When we fully realise that the flow of our life's story has been directed by the choices we made in response to any given situation.....the great gift of each new day is that we always have the opportunity to choose again.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Blissful Bircher Museli (Surf Goddess Recipes)
If you've been tiring of eating breakfast cereals first thing in the morning, the original Bircher muesli offers a tasty and healthy alternative that we serve on our retreats!
Bircher muesli, originally brought to the world's attention in about 1900, was created by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The idea was to provide a nutritious morning food as an aid to therapy. (More generally, he went against the grain, suggesting that plant based diets are much healthier than meat based diets, something which science is beginning to corroborate.)
What we think of as muesli today, is actually a descendant of the original muesli created by Bircher, but quite often with the essential healthy qualities removed, due to the shelf life of products - that is, the fresh fruits. Today's mueslis also often have added salt and sugar, both of which are unnecessary to get a great taste. Though some manufacturers do provide a healthier alternative (i.e. no added sugar), the obvious drawback is that packaged breakfast cereals can't contain fresh fruit. After getting a taste for Bircher muesli, it's hard to go back and enjoy food from a box in the same way!
Following is the recipe we prepare daily on our retreat - which is incredibly tasty and brimming with energy!
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 green apple, unpeeled, quartered, core removed
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (125ml) apple juice
1/2 cup (130g) fat-free natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve
Large pinch ground cinnamon / nutmeg
1/4 cup (25g) flaked almonds / walnuts
1/4 cup (30g) diced tropical dried fruit
2 tbs freshly grated coconut ( or pepitas / pumpkin seeds)
1/2 tbs flax seeds
Freshly diced mango, papaya or berries to serve
Method
Coarsely grate the apple. Mix the grated apple, rolled oats, apple juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
Combine the flaked nuts and seeds in a small bowl.
Stir half the nut mixture through the muesli with 1/2 cup of yoghurt if the muesli has been soaking overnight. (If the muesli has been soaking for 1 hour, add a little extra yoghurt only as desired.) Top with the remaining nut mixture and fruit to serve.
Tip: Adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or whatever you have in the pantry. Replace the apple juice with orange or pineapple juice, milk or soy milk for a non-dairy alternative. Add some toasted shredded coconut, diced dried apricot or currants.
prep: 5 mins (+1 hour or overnight soaking) - Keeps for 2 - 3 days
Enjoy!
Bircher muesli, originally brought to the world's attention in about 1900, was created by the Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner for patients in his hospital. The idea was to provide a nutritious morning food as an aid to therapy. (More generally, he went against the grain, suggesting that plant based diets are much healthier than meat based diets, something which science is beginning to corroborate.)
What we think of as muesli today, is actually a descendant of the original muesli created by Bircher, but quite often with the essential healthy qualities removed, due to the shelf life of products - that is, the fresh fruits. Today's mueslis also often have added salt and sugar, both of which are unnecessary to get a great taste. Though some manufacturers do provide a healthier alternative (i.e. no added sugar), the obvious drawback is that packaged breakfast cereals can't contain fresh fruit. After getting a taste for Bircher muesli, it's hard to go back and enjoy food from a box in the same way!
Following is the recipe we prepare daily on our retreat - which is incredibly tasty and brimming with energy!
Ingredients (serves 2)
1 green apple, unpeeled, quartered, core removed
1 cup (90g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (125ml) apple juice
1/2 cup (130g) fat-free natural yoghurt, plus extra to serve
Large pinch ground cinnamon / nutmeg
1/4 cup (25g) flaked almonds / walnuts
1/4 cup (30g) diced tropical dried fruit
2 tbs freshly grated coconut ( or pepitas / pumpkin seeds)
1/2 tbs flax seeds
Freshly diced mango, papaya or berries to serve
Method
Coarsely grate the apple. Mix the grated apple, rolled oats, apple juice, yoghurt, dried fruit and cinnamon in a bowl until well combined. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight.
Combine the flaked nuts and seeds in a small bowl.
Stir half the nut mixture through the muesli with 1/2 cup of yoghurt if the muesli has been soaking overnight. (If the muesli has been soaking for 1 hour, add a little extra yoghurt only as desired.) Top with the remaining nut mixture and fruit to serve.
Tip: Adapt this recipe to suit your tastes or whatever you have in the pantry. Replace the apple juice with orange or pineapple juice, milk or soy milk for a non-dairy alternative. Add some toasted shredded coconut, diced dried apricot or currants.
prep: 5 mins (+1 hour or overnight soaking) - Keeps for 2 - 3 days
Enjoy!
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