Healthy Chia Partridgeberry Jam
Chia Jammin!
I had a big bag of partridge berries (Lingon Berries) that I had been putting off making into Jam for a while now. Mostly because I knew these superfood berries were bursting with vitamin C and antioxidants and I hated the thought of adding the cups of sugar that generally go into making jam-like consistency.
This morning however, as I was skimming through the health food magazine that my ever so kind neighbour drops periodically onto my front porch (because I have the best neighbours!) I saw this chia jam recipe. It was meant to be I thought so I immediately pulled out my partridgeberries and had super tasty jam in just a few minutes!
Chia seeds are full of omega 3s, vitamin B1 and copper. They are also high in fiber, aid digestion, and promote heart health. Best of all though, they absorb up to 12 times their weight in liquids which makes them great for thickening berry mixtures without adding tons of sugar!
You can use any berries with this recipe but this is the recipe I made this morning.
2 cups of fresh or frozen partridge berries
1/4 cup water
2-3 tablespoons of maple syrup (less if it is a sweet berry I would think)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Heat berries, water, maple syrup, and cinnamon over medium heat for 5 minutes. Mash the berries into jam consistency as they cook. Remove from heat and add vanilla and chia. Let cool and enjoy on your favourite snack base!
Recipe from alive magazine November 2024 issue (I substituted partridge berries for cranberries). My beautiful neighbour
drops these magazines for me from The Natural Health Shop on Stavanger Drive, St. John’s. If you live in St. John’s you can shop local for the best selections of healthy whole foods and supplements at this friendly neighbourhood shop!
The approach of Autumn brings not only a change in weather but also a shift in lifestyle pace. From an ayurvedic (ancient Indian medicine) perspective both of these things increase vata energy, which has the characteristics of movement, and deficiency. This no-bake, easy to make, lunch box treat is sure to keep you nourished and grounded as September begins. They do have nuts though so will not work for elementary school lunch box treats, but that just means more for you!
For many kale is known as a vegetable eaten mostly because we are told it is good for us. I will admit that I too used to feel this way. At least I did until I was introduced to massaged kale salad. Up to that point if I found that Kale had somehow made its way into my refrigerator, I usually made it into Kale chips. Which are yummy but can’t really be called a full meal, despite the fact that I may have done just that once or twice.
Eating turmeric in golden tea recipes, juices, or sprinkled on food is a great idea, however if you have been using this spice on its own, you may not be reaping the many health benefits that it is known for. Turmeric is bursting with compounds that have potential health benefits but it is actually very poorly absorbed into our bloodstreams. To increase the bioavailability of the medicinal properties of turmeric (curcumin), it is ideal to pair turmeric with other foods that aid absorption, such as black pepper.
This year I have decided to eat more chocolate. Well actually not more. Anyone who knows me, also knows that I have actually been pretty unrestricted in this area for some time now. What I have decided to do is upgrade my stash. You might assume that I am talking about eating dark chocolate, and that would be true, however my usual chocolate is already 70% cocoa solids, organic & free trade. In fact I am fond of telling anyone who questions the magnitude of my consumption that eating this chocolate is one of the ways that I serve humanity, because altruism is, you know, just my thing.
I was introduced to ghee when my mother and I were on our first Indian backpacking trip. Mom had some scratches on her legs that were getting sorer and more worrisome by the week. We were staying at an ashram and the morning prayers had just been done with a purifying fire ritual. When our teacher saw my mother’s legs he exclaimed, “That has to be treated now!” He promptly pulled some burnt, ghee-soaked, coals out of the ceremonial fire ashes, ground them between his fingers, and explained that the holy healing properties of ghee, further purified by fire and morning prayers, would be the most powerful remedy possible. We were doubtful, but had already tried all of our travel pharmaceuticals, and so she rubbed this black, greasy powder all over her angry wounds. As you are probably by now expecting, the cuts promptly healed and disappeared. It was only later that we learned, in addition to being an integral part of traditional Indian healing practices, ghee is also an Indian cooking staple.
u will be able to see all the way to the bottom of the pot. The ghee will have become translucent.
