What’s In Season This month
Artichoke, Beetroot, Cabbage, Carrots, Chicory, Cucumber, Leeks, Parsnip, Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Radishes, Sorrel, Spring Greens, Spring Onions, Watercress Cauliflower, Jersey Royal Potatoes, Savoy Cabbage, Spinach, Spring Greens, Early Asparagus
Fruit: Rhubarb, last of the blood oranges and clementine’s
Herbs Bay Leafs, Borage, chamomile, Chives, Elderflower, Rowan Berries, Garlic Chives, Lavender, Oregano
Fish: Cod, Coley, Monkfish, Dover Fish, Haddock, Salmon, Sardines, Megrim Sole, Clams, Skate
There is not much meat available in March and farmers are preparing their livestock for Lambing season – poor little lambs
Spring Equinox:
| SPRING EQUINOX | March 20, 6:29 A.M. EDT |
What is an Equinox exactly?
An Equinox in astronomy is that moment in time when the centre of the Sun can be observed to be directly above the Earth’s equator, occurring around March 20 and again September 23 each year.
Seasonal cleansing for the mind, body and spirit.
The Vernal is the Spring Equinox or Autumn Equinox . This can be a cathartic time to declutter, finish projects that have been lingering or have a good old clear out which can include letting go of things that no longer serve you on a spiritual level.
Outdoor projects such as tidying up the garden and getting beds ready vegetables and herbs or helping the daffodils to come out of tidy borders along with pruned roses if they were left over the winter and you will them bloom for longer over the summer and be delighted that you had pruned them well. I have been doing some of these things and planning my vegetable plot in readiness for spring time and getting rid of things by recycling .
The doubling beneficial effects of the Equinox will support a deep cleanse as this is the start of my year and cleaning at a cellular level and begins with the Spring Equinox for renewed energy, improved digestion, clearer skin, weight loss and emotional well being mood. As a naturopath, this is the ideal time to consider a detox and gain the amazing healing properties of the spring the Equinox as an optimum time for a deep and thorough cleanse.
A quarterly cleanse helps elimination of toxins and tonify the kidneys, liver, lymphatic system, colon and bowel. You might even considered in certain fasting or cleansing during the 2 or 3 days of and after the Equinox to get the most from it.
The liver is the great eliminator so this is a perfect time to have a detox plan created for eliminating toxins.
What are the benefits?
The benefits of a seasonal cleanse will show up in your skin health, energy, digestion, weight management, libido and mood and can be helpful in preventing common diseases.
It is advisable to have a consultation to discuss the next way to support a cellular cleanse and this can be carried out safely after your consultation. Call Randhiraj to discuss.
Nourishing Families
Spend Quality time doing one creative thing you enjoy:
I have been making time to listen to music that I have loved. This has been great as it has been an important me to enjoy my time and relax. I remember listening to Mozart when my children were younger and it reminded me of those wonderful times. You could do the same and remember times fondly or times that have made you feel happy. A nice thing to do when you get inform work, walk drive or travel on the tube.
I kept a food diary over February and asked the children and my partner to say what they wanted to eat. It was interesting as it helped us plot the types of food we like to eat. Keep a food diary for the next month and see what you notice.
What was interesting in our diary was that we appear to eat lots of different vegetables and alternate our protein source. My next months challenge to you is to try out 30 different foods.! I’ll explain why in my next issue Herbs count but spices don’t. See what you can get hold of that is different from what you have eaten before. Use my seasonal list of food to inspire you. Hotpots, stews and soups are still a great way of eating different things. Roasting your root vegetables are also a great way of eating variety. I made homemade crisps using my oven – 1 large sweet potato – sliced very thin and place on parchment paper. 180 degrees for 35 mins. Leave out for 20 mins then eat.
Kidney Bean Pie
1 red onion
Herbs- bay leaves and parsley are good
6 cloves of garlic
1-2 tbsp Boullion
2 large fresh tomatoes
1 lemon-squeeze for juice.
Coconut oil or fresh clarified ghee use approx 2 tbsps
2 large sweet potatoes and 3 parsnips (boil and mash for topping of pie. Add butter or cold pressed olive oil- add 1 tbsp. boullion on mashing
2 spring onions
2 bunch’s of fresh spring greens to accompany this meal – lightly steam- add butter and pepper and salt to your taste.
1/2-1 fresh green Kenyan chili – green is better than red and does not affect stomach acidity.
Herbs of your choice- I like to use 2 bay leaves in mine
Cook the kidney beans in a slow cooker for 4 hours the night before- or on the stove for 3 hours simmering. (Add 1 cup cold water – this tip reduces cooking time.
Add all the ingredients and Cook until tender if cooking on slow cooker and check at 20min intervals- add more water if needed. Cook on medium heat for approx. 1.5- 2 hours. Reduce to desired quality.
Cook the kidney beans in a slow cooker for 4 hours the night before- or on the stove for 3 hours simmering. (Add 1 cup cold water – this tip reduces cooking time.
Add all the ingredients and Cook until tender if cooking on slow cooker and check at 20min intervals- add more water if needed. Cook on medium heat for approx. 1.5- 2 hours. Reduce to desired quality.
Stove cooking- will take 2 – 3 hours. So best cooked the night before.
Sauté onions and garlic- add bay leaves turmeric, cinnamon, boullion, lemon juice
, cook until tender and brown- Add tomatoes- simmer and reduce sauce. This will take 5-8 mins. Watch it does not burn. Add cooked kidney beans and cook until the
sauce becomes the consistency of a stew. Taste. Add anything you feel it needs.
Place in a Pyrex glass dish or roasting tin- Top with the sweet potatoes/parsnip mash
2 inches of butter
Bake for 25 -30 mins on 180- lightly brown topping on grill function for 3-4 mins
Serve with buttered spring greens and winter carrots.
The FACTS
The fiber in Kidney beans helps the body feel satisfied and full for longer. They are widely eaten in Asia and need to be eaten more in the West. kidney beans, pinto beans lima beans turtle beans and navy beans are all amazing in the recipe and can be substituted.
These are super beans in my opinion and a must for every family each week. These super beans help Lower cholesterol, Help treat and prevent certain cancers, Aids weight loss and good for a Stress buster. Low in fat and rich in complex carbohydrates, minerals, proteins and vitamins, kidney beans nutrition has been linked to reduced risk of various of cancers, heart disease and diabetes.
They also have beneficial effects on the digestive system and the heart, soluble fibre helps stabilise blood sugar levels. If you have insulin resistance, hypoglycemia or diabetes, kidney beans can really help you balance blood sugar levels while providing steady, slow-burning energy. Studies of high fibre diets and blood sugar levels have shown the dramatic benefits provided by these high fibre foods.
That’s not all when it comes to kidney beans nutrition either. Thanks to their fibre and abundance of nutrients, kidney beans also help with your waistline.
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