Two for Tea… and Tea for YOU!

Yes you heard me, tea for you! I am giving a away a whole tin of Nourish Tea’s looseleaf tea. If you haven’t tried one of their teas yet then you are truly missing out. Nourish tea is a Toronto based company that brings the purest and most wholesome organic teas to consumers. Their tea spectrum ranges from green teas to white teas, black teas and their newest line of amazing herbals teas. However a favourite among many is Chai and for that reason I am going to give away a whole tin of YUMMY CHAI – but first let’s talk about Chai!

This flavourful blend of traditional Indian spices like cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper and other warming delicious spices that make this tea unique. If you want to find out more on chai read my post.There are some great reasons here as to how chai tea began and what chai actually means. Most traditional chai is made from black tea, however you can also make it with red tea if you have a caffeine sensitivity like me. Every now and then, I treat myself and enjoy nourish teas’ chai and it is fabulous and fresh.

For me…this tea is best in the morning!

Marni’s Morning Chai Latte – click here for other Nourish Tea Recipes by Marni

1-2 tsp Yummy Chai

2 cups vanilla rice milk or almond milk

1 tbsp honey

pinch of cinnamon

1. In a small pot bring “milk” to a boil. Lower head and add Chai tea. Stir and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

2. Pour through a tea steeper into a large mug.

3. Stir in honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Now in order to be the owner of this delicious tea…I need a couple of things from you! There are a number of ways you can win this contest.

1. Leave a comment here and tell me your favourite kind of tea or why you love Chai!

2. Post a link to this post on your blog and come back here letting me know you did so!

3. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet this post and your favourite tea and let me know on this post! You can also click on Twitter Icon at bottom!

4. Become a Fan of Delicious Knowledge and leave a comment on my fan page and/or on my blog! You can also click on Facebook Icon at bottom!

5. Follow my blog and of course, leave a comment!

I will then assign a number to every post, comment and tweet  for the next week and then randomly pick a number. (This means of course you can share more than once in multiple ways – as it will only increase your chances to win!) I will then announce the winner on my blog and get in contact with you!

It’s Tea Time!

Sugar n’ Spice

If there were two words to sum up the month of October it would be sugar and spice. Sugar is what makes Halloween so popular. It is not the fun and cute costumes, the pumpkins or the decorations, it is the empty calories that fill up the bags for millions of kids all across North America that make this holiday so memorable. If you were to rethink the concept of Halloween -you could change this and still make it fun and full of “sweetness”. Not to mention, you would be doing teenagers and kids all over a huge favour in the long run. In case you didn’t know, there are so many delicious healthy treats that you could be giving out on Halloween. If you’ve got kids of your own, you could be doing what a friend of mine does, Halloween in reverse. Invite all of your kids friends over…and make them most decadent chocolate cake, cookies etc. using natural organic ingredients, whole grain flours, maple syrup, real cocoa powder and then later have your kids hand out naturally sweetened lolly pops, chocolates, gummies, or anything else that is fun and naturally “colourful”. That way your kids can still dress up, get in their dose of sweetness and have a great time!

On a whole other topic…there is spice…the almighty contrast that compliments sweetness. Spice is thrown in the mix because the fall season begs for warming spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom. All delicious and all can bring flavour and natural sweetness to anything created in the kitchen. One of my favourite things to make this time of year that blends both worlds together is cinnamon baked apples. Not only are you getting the natural sweetness from the apples, which of course would sweeter if they are local, but they are full of fiber and taste delicious when they are baked. Then you top them off with a scrumptious mixture of maple syrup, brown rice syrup, raisins and some nuts such as almonds or walnuts. There is no healthier way to have dessert, snack or breakfast then to bake up some apples and top them with this glaze and spices such as cinnamon and ginger. These spices are warming and compliment the apples – what better combination than apples and cinnamon ?

So get your sugar n’ spice on and have fun with some “natural” alternatives to sugar and some warming spices and make this time of year, happy, healthy fun for the whole family!

Happy Halloween!

Baked Cinnamon Apples

Ingredients:

6-8 organic apples (braeburn, fuji, honey crisp, royal gala)

¼ cup chopped raisins

1 cup almonds or walnuts, chopped or ground

1 tbsp brown rice syrup

1 tbsp maple syrup

½-1 cup apple juice

1 tbsp cinnamon

Fresh ginger

(optional extras clove powder, cardamom pods,  allspice)

1 Tablespoon Coconut oil

Preheat oven to 375F

1. Core apples, leaving the bottom intact to prevent leakage
2. Finely grind or chop nuts by hand or in a food processor. In a medium bowl, combine ground nuts, cinnamon, raisins and syrups and mix well.
3. Stuff the mixture into each of the apples and place them into a small glass baking dish.
4. Pour the apple juice on top of the apples and into the baking dish.
5. Bake in flat corning ware greased with coconut oil, uncovered for 20 minutes and baste apples with juice at bottom and continue to bake for another 20-30 minutes or until tender.

The Sexiest and Healthiest Martini you will ever Drink!

Red Spicy-Tini
1 ½ cup pomegranate juice
½ cup apple juice
¾ cup sake (optional)
¼ cup black cherry juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar
splash of fresh ginger juice and/or lime juice
4 cinnamon sticks

In a martini shaker, pour all the ingredients except the cinnamon sticks over ice and shake or stir very well to chill. Strain and pour into martini glasses and garnish with cinnamon sticks

So there you have it, one of the healthiest martini recipes you will ever have! Jam packed with antioxidants and vitamins, this martini is a nice treat for any special occasion.
Those who know me, know that I am not an advocate for alcohol; however, a tasty martini with delicious wholesome ingredients makes it all worth while.
Especially if you are not a drinker, having just one of these is just enough-your palate and your senses will be more than satisfied. You don’t even have to add the sake – as this makes a delicious virgin cocktail.

If you haven’t heard of or tried sake – let me tell you it’s worth the try – at least once.

Sake is fermented from steamed rice, yeast and koji (a bacterial starter) and water.
Sake also happens to be rich in amino acids and naturally occurring carbohydrates. Sake also has no sulfites, and is therefore an excellent replacement for those who like white wine but have an allergic response to sulfites that causes asthma-like symptoms. So as you can see for being an alcohol, sake is pretty natural with only it’s four ingredients.

Sake also has a reputation as a love potion. In Japan drinking sake is very sacred and should be sipped for enjoyment and pleasure – as sex in Japan is something to savor.

As good as sake is, especially in this recipe, make sure you don’t drink to much or you won’t see straight-it really hits you much harder than other alcohols because it’s so natural. The good news is that sake generally doesn’t give you a hangover. Which I believe is something worth mentioning.

So if you are having an occasion and want to make something a little extra special, serve up some sake cocktails and garnish them with fun things like cinnamon sticks, fresh raspberries or lime slices.

Nothing like warming up to some Hot Apple Pie!

Choosing the right warming foods to eat during these below freezing cold days is key nourishing you body and soul. It’s not enough to just take a hot shower and have a bowl of soup. There are in fact some particular foods and spices that warm up your body up from the inside out. The body naturally craves, starchy, heavy and sweet foods during the winter season. So instead of going for the processed stuff like donuts, Alfredo sauces, cakes and pies or other rich and dense foods which leave you feeling lethargic and draggy – not to mention the calories they pack in. Why not try making your own satisfying creations in the kitchen! You can still fulfill your cravings by choosing the right ingredients. Not only will you be satisfied with just one serving but you can also feel great knowing that you made it from scratch!

Choosing warming foods like cooked grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, whole grain pasta’s or baked yams and even a variety of soups and stews are sure to keep you warm during these frigidly cold days. You can even satisfy those sweet cravings with some home baked goodies like muffins and pies made with whole grain flours and natural sweeteners. If you are on the go, get yourself a reusable stainless steel mug and fill them up with warm herbal teas to sip throughout the day. When you are at home, brew yourself your own loose leaf teas or try making your own chai latte’s or dark pure cocoa hot chocolate!
I encourage you to use a variety of warming spices in different ways. Try using cinnamon, ginger, cayenne, cumin, turmeric and cloves. Your body and your taste buds will thank you for their warmth and delicious essence.

Since apples are so widely available during the winter months and there is nothing better then a little cinnamon and nutmeg to warm you up, I decided to make apple pie for my family dinner last night. I have to admit, I love to bake – but pie making isn’t my specialty. So I promise that this recipe is simple enough that anyone can do it… I promise!
I even went the length of making my own ice cream…I know what you are thinking. Ice cream is cold and it’s not healthy! Well not true if you make your own with the right ingredients and warming spices. I now have this amazing ice cream maker which means that I can use anything as the base! So I chose organic pure coconut milk (to read more on the health benefits of coconut milk check out my posting CooCoo for Coconut). I blended that up with some maple syrup, cinnamon and agar for a creamy consistency. Then the whole thing churns and makes delicious “ice cream” that I can put on top of my warm apple pie!

Hot Apple-Cinnamon Pie…”A La Mode”!

Ingredients:

Pie Crust:

1 1/4 cups light spelt flour
1 cup spelt flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tablespoons maple sugar
Pinch of sea salt
2/3 cup cold coconut butter
1/3 cup ice water

Filling:

4 cups tart apples, such as granny smiths, jonathan or spy, peeled, cored and sliced
3 tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon arrowroot flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg

Procedure:

1. Sift the flours, cinnamon and salt into a medium bowl. Add the oil and mix well.
2. Add the ice water gradually to the mixture while continuing to mix the dough. Continue to mix until dough is firm but not flaky. Roll up the dough, put into a bowl, and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3. Form the dough into 2 balls. Roll one out into a circle with ½ inch thickness. Press into an 8-inch pie pan and trim, leaving ½ in all around.
4. Preheat oven to 350 F
5. In a large bowl, combine the apples, maple syrup and lemon juice. In a small bowl, mix together the arrowroot, cinnamon and nutmeg, then toss with the apple mixture. Add the filling into the pie shell.
6. Roll out the second ball of dough into a circle large enough to cover the pie. Top the pie with the dough, then trim any excess dough and crimp the edges. Cut 3 slits in the top crust.
7. Bake for 1 ½ hours, or until the piecrust is golden.

Serve with vanilla rice or soy ice cream or make your own!

Spice Girls

It is so nice to know that the flavours that come from traditional Indian cuisine, are not only delicious to that palate but they are completely nourishing to the body as well.
We had a chance to discover this on Wednesday’s Indian Flavours Cooking Class.

We created and sampled a whole range of dishes from Chana Masala to Lentil Dal, to a Saffron Yellow Basmati Rice, to a Brown Rice Pudding and of course the class would not have been complete without a Coconut Vegetable Curry (recipe below).

The common thread in all the recipes was all the fresh and fragrant spices that were in each dish. We made continuous use of the flavours of cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, cardamom, cloves, garlic, cumin and mustard seeds. Each on of these delicate spices offers a wonderful infusion of flavour that makes you want to use them all the time.

So here is a quick guide to some of the beneficial properties of these spices:

Cinnamon:
Sweet and pungent, pleasant and warming cinnamon supports the spleen and the pancreas, stomach, bladder, kidney and liver meridians (from a Chinese medicine perspective).
Cinnamon aid in digestion, aid in circulation and helps to treat diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and menstrual cramps. Cinnamon is also well known for it’s blood stabilizing abilities.
Ginger:
Has a peppery and pungent taste. It is warming and stimulates digestion and boost circulation, respiration and nervous system function. Ginger is useful for colds and fevers and alleviates motion sickness and nausea. It is also an anti-inflammatory and destroys intestinal parasites.
Turmeric:
Has the highest source of beta carotene. It tones the spleen and pancreas, liver and stomach. It strengthens the immune system and enhances digestion and helps to dissolve cysts and gallstones. Turmeric is antibacterial and may be used to regulate blood sugar for diabetics.
Cardamom:
Is sweet and pungent and warming. It also acts upon the spleen and pancreas, stomach, lung and kidney meridians. It aids in digestion, relaxes spasms and cuts mucus, making it useful in lung tonics. It also eases coughs, breathlessness, burning urination, incontinence and hemorrhoids.
Cloves:
Are bitter, spicy and warming. They tonify the kidney, spleen, pancreas and stomach. Cloves also aid digestion, treat nausea, hiccups and vomiting.
Cumin:
Is pungent and bitter. It aids the digestive system, improves liver function, promotes assimilation of other foods and relieves abdominal distention, gas and colic, as well as migraines and headaches.

If you want more information on these spices or any other specific food have a look at Rebecca Woods book “The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia” which is available for purchase right here on my page (see my favourite book list).
So warm up this winter and make use of these nourishing and health supportive spices!

Recipe:
Coconut Vegetable Curry

Ingredients:

1 Spanish onion
1-2 teaspoons sea salt
¼ cup coconut oil
1 sweet potato, peeled and cut into ¾ cubes
1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into ¾ “ cubes
Curry Blend*
1 medium cauliflower, cut into bite size florets
1 cup shelled peas, cooked
½ red cabbage
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup water
Vegetables can be roasted*
Curry Blend:
1 teaspoon coriander
2 teaspoons cumin
½ teaspoons turmeric
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon fenugreek
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon fresh minced ginger
¼ teaspoon cardamom seeds, no pods
¼ teaspoon mustard seeds

Procedure:
1. In a large skillet, sauté onions, with one teaspoon salt in oil until they begin to soften and brown. Add squash and cook ten minutes more. Add potatoes and curry blend and continue sautéing another five minutes, stirring often.
2. Add cauliflower to the top of the squash and potatoes, being careful no to stir the mixture. Add water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender (15-20 minutes).
3. With a wooden spoon, smash some of the squash in the curry mixture against the sides of the skillet to thicken the sauce. Stir in the peas and season to taste with salt.

Balance is Everything!

Balance really is everything when it comes to your blood sugar levels. It is extremely important to make sure you moderate and regulate your sugar intake everyday. As participants learned in tonight’s Sweet and Low Cooking Class, whether you have diabetes, hypoglycemia or just want to stay within a normal range and avoid cravings, it is vital to learn which foods will do the job and keep you in balance!

Here is a quick resource of some daily things you can be doing to keep your levels in check while creating overall, balanced and healthy eating habits!

Tips for Regulating your Blood Sugar Levels on Daily Basis Naturally

Always eat a balanced breakfast, everyday!
Do not go more than 2 hours without food or consume large heavy meals. Eat six to eight small meals throughout the day. Even eating a small snack before bed might help.
Eat a diet high in fiber (whole grains, legumes) and include large amounts of vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, squash, spinach and green beans and whole fresh fruits.
Consume beans, brown rice, oats, oat bran, lentils, sweet potatoes, tofu and fruits such as apples, apricots, avocados, banana, lemons.
For protein eat white fish or wild salmon, turkey, lean chicken breast, eggs and goats and sheep’s milk cheeses or sheep’s milk yogurt.
Use natural low glycemic sweeteners such as: brown rice syrup, barley malt, agave nectar, dates, stevia* and maple syrup (in moderation)
Stay away from high fatty foods and fried foods and choose healthy fats and oils instead: (avocado, coconut oil, olive oil or other cold pressed natural oils, raw nuts and seeds)
Remove alcohol, processed foods, sulphured dried fruits, table salt, white sugar, saturated fats, soft drinks and white flour. Also avoid food with artificial colours and preservatives.

Special foods with special properties for blood sugar:

Avocado: contains a sugar that depresses insulin production, which make them an excellent chose for people with hypoglycemia.
Cinnamon: has a lowering affect on blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of insulin secreted. Consume at least 1 teaspoon everyday!
Brewer’s Yeast: (1 Tbsp. twice daily) provides a rich source of the mineral, chromium, which has a glucose tolerance normalizing effect.
Soybeans and other legumes: (1 cup or more daily) Kidney beans, lentils, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, and lima beans retard the rate of absorption of carbohydrate into the blood stream.
Onions and garlic: (1/2 a clove twice daily) normalize blood sugar regulation by decreasing the rate of insulin elimination by the liver.
Other blood sugar controlling foods include: berries (especially blueberries), celery, cucumber, green leafy vegetables, sprouts, string beans, parsley, garlic, onions, psyllium, flaxseed, lemons, oat bran, radishes, sauerkraut, sunflower seeds, squash, watercress.