Raw Baking: The best Chocolate Cake

This Raw chocolate cake is not too expensive and definitely easy to make. You can easily make it for the next day or eat it in an hour after freezing. It is not a low calorie cake (coconut oil, almonds and walnuts) but all the ingredients are natural and clean. It is a great dessert to serve for a group of health conscious  people or people who are skeptical for eating Raw foods. This will change their minds.

Chocolate Cake

base:

80g Almonds

20g Walnuts

70g dates

sea or Himalayan salt to taste

Filling:

1 1/2 avocados

70g raw cacao

50g coconut oil

100 g raw honey or raw cane sugar

1 vanilla bean or natural vanilla

pinch of sea or Himalayan salt

Soak the almonds and walnuts for at least 6 hours then drain and dehydrate them. This way they are easier to digest. Add dates and salt and blend until you have a dough. Press the dough into a small cake pan and place in the freezer while you make the filling.

Place all the filling ingredients in a food processor then blend everything until smooth. Pour the filling over the base. Set in the freezer for 1 hour or to the refrigerator for at least 6 hours. 

Raakasuklaa kakku

Pohja:

80g manteleita

20g saksanpahkinoita

70g taateleita

ripaus merisuolaa tai himalayansuolaa

Tayte:

1 1/2 avocadoa

70g raakakaakaota

50g kookosoljya

100g raakahunajaa tai ruokokidesokeria

1 vanilijatanko tai vanilijaa maun mukaan

ripaus meri tai himalayansuolaa

Liota manteleita ja saksanpahkinoita vahintaan 6 tuntia ja kuivaa ne. Nain ne ovat helpompi elimistolle sulattaa. Lisaa taatelit ja suola ja blendaa kunnes seoksesta muodostuu taikina. Painele taikina pieneen vuokaan ja laita pakastimeen  taytteen teon ajaksi. 

Laita kaikki tayteainekset tehosekoittimeen ja sekoita kunnes tayte on kokonaan pehmeaa. kaada seos pohjan paalle ja laita kakku pakastimeen tunniksi. Voit myos laittaa kakun jaakaappiin yon yli.

ENJOY!

-e-

5 Tips on How to avoid over-bloating on Christmas

I am a big fan of food, cooking and Christmas, but not a fan of feeling completely over-bloated and gassy.  Average American gains 10 pounds during Christmas. I will give you five tips on how to avoid this.

1. Plan ahead
If you know that you will have a big Christmas dinner tonight, eat a light breakfast and lunch with lots of vegetables and fruits. Also, try to avoid snacking that day. Serve the dinner from smaller plates than normally, that way you eat less.
2. Move
Just because its Christmas, you don't have to stop working out. If your gym is closed or you don't have time to go there, go for a 30-45min walk and get some fresh air.
3. Hydrate yourself
Drink a lot of water during the day. A lot of times we think we are hungry when our body is really just dehydrated. Make sure you drink enough water and have 2 glasses of water 20 minutes before the big dinner.
4. Wear fitted clothes
Wearing loose clothes make you feel like there is enough room for over bloating. If you wear fit clothes, it's more likely that you won't eat as much.
5. Socialize
Enjoy the holidays with your loved ones, sharing stories and laughing. Remember that Christmas is not all about food and chocolate, even though it is a big part of it. Enjoy your favorite foods by eating them slowly and tasting every bite. 

Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you all can enjoy it with your favorite foods and loved ones!

My lovely Friend and Coworker Annika.

Healtier Holiday :)

I got a great idea from my client to write a post about healthier christmas foods. I'm not truly against all animal foods but I do think the amount of pigs and turkey we grow just for the holidays is nowhere even close to being human. That's why I think it's good to give some vegetarian ideas for the holidays. This way we don't have to feel bad for the animals, feel completely bloated and gain 5 pounds in two days.
I have to be honest. I have never cooked a vegetarian christmas dinner. Actually I have never even cooked a whole Christmas dinner, BUT I will this year. I will share some ideas and links for recipes that I have comen up with.

Appetizers:
Curried red lentil soup with sweet potatoes
Stuffed mushrooms with tofu and herbs
Green salad
Dinner:
Oven roasted sweet potatoes
Roasted red onions with olive oil, balsamic and honey
Herb cheese stuffed eggplant steaks
Dessert:
Raw Pecan Love pie
Vegan Eggnog

Recipes:
Vegan eggnog:
Ingredients
2 cups almond milk
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
(1/3 cup brandy)
2 1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
Directions:
Blend all ingredients together in a pitcher. Serve your delicious vegan eggnog over ice and dress with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a cinnamon stick for the perfect festive touch.


Oven roasted sweet potatoes:http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2011/11/22/how-to-enjoy-a-thanksgiving-dinner-without-gaining-weight/
Curried red lentil soup:http://vegan.sheknows.com/2010/11/01/curried-red-lentil-soup-with-sweet-potatoes-and-greens/
Stuffed mushrooms: http://vegan.sheknows.com/2010/12/02/stuffed-mushrooms-with-tofu-and-herbs/
Roasted red onions with butter, honey and balsamic: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/roasted-red-onions-with-butter-honey-and-balsamic-vinegar-recipe/index.html
Herb cheese stuffed eggplant steaks: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/herb-cheese-stuffed-and-fried-eggplant-steaks-with-braised-radicchio-fennel-and-escarole-recipe/index.html
Hearty vegetable pot pie: http://www.vegkitchen.com/recipes/everyday-meals/contemporary-casseroles/hearty-vegetable-pot-pie/

TRY IT OUT AND LET ME KNOW! :)

-e-

When does eating healthy get too serious?

Someone asked me a long time ago to write about my thoughts about Orthorexia Nervosa and eating healthy. So finally here we go:
Shouldn't we all try to eat healthy? The answer is YES, but like with everything else, we shouldn't go too far with it. Yes we all should try to avoid artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. Your diet shouldn't count on unhealthy fats, refined sugar or meat grown with antibiotics and hormones. But taking it further than that might not be necessary. 

I've had a couple times someone asking me if I am orthorexic, since I don't eat meat and really don't want to drink a completely artificial juice with 20 different ingredients that no one even understands. I also prefer organic fruits to avoid some of the pesticides and try to avoid processed foods. I don't think that makes someone Orthorexic. The line between healthy eating and having Orthorexia Nervosa is very difficult to draw. My opinion is that if eating healthy starts making you sick in stead of healthy, something could be wrong. Or if you can't go out to eat in any restaurant because you can't see the ingredients they put in your food, you might have a problem. 

Orthorexia nervosa is a serious disorder. It indicates an unhealthy obsession with eating healthy food. It is believed to be a mental problem that can cause a severe malnutrition or even death. Compared to Anorexia nervosa or Bulimia Nervosa, this one focuses on the QUALITY of food in stead of the QUANTITY. The term orthorexia comes from the Greek, literally meaning a correct diet. 
The obsession for healthy foods can come from family habits, society trends, economic problems, recent illness, or even just hearing something negative about a food type or group, which then leads them to ultimately eliminate the food from their diet. 

If eating too healthy gets obsessive it is important to talk to someone and seek professional help. There are so many delicious foods available and we all need to be able to fully enjoy them!

Aztec Salad, Candle Cafe NY.

-e-

Every man's dream:Banana Cake/Banaanikakku

My blog is supposed to be full of healthy foods and tips, but I think if you don't allow yourself to enjoy some chocolate and homemade banana cake every once in a while, you are being too strict to yourself. It is always better to bake your sweet treats yourself than buying the cookies and cakes from the supermarket, so you will know exactly what's in it and there. This Banana cake makes both my step dad and my boyfriend go crazy. 

Ingredients:

3 bananas (2 mashed, 1 sliced)

4,5 dl flour (you can replace 1dl with buckwheat flour)

2,5 dl brown sugar

2 eggs

150g organic butter

2 tl baking powder

2 tl vanilla sugar

1 tl baking soda

2 dl cream or sour cream 

cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 F. In a small bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients with a big spoon and set aside. In a large bowl, mix sugar and butter. Add eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream and the dry ingredients. Don't use a blender, stir it just enough to make it smooth. Pour into a pan and bake in the oven for about an hour.

Happy thanksgiving to everybody!

Banaanikakku

Tiedan, etta blogini pitaisi olla taynna vaan terveellisimpia resepteja ja vinkkeja. Joskus on kuitenkin myos herkuteltava, tai muuten homma menee liian vakavaksi. Tama banaanikakku on seka isäpuoleni että poikaystavani suosikki, ja naista jalkimmainen pystyyksin syomaan koko kakun paivassa. 

Ainekset:

2 kananmunaa

2,5 dl ruokokide sokeria

2 banaania muussattuna, 1 viipaloituna

2 tl leivinjauhetta

1 tl soodaa

2 tl vanilliinisokeria

2dl kermaviilia

150 g voisulaa

4,5dl vehnäjauhoja (yhden desin voi hyvin korvata tattarijauhoilla)

kanelia maun mukaan

Sekoita ensin voi ja sokeri, seka kuivat aineet keskenaan. Lisaa taman jalkeen kaikki ainekset yksitellen voi-sokeri seokseen, viimeisena kuivat aineet. Taikina on hyvin kuohkeata ja löysähköä. Voitele ja korppujauhota vuoka, kaada taikina vuokaan ja paista 200 asteessa n. tunti. Anna kakun jäähtyä kunnolla ennen kumoamista. Kakku on parasta jäähtyneenä ja maku paranee seuraavaan päivään mennessä.

-e-

HomeMadePesto/Kotitekoinen Pesto

Mama's delicious pesto!

First, I will give you a warning. This pesto sauce makes you addicted. It makes you never eat the pesto sauce from the supermarket anymore and makes you wanna eat rye bread all the time. The ingredients are clean and nutritious, but i still don't recommend for you to eat it all in one day.  It is easy and quick to make.

Ingredients:

1-2 handful of Fresh basil 

1 dl olive oil

1 dl pine nuts (you can also use almonds or cashew nuts)

Parmigiano or Grana Padano cheese to taste

1 glove of garlic

himalayan salt

black pepper

add all the ingredients to a food processor and blend until smooth. Add some olive oil if needed. Pesto gets even more tasty after a couple hours or a day.

Äidin Maukas Pesto

Ensinnakin haluan varoittaa, tahan pestoon jaa koukkuun. Et enaa halua koskeakaan supermarkettien pestoihin, haluat syoda enemman ruisleipaa ja jaakaapissasi pitaa olla tata kokoajan. Taman reseptin ainekset ovat puhtaat ja terveelliset, mutta suuren oliivioljy ja pahkinamaaran takia en kuitenkaan suosittele koko annoksen syomista paivassa tai kahdessa. Resepti on nopea ja helppo, tarvitset vain monitoimikoneen tai blenderin.

Ainekset:

1-2 ruukkua basilikaa

1 dl oliivioljya

1 dl pinjansiemenia (myos mantelit tai cashewpahkinat kayvat)

parmesan tai Grana Padano juustoa

1 valkosipulin kynsi

himalayan suolaa

mustapippuria

Sekoita kaikki ainekset monitoimikoneessa, kunnes seos on tasaista. Voit lisata oliivioljya tarpeen mukaan. Pesto tekeytyy jaakaapissa ja on jopa maukkaampaa muutaman tunnin jalkeen.

ENJOY!

-e-

struggling!

How to manage stress and struggles?

I know life can't be perfect, you can't plan everything and there will be ups and downs. But one thing I'm not good at is stress management. 
I had my stress levels reaching the all time high a couple times during the last four months. 

I know very well that it makes no sense to worry about things you have no control over, because there is nothing you can do about them. And how about things you CAN control? That makes even less sense, why would you worry about them if you have the control?

Being stress is not only make you unhappy but it also causes changes in your body and your emotions. These are the common symptoms of stress:

• A fast heartbeat.
• A headache.
• A stiff neck and/or tight shoulders.
• Back pain.
• Fast breathing.
• Sweating, and sweaty palms.
• An upset stomach, nausea, or diarrhea.
• Feel cranky and unable to deal with even small problems.
• Feel frustrated, lose your temper more often, and yell at others for no reason.
• Feel jumpy or tired all the time.
• Find it hard to focus on tasks.
• Worry too much about small things.
• Feel that you are missing out on things because you can't act quickly.
• Imagine that bad things are happening or about to happen.

Sounds horrible right??? I have decided to learn how to manage stress and this is going to be my strategy for doing it: 

1. Avoid unnecessary stress- Learn how to say “no", Avoid people who stress you out, Take control of your environment, Start writing down your to-do list 
2. Alter the situation- Express your feelings instead of bottling them up, be willing to compromise, be more assertive and manage your time better.
3. Adapt to the stressor- Look at the big picture, focus on the positive, understand that you cannot have everything perfect, and learn from the situation
4. Accept the things you can't change 
5. Make time for relaxing- Make sure you enjoy life!!!

Have a stress free week everybody!

Kuinka hallita stressiä?

Tiedän ettei elama voi olla taydellista, et voi suunnitella kaikkea etukateen ja sinulle tulee vastoinkaymisia. Silti, yksi suurimmista heikkouksistani on stressinhallinta.
Viimeisen neljan kuukauden aikana olen ehka ollut stressaantuneempi kuin koskaan ennen ja tiedan nyt kuinka se voi vaikuttaa elamaani.

Tiedan hyvin ettei ole mitaan jarkea stressata asioista joihin ei voi vaiukuttaa, silla et voi niille mitaan. Enta sitten asiat joihin voi vaikuttaa? Viela vahemman jarkea antaa niiden aiheuttaa stressia, jos itse pystyt vaikuttaa. 

Stressi ei ainoastaan tee sinusta onnetonta, vaan se myos aiheuttaa muutoksia elimistossasi ja tunne-elamassasi. Mita kaikkea stressi voi aiheuttaa?

• Sydamentykytysta
• Paansarkya
• niska- ja hartiakipuja
• Selkakipuja.
• Hengenahdistusta
• Hikoilua
• Vatsavaivoja
• Artyneisyytta ja epatoivoa
• Vihaa ja suuttumusta pienistakin asioista
• vasymysta
• Keskittymisvaikeuksia
• hidastuneisuutta
• Negatiivisia Mielikuvia ja univaikeuksia

Kuulostaa pahalta, eiko??? Mina olen paattanyt paasta stressista eroon lopullisesti ja tama on strategiani sen toteuttamiseen 

1. Valta turhaa stressia- Learn how to say “no", Avoid people who stress you out, Take control of your environment, Start writing down your to-do list 
2. Mukaudu tilanteeseen- Ilmaise tunteesi sen sijaan etta yrittaisit tukahduttaa ne, ole valmis kompromissiin ja suunnittele ajankayttosi paremmin.
3. Sopeudu stressitekijaan- Katso asioita laajemmin, keskity positiivisiin asioihin, ymmarra ettei kaikki mene aina niinkuin haluaisit, opi tilanteesta.
4. Hyvaksy asiat joihin et voi vaikuttaa 
5. Varaa aikaa rentoutumiselle- Pida huoli etta nautit elamasta!!!!

Stressitonta viikkoa kaikille!

-e-

Time to Fly Again! Aika pakata laukut!

New York calling my name!

First, I apologize I haven't been active with my blog. My next post will be about stress and struggle, and lately these two things have been taking too much of my time.
Now it's all in the past and it's time to pack the bags once again. I will be heading back to lovely Manhattan next week, and will continue to explore the endless number of restaurants in New York. 
As always it's going to be horrible to leave my family, friends and the easy and safe life in Finland, but this is my calling. I will be posting my experiences more in the future, and try to give inspiration and interest to healthy living to my lovely readers. I want to thank you for all the emails and support my readers have sent me so far. It makes me so happy every single time.
If you have any subjects or interests that you would like me to write about, you can always send me an email to maximizeyourhealth@essililjama.com.

New York kutsuu taas!

Ensinnäkin, olen pahoillani etten ole ollut aktiivinen blogini kanssa lähiaikoina. Seuraava postaukseni tulee käsittelemään stressiä ja ongelmia, sillä nämä aiheet ovat vieneet liikaakin aikaani viimeaikoina.
Nyt se on kaikki takanapäin ja minun on aika taas ottaa seuraava askel. Ensi viikolla suuntaan jälleen Manhattanille ja jatkan tutustumistani lukuisiin ravintoloihin ja orgaanisen ruoan maailmaan New Yorkissa. 
Ajatuskin ystävien ja perheen luota lähtemisestä tuntuu sydäntäsärkevaltä, mutta koen tämän olevan kutsumukseni. Lupaan alkaa kirjoittaa useammin ja enemmän kaikista kiinnostavista aiheista, ja yrittää antaa inspiraatiota terveelliseen elämään kaikille rakkaille lukijoilleni. Haluan kiittää teitä kaikesta tuesta ja viesteistä joita olette minulle lähettäneet, se lämmittää sydäntäni joka ikinen kerta.
Jos sinulla on aihe johon haluaisit minun paneutuvan tai kirjoittavan, voit aina lähettää minulle emailia maximizeyourhealth@essililjama.com. Olen saanut palautetta siitä että kirjoitan ainoastaan englanninkielellä, joten tästä lähtien pyrin kirjoittamaan kaikki tekstit sekä englanniksi että suomeksi.

Happy and healthy weekend to everyone!

-e-

 

Avocado-Coconut soup!

Health benefits of Avocado and my favorite soup recipe!

I'm a huge fan of avocado and I love the fact that it is so GOOD FOR YOU! I eat avocados everyday with everything, approximately one a day. I put it to my chocolate smoothies, salads, sandwiches, soups  etc. This time me and my mom made an avocado-coconut soup and I recommend for you all to try it!

Ingredients:

2 riped avocados

2 dl coconut milk

juice of 1 lime

lime zest

Himalayan salt

3,5dl water

1/2 glove of garlic

red chili

cayenne pepper

2 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

1. Place the avocados and the lemon juice&zest in a food processor or a blender and blend until almost smooth. I like my soup with a little pieces of avocado, so I don't blend it too much.

2. Pour the blended avocados in a pan and add all the other ingredients except cilantro. Be careful with red chili!

3. Heat it up until its warm but do not boil!!!

4. Serve with fresh cilantro and Finnish rye bread

Health benefits of avocados:

1. Promotes a healthy heart
   Contains vitamin B6 and folic acid, which help regulate homocysteine levels. High level of homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Avocado also contains vitamin E, Glutathione and monounsaturated fat which help in maintaining a healthy heart.
2. Lower cholesterol levels
   Rich in beta-sitosterol which has been shown to be effective in lowering blood cholesterol levels. 
3. Control blood pressure
   Avocados are also a great source of potassium, which helps in controlling blood pressure levels. 
4. Anti-Inflammatory properties
   Phytonutrient compound found in avocados, such as polyphenols and flavonoids have been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, thereby reducing the risk of inflammatory and degenerative disorders.
5. Promote eye health
   Avocado is an excellent source of carotenoid lutein, which known to help protect against age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
6. Regulate the blood sugar levels
   The monounsaturated (good) fats in avocados can reverse insulin resistance, which helping to regulate the blood sugar levels. Avocados also contain more soluble fiber, which keep a steady blood sugar levels.
7. Prevent birth defects
   Avocados are rich in folate, a B vitamin commonly known as folic acid. The high amount of folate in avocado is essential in the prevention of birth defects, such as neural tube defect and spina bifida.
8. Reduce strokes risk
   The high levels of folate in avocados also protect against stroke. A study has shown individuals who ate a diet rich in folate had a lower risk of stroke than those who do not.
9. Protect against cancer
   Many studies have shown that avocado can inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. The oleic acid in avocado is also effective in preventing breast cancer.
10. Fight free radicals
    Avocados contain glutathione, a powerful antioxidants to helps fight free radicals in the body.
11. Anti-aging properties
    Being rich in antioxidants, avocado is beneficial in preventing aging symptoms. The glutathione in avocado may boosts immune systems, slows the aging process, and encourages a healthy nervous system.
12. Cure bad breath
    Avocados cleanse intestine which is the real cause of coated tongue and this unpleasant condition.
13. Increase nutrient absorption
14. Skin Care
    The avocado oil is added in many cosmetics because of its ability to nourish the skin and make your skin glow. It also aids in treating psoriasis, a skin disease that causes skin redness and irritation.
15. Weight gain
    The avocado has 200 calories for 100 grams. Avocado is a healthy source of calories, unlike many other calorie-dense foods that may contain excess saturated fats and sugar.

(Sourse: http://www.healthonlinezine.info/health-benefits-of-avocados.html)

-e-