Dairy Free Yogurts

The days are lovely with cold nights here in Australia so Winter is on its way.
I decided to briefly change my usual breakfast this week & thought about what I would really like. I felt that a smoothie was not hitting the mark as I looked out at the frost on the lawn!
Up came the idea of making some yogurt which I thought would be lovely on top of some warm oatmeal or chia pudding with some berries, on these cold mornings.
I wanted to make my own yogurt, a dairy free recipe, & discovered that it is actually very easy to do & tastes nice as well.
Here are a couple of recipes you may like to try....... as is often the case, I forgot to take a photo, perhaps next time!

Yogurts made with Nuts:
1 1/2 cups soaked nuts ( macadamias, almonds or hazelnuts are all excellent choices)
1 cup water
2 Tabs pureed dates or a sweetener of choice
1-2 Capsules emptying out the probiotic powder
1 Tab vanilla
Cinnamon is optional... lovely as a final sprinkling on top

Yogurts using Fresh Thai Coconuts:
2 young coconuts ( these are readily available in many of the big Supermarkets)
This amounts to about 2 cups of coconut meat
1/2 cup coconut water
juice of a lime & a lemon
Sweetener of choice ( dates/agave/honey/maple syrup or stevia)
Powder from 2 probiotic capsules

In both recipes, just blend everything together & place in a clean sterilized warm jar only filling it 2/3 full. Heating the jar helps with the initial fermentation process. I then pop a tea towel or cheese cloth over it & place in a warm spot overnight. Taste...... if you want it to have a stronger tartiness, allow a longer period to ferment. If it bubbles up a lot, simply reblend & then keep in an airtight glass jar in the refrigerator; it will keep at least  5 or 6 days.
Yogurts of course are especially good for your digestive system, they can be added to smoothies, sauces, dressings or even deserts; a parfait is easy, simply layer fresh fruit with yogurt in a pretty glass & pop some crumble on the top blending together some nuts & dates but keeping the mix chunky....Healthy &Yum!

Jams and Spreads

I was recently exploring my cupboard looking for a splash of jam for a plate of pikelets with coconut cream that I had made; I took one look at the supply on hand & read the sugar label & the long list of artificial ingredients & preservatives all in the one bottle! Ugh....what a realisation of how accustomed we have become to taking the easy route & opening a bottle of "a sugar laden, unhealthy concoction", because it is easy & familiar, almost without a second thought. Now I don't wish to be a "spoil sport" here as I am not a purest in any way & I enjoy treats as much as anyone else....... & I am known to open a bottle of something in a rush rather than make a fresh healthy version on any number of occasions! There comes a time however that we gradually notice changes in our buying habits, changes in our belief systems, changes in our awareness of what we choose to consume & the affects this is having on our health.

We only have to observe our World to see the concepts of "normal" that we grew up with & now accept, & the often dangerous path it is leading us down.......look at how often in each week many of us frequent Fast Food outlets & buy ready made heavily processed meals in our Supermarkets; these meal choices have readily become "the norm" for much of our population. Could it be that this demands reflection, even action? I believe there is a great need for us to consider challenging what we believe to be "normal & acceptible"..... especially when we believe, even know deep within ourselves, that there has to be a better way for our World on so many levels. Just consider normal eating habits & "the normally accepted" health issues that come up as we age, normal Government legislation & the spending wisely or otherwise of our money, normal parenting & education of our children, normal farming practices & so forth"; it is so easy to follow aimlessly "the norm' without even questioning, so we don't appear different & are never challenged by the majority. To question & believe things don't have to remain as they are, is healthy, but to take action when we are passionate about something can be confronting & it can take courage & fearlessness, especially if it is contentious. Leaders embrace & encourage "change", first in themselves, they think outside the box & are willing to make mistakes, they have a vision for a better World, a World that lives in harmony with God's Laws of Love. Have you noticed how difficult it can be, simply to be seen as "different" from "the norm", especially if we meet with criticism, even attack and we find ourselves no longer part of societies view point.

Whow......All these thoughts started with a bottle of jam!!!

Well here is an alternative that you may like to try for fun.......and deliciousness!

This is a wonderful template for creating quick, easy, healthy & wonderfully delicious jam.

You can use any fruit that is in season or frozen fruits that are available all the year round in your Supermarket. Don't be afraid to add some herbs, or even spice to the recipe although the star ingredient is really the chia seeds. If you are new to chia, it absorbs any fluid that you add increasing the volume 9 times. The seeds create a mucilage which works amazingly as a binder & thickener. In these 2 recipes I am suggesting below, when you combine the natural pectin found in the fruit with the chia seeds, you have a match made in heaven.

Chia is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, even more so than flax; an added bonus is that chia is so rich in anti oxidants that the seeds don't deteriorate & can be stored for long periods without becoming rancid.

If the small seeds bother you, you can grind them in a spice grinder, then use as suggested. These jams are perfect for slathering on almost anything or you can put a tablespoonful in your smoothie for extra flavour! The sweetener can depend on your preference, some people leave it out all together, so consider experimenting yourself with different fruits & flavours.

INGREDIENTS for 2 different JAMS


1/4 cup water
2 Tabs chia
1 cup Blueberries
1 Tab sweetener ( maple syrup/honey/agave/soaked dates etc)
Pinch salt
2 teas lemon juice
1 tea minced mint leaves

OR

1 1/2 cups Raspberries
1/2 cup soaked date puree
2 Tabs chia
2 teas lemon juice
1 tea minced basil

Combine the water & chia seeds, stir & set aside to thicken. Blend the fruit & other ingredients, adding the chia once the water absorbs. Blend for 30 seconds (the lemon juice acts as a preservative, keeping the color of the jam bright & gorgeous, but some recipes leave it out)

This jam will store in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks, it is also possible to freeze leftovers for another time.....Enjoy!