80 | November 2011 | woman this month Food As this is the fitness issue, we’ve decided to give you a dose of healthy food. As we all know, diet is key to achieving the body of your dreams. As another year continues to slip through our lives at an unbeatable pace, it seems like ages ago that we thought about New Year’s resolutions and all the promises we planned to keep. For those yet to start the health regime that they set out at the year’s beginning, then there is still time left in which to begin, and this month’s recipes reflect this. It is never too early, nor too late to begin looking after your body. I have included, or at least tried to consider such thinks as low fat, low cal and low carb ingredients for this month’s recipes. Chocolate chip cookies may seem a strange addition to this, but as you will see, the recipe is as healthy as it can be for a dessert item. Use them as an energy burst throughout the day rather than a snacking item in front of the television at night. Even something as delicious as a chocolate chip cookie doesn’t need to be an attack on your body. If we substitute the heavier ingredients for lighter, less fat-concentrated items, we can still enjoy the odd treat from time to time. Some of you may be surprised that Bircher Muesli is the pre-cursor to the origins of modern muesli and other than having been my favourite food since the early 80’s, it was invented by Dr Bircher-Benner for his health spa and is described as the world’s most perfect food. In a singular meal it contains all that one requires to sustain our bodies throughout the day. Healthy, delicious and extremely addictive. Enjoy the food, don’t forget that exercise is also essential to a healthy lifestyle, and enjoy good health for what remains of the year 2011. If all else fails, remember that there’s only sixty days more until the end of the year and you can always make a resolution to get fit Bircher Muesli James Claire Yourself Fit! Feed 50g white oats (rolled) 250ml milk 1 apple 1 banana 100ml whipping cream, lightly whipped 30g whole almonds 30g whole hazelnuts Pinch cinnamon 40g honey l In a medium sized mixing bowl, place the white oats and soak in the milk. Allow to sit in the refrigerator for one hour prior to using. l Grate the apple finely. Chop the banana into small slices. Take the almonds and hazelnuts and roast them in a hot oven for approximately 30 minutes to colour them. l Upon removing them from the oven and cooling, roll the hazelnuts between two tea towels to rub off the papery skins. Much of the remaining skins can be removed by rubbing each nut between your fingers. Chop the hazelnuts and almonds roughly into smaller pieces, but not too small. l Lightly whip the cream to aerate it, but don’t whip it too thickly. A soft peak when whipping rather than a stiff one is better. l Remove the soaked oats from the refrigerator. Add the honey and stir to dissolve. Add the cinnamon and stir it in. Add the grated apple, the chopped banana, the chopped almonds and hazelnuts and finally fold through the cream. Serve cold, immediately, with a selection of fresh berries .
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