Fake food!!! Plus Carrot and Coriander Soup

With every new invention of a type of food with omega 3 added to it, or a cereal with iron and vitamins forced into it, we move further into the realm of fake food.

Eggs generally do not naturally have Omega 3 - it is added to them my feeding the hen flaxseeds etc. Mass producers are going mad in their search for the perfect processed foods - while the real food, unadulterated (we hope!) is being left of a shelf. I have to say that I would rather have a real potato than fake 'low-fat' pasta. Fora that matter, I'd rather have proper pasta than the fake stuff.

We are messing about more and more with our food and it is not healthy! Many people still think margarine is healthier than butter. Butter is a natural by-product of milk. Very little other than churning and packing is done to it - marg is a whole other kettle of fish. Every part of it is processed.

We have become so obsessed with healthy eating that we are eating very unhealthy items because they have healthy nutrients added. This is not a good way to eat!

We need to return to a diet of non-processed foods, or very few if possible, of enjoying and savouring our food and not thinking about the nutrients in a particular product but in the overall goodness of a meal.

Anyone who has read 'In Defence of Food' by Michael Pollan, will recognise what I am saying. I recommend reading this book for anyone who is not sure they should drop the 'altered' cereal boxes.

Nutritionists keep changing their minds about what is good for us - protein, then carbs, not animal fat but trans fats, not trans fats etc. We need to realise that this is an industry closely linked to the processed food industry. We should trust ourselves. Eating a balanced meal of unprocessed foods is far healthier than a ready meal with low fat content and added vitamins.

My mum makes the best soups ever! She has a real talent for them. Last year she started making carrot and coriander soup but not with ground coriander/seeds, with the leaves. It was a blessed change and I found I loved this soup far more than the one with the seed. I can highly recommend this type of soup. So use up those excess carrots in this delicious soup. Simply substitute the ground coriander for fresh and use as much or little as you like!

Bon Apetit!

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scotland about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback: The Island of the Mist is book 2 The Stone in the Sword is book 1 The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats: The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Summer fruit

Smmer is finally here, after more and yet more torrential rain! A great way to enjoy the summer and improve your health is to eat more fruit (of course, if you are diabetic, please do not increase to more than 1 portion of fruit plus 1 100mg glass fruit juice or 2 portions of fruit per day).

It is not a good idea to overindulge in Vitamin A, fruits like melons, mangoes etc are full of it, but having a variety of fruits is always a good idea at this time of the year. Berries are packed with anti-oxidants and are out now.

Melon for breakfast with toast, adding a few grapes to a salad, fruit juice mid morning are all good ways of increasing fruit in our diets. Frozsen fruit are far less expensive than fresh and are actually fresher!

Enjoy the health benefits of Summer.

I have written a book, not on food, that you might be interested in:
Kindle and paperback:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stone-Sword-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327179005&sr=1-3


And in the US:
http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Sword-Kingslayer-Series-ebook/dp/B006ZQIEPG/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1338752368&sr=1-3

What’s in Season in June?

June is a wonderful and vibrant month of the year for a huge variety of food.
The start of Summer, it is the vanguard of the berry season, as well as being excellent for fish, lettuce and lighter vegetables.

Eating seasonally is important for your health and the environment, the list below gives some of those now in season:

June’s bounty:

Broad Beans
French Beans
Mackerel
Mange tout
Clams
Chicory
Radish
Rocket
Peas
Nectarines
Watercress
Tomatoes
Strawberries
Spring onions
Sardines
Lamb
Raspberries
Crab

To conclude, seasonal food in June is salad rich and berry wealthy. It is the time of light meals and peppery flavours and the start of Summer. Enjoy the fruits of June!

Have a look at this article for more ideas: http://guides.wikinut.com/What%E2%80%99s-in-Season-in-June/149x2sz_/

Barley, a Superfood

While spring is generally about light food and fruit is coming back into season, it can also produce some very cold and vicious weather, such as today. Gale force winds and a power cut, pelting rain and a coldness seeping in through all the cracks make for a very uncomfortable afternoon.

On days like this, there is nothing better than a warm bowl of good old fashioned broth like my mum still makes. Its not just that this food is hearty, warming and good for you, its also a very comforting dish.

The good news is that it is something that can be eaten by all, vegetarians, meat-eaters, vegans and celiacs.

While it was traditionally made with lamb stock, this is now no longer necessary and the meal can taste at least as delicious made from vegetable or even chicken stock (whatever you happen to have in your cupboards at the time).

The one ingredient that a broth cannot be without is barley. Barley really is a gift of nature. It has so many health benefits, it would take pages to reem them all of, so I’ll simply give a quick list of some of its greatest benefits:
Very high in dietary fibre
High in Selenium
And Tryptophan
As well as Copper, Manganese and Phosphorous

It is excellent for regulating cholesterol, blood sugar levels and blood pressure. It protects against heart disease and protects the intestinal tract, as well as having anti-cancer properties (esp breast and colon). It is also found to aid arthritis sufferers. This truly is a Superfood in all its glory.

This is an article and recipe on Barley and Broth: http://www.wikinut.com/good-for-you-broth-soup-recipe/z0d__mol/kxm529-3/


Enjoy :D

Quick and Easy Potato and Leek Soup

This month is the season of new potatoes and while most people simply boil them or use them in salads, I like to add them to one of my most favourite dishes – soup.

For me, soup is the ultimate food. It is cheap, tasty, very good for you and can be made quickly and very simply. This is cooking as it should be.

What could sum spring up more than a lovely bowl of potato and leek soup?
http://www.wikinut.com/cheap-and-easy-potato-and-leek-soup-recipe/1to2_lpx/p0yke.wr/
This particular recipe includes a very simple crouton how to as well cannot think of anything I’d rather have right now than a bowl of this soup with croutons.

Enjoy :D

Mushroom Heaven! Tasty and Healthy

The mushroom is a gem of a food, highly underrated and packed full of flavour. Every culture on the planet uses some form of mushroom in their cooking.

They can be eaten cooked or raw and are so full of nutrients they are classed as a super food.

Rather than repeat what is in this article, I'll simply place the link for The Humble Crimini Mushroom here.

Not sure how to cook it, why not make a delicious soup BBC Food Mushroom Soup Recipe by James Tanner (can be used by vegetarians and (if substitute butter for marg), by vegans too.
Or how about Nick Nairn's quick and easy Stuffed Mushroom recipe, again, suitable for vegetarians (but not so much for vegans (unless happy to substitute cheese for a non-dairy cheese)).

Or why not try a quick salad with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, leafy greens, pine nuts and raw mushrooms with a home made vinegrette.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin