 Have a basket handy at the back door for putting your cut flowers in 

Ever gone into the garden to get some cut flowers and ended up having to lay them somewhere on the grass, risking having them bruised, just because you can't carry it all? 

Keep a basket handy at the back door or close to where you will be cutting and collecting the flowers - this way they are carefully put together, also saving your hands from any thorn pricks and scratches. 

 

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Antipasto Platter

Quick and easy meals are always welcome. Whatever you're serving up in this cold weather (it IS spring, but a sudden cold front has caught us unawares!), whether it's a hot stew or a pasta dish, a fresh, tasty salad is always welcome.

Antipasto (plural antipasti) means "before the meal" and is the traditional first course of a formal meal. Traditional antipasto includes cured meats, olives, peperoncini, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses (such as provolone or mozzarella) and pickled meats and vegetables (both in oil or in vinegar).

The contents of an antipasto vary greatly according to regional cuisine. Here in South Africa, an antipasto platter would generally consist of salad material like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and many of the ingredients which you can find in your own vegetable garden, perhaps including some cheese and croutons.

If you’re planning a party with lots of guests, keep the antipasto simple so you don’t crowd out the main meal.

Quick and easy Antipasto Platter 
Serves : n/a
Preparation Time : 20 minutes
Cooking Time : n/a Oven Temperature : n/a

Ingredients:
Cocktail Onions
Dill Cucumbers
 Green Stuffed Olives
Black Pitted Olives
 Jalapeno Chillies
Pickled Onions
Calamata Olives
Artichokes
Pimento
Mini Corn Spears
Asparagus
Few slices Provolone cheese or cheese of your choice
Few slices salami Freshly sliced tomatoes.

Method:
Arrange all the ingredients attractively on a serving platter.

Cook's Tip : Garnish with fresh basil and serve with Olive oil and vinegar






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Who knew cucumbers could do all this!

Image from Wikipedia 

I haven't grown cucumbers for years and this article on FaceBook by Mike Suddaby has sparked my interest in growing some veggies in my garden again. (But did you know that cucumbers are scientifically classified as fruits? Much like tomatoes and squash, however, their sour-bitter flavor contributes to cucumbers being perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables.) In fact, I haven't grown ANY vegetables for years. I can just imagine picking my own green beans again (one of my favourites!) and tomatoes and green peppers and squash. Absolute bliss!

I'm just wondering if the cucumbers, and any other vegetables, will survive the onslaught of the chickens…

 Doesn't this look just too delicious for words?

"Spice up your 8 glasses per day of water with a slice or two of cucumber. It's wonderfully refreshing, but there are amazing benefits to cucumber as well. Cucumbers are cooler than you think ...

1. Fat busting:
Do you ever wonder why women put cucumbers on their eyes to relieve puffiness? The photochemical in cucumbers makes the collagen in your skin tighten, thus the lack of puffiness. Did you know that you can rub a cucumber on a problematic spot of cellulite anywhere on your body to lessen the visibility of it? Did you also know that it has the same effect on wrinkles? Wow, it makes purchasing those fifty dollar creams seem a little silly, doesn’t it? You can also rub a little bit under your kiddo’s eyes after a long bout of crying to avoid that puffy ‘I cried for an hour straight’ look.

2. Defogger:
Do you get annoyed when you get out of the shower and you have to fight the fog on the mirror? Who has time for that when the kids will be awake at any moment? Try rubbing a slice of cucumber on the mirror before you hop in and not only will you get a fog-free mirror, but you’ll have a nice smell that will boost your mood.

3. Headaches:
If you suffer from headaches from chasing your babies all day (or pets or your husband), or had a little too much wine with dinner and want to avoid a hangover, eat half of a cucumber before bed. Cucumbers are high in B vitamins, sugar, and electrolytes, and they replenish the nutrients missing in your body to help you avoid a hang over or to beat that headache that’s been threatening to take over.

4. WD-40 replacement: 
Did you know you can get rid of a squeak by rubbing a cucumber on the hinge? Wow, now you don’t have to tear your garage apart looking for that little can with the red straw, and the baby won’t wake up when you slowly open the nursery door to check on him.

5. Crayon on the walls:
Take an un-peeled cucumber and rub the crayon off of the walls in the event that your kiddo left you some art. You can also use this technique to erase a pen mistake. .

6. Halitosis killer:
Take a slice of cucumber and put it on the roof of your mouth. Hold it there with your tongue for 30 seconds. The photochemical that you love for cellulite and puff reduction will also kill the bacteria that is causing your bad breath.

7. Tarnish remover:
If you’re finding tarnish on your stainless steel kitchen faucets and appliances? Rub it off with a cucumber slice. Not only will it remove years of tarnish, it will leave it streak free and your hands will thank you, and your kids won’t be put at risk from a dangerous chemical.

8. Energy booster:
If you’re feeling tired in the afternoon, don’t give Starbucks your five bucks. Instead, grab a cucumber. There are just enough carbohydrates and B vitamins to give you a longer-lasting and healthier boost of energy than soda, coffee, or those health hazard energy drinks.

9. Munchy madness:
Did you know that European trappers ate cucumbers for energy and to keep from starving to death? If those big burly manly men can eat a cucumber to keep from starving, you can eat one as a healthy choice when the munchies hit. Slice some up and take them in a small plastic container to the movies if your theater doesn’t offer healthy alternatives to munching on butter soaked popcorn.

10. Frugal facial:
Slice up a cucumber and boil it in a pot of water. The chemicals inside of the cucumber will mix with the steam. Remove the pot from heat and lean over it, letting the steam hit you. Your skin will be more radiant and healthy, and you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

11. Shoe polish:
Cut a slice off of your cucumber and rub it on your shoe. It will not only shine it up, but it will repel water.

12. Pest control: 
Put three or four slices of cucumber in a small pie tin and place them in your garden. The chemicals in the cucumber have a reaction that pests hate. You won’t smell it, but it will drive them from your garden all year long. Replace them periodically.

13. Sunburn:
Sometimes sun block doesn’t always protect your little ones from sunburn. If you have burnt little kiddos you don’t have any aloe, rub some cucumber on them. Many doctors even use cucumber to treat patients with irritated skin and sunburns.

14. Blood pressure:
Cucumber has been long used to treat high blood pressure. If you have it, add cucumbers to your daily diet. There is also ongoing research into the use of cucumbers for lowering cholesterol.

15. Constipation remedy: 
The seeds of a cucumber are a diuretic. If you’re constipated, try eating a cucumber. If you suffer from chronic constipation, add cucumber to your daily diet."
- Mike Suddaby

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Early-morning showers

What better way to start the day than with an early-morning rain shower?
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In this early morning

When the dawn hasn't even been breaking

In my bed I'm lying half asleep

Listening to the sound of rain

Sound of droplets touching the street gently

Lulling me to sleep more tightly

- Little Red Apple 

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Buite in die tuin

Dis September, en tyd vir my Swaeltjies om terug te kom!

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