Moroccan Couscous Salad

Ingredients:

250ml couscous

1 red pepper, seeds removed and flesh diced

1 green pepper, seeds removed and flesh diced

2 ribs of celery, washed, trimmed and finely sliced

125ml seedless raisins

60ml white vinegar

10ml ground coriander

5ml ground cumin

1-2ml chilli powder

60ml olive oil

Method:

Cook the couscous according to the package instructions.

Add the peppers, celery and raisins to the couscous.

To make the dressing, whisk together the vinegar, coriander, cumin, chilli powder and olive oil and mix into the salad.

Carrot and Nut Salad

This salad is a real family favourite. 

My daughter, in particular, raves about it 

because it's so healthy 

and fits in with her weight management diet. 

It's truly well worth making, 

especially for a girly get together 

or for a summer picnic, braai or barbecue.

Ingredients:

4 medium or 3 large carrots, grated

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

2 spring onions, sliced on the diagonal

1-2 inches slice fresh pineapple, peeled and diced finely

125ml macadamia nuts

125ml seedless raisins

Zest of 1 orange

45ml fresh orange juice, or juice of one orange

5ml Dijon mustard

Poppy seeds or Sesame seeds to garnish

Method:

Mix together the grated carrots, chopped celery, sliced onions, diced pineapple, macadamia nuts, raisins and orange zest in a salad bowl.

In a small mason jar, make the dressing. Shake together the orange juice and mustard and pour over the salad. Toss to coat all the salad with dressing. Garnish with Poppy seeds or sesame seeds and serve.

Pasta Slaw

Coleslaw is one of South Africa’s favourite salads, but we got tired of the ubiquitous cabbage and carrot smothered with mayonnaise and added pasta to it for an interesting variation.

I like to add a few extra special touches to this salad, which always goes down a treat, such as a couple of handfuls of raisins, sultanas or chopped dried apricots and some chopped nuts such as macadamias, pecans, walnuts or cashew nuts. Mix some fruit or nuts into the salad and sprinkle some on top to garnish.

Ingredients:

250g Elbow Macaroni

15ml olive oil

¼ cabbage, shredded finely

2 ribs of celery, finely sliced

1 large carrot, grated

½ 470g can crushed pineapple

250ml mayonnaise

60ml snipped chives

100ml sultanas (optional)

100g chopped macadamia nuts (optional)

Method:

Cook the macaroni according to the package instructions. Drain well and mix with the oil.

Combine the pasta, cabbage, celery, carrot, pineapple and some of the sultanas and macadamia nuts, if using, reserving some of each of the dried fruit and nuts for garnish, then mix in the mayonnaise.

Garnish with sultanas and macadamia nuts, if using, and snipped chives.

Migraine Reliever Juice

When I was younger I suffered terribly with migraine, so I know just how debilitating they can be. I wish I'd known then what I know now about using food to bring afflictions like this under control. If you are a sufferer of migraine, cluster or tension headaches, give this a try. 

If you're experiencing chronic migraine, check what you're eating. Some of the foods that trigger migraine: Fried foods, sugar, artificial sweeteners, flour products, dairy products, alcohol, caffeine, food additives, chocolate and some nuts/seeds. 

Drink a Migraine Reliever combo regularly to prevent migraine and you will soon see migraine occurring far in between with lesser intensity. 

Most fruits and vegetables are rich in three very important minerals that help remedy migraine, namely: Potassium, calcium and magnesium. Some foods that especially help: Dark green vegetables, bananas, cantaloupe, celery, cucumber, lemon, pineapple, watermelon, and ginger.

Suggested MIGRAINE RELIEVER RECIPE:
- 1/2 pineapple
- 3-4 leaves kale or a bunch of spinach
- 1 stick of celery
- 1/4 lemon
- 1/2 inch ginger root (optional)

And drink LOTS of water!

Information from: www.juicing-for-health.com

Cranberry Cleanser Drink

It's Sunday, my day of rest.... ha-ha; the internet never stops and nor does the gravitational pull of blogging and the potential of spreading the fun of food. Well, what better way to start the morning with a good cleansing fruit and vegetable juice? Cranberries are also called “bounceberries” because they bounce when ripe. Imagine how these are going to rejuvenate you and have you bouncing all over your life! Cranberries are high in vitamin C, and have antioxidant and antibacterial effects in the body. 
These little red jewels are a rich source of the flavonoid quercetin which can inhibit the development of both breast and colon cancers and drinking cranberry juice is also good for the health of the heart. Research confirms that cranberries are an excellent source of antioxidants which may protect against cancer, heart disease and other diseases. 

They are also indicated for digestive tract health and healing from the mouth to the anus. To start, cranberries decrease production of cavity and plaque producing bacteria in your mouth. Moving to the stomach, they reduce the bacteria associated with peptic stomach ulcers. In the colon their juice has been found to reduce the incidence of colon cancer. Research shows that the cranberry contents of proanthocyanidins and ursolic acid brought on cell death in colon cancer cells. 

Cranberries are especially beneficial to the eyes where they significantly improve symptoms of cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy and are well known for their assistance in maintaining a healthy urinary tract. 

But…The health benefits of cranberries are almost totally depleted when generous amounts of sugar is added. Thus the cranberry cannot provide you with its full phytonutrient benefits when there has been lots of sugar added.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/cranberries-little-powerfood-with-a-big-punch.html#ixzz2iuCDFMkz

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/08/100823183807.htm

http://www.peakhealthadvocate.com/2149/cranberries-may-help-with-cancer-prevention/

Stuffed Celery

Makes about 30

Ingredients:

10 medium stalks celery, washed and  cut into 3 inch sections

250g cream cheese

1/4 cup mayonnaise

1 garlic clove, minced with sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
ground smoked paprika 

Method:
Beat together cream cheese, mayonnaise, garlic, sea salt and black pepper to taste in a bowl with an electric mixer until very smooth.  

Place this creamy mixture into a pastry bag, and pipe decoratively into the middle of the celery pieces.  

Sprinkle with smoked paprika and serve!

Health Benefits of Celery:

Here are 3 of 9 major health benefits from Celery:
See article for the full list: http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/05/health-benefits-of-celery.html

-Anti cancer: Coumarins are compounds that are found in celery and can prevent various types of cancers from forming. At least 7 other different cancer fighting nutrients are also found in celery.

-Weight loss: Though celery itself does not necessarily burn fat, it contains a great deal of dietary fiber which is filling and hardly any calories to go along.

-Cholesterol: Raw celery juice can be used to help naturally lower unhealthy LDL cholesterol, thus protecting the heart and blood vessels.

From: Natural Cures Not Medicine