why buy when you can make? PLUS worthy investments.

First things. Just look at these glorious treats reader EMMA created for her little one from my Quinoa Crackers and Chickpea Biscuits  (in animal shapes, too, I might add – bravo, Emma, bravo – you are a more patient woman than I).

Receiving this photo via email was just the nicest thing imaginable – I look at my blog like a journal, so to have somebody take the time and effort to create one of my recipes is so exciting for me.  Thanks so much for the photo, Emma – I hope your little one enjoyed these yummy (healthy) treats.

I’m beginning to introduce more cultured food back into my diet.  I really feel as if I am through the worst of the die-off stage of the Anti-Candida cleanse.  My symptoms have lessened considerably, and now it time to up those GOOD bacteria in my belly to ward off any future issues.  I’m starting with the simple stuff – sauerkraut.  Actually, this is more of a Cab-Apple-Carrot-Kraut but anyway.  It’s the easiest thing to do, and so incredibly cheap (not to mention amazingly good for you) – why would you part with your cash when you can make it in a flash?  This batch is half a white cabbage, 2 green apples and 2 carrots.  You simply grate everything up, toss with 2 tablespoons of ground sea salt and leave for anywhere from 4-10 days to ferment depending on the temperature.

You have to weight down the veggie mix, so they stay covered with the brine.  No fancy tools here, I just place a small dish inside my glass jar, and weight that down (a clean rock works well for me, as does a handful of crystals – ha, hippie kraut for sure).  I’m also working on fermenting a fruit mixture (apples and pears) with some vegan “whey” – basically the watery part from a kefir batch.  I’ll let you know if this experiment works.

Another thing I could never justify buying is coconut butter.  I’ve posted about it before with this Toasted Variety.  All you need to do is  get yourself a bag of coconut shreds (at least 3 Cups, otherwise it’s way too frustrating) chuck in your food processor and process process process.  Patience is a virtue, yes as this tends to take a little time, but you will reap your rewards in the end.  The coconut goes through a few stages….

Clumpy as the oils release….. scrape down the sides of the bowl and give the motor of your machine a break every now and then – don’t go blowing up appliances on my account.

Winning, right there – glorious, creamy-dreamy coconut butter.  Just add a little sea salt – about 1/2t.  You can go crazy with flavour combos…. add vanilla extract, cacao powder, carob powder, liquid sweetener, whatever takes your fancy.  I love to add my favourite Super Food powders (think Acai Berry for a super antioxidant dense –  and pretty purple – treat)

I have a bunch of recipes coming up utilising this delicious ingredient – it’s similar to coconut oil in the sense it will go rock hard at room temperature, but turn to a liquid when even slightly heated.  An instant “magic shell” on ice cream for sure.  Drizzle on your morning cereal, dip fruit slices, add to smoothies or top desserts with this coconutty glory.

Now the above picture is one purchase that was TOTALLY necessary for me.  I don’t know how I have survived (uninjured) for so long without one.  Another weird & wonderful Lou fact is that I have hyper-hydrosia in my hands and feet (READ: super sweaty hands/feet) – so basically in any circumstance where I am slightly nervous/anxious/hot/exercising I turn into sweaty-drippy-McGee.  Totally embarrassing (and dangerous when one is walking barefoot over polished wooden floorboards) and awkward, especially when you have to shake someone’s hand.  I digress – a non slip yoga towel has helped me so much in my practice – after completing about 15 hot yoga sessions during my time in New Zealand, it was a necessity in a 40 degree heated room.

Now I can get through any type of class without slipping and sliding all over the show, and without landing on my ass in some sort of embarrassingly loud tangle of limbs.   One tip, though – shop around for yoga-equipment such as this.  Don’t just stroll into a yoga studio as they are ridiculously over-priced, and we all know I’m a cheap skate.  I found this towel, online, for about 1/4 of the price of yoga towels I’d seen in yoga studios/gyms.

How about you?  Are there things you always make from scratch?  Anyone else out there who is super-sweaty?! (Kidding)