BEEF STEW in BELGIAN BEER- Belgian Beef Bourguignonne courtesy ManilaSpoon.Com

Ingredients

1 Kilo/ 2.2 lbs  Stewing beef (pref. chuck steak or roast), cubed
2 Tablespoons Butter
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
4 Garlic cloves, crushed and peeled
1 (12 oz) Bottle of dark Belgian Beer
1 Bouquet Garni*
2 Tablespoons Vinegar (pref. wine vinegar)
2 Tablespoons brown Sugar
Salt and pepper, to taste

*Bouquet garni is a bundle of herbs usually tied together with a string or placed inside a small sachet and is cooked with the other ingredients but is removed before the food is served. The herbs may vary but the usual ones are  thyme, bay leaves and parsley. You can use fresh like the photo below or buy the dried ones in sachet.

Procedure

Liberally season the beef cubes with salt and pepper. You can also roll it in flour, if you wish. I wanted a thinner stew with lots of sauce and also a gluten-free version so I didn't bother with adding the flour.

Heat a deep pan like a Dutch oven. Melt the butter and oil using medium-high heat. Brown the cubed beef in batches to seal. Place the beef cubes in a large platter as you cook.

Saute the onions in the remaining fat in the pan until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute or 2.

Return the meat to the pan and mix well with the onions and garlic. Pour in the beer. Add the bouquet garni, vinegar and brown sugar. Stir everything.

Cover and simmer for 1 1/2 - 2 hours or until the beef is fork tender. Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Remove the bouquet garni. Garnish with some fresh chopped parsley, if desired.

Serve with fries, bread or rice! Pour all that yummy sauce on top!

Source - ManilaSpoon

Amazing Health Benefits of STINGING NETTLE - from Amazon Warriors

Super foods. They seem to be trending. So much ado about consuming these preciously nutritious products as part of our daily diets. Acai berries, quinoa, chia seeds, matcha, hemp seeds, raw cacao… It’s great that we are becoming more aware of the role good nutrition plays in our lives and that the accessibility of highly nutritious food is slowly improving. All great things for society!

POWERFUL LIVER DETOX JUICE and SCRUBBER - JUICE RECIPES

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• The Liver Scrubber

• Ingredients

  • Apple - 1 large (3-1/4" dia) 223g
  • Beet Greens (optional) - 3 leaf 96g
  • Beet Root - 1 beet (3" dia) 175g
  • Carrots - 4 medium 244g
  • Celery - 1 stalk, large (11"-12" long) 64g
  • Ginger Root - 1/2 thumb (1" dia) 12g

  Directions

  Process all ingredients in a juicer, shake or stir and serve.
  
  LIVER CLEANSE 
• The cleansing benefits of beet juice is very healing for liver toxicity or bile ailments, like jaundice, hepatitis, food poisoning, diarrhea or vomiting.
• Blood Cleanse
  Beets have been shown to help cleanse the blood, cleanse the colon and strengthen the gall bladder and liver.

  The high content of iron in beets regenerates and reactivates the red blood cells and supplies fresh oxygen to the body. The copper content in beets help make the iron more available to the body. A great blood builder.
• Weight Loss
  Beets are useful in helping cleanse the liver, and the liver helps metabolize fat.
• Energy
  Beets are high in carbohydrates which means they are a great instant energy source, but unlike processed foods which are high in carbohydrates, beets will energize your body. Beets can be regarded as body fuel.
• Digestion
  One of ginger's most touted health benefits is its ameliorating effects on digestive ailments. It can help digest fatty foods and break down proteins. It is excellent for reducing gas. Many people report that it will also relieve nausea, and can be effective in treating morning sickness as well as motion sickness.

  Apples contain a natural laxative. When juiced, it helps aid bowel movements. It is most effective when mixed with carrots and spinach juices, you can expect bowel movement the next day. Regularly eating apples also will ensure bowel movements due to its gel-forming fiber, pectin. It improves the intestinal muscle's ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract.

  Carrots have a cleansing action on the liver and helps it to release more bile, which will cause peristaltic action. This can help to relieve constipation and help with digestion.

  The cellulose content in beets help to ease bowel movements. Drinking beet juice regularly will help relieve chronic constipation.
• Colon Cancer Prevention
  One study found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 43 percent lower risk of colon cancer. Other research shows that the pectin in apples reduces the risk of colon cancer and helps maintain a healthy digestive tract.

  The pigment that gives beets their rich, purple-crimson color betacyanin-is also a powerful cancer-fighting agent. Beets' potential effectiveness against colon cancer, in particular, has been demonstrated in several studies.
• Detoxification
  The choline from beet juice detoxifies not only the liver, but also the entire system of excessive alcohol abuse.
• Improved Complexion
  The high quality vitamin C and other rich nutrients in carrot juice efficiently nourish the skin, preventing dry skin, psoriasis and other skin blemishes. It also has powerful cleansing properties that are effective in detoxifying the liver, which is overall effective for acne which can be caused by toxicity of the blood.

  Celery contains sodium, which has been called a youth maintainer in the body. It's loaded with minerals and contains vitamin C as well, which helps maintain elasticity of the skin.

  Ginger helps improve circulation to the skin. It is also a powerful cleansing agent that helps keep the skin free of blemishes.

  Apples contain vitamins A and C which prevent sagging skin, as well as copper for brightening and toning.
• Lower Cholesterol
  The pectin in apples lowers LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People who eat two apples per day may lower their cholesterol by as much as 16 percent.

  Recent studies show that ginger might also have a role in lowering LDL cholesterol because the spice can help reduce the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed.

  Pectin in carrots lowers the serum cholesterol levels.
• Lung Cancer Prevention
  According to a study of 10,000 people, those who ate the most apples had a 50 percent lower risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers believe this is due to the high levels of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin in apples.

  Beta-carotene consumption has been linked to reduced risk of several cancers, notably lung cancer. British researchers discovered that increasing beta-carotene consumption from 1.7 to 2.7 milligrams a day reduced lung cancer risk more than 40 percent. The average carrot contains about three milligrams of Beta-carotene. In a study, researchers found that eating fiber rich carrots reduce the risk of colon cancer by as much as 24 percent. Another study shows that women who ate raw carrots were five to eight times less likely to develop breast cancer than women who did not eat carrots.
• Heart Disease Prevention
  In a study meant to reveal therapeutic value of carrots researchers at the Wolfson Gastrointestinal Laboratory in Edinburgh, Scotland revealed that cholesterol level reduces by 11 percent if seven ounces of raw carrots a day is taken for three weeks. High cholesterol is a major factor for heart disease. Since regular consumption of carrots reduces cholesterol level it is good to prevent heart related problems. A group of Swedish scientists discovered that root vegetables can reduce the chances of having a heart attack. A study conducted at the Mario Negri Institute of Pharmacological Research in Italy found that those who ate more carrots had one third the risk of heart attack as compared with those who ate fewer carrots.

  Medical studies have also shown that including beets in your diet helps protect a body against heart disease.
• Lower Blood Pressure
  Celery calms the nerve because of the high calcium content & helps in controlling high blood pressure. Raw celery should be eaten to reduce high blood pressure.

  All of the beet's healing and medicinal values effectively normalizes blood pressure, lowering high blood pressure or elevating low blood pressure.
• Stomach Cancer Prevention
  Beet root is a traditional treatment used for leukemia. Beet root contain an amino acid betaine which has an anti cancer properties. Red beet therapy, consisting of consumption of approximately two pounds of raw, mashed beets daily, has been favorably reported for cases of leukemia and tumors (includes cancer). Research also shows that beet juice can help inhibit the development of colon and stomach cancer.
• Improving Eyesight
  Deficiency of vitamin A can cause some difficulty seeing in dim light. Since carrot is rich in vitamin A it is good for improving eyesight.
• Macular Degeneration Prevention
  This is a common eye disease of elderly. It impairs the macula. Researches found that people who ate the most Beta-carotene had a forty percent lower risk of macular degeneration compared with those who consumed the least.
• Reduce Water Retention
  Carrot juice is diuretic and helps to eliminate excess fluids from the body, reducing water retention, especially for women during their monthly menstruation cycle and in pregnant women.
• Stroke Prevention
  A carrot a day reduces stroke risk by 68 percent. Many studies have strengthened the “carrot effect” on brain. Studies conducted on stroke patients revealed that those with highest levels of Beta carotene have the best survival rate.
• Alzheimer's Prevention
  A study on mice at Cornell University found that the quercetin in apples may protect brain cells from the kind of free radical damage that may lead to Alzheimer's disease.
• Asthma Help
  One recent study shows that children with asthma who drank apple juice on a daily basis suffered from less wheezing than children who drank apple juice only once per month. Another study showed that children born to women who eat a lot of apples during pregnancy have lower rates of asthma than children whose mothers ate few apples.
• Bone Protection
  French researchers found that a flavanoid called phloridzin that is found only in apples may protect post-menopausal women from osteoporosis and may also increase bone density. Boron, another ingredient in apples, also strengthens bones.
• Breast Cancer Prevention
  A Cornell University study found that rats who ate one apple per day reduced their risk of breast cancer by 17 percent. Rats fed three apples per day reduced their risk by 39 percent and those fed six apples per day reduced their risk by 44 percent.
• Increased Blood Circulation
  Being a warming herb, ginger can help knock out a fever. This property also makes it effective in stimulating circulation of the blood. It can also help relax muscles around the blood vessels and is said to help prevent blood clots from forming. The warming effects make it a natural decongestant as well as an antihistamine, making it the perfect remedy for colds.
• Liver Cancer Prevention
  Research found that rats fed an extract from apple skins had a 57 percent lower risk of liver cancer.
• Immune System
  Carrots do wonders for boosting the immune system by increasing the production and performance of white blood cells; building resistant to various kinds of infections.
• Reduce Inflammation
  Ginger can also help reduce inflammation. So it can be used to treat any disease that is caused by inflammations such as arthritis or ulcerative colitis. Some studies show that it can even help inhibit the replication of the herpes simplex virus.
• Source : - Juice Recipes

INFOGRAPHIC - EASY PALEO LUNCH PLANS -

APPLE MOJITO - PURE REFRESHING SUMMER DRINK

APPLE MOJITO

SRefreshing, fresh, and sweet. If you love apple, then this mojito is the perfect touch for a delicious summer.

The mojito is pure refreshment. I remember my first encounter with the drink, thinking it was too good to be true. Mint, lime, and sparkling water bring a freshness that can’t be beat. When made properly the rum is only slightly noticed, making it a dangerous concoction for afternoons on the patio.

In an effort to brace myself for a long Texas summer, I’ve decided to toy with the mojito a bit. I wanted to keep fairly true to the original (because it works) but just introduce some new flavors. I wrote a quick list including raspberry, cucumber, and watermelon, but settled on apple for the first experiment. The results were wonderful.

The apple flavor is subtle, but evident. I think the key is to reduce the juice. I suppose you could use juice concentrate, but you might have to test it a few times. Alternatively, if you want stronger apple flavor, consider apple flavored rum. Either way, you are sure to enjoy the fresh flavor of this summer sip.

Apple Mojito

Recipe by: Sam Henderson

Difficulty: Easy

Great for: Cocktails

Ingredients

• 3 oz. (90 ml) club soda
• .5 oz. (15 ml) lime juice
• 10 mint leaves muddled with ¼ tspn. sugar
• 2.5 oz. (75 ml) light rum
• 2.5 oz. (75 ml) apple juice reduction

Instructions

1. Make juice reduction by simmering 1.5 cups of apple juice in a small saucepan until it has reduced to ½ cup. Set aside to cool.
2. Muddle mint with sugar in the bottom of a double highball glass.
3. Add juice reduction, rum and lime juice. Stir. Add ice.
4. Add club soda and stir gently. Garnish with apple peel or slice, fresh mint, and a lime wedge

FOOD to EAT DURING WINTER - Meet your Winter Boosters

Everything’s slushy and sloshy and we’re all slipping down the streets and the outdoor stairs, and everything’s making us miserable, other than the christmas lights. Here’s 10 foods that’ll help get you in a better mood to brave the winter, because you know we kill it every year, but the little things that help make some kind of different.

1.Chew on Some Candy

Sadly, not all candy, only dark chocolate. You have a free pass to indulge in that extra dark Lindt bar, because the magnesium it contains calms your muscles and reduces anxiety. It actually also contains this thing called typtophan, which reduces your depression. Do you need more reasons to eat candy? I’ll take even the barest minimum of a reason to do so.

2.Savour your salmon

The omega-3s in salmon helps curb mood swings winter crankiness brings on. What’s better? Fish in general has also long been known as brain food, because it can improve your memory and your ability to concentrate.

3.Chicken on Your brain

The B vitamins in chicken give you a natural mood-boost, and it also acts as an anti oxidant that saves your brain from chemicals that can blast your energy.

4.Avocado Bliss

This bad boy fruit actually directly boosts your serotonin! Without any of the drugs! Do you need another reason?

5.Yays for yoghurt

Greek yoghurt boosts your mood and your immune system and its got all those probiotics that keep your stomach happy and your body healthy.

6.Taste some tea

Green tea is just the most insane superfood. It’s an anti-oxidant that calms you, and while it does so, it gets rid of that bad skin that all your nights of drinking to forget winter cause.

7.Eat all of the berries

They’re delicious, and they contain all these anthocyanidins and antioxidants; so, as you munch on them for that berry beastly deliciousness, they de-stress your mind and soul.

8.Crazy for cereal

I don’t mean those cocoa puffs, even though they do have a bunch of nutrients allegedly. But who doesn’t love cereal, and if you swap your sugar laden breakfast treats for something with more whole-grains and folic acid, you’re going to avoid that sadness that afflicts people with folate deficiencies.

9.Cups of cashews

Cashews got that dose of zinc that you need in your blood levels to avoid depression, so keep some nuts around to snack instead of your usual zero-nutrient-calorie foods, and you’ll see your mood elevate.

10.Down that spinach

Make like popeye and down a can of spinach to get your folate levels heightened, keeps your hair looking great, and stabilizes your mood. And you know that bad winter hair is the reason for a lot of frozen discontent.

Source - MTL BLOG

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