CHIA Sprouting

I have been an advocate of Chia for quite sometime, it is a marvellous tiny little seed that can be used in so many different ways and of course its health benefits are an added bonus. I use it in many recipes often to replace flax seed, flax is highly recommended for its omega3 content & chia actually has many of the same properties; I find flax seed tends to have a strong flavour whereas chia takes on more the flavour of the dish, so for this reason alone, it is one of my "go to" ingredients. I often use it as a substitute for eggs in a recipe, its glutinous response to being soaked in almond milk or even fruit or veggie juice allows my imagination to run wild in the many ways it can be added to the diet. Many use it as an excellent breakfast dish or desert, by adding milk or juice, perhaps adding some cacao & nuts with berries & cashew cream on top. Yum.......I hadn't considered sprouting it until I read the article below, not sure why apart from the fact I imagined the mucilaginous seeds would immediately become gluggy. All seeds can be sprouted under the right conditions I'm sure, so I thought you too might like to try this method too. This could also be used for radish seeds or other tiny seeds to enhance their health benefits.
Chia Seeds actually got their name from the Mayan word for "strength". In ancient athletic competitions, indigenous people in South America would sustain themselves on 1 or 2 tablespoons of chia seeds mixed with a little water for over 24hrs. The seeds are storehouses of nutrients & contain even higher sources of essential fatty acids than flax seed or salmon.

With Thanks to the Hippocrates Clinic for this interesting article on how to sprout Chia Seeds & enhance their nutritive value. Brian Hetrich, Greenhouse Manager

Chia sprouts are loaded with antioxidants which have strong immune-boosting properties which may help fight the common cold and flu. According to research from the University of the Valley of Guatemala, chia seeds have a remarkable antioxidant rating of over 1900. This is a higher antioxidant rating than blackberries, mango, noni fruit, grapes, and pineapple without all the fructose.

All of the energy stored inside the seeds is ignited by the sprouting process. The vitamin, mineral, enzyme, and phytonutrient content in the seed explodes when sprouted. The baby sprouts have 4 to 6 times the nutrient value of the leaves from the mature plant.

Here is how to sprout chia:

Soak an 8” unglazed terra cotta saucer in water for 2 hours. Drain.

Lightly sprinkle ½ teaspoon of chia seeds in the saucer. Evenly distribute the seeds leaving some space between each seed.

Mist with water.

Cover with a dinner plate.

Mist twice a day for seven days. The cover plate is not needed after day three.

Spray twice daily

For this post I would like to honour my teacher, Cherie Soria; Cherie has had a great influence on my life and ultimate food choices. She has written a number of books highlighting Raw Vegan Recipes & a recent change in direction, suggests online Chef trainings rather than having to travel across to the Living Light Institute on the West Coast of America to qualify as an International Gourmet Raw Chef. I must say spending time with Cherie during my training was definitely a highlight, but there is now another way to equally benefit from her wisdom.
Cherie posted this information online sometime ago, but I thought my readers may also like to read it as it gives a very simple guideline to improve ones health.

Boost Nutrition with Healthy Choices

 

Basically, there’s nothing that nourishes the body and makes you feel better than nutrient-dense raw fruits and vegetables.

 

 

Raw Food Recipe

Dairy-Free Pesto Sauce

 

Did you know that you can make a delicious Dairy-Free Pesto Sauce that’s as versatile as the herbs and greens in your garden or at the market? It’s wonderful on raw pasta, or to spread on raw or gluten-free crackers or bread. If you like to include some cooked grains in your diet, add a spoonful of fresh pesto and some chopped, fresh vegetables on top of your grains for a burst of flavor!

 

Blend together your herbs of choice, with some pine nuts, olive oil & lemon juice, some salt & pepper & you have a beautiful pesto!

 

Thank You Cherie, for the impact you have had on so many lives choosing a healthier Lifestyle.

 

Lucuma......perhaps a healthier answer for "sugar lovers".

Do you like the sound of a superfood that is naturally sweet and incredibly good for you? I am forever surprised these days at the abundance & variety of World foods becoming available for many foodies when they are not locally grown in our own Country. The willingness to explore new tastes & recipes brings such a richness to a multi cultural society, & here in Australia we are blessed with such an opportunity.

Human taste buds are naturally primed to love sugar! I find it interesting that from an evolutionary perspective, sweet flavors are nature’s way of signalling low toxicity and a good source of energy in plants. So for those living in the wild, sweetness was somewhat of a compass for finding safe food.

While our love of all things sweet may have helped our ancestors to survive in harsh conditions, our modern intake of sugary foods creates a lot of issues for our health. Sugar seems to have crept into our diets in such quantities in the Western World that healthier solutions need to be found if we wish to live longer in healthier bodies.

Here is a chance to discover a superfood that is naturally sweet and nourishes your body… we’re talking about none other than lucuma, and the benefits it can offer to your health and culinary pleasures!

What Is Lucuma?

Pronounced “loo-koo-mah”, this exotic fruit is cultivated in Peru and has been eaten in South America since 200 AD.

The taste of lucuma has been described in various forms of lick-your-lips deliciousness! Some people report that it’s a blend of pear, mango & sweet potato.The lucuma fruit has green skin with the inner flesh the same golden hue as a hard-boiled egg yolk; it has a large seed in the middle similar to an avocado.

Once upon a time, lucuma was used by ancient South American people for natural healing, and was believed to have antifungal, antibiotic and antimicrobial qualities. Ancient transcripts also indicate that lucuma was thought to help digestion.

Why Is It Good For Me? 

Lucuma is affectionately referred to as the ‘Gold of the Incas’ by local Peruvians, and has been revered as a staple food and sacred offering for many centuries.


Here’s 5 reasons why you’ll love lucuma, too!

1. It Has A Naturally Low GI

You can avoid blood sugar highs and lows by choosing foods with a naturally low Glycemic Index (GI), such as lucuma! This means that the carbohydrate is broken down into glucose and released more slowly, so that your body stays fueled for longer.

Lucuma offers a lovely light sweetness without creating a massive influx of sugar into your bloodstream, the way that sugar does. This way, you can enjoy its sweet flavor and keep your energy and blood sugar levels nice and stable.

2. Lucuma Offers A Major Nutrient Hit

This fruit contains an elixir of 14 trace minerals, as well as many other essential vitamins! In particular, lucuma is a good source of zinc, calcium, vitamin C, niacin (vitamin B3) and iron. As suggested by its brilliant yellow color, lucuma is particularly high in beta-carotene, which our body requires for making Vitamin A and regulating the immune system.

3. A Good Source Of Fiber 

Like most fruit, lucuma is a good source of fiber. Even once it is dried and ground into a superfine powder, we can reap lucuma’s roughage benefits for good digestion & bowel health!

4. It Has An Array Of Antioxidants

Lucuma is rich in many antioxidants which we now know offer widespread beneficial results; it is not generally available in its fresh form in the Western world.
Alternatively, it is delicately dehydrated and powdered before being transported for us to enjoy its rich nutritional benefits. By purchasing high quality, certified organic brands, you can ensure that the fruit has been dried at a suitable temperature to preserve its precious nutrients.


Here’s some other ideas to experiment with.......

Try adding some lucuma to veggie juices, it brings a smooth creaminess to your mix which can help take away the bitterness of some greens.
Lucuma icecream is a real treat & very easy to make. Simply blend up 1/2 cup lucuma powder with 1 cup soaked cashews, vanilla essence, 1/4 cup of coconut nectar, a pinch of salt & a cup of water & freeze......Voila!.....simply delish!
It is worth experimenting with using it in pancakes, tarts, cakes & slices, ( either completely or partially, say a 2:1 mix) but keep in mind it can change the flavour adding a caramel maple type infusion. It is also a delicious additive in smoothies & shakes.

Here's a recipe you might like to try....

Berry Cream Chia Pudding

Scrumptiously energizing

This luscious chia pudding is actually a pretty serious dose of "long lasting energy" all packed into one beautiful and scrumptious breakfast dish that will carry you through the day.
It can also be used as a quick desert; some slices of banana & other fruit on top can be nice, perhaps with some cacao nibs!

1 Cup frozen Blueberries or berries of choice
1 Cup Almond Milk (or nut/seed milk of choice)
2 pitted Medjool Dates, optional for added sweetness
1 Tab Lucuma Powder
1 Tab Vanilla Extract
pinch of Pink Himalayan Salt
¼ Cup Chia seeds

Blend briefly & top with some almonds.

Vegan Honey....WHOW!

My husband keeps bees & they are such industrious baby creatures; they are truly fascinating & continuously busy; our bees are very quiet & even tolerant of me lawn mowing around their hives once or twice a year without any upset, to keep the doorway to their homes free of long grass! With Winter not too far away in the Southern Hemisphere, our family will now reserve all honey in their hives for the bees' Winter sustenance, so we are always careful to only use surplus supplies for our own enjoyment. I was observing their activity yesterday & got to wondering about a possible Vegan Recipe; many may not feel comfortable eating honey unless they know the bees are cared for in the best possible way & that their hives are never depleted. For those who don't eat honey & those who are looking for a top up of  honey in their larder over the Winter months, a substitute is at hand.
Vegan honey … is that even possible? Yes it is! Today I show you how two simple ingredients can combine into a sweet and gooey, thick syrup that will fill any honey void you may have as a Vegan.This is a tasty vegan honey alternative that kids and adults all love.

  

Vegan Pineapple Honey [Gluten-Free]

Serves

1/2 cup

Ingredients

• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1 cup coconut sugar

Preparation

1. Prepare a pan and stirring spoon. I like to use a non-stick pan so it makes clean up easier.
2. Pour pineapple juice and sugar into pan.
3. Turn heat to medium high and bring mixture to a light boil.
4. Turn down the heat and keep the mixture at a steady simmer. Continue to stir the mixture to keep it smooth and to stop it from burning.
5. After about 15 minutes you will notice that the mixtures become thick and gooey. Once it reaches the consistency you are happy with, remove the pan from the heat and let it sit for a few minutes.
6. Pour into a glass jar… YUM!!!

Information from the Internet 

Honeybees

Honeybees live in large "families" and are found all over the world. The honeybee is the only social insect whose colony can survive many years. That is because they huddle together and eat honey to keep themselves alive during the winter months.

Honeybees pollinate more than 100 crops.

Their wings flap 11,000 times per minute, which is why it sounds like they are "buzzing". Honeybees can only sting once, because their stingers are barbed and tear off when they try to get away.

• Size: 1/2"
• Shape: Oval, bee shaped
• Color: Golden yellow with brown bands
• Legs: 6
• Wings: Yes
• Antenna: Yes

How Bees Make Honey

It has been said that except for man, nowhere in the world is there anything to compare with the incredible efficiency of the industry of the honeybee. Inside the beehive each bee has a special job to do and the whole process runs smoothly.
Bees need two different kinds of food. One is honey made from nectar, the sugary juice that collects in the heart of the flowers. The other comes from the anthers of flowers, which contain numerous small grains called pollen. Just as flowers have different colours, so do their pollen.
Let us go with the honeybee from her flower to the hive and see what happens. Most bees gather only pollen or nectar. As she sucks the nectar from the flower, it is stored in her special honey stomach ready to be transferred to the honey-making bees in the hive. If hungry she opens a valve in the nectar “sac” and a portion of the payload passes through to her own stomach to be converted to energy for her own needs.
The bee is a marvelous flying machine. She can carry a payload of nectar or pollen close to her own weight. Consider that even the most advanced design in aircraft can only take off with a load one-quarter of its own weight and you’ll appreciate the miracle that the honeybee can remain airborne with such a load.
When her nectar “sacs” are full, the honeybee returns to the hive. Nectar is delivered to one of the indoor bees and is then passed mouth-to-mouth from bee to bee until its moisture content is reduced from about 70% to 20%. This changes the nectar into honey. Sometimes the nectar is stored at once in cells in the honeycomb before the mouth-to-mouth working because some evaporation is caused by the 32.5°C temperature inside the hive.
Finally, the honey is placed in storage cells and capped with beeswax in readiness for the arrival of newborn baby bees. Pollen is mixed with nectar to make “bee bread” and is fed to the larvae. A baby bee needs food rich in protein if the bee community is to flourish.
Before returning to the flower again for more pollen, the bee combs, cleans and cares for herself ? not because she is vain but so she can work more efficiently. Throughout her life cycle, the bee will work tirelessly collecting pollen, bringing it back to the hive, cleaning herself, then setting out for more pollen.
Forager bees start out from the hive for blossom patches when three weeks old. As they live to be only six or seven weeks old they have much work to do and little time in which to do it.
There will be many other bees working at the same time, and the air will be noisy with their droning. It takes 300 bees about three weeks to gather 450 g of honey. On average, a hive contains 40,000 bees.