Pancakes are big in our family – the teenagers and toddlers alike love them – and here’s a great recipe from BoinggHealth:
“A few weeks ago we posted a vegan pancake recipe. I’ve been playing around a bit and created this recipe below, which went down very well with the whole family: 1 cup flour (I use spelt or buckwheat) 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda 1 tbsp chia 3 tbsp water 1 cup […]
This isn’t a sad tale – it has a happy ending – but I need to set it in context, so please bear with me.
The 16th July is a sad day in our family as it is the anniversary of the death of my brother, aged 22, in a terrible accident far away from home. It is also a day that is slap bang in the middle of several family birthdays, mine and my son’s included, which makes it difficult to celebrate them without an undercurrent of guilt and sadness.
It was my mum’s birthday last Friday, the 15th, she was 86. We usually try to bring her to ours to help keep it special and her distracted so she’s not home alone thinking about Dave. She rarely gets out, other than to the local corner shop and on the community bus to Asda, and misses her trips to the coast and to local markets.
We had planned lunch out, but the weather was awful, typical St Swithin’s Day weather (legend has it that the day he was buried, the heaven’s opened in floods of tears and that’s been the way ever since on this day). It was cold, windy, dark and rainy.
So, Mum opened her cards and presents and was all set to sit at home, do her crosswords and watch the rain. However, my daughter had sent her a garden centre gift card and we had given her a new bird feeder, so we persuaded her to go to the local garden centre and buy some birdfeed and whatever else she needed. She took some persuading, resigned as she was to a quiet day doing nothing in particular, but she went.
She has restricted mobility so getting her in and out of the car is quite a mean feat and walking is limited. But she came back pleased to have got her bird feed, a gorgeous purple African violet – the last thing my brother bought her (this one will no doubt go the way of all the others and be dead this time next year!) and some little gifts for her neighbours. My husband made a vegetarian curry for dinner and at her request, they had apple pie for dessert – she didn’t want cake and candles. We hoped for better weather next day.
Nope. The weather gods were busy elsewhere. Husband and I despaired. This was terrible. He had planned a trip to the local canal junction to see the boats, feed the ducks, have an ice-cream. Mum and Dad used to spend holidays on the Norfolk Broads, and despite being a non-swimmer, she loved being on a boat and we knew she would enjoy this.
However, after a couple of hours and with a break in the drizzle, I suggested we take a picnic – we could always eat it in the car if necessary – get in the car and see what happens, if it pours down we can turn around and come home, but at least she will have been out, seen some countryside and would have something to tell her neighbours.
I silently asked Dave if he could help with the weather and we set off in the direction of the canal junction.
Lo and behold, the rain stopped, the clouds cleared and the sun – yes, the sun! – came out. Whoopee! Here are some pics of Mum’s Birthday Trip out, which she said she enjoyed every minute of. She saw the boats, watched the ducklings and had her ice-cream. She was tired, but all smiles at the end of the day.
And I’m sure Dave had something to do with it. Thank you, we miss you.
(If you’re viewing this via email, you’ll need to click onto the blog to see the slideshow)
Copyright: Chris McGowan
This punily thin-looking smoothie is deceptively strong in terms of antioxidants, electrolytes, healthy fats, B vitamins, protein and fibre.
Walnuts contain a significant amount of the heart-healthy alpha-linolenic acid or Omega 3 fatty acid. They are rich in antioxidants and contain manganese, copper, vitamin E and the B vitamin, biotin.
Quinoa is a gluten-free alternative wholegrain packed with protein and fibre.
All ingredients are organic except the coconut water, which is unflavoured, unsweetened and contains no additives.
Ingredients
1 Small Ripe Banana
1 Handful of Blueberries
1 Handful of Walnut pieces (1)
1 Dsp Chia Seeds *
1 Tbsp Quinoa Flakes (1)
1 heaped Tbsp CoYo Plain Yogurt
1 Small Glass Coconut Water
Blend, add ice if desired.
Today’s music believe it or not is the first time I have ever listened to One Direction! It was this or Cher on the theme of Strong (get it?), I went with the boys 😊
Copyright: Chris McGowan
Rice salad, whether warm or cold, has long been a favourite in our house. It is quick – essential here! – nutritious and versatile: you can vary the spices or herbs as well as the vegetables. If you keep until next day, heat it through thoroughly.
We use organic basmati rice. Brown rice contains B vitamins, protein and fibre. We always soak it for an hour and then rinse, to remove any arsenic (yes, most rice, even organic, contains a small amount of arsenic from the groundwater it was grown in – more or less, depending on where it was grown). Cook it according to your usual method, but don’t overcook it. It wants to be whole and nutty, not splitting or wet and mushy. If you overcook rice, it acts like sugar in the body and you lose many of the benefits of using wholegrain rice.
Dulse is a sea vegetable. These contain all 56 minerals and trace elements required by the human body for optimal functioning, as well as B6, B12, Iron, Calcium and are an important source of Iodine for a healthy thyroid.
Sprouted Mung Beans add protein, fibre, B vitamins and several minerals, as well as Vitamins C and K.
Ginger is anti-inflammatory and spring onions are prebiotics – they provide the nourishment that probiotics feed on to maintain a healthy gut.
Ingredients
1 Cup Basmati Rice, soaked and rinsed, then cooked in 1 and 1/2 Cups Boiling Water, about 25 minutes. Have a hot dish ready to serve it in so that any moisture disappears and fluff it up lightly with a fork.
1 Tsp Coconut Organic, Raw Coconut Oil
A couple of thin slices of Ginger, finely chopped
A few Spring Onions, depending on their size
2 decent-sized Mushrooms, whatever type you favour, or a few if small, chopped
A few Sugar Snap Peas or Mangetout, trimmed and chopped
A stick of Celery, with leaves, chopped – reserve half for the green salad
About Half a Small Courgette (Zucchini), chopped
Ground Black Pepper
A few splashes of Tamari – not too much because the Dulce is salty
Some Dulse, snipped into small pieces and soaked for a couple of minutes
A couple of handfuls of Sprouted Mung Beans
Method
Very lightly stirfry all the ingredients adding them in the order listed, only adding the Dulse and Mung Beans when the rice is cooked and you’re ready to serve.
It takes only 5 – 10 minutes. Try not to overcook, you want some bite to the vegetables and you want to retain as many nutrients as possible.
Mix together lightly with the rice in a hot dish with a fork.
Serve wth a green salad and a dressing of your choice, with humous, spicy cashew cheese or guacamole.
Copyright: Chris McGowan
Links on my Home page.
For full details of prizes and terms click Here.
Don’t forget, Ends Midnight Tonight BST!
Good Luck!
Copyright: Chris McGowan
Well, only one person had any enthusiasm for the original savoury porridge or Zoats (zucchini or courgette oats), so here is my second try and I liked this much better. I left out the cacao and made it with tiger nut milk which is sweet and creamy (recipe here), but you can use nut milk or soy or rice milk – though the latter will give you a thinner porridge and doesn’t have the same nutritional value. I also used raisins instead of dates to sweeten it, which is what I would normally put in straightforward, everyday porridge.
Courgettes contain heart-healthy potassium, folate (necessary for cell-division), anti-oxidants, B vitamins, iron and zinc.
Have a go, it won’t do you any harm and it might very well do you some good!
Vegan and Gluten-Free if you use gluten-free oats.
Ingredients
1/2 Cup Oats
1/2 Cup Tiger Nut Milk or Horchata
1/4 Cup Water
1/2 Courgette/Zucchini, grated
1/4 Cup Raisins
1 Dsp Shelled Hemp Seeds*
1 Dsp Lucuma Powder* (mild, malted flavour)
1 Tsp Wheatgrass Powder (for extra nutrients – optional)
Goji Berries* and Raw Chocolate Mulberry Chips* to serve.
….
Method
As before, add oats, milk, water and courgette to pan and warm 
through until it starts to cook, stirring well. Cook for about 5 minutes.
Add raisins and cook for another couple of minutes.
Add hemp seeds, lucuma powder and wheatgrass powder, of used. Mix well.
Transfer to a bowl and add goji berries and raw chocolate mulberry chips, and a little more milk of desired.
*
I loved this version! Of course, this is only a template, add whatever flavouring and fruit you like and happen to have.
This is such a satisfying breakfast and starts you off with 1 of your minimum 5 a Day veg and fruit.
We buy our tiger nuts from http://www.thetigernutcompany.co.uk/
* http://www.therawchocolatecompany.com/
Copyright: Chris McGowan
I usually have a juice or smoothie for lunch, but the shopping order had just been delivered and all this fresh salad was calling to me from the confines of the fridge: ‘Let me out, let me out!’ Well, it was a fine day for once even though the sun was still being a bit lazy, and I decided to let them out to play. It’s simple, light and tasty and may look like rabbit food, but it’s full of nutrients, including protein (even in the romaine lettuce!). I’ll be having this today having finished my 7 day juice challenge.
Ingredients
(All organic except the Tamari which is wheatfree)
1 large Romaine Leaf
on which lay
A Large Handful or 2 of Babyleaf & Rocket Salad Leaves
Sliced Ridge Cucumber
1 Thin Stalk of Celery + Leaves (chopped)
3 or 4 Sugar Snap Peas, sliced lengthways
4 Green Olives, pitted & sliced
Lightly Toasted Sunflower, Pumpkin & Sesame seeds splashed with Tamari
Clive’s Organic Humous with lemon*
Black Pepper
*
Arrange to suit your artistic bent – digestion begins with the eyes – and eat at leisure, sitting down at the table. The more relaxed you are, the longer you sit, the more you chew, the more you will digest and absorb. Oh, and switch off the tablet and phone! (Yes, mum!)
Copyright: Chris McGowan
This is the book taken from the inspirational and emotional SuperJuiceMe! Documentary which continues to inspire many people who use it as their starting point when they want to take control of their health, their weight, their chronic conditions etc.
Jason Vale’s juice plans are proven effective, endorsed by celebrities and other health experts and I have used them myself to help with weight, chronic health conditions and to rid my skin of a debilitating, angry-looking rash. (See How I Juiced My Skin Clear).
This plan has the why, the how and the recipes and as with all Jason’s books, it is written in an informal style and is really easy to read, often amusing as well as informative.
The RRP for this book is currently £11.99 and it gets 4.5 stars on Amazon.co.uk
The Second Giveaway is Jason Vale’s The Funky Fresh Juice Book. This is the Pocket Paperback Version 2.
This is a fun book containing 101 Juice and Smoothie Recipes, including recipes from celebrities, cartoon drawings and nutritional information.
As there is a more up-to-date version of this book, I couldn’t find an RRP for it.
The Third Giveaway is open to both UK and Overseas residents
This is the DVD which has inspired so many people to opt for a plant-based diet, ditching the fatty, sugary, processed foods that contribute to chronic health and weight issues. I defy anyone to watch this and not reach for a box of tissues and then make life-affirming decisions concerning their own lifestyle and that of their family.
8 people with 22 chronic and sometimes life-threatening diseases between them spent 28 days on a juice-only diet to see if it could make any improvement in their conditions. For at least a couple of these people, this is a desperate effort to regain control of their health when conventional medical treatment has not worked.
I became aware of this documentary early on because my nephew, Shayan Scott*, was working on it and it was at this time that I began juicing. It is powerful, informative and life-affirming.
The DVD is suitable for play in all regions.
The RRP is £19.99.
Rules and Regulations for Entry
Follow me on Twitter (@thejuicenut)
Like my Facebook page
Subscribe by Email to this blog (click the Follow by Email button on the Home page)
Follow me on Instagram (pearsnotparsnips)
(There are also links on my Home page)
5. Write ‘juicy giveaway’ in the relevant comment box associated with the Giveaway post on any of these sites to let me know you wish to enter the draw.
6. The Giveaway will be launched at Midnight BST on Friday, 8th July, 2016 and end at Midnight BST on Friday, 15th July, 2016.
7. No names or email addresses will be passed on to third parties, nor be used for any purpose other than to contact the winners for postal details for this giveaway and to announce the name or blog of the winner.
8. Winners will be chosen via random.org and notified within 7 days of the end of the giveaway period.
9. One entry per person per NEW follow + ‘juicy giveaway’ comment on any of the social media mentioned above. So if you already follow this blog but become a new follower on Twitter and Facebook, you will get 2 entries. If you become a new email subscriber to this blog, please write ‘juicy giveaway’ in the comment box of this post so I know you want to be entered into the draw.
I hope that’s covered everything! If I’ve left anything out, please leave a comment.
Good Luck!
NB If you decide to do a juice plan, please consult your doctor first.
Copyright: Chris McGowan.
At long last, after a lot of soul-searching about how I could justify buying yet another juicer (see I’ve Been and Gone and Done It AGAIN!!), I decided to take one for the team and bought it so that I could review it on the blog and maybe help someone choose their first juicer. Well, that’s my latest story anyway! (The previous one was that it was an early birthday present, but that didn’t wash as I had also said that of my new camera).
It only arrived yesterday, so we haven’t had chance to give it a thorough testing as I wanted to post the review before the discount price ends at the end of the current Juicemaster Free 7 Day Guided Juice Challenge.
NB This is a centrifugal or fast juicer not a cold press or masticating juicer. It won’t produce quite as much good quality juice as a cold press machine and you can’t keep the juices for as long. Cold Press juicers are heavier and much more expensive. However, this is one of the better fast juicers currently available.
The Positives: First, the Parts
Photos show how the Super Fast can be used left- or right-handed, and the cord at the centre back of the unit.
Slight Minuses, but not deal-breakers:
One last pointer: if you’re used to starting the Retro Cold Press with the stopper initially closed in order to optimise the complete juicing of all the mashed veggies or fruit in the bowl – then don’t with this one! If you do, it will leak through the bottom of the bowl when it overfills (you can’t see the amount of juice in the bowl like you can with the Cold Press).
Oh, and make sure you peel pineapple before juicing!
Overrall, on first use, we really like this juicer. It is so fast and we didn’t have any trouble either setting it up, using it or taking it apart, while cleaning was a doddle.
The bonus in ordering this product is that currently you also receive all this:
Since I already have some of these items – the Super Juice Me! Dvd, 28 Day Plan book and a Funky Fresh Juice recipe book, I will be offering these as a prize in a competition, see next post!
Ps. If you’re thinking of buying a juicer and want to compare this with some others, see Which Juicer?
Copyright: Chris McGowan
So, this parcel arrived this morning. You’ll never guess what was in it! I’m feeling a bit guilty and very over-excited. Also a little embarrassed, not sure I dare say… but let’s open it up and you can share the surprise
Here goes:
I’ve only been and gone and bought the new Retro Super Juicer!* I know, I know, how many juicers can a person use? I tried so hard to resist when this first came out: I have a Retro Cold Press Juicer and a Fusion Fast Juicer for back up, but it just looks so good and by all accounts gives even bettyer results than the much-mourned Phillips 1861 (see Which Juicer?).
Despite 2 fantastic discounts since it came out, I had resisted its temptations. Then I signed up for the Juice Master 7 Day Juice Challenge and last week realised I needed to order some Bacterial Culture supplements and some Juice Bars for my emergency rations. I held off and held off, because I knew I couldn’t trust myself. Then I received an email offering £80 off the juicer for the duration of the juice challenge – £80!!! Panic set in. No … it was sooo tempting, but I couldn’t justify it. And no-one in the family needed a juicer so I couldn’t even say I’ll pass the Fusion on.
Then late Saturday afternoon, I absolutely had to order the bacterial culture capsules, it’s the one supplement I must have when doing a juice-only week: the body gets a good clear-out and it’s necessary to replace the friendly gut bacteria afterwards. I have been so much healthier since I started taking them and have fought off all the viruses my family have thrown at me over the past 2 years.
(The biggest part of your immune system is in the gut, and it’s important to keep it healthy).
So, with a heavy heart, telling myself I was strong enough and intelligent enough not to fall for this latest sales gimmick (but subconsciously feeling a tiny bit excited in anticipation of a quick fix!), I went to the website to place my order. No bacteria capsules. No juice bars. I decided to have a quick look at the juicer to see if there were any reviews. Couldn’t find it other than in a bundle with the blender. Weird, I thought, they must have sold out because of the Challenge and the huge discount.
I picked up the phone. Got the juice bars. Ordered the bacterial capsules to be sent as soon as they came in. ‘Oh, and by the way, I can’t find the new Retro Super Fast Juicer, have you sold out?’ ‘No,’ came the puzzled reply, ‘They’re on the website, down at the bottom of the page’ ‘Really?’ I just happened to have the web page open and quickly scroll down and yes, there they were!
Before I knew what was happening, I was handing over the discount code, selecting the colour – cream to go with the Cold Press and Super Blend – and Bob’s your uncle!
Well, it’s my birthday soon … except I said that when I bought my new camera last week!
I was so excited this morning waiting for the delivery! I wasn’t disappointed.
I’ll give a full review when we’ve used it properly, but it looks really sleek, is lighter than many juicers we’ve tried and a big plus is that it can be used left-or right-handed and as the cord is in the centre of the main unit, there is no problem siting it near a socket on the kitchen counter. It was also easy to assemble and disassemble.
(The waste compartment isn’t fitted properly in the photo, just resting in place, it fits more snugly in reality).
It came with lots of freebies too, books, dvd, wall planner for the 28 day Super Juice Plan.
As I said, more in the review proper. Now, let’s see what she can do …
Copyright: Chris McGowan
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