Morning Glow Bowl

Breakfast has typically been my favourite meal of the day for as long as I can remember. I am a morning person, and I often spend mornings in my own company. As much as I love lazy family breakfasts of pancakes or whipping up various smoothies for us all in summer, there is something I love about the morning hours when Geoff is in bed and I have time to myself to do yoga, organise my day and spend time creating something simple and nourishing to cure my early hunger. I am wondering if this luxury of a morning to myself may be a thing of the past once the baby arrives very soon! It's now just a day away from my 'due date' so we are literally any day away from greeting our little bundle of joy into the world. Exciting and surreal!  So I am making the most of these peaceful, solitary mornings while I can, before they are shared with the new born. I'm sure spending this time with the little precious will be a million times more special than ever, but for now, I am grateful for this space I have created for myself to set me up for the day ahead, with all its 'to-do-lists' and chores to be done. An hour of 'me' time first thing sets me off to a grounded start, rather than rushing out the door without a proper meal or routine. Lets see how all of this changes as I turn into a mum! I will strive to keep some sort of morning ritual what ever turn it may take!

My morning meals vary alot. I'm not one to eat the same thing for breakfast day in day out. Most people wouldn't eat the same lunch and dinner every day would they? Though breakfast often seems to become a similar affair for most each day. This maybe a comfort and part of a morning routine which makes them feel less stressed about the day ahead, though for me, keeping a sense of variation and excitement to my morning is what drives me. I have often gone to bed thinking about what I am going to make in the morning! However, it's always something simple and quick to prepare, varies with the seasons and always super nutritious. I have always figured, that if you start the day as good as you can, then what ever happens for the rest of the day at least you have had a healthy breakfast. Preparing something for myself means I can pack as much nutrition into it as possible without compromising on others tastes. This said, this 'Morning Glow Bowl' is my partners favourite porridge, and he always asks me to make it for him as his 'just isn't the same'! I agree; this isn't your usual quick bowl of oats. Its inspired by ayurvedic principles, uses wholegrains and natural sweeteners and packs in loads of spices. My morning palette craves flavour and warmth, especially in the winter, and this recipe hits all the right spots.

My Morning Glow Bowl is what I love to eat on cold winter mornings, when I want something sweet, filling and warm. Other days I might choose to eat some eggs with homemade bread, a fruity or super-food smoothie or whip up a batch of pancakes to share. But this is what I eat most often right now. I could easily eat it every day if I varied the base by using different grains, different fruits and seeds and changed the spices. The variations are endless, but the recipe below is my favourite version. Its really just a method for you to follow and add in what ingredients you have to hand, so please be creative and come up with your own Morning Glow Bowl. And why Glow Bowl? This bowl of yum will leave you with a warm, nourished glow from the inside  What ever the weather you will be sure to start your day with a glow which will brighten your day and make you feel amazing. I'd love to hear what variations you come up with and how you like to spend your morning time!

Morning Glow Bowl

Serves 1

1/2c whole oat groats, ground in a high speed blender, or whole rolled oats (not quick oats)

2 tsp coconut oil or ghee

1 tbsp desiccated coconut

1 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp ground cardamon

4 soaked dates (plus 1/2c soak water)

1 small handful raisins/chopped figs/chopped apricots

1/2c hot water

1/2c almond milk

Honey and ghee to serve (optional)

Pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries, bee pollen to serve (or what ever seeds and berries you have)

Gently heat the coconut oil or ghee in a small saucepan until melted then add the oats, coconut and spices. Gentle heat until the oats are slightly 'toasted'. This will add a depth of flavour to your porridge and make the grains easier to digest. Once they smell toasted, add the date water, water and half the almond milk, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle simmer, and add the dates and dried fruits, adding more almond milk as needed to make the right consistency  I like my porridge quite thin, though you might like it thicker, so add enough to taste. 'Mash' the soft dates into the porridge until they are well mixed in, then remove from the heat and pour into a bowl. To serve, top with a teaspoon of honey if you like it sweet (the dates make it sweet too so not essential) and a teaspoon of ghee for extra flavour and indulgence.  Sprinkle with super seeds; my favourite is hemp seeds, goji berries for colour and bee pollen for extra nutrient power. Sit in a beautiful spot and enjoy the morning still before embarking into the day. Feel the glow spread throughout your body, and know you have started the day with a power-packed indulgent breakfast!

Morning Glow Bowl topped with Pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, goji berries, bee pollen, homemade ghee and local honey.

Hello 2013! And a warming golden drink for January

Happy New Year! Be it full of love, life, good health, creativity, fun and sweetness!. Big ups to the last year for all it's opportunities created, and let us welcome in the new one with passion and openness. It seems that alot of people around me are stepping into new roles and adventures as the new year begins, so it is a great place to start moving forwards with projects new, as well as remembering to take lots of rest and reflection whilst the days are still short and cold. I for one have a very big new role ahead of me in the very near future,  one which is going to totally turn my life around in ways I am completely excited about! Our little bubbas arrival is just a  few weeks away now, so I am in serious nesting mode, cleaning, sorting, clearing and gathering!

Reading alot of other blogs and articles over the past few weeks, it seems that so many people go on 'detox' as soon as January 1st is here. To me, this seems a bit ridiculous for many reasons, mostly because it's quite crazy that we choose to toxify our bodies over the festive season to the extent that we have to go on a drastic cleanse to make up for it. How about choosing to enjoy amazing good food throughout the year and indulge moderately during the celebratory times? Secondly, January is generally the worst month we could choose (in the UK) to go on a detox which involves too much cold food, juices and unseasonal ingredients, the basis of many detox diets. Instead, it's best to wait until the spring when the days are warmer and longer and the fresh spring greens that are natural detoxifiers start to appear. I love to do a gentle cleanse around the spring and Autumn equinoxes, when we are at balance with light and dark. That makes sense to me, although you may still feel that you are in need of some sort of nutritional boost at the beginning of this beautiful year, so here's some ideas to get you off to a super start!

• A detox is all relevant to where your diet is at before you start. If you eat junk all day normally, then a full on juice fast is going to be near on impossible. If you already eat a vegan, gluten free diet, then a day or two of juices wouldn't seem so hard! Look at what you eat at the moment and see what is not so great in it that you could cut out for a while. My recommendation for most people at this time of year, would be to simply cut out refined sugar, as it is highly addictive and harmful to the body. Sugar can easily be replaced with less refined alternatives such as honey, fruit, tree saps or herbs such as stevia, although it is good to remember that these should still be eaten in sensible portions.Overloading the body with any kind of sugar can lead to blood-sugar and other problems.
• Include lots of cleansing herbs when you feel the need for a cleanse, like milk thistle, burdock, ginger and turmeric. See my super golden detox drink below!
• Remember that warmth at this time of year is essential for the body to function, that includes to be able to cleanse itself! Juices, salads and smoothies are ok as long as they are not the only foods you are eating. Cleansing soups, stews, teas and broths are clean and waming to your system. Save the juice fast for spring!
• If you feel run down, eat small, regular meals with adequate amounts of fat and protein, and include some elements of raw-living foods to your dish such as sprouts or cultured veggies. Cut out any sugars from your meals, and make them more plant based.
• Think colour! I always tell people that if you can count at least five colours on your plate then you are doing good. So many processed meals are lacking in colour, being very white or brown! Make a rainbow of your plate and nourish all of your senses.

So Happy New Year to you. Lets start the year with the very best of intentions. New years resolutions are great as long as they are positive and realistic. I like to make mine a positive affirmation, rather than what I am going to stop doing. By doing this, we are still focusing on the negative. So make a positive phrase which you intend to live this year by. I have a few.. 'I will be a loving mumma', 'I will nourish my body and my baby daily', 'I will create and write recipes and share them with others','I will give thanks for this gift of a healthy abundant life'. What are your New years affirmations??

And now for my recipe for January! Having said that I don't do detox at this time of year, I do however like to give my immune system a boost with cleansing spices and warming teas! This recipe was inspired by a very inspiring lady who I follow on the web, Elenore Bendel Zahn, aka the greenylicious Earthsprout. Her blog is truely beautiful and she is as beautiful herself, sharing gorgeous recipes which are as tasty as they are utterly good for you. She is a very inspiring young lady as I'm sure you will gather if looking at her site. Her 'Golden detox drink' has intrigued me for a while, and I have only just got around to trying it myself. It came about from finding fresh turmeric at a supermarket and wanting to make a drink from it. I knew that turmeric was a superfood but I had no idea how amazing it was! I have listed some of its powerful properties on the ingredients page. Mixed with warming ginger, firey cayenne, cleansing lemon and healing honey, this is a super start to the day, or mid morning, afternoon or eve! I am totally addicted and am happily sipping away whilst awakening my immune system, digestion and cleansing my skin from the inside. If you can't get hold of fresh turmeric, then follow Elenore's recipe using dried dried powdered spices. Either way this drink is a winner. Thank you thank you to Elenore and enjoy the beginning of this wonderful year!

Fresh turmeric, ginger and lemon Tea

2 cups boiling water

1'' fresh turmeric, finely grated

1" fresg ginger, finely grated

Juice of 1/2 a lemon

pinch cayenne

1 tsp raw honey

Place the grated roots into a teapot and cover with freshly boiled water. Add the lemon juice, cayenne and honey and leave to steep for 5 minutes. Strain into a cup and feel the golden goodness flow!