Tag: coconut oil

CleanWorkout.com Recipes: Superfood Cookie Butter

I have teamed up with the Professional Personal trainers at CleanWorkout.com to bring you a delightfully decadent tasting, yet somewhat guilt-free, snack: SUPERFOOD COOKIE BUTTER!

Balance is key to a healthy lifestyle, as well as to a good diet. Part of maintaining that balance is never feeling like you are depriving yourself of snacks and treats. To create the perfect healthy Cookie Butter, it needed to have a rich, satisfying texture, and bold, spicy flavours.

Coconut Oil is such a versatile ingredient – You can use it for making flaky vegan pie crusts or as an intense moisturizer/cleanser/tooth whitener in beauty applications. When kept below 24 degrees Celsius, it has the perfect buttery consistency.

We use the same spices in our Better than Yia Yia’s Gingerbread cookies, which is the perfect flavour profile for traditional Cookie Butter. We added turmeric for an extra health kick and black pepper to help absorption in the body. Toasting the spices in oil for a few minutes helps them release their essential oils, bringing out deeper flavours, and removing any chalkiness that sometimes happens with ground spices. Pink Himalayan Sea Salt was chosen for its extra minerals, but table salt or fine sea salt can also be used.

Since this is a dessert, we have to have some sugar. We chose richly flavoured sweeteners like brown sugar, molasses and pure maple syrup, because a little goes a long way. Maple syrup also has a low GI, which means that it does not spike your blood sugar, leading to fat storage; The calories you consume are more quickly expended as energy. Molasses also help with the classic gingersnap cookie flavour, and help with the smooth, thick consistency of the final product.

To preserve the healthy oils in the cooked spices and to keep your Superfood Cookie Butter fresh, keep it in the refrigerator up to four weeks. Remove it about 15 minutes before digging in.

Enjoy!

Ingredients

3 tbsp + 1/2 cup Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
2 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
Pinch of Ground Clove
1 tsp Ground Ginger
Pinch of Turmeric
Pinch of Black Pepper
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Grated Nutmeg
Pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Sweeteners

1 tbsp Brown Sugar
1 to 2 tbsp Pure Maple Syrup
1 to 2 tbsp Fancy Molasses

 

TIP: Make it Chocolate Cookie Butter by adding 1 tbsp of Cacao Powder

TIP: Make it Crunchy Cookie Butter by folding in chopped nuts

 

How to Enjoy Superfood Cookie Butter

  • Blend it into Smoothies
  • Spread it on Toast – Top with Chopped Nuts like Almonds, Pecans or Walnuts for a crunchy breakfast
  • Try Baking with it – Mix Clean Cookie Butter Swirls into Cakes and Cupcakes
  • Use it as a Dip
  • Melt it and Pour it onto Ice Cream or Greek Yogurt
  • Eat it on a Spoon

1. Warm your spices in 3 tbsp Coconut Oil over low heat for 1 – 2 minutes. You want to warm the spices to bring out their oils to give your Cookie Butter more flavour. I also find that cooking spices like turmeric and cinnamon soften their flavours, giving them more sweetness and less of a chalky taste.

2. Add your sweeteners. Continue warming the mixture over low heat until the sugar has dissolved and the molasses are combined.

3. Turn off the heat and let cool for 20 minutes.

4. Add room temperature spice mixture to 1/2 cup Coconut Oil.

5. Stir to Combine. Refrigerate 10 to 15 minutes until the mix starts to solidify.

6. Remove from the refrigerator and shake to redistribute spices and molasses. Chill for another 15 minutes, or until it reaches a ‘Peanut Butter like’ consistency.

7. Stir your Cooled Cookie Butter and Enjoy!

DIY Facials with Greek Yogurt Face Masks

I love finding natural beauty treatments and remedies that work just as well (if not better!) than store bought cosmetics. Earlier this year I experimented with the effects of Raw Honey Face Masks and was blown away by the results! It made me think about other simple, natural products and I remembered my experience with Greek Yogurt.

I learned about the skin healing and beauty benefits of yogurt years ago in Greece. Back then, a local brand called Korres was being sold in pharmacies and specializing in natural and holistic remedies, creams and cosmetics.

The first Korres product I tried was their Yogurt Face Cream. It was supposed to soothe the skin, help minimize breakouts, and have anti-aging effects. Lucky for me, the cream delivered on everything it promised.

(More than a decade later, Korres is now available all over the world and they are still using unique ingredients and plants in their lines. Check them out on Amazon.)

Korres was definitely on to something, but you do not need to visit a cosmetics counter to benefit from the effects of yogurt – instead, shop your refrigerator for some plain Greek yogurt.

Yogurt is full of proteins and enzymes that help soothe, heal and treat your skin.

Gently apply a thin layer of plain Greek yogurt to clean skin for 10 to 30 minutes 2 to 3 times per week. On its own, it will moisturize, exfoliate, minimize acne, soothe sunburns and brighten your skin. For more intense all natural masks, try the following:

  1. Intense Moisture
  2. Exfoliator and Acne Healer
    • 2 tsp Greek Yogurt + 1 tsp Organic Raw Honey + 1/2 tsp Organic Coconut Oil
      • Yogurt is Anti-Bacterial and Anti-Fungal which helps destroy acne-causing bacteria.
      • The Alpha-Hydroxy Acid gently exfoliates by dissolving dead skin cells to give you a youthful, glowing appearance.
  3. Sunburn Soother
    • 1 tbsp Greek Yogurt + 1 tbsp Aloe Vera Gel
      • The Zinc in Yogurt helps heal the skin and removes the sting.
  4. Skin Brightener
    • 1 tbsp Greek Yogurt + 1/2 tsp Fresh Lemon Juice

Which is your favourite Greek Yogurt Mask? Do you have any special concoctions of your own for other skin concerns?

Four Essential Honey Masks

I love using natural products in lieu of store bought beauty products, and I love honey! Honey is known for its health benefits but is often underrated for its cosmetic uses.

Honey has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and healing properties that give you healthy skin and hair. It is also rich in enzymes that calm your skin, and draws moisture into the skin. I recommend using raw honey for beauty treatments since it has not been heat-treated and contains the most enzymes.

Tip: If you do not have time for a full mask, use a dab of raw honey as a spot treatment to heal blemishes.

The next time you are treating yourself to a spa day, try one of these all natural masks. Which one is your favourite?

 

CleanWorkout: Easy Homemade Multigrain Bread

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Thank you, CleanWorkout, for letting me showcase this recipe!

This recipe was so good that I had to share it on my blog, as well!.As part of my role creating digital content for CleanWorkout.com, I have been working on healthy recipes and adaptations for their website and for their clients. This recipe for Homemade Multigrain Bread is delicious, easy, and healthy! Plus, it is vegan!

The recipe is slightly time consuming, but it is the perfect project to take on during a lazy Sunday or rainy day.

The link to their full article is available here (I highly recommend checking it out to learn some of the nutritional benefits of millet and the other superfoods used in the recipe), but I am copying the recipe below.

Enjoy!

Clean Recipes: Homemade Multigrain Bread

Bread Ingredients (Yield: 1 Loaf)

  • 3/4 cup Homemade Multigrain Flour Mixture*
  • 1 1/3 cups Boiling Water
  • 2 tbsp Liquid Coconut Oil* or Melted Unsalted Butter or Olive Oil
  • 2 tbsp + 2 tsp Honey
  • 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • (Optional) 1/2 tsp Bread Improver / Vital Wheat Gluten (to improve the softness of the loaf)
  • (Optional) Extra Whole Grains
  • Roughly 2 1/4 cups Wholegrain Flour (may need more or less depending on kitchen humidity)
  • 1/2 tsp Fine Sea Salt
  • 1 tbsp Oats, For Topping
  1. Start by making your Homemade Multigrain Flour Mixture. In a food processor, combine equal parts of whatever grains you would like to add to your bread. Try the following mix, but feel free to add additional grains, or use what you have available:
    • Flax Seeds
    • Millet
    • Quinoa
    • Buckwheat*
    • Barley
    • Oats
    • Brown Rice (or Rice Flour)
    • Corn (use Corn Flour or Polenta instead)
    • Wheat (use Semolina)
      • Clean Recipe Tip: Make extra Multigrain Flour and store it in your freezer or refrigerator. Mix it with all purpose or wholegrain flour in your regular baking recipes.
  2. In a large glass bowl, mix your Homemade Multigrain Flour with boiling water. Stir to combine and let stand 20 minutes until it is just warm.
  3. Mix in the liquid fat (coconut oil, melted butter, or olive oil), then the honey. Stir to combine completely, then add yeast and bread improver (if using). Mix with a spatula and let stand another 10 to 15 minutes for the yeast to activate.
  4. Add one cup of flour and knead – you can knead your bread in a stand mixer or by hand. Next, add in your Extra Whole Grains, if you are using any. Continue kneading, adding half a cup of flour at a time. Knead the dough for 10 to 15 minutes, until it is no longer sticking to your fingers.
  5. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand 1 hour in a warm place.
  6. Sprinkle your risen dough with sea salt and knead for 5 minutes. Cover again and let stand for another hour.
  7. Grease your loaf pan with butter, coconut oil or oil. Roll dough into a loaf shape and place into greased pan. If you like, lightly press oats onto the top. Let rise 1 hour before baking.
  8. Bake your bread in a pre-heated 375 F oven for 28 – 32 minutes. Your bread will be golden brown and slightly hollow sounding when tapped.
  9. Remove loaf from pan and cool on a rack.

  10. There is nothing better than warm, fresh bread and butter… especially when the bread is packed with superfood grains like millet, quinoa, buckwheat, flax and chia seeds. This bread is loaded with fibre, protein and healthy carbohydrates.

    Enjoy your bread warm from the oven (the best way!) with a little butter, or enjoy it throughout the week. Bread keeps well in the freezer, so you can also freeze a loaf to have another time. Homemade bread is also a great gift for friends and family (no need to tell them how healthy it is before they taste it!)

Hydration Therapy

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f0d70aaf41828df7e7334375dad51cdc3d1578163c6cc961c490f9adc0cb5d71January can be one of the most depressing (and drying!) months. The once beautiful sunny sky takes on a permanent grey hue, the wind chill manages to cut through even the warmest winter layers, and you have to look at your scaly lizard hands day after day. If the lack of Vitamin D has not changed your mood, suffering from dry, itchy skin will quickly put you down.

It is important to take preventative action to help avoid winter dryness altogether! Here are my three steps to keep your hair, skin, and nails healthy all season long!

  1. TREAT DRYNESS FROM THE INSIDE OUT: NUTRITION!
    • Incorporate lots of healthy fats into your diet and you will see the difference in your hair and skin. Olive oil and avocado oil are rich in monounsaturated fats and antioxidants (substances that prevent or delay cell damage – read: keep you looking and feeling young!), while coconut oil is rich in saturated fats (specifically Medium Chain Triglycerides) and is quickly metabolized by the liver where it is used for energy.

    • Coconut Oil is a healthy, all natural product that can be used to nourish your body from the inside out.

      Coconut Oil is a healthy, all natural product that can be used to nourish your body from the inside out.

    • On the inside, the presence of healthy oils in your diet helps with energy expenditure, and burning fat by making you feel fuller for longer.
    • On the outside, healthy oils increase the moisture and lipid content of skin and hair to protect against damage. Over time, you will notice your skin texture become more smooth and hydrated, hair will become stronger and shinier, and nails may become stronger and healthier looking.
    • Other healthy oils to try – flax seed oil, omega three or fish oil (available as a supplement), hemp oil, hazelnut oil, grape seed oil, almond oil… Take a walk through your local health food store to discover more healthy and delicious oils to incorporate into your diet! Different oils have different flavours and uses in the kitchen, so go ahead and experiment!

    • Vitamin E is an excellent supplement that promotes skin healing.

      Vitamin E is an excellent supplement that promotes skin healing.

    • Pro tip: Vitamin E is a great supplement to add to your daily regimen. It promotes skin healing and can be applied to scars topically, ingested orally, or both. I have used it for years to help heal scars for acne, stitches, and cuts. Vitamin E is a light oil that absorbs quickly into the skin so it can be applied heavily as an evening reparative “mask,” or lightly for day time on problem areas. Note: it does not cure acne, but it helps heal scars that blemishes leave behind.
    • Pro tip: Vitamin D is another great supplement during long, dark, and cold winter months. A synthetic version of the vitamin synthesized in our skin by sunlight, Vitamin D helps restore wakefulness, eliminate the “winter blues,” promote bone health, and fight infection.

2. EXFOLIATE!

  • Exfoliating your skin should be done all year round – in the summer time it helps remove dry skin and increases the longevity of summer tans, and in the winter it slowly sloughs off dead skin that can feel itchy, uncomfortable, and tight.
  • Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator buffs away dry skin for all skin types.

    Clinique Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator buffs away dry skin for all skin types (Sephora.com).

    Exfoliating can be done with mildly abrasive compounds – some products contain items like ground fruit kernels or sugar – or liquid astringents like apple cider vinegar. When trying a new exfoliating product, natural or otherwise, test the product on a small patch of skin to make sure you do not have a reaction.

  • Choose the strength of the product based on the skin you are exfoliating. For instance: use the mildest exfoliator on your face (for very sensitive skin, try a gentle cleanser on a soft wash cloth and gently buff skin in circular motions). A more substantial exfoliator can be used for your body, and the strongest can be used on elbows, knees, palms and feet. It is important not to exfoliate too frequently – either once a day or once every two days is more than enough. Excessive exfoliation may cause redness, further dryness, and excessive oil production that may bring acne.

3. NOURISH YOUR SKIN

  • Once you have removed all your dry skin, lock in moisture with a thick application of moisturizer or body oil.
  • If you are looking for an extra thick moisturizer, try slathering on some coconut oil. It smells great, absorbs quickly, and is 100% all natural. What could be better? Depending on your skin type, coconut oil may even work as an evening facial moisturizer (it has the same pH as our skin and typically does not cause breakouts).

With these three simple steps – adding healthy, rich oils to your diet, exfoliating dry skin, and nourishing your body – you will never have to deal with dry winter skin again!

Do you have any tried and true remedies to winter dryness or products that you cannot live without? Tell us about them!

The Only Scrub You Will Ever Need

I am always looking for multi-use products that simplify my beauty routine, declutter my make up vanity, and provide a healthier alternative. My latest recipe discovery is the perfect body scrub that takes seconds to whip up.

  1. Mix equal parts brown sugar, coconut oil and honey in a microwavable dish.
  2. Microwave 15 – 20 seconds until coconut oil has melted.
  3. Mix and store in a covered dish or use immediately. Smooth onto hands, lips and dry patches to gently exfoliate and nourish.

* TIP – create a moisturizing body bar to smooth your skin in the bath. Mix 2 : 1 coconut oil to brown sugar. Line a small dish with plastic wrap and pour in the mixture. Let the mould set in the refrigerator and within half an hour you will have a coconut sugar moisture bar.

 

The only scrub you will ever need: brown sugar, coconut oil and honey gently exfoliate while nourishing and moisturizing the skin.

The only scrub you will ever need: brown sugar, coconut oil and honey gently exfoliate while nourishing and moisturizing the skin.