Rebalance your health energise your life!

We, as a nation, love ‘foreign’ foods.  This is possibly because of their exotic aromas and the fantastic array of spices used to enhance their flavours.

There are over 200 herbs and spices on this planet but on average, we only use about 5 of them in the UK!

Herbs and spices are Mother Nature’s medicine cabinet.   In fact, when I worked in the jungles of Belize, the local people used the herbs from the rain forest for their every day needs such as for snakebites, fever, antiseptics, contraceptives, headaches etc – it was fascinating to see first hand how they relied on their surroundings to survive and used their knowledge of the medicinal powers available.

As a child, I disliked Brussels sprouts and I know I was not the only one! You either love them or hate them. The latter is mainly due to their horrid sulphurous smell that fills the room when they have been over cooked.
 

Today, I love Brussels sprouts. So now, it’s become my aim to help the rest of the Nation fall in love with them too!

Below is a very simple, quick recipe for you to try, not just for Christmas day but throughout the whole winter.

In winter, Mother Nature  provides us with a power house of nutrients needed to protect us against the colds and flus that are flying around this time of year.  

Ingredients;

1 butternut squash – washed and chopped into chunks (with skin on).

2-3 beetroots – washed and chopped into chunks.

2 tsp coriander seeds

2 tsp dried oregano

½ tsp fennel seeds

2 small chillies (optional)

1 garlic clove - crushed

pinch of salt and pepper

1tbsp olive oil.

Method;

Place the squash and beetroot into a baking dish.

In a pestle and mortar pound all the herbs into course powder. Add in the crushed garlic and mix with the olive oil.  Pour the mixture into the baking dish and mix it in with the veg. 

Bake it in the oven 200 C/400 F for about 30 mins.

This side dish goes well with meats and fish or you can just sprinkle goats cheese on it to keep it vegetarian.

Find out the benefits of this dish.

Today, I am proud to say that I made my first batch of Kale ‘crisps’ in my new dehydrator and what a success!  I was so surprised to see how my whole family polished them off in no time. In fact, the kids wanted more!  Kale is such a powerhouse of nutrients that it’s  a fantastic way of getting another green vegetable into the diet in the form of a snack  any time of the day. Whilst I used a dehydrator,  they can also be made in the oven too.

Let’s find out why kale is so good for you!