Beeing Lou

Blending nature into wellbeing

Category: Recipe

  • Moon milk

    I’m sat here winding down gearing myself up ready for a restful night, I can’t help but wonder, ponder and overthink. With today’s new worries and my brain constantly on full speed, it can be tricky to fall asleep. We all know sleep is important for us and there are so many tips out there to help get our full 40winks; but do these claims to better sleep actually work? I personally believe that people will find their own preferences and some will find certain things work better for them than others ; after all we are all programmed differently, that’s what makes us unique.

    Sleep is important

    In studies of humans and other animals, they have discovered that sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions. Sleep is definitely important!

    Being chronically tired to the point of fatigue or exhaustion means that we are less likely to perform well and

    Low-quality sleep and sleep deprivation also negatively impacts on your mood. ( This is definitely me right now).

    Trying a new routine

    As with everything , different people find different things that help them as individuals. Personally I find a nice relaxing bubble bath; my favourite Beeing Lou essential oil rollerball blend and some calming music before going to bed a nice time to wind down .(Check my oil blends out in my shop)

    I have discovered a night time drink called moon milk . Not only is it comforting , it has properties to help you sleep better and has nutritious benefits too.

    There are a few recipes out there but I have found one on that I personally like, but you can play around with the ingredients to your preference .

    Moon milk recipe

    The ingredients are as follows :-

    • 1 cup whole milk. Or you can use unsweetened nut milk such as hemp, cashew, or almond (actually you can use any alternative milks for this )

    • 1⁄2-teaspoon ground cinnamon

    • 1⁄2-teaspoon ground turmeric

    • 1⁄4-teaspoon ground ashwagandha.

    • 2 pinches of ground cardamom

    •  1 pinch of ground ginger (optional)

    •  1 pinch of ground nutmeg

    • Pinch of black pepper freshly ground

    • 1-teaspoon virgin coconut oil or ghee

    • 1-teaspoon (preferably raw) honey

    I found this recipe online at wholelifestylenutrition.com

    Method

    Method:-

    1. Simmer milk in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.

    2.  Then whisk in turmeric, cinnamon, ashwagandha, ginger, and cardamom, and nutmeg; seasoning with black pepper.

    3. Whisk vigorously so as to avoid any lumps and clumps.

    4. Next, add the coconut oil, reducing the heat to low, and then continuing to cook until warm; about 5-10 minutes, because the longer you go, the stronger the medicine is.

    5. Then remove from the heat and allow it to cool.

    6.  Stir in the honey. Don’t cook the honey because honey that is cooked loses all its healing goodness.

    Now for the benefits of these special ingredients to make up the perfect moonmilk.The following Information I’ll is also taken from the wholelifestylenutrition.com site.

    The health benefits

    Ashwagandah-

    is one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing and has been used since ancient times for a wide variety of conditions. It is most well-known for its restorative health benefits. The herb is a member of the nightshade family and is also called winter cherry and aids relaxation.

    Ashwagandha is calming, restorative, and grounding which supports the sleep cycle.

    It promotes good levels of cortisol as well as healthy inflammatory processes which get stimulated when undergoing stress.

    Ashwagandha supports a healthy nervous system, promoting calmness and a stable mood because the natural cortisol rhythms are regulated.

    Not only is ashwagandha good for the reproductive hormones, but it supports healthy thyroid function.

    Ashwagandha root is good for joint health too.

    2. TURMERIC:

    Another spice that makes up golden milk or moon milk is turmeric, probably one of the most widely used spice to fight inflammation.

    Turmeric (or Curcuma longa) is a wonderful bright yellow culinary spice, in fact, a relative of ginger. This spice has been used medicinally for centuries, highly prized for its anti-inflammatory properties.

    The main component of turmeric is curcumin. The tea is actually a favorite drink in Okinawa where some of the longest living residents are known to live – and it is suggested that the reason for this might well be linked to their drinking turmeric tea.

    3. OTHER SPICES:

    Depending on what ailments you have, will be what herbs and spices you will add to your moon milk so that your body can derive the benefits to match the ailments, while you sleep.

    Nutmeg: When you use nutmeg sparingly you get just a perfect spicy note without it being too overwhelming if you add too much.

    Cinnamon: This is probably the most popular spice, giving your moon milk a lovely, strong, sweet flavor.

    Cardamom: Cardamom is very aromatic, with woody flavors, adding a pungent note to the moon milk, but it pairs wonderfully with nutmeg and cinnamon.

    Allspice: The dried berries from a plant called the Pimenta dioica make you think of cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and nutmeg.

    Traditionally, you will use whole cow’s milk to make your drink, but if you are not a fan of dairy, you can still enjoy the benefit of moon milk by substituting with other products.

    Milk

    • Cow’s Milk: In Ayurveda, which is an ancient system of natural healing; drinking warm milk is a typical well used remedy to counter sleeplessness.

    • Coconut Milk: Choosing coconut milk, you will achieve quite a creamy vegan flavor and you get 2 g of protein per serving.

    • Almond Milk: With almond milk, your moon milk will get a nice nutty flavor.

    • Cashew Milk: Add cashew milk if you like, and as it has a neutral flavor, it won’t upstage all the other spicy flavors you have added.

    Coconut oil is a true key player in a moon milk recipe. Its healthy saturated fats are capable of helping to protect the brain from degenerative diseases.

    It also helps to keep you feeling less hungry and goes so far as to help you lose weight.

    Coconut oil has antimicrobial properties so it is considered the perfect food for maintaining top gut flora balance.

    The final touches

    And finally Honey

    Honey is natures true miracle. It is best to buy raw honey to receive all the benefits that honey has to offer.

    Try looking at your local farmers market for some, or alternatively in your local health food shops.

    With my next mug of moonmilk I am going to try and infuse some dried lavender in it to give it a twist.

    Personally I am enjoying moonmilk, it’s strangely very comforting and has a uniquely satisfying taste. I am now incorporating it into my bedtime routine and it is definitely helping me settle down quicker. I’m not sure whether these autumn darker evenings are helping add to the ambience but none the less there’s something very cosy and comforting clutching into a hot mug whilst snuggling down.

    I hope I have inspired some of you to try moonmilk.

    Sleep well all of you, and sweet dreams.

  • Fire cider

    Cold and flu season is here and we all have our worries about Covid -19 on top of everything else!! This is such an important time for us to re-evaluate our food intake and fuel our bodies with fresh foods to give our immune system a boost to overcome what may face us over the winter months.

    I have come across a homemade tonic called fire cracker cider, an immune-boosting health tonic with fresh horseradish, ginger, garlic, onions, cayenne pepper, apple cider vinegar and honey.

    It has been used for decades to naturally protect against cold and flu and ease sinus congestion.

    Now it does sound yucky to drink, but don’t worry, you do add honey at the end product to your taste and it’s meant to be pleasantly nice.

    From what I have researched about it its an amazing balance of spicy, sour, sweet, sharp, herbal; all the tasting experiences you can have in one! My batch is in a dark cool place infusing for the next 4-6 weeks; and I can not wait to try it!

    Beyond the flavour comes a whole load of health benefits; hence why it’s called a folk remedy.

    Below are what’s in it with a brief description on some of the health benefits.

    Apple Cider Vinegar —has various healthful properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. What’s more, evidence suggests it may offer health benefits, such as aiding weight loss, reducing cholesterol, lowering blood sugar levels, and improving the symptoms of diabetes.

    Horseradish — helps alleviate sinus congestion and headaches.

    Ginger — helps with digestion, infections and nausea.

    Garlic — a secret superpower with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties.

    Onion — has similar properties to garlic but is also great for preventing (or recovering from!) colds and the flu.

    Cayenne Pepper — helps move blood through your cardiovascular system. Blood circulation = healing.

    Honey — soothes inflamed tissues and organs. Using local honey can also help with allergies.

    There are so so so many ways to enjoy this elixir from what I’ve researched. You can :-

    • Take a shot (about 1-2 Tablespoons) straight up.

    • Dilute the fire cider tonic with warm water, juice or apple cider.

    • Swap vinegar in a salad dressing for fire cider.

    • Drizzle over steamed veggies.

    • Use as a marinade for tofu, meat, etc.

    • Add to soup or chili.

    • Use as a hangover cure.

    NGREDIENTS

    • 1/2 cup freshly peeled and grated ginger root

    • 1/2 cup freshly grated horseradish root

    • 1 medium onion, chopped

    • 10 cloves of garlic, crushed or chopped

    • 2 organic jalapeño peppers, chopped

    • 1 lemon, zest and juice

    • 2 Tablespoons dried rosemary leaves

    • 1 Tablespoon turmeric powder or 2 Tablespoons freshly grated turmeric root

    • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne powder

    • organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar

    • 1/4 cup raw honey, or to taste

    •

    The method:-

    1. Add ginger, horseradish, onion, garlic, jalapeño peppers ( I used red chillis) lemon zest and juice, rosemary ( I used dried), turmeric and cayenne( I used tobasco sauce) powder into quart-sized glass jar.

    2. Pour apple cider vinegar in the jar until all the ingredients are fully covered and the vinegar reaches the top of the jar. You want to be sure all the ingredients are covered to prevent spoilage.

    3. Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or use a plastic lid if you have one.

    4. Shake jar to combine all the ingredients and store in a dark, cool place for 4-6 weeks, remembering to shake the jar a few seconds every day.

    5. After one month, use a mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain out the solids, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze out as much of the liquid as you can. The solids can be used in a stir-fry or you can compost/discard them.

    Add honey to the liquid and stir until incorporated.

    Taste your fire cider and add more honey if needed until you reach your desired sweetness.

    Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator or in a cold, dark place.

    Drink 1-2 Tablespoons when needed.

  • Nettle Crisps Recipe

    What you need to make Stinging Nettle Crisps:

    • A bowl full of young nettle leaves
    • 2 tablespoons oil of your choice
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • Freshly ground pepper
    • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

    How to make Nettle Crisps

    1. Wash and dry the nettles, stripping the leaves from any stem.
    2. Combine all the seasoning ingredients in a large bowl. Toss in your leaves, so they get a good coating. Place the nettles on a baking sheet in a single layer. Note the leaves will still sting at this stage so take care and DON’T be tempted to try one yet! (Cooking the leaves will denature the sting).
    3. Bake in a low oven at around 130C until they crisp up. How long the nettle crisps take will depend on how much moisture is in the leaves.
      The nettle crisps shown below took about 25 minutes, and I turned them over once during that time. Pop the nettle chips in a bowl and tuck in.
    4. Nettle crisps are not only packed with nutrients, they also taste amazing. Crisps made from wild greens are best eaten on the day they are made as they tend to lose their crunch over time.

    Let me know if you make any yourself and your thoughts below.