Posted on

Maple Staple Amaranth Porridge


Amaranth was already being cultivated by the Aztecs 8,000 years ago.  It is the only grain with a documented vitamin C content and is gluten-free. It offers unusually high levels of protein (higher than most other grains). Amaranth contains a whopping 20 grams of fiber per serving, higher than wheat, com, rice or soybeans.

The amaranth flower has been used as a symbol of immortality since the time of Ancient Greece with its name meaning “one that does not wither,” or the never-fading flower. Such use is seen in works of poetry, fables, and songs.

It is a gluten-free grain with a great nutty flavour and a smooth creamy texture when cooked. This is one of my favourite comfort-food breakfasts!

In Mexico, a sweet is made from popped amaranth that is mixed with sugar or honey called “dulce de alegria” or “sweet delight.”  They are shaped into small skulls and given on the “Day of the Dead” celebration on October 31 and November 1 of each year.

Maple Staple Amaranth Porridge

Servings: 3

Ingredients

  • 750 ml water
  • 185 grams amaranth
  • 200 ml unsweetened almond milk
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil

Suggested Toppings

  • Figs, blueberries, sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries.

Instructions

  • In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil and add the amaranth
  • Cook over low heat, with the lid on, for 20 minutes or until most of the water has been absorbed
  • While the amaranth is cooking, make sure to stir occasionally
  • Once done, remove from the stove, and add the almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and coconut oil to the pot
  • Stir in well, and then serve into bowls
  • Top with any of the suggested toppings or your favorite fruits, nuts, and/or seeds!
  • If you’re eating alone, store the leftovers in the fridge for up to a week. When it’s time to reheat, add some additional almond milk and mix it in so the porridge isn’t so thick. Enjoy!

Amaranth: Strengthen Qi, Resolve dampness, resolve water accumulations, Benefits the Lungs, Clears Liver Fire. Maple Syrup: Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold. Strengthens the Middle Jiao, Moistens the Intestines, Tonify Qi. Cinnamon: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys, Tonifies the Yang, Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, Promotes circulation of Qi. Figs: build Spleen Qi and Yang and benefit the Stomach. Blueberries: nourish Yin and Blood, and benefit the Liver. Almonds: Strengthens Jing, Qi, Shen, Smooth flow of Qi, resolves phlegm. Pumpkin Seeds: Tonify Qi, Circulates Blood, Disperses Cold, Clears damp, Resolves phlegm. Cranberries: benefit the Bladder and Kidney, remove toxins from the Blood, clear Heat, open the Lungs, promote digestion and regulate appetite. Resolves Damp.



James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine. It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
Please share! Help the word get out. Pin the graphic too.
Posted on

Crazy Carrot Cake Porridge


I love carrot cake and this breakfast bowl of Zen is one of my favourites, with all the tastes of a crazy carrot cake, carrot, walnuts, cinnamon, rock sugar cane, along with the sweet, vitamin-rich nutritious carrots. It’s the sweetest and yummiest way to get an entire serving of vegetables in early before anything else happen. And while it may sound a little crazy, it really is just a slight creative development on the traditional flavours of breakfast oatmeal porridge, especially sweetened with rock cane sugar. Shredding the carrot and cooking it until tender relaxes its flavour and emphasizes its sweetness, making it a most welcome addition to sweet oatmeal, at least for those of us who love carrot cake.

Want to express your culinary creativity, then why not change or add some other heaven sent seeds, nuts or ingredients.

Total: 10 mins
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 5 mins
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 carrot
  • 100 grams rolled oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon raisins
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tablespoon (crushed) cane rock sugar (plus more to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon butter (plus more to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons walnuts (toasted, chopped)
  • A dash of milk

How to Make.

  • Peel the carrot and grate it into a small saucepan.
  • Add 1 cup of water and the pinch of salt.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat.
  • Stir in the oats, vanilla, cinnamon, and raisins (if using).
  • Adjust the heat to maintain a steady simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until the oats and carrot are tender, about 5 minutes.
  • Take the pan off the heat. Stir in the brown sugar.
  • Transfer to a bowl.
  • Dot the top with bits of the butter.
  • Sprinkle with more brown sugar, if you like, and top with the walnuts.
  • Serve hot.

The flavours and benefits of everyday foods as seen with the concept of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Carrot: Clears heat, Benefits the eyes, Lubricates the intestines, Promotes digestion. Oats: Nourish the Three Treasures, Warms Yang, Tonify Qi and Blood, Circulate Qi, Calm the Shen (mind). Raisins: tonify blood, moistening, red ones good for bones, diuretic. Cinnamon: relieves abdominal pain from cold and treats diarrhoea, builds Heart Qi and Yang, supports Spleen and Stomach Qi, builds Spleen Yang, and resolves Phlegm. Butter: calms Shen. Soothing and comforting, this recipe will delight the taste buds while regulating digestion. Cane Rock Sugar: Clear heat, Moisten dryness, Harmonize the spleen, Remove toxicity. Walnuts: Nourish the Three Treasures, Jing, Qi, Shen. Tonify Kidney, Benefits the Brain, Warm the Lungs, Moisten Intestines and Unblock Bowels.



James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
Please share! Help the word get out. Pin the graphic too.
Posted on

Pumpkin Pie Porridge


Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It activates or metabolism and tells our body that the day has begun, and sleep is over.

Preferably Hot but you can eat this Cold (room temperature) too, when we are looking for a healthy and quick breakfast recipe, oatmeal porridge is often the answer and this recipe is one of the most delicious and healthiest, you can eat. It transforms the traditional porridge into a festival of healthy ingredients full of essential antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and other phytonutrients.

A bowl of warm oatmeal is our family favourite way to welcome in the chilly mornings.

All the delicious comforting flavours of a sweet pumpkin pie, but in some breakfast oats. Pumpkin Pie Porridge is also a great way to sneak some extra fruit into your diet.

Prep Time: 1 minute
Cook Time: 6 minutes
Total Time: 7 minutes
Servings:  people
Calories: 304kcal

Ingredients

  • 60 grams jumbo rolled oats (old fashioned oats).
  • 350 ml Skimmed milk
  • 3 tbsp Pumpkin puree
  • A sprinkle of cinnamon, nutmeg and ground ginger (to taste)
  • 2 tbsp Flax seeds (linseeds)
  • 2 tbsp Pure maple syrup
  • Pecans and dried cranberries for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Firstly, put the oats and milk in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for around 4 minutes, until starting to thicken.
  • Next, add the pumpkin puree and spices and mix well. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
  • Finally, divide between bowls and drizzle over maple syrup and top with Love Arctic flaxseed blend, pecans and dried cranberries

The Traditional Chinese medicine concept.

Oats: Nourish the Three Treasures, Warms Yang, Tonify Qi and Blood, Circulate Qi, Calm the Shen (mind). Pumpkin: Tonify Qi, Circulates Blood, Disperses Cold, Clears damp, Resolves phlegm. Cinnamon: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys, Tonifies the Yang, Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, Promotes circulation of Qi. Nutmeg: Warms the Spleen and Stomach, circulates Qi. Protects the Intestines and stops diarrhoea. Ground Ginger: Warms the Spleen and expels Cold. Restores collapse of Yang and expels Interior Cold. Maple Syrup: Warms the Lungs and assists expectoration of Cold Phlegm. Stops chronic bleeding caused by Cold. Flax seeds: Nourishes Yin, Promotes lubrication, Dispels Wind. Maple Syrup: Strengthens the Middle Jiao, Moistens the Intestines, Tonify Qi. Cranberries: Clears Heat, Resolves Damp.

A pure healthy meal in itself, with enough nutrients to get you to the next bite.

The Three Treasures

The ancient Chinese who developed balancing, tonic and sedation herbals said that a human being is composed of three “Treasures.” The “Three Treasures” are called Jing, Qi and Shen.

Jing – is the first Treasure and is translated as “Essence.” Jing is the primal energy of life and is closely associated with our genetic potential, it is associated with the aging process. Longevity is the nourishment of Jing – our capacity to age gracefully and healthy.

Qi – is the second Treasure, and in the Three Treasures system includes both Energy and blood. This is the aspect of our life that involves action and movement, our ability to exercise and contribute to the world we live in, to work and help ourselves, our family, friends and community.

Shen – is the third Treasure. Shen is our Mind, our Spirit, our Soul, everything about our ability to reason and understand and think. Our intuition, our capacity to feel and love. To nourish our Shen, means cultivating our inner wisdom and smile. Shen is ultimately the most important of the Three Treasures because it is the basis of our higher nature as human beings.



James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
Please share! Help the word get out. Pin the graphic too.
Posted on

Immortal Amaranth Porridge


Amaranth was already being cultivated by the Aztecs 8,000 years ago.  It is the only grain with a documented vitamin C content and is gluten-free. It offers unusually high levels of protein (higher than most other grains). Amaranth contains a whopping 20 grams of fiber per serving, higher than wheat, com, rice or soybeans.

The amaranth flower has been used as a symbol of immortality since the time of Ancient Greece with its name meaning “one that does not wither,” or the never-fading flower. Such use is seen in works of poetry, fables, and songs.

It is a gluten-free grain with a great nutty flavour and a smooth creamy texture when cooked. This is one of my favourite comfort-food breakfasts!

In Mexico, a sweet is made from popped amaranth that is mixed with sugar or honey called “dulce de alegria” or “sweet delight.”  They are shaped into small skulls and given on the “Day of the Dead” celebration on October 31 and November 1 of each year.

Makes 2 servings.

Ingredients:

  • 75 grams whole-grain amaranth
  • 500 ml filtered water
  • 60 ml hemp seeds or pumpkin seeds
  • 2 tsp (15 ml) raw honey
  • 1 tsp (5 ml) cinnamon
  • 125 ml blueberries or dried cranberries
  • 1 medium pear, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Amaranth’s sticky consistency calls for a cast-iron or titanium surface to minimize heavy clean-up_ If you don’t have a natural non-stick skillet, you can use a heavy 2- quart (2 L) saucepan, but make sure to stir the porridge frequently to avoid sticking.
  2. Combine the amaranth and water in a skillet with a tight-fitting lid.
  3. Bring to boil, cover, and turn down to low heat. Simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring once every 10 minutes to ensure the grains don’t stick to the pot, until the liquid is completely absorbed.
  4. Remove from heat and add the seeds, raw honey and cinnamon, stirring well. Divide the hot cereal between two bowls (or put one portion in a sealable container for the next day), and top with blueberries and pear.

Amaranth: Strengthen Qi, Resolve dampness, resolve water accumulations, Benefits the Lungs, Clears Liver Fire. Cinnamon: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys, Tonifies the Yang, Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, Promotes circulation of Qi. Pumpkin Seeds: Tonify Qi, Circulates Blood, Disperses Cold, Clears damp, Resolves phlegm. Cranberries: benefit the Bladder and Kidney, remove toxins from the Blood, clear Heat, open the Lungs, promote digestion and regulate appetite. Resolves Damp. Hemp Seeds: Moistens the Intestines and unblocks Food Stagnation caused by Dryness. Nourishes the Yin and relieves constipation caused by Yin Deficiency. Cools Heat and aids healing of sores. Pears: Nourish Yin, Clear heat, Resolve phlegm. Produces fluids, eliminates mucus, Lubricates dryness. Blueberries: nourish Yin and Blood and benefit the Liver.



James O’Sullivan - that's me, a people friendly practitioner and lecturer of Integrated Medicine, serving my patients, my students and the public with the positive benefits of both Conventional Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
It's a wonderful life
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to diagnose or assess. The information provided is not to be considered a substitute for consultation with a qualified health care practitioner.
Please share! Help the word get out. Pin the graphic too.