Archive: September, 2010

Grooving Ginger Granny

Grooving Ginger Granny

This juice is rocking! It all starts with Granny apples. They have that particular mix of acidity and sweetness when they are in the middle of their season. A good reason to make a fresh juice of them, moreover because apple juice is such a healthy drink when you are longing for something to replace that soft drink in the back of your mind. Your granny will groove on apple juice: it prevents and helps fight Alzheimer disease when consumed on a daily basis.

Scientific research shows that apple juice can boost the brain function because of its increased production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine. “We anticipate that the day may come when foods like apples, apple juice and other apple products are recommended along with the most popular Alzheimer’s medications,” according to Thomas Shea, Ph.D., director of the UML Center for Cellular Neurobiology and Neurodegeneration Research. What are you waiting for?

Apples For Overall Health

But there is more to say about apple juice. It is very rich in antioxidants and we all know what that means; they help prevent the development of cancer, heart disease, they reduce high cholesterol levels, slow down the aging process and promote weight loss. Other benefits are a high content of riboflavin, thiamine, carotene, vitamin B6, biotin, folic acid and vitamin C. So let’s make that juice!

To spice it up and give it the character of a fancy cocktail I like to add ginger and lemon. You won’t long for a canned version after tasting the pureness of your own juiced- in- a- minute long drink.

TOOLS YOU NEED

  • A juicer
  • A sharp knife

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for Grooving Ginger Granny

  • 4 Granny apples
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • A chunk of fresh ginger (about 1 inch)

THE MAKING OF…

Just juice all ingredients, shake it up, pour in your favorite glass, finish with a slice of apple or a sprig of mint and enjoy!

Grooving Ginger Granny

Kale Salad & Chips

Kale is back! In America you can find kale at any moment of the year and they come in all kinds of wonderful varieties. But here in Belgium, we have to wait for the right season and be glad with that one common species. I have to ask my bio farmer to bring some change! And find new organic seeds for my own garden.

Awakening Kale In My Garden

I have been craving kale chips since the moment my last bag went up.  Even in summer I was fantasizing of which flavor to make with the first kale on the farmers market. I missed it in a lot of recipes, knowing how valuable its content  is and how tasteful its flavor.

But first of all I have to tell you how great kale is for your smoothies! Packed with vitamin C, A , E and K, chlorophyll, proteins, Omega 3, vitamin B1, B2, B3, manganese, magnesium, calcium, iron and so much more, kale is a source of smooth health. If you have some trouble with the bitterness of kale in winter, add lemon. It neutralizes bitter tastes and combines so nicely with this giant. In spring, the taste becomes softer.

Ravishing Kale

Last winter when I was making kale chips I couldn’t stop tasting before they went into the dehydrator. I ended up with a huge bowl of kale salad coated in a savory tahini sauce and only one small tray of chips. So this is a great recipe for when you are in a lazy mood and have lots of kale around. You can make a huge salad in no time and put half of it into your dehydrator. Next day they will be crisp and ready for your next craving. Don’t worry, you won’t gain weight with these healthy chips. Kale hardly contains any calories, nor will you eat a whole bag. You will feel satisfied after only a handful because of their nutritious contents.

Delicious in combination with tomatoes

If you make more than one head of kale chips, double or triple the ingredients for the dressing. The better you coat the kale, the better your chips!

TOOLS YOU NEED

  • A bowl
  • A dehydrator or your oven

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for Kale Chips

FOR THE CHIPS

  • A bunch of kale

FOR THE SAUCE

  • 1 TBS Tahini. You can also use Almond butter.
  • 2 TBS Olive oil
  • 1 TBS Nutritional Yeast for a cheesy flavor.
  • 1 ts Celtic Sea Salt or Hymalyan salt
  • 1 ts cumin
  • A dash of cayenne

THE MAKING OF THE DRESSING

Throw all ingredients in a bowl

  • Place all ingredients together in a bowl and stir till they are well mixed

Stir well

THE MAKING OF KALE CHIPS

  • Wash the kale

Take the stem out

  • Take the stem out

Tear into large pieces

  • Tear up the leaves into large pieces (they shrink during dehydration)

Pour over the kale

  • Pour the dressing over the kale

Mmmmassage...

  • Massage the kale with both hands until it wilts and is coated with the dressing
  • Taste… is the taste right for you? You can still adjust with some salt if you want to

Spread over a Teflex lined sheet or on a tray of your oven

  • Place the kale chips on a teflex lined tray

Cheesy Kale Chips

  • Dehydrate on 105 °F for about six hours until they are crisp

Before you start dehydrating you can eat some of this kale as a delicious salad. It tastes great with some tomatoes mixed in it.

As a delicious salad

Number 61

A clean body is the first step towards health. Many people think of cleansing as a difficult process. But the more you know, the easier it becomes. Understanding your body and mind, knowing your physical, mental and emotional reactions to food, situations, stress and life brings you closer to health. And number 61 does.

I am talking about a juice. Not just a juice, but the most effective juice of Dr. Norman Walker for many, many complaints and illnesses. Most of you know Dr. Norman Walker. If you don’t, read about this man, who was a true pioneer in the beginning of the 20th century. He died at very old age in 1985 (over one hundred some say, others say at 99) His favorite secret? Drinking fresh juices every day.

He spent his life investigating the influence of juice on the human body. He discovered that when you mix certain juices in certain quantities, they release new healing forces. All his juices were based on years of scientific investigations. He developed the “Norwalk” Juicer, the most perfect machine for the most nutritious juices. He wrote several books but the one I absolutely cherish is “Fresh vegetable and Fruit Juices. What’s Missing In Your body?” It’s only small book but with priceless content.

He made a list of what combined juices to use for which conditions. Each juice has a number. My favorite juice is # 61. It has such healing power that he recommends it to support almost every issue of the body. Let me name some of them: acne, acidosis, allergy, anemia, angina pectoris, appendicitis, asthma, bladder trouble, blood pressure high or low, bronchitis, cancers, cataracts, cirrhosis of the liver (he cured himself of it by fasting on water and juices to start with) , colds, cramps, decay, eczema, fatigue, fatty degeneration, gallstones and gall bladder trouble, gout, goiter, hay fever, headache, itch, kidney trouble, neuritis, obesity, psoriasis, rhinitis, sleeplessness, toxemia, ulcers and on and on goes the list. All the juices are based on one pint of 16 oz.

Number 61 is a very simple, inexpensive juice made of carrots and spinach.

TOOLS YOU NEED

A juicer (preferably a slow juicer that guarantees all the nutrients after the process)

INGREDIENTS

  • Carrots enough for 10 oz
  • Spinach enough for 6 oz

THE MAKING OF # 61

Just juice, fill up a nice glass and drink.

NOTE

It is possible that you have a reaction on this powerful drink. Sometimes I feel tired and a bit dizzy. It means it is working! Take it easy and it will pass.