EYES, HEALTH AND BEAUTY

The weather might not be up to much - it's drizzling here in Yorkshire - but who cares when there are these spicy lentil and chickpea burgers to enjoy.   Spicy lentil and chickpea burgers  Makes 10 You will need 1 onion, peeled and chopped 2 cloves garlic, sliced 1 can chickpeas, drained well 1 can brown lentils, drained well 1 tsp cumin 1 tsp turmeric 1/2 tsp chilli flakes 2 chia seed eggs (use 1-2 tbsp chia seeds with 3 tbsp hot water and leave for 10 minutes) 80g rice flour Olive oil spray Pop all the ingredients in a high speed blender.  Spray a baking tray with olive oil spray. Divide the chickpea and lentil mixture into 10 and shape into burgers on the baking tray. Spray with the olive oil spray once more and place in an oven at 180 degrees for around 20 minutes until firm.  Serve on burger buns or lettuce leaves. Enjoy! If you are enjoying my blog posts please would you consider a small donation? Please see- http://40plusandalliswell.blogspot.co.uk/p/blog-page.html

It is hard to talk about joy after the terrible bombing in Manchester. The arena is somewhere I am very familiar with because when we lived in Lancashire, my daughters and I often went to shows there. My heart goes out to those innocent people caught up in this tragedy. This yoga video was filmed in advance. If you would like to see the yoga video 'Qualities cultivated by yoga-joy' please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-joy.html In this blog post we think about how to practice yoga seated and standing twists without causing problems for our lower backs. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/avoiding-yoga-injuries-protecting-your.html Just as you have channels for the flow of blood and lymph in your body, you also have channels for the flow of prana, the life force. Read more about how these affect your wellbeing on my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.

It may not be quite strawberry cream tea time yet (although at the 40plusalliswell allotment, the strawberries are shaping up nicely) but theses lemon curd scones are yummy to be going on with.  If, like me, you are making your scones gluten free, be aware that your scones may be crumbly (but no less delicious) and therefore hard to split in two.  I have found a way round this  - make your scones a little less thick, say 1/2 inch thich and use the lemon curd to sandwich them together.   Last week we looked at ' vegan egg substitutes '. In curds, eggs are used for thickening but in this vegan version cornflour is used as a thickener.  How much stevia you use really depends on whether you like your lemon curd tart or sweet so the amount given is a suggestion. Any remaining can be used to top porridge or on toast etc. Vegan lemon curd  vegan lemon curd 250ml lemon juice 100ml water 100ml almond milk 40g cornflour 10g stevia Mix the lemon juice, water and almond milk in a non-stick

Recently it was World Naked Gardening Day (May 6th) but nobody on the local allotment took up the challenge - it's too cold in Yorkshire!  We are just about taking our thermal vests off at the end of May!!  The other news from the allotment is that someone forgot to shut the gate and a rabbit got in playing merry havoc with the produce.  The advice is don't grow lettuce until the miscreant is apprehended (the rabbit that is not the person who left open the gate!). We wanted to try growing squash this year - a first for 40plusandalliswell. We have chosen Crown Prince squash for two reasons - we really like eating it (a good reason!! It has orange flesh and a sweet nutty flavour) and we know it grows well where we live because people bring it to the harvest service in autumn. We planted one seed in each small pot in April- if you remember the seeds were planted on on their sides which is counter-intuitive. The soil needed to be kept warm so start them off so we kept them in a gre

This recipe is so versatile - either include the tofu and have it as a main meal or leave it out and have it as a side salad, either use fresh veg or frozen stir fry veg.  Quick and easy to make but tasty! Let's cook! Easy oriental rice bowl 150g (dried weight) brown rice, cooked according to instructions 400g block tofu, drained and excess water removed by pressing between sheets of kitchen towel and diced into small cubes. 1 - 2 tbsp organic olive oil or rapeseed oil 2 cloves garlic, crushed  300g stir fry veggies (choose from red onion, finely chopped, baby sweetcorn, mange tout, red or yellow pepper, beansprouts, shredded Nappa cabbage, broccoli florets etc or use a frozen mix)   2 tbsp tamari 1 tbsp rice wine vinegar 1/4 tsp chilli flakes 1 tsp Chinese 5 spice 1/4 tsp powdered ginger spring onions, chopped (optional) sesame seeds (optional) Heat the oil in a wok and add the diced tofu.  Stir fry until starting to crisp on the outside.  Add the garlic and stir fry veggies toget

This week the quality we are cultivating through our yoga is discernment- the wisdom to know what is good for ourselves and others.  Blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog - http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-discernment.html If you are just starting out in yoga and do not know how to set an intention for your practice, or if you are not new to yoga and struggle to set an intention, this blog post on my 'sister' blog is for you-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/beginners-guide-to-setting-intention.html Thankfully yoga is relatively safe compared to other sports and activities but worryingly yoga injuries are on the increase.  On my 'sister' blog there are tips to help keep you safe while you practice yoga and some links to posts I have done on preventing specific yoga injuries. Look out for more posts on this to come- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/avoiding-yoga-injuries.html This blog post was inclu

Chia seed egg Eggs are used in baking and cooking to provide structure, bind the ingredients together, act as a rising agent because they trap air or add moisture but if you are vegan there are several substitutes that will work just as well. Which you choose depends on what you are making.   There are commercial egg substitutes that are made of a starch such as potato starch and a rising agent - they seem to work well in cakes. I have also used 1 tbsp rice flour, 1 tbsp rapeseed oil and 2 tbsp almond milk to replace an egg in recipes where baking powder is also used such as cakes or cornbread. Below are some more egg substitutes.   Flaxseed egg - great for binding ingredients together but not so great as a raising agent so if you do use a flaxseed egg in cakes you need some baking powder and a source of acid such as non-dairy milk 'soured' with a splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. On the plus side the seeds add a vegan source of omega 3 to recipes. Use 1 tbsp ground

Yay, blueberries are in season at last! Not only yummy to eat but good for you too, they are often referred to as a superfood. Anthocyanins give blueberries give blueberries their colour and many of their health benefits because they are anti-inflammatory. Inflammation underlies many diseases such as heart disease, diabetes etc so blueberries can reduce the risk of these.  Anthocyanins are also antioxidant, as is the vitamin C in blueberries and these antioxidants fight free radicals which can lead to aging of skin, eyes and brain etc. This means that blueberries can help prevent wrinkles, macular degeneration and cognitive decline. The calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and vitamin K in blueberries help maintain healthy bones. The fibre helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels reducing the risk of diabetes, maintains healthy digestion  and keeps cholesterol levels at a healthy level.   Why not try blueberries in this blueberry, 'nice cream' and granola layer dessert (or treat br

Feel like a takeaway?  Why not make your own?  It's just as quick and tasty but healthier.  Lo mein is Chow mein's 'cousin' but whereas chow mein has crispy noodles, Lo mein has soft noodles - usually egg but you can use rice noodles, ramen noodles etc.  You can vary the stir fry veggies and if you are really pushed for time, you could even use some bagged or frozen stir fry veggies.  I have added baked tofu for a protein boost but again this only takes a few minutes in the oven (just remember to marinade the tofu beforehand).  So let's get cooking. Serves 2 You will need 400g pack tofu 3 tbsp tamari  2cm piece ginger, peeled and minced pinch stevia olive oil spray 1 tbsp sesame oil 2 garlic cloves, sliced Stir fry veggies - I used a handful of mangetout, 8 chestnut mushrooms, sliced, 1/2 red pepper, sliced and a couple of handfuls of spinach) 2 'nests' of rice noodles, or ramen noodles etc, cooked according to the pack instructions and drained Marinade the

In this week's yoga video we clear the windows of the mind for greater mental clarity by calming 'monkey mind'. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-mental.html The bandhas are the energy locks that can direct the flow of prana. On my 'sister' blog there is a guide to Mula Bandha and Uddiyana Bandha for beginners-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/the-beginners-guide-to-bandhas.html In spring when kapha dosha is dominant, allergies may result. On my 'sister' blog I look at the Ayurveda solution-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/ayurveda-and-spring-allergies.html I'm passionate about producing quality yoga and wellness content that everyone can access for free, as I want Flexiladies Yoga and 40plusandalliswell to benefit as many people as possible. However, keeping these blogs up and running isn't cheap- although I do get a small amount of revenue from adverts,

Whenever I visit a historic house, I am always head off to the kitchen garden to discover what herbs they are growing.  Herbs are easy to grow requiring very little maintenance and so are are a great introduction to gardening.  You don't even need a garden!!  You can grow herbs in pots on your kitchen windowsill and your kitchen will smell amazing.  Herbs can usually be grown indoors all year round and think what you will save from not buying supermarket pots.   When deciding which herbs to grow there are several things you might want to consider. Firstly what herbs do you like to eat and which herbs are best suited to where you will grow them?  If you are growing herbs on your kitchen windowsill parsley, basil, coriander, dill, and chervil are all good because they are fast growing. Choose a south facing window for preference and avoid a north facing window.  You can sow them at intervals through spring and summer. If you are growing pots indoors, place a plant pot saucer under yo

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Week I am sharing my top supplements to keep your brain healthy.  Never think that you are 'too old' to be able to improve your brain function - that simply isn't true.  It used to be thought that we were born with a certain number of brain cells (neurons), but these died slowly over the years, and because new ones could not replace them, we decline as we age.  Now we know this is not the case - we can form new neurons throughout our lives. Even more exciting we can also form new neural pathways, that is connections between neurons in the brain.  This explains why people with brain damage are able to heal and gives us hope that age related decline of brain function may be preventable.   As always seek permission from your medical practitioner before taking any supplements.  So here goes Gingko biloba - I have been taking this herb for some time.  There has been some excitement about it recently because it has been shown to have the

A buddha bowl is a bowl of healthy food so full that it domes resembling the belly of the Buddha.  There are many variations but all are loaded with veggies, have some protein such as beans, tofu, lentils etc, whole grains and a dressing plus some toppings such as nuts or seeds.  Great for when you are feeling super hungry!  So here goes with my first buddha bowl.   Buddha bowl Serves 2 generously You will need 1 pack firm tofu, remove excess water with kitchen towel then cut into cubes  Marinade for tofu  2cm piece ginger, peeled and minced 1 clove garlic, crushed 1 tbsp sesame oil 2 tbsp tamari Other ingredients  150g brown rice 4 tbsp frozen sweetcorn kernals Dressing for rice  2 tbsp tamari 1/2 tbsp lime juice 1 tsp stevia To serve cooked beetroot wedges cherry tomatoes, halved avocado slices red pepper slices shredded lettuce sprinkle pumpkin seeds lime wedges to garnish (optional) Mix the ingredients for the tofu marinade and place in a bowl with the diced tofu.  Stir then pop in

In this week's yoga video we continue to look at qualities cultivated by yoga. This week we focus on compassion. Yoga blog post and yoga video on my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/qualities-cultivated-by-yoga-compassion.html In this week's beginners' guide to yoga we are looking at the eight limbs of yoga. Please see my 'sister' blog- http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/beginners-guide-to-eight-limbs-of-yoga_4.html In this week's yoga anatomy bites we look to stretch and strengthen the psoas muscle. When this muscle is tight or weak it can cause problems such as back pain, knee pain and breathing problems. Please see my 'sister' blog-  http://flexiladies.blogspot.co.uk/2017/05/yoga-anatomy-bites-psoas-very-important.html

There has been a lot in the news recently about air pollution.  As individuals we can feel powerless to do anything about it but the health effects are very real - greater risk of respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke.  According to the World Health Organisation there are an estimated 3 million premature deaths worldwide because of air pollution.   Did you know also that tiny air pollution particles (PMs) such as nitrogen dioxide, NO2 and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can lead to age spots and wrinkles?  The age spots are caused by PMs activating melanocytes in the skin.  The particles also generate free radicals leading to inflammation which in turn causes breakdown of collagen, the 'scaffolding' of the skin, resulting in wrinkles?   How can you protect yourself from the aging effects of pollution on your skin?  I would suggest an anti-inflammatory diet - plenty of fruit and vegetables, preferably organic, nuts and seeds for your omega 3s and who

The weather is a little warmer at last!  We were beginning to think it would never happen here in Yorkshire!  At last we have been able to plant the broad beans directly in the ground of the allotment.  We have used a technique called triangular planting which maximises space.  This involves planting a double row.  Mark out your bean patch and plant the first seed in one corner, 5 cm down (use a dibber). Plant another seed 23cm away from the first and 12.5 cm down.  Mark each with a plant marker or you will 'lose' them. Continue then down the double row with a spacing of 23cm until you reach the end of your patch.  It is a good idea to use a row marker so that your rows are straight.  Your next double row should be 60cm from the first double row.  This allows 'walking' space so that you can weed between your bean plants.  The runner beans have been planted singly in pots of compost in the greenhouse but the dwarf french beans will not be started until mid-month.  Meanwh