Tuesday, November 29, 2011

WI-FI SUCKS AND COULD = CANCER



To my family and friends I'm a bit of a health freak. They are always wandering if I'll eat the food they have in their homes if I come round. Its really not that difficult - anything fresh eg fruit,  veg or salad. See its not so difficult. Even better if its pesticide-free or organic (that makes me super happy).

I avoid hormone filled meat and dairy and anything high in sugar. But I still eat plenty of really yummy things - like really dark chocolate and wheat-free baked goodies like chocolate cake and other things like gorgeous vanilla ice cream. So you see I'm not a deprived, boring, salad eating health nut but a regular girl with a desire to be healthy.

With health on my mind I tend to read some health related stuff - like how cinnamon is good for you ;) which means I have more reasons to eat lots of cinnamon pancakes .
So anyway on my healthy reading kick today I came across this article online http://www.naturalnews.com/034268_cordless_phones_electromagnetic_radiation.html and it got me thinking. Have you noticed over the past 10 - 15 years how many more people have had cancer than before.
I remember when I was young - if someone got cancer everyone was shocked and saddened and it was a friend of a friend. Now if someone has cancer everyone is so much less shocked and more people we know have had it in some form or shape. And yes some cancers are very preventable through the foods we eat and the things we do. BUT especially in the fact that in the above linked article that we are using more and more wireless devices... I have pasted part of the article below.

I know this sounds silly and petty but if it means my child will grow up cancer free - or lower her risk I will do it! Really is it so hard to plug in my internet instead of having the signal all over the house and turn off the wi-fi? So a cable costs me a few rand - I got my husband to bring me a really long one and I can use it almost any where in the house. Also do you really need your wi-fi on at night while you are sleeping? Same for your cellphone - at night put it at least 3 meters away from your head or in another room.  If someone needs to call you, you will hear it.


It bugs me that the houses around me all have their wi-fi on 24/7 - I know because if I turn on my laptops wi-fi function I can see the list of networks and their signal strengths.
And cellphone providers keep putting up more and more towers!
Do we not have a say?

Anyway I now really sound like a health freak - and if that is the case so be it!
I want myself and my family to live long healthy lives.

I love the digital age we live in - being able to blog and stream music etc... but is it so difficult to have a few extra cables?

Just saying




(NaturalNews) Many people are aware that prolonged cell phone use has been associated with brain cancer, but most don't realize how other sources of high-frequency electromagnetic radiation (EMR) also radically increase cancer risk.

Until recently, EMR has been given scant attention. It's a toxin that can't be seen or often felt; flawed telecommunication industry-sponsored studies have revealed that current EMR exposure levels are safe, so it has been mostly ignored in medicine. Furthermore, the US government, which receives massive tax revenue from telecom industries, has established faulty guidelines for EMR exposure. It has deemed safe levels to be thousands of times higher than what disinterested scientists have proven as safe. Indeed, studies from such scientists reveal that current amounts of EMR from telecom towers and antennas radically alter the body's cellular communications' processes, leading to cancer and other diseases. These scientists believe that the dramatic increase in cancer in recent years has been due in part to the growing prevalence of EMR in our environment. And the amount of radiation that we are exposed to doubles yearly.

New telecom towers are constructed every day. Average city-dwellers have anywhere between 30-100 microwave towers/antennas within a four-mile radius of their home. All of these towers emit high-frequency electromagnetic fields that have been linked to cancer development. For example, one Germany study reported that living within 1300 feet of two microwave towers over ten years triples cancer risk. Other studies in Australia, UK and Italy revealed significant increases in leukemia among people who live near such towers. Many other similar findings have been reported.

EMR outside the home isn't the only type of high-frequency radiation we are exposed to. Wi-Fi routers, baby monitors, and cordless phones emit high-frequency radiation that has also been linked to cancer. When in use, cordless phones emit an amount of radiation similar to that of a cell phone. (One study revealed that thirty minutes of daily cell phone use, over ten years, increases the risk of brain cancer by 140%). Wi-Fi routers are similarly dangerous. G. Blackwell, PhD, Chartered Engineer and advisor to WiredChild, states, "Having a digital wireless device in your home, office, or school is like having a mini-base station (cell tower) indoors with you." And with Wi-Max (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) now being implemented across the globe, entire regions will be blanketed in cancer-causing high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.





Just think about it


 hugs

Thursday, November 24, 2011

EASY NECTARINE & YOGHURT DESSERT



I always hope to give my family healthy food. Delicious... but healthy. This is one of those times it really works. Fresh fruit full of vitamins and Greek yoghurt filled with dairy. There is a little brown sugar in there but I did mention it was a little.
Lying below the layer of yoghurt could be any fruit your fancy - Adapt this recipe with fruits like fresh soft plums, peaches, cherries or even bananas.
The time that the bowls sit in the fridge allows for the sugar and fruit to make a small amount of syrupy juice that gives it an extra yumminess. (could make a nice breakfast too)



INGREDIENTS
Nectarines (organic if you can get) OR Fruit of your choice
Greek Yoghurt
Organic Brown Sugar

METHOD
Wash your nectarines and then slice up into thin-ish slices. Take ramekins or teacups and line the bottom of the dish with slices of the fruit until you have a nice layer in each.
Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar on the fruit.
Cover with the Yoghurt until you can't see any fruit peeking through. *all the fruit must be covered*
Sprinkle a thin layer of brown sugar on top of the yoghurt and place in the fridge for an hour or 2 for the sugar to turn to syrup.

Serve


*if the yoghurt doesn't cover ALL the fruit then the air may cause your fruit to brown

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Things I am CRAVING right now...


  
So as a woman I am always thinking and finding things that are a must have, or want... some realistic and some not! Hope you enjoy.




1) I could really do with a tin or 2 of Nomu Hot Chocolate chunks (its real chocolate ground up into chunks) instead of making it into hot chocolate I put spoonfuls into a glass of cold milk and drink / eat it with a spoon... YUM

2) I love my blender which was bought from Boardmans a few years ago and it has by far given me its best years of use... sadly it is sounding rather sick, I think the motor is dying. I would LOVE another... I mean what will i do without being able to make my banana ice cream and smoothies?

3) Mornings in our house consist of me waking up and making/packing lunches after which I dream of my first cup of coffee I am going to make myself :) I always grind my coffee beans fresh and I LOVE a good cuppa... I'm thinking I would really enjoy learning how to be a Barista with a course at Origin coffee...one of my favourite coffees to drink. maybe I will.... Just need to work on my study brain ;)

4) With Christmas under 5 weeks away I am dreaming of making everyone the PERFECT Christmas present.... but I am a bit worried that time is running away and I won't get finished in time *fingers crossed*

5) Have I mentioned I LOVE Cherries? because I so do! I am so so so happy because they are now in season and I hope to fill my cherry addiction my the mouthful actually by the bucketful in every form and shape ... for as long as my wallet allows! NEED MORE CHERRIES!

6) a new camera lens... mine is BROKEN *sad face*

*ps all the pics are my own except the Nomu hot chocolate and the black and white barista pic. Each taken from the companies mentioned websites.


Friday, November 18, 2011

ICED COFFEE MILKSHAKE



 
What do you do when you REALLY want a cup of coffee but you have NO milk in the house? After a few minutes of sulking and wandering if I could put yoghurt in my coffee - Ewww! I eventually reached for the jar of my home made vanilla ice cream in the freezer and mixed some with my coffee. Results = Yumminess and even better than regular coffee!





Found 2 of these Milk stream glasses at a vintage store and I couldn't resist. They remind me of when I was young and my grand father used to have a soda stream machine, he would make us our own cool drinks in little glass soda stream bottles.
Not sure when they launched a milk stream? but they are pretty and vintage and I just like them. perfect for milkshakes.


INGREDIENTS
Vanilla Ice Cream (home made or store bought)
Filter coffee left to get cold
Sugar (optional) 
Cream (optional)

METHOD
Pour your cold coffee into your desired glasses about half way and fill up with ice cream.
Stir until well incorporated or leave your guests to stir their own and the black and white contrast of the vanilla ice cream and black coffee is quite pretty. Garnish with some whipped cream if desired.
Add sugar if you need more sweetness - I didn't need it but make to your own preference.



Enjoy - Happy Coffee filled weekend!


Tuesday, November 15, 2011

LEMON CREAM CHEESE ICING / FROSTING


Cake garnished with blueberries and dripping smooth lemon cottage cheese icing


It the time of year for festive happiness and Christmas cheer :) and what better to cheer you up than some zesty and sweet icing or frosting for your cakes.
Super easy and simple to make.

INGREDIENTS
Icing Sugar (+/-250 grams)
1 lemon
Cream Cheese or Smooth Cottage Cheese
Milk

METHOD
Depending on weather you use cream cheese or smooth cottage cheese will depend on how much icing sugar you need. Start by placing your cheese (which ever you pick) in a medium bowl. Beat the cheese until soften slightly then sift over icing sugar a bit at a time and mix in until smooth.
Cut your lemon in half and squeeze some of the juice into the bowl - taste and add as much as suits your taste. If your icing is too thick add a little milk until it is the desired thickness. The same applies if it is to runny, add more sifted icing sugar until thick enough.
Then ice / frost your cakes

Happy tea time

enjoy


Tuesday, November 8, 2011

POTATO, FENNEL & CAULIFLOWER SOUP





This is one of those recipes I made while cooking and hoped it worked out. I stumbled across a lovely combination of flavors quite by accident but I am really glad I did. Do try it, it is really nice.

INGREDIENTS
1 small to medium onion
1 fist size fennel bulb
2 medium to large potatoes
1 medium cauliflower
1 small handful of soup celery
a few sprigs of FRESH oregano and thyme
3-5 largish FRESH basil leaves
olive oil
salt
water




METHOD
Peel and chop up your onion into small cubes and fry in olive oil in a medium pot.
Season with salt and fry until light golden brown.
Thinly chop up your fennel bulb into small cubes and add to the onion and continue to brown.  
Peel and dice your potatoes into roughly 1cm size blocks and fry with the fennel and onion.
Once everything is lightly browned chop up your cauliflower in to smallish chunks and add to the pot and then fill the pot with water until everything is covered.
Dice your celery and add to the pot along with the fresh herbs (shredded).
Salt the pot a little more and bring everything to the boil.
Once boiling turn down to a simmer and leave to cook till everything is tender (roughly 40 min)
Pour your soup in batches into a blender and blend until smooth and place in a new clean pot.
Taste and season with salt if it needs it.
Dish into bowls - serve with a dash of cream.

Enjoy


BANANA LOAF



for a cute dessert bake in little bowls and pour custard on top just before serving.


This was my Granny's recipe that I got out of her hand written recipe book. A book with her scrawling hand writing, some pages with stains and marks on the recipe as they were well loved and used often. This is one of them. And it really is a very good recipe. I have adapted it to be gluten free.

INGREDIENTS
125g butter
1 cup of sugar
2 eggs
1 vanilla pod or 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
4 ripe bananas
2 cups gluten free flour
a pinch of salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon bicarb
1/2 cup of milk

METHOD
Cream together the butter and sugar until smooth.
Beat in the eggs 1 by 1 until thoroughly incorporated.
Add the vanilla pod or essence.
Mash up the bananas well with a fork on a separate plate and then mix into the mixture.
Sift into the mixture the flour, salt and baking powder.
Mix the bicarb with a little of the milk and add to the mixture.
Now add the rest of the milk gradually and then beat the mixture thoroughly
Put into a greased and floured loaf tin (you can use a round cake tin if you don't have a loaf tin)
Bake at 180 degrees celcius for roughly 1 hour (check near the end)

Take out the oven and turn out of the tin after 10 min.
Leave to cool and then slice

Enjoy spread with butter and a cup of tea


Friday, November 4, 2011

Old World Christmas Thoughts




My mind is reeling with ideas as Christmas approaches and the things I could be making and should be baking... Like when will I start baking my Christmas cake. And will I get to it this year?
Last year I baked mine after Christmas. I had all the ingredients but just didn't get to it until Christmas was over. Its not that I didn't want to bake it.. just the opposite -  I really wanted to bake it. It is one of my own little Christmas traditions for myself. Every year for me it is reminiscent of my grandmother who would bake a whole batch of Christmas cakes every year. It is such a lovely memory and since I have her recipe (which I have adapted to be gluten free) it makes me feel a connection or closeness or just a feeling of old world charm.
I think this year our Christmas will be more home-made and less commercial. I am opting to make quite a few of my Christmas presents for people. For no other reason than because I want to. I feel like I am giving more than just a quick, mall induced, crazy shopping spree present wrapped in crunchy, cheap, red and green paper but a piece of me in the gift.

How are your days coming along? with festive cheer? or a muttered mall induced snarl?




Tuesday, November 1, 2011

SA BLOG AWARDS




So the SA Blog awards is upon us again. I would so appreciate (like A LOT) if you would vote for me. *pretty please with a cherry on top*

please go here to VOTE and then when they email you please confirm the link in the email for your vote to COUNT!

I need your help – the winning blogs are chosen through a combination of judges and public votes. I need your votes to win!

note: You can only vote once per category and the voting is only open for 10 days.
*ALSO: if you vote for someone else in the same category -your last vote will override your previous vote!

I wander to what lengths bloggers will go to get votes... bribing, begging, pleading, paying... ;)

 Thanks darlings
*sprinkles and rainbows* from me for your kindness :)