Last time I wrote about the soothing and healing benefits of turmeric. Thanks for all the lovely feedback – am so happy to hear the turmeric gummies are soothing those sore throats!
This week you can watch me in the kitchen create some delicious afternoon delights!
Filmed at the Fresh Holistic Health demo kitchen and using all products from Kunara Organic Marketplace.
DANDELION LATTE WITH COCONUT SPICE MACAROONS
- Feeling like an afternoon pick me up and a yummy treat, but want to avoid the extra hit of caffeine and refined sugars…tempt your tastebuds to these afternoon delights!
- Paleo – Dairy free, nut free, grain free, refined sugar free and DELICIOUS!
- Both recipes are also Paleo/Autoimmune Protocol compliant 🙂
Dandelion Latte with a Coconut Spice Macaroon
How To Make A Really Delicious Cup Of Dandelion Root Coffee
Dandelion latte:
Ground dandelion root, milk of choice (coconut / almond), cinnamon stick
Or simply:
How To Make A Simple Cup Of Dandelion Root Coffee
Put 6 tablespoons of dandelion coffee grinds into 500ml of boiling water and leave to steep for 30 minutes. Strain into a saucepan and reheat to desired temperature. Serve with milk and honey if so desired.
Benefits of Dandelion root:
Dandelion is a fantastic liver cleanser
According to Ayurveda and Chinese medicine, dandelion root has bitter, sweet and cooling properties, making it optimal for the pitta dosha.
Dandelion root contains vitamins A, C and D, and significant amounts of zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium. Rich in vitamins and minerals, the dandelion contains more beta-carotene than carrots per serving. Lowly weed no more: The dandelion packs a serious nutritious punch for a plant generally thought of as a nuisance.
It assists in alleviating symptoms of many different ailments, including bloating, diabetes and liver dysfunction. There are two parts to the dandelion: the root and the leaf, and each has its own use. Both help regulate parts of the digestive system, but the root is best for liver problems while the leaf is best for ailments related to the kidneys.
While many people think of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) as a pesky weed, it is chock full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, as well as minerals, such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Dandelion leaves are used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots are used in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make wines.
In the past, dandelion roots and leaves were used to treat liver problems. Native Americans also boiled dandelion in water and took it to treat kidney disease, swelling, skin problems, heartburn, and upset stomach. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), dandelion has been used to treat stomach problems, appendicitis, and breast problems, such as inflammation or lack of milk flow. In Europe, dandelion was used in remedies for fever, boils, eye problems, diabetes, and diarrhea.
Lion’s tooth; Priest’s crown; Swine’s snout; Taraxacum officinale
Coconut Spice Macaroons (egg-free, nut free, paleo, AIP, vegan)
adapted from Elana’s Pantry & Against All Grain
Yields approximately 18 cookies
Coconut Spice Macaroons:
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes 18 small macaroons
- Preheat oven to 180 Celsius (and a bit lower for fan forced)
All products are organic and sourced locally at Kunara Organic Markerplace.
- 1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
- 1 tablespoon Coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil – melted
- 1/4 cup pure maple or raw honey (if not vegan)
- 1 teaspoon Clove
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure Vanilla powder
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper & set aside.
- baking pan.
- Pulse the shredded coconut, coconut flour and sea salt in a food processor until combined
- Add the oil, maple/honey & vanilla extract & pulse until well mixed.
- Use a 1 Tbl cookie scoop to portion mounds of dough onto the prepared baking pan. Pack the dough into the scoop to ensure all macaroons are the same size….or make it up and use your hands like I do…and I get 18 EVERY SINGLE TIME!
- Bake for 10 minutes (rotating the pan after 5 minutes), or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool on the pan at least 10 minutes. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. Macaroons may lose their crispness over time, depending on the humidity.
- Once cooled, it’s the solid cold coconut oil that holds them together after baking
Benefits of pure organic maple syrup or raw honey, clove, cinnamon, coconut oil:
Maple Syrup:
100 grams of maple syrup contain (2):
- Calcium: 7% of the RDA.
- Potassium: 6% of the RDA.
- Iron: 7% of the RDA.
- Zinc: 28% of the RDA.
- Manganese: 165% of the RDA.
Maple syrup is a decent source of antioxidants. One study found 24 different antioxidant substances in maple syrup.
Oxidative damage is believed to be among the mechanisms behind ageing and many diseases.
If you’re going to eat a sugar-based sweetener for a special treat, then replacing refined sugar in recipes with an identical amount of maple syrup will cut the total sugar content by a third.
Reference:
http://draxe.com/maple-syrup-nutrition/
https://authoritynutrition.com/maple-syrup/
Sweeney B, Vora M, Ulbricht C, Basch E. Evidence-based systematic review of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) by Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Herb Pharmacother. 2005;5(1):79-93.
Jeon HJ, Kang HJ, Jung HJ, Kang YS, Lim CJ, Kim YM, Park EH. Anti-inflammatory activity of Taraxacum officinale. J Ethnopharmacol. 2008 Jan 4;115(1):82-8.
Qian L, Zhou Y, Teng Z, Du CL, Tian C. Preparation and antibacterial activity of oligosaccharides derived from dandelion. Int J Biol Macromol. 2014;64:392-4.
Schutz K, Carle R, Schieber A. Taraxacum–a review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile. J Ethnopharmacol. 2006;107(3):313-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16093238
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/dandelion
http://www.livestrong.com/article/241852-benefits-of-drinking-dandelion-tea/
https://elanaspantry.com/dandelion-root-coffee/
http://sweet-treats-baking.blogspot.com.au/2014/09/blog-birthday-coconut-macaroons-aip.html