Raw Beauty Treatments

1. Easy At-Home Beauty Treatments

   Next time you stop by your local farmer's market or fruit shop, pick up a few extras;  fruits and vegetables can be used for mixing up your own homemade skin care products! It will save you money -- and taste great.

   
   

             Thank You to the internet for this wonderful picture which includes some of the food items I  
              plan to mention in this post;
   
   

   I was musing to myself whilst making Dinner the other night; quite a number of  items I had on the counter awaiting  dinner preparation, could also be used externally. Many are used in old remedies for all kinds of health & beauty treatments; the items on my counter happened to be mostly ideal for the skin, so could be thought of as not only promoting internal health, but external heath as well. I never cease to be amazed at how perfect our Nature Kingdom is & how well we have always been catered for; 

   I believe we have become arrogant in thinking that humanity can better God's plan; after all, He supplies everything we need in its purest form.
   Chemicals of every description are now added to so many of to-days potions, cures & remedies & many of us are influenced through advertising in believing that these products must be better! Food for thought, eh ?
   
    Getting back to the items on my counter for Dinner. Most of these items could also be used on our skin! I am not sure that my husband or my tummy would have preferred to use them in this way, instead of in a meal on this particular night, but the musing was fun! 
   
    Honey
   While some of these old-fashioned beauty treatments go back 50 years or so, this one goes back thousands. And if it was good enough for Cleopatra, it just might work for you. Honey is a great way to replenish moisture in our skin, remove dead skin cells and kill bacteria on the skin's surface. Honey is generally suitable for all skin types so it shouldn't cause a rash, irritation, or a breakout.

             Almond pulp mixed with a little honey is a great scrub for your face to get rid of dry skin.
   

   
   Apple cider vinegar is good as a cleanser, and honey is the best moisturizer on the planet.

             Mashed Strawberries are fun too, but runny & rather hard to keep on your face!
   
             Paw Paw/ Papaya
             This fruit is full of enzymes & rich in vitamins & when we mash or blend some up, it has the          
              capacity to feed & nourish our skin; it can be a bit messy but worth it, your skin will thank you    
              for a 20 min indulgence & you can always eat the leftovers!
   
             And grab some coconut oil  for a great all-natural lip moisturizer.
   
              As you can see, everything that is good for our skin is acidic and can be found in many family              
              pantry's.      
   

   
   A Little Lemon Squeeze For Nails
   Looking for an inexpensive, simple and divine-smelling nail treatment? Try fresh lemon juice "To keep your nails naturally strong and bright, soak your nails in lemon juice for 10 minutes,"  "Brush them with warm water and a toothbrush after the soak for extra shine and polish."
   
   
   Black, caffeinated tea bags can be great for dark circles (after cooling, place wet tea bags on lids for about 10 minutes).

   Organic green tea can be a fantastic skin toner to improve clarity (let it cool and spray it on your face).

   My grandmother would always apply cold pressed olive oil to her hair once a week for shine and body;

   Pure Aloe Vera gel is great for soothing sunburns and keeping the skin moisturized.

   Cucumbers on the eyes will help the puffiness go away."

            Try this for fun, an Avocado Body Mask;
   

   • 2 avocados, thoroughly mashed into a paste
   • 3 tablespoons sea salt or kosher salt
   • 1/4 cup honey
   • Grated rind of two fresh lemons, along with the juice
   • 1/4 cup organic coconut oil

    Mix all ingredients together until smooth and creamy. (The consistency should be that of a thin sour cream.) Apply to your skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then scrub off well with warm water. Keep unused portion in refrigerator for two to three days.
          
   

    I am sure there would be a whole book available recommending these old remedies; I plan to explore this more.

   PS. Guess what I was making for Dinner whilst I was musing? !                           

           

Jellies for our Vegan Children & lots of Treats for Young & Old!

Jellied Fruit 

I remember as a child loving jellied fruit and as gelatin is made from animal hoofs, I have had to rethink for my grand children. This is a great vegan way to make jellied fruit. It works differently with different fruit and juices. I use agar agar, a powder that can be purchased from the Health Food Shop, as a substitute for gelatin but I have found that it does not set well with mangoes, papaya, kiwi, or pineapple.
This recipe is not strictly Raw.

20 ozs  fresh apple or other juice

2 teaspoons powdered agar agar ( this can vary a little depending on juice of the fruit used)

Juice of ½ lemon

2  Tablespoons  honey or other sweetener

1  cup fruit, cut into chunks (my favorites are berries or banana)

Dissolve the agar in apple juice by bringing the apple juice to the boil in a small saucepan. Stir in the agar agar and reduce the heat to a simmer for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring well so that the agar doesn’t stick on the bottom of the pan.

Add the lemon juice and honey and cook another minute. Remove from heat, add your fruit of choice & pour into a mould. Chill until set
When I serve this, I sometimes add a swirl of cashew cream on top...Yum! 

                    

                                                       ( Fruity Selections.... internet photo)

 Fruity & Veggie Ice blocks for our children

The other day I blended up some mixed berries with a little honey & froze the mix in some ice block moulds; if you do not have any moulds, a cup or glass can be used, even paper cups can be used, & once it is almost frozen, add a wooden popsicle stick that you can buy at a craft shop.
As you can see from the above photo (Oh I must start taking my own photos!) any fruits in season can be used & if very sweet, leave out the honey!
Un- mould by simply popping in some hot water for a few seconds; if using paper cups, peel off the paper at this point.
My grand children find these a real treat on a summery afternoon

I have also found a green smoothie mix or a veggie juice can be used in the same way, children think these icy cold treats are wonderful! And...so healthy.

Fruity Ice Creams
These can be easily made by feeding some frozen fruit through a Champion Juicer; frozen bananas or berries are particularly successful;some raw chocolate or chocy nibs sprinkled over the ice cream with some chopped nuts brings lots of oohs & ahhs from "little people" & only takes minutes to make up !

Choc Chip Ice Cream involves a little more preparation but is truly delicious.
2 avocados
1/3 cup of strained almond milk
3 Tabs honey
2 Tabs coconut oil
1/2 Tea peppermint essence
Blend together, fold in some choc nibs & freeze in moulds.

Apple Sorbet
Another frozen delight is to
Blend very well
1/2 dozen Organic Granny Smith Apples leaving the skin on
Add the juice of 1 1/2 lemons with 2 Tabs honey
1/2 Tea cinnamon
Freeze into ice block moulds, these white flecked green blocks are very tasty & refreshing

Frozen Nut Yogurt with Raspberries
Pour very hot water over 1 cup almonds, remove the skins & soak almonds for 24 hrs
Blend the almonds with 2 cups of water (or can use coconut water, this is very nice)
Add 1 Tab honey & 3 capsules of probiotic powder
Cover & leave in a warm room for 9-12 hours.
Fold some frozen raspberries into the mix & freeze in ice block moulds......Yum!

Finally an easy one for the very busy Mum
Peel some bananas, place a popsicle stick into the fruit & sprinkle some lemon juice over the top half to prevent it browning; dip the bottom 1/2 in a raw chocolate sauce coating it well
(there is a recipe for raw chocolate sauce on my blog)
Place these on some parchment paper & freeze for a quick snack after school.

Herbs contribute so much to a Flavorsome Recipe

Photo supplied from the Internet.

                                                                           

                                                                         

In general use, herbs are any plants used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume. 
Herbs added to almost any dish can make it Gourmet ! Not only do they supply medicinal properties, they add flavor & interest. When I suggest storing them in a plastic bag, I am speaking of exploring Green Bags at the Supermarket as I have found placing veggies & herbs in these with some paper towel, increases their storage time and maintains freshness; this is very beneficial if you only shop once a week.

I have mentioned only a few of the better known & easily acquired herbs below, that you may like to experiment with.

BASIL

To store: Store briefly in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tastes good with/in: With its sweet, strong, spicy clove-like flavor, it is particularly good with tomatoes. Also pairs well with parsley, rosemary, oregano, thyme, sage and saffron. Pesto, pasta, pizza,  garnish, salad, sorbet, oil, chiffonade for soup just before serving.

Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron

CHIVES 

To store: Refrigerate in an airtight container. Tastes good with/in: Salad, nut cheese, dip, herbed "butter"/nutelex, oil,  garnish.

 Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C

CORIANDER

To store: Store wrapped in paper towels in a plastic bag, or place stem-ends in a glass filled with water in the refrigerator; remove leaves as they wilt or discolor. Do not remove the roots or rinse the herb until ready to use. Tastes good with/in: Salad, guacamole, smoothies, garnish, oil, fresh chutneys, pesto,salsa, relish, curries, Asian dishes. Pairs well with fresh mint and cumin.

 Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C; removes heavy metals stored in body

MARJORAM

To store: Can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tastes good with/in: Tea, salad, garnish, Italian and Greek dishes, soup, pasta, pizza, tomato-based sauces, vinaigrette.

 Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron

MINT

To store: Should be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tastes good with/in: Tea, nut yogurts, dips, garnish, salad, desserts. Pairs well with parsley, cilantro, chili, cardamom, basil.

 Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron

OREGANO

To store: Can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tastes good with/in: Tea, salad, garnish, Italian and Greek dishes, soup, pasta, pizza, tomato-based sauces, vinaigrette. 

Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron

PARSLEY

To store: Keep in a plastic bag in the refrigerator or sprinkle with water and wrap in paper towels. For maximum freshness, put cut ends in cold water. Tastes good with/in: Salad, smoothies, juices,garnish, nut cheese,

Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron

ROSEMARY

To store: Keep fresh sprigs for several days in a plastic bag in the refrigerator, or place stem ends in water. Tastes good with/in: Oil, tomato-based sauces, pasta, pizza, vegetables, mushrooms; sprigs can be used as skewers for vegetables. 

Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron

THYME

To store: Can be kept in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Tastes good with/in: Tomato-based sauces, pizza, salad, sauces, vinaigrette, herbed "butter/ nutelex", mushrooms. 

Nutrition Facts: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron

Try this Multiple Herb Pesto: 
This recipe is delicious & can be used over Zucchini & Carrot Noodles or as a spread to enhance wraps.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup Spinach
1/3 cup Tarragon
1/3 cup Parsley
1/3 cup Coriander
1/4 cup Basil
1 clove Garlic micro grated
1 Tab Nutritional yeast
1/3 cup Pine nuts
1/4 cup sunflower seeds(raw unsalted)
1/3 cup Olive oil
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Blend & Enjoy  For variation substitute the herbs used, 

Herbs you may like to try growing in your garden or window box.

Beginning herb gardeners may have a problem deciding which herbs to plant because of the large number of herbs from which to select. A quick check of your supermarket shelf will give you some idea of the types of herbs used in cooking and also will serve as a planting guide. Many cookbooks also offer information on uses of various herbs as flavorings.

Following is a good variety of flavors and uses of recommended herbs for beginners:

Strong herbs -- winter savory, rosemary, sage
Herbs strong enough for accent -- sweet basil, dill, mint, sweet marjoram, tarragon, thyme
Herbs for blending -- chives, parsley, summer savory

As your interest and needs increase, you can add to the variety of herbs in your garden. Keep in mind that herbs can be annuals, biennials, or perennials when selecting herbs to grow for the first time.

Annuals (bloom one season and die) -- anise, basil, chervil, coriander, dill, summer savory
Biennials (live two seasons, blooming second season only) -- caraway, parsley
Perennials (overwinter; bloom each season once established) -- chives, fennel, lovage, marjoram, mint, tarragon,
thyme, winter savory.

Lets have a Cup of Tea!

I grew up in a family where every problem was solved over " a cup of tea"! Can anyone else relate to this?
I can still hear my Mum (and Grandmother too) say "Let's have a cup of tea" whenever emotions were running high and needed to be suppressed! I actually even hated the taste of tea back then, but looking back, maybe it wasn't about the tea!
There is another emotion associated with tea for me, as well......it can be a social event and usually comes with lots of freshly baked goodies, like cup cakes, scones and cookies. A real spread of Love from the kitchen, almost a Ceremonial occasion & not one to be missed; as a child in our house, it was usually served mid morning or mid afternoon, sometimes both! These beauties were full of white flour, butter, cream and heaps of sugar, no wonder our little bodies grew rounder as the years progressed........considered a sign of being a "Good" mother!
Back in those days, herbal teas were never served at home, so it wasn't until I was in my early 20's that I discovered the incredible array of teas available on the market, but also learnt that I could actually grow the herbs so easily & pick a few leaves to make a yummy hot drink.
The use of Tea for various ailments dates back thousands of years; China & India are just two of the many countries that come to mind that highlight the use of Teas for their medicinal properties; needless to say, I grew up in a "backwater " regarding herbal teas & their many uses, but this gave me the opportunity to discover their exciting uses for myself ! How Nature provides absolutely everything for our heath & well being...such a gift that is easy to take for granted.
Research supports Herbal teas as being the panacea for many common ailments, such as anxiety, depression, colds & fevers, inflammation & nausea just to name a very few.
As an example, here are 1/2 dozen well known herbs that are readily available & offer many medicinal benefits.
Feverfew:
This herb is aptly named, as a couple of leaves stepped in a cup of boiling water & sipped slowly, can reduce a temperature or fever. I grow this plant in my veggie garden as I love its little daisy like flowers and it acts as a companion plant for many vegetables.
Ginger:
I am sure many of you have ginger growing in your garden too, especially in warmer climates than ours. Ginger is known for its beneficial properties and can be used as a tea as well as in endless recipes, both Raw & Cooked. 1" of fresh ginger in a cup of boiling water is all it takes to bring relief from nausea or inflammation. Many use it to aid children with car sickness, or morning sickness in early pregnancy.
Parsley:
Parsley is a natural diuretic & is rich in minerals. It is used in many recipes, often not realizing it's health giving properties.
Peppermint/Mint:
These two herbs are commonly used as favourite choices for those enjoying a cup of herbal tea; 4 or 5 leaves are considered a great remedy for digestive issues & often are selected following a rich meal.
Camomile & Valerian:
These teas are sometimes taken before bedtime to help with a good nights sleep; the flowers of the camomile bush are used as the tonic.
Thyme:
Thyme helps with congestion and I have observed some people adding a little grated ginger & some honey to the tea to aid in a sore throat.

Chai Tea is very popular in many circles, especially on a cold winters night. I have discovered that this is easier to make than I had imagined.
Here is the Recipe I use:
I simply steep some black or green tea, about 8 cups makes a considerable amount. I then add 3 sticks of cinnamon, 20 split whole cardamon pods, 15 cloves, 6 slices of fresh ginger & a couple of teaspoons of orange zest. I then gently simmer this for about 30 mins filling our kitchen with a delightful spicy fragrance.
One then usually adds equal amounts of the strained chai concentrate and hot almond, rice or oat milk with perhaps a little honey for a delicious drink. The balance of chai concentrate will last in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks.
This tea originated in India and from my research, it seems to be a centuries old beverage and health promoting tonic for the whole body. It strengthens the nervous system, energizes the body, clears the mind & is considered a remedy & preventative measure for colds, allergies & other illnesses.

This photo from the internet, shows cinnamon sticks, cloves, cardamon pods, ginger & orange zest all used to make Chai Tea. Enjoy!

It's Not All About The Food !

I recently read this article by Naomi Shannon and thought you might enjoy the points she makes about maintaining a healthy body.

"The most important thing to remember
as you begin to change your lifestyle is this: Don't think
that it is all about food. Yes, what you eat is vital, but
it is not the only thing to focus on. At least as important, and
perhaps even more important than food, is exercise.

You can't improve your health by sitting at home reading
cookbooks and watching television! Keep moving, or begin
moving.

Seventy-five percent of all the good you can do for yourself could be lost if you don't exercise. Walk, run, jog, use a trampoline, ride an exercise bike, join a water aerobics class ,use a hula hoop, go hiking in nature, play basketball, play tennis, swim, climb stairs on your lunch hour-whatever you
like.

And if no form of exercise interests you, start doing
something anyway and you will find that eventually you will
begin to enjoy it. If you are ill-too ill to exercise,
do the most that you can;

As you move toward a cleaner lifestyle, analyze your mind,
your body, your spirit, your attitudes, the air you breathe,
the water you drink, the food you eat, the clothes you wear,
forces in the environment, toxins of the body, of the mind
and of the spirit.

Many of us have grown up treating the body and the mind
as separate entities. The mind, however, exerts influence
down to the most minute cellular level. If you are chronically
negative, fearful or angry, it matters little that you eat
'perfectly', or even that you run marathons.

Chronic emotional upset such as resentment, anger, grief,
anxiety, fear and depression restricts the regenerative
capacity of the body.

Remember that healthy emotions and behavior are essential for optimum health.

Eating living foods is not a religion

You don't need to make an intellectual decision about
whether or not you believe in it. The only way to know
if you will be greatly improving your life is to try it for

a fair amount of time and see for yourself.

You don't even need to understand all the facts about
enzymes and digestive processes in order to benefit
from changing your habits. The bottom line is, Just do it!"

Thank you Naomi for this article; I loved the fact that you acknowledge the importance of emotional health together with the importance of healthy food choices.You also pay attention to reflecting on one's attitudes which opens the gateway to learning more about ourselves; this in turn gives us the opportunity to address beliefs & behaviors that are not in harmony with God's Laws and to recognize the inter-connected aspects & many layers associated with healthy living. Without these added considerations ( in addition to the food we choose) I believe we are looking at malnutrition of our Soul, a more serious condition in my view, than malnutrition of the physical body!