Did you know that millet is one of the alkaline grains? Alkaline foods can help you with your weight loss detox program or to stay healthy in general.

Millet, as any grain, is rich in fiber (necessary for getting rid of constipation, lowering high blood pressure and reducing headaches) as well as in Magnesium that can help prevent heart attacks.

I would  like to share with you this healthy recipe by Leslie Cerier  from her book Gluten-Free Recipes for the Conscious Cook;

Alkaline Millet Apple Raisin Cake Recipe for Weight Loss, Detox

• 1 cup millet, rinsed
• 3 cups apple juice
• 1 cup raisins
• Pinch of sea salt

Combine the millet, juice, raisins, and salt in a medium-size saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover, and simmer for about 20 minutes, until all of the juice is absorbed and the millet is tender. Give it a stir, and then taste it; if the millet is still crunchy, add more juice, cover, and simmer for about 3 minutes, then check the tenderness again.

Pour the mixture into a standard loaf pan and let it cool for about 1 hour, until set. Slice and serve. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Variations:

• Use a combination of other fresh or dried fruits, such as pears, apples, or apricots. Small fruits are fine as is, but you may want to chop fruits that come in larger pieces.
• Try different fruit juices.
• Stir in about 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon or vanilla extract before pouring the batter into the loaf pan.
• Use corn grits in place of some or all of the millet.
• To use a pressure cooker, just put all of the ingredients in the pressure cooker and lock the lid. Bring up to pressure over high heat, then adjust the heat to maintain pressure and cook for 15 minutes.

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition and Relationship Expert

Holiday season is the time when we eat lots of unhealthy foods, catch colds and complain about gaining weight.  But it is all about choices we make, isn’t it?.

We can make our dishes with healthier substitutes for cooking and baking recipes to help us avoid weight gain, colds and seasonal depression.

That is why I would like to share with you this tasty and healthy cookie recipe to enjoy with your, children, family and friends.

A Really Healthy Whole Wheat Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

• 4 -5 cups whole wheat pastry flour or whole grain flour
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa or carob powder
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 C. margarine, non-hydrogenated or unsalted butter
• ½ C, brown rice syrup or wheat malt 
• ½ C. barley malt
• 4-5 tsp. powdered ginger 
• 1 tsp. ground cloves 
• ¼ tsp. sea salt 
• 1 tsp. nutmeg ground
• 1 tsp. vanilla 
• Vanilla rice milk
• orange zest of one orange

Mix margarine with rice syrup, barley malt, and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Slowly add flour, baking powder, cocoa powder or carob, spices, ginger, salt and zest. Mix well until a dough has formed. If the mixture seems dry, slowly add the rice milk to achieve the moisture you need. Divide the dough in half and refrigerate at least for 2-3 hours. Roll out every piece of dough and cut into shapes using various cookie cutters. Place cookies about an inch apart on the cookie sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until golden brown at 375 degrees.

For decorations use raisins, pumpkin or sesame seeds, minced walnuts or pecans, toasted coconut.

Bon Appetit and Happy Holidays!

Click to listen to Gluten Free Cooking and Baking Tips from Leslie Cerier, “The Organic Gourmet”.

Breathe, smile and be happy,

Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor

Are you cooking at home these holidays? Meals made at home will make you healthier and happier, that is for sure, especially if you are a smart grocery shopper.

But is your kitchen “cooking safe?”

For happy and healthy cooking we need to know about food poisoning and its prevention.

Did you know that:

• simply washing your hands can reduce your risk of food poisoning by 50%;
• just passing the plates around will give you the opportunity to share viruses and bacteria;
• leaving food at room temperature for more than 2 hours can be dangerous?

Be Kitchen Safe – Prevent Holiday Food Poisoning with Safe Cooking Tips

Here are some more tips on how to prevent food poisoning in simple eight steps:

Happy and Healthy Holiday Cooking!!

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor

Traditional potato latkes are delicious but they contain too much fat and make me gain weight. In order to avoid holiday weight gain, I prefer a healthier alternative to the traditional grated-potato latke recipe.

Try either of these healthy baked latkes made of root vegetables or cabbage to avoid weight gain and feel super fabulous.

Also this super healthy Turmeric Apple Sauce recipe will help you stay healthy through Cold and Flu season.

* Root Vegetable Baked Latkes Recipe

• 1 cup russet potato, shredded
• 1 cup parsnip, shredded
• 1 cup yellow squash, shredded and peeled
• 1 cup zucchini, shredded
• 1 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 4-5 tbsp whole-wheat flour
• 3-4 eggs
• sea salt and black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Mix all ingredients, form latkes and bake in a hot oven for 10-15 minutes or until crispy. Then turn them over and bake for 10 minutes more.

Cabbage Latkes Recipe

• 2 cups cabbage, finely grated
• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp onions, chopped
• 2-3 tbsp whole-wheat flour
• salt and pepper to taste
• olive oil as needed

Mix cabbage, eggs and onions; add flour and season to taste.
Form latkes with warm hands. Fry latkes in olive oil, over medium-high heat, for 4-5 minutes until firm and browned on both sides.

Turmeric Apple Sauce Recipe

• 1 tbsp canola oil
• 2 tsp grated fresh ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1 cup unsweetened applesauce

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add ginger and cook, stirring, until light brown and aromatic, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir in turmeric and cloves. Cook until the spices are fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute more. Scrape the spices into the applesauce in a small bowl and stir well to combine. (adopted from www.eatingwell. com)

Bon Appetit and Happy Hanukkah!

Breathe, smile and be happy.

© Irina Wardas, HHC

Women’s Holistic Health, Nutrition Coach and Counselor