24/05/2012

Anti-Bloat Detox Drink

Anti-Bloat Detox Drink (directly copied and pasted from Saila Savolainen's Blog Post)

A while back, I came across this Jillian Michaels drink recipe for getting rid of excess water weight.  She recommends using it for seven days in a row and that should flush out all the liquids you're retaining.  When I tried it myself, I didn't lose any weight, but I felt really refreshed and light while drinking it and afterwards.  So I definitely recommend this drink if you're feeling a bit heavy and bloated.  You can also just drink it for one day or do the whole detox.  Here's everything that you need:


INGREDIENTS:
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
-1 tablespoon cranberry juice (no sugar added)
-dandelion infusion tea
-60 oz. (about 1.5 liters) water

STEPS:
1. Brew a cup of dandelion tea (I use Clipper's Dandelion & Burdock tea).
2. Mix the brewed tea with all the other ingredients.
3. Keep in the fridge and enjoy throughout the day (I like to give it a little stir before pouring a new glass). 

It's that simple!  Some people say it makes you feel a little light-headed, but I haven't really had that problem

-Saila

Cathy's Live Super Power Trail-Mix Fiber Bars

These are amazingly healthy power bars! They are a good source of fiber for your digestive system and not too harsh on your colon as some grains might be. They are beneficial to your health in great ways; they are pact with protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, good omegas and give you the energy you need! 
These are truly Super Power Bars!

Ingredients

(soaked for over night)
1 1/2 C raw almonds
1 C       raisins
1/2 C    raw sesame seeds
1/2 C    dried cranberries
1/2 C    sunflower seeds

1/4 C    chia seeds soaked for 15minutes

1 apple, peeled, cored and shredded

(dry ingredients)
2/3 C    ground golden flax 
1/4 C    hemp protein
1/4 C    mesquite pod meal
1/4 C    cacao nibs
1/2 C    oats
10g       powdered stevia

1 tbsp   extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp   raw coconut oil
1/2 C   apple juice

Optional: add 1 tbsp of lemon juice and a dash of salt. 

Drain the soaked ingredients and place them in a food processor. Grind them coarsly. Add the shredded apple, chia seeds, oils and apple juice. Stir in the dry ingredients and mix well.

 (look at the amazing fiber already!)

Dehydrator instructions: Spread onto paraflexx/teflexx sheets about 1cm thickness and score.


Set temperature to 135*F for 2h and then flip over, peel off sheets and set temperature at 115*F for another 4-6h untill dry.

Oven instructions: Spread onto parchment sheets on oven trays about 1cm thickness and score. Set the oven on the lowest temperature (50*C?) and leave oven door slightly open. After 3-5 hours flip over and remove sheet and dry untill dry. Usually over night.

Give it a try!

Want to know the difference with LIVE and RAW food?


19/05/2012

Home Made Coconut Oil Baby Wipes

Here is another recipe for home made baby wipes. Instead of using baby oil, I used coconut oil which is waaaaaaay better for your skin! And it smells so delish!



  • Combine 2 cups of water, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of COCONUT OIL in a mixing bowl. Mix the alcohol and the oil together first, then add the warm water!
  • Fold half of a good quality kitchen paper roll into a babywipe container.
  • Drizzle the liquid mixture over the paper towels. 
  • Let is soak up for 30 minutes.
  • To prevent the wipes from drying out, keep the lid on at all times. 

16/05/2012

Home Made Laundry Deteregent

I have been making our own laundry detergent for some time now. 1, it saves us lots of money, 2 it's ecofriendly, 3 non-toxic.... etc 


I made the dry laundry soap version for some time, and now I have gradually moved onto the liquid version. I prefer the liquid version better since it's more effective and for some strange reason, I feel better when I see suds during the cycle :-)


This is from the Duggar Family Recipes. They are such a neat family! 

Ingredients:

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar (or any good soap)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax



- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

Grape, Flax and Mango Fruit Leather

Step 1 
Puree the grapes, mango and ground golden flax in a blender,

Step 2
Spread onto a parchment paper or onto a dehydrator sheet,

Step 3
Dehydrate in a dehydrator at 115*F or in the oven below 50*C (door slightly open) untill slightly tacky. Roll up with parchement paper or clin film and cut into 1" pieces. Store in zip lock bags. Y

YUMMY!

Home Made Crushed Tomatoes

What to do with tomatoes which you need to use right now?! I got two bags of 'amost off' tomatoes from the food bank today, and I chucked them into the blender with 5 cloves of garlic. Poured the puree into zip lock bags and into the freezer they went! I use crushed tomatoes all the time in my cooking, so this was ideal!


05/05/2012

DIY Citrus Cleaner

A few weeks ago my friend Heidi (blogger of House Wife University) gave me this link for DIY Citrus Cleaner. I am a big fan of non-toxic homecare, and not only does it save our pennies but it saves the planet too. Come to think of it, if my kids happened to drink it, I wouldn't have to call 911. Chemical based cleaning products today are extremely toxic and cause all sorts of illnesses from asthma to migraines.

It's tough on grime, tough on scum, antibacterial and has a pleasent smell. Very easy to make! 




Ingredients

a mason jar or container with tight fitting lid
orange or any citrus peel
quart of white vinegar
spray bottle (for later use)
water

After eating a few oranges, save the peels and place them into the jar/container with the vinegar. Close it tightly and leave to sit for 2 weeks. Two weeks later, discard the peels and fill a spray bottle with half of the vinegar solution and half water.

Excellent! Give it a go!

I am going to try this with lavender, lime, mint, cinnamon sticks, and whatever I can come up with that is antibacterial and has a pleasent smell.