Monthly Archives: October 2010

Since my last post on vanilla the days have grown cooler and wetter and my thoughts have been turning more and more to nourishing foods that will build us up before winter comes. I've made these lovely and very simple cookies a couple of times which are perfect for eating around the fire with a steaming cup of Raw Living's Eterniteea tea blend or some hot ginger with a splash of elderberry syrup. I love oats as a nourishing food for the nervous system and was thrilled when Raw Living started selling the raw groats and rolled oats as they're hard to find elsewhere. As a root, Maca is grounding and nourishing and particularly beneficial at this time of year, while vanilla is warming and comforting so they make a good combo.

Ingredients:
1 cup raw rolled oats (soaked 2 hours) OR just sprouted raw oat groats (don't leave too long or they wont taste as nice)
4 fresh dates (less if they are the bigger medjool variety)
1 tablespoon raw almond butter
2 tsps maca
1 tsp vanilla powder
pinch crystal salt

Mix all ingredients in a food processor then take out a spoonful of the dough, roll into balls and press on a dehydrator tray. Dehydrate at 105 for 8 hours, then flip and continue for another 5 or 6. I make them quite thick as I like them moist inside but you could make them thinner for a crisper biscuit.

Alpha Dream Dragon Cream

This is a first!  Reviewing a product for men!  Luckily I have a husband of the male variety that tested the brand new Alpha Dream Dragon Cream on my behalf...

Let me begin by saying that my other half is a man of very few words so this was going to be somewhat of a challenge.  However, I'm pleased to say it wasn't as hard as blood out of a stone as I thought it might be.

'The husband', as I lovingly refer to him, has only recently started to shy away from conventional chemical-laden products.  Not that he uses that many.  I think he wants me to be clear he's no metro-sexual with umpteen products to primp and preen.  Nope, he's a real man's man, one product to wash (body and hair), one to moisturise.  However, after a bit of harping on by moi he has opted for more natural products and so was a bit more open to trying out Kate's latest spa sensation.

Dragon Cream is very reminiscent of its female counterpart (the sparkley and amazing Alpha Dream Supreme Cream which I LOVE) and has many similar ingredients to include cacao butter, coconut butter, shea butter, hemp oil, Aloe with MSM, Klamath Lake blue-green algae, frankincense oil, cedarwood oil, ginger oil, mandarin oil.

Ok so from what I can obtain from the husband here are his thoughts...in my words...thankfully!

The cream has a nice texture, really easy to put on and blends in well.  The smell is not as overpowering as the other creams he has used in the past.  A little goes a long way and is absorbed quickly so you don't walk about with a big sheen on your face (not Charlie Sheen).  Also it leaves your face nicely moisturised.

So there you have it.  Now confession time.  When I saw how nice his skin was looking on the cream I stole some.  He caught me though, the big finger scoop mark kinda gave it away.  But the best news is that you can share and share alike.  That's what marriage is all about right?

:)

Gotu Kola

Gotu Kola is a wonder cure all tonic herb!  As a brain tonic, it is said to aid intelligence and memory. It strengthens the adrenal glands and cleanses the blood to treat skin impurities. It is said to combat stress and depression, increase libido and improve reflexes.

In India, Gotu Kola is regarded as perhaps the most spiritual of all herbs. Growing in some areas of the Himalayas, Gotu Kola is used by yogis to improve meditation. It is said to develop the crown chakra, the energy center at the top of the head and to balance the right and left hemispheres of the brain, which the leaf is said to resemble. It is regarded as one of the most important rejuvenative herbs in Ayurvedic Medicine. It is said to fortify the immune system, both cleansing and feeding it and to strengthen the adrenals. It has been used as a pure blood tonic and for skin health. It has also been used to promote restful sleep

A legendary saying, in reference to Gotu Kola was, "Two leaves a day, keeps old age away." GREAT, I’ll have double....

Gotu Kola

I have been using Gotu Kola in my nut mylks and have noticed improvements in my concentration levels and energy levels.  I am currently studying and have found it very useful when trying to retain that vital information that otherwise slips out the short term memory into the recycling bin in my mind!  Short term memory loss is not that helpful when trying to remember where you parked the car last night he he!  I have only been using it a few weeks so the effects are quick and noticeable.  Great to help de-stress in this mod-earn lifestyle where we are all so quick and rushing around to stop and notice life around us.

I give Gotu Kola a great big thumbs up! x