Rachel Shackleton's blog

Whilst spending time in South Korea it is obvious that I should blog about the famous Korean Kimchi.  Kimchi is a traditional food made by fermenting vegetables with probiotic lactic acid bacteria and served as a side dish with most Korean meals, along with chilli paste, seaweed, and rice.

The main ingredient is Chinese cabbage, often with other vegetables, such as leek, scallions, cucumber and radish, all of which are fermented together in herbs and spices, usually garlic, cayenne pepper and ginger.

Bravo to Heart of Nature for producing this fantastic bread.  It is made from wholesome ingredients including seeds of all kinds – chia, linseed and quinoa, wild oats (Avena sativa) and contains no wheat, no sugar and is dairy free.

I love it both toasted or just sliced and fresh with poached egg, avocado, salmon and humus.  Not altogether!

Put your hands up if you made a New Year’s resolution to lose several pounds, or to get fitter, or perhaps to cut down on sweet things?  This time of the year sees many of us going alcohol free for January, starting that diet which we have been talking about for months, and signing up for that gym membership which we leap into with enthusiasm, but interest soon dwindles when we see limited or little result.

GARLIC A COMMON HOUSEHOLD HERB

Traditionally and historically garlic is best known for its use in cooking for flavouring stews, pasta sauces etc. Eaten raw this herb strengthens the immune system, but some might say “at a price!” One such person was Thomas Nash, who once said, “Garlick maketh a man wynke, drynke, and stynke.”  (First husband of William Shakespeare’s granddaughter Elizabeth Barnard)

After being plunged into “Daylight Saving” its time to take out the candles, and bring warmth into your life with warming foods – stews, casseroles, soups as well as festive aromas.  We can also bring warmth into the long dark evenings by diffusing essential oils.  Essential oils bring natural, delicious, warming, soothing and uplifting fragrances into the home.  Combined with the flicker of candlelight and the warm glow you are set to see the long winter nights through with ease.

What are essential oils?