Which Mix?

Two industrial strength indestructible canisters, 6 razor sharp steel blades, 3 in-store demonstrations, 1 customer service call, 2 two horsepower motors and 8+ trays of raw brownies = two true loves.

Comparing the love I have for my Vitamix and my Magimix is like comparing the love I have for my mother and my sister. One has been around longer, it’s taller, has held a place of esteem in our household for some time now, the capability of its customer service department is indicative of its North American origin ... it comes with a cookbook, and it started me on my foray into the world of whole foods. The other is newer, shinier, and comes with lots of bells and whistles (and sometimes, if the conditions are right, it will even sing). It has a bilingual manual, it has three buttons (which I often push), and its blade/motor combo senses resistance and increases the force.

Both reside in a special place in my heart on my counter, and sometimes I need one ... sometimes I need the other, sometimes I need them both. Rest assured, both have played an important part in shaping how I cook.

I first fell in lust with the Vitamix after standing at the entrance to WholeFoods and watching a smoothie, hot soup and sugar free ice-cream come out of the same machine in the short course of 15 minutes. True love came next when the canister basically washed itself (add water, soap, turn it on for 3 minutes, rinse and voila! – clean as new!). Over the following year, I talked about the Vitamix non-stop. When finding a chunk of kale in the smoothie that should have been smooth (blended with a sub-standard £15 hand blender): “this wouldn’t have happened if we had a Vitamix”. When having to blend nuts in batches because the processor attachment (to the same sub-standard hand blender) had only a 200ml capacity, thus tripling the amount of time to blend anything: “if we had a Vitamix, I’d be done by now!”. When pureeing soup, and overheating the motor and tangling the blade on a mess of tarragon and vegetables (on yes, the same sub-standard hand blender): “this would never happen if we had a Vitamix!”. My husband finally tired of my tirades, and on Christmas morning 2010, I awoke to the most glorious present: my very own Vitamix! The next year was an avalanche of smoothies, soups, dips, tapenades, and easily chopped and ground nuts, coconut flakes and flax seeds. But then I tried to make the Raw Brownie...

The Raw Brownie by My New Roots is one of the most delicious and healthy items you will ever eat. It consists of only four ingredients (walnuts, almonds, cacao powder and medjool dates), and is a cinch to make ... if you have the right tools. The Vitamix easily crunched up the walnuts into a fine powder, and blended the cacao powder in, but when I added the first Medjool date, I knew I was in for trouble. The Vitamix struggled to blend and puree the thick sticky substance, and adding subsequent dates only amplified the problem. When it let out a groan and a moan, I resorted to hand-mixing the dates, cacao and walnuts, but the final texture was lacking – it was not uniform and there were lumps and bumps – precisely what I had wanted to avoid.

I knew that something had to be done. Without enough liquid in the base, the Vitamix is not effective. Although the blades are strong and puree more finely than any blender I have tried (you will not taste even a smidgen of kale in your banana smoothie), you must add some kind of liquid or the Vitamix fails, and fails epically. Many times when making a hearty hummus, I have been forced to liquefy and water down what could have been the most delectable dip. When chopping nuts, etc, I am now very careful to turn it only to low and to fill the canister reasonably (not enough product inside causes the blades to spin like a figure skater on speed). And no more do I EVER attempt to blend dates of any kind.

Having tasted the raw brownie once, and not willing to ruin my Vitamix further (or to ruin the new one that Vitamix sent me after being unable to fix the old one, which may or may not have been damaged by the two dates... who knows!?!), I started thinking about an industrial food processor. Again, the rhetoric began. When making dip and having to add extra liquid: “if we had a food processor, the hummus would not run off the celery!”. When eating store bought brownies and feeling sick afterwards: “we would be eating the Raw Brownie now and feeling quite smug and superior instead of bloated and bourgeois ... if only we had a food processor!” When reading one more My New Roots recipe that required an industrial food processor “that looks so delicious!!! My horrible life would be changed forever with the purchase of an industrial strength food processor, because I would be able to make XX dish!!!”. Again my husband tired of the tirades, and when Christmas 2012 brought an onslaught of financially themed gifts, we decided to take advantage of "The Sales", and we, indeed, bought an industrial strength food processor: the Magimix. Although unable to wash itself and lacking slightly in the pureeing ability (only, however, in comparison to the Vitamix), this machine blends dates and nuts like nobody’s business. After numerous rounds of perfectly textured hummus, copious batches of 20 minute raw brownies, and a more consistent feeling of smug superiority, I think my husband has seen the value of the investment- because an investment it is (or perhaps it is just the value he has gleaned from a quieter kitchen/living room/flat, now that the outbursts have stopped).

These machines do not come cheap, so before shelling out loads of dough, decide what you will use more. For dips, salads and baked goods, the Magimix is a much better choice. For soups and smoothies, the Vitamix is the clear winner. The Vitamix comes as it is, the only additional equipment being a plunger (they call it a “tamper”) to help push whatever dip/sauce/chunk of fruit has escaped, back into the blade in order to help blend better. The Magimix comes with all sorts of attachments – the most useful ones being a smaller canister/blade set for small volume items (no need to dirty the whole machine if only chopping a few nuts), a medium canister with shredding/julienning options (great for coleslaw or kaleslaw!), and a whole plethora of others that I’m sure do amazing things (but I have not yet tried)! Side note – apparently (on the model that we bought) you can even buy a juicer attachment, eliminating the need for multiple machines on the counter or in the cupboard.

Given the variety of things that I enjoy cooking, both of these machines are very special, in their own way. The Vitamix (like my mother) has been in my life longer, and we have a special bond, as it was the first industrial machine I acquired. It made me beautiful, healthy dishes, and taught me that starting the day right (i.e. with lots of fruits and veggies) was important to my overall health. Although I didn’t want to give up the counter space (or the bond I had with the Vita-mix), we found room for the Magimix, and now I cannot imagine culinary (or sisterly) life without. The Magimix serves a different purpose, but both [machines] are always there when I need them. Both are an excellent addition to cooking, health and life!

GG Rating – Good for Flaxseed Fanatics due to the high initial cost (but good overall value).

Photoblog: It's Always Darkest (and coldest!) Before the Dawn

For the last two weeks, I have been watching two majestic magpies diligently and patiently crafting a nest in the tree outside my window, one painstaking twig at a time. It is the small things like this, in the damp, grey depths of winter, that remind me that spring is around the corner, and that sunshine will reign again. The magpies inspired me to take advantage of a recent sunny day, and reconnect with the nature right around me, to remember why we’re on this planet, and what it’s all really about. 

Take a minute and find that patch of green earth or the crocus blooming against all odds, breathe deeply and be still for a moment, just enjoying the beauty that comes in the bleakness before spring - you might be suprised at what you discover.

GG Rating - Good for Spelt Supporters

Turmeric: The Wonder Spice

Turmeric is not a spice that I am generally drawn to. Unlike the basils, cumins, paprikas and rosemaries of the spice cupboard, I am never able to pinpoint the turmeric flavour when mixed with anything else. Strong enough to take over, but simultaneously indistinct, staining everything in the pot (or on the counter) with its distinct yellow colour, I have never really seen the point. Until now ...

According to Wikipedia, turmeric has long been used in Indian and South Asian cooking (this one we all probably knew), as well as a natural dye, for ceremonial purposes, and as a hair remover (when mixed with milk or yogurt, applied to skin, allowed to dry and then rubbed off, taking some hair with it – apparently this also prevents future hair growth in the area....... what!?! Laser hair removal move over – I’m getting my turmeric on!).

Amongst health professionals, turmeric is widely known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and (again, according to Wikipedia) as of September 2012, the US National Institutes of Health had 71 registered clinical trials completed or underway to study the use of dietary curcumin for a variety of clinical disorders (curcumin is the principal curcuminoid of turmeric - curcuminoids are natural phenols that are responsible for tumeric’s yellow colour). Online, turmeric kept popping up again and again when I recently searched for a natural remedy for a persistent dry tickly cough; several recipes suggested that I mix hot water with lemon, honey and turmeric for relief.

 

Now, turmeric is not for the faint hearted. It is slightly bitter, highly pungent, it stains EVERYTHING (more on this later), and in powdered form it’s a bit ... well.... powdery. I mixed up said drink above, tried to ignore the powdery texture, and downed as much of it as I could stand. I am pleased to say that it was highly effective. My cough dissipated, and I had a wonderful night’s sleep. How do I know it was the turmeric that made this remedy effective? I had been guzzling the honey/lemon/hot water combo for days with no improvement; turmeric was definitely the key.

This got me thinking about what else this little yellow wonder could do... I have mentioned before that I suffer from rosacea (redness and inflammation, generally occurring on the face – read more here), and this winter has been particularly brutal. Cold weather, high winds, leading to hot baths, lots of hot drinks, leading to extreme flushing and outbreaks of yes, rosacea. I have been beside myself, trying anything and everything to get my face to calm down. Always on the search for natural remedies and having read about the anti-inflammatory properties of this wonder spice (not to mention the highly scientific testing of said spice which exterminated my cough in under 5 minutes), I mixed up a paste of dried turmeric and water and slathered it all over the rosacea.

Several warnings must be issued here. This is not to be partaken during the first stages of a new relationship – coming out of the bathroom covered in yellow gook and smelling like the pantry of an ashram is a true test of love. Similarly, make sure you do this only at night, because, as mentioned above, turmeric is a highly potent dye (which I found out after I took it off ... yes, my whole face had a yellow tinge, and no, I did not have jaundice – luckily a couple of washes and a good night’s sleep seemed to do the trick, and it was no longer noticeable for the next day of work). And the rosacea? Calmer ... less red ... less painful. It did not clear up entirely, but it was much more manageable, and it felt much better.

By these two simple tests, I am now convinced of turmeric’s value, even if I am still not entirely convinced of its taste. It will have a special spot in my cupboard for the odd recipe, the cough remedy and the strange looking hippy face mask. And for the glamour girl in me, this spice is bang on trend; if Louis Vuitton was anything to go by, yellow is a hot colour for spring/summer 2013. This little spice may just be worth its weight in gold coloured powder.

GG Rating - Good for Flaxseed Fanatics

Flouride - Friend or Foe?

After detoxing my deodorant, beauty regime, and diet, I thought I’d go one step further and detox my toothpaste. Apparently fluoride (found in most commercial toothpastes) has some pretty nasty side effects, and sits in between lead and arsenic in terms of toxicity. According to Fluoride Action Network, fluoride is linked to arthritis, bone fracture, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, endocrine disruption, gastrointestinal effects, hypersensitivity, kidney disease, male fertility and thyroid disease ... just to name a few! In the US, the FDA has recently required labelling of toothpaste to read ''Warning: Keep out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional assistance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.''

With this in mind, I set out to find a “natural” toothpaste, free from fluoride. I had heard good things about Jason Sea Fresh toothpaste and found a handy travel size at my local WholeFoods. Side note: travel size or miniature is always best when trying a new “green” product, because sometimes the product ... *ahem* ... *uh* ... *cough* ... there’s no way to put this delicately; sometimes the product just sucks.

Which leads me back to Jason Sea Fresh toothpaste. I really don’t know where to start with this one...

The toothpaste is the colour of polyfilla, which (probably because of my conditioning) put me off right from the start. It looked slightly dirty - the colour of tofu remnants left in the container after you remove the main block. But it smelled minty, so on the brush it went. I suppose that was my first mistake. The texture, similarly, left something to be desired. Instead of the usual foamy gel that cleans every nook and cranny and removes dirt and plaque, I thought I had accidentally mixed up cold cream, baking soda and tofu (yes, this image will come up again),  and put that in my mouth instead of the natural toothpaste ... but of course, I had not. That would be crazy. 

And then we get to the taste...

Peppermint essential oil, spirulina, baking soda, the bottom of a lake. It was horrible. And unlike the fresh feeling you get from commercial, fluoride-laden toothpastes (you know, the feeling that you WANT to linger?), this one stays with you like a bad rash or that annoying telemarketer who just won’t let you get off the phone. After brushing, I had a strong desire to a) scrape off my tongue, b) brush my teeth again with regular toothpaste and c) go camping and not wash my hair for a few days. Hmm ... must have been the “bottom of the lake” flavour.

I thought perhaps it would just take a little getting used to, so I tried it a couple more times, but unlike the organic apple which looks weird but tastes amazing, repeated use of this stuff garnered no better results. Despite the difference in ingredients (I can actually pronounce and understand MOST of the Jason ingredients compared to my normal Sensodyne Multi-Action ... I mean, what the heck is PEG-6 anyway?!?!??), this is not a change I am able to make. If I wanted to feel like I’d just eaten tofu, peppermint oil and algae ... well, I’d just eat tofu, peppermint oil and algae. But I won’t – that’s gross. And I’m sad to say, so is this toothpaste.

I will continue to search out a viable alternative, but until then, fluoride, you remain my friend.

GG Rating – Good for Hardcore Hippies

 

Jason Sea Fresh Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Mentha Viridis (Spearmint) Leaf Oil, Carrageenan, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (1) , Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae Powder, Bambusa Arundinacea Stem Powder, Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract , Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, Perilla Ocymoides Seed Extract, Stevia, Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Silica, Sodium Bicarbonate

Sensodyne Multi Action Ingredients: Aqua, Soribital, Glycerin, Hydrated Silica, Pottasium Nitrate, PEG-6, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Isopentane, Aroma, Cocamidopropyl Betain, Xanthan Gum, Chondrus Crispus (Carrageenan), Sodium Flouride, Sodium Saccharin, Sucralose, Sodium Hydroxide, Limonene, CI 42090.

The Delicious Detox

On a quest to start each new year right, I often follow a detox or weight loss plan during the month of January ... after my birthday, of course – what’s a celebration without a glass (or bottle) of champagne? After the excesses of Christmas, I find it’s a good way to get my body and mind back on track and to get rid of the Christmas pudding that has settled on my hips. Sometimes it’s a hard core diet (thank you in 2012 and 2011 to Dr Dukan), and other times it’s just a conscious effort to eat more healthily, cutting out alcohol, desserts and processed foods. This year, I decided to follow a plan that appears to be hardcore, but in reality has been the easiest detox that I’ve ever done! Because of my two year obsession with My New Roots (the most amazing, healthy and delicious collection of recipes that you will ever find), I looked to Sarah Britton for advice. Last year she published the first week of a three week cleanse for Whole Living magazine, and the entire plan (the second and third weeks written by other experts) is online. 

The first week of the plan consists primarily of fruits and vegetables, with a few nuts, seeds and plant oils thrown in on the side. I was dubious, because I eat a lot, and I never find that fruits and vegetables sustain me long enough during the day; I need some proteins, some legumes or grains to really hold me over. I also usually get bored of just fruits and vegetables. Eating the same thing again and again in a week without varying the flavours and textures is just boring, which usually leads to the inevitable disappointing, guilt-ridden fall from the wagon. 

Well, I am a convert. After one week, I was totally sold. The plan does not limit the amount of food you eat (and although I am well aware that I am eating more than the suggested serving size, can you really ever eat TOO many vegetables?). There is also a list of recipes for recommended snacks, and I have been snacking on carrot sticks with minty pea dip, fruit and nut balls, toasted trail mix, medjool dates and herbal tea between meals – but only when I am truly hungry. And I have felt satisfied. So satisfied, in fact, that these are recipes I will make again, detox or not. Varied flavours, textures and ingredients! And the colours ... each meal was a rainbow that would delight leprechauns around the world. I haven’t felt like I am missing out on “normal” food because the recipes are so easy and delicious! Side note – when I did have a tiny taste of my husband’s parsnip soup one night at a restaurant with friends, all I could taste was salt, sugar and the tiny wheels of a processing machine. My palate had changed to appreciate natural flavours, natural colours and food the way that nature intended; and I liked it! In fact, I liked the plan SO much that I decided to follow it for another week, and I’m pleased to say that I have not even been tempted to fall from grace (I have varied some of the recipes, mixing and matching the ingredients from one recipe with another, because, let’s face it, even if it is delicious, there are only so many nights in one week that you can eat roasted beetroot and garlic soup for dinner).

And of all the diets/detoxes I’ve done – this one has got to be the easiest and cheapest. There isn’t much work (aside from peeling and chopping) in throwing a few things in the Vita-mix and watching them swirl into a medley of colourful, well-blended smoothie, or watching the food processor slice and dice cabbage, onions and kale like the karate kid. As well, vegetables are cheap! No crazy all-protein days which require three to four types of meat (and all that cooking!). Toss some veggies in a machine, watch them blend, season with a delicious dressing and eat!

So after ten days, how do I feel? I have lost weight, I have lots of energy (except for perhaps the first day or two), I have not yet had the dreaded diet headache (thank you again, Dr Dukan), I no longer crave chocolate at 4pm, and I can subsist on a simple (yet tasty!) fruit and veggiesmoothie until 1pm (unheard of for me, as my friends or colleagues will tell you).  I’ll say it again: this has to be the easiest and most satisfying detox I have ever been on.

So here’s to keeping New Year’s resolutions, ridding oneself of excess, and a happier mind, body and heart. 2013 looks to be the healthiest one yet...

GG Rating - Good for Flaxseed Fanatics