Filed under: Food, Online shop, Superfood | Tags: chocolate, Food, Raw chocolate, superfoods
Raw chocolate, cacao; the bean, or nib of the bean, in its natural state – not cooked, over-processed or mixed with cheap filler ingredients. It is mixed with with cocoa butter or agave syrup, berries and nuts to create delicious chocolate treats. Cacao is said to be richer in antioxidant flavanols than green tea, red wine or acai, and contains protein, fats, calcium, iron, carotene, thiamine and riboflavin.
A delicious treat that contains only healthy ingredients. Check out raw chocolate recipes here. Raw chocolate taster kits are now available to buy at Hector’s Farm, providing everything you need to get started in making your own chocolates. The kit contains enough ingredients to make around 30 chocolates, or 3 bars, it also contains a recipe booklet.
Filed under: Food, General, Health, spirituality | Tags: change, living in the now, nutrition, nutritional healing
I am studying nutritional healing with the Nutritional Healing Foundation, which is helping us to stay focused on our new healthy lifestyle. It feels like it is part of the preparation work for Hector’s Farm, which part it will play is yet to be revealed. For the time being it is reminding us of the bodies innate ability to heal itself and how some foods help and others hinder that process.
Some days we continue to eat foods that are toxic to the body, introducing the emotional element of food and showing the triggers. Tiredness can make coffee harder to resist, despite knowing that it will increase the feeling of tiredness in the end. When we try to do too much or have too many obligations snipping at our heels, the best of our intentions can implode into stress and irritation, because we cannot catch our breath.
This is where acceptance comes in and the reminder for balance. Eventually our tastes are changing to the healthier food options the more we consume them. Indulgences in a moment of weakness are to be met with kindness and acknowledgement that we are tired, stressed or whatever, simply recognising the triggers rather than meeting it with self flagellation.
We are learning, and remembering to practice what is already known; Acceptance of where we are in the here and now.
Filed under: Food, Personal, Superfood | Tags: Energy, high vibrational foods, Recipes, superfoods
There is a vibration to everything we eat, high-vibration foods carry a natural positive, uplifting energy that some people can feel as the vibration transfers to themselves. As part of our travels on the road to Hector’s Farm we are gradually moving to a more healthy way of living. We occasionally stumble off track, but on the whole we are pleased with the changes we have made. Mainly eating more fresh whole organic foods which are considered to be of a higher vibration. One day we hope to be producing some of these foods via Hector’s Farm.
Why not try eating high vibration foods? We have felt subtle changes in ourselves, definitely for the better. You may feel a positive change in your energy levels, mood, concentration, your ability to stay grounded, present and centered.
You can start by eating lots of fresh vegetables and fruits, ideally whole and organic. Take notice how you feel after you eat something. Introduce superfoods into your diet, such as goji berries, bee pollen, beetroot or blueberries. Superfoods contain a higher nutrient content, but it is important to eat a range of foods. Start by including 60% vegetables in each meal and aim to include 3 – 5 different colour foods on your plate (5 we have found a challenge at times).
Please pass on any recipes which will help us to stay on track, we’d love to hear from you.
Filed under: Food, Recipes | Tags: chocchick, chocolate, cocoa, goji berries, healthy snack, homemade, oranges, Raw chocolate, Superfood, sweets, treat, vanilla
Raw chocolates with goji berries & Chocolate dipped orange slices
Ingredients:
- 100g Raw cocoa butter
- 4tbsp Raw cocoa powder
- 2tbsp Agave Syrup
- Vanilla bean extract
- Goji berries
- Oranges
1. Chop up the raw cacao butter into small pieces so it is easier to melt. Place in a bowl and gently melt over a pan of hot water. Keep the heat low so as to not overheat.
2. Once the raw cacao has melted, turn the heat off but keep the bowl over the pan of hot water. Mix in the vanilla bean extract and the raw cacao powder. Add approx 2tbs of agave syrup and mix well till the mixture is smooth.
3. Add goji berries to each mould and add the warm chocolate mixture. Alternatively, slice oranges and dip them into the chocolate.
4. Leave to set in the fridge (for 1 – 2 hours) or in the freezer for half an hour. Leave the oranges for 15 minutes in the fridge.
5. Enjoy your sweet treats
We get our ingredients from our friends at ChocChick, why not pay them a visit and buy one of their kits.
Filed under: Recipes | Tags: Black tea, Cake, ceremony, Chai, spice, spiced tea, Tea, treat
I love the ceremony around Tea, taking time out in the day to relax with a cup of tea, the tea pot, the brewing, the dainty cup and saucer and of course a little treat to go with it.
Here is a spicy blend to try:
Follow steps 1 and 2, reheat, and strain, adding extra hot water as necessary. For a richer flavour and a pick-me-up, follow steps 3, 4, and 5 to add the milk (dairy or non), black tea, and sugar.
- Grind:
- 11⁄2 tsp coriander seeds
- 3 tbsp cardamom pods
- Bring to a boil, then let sit overnight:
- 2 cups water
- 1⁄3 cup ginger, finely chopped
- 1⁄2 tsp black peppercorns
- the ground cardamom and coriander
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cloves
- 1 dash allspice
3. Add 3 cups of milk (dairy/soya/rice) and slowly bring to a low boil, stirring continuously
4. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons good-quality black tea (I use 3 parts Kenyan, 1 part earl grey) and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Strain and sweeten to taste with 2 to 31⁄2 tbsp honey or sugar.
