Christmas Chocolate Brownies!
14-Dec-10: Here is a great “Low GL” (Glycaemic Load) recipe for a delicious Christmas Chocolate brownie for those who are on a Low GL diet or just like to watch your carb-intake over the Christmas festivities. It makes about 12 pieces in a 22cm (9 inch) square baking tin. Enjoy and induge!!
1. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees (or gas mark 4). Oil a square baking tin (with coconut butter, or butter) and sprinkle a bit of ground almond flour onto it).
2. Melt 100-150g organic dark chocolate (>70%, e.g. Green and Black’s, cut into smaller pieces) in a bain marie (in a pot over hot water).
3. Blend 150g coconut butter (or normal butter) with 50-75g Xylitol until soft; then add 2 bananas (mashed), 4 eggs (large, ideally organic free-range omega-3), 2 tsp vanilla extract. Add the melted chocolate, 150g ground almonds, 2 tsp baking powder, 1-2 Tbs of cocoa powder and 200g chopped hazelnuts. Optionally for Christmas: 2 tsp of ground cinnamon, 2 tsp of mixed spices, zest of 2 large organic unwaxed oranges (add juice of 1/2 orange), 1 large handful of sugar free dried sour cherries (e.g. from CherryActive) and if you fancy 1-2 shots of Rum or Brandy.
4. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and sprinkle a handful of any or all of the following: almonds, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, sesame seeds over the top. Bake for around 20-30 minutes until the mixture no longer ‘wobbles’ when shaken. The top should be firm to touch, not over cooked – to keep them ‘soft and slightly gooey’.
5. Leave to cool and serve each brownie with natural yoghurt and 1-2 Tbs of raspberries (fresh or defrosted, you can also heat them up as a contrast with the cool yoghurt). Garnish with some holly leaves and berries (or mint sprig) for ‘looks’.
Enjoy & Happy Christmas 2010!
Party Season: How to Avoid a Hangover!
12-Dec-10: It is the festive season and we are excited about many Christmas dinners and parties to come. Unfortunately, many of us fear the hangover on the day after, which is more frequently than not hard to avoid… or is it not? Here are 10 tips of what you can do to prevent the horrible ‘day after’ hangover to enable you to enjoy your parties intelligently for longer – and more of them!!
1. SLEEP! Aim to get a good night’s sleep before the party (at least 8 hours). If you can’t have a lie-in the next day, try to take have an afternoon nap or an early night.
2. WATER! Drink plenty of water throughout the party and when you return home before going to bed.
3. EAT! At the party have a proper wholesome meal (at least 1/2 plate of a diverse, colourful range of vegetables, and a good quarter of your plate or more of protein; choose some fruit with your desert if you are having any).
4. MOVE & LAUGH! Have a good boogie and a laugh!
5. ALCOHOL... Watch your alcohol units and keep your alcoholic drinks to less than 2-5 small glasses. Halve your alcohol intake by opting for white wine sprizters instead or have alternate glasses of water in between your drinks.
6. SUPPORTING SUPPLEMENTS… Take some Vitamin C, Milkthistle and Magnesium the day before, after the party before going to bed and the next morning when waking up (with food). A good multimineral and -vitamin can be supportive.
7. BREAKFAST! For ‘the morning after’ breakfast have a wholesome and nutritious one! (e.g. a healthy fry-up with lean organic good quality protein (e.g. meat, eggs, baked beans) and brown/wholegrain/rye bread) or natural yoghurt, nuts and fruit compote. Don’t eat something too sugary, you need the protein, fat and all the nutrients to support your liver metabolism.
8. GOOD FOOD & FAT! Eat regularly throughout the day, about every 3-4 hours with some protein contained in every snack or meal. Add 2-4 Tbs of good oils (“3-6-9″ oil, nuts/seed or fish oils) to your food.
9. RELAX! Relax, do some gentle exercises (Pilates, Yoga, Sauna, Swim) or go for a walk in the countryside.
10. RECHARGE! Have an Epsom Salt bath (2-4 handfuls) especially if you are going to another party the next day again. Also light some candles, natural essence oils, listen to some calming music…enjoy some ‘me’-time before going to bed for an early good night’s sleep, ready for the next event looking radiant, healthy & beautiful!
Enjoy your Christmas and have a happy, successful, hangover-free and healthy New Year 2011!!