recipe paleo coconut milk make your own homemade-min (1)

Recipe: DIY Coconut Milk

/0 Comments/in , , /by

I've written a lot before about some of the dodgy coconut milk on the shelves of your local health food store. You really have to check the ingredients carefully, it's near impossible to find one without the mysterious “guar gum”, not to mention stabilizers, emulsifiers and a host of chemicals I'd rather not consume. If you want to learn more about some of the dodgy ingredients, you'll need to read this.

So whilst you can find the odd brand without all of the added nasties, it's surprisingly easy to make your own coconut milk. You just need a bit of time!

Recipe Coconut Milk Easy DIY Natural Homemade Paleo Network-min (1)

Recipe: DIY Coconut Milk
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Print
This simple recipe makes about 4 cups of coconut milk, just scale as required. Whilst it's easy to make, it does need some time - so ideally make it the day before you're going to need it.
Ingredients
  • 1 cup coconut flakes
  • 4 cups distilled water
Instructions
  1. Soak the coconut flakes for about four hours in the water.
  2. Once the flakes have gone mushy in the water, put in your blender, and blend for a few minutes until it's a nice evenly mixed in texture.
  3. You'll then need to strain the mixture. I like to do this through a cheesecloth as it's much easier on the washing-up than using a sieve!
  4. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and use within three days or so.
  5. Oh - and the contents of the cheesecloth? Don't waste it! You can use the leftover coconut pulp in your paleo baking!

WANT ME TO EMAIL YOU THIS RECIPE?

Enter your details and check your email!

Recipe paleo herbal Cardamom, Black Pepper and Coconut Milk Tea-min

Recipe: Cardamom, Black Pepper and Coconut Milk Tea

/0 Comments/in , , , , , /by

I'm a big fan of herbal tea, and one of my favourite blends is Chai. This is a twist on the classic that is slightly sweeter and creamier thanks to the coconut milk. It still retains all the spiced, warming goodness of standard chai though, so brew up a cup for everyone and unwind for the evening. If, like me, you're a former chai latte fan, but no longer consuming dairy, this could be exactly the alternative you've been searching for. If only my local coffee shop could put this on the menu…

Recipe: Cardamom, Black Pepper and Coconut Milk Tea
 
Author: 
Recipe type: Drinks
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Print
Ingredients
  • 100ml full fat coconut milk
  • 8 cardamom pods, crushed
  • 1 tbsp black peppercorns
  • Pinch nutmeg
  • 1 tsp raw honey
  • 3 cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick, snapped in half
Instructions
  1. Add the coconut milk to a saucepan with the cardamom, black pepper, nutmeg and honey. Bring to the boil and simmer for about 5 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, boil your kettle and pour 750ml hot water into a teapot over the cloves and cinnamon. Leave to infuse for a couple of minutes - or until it reaches your desired strength.
  3. Strain the tea into four cups, and pour in the milk. Taste, and adjust the sweetness if necessary.

I'd love to know what you drink during a typical (working?) day? Do you stick to water, or mix it up with some different types of teas and coffee?

So many people tell me that they really struggle with giving up soda when they make the transition to paleo. One thing that seems to help is making sure you have some good herbal teas to hand to help you get over the diet coke addiction! Another thing that I've seen recommended is soda water (or sparkling water) with some fresh lime.

Recipe paleo herbal Cardamom, Black Pepper and Coconut Milk Tea-min

Secret Green Smoothie vitamin c paleo diet recipe primal juice juicing-min

Recipe: Vitamin C Secret Green Smoothie

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

Not only is this delicious smoothie bursting with over 100% of your daily requirement of vitamin C – you’d never know it was hiding a bunch of greens in there too! When I made it, it came out a wonderful deep red, thanks to just a touch of beetroot and a dash of pomegranate juice. A great way to load up on greens without drinking something, well, green! This is very low sugar for a smoothie as well, as it’s a good balance between fruit and veg.

Green Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 200ml water
  • 50ml pomegranate or acai juice
  • 1 large handful fresh spinach
  • 1 handful fresh blueberries
  • ½ cucumber, peeled and chopped
  • ½ orange, peeled
  • ½ raw beetroot, peeled and chopped

Green Smoothie How To:

1) Whizz together all ingredients in a high powered blender. Serve over a touch of crushed ice
2) Enjoy!

Secret Green Smoothie vitamin c paleo diet recipe primal juice juicing-min

Clean and Green Vegetable Juice smoothie healthy paleo recipe primal-min

Recipe: Clean and Green Vegetable Juice

/0 Comments/in , , , , , , /by

No matter how healthy a lifestyle we may lead, sometimes every day pressures can catch up on us and leave us feeling a little run down. Get yourself back on track with this vibrant, nutrient dense green vegetable juice.

I invested in a juicer about two years ago, and its one of the best purchases I have ever made for my kitchen. If you don’t have one, try whizzing this up in a high powered blender. You’ll get a little froth on top, but the health benefits will all be there.

Green Vegetable Juice Ingredient:

(enough for 2 large glasses)

  • 2 cucumbers
  • 4 tightly packed cups of spinach
  • 10 kale leaves
  • 4 inch piece of ginger
  • Juice 2 lemons

Green Vegetable Juice How To:

Juice all the ingredients on full power, bar the lemon.

When done, stir in the lemon juice and serve immediately!

Clean and Green Vegetable Juice smoothie healthy paleo recipe primal-min

Energy Boasting Smoothie berries paleo primal juice juicing diet recipe-min

Recipe: Energy Boasting Smoothie

/1 Comment/in , , , , , /by

We all have those days where we feel like we’re running on empty. Fear not! This smoothie is bursting with Omega 3s, vitamins, antioxidants and essential amino acids, so you’ll be sure to have your game back in no time! It's also easy to make – so no excuses!

Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 2 handfuls of blueberries
  • 2 handfuls of Blackberries
  • 2 handfuls of Raspberries
  • Juice of one orange
  • 1 tbsp linseed
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 ripe bananas (try freezing them first)
  • 1 avocado

Method:

Its not rocket science! Just throw everything into a blender, and blitz until smooth. For even more nutrients, try adding a handful of leafy greens.

Do you often make smoothies? Do you ever add protein powder? ‘d love to hear your thoughts on smoothies in the comments below.

Energy Boasting Smoothie berries paleo primal juice juicing diet recipe-min

Paleo Protein Smoothie juice juicing primal diet recipe-min

Recipe: Paleo Protein Smoothie

/0 Comments/in , , , , /by

Although blenders weren’t around 2000 years ago, I'm pretty sure that if they were, this is what our ancestors would have done with them. Smoothies like this are a great post workout recovery. Make one up in advance and it's an instant grab and go option.

Protein Smoothie Ingredients:

200ml apple juice
1 tbsp linseed
2 tbsp hemp seed
1 tbsp almond butter
1 banana
2 egg whites (optional)

Protein Smoothie How To:

1) Separate the egg whites from the egg yolk. Transfer all the contents to your blender, whizz together until smooth. Taste. Add a little honey if needed.

Paleo Protein Smoothie juice juicing primal diet recipe-min

Recipe paleo Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut Smoothie-min

Recipe: Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut Smoothie

/1 Comment/in , , , /by

Start the day like you’re on a tropical island! Smoothies are quick and easy to make – perfect for a grab and go breakfast. Make sure your coconut milk is as pure as you can find it – check the ingredients!

Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 1 mango, peeled and chopped
  • 100ml coconut milk
  • Juice of half a lime
  • Juice of two oranges
  • 2 passion fruit

Smoothie How To:

1)     Split the passion fruit in half and squeeze into a sieve. This way you catch all the delicious juices, but none of the crunchy seeds (which don’t work that well in a smoothie!)

2)     Add all of the ingredients to the blender with a  handful of crushed ice if you have some to hand. Blitz for a good 2 – 3 minutes, then serve and enjoy!

Recipe paleo Mango, Passion Fruit and Coconut Smoothie-min

Paleo green smoothie recipe juice diet-min

Recipe: Green Smoothie

/8 Comments/in , /by

Now we’re coming into summer, it’s a great time to enjoy an ice cold Paleo Smoothie. Instead of relying on fruit, it’s far better to make green smoothies using vegetables.

Almond butter and coconut milk are great ways to add in some good fat.

Paleo green smoothie recipe juice diet-min

Recipe: Green Smoothie
Recipe type: Drinks
Prep time: 
Total time: 
Print
A delicious way of getting some sneaky green goodness into your diet
Ingredients
  • 1 frozen banana
  • 8 frozen strawberries
  • 30g (2 tablespoons) almond butter
  • 250ml (1 cup) coconut milk
  • 250g (2 cups) spinach
Instructions
  1. Freeze a (peeled) banana and some strawberries overnight in the freezer.
  2. Put the bananas, strawberries, almond butter and coconut milk in the blender.
  3. Fill the rest of the blender with spinach (kale would also work well, if you can get hold of it!)
  4. Blend, and enjoy!

WANT ME TO EMAIL YOU THIS RECIPE?

Enter your details and check your email!

Do you often make smoothies? What are your favourite ingredients? Share in the comments below.

Paleo kombucha recipe scoby brew ferment fermented-min

Kombucha Recipe

/11 Comments/in , , /by

Kombucha is a fermented tea drink that is full of good bacteria – so great for your digestive system. It's really easy to make too…

Ingredients: –

• 3 litres of distilled water
• 125g Sugar
• 4 tea bags (try Pekoe, Oolong, Black or Green)
• Kombucha mushroom (also known as a Scoby) – buy this dehydrated or find a friend who can give you some!

Paleo kombucha recipe scoby brew ferment fermented-min

Kombucha Method: –

1. If your Scoby is dehydrated, rehydrate it (this may take some time)
2. Boil water and reduce to a simmer; add sugar and tea bags.
3. Steep the tea for a few minutes, remove the tea bags and leave the tea to cool to room temperature
4. Add to Scoby and cover the container (but make sure it isn't air tight)
5. Leave the mixture for five days to a month somewhere warm (not in direct sunight)
6. It's up to you when it's ready to drink! Either test for a pH of 2.6 – 4.0 with testing strips, or try it! The longer it brews for, the lower the sugar content.
7. You can use the film that has developed on top of the liquid to cultivate a new Scoby.

Have you tried Kombucha? I'd love to hear what you think of it – and if you make it in the same way I do?

primal smoothies paleo diet recipe juice juicing-min

Primal Smoothies

/10 Comments/in , , /by

I've started to have smoothies some mornings when I'm in a particular rush, since they are so quick to make and can be packed with nutritionally dense Paleo foods.  I'm also going to start making up a smoothie to take to the gym with me – that way I'll be able to have something in the post work-out window – I often miss this valuable time, in my return from the gym.

Smoothie-Ingredients-primal-min

Today I tried a smoothie from Primal Toad's Toadally Primal Smoothies ebook, the “Clumsy Popeye”. I thought this one would be a good choice after an early morning gym session, as it is packed with antioxidants – and protein in the form of protein powder.

clumsy-popeye-primal_smoothie-min

I put water, frozen blueberries, cashew butter, Chocolate Primal Fuel, spinach coconut milk & ice in my blender for a few minutes – and then served, with some shredded coconut on top.  It doesn't get much easier than that!  I thought the spinach taste might not be to my liking, but the main tastes were the chocolate, coconut and cashews – I really enjoyed it and will definitely be making this one again.  There's a whole section on green smoothies, which I'm keen to try – it seems like a good way to get in lots of good nutrients.

Do you often have smoothies?  Are they something you have as a meal, or as a post workout recovery drink?

primal smoothies paleo diet recipe juice juicing-min