EYES, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

According to Patanjali concentration is the 'binding thought in one place'.  In this week's yoga video we practice balances in order to improve our concentration and still 'monkey mind'. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga_25.html Thinking of starting a yoga practice? On my 'sister' blog you can see my beginners' guide to yoga styles-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/a-beginners-guide-to-yoga-styles.html This blog post was included in the paper 'Yoga Vitality Magazine'- http://paper.li/Yoga_Vitality/1336524135?edition_id=7d4ade30-2bab-11e7-841a-0cc47a0d1605#/ In this blog post we look at preventing back pain by strengthening and stretching the glutes and also correcting any asymmetries. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/yoga-anatomy-bites-glutes-and.html

It's bank holiday weekend so why not indulge in this decadent dessert - rich, creamy and chocolatey and yet no dairy or added sugar. The avocados are a source of healthy monosaturated fatty acids, vitamins A and E (which are antioxidants), and omega 9 so this dessert is healthy.  Eating avocados also helps keep your skin hydrated and antioxidants in avocados helps prevent damage that leads to wrinkles. Go on spoil yourself! Vegan. chocolate orange mousse cake Serves 4-6 You will need For the base 150g cashews, soaked overnight or at least 4 hours then drained 1 tbsp cacao 120g Medjool dates, pitted For the mousse topping 2 avocados, peeled and stone removed 2 large bananas, peeled, chopped and frozen overnight 4 Medjool dates, pitted Juice 1 orange plus zest to top 4 tbsp cacao 3 tbsp stevia or to taste To make the base place the ingredients in a blender and whiz up.  Spread over the base of a springform cake tin that has been lined with baking parchment.  Rinse the blend...

It's one of our most feared diseases, even more so than heart disease or stroke.  The thought of losing your ability to think, reason, remember and undergo personality changes is terrifying not only for the sufferers but for the people who love them.  The fact is there are currently 850, 000 people in the UK with dementia and this is set to rise to over a million by 2025 (statistics from Alzheimer's research UK - https://www.dementiastatistics.org/statistics-about-dementia/ ). The disease often starts slowly and gradually progresses. This doesn't mean you need to panic if you forget where you left your keys or go into a room and forget what you went in there for - we all do that sometimes!! There are different types of dementia.  By far the most common is Alzheimer's which makes up around 80% of cases.  This is characterised by deposits of beta-amyloid (plaques), a protein and twisted strands of the protein tau (tangles) leading to death of brain cells.   Around...

Swedish meatballs are usually made with ground pork or beef but these vegan Swedish meatballs will be enjoyed by even non-vegan friends.  There are many variations including the herbs used in the recipe.  Some chopped chives are a good addition and half a teaspoon of allspice.  Other possibilities include dill, or flat leaf parsley. In this recipe I am using rosemary in the sauce.  Serve with mash (potato, celeriac or cauliflower), rice or pasta as I am doing in this recipe. I am using tripolini noodles which have little 'ruffles' that 'scoop' up the sauce. Feeding a crowd? Simply scale up the quantities. Swedish 'meatballs' Serves 2 You will need For the 'meatballs' 120g dried soy mince 1 egg equivalent (1 tbsp rice flour, 1/2 tsp olive oil, 1 tbsp almond milk) 50g breadcrumbs 1 tbsp tamari olive oil spray for greasing For the sauce   2 tbsp tamari 250ml water  1 tbsp cornflour 1/2 tsp rosemary 50ml soy cream 2 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional) Place th...

In our #yogavideo this week we cultivate physical strength and because of the mind/body connection this also cultivates the mental strength to persevere through delays and difficulties. Please see my 'sister' blog for the #blog post and yoga video-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga.html This blog post was included in the online paper 'Yoga Vitality Magazine'- http://paper.li/Yoga_Vitality/1336524135?edition_id=03e5d680-2499-11e7-802f-0cc47a0d1605#/ In recognition of Earth Day on the 22nd April, in this blog post I offer my thoughts on how the yamas can give us guidelines for looking after the environment. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/the-yamas-and-environment.html The #piriformis, one of the external hip rotators might be a small muscle but it can cause a whole lot of trouble if it gets overly tight.  These #yoga poses on my 'sister' will help stretch the piriformis- http://f...

Peace Lily It's spring, and in the garden and countryside many flowers and blossoms are appearing.  The bluebells have arrived, blackthorn is blossoming, the apple blossom and even some May blossom is starting to appear ('O, to be in England now that April's here' Robert Browing).  It feels good to be out but having plants in the house and office has many benefits too. First a bit of biology - people breathe in oxygen and breathe out waste carbon-dioxide but plants take in carbon-dioxide to make simple sugars in a process known as photosynthesis. The byproduct which they then give out is oxygen.  This means that having plants keeps the air in our house or office oxygen rich.  This usually only happens during the day because the process also requires light but some plants such as aloe vera, Mother-in-laws tongue (Snake plant) or orchids can also give off oxygen at night.  Aloe vera is especially good if you are away a lot because it can go a week or so without wa...

In recognition of Earth Day which this year falls on 22nd April and which seeks to raise awareness of environmental issues, I would like to give you an update on the fracking situation in the UK.  The legal battle to stop fracking in Lancashire has been lost and it is looking as if nothing can stop fracking going ahead now.  But just why are we allowing this to happen when all the indicators are that it is detrimental to our environment and our wellbeing? In countries that have allowed fracking there  has been found that there is a risk to health from water contamination.  There has also been an increase in the incidences of asthma and other respiratory illness. Fracking is only a short term solution -  we will have to find renewable alternatives soon, so why not now?  We are custodians of this earth and it is our duty to look after it for future generations.  Most people do feel this way- the protests show that the people don't want fracking.   W...

This recipe can easily be scaled up if you are feeding a crowd this Bank holiday Monday!  You can enjoy these burgers with tzatziki or spicy salsa or both and some warm pitta breads.  They are not only vegan but gluten free too - so let's cook! Vegan smoky falafel with tzatziki or spicy salsa You will need Makes 4 Serves 2 For the tzatziki  200g soy yogurt 1/2 large cucumber 1/2 clove garlic, crushed 1 tbsp lemon juice For the smoky falafel burgers 1 can chickpeas 1/2 red onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tbsp olive oil  juice lemon 1/2 tsp smoked paprika pinch pink salt 1 tbsp oil 1 tbsp gluten free flour olive oil spray For the salsa 2 tomatoes, chopped 1/4 red onion 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped splash cider vinegar fresh coriander, finely chopped pinch salt Pittas to serve To make the tzatziki line a sieve with a muslin square or if you do not have any with kitchen paper and add the yogurt.  Place the sieve over a b...

In our 'Qualities cultivated by yoga' series we are focusing on humility. We will practice our yoga with 'beginners' mind' to experience our yoga anew. Blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-humility.html Healthy knee alignment depends on good alignment in the feet and stability in the hips. In this blog post we practice yoga poses which will help stabilise the hips by strengthening and stabilising the muscles of the core, hip abductors, and glutes. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/yoga-anatomy-bites-knee-health.html Easter to me marks the beginning of spring when we can begin planting for summer beauty and abundance. This yoga sequence helps us open up to the joys of the springtime season.  Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/springtime-yoga.html  This blog post was included in the online p...

Easter is the ideal time to get planting.  Here at 40plusandalliswell we reckon Easter marks potato planting time so we have planted the first and second earlies (Pentland javelin and Kestral varieties). Please see ' Organic gardening update: Spring planting four (guest post) ' for how to go about this. We are also planting some more basil. If you would like to grow this herb too, you can sow it in April in pots of moist compost - about 5 in a medium pot.  Cover lightly with compost and keep in a warm place (either on a sunny kitchen windowsill or in a greenhouse). Keep moist - if you have them on a kitchen windowsill you need to put a plastic saucer under the plant pot). We like to sow basil little and often because we love this versatile herb which can be uses in pesto and complements tomatoes beautifully.  We want to grow more herbs this year so watch out for another post on this.  Planting the basil seed This way of sowing little and often is known as successiona...

The great thing about turkey style tofu is that it takes a fraction of the time to cook compared to turkey and there is no risk of food poisoning.   For the stuffing I used my 'Cheesy' leek bread http://40plusandalliswell.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/organic-gardening-update-harvesting.html which worked deliciously well but you can use plain breadcrumbs too. Turkey style tofu with stuffing Serves 2-3 You will need 400g tofu 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1- 2 tbsp tamari For the stuffing 1-2 tbsp organic olive oil or rapeseed oil 1 small onion, finely chopped in blender 100g breadcrumbs (I used my 'Cheesy' leek bread) 1 tsp bouillon 2 tbsp dried sage Olive oil spray To serve 1 avocado, peeled and stone removed Juice 1 lime Sweet potato wedges Blend the tofu, garlic and tamari. Place the breadcrumbs in a bowl and stir in the onion, bouillon, oil and dried sage.   To assemble, spray a 2lb loaf tin with olive oil spray and place half the tofu mixture at the base. Arrange the stuffing ...

Easter trees have become really popular in recent years, and here's my take on the trend- it's a pom-pom tree! It's super stylish and fun to make- you could even get older kids involved in the pom-pom making. It's also a cheap and cheerful craft, as all the materials are pretty inexpensive. 🐥 You will need 🐣 Large twigs (I used some fallen twigs that I found in a local wood) White paint (either poster paint or leftover emulsion) Wool in colours of your choice Small pom-pom maker Small craft scissors Paintbrush Strong craft glue A jug or vase to display the finished tree Plastic sheeting/dust sheet to protect your floors 🐰 Instructions 🐣 The first thing to do is to paint your twigs. I only gave the twigs a couple of coats of paint as I wanted them to have a slightly 'distressed' look, but you could make sure that the paint job on yours was completely even by adding a third coat of paint. It's a good idea to put down some plastic sheeting (or a dust sheet)...

Although it is low calorie, this main is a little special for an Easter lunch - delicious too!  At only around 375 calories a portion, what's not to like! Low calorie vegan - Italian stuffed aubergine Serves 2  You will need 2 medium aubergines olive oil spray 1 tbsp organic olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic  1/2 tsp oregano 1/2 tsp basil 1/2 tsp pink salt 1 tsp cider vinegar 50g tomato puree 8 cherry tomatoes, halved 150g brown rice, cooked 4 tbsp sweetcorn 20g vegan cheese top (optional) Cut the aubergine in two and cut round with a knife just inside the skin.  Scoop out the flesh and put to one side. Place the shells on a baking tray and spray with olive oil spray.  Bake at 180 degrees for around 20 minutes. Meanwhile cook the brown rice with the sweetcorn.  While the rice is cooking heat the oil and cook the onion until starting to soften then add the garlic,herbs and salt, continue cooking. When the rice is ready, drain and stir into th...

This week we start a NEW SERIES entitled  'Qualities cultivated by yoga'. In this first yoga video we cultivate patience. Blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-patience.html Cobra is a great back bend! In this blog post we go through Cobra variations from beginner to advanced. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/cobra-from-beginner-to-advanced.html This blog post was included in Yoga Vitality magazine'-  http://paper.li/Yoga_Vitality/1336524135?edition_id=02f00ec0-1b2b-11e7-802f-0cc47a0d1605#/ In this blog post on my 'sister' blog we practice yoga poses for greater foot flexibility and find out how we can create greater stability in standing poses through our feet- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/yoga-anatomy-bites-foot-flexibility-and.html

Chives are a member of the onion family and give a mild, oniony flavour to soups, stews, potato salads, vegan soft cheeses etc. One of the great things about growing chives is that you can harvest them three or four times a year and already our patch of chives has provided us with a bounty.  The other great thing is that they are perennial - they come up year after year and require very little, if any attention once established.  You don't need much space for them either - in fact you can grow them on a pot on your kitchen windersill.  They flower in May and their pretty purple flowers look good in salads. If you are growing chives from seeds in your garden choose a spot that is sunny.  They need to be kept moist but the spot should be well drained.  Enrich the area with organic compost at a depth of about 8 inches. Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep and about 4 inches apart. Planting at this time of year, you should get your first harvest in around 60 days. ...

These vegan brownies are rich, chocolaty, yummy and after all chocolate is part of Easter isn't it?  The brownies have no added sugar, and are dairy, gluten and egg free. Please see 'Surprising superfood, chocolate' - http://40plusandalliswell.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/blog-post.html   The brownies are best served warm with the sauce poured over.  The brownies have a rich and dark and complemented perfectly by the sweetness of the topping.  Why salted caramel - I wondered this too but the salt brings out the sweetness of the topping.  The caramel flavour comes from lacuma, a powder made from a South American fruit which is bursting with anti-oxidants. What are we waiting for - let's bake! Double chocolate brownies with chocolate salted caramel topping Makes 8-12 slices You will need 300g gluten free SR flour 60g cacao powder 15g stevia 50g cacao nibs 10 tbsp coconut oil or sunflower oil plus extra for greasing 400ml unsweetened almond milk 1 tsp vanilla essence Cho...

This week's Meatless Monday is an easy version of a Thai red curry because it uses a ready made Thai red curry paste which is suitable for vegans.  I have used a tablespoon in my recipe but feel free to add more if you like your Thai red curry hot.  Don't feel you have to add the same veggies as I have either. I am no calorie expert but I reckon that this is around 380 calories if you use light coconut milk- not bad for such a satisfying main meal. Spicy and creamy - let's get cooking! Easy vegan Thai red curry Serves 2 You will need Pack firm tofu (450g) 1 red chilli sliced (option - reserve a few slices for garnish) 2 tbsp tamari 1 tbsp lime juice Olive oil spray 1 tbsp organic olive oil 1 tbsp Thai red curry paste 1 onion, peeled and finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced 1/2 aubergine, diced 1/2 red pepper, diced 200ml coconut milk (If you are watching your calories, choose a light coconut milk.)  Coriander for garnish (optional) Lime wedges to serve (optio...

In our video this week we are looking to bring balance to the crown chakra in order to bring acceptance to what is- whether that be happiness or sadness. Blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/rebalance-happiness-sadness.html In our kids yoga practice today we are really going to embrace all that is good about the springtime! Join me and have fun! Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/03/yoga-for-kids-spring-practice.html   This blog post was included in the online paper ' Yoga Vitality Magazine '. In order to avoid injury hamstring strength, as well as flexibility is important. In this short yoga sequence we work on hamstring strength. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/yoga-anatomy-bites-hamstring-strength.html

We are always being told to 'eat a rainbow', that is different coloured fruit and vegetables and there is a good reason for this.  Different coloured fruit and vegetables have different antioxidants, vitamins and minerals so by eating a variety, you are taking steps to boost your wellbeing. Today we have reached the colour green. Spring greens are the first cabbage to appear in spring and unlike the cabbage that grow later do not have a heart. Like all cabbage they belong to the brassica family.  After the stodgier roots of the winter, low calorie spring greens can help us lose any winter pounds that linger. Enjoy them steamed, blanched or shredded in stir fries. Don't overcook though to help maintain its nutrients and flavour. Hipsi (sweetheart) cabbage are also starting to appear at our local garden centre.  The fields (and gardens!!!) are starting to fill with dandelions. Dandelion leaves are bitter and make a good addition to salads.  A benefit of dandelion leave...