Crazy for Coco… nut Oil!

As one of my 11 Kitchen Cupboard Staples, coconut oil has so many different uses around my house.  Here are 10 reasons why you should keep it in your kitchen… and your bathroom!

1. It can be put into smoothies for awesome energy both pre and post workout.  For example, I use it in my delicious chocolate super smoothie
2. It can be spread on sprouted toast or used anywhere butter would be used in baking.  Put it in a muffin recipe, like this one (perfect timing for these ones!)
3. It can be heated at a high temperature for stir frying, baking, broiling.. and it won’t destroy its nutrients.  It’s great for making pad thai, or baking yam fries (see recipe below)
4. It’s very shelf stable.  As long as it’s sealed tight, it will stay in the cupboard or fridge for over a year.  Keep in mind if it’s in the fridge, it will be solid and will need about 30 minutes to soften.  Don’t worry about this though, it can go from liquid to solid continuously and still won’t go rancid
5. It’s great in raw recipes, pies, cakes, and triple-coconut chocolate chip cookie sandwiches
6. It can be used as a moisturizer on chapped skin and lips, cracks in feet and hands, elbows, or use post-shaving for some seriously smooth legs!
7. Use in your hair and scalp treatments.  It’s super nourishing and fantastic for split ends.  For more green beauty advice, check out this post
8. Great face moisturizer, it prevents wrinkles, and it’s great for acne and eczema
9. Use it as an after-sun soother, on burns, dry and dehydrated skin.  It has a mild natural SPF, great for day to day use! (It is not a sunscreen, but it does help)
10. My new favourite: it’s the best makeup remover ever.  It takes everything off in one or two wipes, and nourishes your delicate eye area

These are just the external benefits…to find out more on how coconut oil helps your internally read this!

If you’re new to using coconut oil, try this easy yam fry recipe and let me know what you think! (I promise your fries won’t taste like coconut )

Garlic Oregano Yam Fries

2-4 medium yams or sweet potatoes

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2-4 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds

1 tablespoon dried oregano

1 1/2 tablespoon dried basil

1 tsp dried rosemary

Sea salt to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350F.  Cut yams into wedges or chunks.  In a bowl, combine the garlic, pumpkin seeds, oregano, coconut oil, basil and sea salt
2. Add the yams, stirring with your hands to make sure all of the pieces are covered with the mixture
3. Spread the yams on a baking tray lightly oiled with coconut oil.  Bake for about 35 minutes, or if you prefer them crispier, leave in oven for an extra 10 minutes

Yams are an excellent source of complex carbohydrates – providing your body with long lasting energy.  These delicious “fries” taste amazing on their own or in combination with a salad, veggie burger or quinoa.  Remember, don’t peel away the skin if they are organic; the skin is loaded with fiber and other nutrients!

The Power of Sea Veggies

I know you have heard of seaweed, also known as sea vegetables, and I know you have eaten them a number of times (whether you realize it or not) -but before you turn up your face and look the other way, let me tell you how amazing they are and what they can do for your health!

When I refer to sea veggies it is anything that, yes, grows in the sea and this includes nori (what your sushi is wrapped in), wakame (what is in your miso soup), arame (often in your seaweed salad), dulse, kombu, kelp, hijiki and the list goes on. The list even carries over to varieties of seaweeds that are in hidden forms of commercial foods such as ice cream, baked goods, jelly, salad dressings, chocolate milk and toothpaste. This is what I mean when I said you’ve eaten them many times before – and you didn’t even know it.

These little wonders, because they are grown in the deep depths of the sea, carry with them the highest doses of vitamins and minerals. All of which are essential to human health and daily nutritional balance. Sea vegetables are singularly the most nutrient dense food, as they are earth’s first vegetables and the best part is, is that they are delicious! Sea greens are a direct manifestation of their environment and therefore contain and abundance of minerals that is 7-38% of their dry weight. In such small amounts, seaweed contains more vitamins and minerals than any class of food. It supplies all the  minerals needed for human health in proportions very similar to those found in human blood. The most significant elements that can be found in sea greens are calcium, iodine, phosphorous, sodium,and iron. Sea veggies are also extremely rich in protein, vitamin A, B, C and E.

The health benefits of sea vegetables is so vast and incredible. They do everything from reducing blood cholesterol, removing metallic and radioactive elements from the body, and prevent goiter. So if you are suffering with a thyroid problem, like so many women these days, then sea veggies are for you! Seaweed also has antibiotic properties, counteracts obesity, strengthens bones, teeth, nerve transmission and digestion. Seaweed is also an incredible beauty aid as they help to maintain glowing healthy skin and contain anti aging properties. To me, this sounds like the perfect food!

(Source:  The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia by Rebecca Wood)

So how do you use sea veggies?

The garden of sea veggies is extremely versatile and they can be used in a number of recipes and incorporated into numerous styles of cuisine and compliment or accent many dishes from soups, salads and desserts. To explore this world of sea veggies and roll your own sushi, I encourage you to join me next Thursday October 8th at my Scrumptious Sea Vegetable class!

If you have ever used or tried sea veggies, share your story. Leave a comment and let us all know what you have done with Sea Greens!