A Little Chinese (Cough) Remedy

Suffering from a bad cough? According to Alaina, this simple Chinese stewed pear remedy will cure it right away. Supposedly, 'pears are a lung friend, they energize your breathers, lubricate the throat and help quell a nagging cough. Also, their sour qualities also help dissolve phlegm'.

So if you need a bit of help to get well, cut a pear in half, add water to partially cover, add a cinnamon stick and sliced ginger root, simmer - covered - for 20 minutes or until tender. Add raw honey and a pinch of black pepper. Eat the fruit and drink the sweet nectar. Ta-dah!

Will you try it?

P.S: Also, this.
P.P.S: And that.

(Photo and recipe by/via Alaina Sullivan)

Ginger Chamomile Salt Scrub

Here is a great way to indulge in a bit of self-care: tonight after work, make a homemade scrub, run a bath and enjoy a glass of wine afterwards. How does that sound?

Speaking of scrubs, this past weekend I tried Adrienne's magical ginger and chamomile salt scrub that calms the nerves and cures all those dry winter skin patches in a jiffy. Plus, it smells amazing! Try it.

Here is the how-to: mix in a bowl 1 1/2 cup of coarse sea salt with 1/2 cup of liquid coconut oil, the content of 4 chamomile tea bags and 2 teaspoons of grated ginger. Scrub generously everywhere, focusing on rough spots. Rinse well, and moisturize to lock in the benefits. Ta-dah!

P.S: Remember this scrub?
P.P.S: Relax and unwind.

(Photo and how-to by The Free Spirited)

Moon Milk

Have trouble sleeping? Your mind doesn't allow you to switch off and let you rest? Try making this moon milk tonight, just before bedtime, and I promise you'll sleep like a baby.

This gem-of-a-mix is full with cinnamon, turmeric, ashwagandah, cardamom, ginger and nutmeg. It will make you feel relaxed and melt all your stress away in a matter of a few sips. It's a keeper! (Here is the recipe).

P.S: Speaking of...
P.P.S: Plus, the best immune boosting elixir.

(Photo and recipe by Alaina Sullivan via/for bon appétit)

The 'It' Healthy (2-Ingredient) Snack

Here is the easiest, the healthier and totally mouth-watering dessert in a jiffy: get a box of soft and gooey dates, open them individually and remove the pits, then dip the gooey side in cinnamon (or cacao powder or coconut shreds) and enjoy the most indulging quick snack there is!

Try it, it's a revelation:)

P.S: Fancy more?
P.P.S: Plus, Wednesday cake glory.

(Tip and photos by This Rawsome Vegan Life)

Epic Granola Dust

In recent years I swore off store-bought granola and cereals. They seemed healthy and gem-packed with natural goodness until I looked at the ingredients list. Yup, it's not a pretty sight.

So I decided to take matters into my own hands and started to only rely on homemade stuff. One of our most recent revelations is Jamie Olive's granola dust from his Everyday Super Food cookbook. Have you got that one? It's a great all-rounder!

You can eat it as you would your morning granola with milk or natural yogurt and fresh fruit, but you can also use it to make porridge or to boost up your morning smoothie. It also makes a phenomenal base for pancakes and a hot winter drink too. Here is the full recipe for it, including a few ways to use it...

P.S: Plus, this tip.
P.P.S: And behind closed door.

(Photo by Jamie Oliver)

To Calm the Nerves

Ever since I stopped drinking coffee, I've been trying out different tea combinations to find a few that feel comforting and are a great hot beverage substitute to coffee. One that really tickles me lately is this calming chamomile latte. I usually have it around late afternoon when most of my daily to-dos are done, but my mind is still in that busy fog of overthinking every last detail. Know that feeling?

Well, if you're in the same boat as me, this latte is the perfect thing to calm that anxious mind of yours and let it relax.

Here is the recipe, if you fancy trying it too...

P.S: This.
P.P.S: That.

(Photo by Wholehearted Eats)

Egg Nests

Have you tried egg nests yet? I've been seeing those beautiful and healthy veggie-egg dishes all over my feed lately and I'm totally tempted to give them a go. It's all about using a spiralizer to create spaghetti out of sweet potatoes, zucchini, beets, carrots (you name it!), sticking an egg on it for extra nutrition and ta-dah! Here's a handy recipe if you want to try it too.

P.S: Fancy more delicious egg ideas?
P.P.S: Plus, all things food.

(Photos by/via Everyday Healthy Recipes, Lee Tilghman, Dani Duran, Sarah and Jessica Milligan)

Go-To Homemade Cleanser

Does your skin need a bit of hydrating? Try this nifty oatmeal yogurt + honey cleanser tonight and you won't be sorry! It will moisturize and tighten your pores like nothing else before!

Simply mix together 2 teaspoons of ground oatmeal with 2 teaspoons of honey and 2 teaspoons of plain yogurt. Place the mix on a clean, slightly wet face for 5 minutes. Rinse and have a look in the mirror! Ta-dah:)

P.S: Plus, this.
P.P.S: And that.

(Photos and recipe by/via Broma Bakery)

Zero-Waste Grocery Haul

 Shia is a vegan blogger who is on a zero-waste lifestyle journey. She is all about minimal, sustainable, simple and happy life. One of the things I love most about her feed are her weekly grocery photos, where she shows off all the package-free and healthy goodies she buys. Something to get inspired by, for sure!

P.S: This.
P.P.S: That.

(Photos by Wasteland Rebel)

Yay! It's Wednesday Cake!

Ready for another scrumptious Wednesday cake?

This week is all about those healthy, oh-so satisfying and deliciously chocolaty peanut butter and raspberry chia jam bars that you can eat guilt free! Yup, they are made purely of all things good for you and they are designed to combat your sweet tooth craving in a jiffy! I've been snacking on them throughout last week and I am actually thinking about making a new batch, because I miss them already. They are that good!

Chocolate, Peanut Butter and Raspberry Chia Jam Bars 
(Recipe adapted from This Rawsome Vegan Life)

Peanut butter base:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup puffed quinoa
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (best homemade)
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 cup flax seeds

 Jam and topping: 
- 1 cup berries (frozen or fresh)
- 4 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 bar of dark chocolate

To make the base: grind the rolled oats into flour in a blender, then mix together with the other ingredients in a bowl. Press into the bottom of a lined baking pan and put it in the fridge to set.

To make the jam: in a small saucepan, simmer your berries and the maple syrup until mushy, about 4-5 minutes. Take it off the fire and stir in the chia seeds. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes so the chia seeds can gel with the berries and thicken into jam.

In the meantime, melt your chocolate in a small saucepan or microwave.

Lastly, spread the jam onto the base, then drizzle on the chocolate evenly. Place it into the freezer for an hour before storing it in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Cut into small square-size-bars and enjoy! Ta-dah!

P.S: This too...
P.P.S: And that.

(Photos by exPress-o)

Sushi Sandwich

Holy Moly, I might be late to the party, but last night I FINALLY made Ania's sweet potato version of Onigirazu (for a solo-dinner) and now I'm hooked! So if you fancy swapping your regular sandwich for something more, well, special, here is the recipe...

P.S: Plus, this.
P.P.S: And that.

(Photos by Lazy Cat Kitchen)

Daily Food Diary

If you are following The Whole 30 plan or like me, you're just into healthy food, check out Sarah's feed. She daily shares photos of her neatly prepared meals that are equally scrumptious and inspiring...

P.S: Vegan before 6pm?
P.P.S: Food swap.

(Photos by Sarah Shelby)

Snacking

Right this moment, I should be answering emails but instead, I am sitting here and daydreaming about snacking on those apple slices totally covered with homemade cashew cocoa spread and topped with puffed quinoa.

Yup, the urge is so strong that I actually might get my coat on and pop by the corner store to get all the ingredients for it. If you feel the same, here is the how-to. Ready, steady, go...

In a food processor, combine 1.5 cups raw cashews, 1/4 cup almond milk, 3 tbsp cocoa powder, 3 tbsp maple syrup and 1/4 tsp salt. Spread on your apple slices and enjoy!

P.S: This crushed oreos and melted chocolate take looks pretty good too!
P.P.S: Plus, four super nifty apple tricks!

(Recipe originally by bon appétit. Photo by Sarah Tolzmann)

Your Breath Knows Best

Just a morning food for thought: did you know that we take about 23,040 breaths each day? It seems a lot, but (truly) how many of them do you really pay attention to? Me, probably only 2 or 3. You?

Time to start paying more attention to things that count...

P.S: Go succulent...
P.P.S: Secret to happy life.

(via Lululemon. Photo via A Well Traveled Woman)

Homemade Granola Top Tip

This past weekend I made 2 new batches of homemade granola. I wanted something nutty, cinnamon-y, festive and crunchy. So I tried Viola's tip of swapping maple syrup or honey for nut butter or jam and it worked like a charm! I used this recipe and added an extra helping of jam and it made the oats, nuts and seeds stick together so much better than ever before. Plus, the extra flavour of the sweet fruit makes the whole thing even more indulging. Win-win!

Try it!

P.S: Plus, this...
P.P.S: And this.

(Photo and tip by/via The Sunshine Eatery)

Cold Elixir

Eek, since we are well into flu season, here is a nifty cold elixir (from the awesome Julia Turshen) to keep in mind when flu strikes. Last week my friend got a bug and she swore by this stuff.

Here is the how to: In a large jar combine 3 cups (720 ml) of boiling water, one 3-inch (7.5-cm) piece of fresh peeled and crushed ginger, ¼ cup (60 ml) of apple cider vinegar,  ¼ cup (85 g) of honey, two 3-in (7.5-cm) cinnamon sticks, ½ tsp of cayenne pepper and a small pinch of kosher salt. Stir until the honey dissolves, then strain and drink. It keeps for up to two days in the fridge.

What are your go-to cold-fighting remedies?

P.S: Magic tea.
P.P.S: How to make your home smell like fall...

(Photo and recipe by Julia Turshen via Small Victories cookbook via/for Chronicle Books)

Yay! It's Wednesday Cake!

So good to be back! How is everyone doing? Did you have a good (long) weekend? We had a fun-filled week-off with my parents, but I am so ready to get back to normal routine. And guess what? Today is Wednesday, so it means it's a cake day...only this time, it's more like energy balls day :)

Have you tried Ella's energy balls yet? Oh my goodness, Balazs and I can't get enough of all the variations, but our favourite is the cinnamon and honey mix. I made them last Wednesday, so my mom could try them too and she was totally impressed by how delicious and healthy they are. So, if you fancy a little pick-me-up, make them tonight, because Wednesdays deserve something a little bit more special:)

Cinnamon and Honey Energy Bits
(Recipe by Ella Woodward from Deliciously Ella Every Day cookbook. Makes 15-20 balls, depending on size) 

- 125 grams (7/8 cup) cashews
- large handful of pumpkin seeds
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1/2 cup  (100 grams) of medjool dates, pitted
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons almond butter
- 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Start by placing cashews, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds in your food processor. Blend for 1 minute, until the seeds and the nuts have crumbled, but have not yet become flour.

Then add dates, honey, almond butter and cinnamon and blend until it becomes nice and sticky. Use your hands to roll the mixture into little balls, place in a bowl or a jar in the freezer for 1 hour to set, then store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Enjoy!

P.S: Fancy more?
P.P.S: Yum!

(Photos by exPress-o)

10 Takes on Sweet Potatoes

Oh my goodness, I'm totally hooked on sweet potatoes! A couple of weeks ago, we went for a block party and I ate the most indulging sweet potato fries dipped in zesty lime mayonnaise. Oh, I'm telling you, they were unbelievable - crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, fragrant, pure...

Anyway, ever since then, I've been bookmarking sweet potato recipes like it's my job. So here are 10 takes on this superfood that I am planning to make this autumn, starting with the above sweet potato crostinis with cheese, pear and thyme...

Sweet potato breakfast nice cream with cinnamon-sunflower crumble...

Sweet potato spelt garlic knots...

Southern sweet potato cake...

Creamy spinach, sweet potato noodles with cashew sauce...

3-ingredient sweet potato pizza crust...

Sweet potato coconut and vanilla cookies...

Sweet potato bread...

Sweet potato and peanut stew with kale...

And baked sweet potato egg breakfast boats...

Any favourites? What is your go-to sweet potato recipe? Do share:)

P.S: And this one too!
P.P.S: Plus, don't miss our beautiful home decor GIVEAWAY this week!

(Photos by Tuulia, Blissful Basil, She Wears Many Hats, Pinch of Yum, Healing Family Eats, Rachel Schultz, The Awesome Green and Will Cook For Friends)