Experimental breakfast - porridge variation

It is rare that I wake up in the morning and my breakfast hasn't been soaking all night. But this morning I realised I had fallen asleep on the couch the night before and completely forgot to prepare my breakfast for the next day. It was cold (2 degrees Celsius if you want to know) so I knew I wanted something warm. I opened my pantry and started to experiment.

Ingredients

• 

  Amaranth plant

  1 tbsp millet
• 1 tbsp cracked buckwheat
• 1 tbsp amaranth
• 1 tbsp quinoa flakes
• 1/2 tbsp shredded organic coconut
• 1/4 tsp raw honey
• 1 tsp raw cocao nibs
• 1 small banana mashed
• 2 drops vanilla essence
• Boiling water
• Ground cinnamon for garnish

Method

• In a small saucepan, bring to the boil, 1 1/2 cups of boiling water, millet, cracked buckwheat, amaranth, coconut, honey and vanilla. 
• Cover and simmer for 10 minutes (add more water if needed)
• Add banana, cocao nibs and quinoa flakes, simmer for another 5-8 minutes stirring occasionally and adding water as needed.
• Serve and sprinkle with cinnamon and cocao nibs

Result

This will not be winning any awards for looks but it makes up for it with the lots of flavours and lots of textures. I could taste the goodness in every mouthful and I enjoyed the earthy chocolaty flavour of the cocao nibs.

Verdict

It obviously takes a little while to cook so it wouldn't be my choice for breakfast on a work day. From a texture perspective I think next time I would ditch the coconut. It might have been nice to have some sort of milkiness added such as almond or soy. Having said that, I love that this has so many different grains/seeds.

Dandelion Root Detox Brew

As the temperature drops, drawing closer to the longest night of the year, I seek warm earthy drinks that compliment my detox. One of the best herbs/plants for detoxing the liver and aiding digestion is dandelion. The root especially has strong detox benefits. You can buy roasted dandelion root at most health food stores but if you want to keep it in it's most beneficial form please choose one that is not sweetened. A brand I know well is Bonvit (http://www.bonvit.com.au/dandelion_blend.html). A combination of roasted dandelion root and chicory results in a earthy beverage that many call a substitute for coffee. Similar to my views on carob being a substitute for chocolate, it's best not to think of dandelion root as a substitute but rather flavour all its own.

This is a warm, earthy and slightly tangy brew which I've been enjoying in the evenings.

Ingredients

• 1 heaped teaspoon of Bonvit roasted dandelion blend (medium ground but you can use any)
• chopped fresh ginger
• finely sliced lime or lemon peel with as little of the pith as possible
• almond, soy or preferred milk (optional)

Method

• I prefer to brew this with a tea strainer as I don't really like the dandelion root dregs
• In your preferred tea pot, pour boiling water over the dandelion, ginger and lime/lemon peel
• Let this brew for a couple of minutes
• Enjoy with or without your preferred milk and sweeten with honey if you wish

Results

It isn't coffee and when you drink it with that in mind this is a really lovely beverage. Something to be aware of is that if you are using almond or soy milk, if the dandelion is too strong (like if you make really strong coffee) your milk may curdle. It's still okay to drink it just doesn't look so great. Getting the balance can be a bit of an art form - but it's worth it.

Verdict

The lime/lemon peel is a really special touch to this brew. Using the peel means you are getting the essential oils out of the skin which often gets thrown away. This is a winner for those wanting a warm earthy drink in the evening.

A word on dandelion

As children we picked them and made a wish as we blew the ball of faeries in all directions. As adults we might be less inclined to do the same when we know those faeries carry seeds that can create more dandelions all over our lawn. I for one find it difficult to resist.

Be it the firm yellow flower or the round seed head - dandelions make me smile. But it was only in recent years that I learned that this humble 'weed' was packed full of goodness.

The main parts of the dandelion that are used therapeutically are the leaves and the root. The leaves are said to have a diuretic effect and helps to purify the blood. The root is known for its detoxifying benefits or supporting liver function and as a bitter it also stimulates the digestive system. The root can also have a laxative effect on some people.

After a workshop I did with a herb enthusiast I wasn't quite ready to go out into my garden and pick the numerous dandelion scattered through out my lawn and growing up between the cracks of my pavement. Perhaps it's the fact that my dog uses my lawn as her own personal toilet or that my brother has been known to come around when I'm not there and spray my weeds.

Thankfully dandelion leaves and roots can be bought in tea, herb and health food shops.

Juicing for detox

I've been doing well on my detox for the past three weeks and am now at the stage of doing my two day juice fast. To be honest I'm not really sure that juice fasting is ideal for my body so with the guidance of my naturopath I am doing my first day with only juices and my second day will be mostly juices. But that's not why I'm writing this post.

I wanted to share a common juice to aid the body in detoxifying. I say common because it's often found at Boost Juice bars and other juicing places. The key detoxifying ingredients are celery and beetroot.

Ingredients

• Beetroot
• Carrot
• Celery (including some leaves)
• Orange, lemon or pineapple
• Cucumber
• Ginger
• Water

Putting it together

Look at that beautiful collection of vegetables and fruit. All certified organic and bursting with goodness.

• The quantities you see there are exactly what I used (well, aside from the huge chunk of ginger and the whole orange and beetroot added to the image for effect)
• I use a cold press juicer. My juicer is a Oscar Vital Max. The cold pressed method means that the juice retains its nutrients and enzymes and in my experience you get more juice out of less vegetables and fruit. It's also really easy to clean which certainly gets my vote. To learn more about this type of juicer you can visit Vitality4Life.
• As with any juicer the method is basically to put your vegetables and fruit and let the juicer do the work. I use certified organic and juice them with skins on (all but the orange peel)
• Add the water at the end. Water is important because fresh juice is quite strong especially if you have something like beetroot in it. 
• Pour it into a glass and drink within half an hour for maximum benefit.

Result

It has an impressive colour and it tastes pretty good. Be aware that with a cold pressed juicer you get more juice from the whole food - so be sparing with your ginger if you're not too fond of it. I love it so my juice was darn spicy!