Last week I mentioned to my naturopath that since the injury and therefore my lack of exercise I had now developed an insatiable need for sugar. She discussed with me some ideas to help curb these cravings. As a result I ended up with this coconut goji chocolate recipe. In it are a few items that help to cure the sugar cravings:
Cacao: Contains nutrients such as magnesium, iron and chromium. Chromium is important for balancing blood sugar.
Coconut Oil: Delivers quick energy to your body and doesn’t produce an insulin spike which is good news for those of us craving sugar.
Goji Berries: Full of vitamins B1, B2, B6, C, and E. According to Superfood Blog ‘organic goji berries are rated just 29 on the Gylcaemic Index which means they both satisfy hunger and actively reduce sugar cravings.’
Since my hockey accident I have been made more aware of things that I have taken for granted.
Recently I signed up to participate in the “Beautiful You Life Coaching Academy” and as part of the enrollment we had to write down the activities we love doing. My list included exercise related hobbies in particular hockey, crossfit and gym. For nearly two months now I haven’t been able to walk to my front door properly let alone go to the gym. I haven’t been able to drive or even get out onto my back porch because of the step down which has been difficult. It’s interesting how much of our identity is tied up in the things that we do.
Today I’d love to go through some things I think we take for granted. See if you can identify yourself in any of these points.
This week’s recipe comes from a recipe card I picked up at “Primal Pantry” at Teneriffe here in Brisbane. It’s super easy to make and tasty. It’s the perfect pie to share with a friend this long weekend. I made this in my Thermomix but you could easily do it in your food processor.
This week I found out that one of my relatives had been bullied all through primary school, high school and then even into his workplace. This ended up with a severe cry out for help and a mental health breakdown. I was infuriated. Who couldn’t love hanging out with him? Why didn’t I know? What could I have done to help?
As someone all too familiar with the struggles of anxiety and depression my heart went out to him. I literally cried after I saw him dosed up on medications trying to cope. This catalyst of events eventually became just too much. It’s been in the media a lot lately with high profile people like Charlotte Dawson and L’Wren Scott taking their own lives. Yet there still seems to be a stigma attached to depression and anxiety and people need to be educated about it.
Today’s recipe comes from a site called “Rawsome Vegan Life.” I am not Vegan by any means but I love the recipes from this site regardless. The pictures are just so beautiful and the recipes are so easy to make.
The Mad Hatter: Have I gone Mad? Alice: I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret all the best people are.”
MY GENES ARE BONKERS
We are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139: 14). In fact my genes are fearful of the synthetic form of folate: folic acid. Yes ladies I have a mutant gene that has taken up residence in my body by the name of MTHFR. To be specific it even has its own prison identification number A1298C and he’s greedy because he has this twice. Inherited from both my parents.
I just found out this week what has been the source of my troubles with infertility. MTHFR stands for Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase. It’s a bit of a tongue twister isn’t it? According to the MTHFR Australia support ‘it’s an enzyme that converts folate you eat into the active form (5-Methyltetrahydrofolate).’
Folic Acid, the synthetic version found in pre-pregnancy vitamins are actually detrimental to my body. So for the past twenty months I have been taking a vitamin that has been storing up toxins in my system! No wonder I can’t get pregnant.
1/2 cup raw almonds (pecan or walnuts will also work)
1/2 cup soft Medjool dates
¼ tsp. sea salt
Filling
1 ½ cups raw cashews, soaked for at least 5 hours, overnight is best
Juice of 2 lemons
The seeds of 1 whole vanilla bean (or 1 tsp. alcohol-free vanilla extract)
1/3 cup raw coconut oil melted
1/3 cup raw honey (solid or liquid.)(Vegans use agave nectar.)
1 cup raspberries (thaw completely if using frozen)
DIRECTIONS
1. Place nuts and dates in a food processor with sea salt and pulse to chop until they are to your desired fineness (process a finer crust longer than a chunky one).Test the crust by spooning out a small amount of mixture and rolling it in your hands. If the ingredients hold together, your crust is perfect. Scoop out crust mixture in a 7” spring-form pan (if you don’t have a spring-form pan, use a pie plate lined with saran wrap), and press firmly, making sure that the edges are well packed and that the base is relatively even throughout. Rinse food processor well.
2. Warm coconut oil and honey in a small saucepan on low heat until liquid. Whisk to combine.
3. In the most powerful food processor / blender you own (you decide which one has the most torque) place all filling ingredients (except raspberries) and blend on high until very smooth (this make take a couple minutes so be patient). If you have a Vita-Mix, absolutely use it.
4. Pour about 2/3 (just eyeball it, you can’t make a mistake!) of the mixture out onto the crust and smooth with a spatula. Add the raspberries to the remaining filling and blend on high until smooth. Pour onto the first layer of filling. Place in freezer until solid.
5. To serve, remove from freezer 30 minutes prior to eating. Run a smooth, sharp knife under hot water and cut into slices. Serve on its own, or with fresh fruit. Store leftovers in the freezer (what leftovers?).
Here is my version of it:
(How pretty do the two layers look? I made mine in the Thermomix. One day I’ll convert the recipe and put it up on here).
And another home picture.
Yum! Just goes to show that you don’t need wheat or dairy to make a super creamy cheesecake.
Make sure you go and check out the “My New Roots” website for more yummy treats.
Remember when you would get home from a day at school and then you would get onto the phone to talk to your best friend again? The long curly phone cord stretched as far as you could get it down the hallway and away from the prying ears of your parents.
These days most of us don’t even have a landline. We are mobile and can be accessed anywhere. Anytime. We think we’re wired for love through our new mobile connections but are we actually connected in?
“It’s not because things are difficult that we dare not venture. It’s because we dare not venture that they are difficult.”
Seneca
RISKY BUSINESS
Image via “Roommate for Rent”
I don’t like birds. Apparently ‘ornithophobia’ the irrational fear of birds is quite common. We can probably thank the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film “The Birds” for that one. A whole town overrun by birds who are intent on attacking humans! Creepy!
Over the past four weeks I have had the question “So are you going to play hockey again?” repeated over and over. At first I would say “Maybe it’s time to hang up my hockey boots.”
Christine Caine, a renowned Evangelist who snapped her anterior cruciate ligament skiing wrote these encouraging words in her article “Leadership lessons from the ski fields:”
Disclaimer:This website is for educational and informational purposes only. It is based on my own journey and through my own research. This blog was developed because my family and friends wanted me to share information with them and this is one place where I can tap into my creativity. Please understand the information provided is not a substitute for medical advice by a licensed practitioner. You are ultimately responsible for your own health and I will not be responsible for any actions or consequential results of any action taken by any reader. Also the blog posts are my own work unless specified. Please reference or ask me if you would like to use any information from my blog. Thanks beautiful!
