WINTER TIME AND HOME REMEDIES FOR COLDS, FLU AND FEELING UNDER THE WEATHER.
We all have days in winter when we feel down and under the weather. First thing is stop and think what you have been doing, eating, how is your sleep and exercise. If you feel stuffy, full of mucous blocked and choking early in the morning with blocked passages, stop dairy foods for a day or two. Drink more water. You forget in winter that the body still needs water. Have teas like Chamomile Sunrider Fortune Delight, the cinnamon flavor or lemon, drink Green Tea, boiling water with a few slices of lemon, mint leaves and honey.
For sore throats and bronchial passages that hurt, have grated ginger, or two ginger cubes in boiling water . You buy these ginger'candies' sugared or unsugared at the health stores. Just drop two into a cup of boiling water at night, cover with a saucer. Drink this is the morning, as you begin the day You will be amazed that after a few days the mouth and throat feel clean and fresh. For prevention of flu have a basket on onions in the kitchen area the whole winter. They send colds out the window. Old wives tale? It works.
Make light meals in the evening, steamed vegetables, a light omelette a salad and natural dressing of lemon and olive oil. Skip fancy sauces and rich foods. You can have a bowl of oatmeal cooked in water or milk, with cinnamon and a few raisins, flax seeds and bran. Excellent for the system
Soup is a good evening meal with wholewheat toast, or brown rice in it.
Eat slowly and with a sense of mindfulness If you eat at the table, sitting in a comfortable position, the food tastes good and you feel like you have had a meal. TV eating does not give meal satisfaction.. It only lasts until the next food advertisement and then you eat more..
Eat an orange and another citrus fruit daily in winter. Eating the fruit is important Drinking orange juice is good, but drink it slowly. Let it start 'digestion' in the mouth.
Have bedtime drinks that are caffeine free. Skip the coffee and strong tannin in teas. Have hot milk, or soy milk and water, with a dash of cinnamon., Delicious and good. Have the juice of half a grapefruit in a glass of boiling water wit a dash of honey Great TV time drink in a tall glass. Make a treat Boil water in a pot, about two cups per person, add a few slices of Oranges , grated apple and the peels, two cloves, cinnamon
and honey. Strain Drink hot, lovely apple cider. If you wish you can add a tea bag when it is ready..
Make sure kids drink water when they brush their teeth in the morning and evening. It does not have to be a large quantity, but it is healthy for the bowels and general well being.
Make sure sleep areas are well ventilated during the day and keep the kiddies in a bed that the sheets are tucked in., When the duvet slips off, they are often uncovered....
Be happy, be well and have a cosy winter Love and light Rona..
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
……………………FESTIVAL OF LIGHT
We all love light and candles, a flame with a flicker of all the colors of warmth, candles to light up the dark, the soft glow of a few candles, a memorial candle….and of course the joy of candles on a Birthday cake. Chanukah, the Festival of Dedication, is the time when we light candles nightly and celebrate with songs, stories and eating foods made in oil. The symbolic part of the Chanukah is the history of a people, the challenges they faced and the dedication they had . to overcome all obstacles and believe in themselves..
In Israel we eat Doughnuts for the week. There are of course rehearsals as the bakers make them ahead of time……it is amazing how many doughnuts they sell before the Chanukah week. And then when all the calories, sugar and jam has been devoured, we vow no more until next year. They are so yummy….
SAFETY RULES WHEN YOU MAKE DOUGHNUTS…..PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.
Working with hot oil can be dangerous, so be careful;.
Prepare all the mixtures before you heat the oil.
2.HAVE A LID LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER THE OIL.
3. Fill the saucepan , only half way. Test heat of oil. Drop a square of bread into it. If it browns quickly, it is hot enough.
4. Lower the food SLOWLY into the pot.
5.Only do a few at a time . It makes turning easier.
6. Do not have kiddies near the stove.
7.In event of a fire, turn flame off. Cover with lid. Do not pour water on the flames. You can smother the flames with a damp towel. I do not like to be negative, but one needs to be careful.
8. Finally, focus on what you are making, not the phone and the doorbell. If you do have to turn away, switch off the heat and remove the pot to the back of the stove out of danger to kiddies.
CHANUKAH DOUGHNUTS.
These are so easy and take ten minutes to make.
350grams of Self raising flour.
2eggs.
2cups of yogurt.
2 dessertspoons of sugar. I use brown sugar.
1 teaspoon vanilla essence.
A dash of salt.
Mix all well . Use a deep saucepan and let the oil fill it half way. Deep enough for the doughnuts to be submerged. Use a spoon to drop them carefully into the hot oil. Deep fry and have a strainer lined with absorbent paper. The doughnuts can be spooned onto this carefully.. This gets rid of excess oil. Have a teaspoon of jam ready .to inject into the doughnut and roll them into a bowl of sugar powder. Drain again on paper. …You can drizzle chocolate or carob sauce on the doughnut.
APPLE FRITTERS.
These are a change from doughnuts.
Use 2eggs, 2 Tablespoons milk, and a cup of water. Beat all together
Add the following: 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, half a cup of brown sugar, 2 cups flour, pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of vanilla essence.
.Slice 3 peeled Granny Smith apples. Slice thinly and add raisins and pecan nuts. Mix well. Heat the oil and fry the fritter. Simply use a large soup size spoon and drop carefully into the oil. Drain. These take a few minutes. Serve with pureed cooked applesauce, honey and cinnamon sugar. Leave all in little bowls and people can choose their favorite. Some people like it with ice cream or custard.
RAW POTATO LATKES.
4 Potatoes
1 tsp baking powder.
Half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
2 chopped medium size onions.
3.eggs
Half a cup of flour
Pinch of ginger or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste and oil for frying.
Peel and grate the potatoes. Sprinkle with the soda and squeeze out the excess liquid. To avoid discoloring you can add a teaspoon of vinegar. Mix with the other ingredients.
Drop the batter by spoonfuls into deep oil and fry until the pancakes are crisp on the outside. Drain on paper and serve hot with apple sauce . These can also be part of a main meal.
CORN LATKES.
These are fun and easy to serve as a cocktail snack.
3/4 cup corn. 1/4 cup cornmeal. 1/2 cup flour.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt.' 1/2 teaspoon curry powder.
1 beaten egg. 1/2 cup chopped onions.
1/2 cup milk. (soya milk for parave)
Mix all the ingredients well and drop by teaspoonfuls into a frying pan of hot oil. Turn once and drain. Serve with a cocktail stick, sliced cucumbers and olives.
If you make ready packaged latkes, drain them well and keep ready to reheat in the oven.
, I often use use the Gremslach mixture , that we use at Passover and serve these with a pineapple sauce or fried mushrooms and onions.
GREMSLACH.
2 eggs.
2 cups water.
2 tablespoon of oil.
Salt to taste.
Matzo meal.
Meat the eggs, add oil and beat well.
Pour in the water and seasoning. Add the matzo meal slowly. It needs to be a loose mixture. Let it stand for two hours. Mix in three tablespoons of crushed walnuts or pecan
nuts. Make balls and press them flat. Fry in hot oil. Drain. Serve with a cocktail stick.
Finally, have a theme for the evening. Let the Menorah be the focus of the table. Use blue, silver and gold for serviettes and yellow flowers. Let the wrappings and cards reflect the theme of Chanukah, candles and lit flames. Kids love chocolates and chocolate sauce to add to the doughnuts. Have a choice of fun edibles for them to enjoy. The money coins made for the festival are a great decoration all over the table. Print the prayer and a few songs for each person. That way everyone feels good to participate. Take photos of each family next to the candles and you can use them next year for an email card. If you look at the photos over the years, they are a great memory of a joyous occasion.
Wishing you fun, light and meaningful togetherness.
Love and lots of light
Rona
We all love light and candles, a flame with a flicker of all the colors of warmth, candles to light up the dark, the soft glow of a few candles, a memorial candle….and of course the joy of candles on a Birthday cake. Chanukah, the Festival of Dedication, is the time when we light candles nightly and celebrate with songs, stories and eating foods made in oil. The symbolic part of the Chanukah is the history of a people, the challenges they faced and the dedication they had . to overcome all obstacles and believe in themselves..
In Israel we eat Doughnuts for the week. There are of course rehearsals as the bakers make them ahead of time……it is amazing how many doughnuts they sell before the Chanukah week. And then when all the calories, sugar and jam has been devoured, we vow no more until next year. They are so yummy….
SAFETY RULES WHEN YOU MAKE DOUGHNUTS…..PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY.
Working with hot oil can be dangerous, so be careful;.
Prepare all the mixtures before you heat the oil.
2.HAVE A LID LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER THE OIL.
3. Fill the saucepan , only half way. Test heat of oil. Drop a square of bread into it. If it browns quickly, it is hot enough.
4. Lower the food SLOWLY into the pot.
5.Only do a few at a time . It makes turning easier.
6. Do not have kiddies near the stove.
7.In event of a fire, turn flame off. Cover with lid. Do not pour water on the flames. You can smother the flames with a damp towel. I do not like to be negative, but one needs to be careful.
8. Finally, focus on what you are making, not the phone and the doorbell. If you do have to turn away, switch off the heat and remove the pot to the back of the stove out of danger to kiddies.
CHANUKAH DOUGHNUTS.
These are so easy and take ten minutes to make.
350grams of Self raising flour.
2eggs.
2cups of yogurt.
2 dessertspoons of sugar. I use brown sugar.
1 teaspoon vanilla essence.
A dash of salt.
Mix all well . Use a deep saucepan and let the oil fill it half way. Deep enough for the doughnuts to be submerged. Use a spoon to drop them carefully into the hot oil. Deep fry and have a strainer lined with absorbent paper. The doughnuts can be spooned onto this carefully.. This gets rid of excess oil. Have a teaspoon of jam ready .to inject into the doughnut and roll them into a bowl of sugar powder. Drain again on paper. …You can drizzle chocolate or carob sauce on the doughnut.
APPLE FRITTERS.
These are a change from doughnuts.
Use 2eggs, 2 Tablespoons milk, and a cup of water. Beat all together
Add the following: 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, half a cup of brown sugar, 2 cups flour, pinch of salt and half a teaspoon of vanilla essence.
.Slice 3 peeled Granny Smith apples. Slice thinly and add raisins and pecan nuts. Mix well. Heat the oil and fry the fritter. Simply use a large soup size spoon and drop carefully into the oil. Drain. These take a few minutes. Serve with pureed cooked applesauce, honey and cinnamon sugar. Leave all in little bowls and people can choose their favorite. Some people like it with ice cream or custard.
RAW POTATO LATKES.
4 Potatoes
1 tsp baking powder.
Half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
2 chopped medium size onions.
3.eggs
Half a cup of flour
Pinch of ginger or nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste and oil for frying.
Peel and grate the potatoes. Sprinkle with the soda and squeeze out the excess liquid. To avoid discoloring you can add a teaspoon of vinegar. Mix with the other ingredients.
Drop the batter by spoonfuls into deep oil and fry until the pancakes are crisp on the outside. Drain on paper and serve hot with apple sauce . These can also be part of a main meal.
CORN LATKES.
These are fun and easy to serve as a cocktail snack.
3/4 cup corn. 1/4 cup cornmeal. 1/2 cup flour.
1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt.' 1/2 teaspoon curry powder.
1 beaten egg. 1/2 cup chopped onions.
1/2 cup milk. (soya milk for parave)
Mix all the ingredients well and drop by teaspoonfuls into a frying pan of hot oil. Turn once and drain. Serve with a cocktail stick, sliced cucumbers and olives.
If you make ready packaged latkes, drain them well and keep ready to reheat in the oven.
, I often use use the Gremslach mixture , that we use at Passover and serve these with a pineapple sauce or fried mushrooms and onions.
GREMSLACH.
2 eggs.
2 cups water.
2 tablespoon of oil.
Salt to taste.
Matzo meal.
Meat the eggs, add oil and beat well.
Pour in the water and seasoning. Add the matzo meal slowly. It needs to be a loose mixture. Let it stand for two hours. Mix in three tablespoons of crushed walnuts or pecan
nuts. Make balls and press them flat. Fry in hot oil. Drain. Serve with a cocktail stick.
Finally, have a theme for the evening. Let the Menorah be the focus of the table. Use blue, silver and gold for serviettes and yellow flowers. Let the wrappings and cards reflect the theme of Chanukah, candles and lit flames. Kids love chocolates and chocolate sauce to add to the doughnuts. Have a choice of fun edibles for them to enjoy. The money coins made for the festival are a great decoration all over the table. Print the prayer and a few songs for each person. That way everyone feels good to participate. Take photos of each family next to the candles and you can use them next year for an email card. If you look at the photos over the years, they are a great memory of a joyous occasion.
Wishing you fun, light and meaningful togetherness.
Love and lots of light
Rona
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Egg Plant.
This delightful vegetable was a hit in Israel in the sixties and seventies. Now it is re invented into different styles, but remains a simply versatile and delicious food.
We used to make dips, eggplant fritters, eggplant Parmesan style, eggplant a ratatouille casserole, eggplant salads with mayonnaise and spices and even cakes and soups.
Here is a lovely way to make a dish that is quick, stylish and easy to do.
BAKED EGGPLANT,TECHINA AND SPICES
.Take eggplants and wash and prick them . I use half for each person . Do not cut,simply bake in a hot oven Turn them a few times. I place two red and two yellow peppers in the oven as well and a complete garlic cut in half , sprinkled with olive oil. When the eggplants are soft, let them cool for a while and then cut in half, retaining the stalk on the side. Wash the peppers under cold water and skin them, cut into little pieces. Use the garlic cloves to mix with the peppers and techina.
Place the cut egg plants on a large oven dish.
Sauce. Mix the chopped peppers, salt and pepper, mashed garlic cloves. just one or two, three teaspoon of flaked almonds, a teaspoon of pesto, a tablespoon of techina for each eggplant. Mix well and spread over the eggplant. Bake for ten minutes and serve with wholewheat rice and chopped parsley on the side.
Enjoy. You can even put some aside for the next day and warm them up again.
EGGPLANT FRIED AND SPICED.
Cut three eggplants into slices Use wholewheat flour to dip them in with spices. I use turmeric, salt, pepper, chopped spinach and and a dash of curry powder. I beat two eggs and dip the eggplant into the flour and egg mixture and fry in oil for a few minutes. Then I drain them on paper towels and place them in an oven dish with a few cut up onions and shredded cabbage. The onions and cabbage should be steamed for ten minutes to wilt them. Sprinkle olive oil and and grated Bulgarian cheese over it all and bake for ten minutes. Serve with cooked pasta, rice or couscous.
Have fun and remember eat more and more vegetables................experiment and enjoy them in a variety of ways.
Love and light Rona
This delightful vegetable was a hit in Israel in the sixties and seventies. Now it is re invented into different styles, but remains a simply versatile and delicious food.
We used to make dips, eggplant fritters, eggplant Parmesan style, eggplant a ratatouille casserole, eggplant salads with mayonnaise and spices and even cakes and soups.
Here is a lovely way to make a dish that is quick, stylish and easy to do.
BAKED EGGPLANT,TECHINA AND SPICES
.Take eggplants and wash and prick them . I use half for each person . Do not cut,simply bake in a hot oven Turn them a few times. I place two red and two yellow peppers in the oven as well and a complete garlic cut in half , sprinkled with olive oil. When the eggplants are soft, let them cool for a while and then cut in half, retaining the stalk on the side. Wash the peppers under cold water and skin them, cut into little pieces. Use the garlic cloves to mix with the peppers and techina.
Place the cut egg plants on a large oven dish.
Sauce. Mix the chopped peppers, salt and pepper, mashed garlic cloves. just one or two, three teaspoon of flaked almonds, a teaspoon of pesto, a tablespoon of techina for each eggplant. Mix well and spread over the eggplant. Bake for ten minutes and serve with wholewheat rice and chopped parsley on the side.
Enjoy. You can even put some aside for the next day and warm them up again.
EGGPLANT FRIED AND SPICED.
Cut three eggplants into slices Use wholewheat flour to dip them in with spices. I use turmeric, salt, pepper, chopped spinach and and a dash of curry powder. I beat two eggs and dip the eggplant into the flour and egg mixture and fry in oil for a few minutes. Then I drain them on paper towels and place them in an oven dish with a few cut up onions and shredded cabbage. The onions and cabbage should be steamed for ten minutes to wilt them. Sprinkle olive oil and and grated Bulgarian cheese over it all and bake for ten minutes. Serve with cooked pasta, rice or couscous.
Have fun and remember eat more and more vegetables................experiment and enjoy them in a variety of ways.
Love and light Rona
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
''GRATITUDE IS NOT ONLY THE GREATEST OF VIRTUES,
BUT ALSO THE PARENT OF OTHERS''
CICERO
WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.
LET THE RE UNIONS BE WARM AND MEANINGFUL
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT LIFE HAS GIVEN TO YOU
MAKE TIME TO SMILE AND TAKE AN INTEREST IN EVERY ONE AROUND YOU
BLESS OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WE LOVE
SEND THANKS AND LOVE TO EVERY SOLDIER
WHO TAKES TIME OUT OF HIS COMFORT
ZONE, TO SERVE THE LAND AND PROTECT US.
BE KINDER, BE MORE CARING
BE COMPASSIONATE WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME
BUT EACH PERSON MATTERS..
TREAT EARTH, ALL LIVING BEINGS AND ANIMALS
WITH GENTLENESS
BLESS YOU WITH HEALTH AND JOY.
LOVE AND LIGHT
RONA
BUT ALSO THE PARENT OF OTHERS''
CICERO
WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.
LET THE RE UNIONS BE WARM AND MEANINGFUL
TAKE TIME TO REFLECT ON WHAT LIFE HAS GIVEN TO YOU
MAKE TIME TO SMILE AND TAKE AN INTEREST IN EVERY ONE AROUND YOU
BLESS OUR FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS AND ALL THE PEOPLE WE LOVE
SEND THANKS AND LOVE TO EVERY SOLDIER
WHO TAKES TIME OUT OF HIS COMFORT
ZONE, TO SERVE THE LAND AND PROTECT US.
BE KINDER, BE MORE CARING
BE COMPASSIONATE WE ARE NOT ALL THE SAME
BUT EACH PERSON MATTERS..
TREAT EARTH, ALL LIVING BEINGS AND ANIMALS
WITH GENTLENESS
BLESS YOU WITH HEALTH AND JOY.
LOVE AND LIGHT
RONA
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
RISE….RISE….RISE
I
had the pleasure of eating at a lovely place called RISE in Dallas , Texas
My
sister, Helena, knows I love ambiance and good food
that is well presented. We went there for a treat. It is a unique SOUFFLE
restaurant and you leave feeling you have had a wonderful meal and feel light
and satisfied.
The
place is run by a lovely lady, called Hedda. Hedda comes from France
Good
soufflés.
made
with the best organic ingredients, fresh herbs and clever and balanced cooking
flavors and style are a delight.
The
restaurant has little bits and pieces you can buy, bric a brac arranged with a
light feminine touch, environmentally created articles, natural linens,
recycled glass for drinking glasses and plates and a collection of French
antiques you want to go home with
One
visit is not enough. It is place you feel at home in and have the urge to
return.
They
have a beautiful book you can buy there and try out the great recipes
Try
to make a soufflé and remember to serve it immediately, with a little side
dish, a good wine and appreciative diners
Cheese soufflés: 50g butter,
25grms breadcrumbs, 50grm flour, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 300ml milk, 4 eggs
.100 grams grated goats or cheddar cheese. Warm the oven to 200 C (400 F).
…Melt butter in a double boiler. Add flour, breadcrumbs, mustard and
remove from the heat Add milk and mix . Return to heat and stir until it
is thick. Cool in a bowl of ice cold water under the pot. Crack and
separate the eggs, Whisk the whites stiff. Mix the yellows into the sauce add
the goats or cheddar cheese. Stir in the stiff whites. Place in little
ramekins that have been lightly buttered. Place in the oven and bake until the soufflé has risen……serve immediately.
Chocolate,
individual little soufflés for dessert.
200 grams dark chocolate.150 grams butter, cut into cubes.
6 eggs. 175 grams sugar. 125 grams flour. You can use brown
sugar and a mix of brown and white flour..
Warm
oven to 180c.
Melt
chocolate and butter in double boiler. Beat eggs with sugar. Add flour,
fold in chocolate mixture.
Divide
into little pots and bake 10 minutes. Serve with cream, custard or a little ice
cream. Decorate with a few mint leaves, or dust with icing sugar. Makes
an elegant dessert.
You
can create soufflés with fresh
pears, strawberries, and even coffee soufflés. I picked up
ideas for soufflés from CUISINE MINCEUR by Michel GUERARD
1976. His ideas of cooking and baking are wonderful
Have
a great week and love and light Rona
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