Raw Chocolate cups

                     

Amazingness is raw chocolate in a little cup. So simple, so easy.

If I am honest I don't really have a recipe, my chocolate, like many things in my life is pretty freestyle. I just enjoy mixing, making and tasting :-) 

Here is a rough guide to how these chocolate cups came to fruition.....

Large heaped spoon of coconut oil gently melted

Maple syrup to sweeten to your taste

Raw Cacao powder about 2 tablespoons

Ground almonds  2 tablespoons 

Pinch of salt

Vanilla 1/2 tsp

Lucuma 1 tsp

Mix really well before adding.......

Big handful of goji berries

Small handful of cacao nibs

4 chopped unsulphered apricots 

Spoon into little silicone cups or whatever container you have and try and let them set before you eat them!! 

 

Superfood Deconstructed Apple Crumble

I love weekend breakfasts and so wish I had more time to enjoy them every day of the week but then I hear you say, they wouldn't be so special.
You can make it as a crumble if you have the time or do the deconstructed version if you need your breakfast urgently, as i tend to ;-)

Apple:
3 Organic apples chopped in a pan….. add,
1tsp baobab powder
1tsp Maca (quite strong tasting so 1/2 if you need to)
2 tsp Lucuma Powder
cinnamon to taste and a splash of water to cook

Cumble:
3 tbps coconut oil
2 tbps coconut palm sugar/syrup or healthy sweetener of choice
1 cup of oats
handful each of pumpkin, sunflower and chia seeds
pink of sea salt
I melted oil and sugar together then added dry ingredients
stir well and then cook in the oven for 10 mins at 170' but keep an eye and turn if needed
I also baked some pecan separately.

Finally a large spooning of Coyo.
Really this was my perfect breakfast.

I am adding a Glossary for my wonderful friend Charlie and anyone else who is interested in the super part of food.

Maca: amazing for strength, energy and balancing hormones, oh and it's a cheeky aphrodisiac too
Baobab: High in Vit C and Potasssium, also helps improve the body's efficient use of calories from food to energy!
Lucuma: Provides us with 14 essential trace elements, including a considerable amount of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
So much goodness !! Be excited !!

Let us Yoga while the cake bakes!

Born out of desperation our Yoga and Baking mornings have got off to a fine beginning. My dear friend Laura had lost all hope in gluten free baking so Peta and I decided we should right this wrong, gather, set a baking mission and of course do some yoga :-) with that our Wild Laurel mornings were initiated.
 We would choose a recipe, make said recipe and while it was in the oven we would Yoga to the delicious nose tingling delights of our baking magic. Let's just say it could not go wrong.

Today's recipe is from Susan Jane White's The Extra Virgin Kitchen

Praline Cupcakes
1/2 cup Cocoa Powder (I used Raw Cacao)
1/4 Coconut Flour
I teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 cup raw agave/ honey
3 Tablespoons almond butter or Soya Yogurt
3 eggs beaten
5 tablespoons Coconut Oil melted
1 tablespoon Tamari
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

Praline Frosting
2/3 cup Cashew Butter
1/2 cup Maple Syrup
2 teaspoons Tamari
taste if you like a little more salt and add tamari accordingly


Preheat oven to 180'/160'fan or 350'F
Sift Cocoa, coconut flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.

Beat together, sweetener with Almond butter or soya yogurt with a large balloon whisk and blend in all remaining ingredients.

Add the wet mix to the dry and blend thoroughly with the balloon whisk until silky smooth.

Prepare your muffin trays with cupcake liners or as we did use brilliant star and heart shaped silicon muffin cups.
Mixture will be super runny so trying not to cover everything in this deliciousness, finding any excuse to lick all bowls and spoons repeatedly! Fill each cup about 2.5 cm

Cook for max 20 mins but keep an eye on them as ours cooked pretty quick and our second batch that we cooked less were more delectable. Coconut flour can be a little sticky in the mouth so these cupcakes need to be super moist to enjoy their decedent healthiness.

Mix frosting ingredients and smoother each little star with a heap of paradise.

Tip: The extra virgin chef states not to use maple, barley malt or brown rice syrup as sweetener in the mixture because it "misbehaves" with the coconut flour.
Coconut flour behaves unlike any other flour so don't substitute it with another flour, it won't work!

We baked 30 and devoured rather a lot of them with coyo and fruit.
Amazingness on all accounts……………

Green Smoothie- Current Favouite :-)

                     

There are green smoothies and there are green smoothies and then well..... The options are endlessly green ... My current favourite protein potent smoothie is this..... 

1 1/2 cups Oat milk

Ice/ water 

Teaspoon Matcha Green tea Powder

2 teaspoons green powder of choice -the Pukka Clean Greens packs a serious punch giving you your daily umph in the form of Nettles, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, Parsley, Spirulina, Chlorella, seaweed, Kales sprouts, the list goes on!  (I think I need to write a whole article on this amazingness!!) 

2 large handfuls of fresh spinach

1/2 courgette?! 

I scoop of Sun Warrior plain vegan protein powder 

Cinnamon

Handful Chia seeds

Vanilla essence

Dash of coconut palm sugar if you need a little sweetness or a bit of banana is tasty too 

All ingredients can be modified to your taste buds so feel free to experiment 

It's a brilliant breakfast but also makes for an amazing afternoon pick you up. Enjoy it in all it's divine wild greenness 

X

Cultivating Your Creative Core

                   

I am often asked what the best way is to strengthen our core. And really it is simple. Use your body well, do the work and build awareness. Here is how...........

The breathing is often the last thing that comes together in our yoga practice but it is the most important. 

The breath is what guides us to a place of deep meditation during our movement but it also supports our practice physically. I often say "power your body with your breath , think of the breath like the wind in your sails" 

So during your practice you should inhale from your solar plexus area, expanding around the complete circumference of your lower ribs and exhale from your naval centre gentle pulling your belly button in towards your spine. ( place your hands on rib cage and then on belly until you get the hang of it) This is key as it keeps the yogic locks engaged so you have the strength and elevation needed for a strong, supported, smooth practice. But it also means you work your deep core muscles, all four layers of them and of course their connecting muscles that help create the beautiful moving phenomenon that we are :-)

We often get caught up in wanting an enviable washboard belly but we must be careful not to block our creative, sexual centre at the core, we want to be strong and toned but not held and ridgid. On a physical level strengthening our core is key for lower back support, stabilising the pelvis and allowing us to open our chest and give us more heart space. And on a subtle level we need freedom at the core be be expressive, sensual and move with tha natural ebb and flow of life. 

When we use our bodies in a dynamic way, as we do during a flowing yoga class our whole body is engaged at every stage. Our bodies become a continuous web, every muscle working together, there should be no separation, no isolation, watch a cheetah run, a deer jump or a snake move through the grass and feel that in your body as you move. Find your feline agility, the spring in your step, don't miss an opportunity to use your body properly and you will see your body change shape, be sculpted, feel light and athletic. 

I used to joke with my father that my body was my earthly vessel, but in earnest I did have a sense from an early age that this vessel was sacred and I needed to care for it. So remember to love, honour and be kind to your body. It's the only one you've got and my goodness it tries its hardest to be the best! 

Although you need to be using your core throughout your practice here are some poses that will deepen your awareness and increase your core strength 

1. Dandasana The Plank- plank as often as you can. Hold it for 10 breaths and build up, make sure your chaturunga is slow and controlled as you lower yourself towards the earth.

2. Bakasana The Crow. Don't be fooled by thinking you need arm strength. It's really a core asana 

3. Sirsasana Headstand- by doing your headstand against the wall you miss the most import lesson, how to engage and have full control over the inversion with your core. You may be upside down but you aren't doing headstand! Use the wall as your emergency but try not to touch it. Then Pike and learn what those tummy muscles are really made of! 

                               

Everybody's Easter Cookies

It's safe to say I like to bake, Friday has surreptitiously become the day for exploring new recipes and creating divinely delicious treats to healthily indulge in over the weekend.
This weekend I spent in the countryside visiting my God daughter Eleanora. Her mother, who has proclaimed total apathy towards baking leaves it up to me to cut the cookie dough.
But…."no eggs, no gluten, no nuts and no sugar"  Perfect, Just how I like it!

125g Vegan Margarine or Goats butter
4 tbsp Coconut Palm Sugar
I tsp Vanilla Essence
150g Gluten free flour
70g Self raising Gluten free flour

I am certainly not aspiring to be Heston but I am an explorer and love to experiment and mix it up. This was a basic biscuit recipe that I have gently doctored to meet the health requirements I desire without compromising on the taste.
I'd rather just lick maple syrup out of the bowl than eat a cookie that didn't cut it.

Keep the heat low. the slower you cook them the more shortbready they become.
I say 175'C but you could probably go lower.
Mix butter, sugar and vanilla in to a smooth paste
Sift in the flour
Roll mixture into a log and refrigerate for 30 mins or so
Then cut cookie sized slices roll in your hands to soften and flatten on to a cookie tray.
Press a fork in to the top to make a nice home made pattern.
Or for a special occasion roll out the dough to 1cm thickness and use fun cookie cutters. I am a stars and hearts fan myself.
Place in the oven for 15 mins or until golden, Turning them once during baking.

Everybody loves an easter cookie :-)

Wild Nettle Soup.

I have seen a few posts about wild foraging so I thought I would share mine!
Nettles are packed full of health benefits, way too many for me to list without taking up too much of your time and space but the most relevant to us all are these:
-Stimulate the lymph system to boost immunity
-Help Support Adrenals
-Reduce inflammation in the body
-Supports the endocrine system by helping the thyroid, Spleen and Pancreas

I have tried a few nettle recipes but this is my favourite from Susan Jane White at The Extra Virgin Kitchen
On asking my mother where the best place for nettles was she replied "Everywhere! On the drive, up the dairy, down by the cottages, Everywhere!" so I wasn't short of picking spots. Armed with rubber gloves and a plastic bag I set off. The small tender nettles are the best, but they are also the stingiest, so watch your ankles!

You need………..

Half a carrier bag of nettle leaves
1 leek
4 white onions
1 head of Garlic
2 litres Veg Stock
1 cup of frozen peas (optional)
Olive or coconut oil
Your best salt and Pepper

I wrapped the Garlic in Silver foil and put in the aga for 20 mins or until sguidgy, Your oven will need to be at about 180'
Sweat the leeks and Onions in a little oil until they look tender and translucent, add a little water if needed.
Wash the nettles well, remember to wear your rubber gloves, don't get this far and forget they sting!
Place the nettles in the pan with the onions and leek and add the stock.
Add a little salt and pepper and then bring to the boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 5 mins
Add the peas if you are using them, they add delicious creaminess and will cook quickly as you prepare to blend your soup.
Once the soup is blended squeeze in your roasted garlic and stir it through.

This a brilliant soup as part of a spring clean or any time with a hunk of rye bread and some soft Pecorino
Please share your wild recipes with us :-)

Detox with Delicious Soup

I'm not big on Juicing at this time of year but long to feel clear headed and clean again so with some inspiration from Mind Body Green I made this divine vibrant Soup.

4 courgettes
2 sticks of Celery
double handful of green beans
Large handful of Parsley (no stalks)
Salt or Braggs amino acids to taste

Simply chop all veg and fill the saucepan half way up the veg with filtered water and simmer until tender.
Place in the blender with the parsley and some Ghee if wanted and blend until smooth.
I added a little braggs in the blender and then some Mallorcan salt flakes to serve.
The brightest, greenest, healthiest, simplest soup I've ever made
Happy Monday  

2014……..To give up or to take up

That is the question!
Do we give up something we love or take up doing good for humanity? Do we give up being lazy or take up being proactive?
What ever we choose for our new year's resolution there is always a positive, so even giving up is taking up and something or someone will benefit from your commitment….It might be your lungs if you've given up smoking or your best friend if you've given up complaining ;-)  if your new years dedication
feels like a hardship, don't focus in on "you" and what you're lacking but broaden your perception, widen your awareness and know that you are doing good.

I have given up sugar but what I have actually done is taken up better health, the ability to think clearly and looking 10 years younger!! In my weaker moments I feel I am denying myself a great love, ss a self certified Chocolate Addict I feel abused and abandoned as if I am being punished; but in my sane moments I know I can't allow an entire bar of Amelia Rope's Rose Ecuadorian Milk Chocolate in it's divine pink foil and brown wrapping to get the better of me and I am in fact making conscious choices, rewarding myself and honouring my wellbeing.
So when you waver and that glass of wine is calling you, just take a few deep breaths and remember you are honouring yourself, your health and wellbeing.

We are still living for the moment, seizing opportunities as they come…. just in a conscious, healing, healthy way.
Good health both mentally and physically brings great happiness :-) So don't give up, I promise you, you will feel amazing!!

Winter Elixir

I have been a little lax, eating way to many chocolate chip biscuits, drinking more than usual and of course not getting the sleep I should so it's inevitable that a tickle in my throat should show me my body isn't mad about the way it's being treated! 

 

A night of no sleep with a cold taking hold I vow I would be rid of it in 3 days! eek, that's not long to nail something everyone has told me lingers for 2 weeks!

This is my morning tonic, the top 4 are a good base, the following can be added when you need ultra herb help :-)

Manuka Honey Super high potency 15+ or higher if you can
It's full of natural pollens, enzymes and antibacterial properties to help support your immune system and fight off winter viruses

Lemon rich in Vit C and flavanoids both useful when fighting the cold or flu virus. It also stimulates the liver, dissolves poisons such as Uric Acid (the nasty poison that gives people gout) and cleanses the digestive tract.

Turmeric-freshly grated
Improves digestion, strengthens immunity, decreases inflammation and adds gorgeous luster to the skin. Yes please :-)

Ginger -freshly grated
cleanses the blood, reducing toxicity and inflammation in the body. It's also great for digestions as it stokes the fire in the belly.

If you are feeling super brave and need an extra kick you can add Garlic, almost too punchy for me but amazing.

Garlic strengthens the heart, improves digestion and boosts immunity

Cinnamon is a warming spice, good for circulation and rammed full of antioxidants, it also stabilised blood sugar levels so brilliant to have in the morning to keep you balanced.

I could keep going as there are so many wonderful herbs and spices but shall make Black Pepper the last uber spice to add to your tonic.

Black Pepper is great for congestion as it liquifies mucous and helps to eliminate toxins.

With a cold or the flu we feel puffy and heavy, our hands get swollen and our eyes get droopy……Just writing it makes me frown!  This is all inflammation, in fact much of the bunged up feeling in our head is inflammation of the mucus membrane not just the snot!

But ultimately our immune issues starts in the belly which is why it's so important to get that working properly. Many of the above spices help with digestion and the metabolic fire. When our digestion is good, not "normal" as the NHS would say but you feel comfy, not bloated and are evacuating AT LEAST once a day with ease then your body has a chance to fight the battles it needs to at this time of year.

Add warm, not boiling water and enjoy in the morning and all day long. Any excuse to lick the honey spoon :-)

Your body speaks...... The food your body needs

The biggest problem is that over the next few weeks in the frantic social run up to Christmas, when we are tempted by continuous parties and indulgences, late nights and extended fun what we really need to be doing is staying healthy and resting so our bodies can build and restore. Now that I listen to my body I am craving warming, healing foods. I look at a cucumber and just "know" it's wrong, even an avocado somedays just seems too damp. Why would you want to eat a cold wet vegetable when your body is trying to keep warm and dry.

How do we still think that a salad is healthy when are bodies don't "really" want it or worse still why are our minds so programmed that they convince our bodies that we do actually want it!
It's time to begin to listen to the body, I promise you, it is speaking, even if you can't hear it!!

Here is the first of my warming recipes to lead you healthily towards the winter solstice and beyond....

Buckwheat Pancake with Buffalo Mozzarella and Spinach

Cook the tomatoes under the grill
Sauté the courgettes in a little Braggs Amino Acids (or salt and pepper) and oil if needed
Add spinach at the end just so it's wilted.

Buckwheat groats (If you like you can soak them over night which makes them a little easier to digest)
Any kind of milk you choose and a splash of water
Salt pepper maybe some rosemary or mixed herbs to season
Blend so it's a runny batter , think crepe batter more than waffle mix

Cook in a little Olive or Coconut oil.

Once you turn the pancake add.......
Buffallo Mozzarella or sub with Sheep's Feta
Spinkle with fresh herbs, I used Thai Basil
Spinach/courgette
Tomatoes on top

Can be folded as a pancake or dressed like a Pizza :-)

Pleasures Please

I have observed that we spend much of our time discussing and doing things we don't want to do.....And it seems feeling guilty about the things that we do want to do...........Why is it so naughty to eat some chocolate cake or take the afternoon off to go to a gallery? Why is it we see fit to chastise ourselves for doing things we actually enjoy? 

I decided to spend some time collating a list of the things that really gave me pleasure and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't all frivolous fun, over indulgence and laziness.
It began with obvious points like, spending time with friends and eating chocolate, I then ventured to cheekier things like indulging in a vodka Soda and dancing all night long on tables and then I got a little bolder and ventured in to more intimate realms. No examples needed ;-)
Once you start, the list is endless and takes you on a journey of all your greatest and simplest desires.

I realised how much pleasure I got from buying flowers for my alter, running barefoot in the park and even tidying my bedroom! Some of the things that seem like such hardship at the time are the most rewarding. There is something so satisfying about the ache you feel after a work out or looking at a sparkling clean fridge.

This Pleasure list was a simple excersise but such a rewarding one. The hardest part is committing to do all the things that bring you pleasure on a regular basis. Don't just gaze at the list longingly, there needs to be action!
I chose to do at least one thing a day that gave me pleasure. And that wasn't just eating chocolate! Which I do anyway. Pick things you find harder, like going to a gallery, hosting a dinner party or watching the sunset and make plans to make them happen.



My pleasure week could look a bit like this..........tidy my house, bake a healthy cake, walk barefoot in the grass, buy beautiful flowers for my alter, discover a new chocolate flavour or indulge in one I already love, spend time with the goddesses in my life (In this case being silly)and kiss a handsome man.
It makes me smile just reading about the possibility and doing them just makes my shine.

Share your pleasures please!! keeping the steamy ones a secret for yourself and chosen accomplice.

Big love x

Ridiculously Tasty Healthy Courgette Muffins

When a rainy day hits there is nothing better than hibernating in the kitchen. Following on with my courgette obsession and while they are in season I thought I'd share another recipe.
My baking usually begins by looking in the fridge to see what veg I have, it somehow feels less indulgent if there are vegetables in the mix.
I found a recipe that had some of my favourite things, Courgette, Ginger, Spelt and Cinnamon..... and doctored it a little to suit what I had available. 

Courgette & Ginger Spelt Muffins

Originally from Babycakes by Erin McKenna

Makes 12 muffins depending on the muffin case used. 

2 cups spelt flour

1/2 cup ground flax seeds

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

1/2 cup coconut oil

3/4 cup agave syrup

3/4 cup rice milk

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

2 cups zucchini, shredded

I ended up using Doves Gluten free flour as had no spelt and just added an egg white to bind the mixture. Vegans can use Xanthan Gum 

I also replaced the coconut oil with apple puree.

I also added some final touches, sprinkling coconut palm sugar and some seeds on top before I put them in to bake. 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line muffin tin with liners, or use amazing rubber ones in Stars and hearts.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, flax seeds, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  Add the ginger, oil, agave, rice milk, and vanilla to the dry ingredients and stir until smooth.  Fold in the Courgette.  Fill the cups evenly with 1/3 cup of batter and bake on the center rack for 22 minutes, rotating the pan 180 degrees after 15 minutes.  

To test the muffins, insert a toothpick into the center.  The muffins are ready when the toothpick comes out clean.  I personally like them a little stickier so under cook them, your call. 

Let stand 15 minutes then transfer and cool.  

I have eaten them for breakfast, lunch, tea and dinner and they seem work well at any time of day 

They were a huge hit and even my nieces loved them, so brilliant snack for the kids too.

A Common Courgette

I love this vegetable, it is so versatile, user friendly and of course Green!
While we mostly eat them sautéed or fried, (Zucchini fritti are too good!) I actually love them raw, grated or spiralised.


My mothers garden is always full of them, often in such abundance they turn in to enormous marrows! Rather more tasteless and much harder to cook to satisfaction.
So I am always on the hunt for new and exciting ideas and this is my latest invention ......

Quinoa cooked as per instructions. When cooking for 2 add a large teaspoon of Bouillon, or 1/2 stock cube  You can always add a little more to taste.
Courgette or Marrow- Use a veggie peeler to thinly slice into long thin strips, sprinkle with Apple cider vinegar.
Runner beans from the garden lightly steamed
Hard sheeps cheese cut in strips, (My sister added feta when she had left overs for lunch the following day.)
Avocado
Sprouted lentils
Mint
Salt peper or Braggs amino acids (health food store ) to taste.
easy!
 

What is your Wild Abandonment?

What does Wild Abandonment mean to you? If you are a mother it could mean leaving your baby at the coat check while you dance the night away and if you are a gardener you have an image of your flowers ravaged by weeds. At first glance it can seem like a negative, something frivolous, to be ashamed of but really the image that is conjures is one of release, freedom and total nakedness!

As I walked bare foot in the park today I told my friend Siobhan that I was obsessed with wild abandonment, a sense of exploring with no limits, loving with no shame and experiencing a life that stimulates all your senses.  It is I added "quite an intense way of living" leaving few moments when the mind is happy with what is and a feeling of always wanting more.
Over the past few year I have become aware of my thrill seeking tendency and made my 2013 mid year resolution..... "to be present in every moment" because otherwise I am always somewhere else!


I spent much of this year "about to go...." or "....just back" and it consumed my life. Everything squeezed into three week blocks. So in an attempt at not being homesick for being away  I chose to spend the summer here, me myself and I, no escaping, just being, no bungee jumping, just being and it has been an interesting journey to the wild abandonment within.


My yoga life teaches me to be present, to breath and be present, to move and be present. Mindfulness, awareness and connection are words I use to guide people to a sense of stillness and ease. And there is something so beautiful about not having a need for anything other than what is, to be content with the here and now.

I will never loose my thirst for adventure and why would I want to?! but it is essential to find a sense of wild abandonment in our every day life. In the freedom we give ourselves, the choices we make, the friendships we keep, our teaching and our passions. We don't need to be climbing a mountain or tight rope walking to feel that sense of adventure, we just need to be present and true.  

Wild: Not tamed or domesticated
Abandonment: to yield (oneself) without restraint or moderation; give (oneself) over to natural impulses usually without self control.

In Short......Get naked, mind body and soul.

x

Chocolate Sunday Smoothie

I was peckish and it was too cold to go outside so I made a wholesome filling smoothie from what ever I had in the house, not usual household ingredients I grant you but once you are on the chocolate smoothie path they will become staples!
about 1 1/2 cups of Home made Oatmilk
2 tablespoons raw Cacao Powder
teaspoon Maca
handful of goji berries
dessert spoon of Coconut palm sugar
dessert spoon of ground flax
drop of rose essence
drop of Vanilla essence
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon to taste
1/2 teaspoon probiotic powder
1/2 banana
3 ice cubes

The healthiest Sunday tea time you ever had ;-)

Happy homemade Granola

The best rainy Saturday morning remedy, delicious Green Tea and freshly baked homemade granola.

Grab a saucepan and place over low heat.
Large Table spoon of coconut oil, desert spoon of coconut palm sugar or sweetener of choice, vanilla essence and lots of organic oats. Stir well and put on a baking tray, then place it in the oven or under the grill.
Keep an eye on it as they can burn pretty quick.
Remove from oven and add maca powder, cinnamon, goji berries, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds.
I don't cook the seeds as I usually soak and dehydrated them, this starts a germination process which releases enzyme inhibitors and makes them more nutritious and easier to digest. The heat would kill these now live nutritious seedlings. If you haven't soaked them then it's ok to cook them.
Let cool and add rice milk or Kara coconut milk or eat warm directly from the pan!

Oats are brilliant at calming the nervous system and helping heat the body through winter. My father always reminded me that the Scottish won their battles on the staying power of their porridge.
Cinnamon balances blood sugar levels and is packed with Anti Oxidants.
Maca is an incredible root that the Inca's used to increase energy and stamina. It's also amazing at balancing hormones and renown for increasing sex drive.
Goji berries contain many of our daily macro nutrients and have been proven to increase energy levels, athletic performance, calmness and the feeling of health and happiness.
What more do you want from your humble Granola?!
p.s make a small batch unless you have diamond force self control. By 1pm I had eaten the lot..........and am working on my new found super human powers :-)

Cook Off!

In an attempt to ease us softly into and carry us gently through winter my friend Anna and I decided to start hosting small, relaxed dinners. Surrounding ourselves with people we love or those who are loved by people we love and to experiment with delicious new recipes.
Last night we initiated the group with Roast Pork, a large salad full of treats and twists, new Potatoes and a raw chocolate Ganache.
A veritable feast for a Tuesday night.
Our choice in menu was extremely impromptu and having had grand plans for a rack of Lamb the butcher was out of stock and Anna bought Pork, which neither of us had ever cooked before. Having both been vegetarian for many years the source and appreciation of the meat is very important to us both and something we keep at the forefront of our minds.

While Anna was in charge of the roasting I decided that we needed a healthy salad full of sweetness and crunch. Cranberries, apricots and toasted nuts sprung to mind and this is what I ended up with.


Green salad leaves, spinach, pea shoots and tender leaves
Walnuts, pumpkin seeds and cranberries all toasted
Dried apricots finely chopped.

With a dressing of:
Olive oil
White wine vinegar
Freshly squeezed orange
Grated ginger, more than you think if you like ginger
Tamari soy sauce
Honey
Salt and pepper

You will have to taste and explore flavours as I did but it wants to be fairly sweet to go well with the pork.
Thanks to Kyril's advice I toasted the cranberries making them chewy and caramelised and also discovered how these tiny power berries were farmed.
Nutritionally they are a great source of Vit E( Alpha Tocopherol brilliant for anti ageing) and Vit K, as well as a good source of dietary fiber, Vit C and Manganese.
Grown in northern Europe, Canada and northern states of the US they are in season now so make the most of them.


The evening is really about sharing, discovering and connecting and food is a wonderful way to do that.
I feel blessed to have a love of good food, a passion for exploring and a wonderful soul family to share in the Journey.

So "Cook Off " is born and I look forward  to our winter cocoon of  fodder,friends and frolics.

Spiced pumpkin soup for breakfast please.......

I love having friends over and often forget how much. So this weekend in celebration of Halloween and in honour or my friend Santiago who was over from Mexico, I decided to have a Pumpkin Soup party.

For bites I oven baked some cashews in a little olive oil and spices, The most heavenly healthy nuts you've ever tasted.
Then we had Soup..............
Everyone asked for the recipe so I promised to share it. It's more ingredients than a recipe as I tend to be quite free style in the kitchen but here is a good guide:

2 medium Onions gently cooked in coconut oil
A dash of Braggs Amino acids (amazing healthy salt replacement made from essential amino acids, find it in any health food shop) and or salt and pepper
Add One medium/large pumpkin/butternut squash
4 cans of coconut milk, or Kara the lighter coconut milk used for drinking and cereals
Thai Green spices, garlic, green chilli, lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime, coriander
(You can also use a pure healthy ready made paste. I love Thai Taste which you can find in all good super markets.)
Taste and season, I love a bit of spice but you can also leave out entirely.
It fed about 12 people in cups not bowls, but with some left over that I had for breakfast with guacamole and oat cakes, before I went to rehearsals for a film and had to do Yoga moves in 4 inch metal heels! an usual Saturday

You are welcome for dinner any time, to cook or taste, share and enjoy.
Let me know how your soup tastes and any freestyling you got up to that could add to the Pumpkin soup experience x

You can do Yoga!

........Simple steps to overcoming the initial challenges of Yoga.

1.   Start at the beginning

You maybe sporty and fit but yoga is complex and getting to know it and feel comfortable with it can take a few sessions. It is understandably disheartening to see the person next to you wrap their leg around their head when you still can’t detect your toes. Beginners gives you a chance to know the basics, start at your own pace, understand your body better and get to grips with the simple balances and sequences before you move on to more challenging things. Don’t be ashamed to start at the beginning

2.  Explore all the options

Finding the right class at the right time that’s not too far away can be a challenge. But there are many options to choose from. You can go to a studio for a group class, gather some friends in your own home or at work or even do one to one sessions. Find out what works so that you can have a regular practice and see real benefits in your body and life.

3.  Find the right teacher

For both your physical and mental evolution on your Yoga journey you need to find a teacher who will guide you in the right way. You may not know what you want from your practice but you will know if you feel great after class! Physically challenged as well as mentally stimulated. Find a teacher that pushes you to explore your practice and that you feel comfortable with.

4.  Find a style that suits you

There is yoga for everyone and finding a style that suits you is vital. You may like a slow relaxing class that is restorative or you may like something more dynamic and flowing that gets the heart rate up and the body moving. Each style has its challenges and you can even chop and change depending on how you feel. Never feel stuck. Yoga is about harmony and flow so enjoy exploring what works for you.

5.  Practice regularly

To do anything properly and really reap the rewards you have to be doing it regularly. Just as the other focuses in your life from work to relationships, Yoga requires a certain degree of commitment and dedication in order to fully appreciate the power of the practice. One day a week is a good start and already a huge commitment in our hectic lives but you may find yourself wanting more

 6.    Stop trying to be “Perfect”

There is no perfect in Yoga, there is just you, your body and the way you move. It is your own Warrior 1 and nobody else’s shoulder stand. All our bodies and minds are different, responding and reacting to life and its hurdles in our own unique way. Striving for perfection will only lead to disappointment. Yoga teachers are there to guide you, keep you safe and share their knowledge. Helping you to understand that “Perfect” is a much bigger place than you thought.

         7. Don’t Let your Yoga Ego get in the way.

We all want to be amazing at everything we do, run faster, jump higher, bend further. But with yoga you have to know your limits and they can be quite humbling. You might never be able to do what the person next to you is doing, not in a million years, know that before you start and just go on your own journey. You are your bench mark, so shed your yoga ego and enjoy where you are today without being lazy ;-)


Laurella@yogamovement.co.uk