BOUNTIFUL HARVEST & CREATIVITY
Despite the amount of rain and cool temperatures, some plants have done very well this year. So many plants and vegetables give us food and pleasure during the summer but I often wonder how we can make use of their precious gifts all year round. So this year I decided to harvest some of my Nasturtium leaves and flowers, both of which are edible. I created a colourful “Nasturtium butter” by cutting some flowers and leaves into fine pieces and mixing them together with some lime zest into softened butter. This will be a special treat for the winter months. I also dried some of the leaves which can be used in a tea to sooth a cough or cold. As a powder the leaves will add a peppery flavour will to many dishes.
For the first time this year I have been using a food dehydrator to dry some of my herbs. The humidity in the air has made it almost impossible to air dry herbs the conventional way – on drying racks or hanging them up by the stem.
Happy harvesting and green blessings,
Gudrun
Wholesome, Healthy Treats – Fast and Easy to Prepare
Christmas is approaching fast and so are the temptations to indulge in treats that we know are detrimental to our well-being. Below is a recipe for a healthy alternative – one of my favorite creations. Be creative and have fun experimenting with the ingredients.
BASIC RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups walnuts
1 cup medjol dates, cut into pieces
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
2 Tbsp. raw cacao powder
1 Tbsp. ground flax or chia seeds
2-3 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. water
1/2 cup raisins or unsweetened dried cranberries
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to about 330 Fahrenheit
2. Process dates and walnuts in food processor until crumbly
3. Add all remaining ingredients except raisins (cranberries)
4. Process in food processor until all ingredients are well mixed and
stick together like “dough”
5. Add raisins and briefly pulse
6. Place dough on baking sheet lined with parchment paper; you may want
to spoon it but I prefer to use my hands and shape the cookies. You may
need to wet your hands if the dough is too sticky.
7. Bake at 330 Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes.
8. ENJOY!
Be creative and play with pecans, sunflower seeds, shredded coconuts etc.
Green blessings,
Gudrun
CRAVING BREAD BUT NOT ABLE OR ALLOWED TO EAT IT?
Check this out. This is the best bread ever because it is packed with nutrition, extremely fast and easy to prepare and does NOT contain any flowers or gluten. It has become a staple in our life. Try it and spread the wealth of health.
Ancient Grain, Seed, and Nut Loaf
from The Greenhouse Cookbook
Makes one loaf, or about 10 slices.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup raw sunflower seeds
- ¾ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup raw slivered almonds
- 1/8 cup buckwheat groats
- 1/8 cup millet seeds
- 1/3 cup amaranth seeds
- 1 ½ cups gluten-free rolled oats
- ¾ cups gluten-free steel-cut oats
- 1/3 cup whole flax seeds
- 1/3 cup psyllium seed husks
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- 2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tbs pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup virgin olive oil
- 2 ¾ cups filtered water
Steps:
- Preheat your oven to 325 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine and evenly spread the sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, buckwheat groats, millet seeds, and amaranth seeds on the prepared baking sheet. Toast for 10 to 12 minutes, or until golden.
- In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, steel-cut oats, flax seeds, psyllium seed husks, chia seeds, and salt.
- When the toasting seed mixture is golden, remove from the oven and add to the bowl of dry ingredients; stir until combined. Add the maple syrup, olive oil, and water to the bowl and mix well. We use our hands for this (wet them first). The mixture should feel quite soggy; the seeds will absorb more water as they rest.
- Line the bottom and sides of a 8- x 4-inch or 9- x 5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Pour the dough into the pan and shape the top into a smooth dome with wet fingers. Cover the dough with a clean tea towel or napkin and let it sit at room temperature overnight or for up to 24 hours. When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Uncover the dough and place the loaf pan on a rack in the centre of the oven. Bake for an hour and 15 minutes, or until the crust is dark brown and sounds hollow when you knock on it. (It may take an hour and a half, depending on your oven.) Remove loaf from the oven and let cool completely, at least 2 hours.
- Slice and serve toasted. Store in a sealed container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.
Green Blessings,
Gudrun
YUMMY – NUTRITIOUS – FAST & EASY
Chia Seed Jello
Another one of my favorite recipes, packed with valuable nutrition that is easily absorbed. As always be creative and adjust the recipe to your individual needs and favourite flavours. Great snack to bring to a pot luck which is guaranteed to be enjoyed by all regardless of age.
RECIPE
Ingredients:
– 1 part (cup) raw chia seeds
– 2 parts (cups) high quality water, high quality juice, or my preference, 1 cup water
and 1 cup juice
– Chopped fresh or frozen fruits (apples, pears, mangoes, berries, etc.) – adjust type variety of fruit and amount to personal preference; I add lots
Optional: seeds, raisins, nuts, goji berries etc.
Instructions:
– Soak all seeds, raisins, goji berries and nuts for about 2 hours (not necessary but preferable for enhanced absorption of nutrients)
– Mix all ingredients in large bowl
– Chill in fridge, freezer or right now in the snowy winter wonderland
The mixture will gel by itself because Chia seeds can absorb an incredible amount of liquid
Serve and enjoy
The Latin name for Chia is Salvia hispanica, a flowering plant that is native to central and southern Mexico and Guatemala. It is a flowering plant that belongs to the mint family (Laminaceae). It is rich in calcium, manganese, phosphorus and a great source of healthy omega-3 fats and protein. Check the internet for a more complete description.
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