Lebenslustiger.com (Entries tagged as Gesundes)

Optimal Ripeness Of A Mangosteen

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Here comes a little update to a picture I posted recently.

Some of you wrote to me that they have never seen a Mangosteen before or don't know where to find and how to eat it.

I bought mine at my local organic shop. It is a seasonal fruit therefore not year-round available. Asia-markets also often carry them - not sure about super markets because I barely shop there. There a some online companies who ship ripe tropical fruits right to your door - I already wrote here about it.

Mangosteen fruits are optimal ripe when then skin gives in a bit when pressing it gently with your fingers.

If the skin is hard, the fruit inside will be overripe and often not edible anymore.

I also prefer the smaller fruits of these anyway small fruits because they are even more aromatic.

Cut carefully around thru the thick skin to open the fruits and by using a spoon eat the white juicy segments right out of the skin.

Enjoy!

Happy Day,

Anette

I Wish My Morning...

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 07:45:00 +0000

...would ALWAYS start with a breakfast like this one!!! ALOHA

Curious what others do in the morning? Nic is collecting more inspiration.

Happy (Valentine's) Day,

Anette

P.S. My crochet glitter heart from yesterday dried - if you like, see it here :)

Little Summerpowerhouses...

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 06:35:00 +0000

Warm sun rays - refreshing Summer thunderstorms...

All contained in those wonderful tasty little shallots.

Ahhhhh...I miss summer...

What about you?

Did you see a lot of sun lately?

Sunny week,

Anette

P.S. more every-day-heros here

Scallion Soup

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:46:00 +0000

Honestly - I'm a bit embarrassed by the profanity of this post...

Since spring I wanted to tell you, that scallion soup is my absolute favorite soup and when I saw fresh local scallions again the last two weeks at farmers market, i thought "O.k. - now or never!"

Must be the second harvest cycle - the scallions don't look that perky and bright green like the spring ones do, but they are still delicious.

Maria from Austria "taught" me, how to make the soup. I would have never gotten the idea to just use plain scallions as the single ingredient for a soup.

Of course I know french onion soup with bread and melted cheese - but that's different.

Scallions soup is so much simpler - it's almost genius!

It's literally done in a very few minutes.

Take 3 bunches of cleaned and cut up scallions, roast for just a little bit (don't burn) in some olive oil, cover with water (I don't like the soup too thin) and season with powdered broth. Cook on low temperature until scallions are soft but still in pieces. (about 15min) DONE!

Enjoy!

Bon Appetit, Anette

Autumn Market

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 00:57:00 +0000

Loving fall's colors and textures - you too?

More market pics here

XOXO, Anette

Simply Summer - Summer Simply

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:34:00 +0000

We live close to a beautiful organic farm.

Sometimes they offer workshops on different topics and I love to go, also because they serve wonderful, simple but delicious food.

This time we had gratinated ciabatta bread.

If you like to try it sprinkle some olive oil on a baking sheet and lay out the bread slices onto the oil. Top each bread with a nice sage leaf, some zucchini slices and a not too thin piece of pecorino cheese. Bake for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy. Enjoy right from the oven. So delicious! Serve with a salad and you have a simple but perfect summer dish.

Do you have any simple ideas or tricks to help enjoying summer even more?

I would love to hear them!

XOXO, Anette

Best Of

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 00:18:00 +0000

My last day at the Austrian herb farm - in case you missed day 2 , day 3, day 4 and the story how it all happened, please read here and here if you like.

I am completely filled with all those wonderful impressions of my Sonnentor-Maria-Andi-Austria-adventure.

I saw sooo much - and had soo many great experiences.

What was the best? Hard to say....

There is of course Maria - the spiritual organic herb-farm specialist, joy-yoga teacher and fasting expert, who made a deep impact with all her wise and kind words.

Or friendly and fun Andi and his oh-so-old tractor.

Maybe it's the fact, that i now know how a lentil plant looks like.

Could be the wonderful birds nesting and feeding their young right outside my bedroom window - and cats, too...and of course Jette, the cute baby cow!

Or the funny dirt lumps jumping joyfully to the sky from the wheels of the tractor on our tour thru the fields.

Not to forget my (almost) successful fights at night with Sonnentors' blog software. Currently Peter, one of this years candidate, visits another herb farmer of Sonnentors'.

I guess it's all together. All the big and small moments and wonders who made my time in Austria so very special.

A THOUSAND THANKS goes to Sonnentor, Andi and Maria for taking such good care of me. I will miss our talks and laughs and this beautiful country, but of course:

I ALWAYS look forward to the next great fun adventure!

XOXO, Anette

Farmers Yoga

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 00:42:00 +0000

Pretty much exactly a year ago I was invited by Sonnentor to spent a week on a farm of one of their herb suppliers in a beautiful, remote part of Austria. You can read here, how I ended up being chosen to work on the farm and to blog about my experience. Before I actually headed to Maria's and Andy's farm I spent a wonderful day at Sonnentor's headquarter. You can read about that day here. Since I had just started blogging back then, I hadn't had many readers. But - thanks to YOU - that has changed! I'm so happy, you are here! So, I thought you would enjoy reading about this little adventure as much as I enjoy thinking back to it.

But now off to the farm...

Eighty-three years old Andreas is worried. "It does not want to drink". He is talking about the little newborn baby cow, which is standing in a corner of the stable.

Usually he would be on his tractor working the fields by now. Something he has done almost daily as long as he can think back.

"Maybe there is too much pressure on the utter", i suggest - thinking back to my own breastfeeding adventures. Andi, Andreas' son, gets a bucket and starts milking.

He will call the vet because he fears the baby is having a navel infection. I cross my fingers - feeling sorry for the little one.

Maria and i get back on our bikes and I follow her to the fields.

Back home i do a lot of yoga but looking at Marias upper arm muscles i have to admit, she owns the much nicer pair. So, i start to wonder what kind of exercise she does...Well, i don't need to wonder very long though, because we just arrived at her yoga center. Nice, hidden place behind a little forest - quiet and warm... but... no mats. She hands me a metal tool on a wooden stick and leads me to my place. Hm, something else is missing - instead hardwood floor there are thousands of green little bushels.

And then the lesson begins... Forward fold - reach for the ground - check if there is something else growing than the green sugar roots, take a step - repeat at your own pace. Forward fold- reach for the ground, check.....If you need a break: come up, take a deep breath - rinse and repeat.

WOW - after a matter of very few minutes i had my mantra: "Please let there be no other little plants growing between the roots so i can make a longer step; Please let there be no other little plants....."

See, it CAN be very easy with the whole meditation and muscle definition thing ( AND with getting your feet REALLY dirty ) : hard, hard work will do the trick.

It's so amazing how much devoted hand work Maria and Andi happily put into their herbs and spices. They have been working with SONNENTOR for over twenty years now. The only fact I regret for today is that I haven't had a second helping of those delicious, sweet, handmade pasta we had for lunch.

Well, it's fine - i already smell Marias rye bread baking in the oven. She made it from scratch....

Have you been to Austria yet?

Stay tuned for day 3 !

XOXO, Anette

New Food Blogs Finds And Long Time Favorites

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I'm REALLY impressed by Foodblogs!

What a dedicated and admirable effort...

Well thought out planning - perfect timing - excellent mouthwatering pictures...

And always in the danger of over done baking, frying, steaming....

And then the cleaning...

Uahhhh...

You hear me...

Cooking and baking are not really my thing.

But I LOVE eating!!!

Here is where I'm heating up my appetite lately:

Zucker Zimt & Liebe

Call me Cupcake

Tartelette

Seelische Kost

Kuriositätenladen

La Tartine Gourmande

Journey Kitchen

Happyolks

And my All Time Favourites:

Roost

Green Kitchen Storys

What Katie ate

Enjoy!

All these wonderful springy and fresh pictures by La Tartine Gourmande

XOXO

Healthy resolution: CHEWING

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:16:00 +0000

Healthier eating - a popular New Year resolution!

I have been checking out various forms of healthy eating basically since teenage times: wholefood, vegetarian, vegan, raw...organic anyway.

Here is my personal take: "You are what you eat"

YES - that's right - ALMOST!

Actually it should read: "You are what you eat, digest, absorb, breathe, think and move."

You can fill yourself up with the most super fresh, healthy ingredients available - only they ALONE most likely won't make you an instantly healthy, vibrant happy camper.

One of the key points are good digestion and proper absorption of nutrients beginning in your mouth.

Chew, chew, CHEW - 30-40x every bite...UFF...

Sure you heard about it before, but it's so easy to forget - especially by impatient personalities like myself.

Though I LOVE food and eating I want it to go quickly; chop CHOP; sometimes eating standing up at the counter or munching in the car; already thinking about something else I need or want to do next...

Does that sound familiar to you?

So I came up with a trick to lure me into chewing: crunchiness ( I HAVE to post the Wikipedia explanation here, because it's so hilarious: Crunchiness is the gustatory sensation of muffled grinding of a foodstuff. Crunchiness differs from crispness in that a crisp item is quickly atomized, while a crunchy one offers sustained, granular resistance to jawaction. While crispness is difficult to maintain, crunchiness is difficult to overcome.)

My favorite crunch to overcome:

slightly roasted

wonderfully fragrant

sunflower seeds!

Nothing added - nothing fancy, super healthy and really inexpensive but OH so delicious!

On top of salad, vegetables, soups, mashed potatoes, casseroles...

What are your (eating) tricks?

More tricks to ward off a cold

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:06:00 +0000

So - Chili is great. We already talked about that.

What else could you do to keep your body strong and fit in winter time?

One of my all time favorites are ripe fruits.

They contain a load of many different vitamins, minerals, trace minerals and phytonutrients to give your precious temple just that extra boost you need now.

Plus you stock up on plenty of enzymes which will assist you in digesting your way thru the holiday season...

Fruits and even tropical fruits are now available around the year in supermarkets, but it's important to get them in excellent quality - if possible from organic farming - and RIPE, because only then their good stuff will be bio-available to your cells. And if you are looking for something different than pineapple or mango then you have to go with a specialty shop that carries also fruits from Asia. MELISSA's ships right to your home and subscriptions are available. Also makes for a great, healthy last -minute christmas present...

What else?

Just the perfect amount of a bit of movement...

A long and detoxing bath with a good mineral salt. Don't forget to skin brush during the bath...

Afterwards a relaxing time at the fireplace with warm socks, a cozy blankie and a cape...

TEA TEA TEA - very important...

And PLENTY of sleep - haha - I know, it´s easy to give advice, it´s much harder to walk the talk.

What's your secret cold fighting agent?

Happy Day,

Anette

Cold and flu fighting chili elexir

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 18:41:26 +0000

I am grateful - we have been blessed with great health this year.

Even the start of the colder winterish season didn't bring a cold so far.

So - when I found these beautiful chili varieties at the farmers market last week...

... it made me think of a magic immune-boosting cold and flu fighting elixir I once heard about.

I definitely will give it a try to support my body further against winter's nasty flu and cold bugs.

Chilis contain next to many vitamins and minerals CAPSAICIN and this makes

those little hotties from natures powerhouse extra effective.

It stimulates the metabolism, cleanses the respiratory tract and speeds

up blood circulation. Due to it's heat producing properties it is also used for pain relief.

Here comes the recipe for this all natural elixir:

2 cups Water
2 or more slices of chili
6-10 or more thicker slices of ginger
juice of 1 lemon
optional:
3 garlic gloves
half an onion
8-10 sprigs of thyme

Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and add the chosen ingredients.

Let infuse for 10 min or more, strain, add some honey to taste, STAY OR GET WELL and ENJOY!!!

Oh - I also love them as a spicy Christmas decoration...

Foodblogs and other great culinary delights

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:04:00 +0000

Look at this Chard...

Isn't it just FANTASTIC???

...intense colors in...

...exciting combinations with...

...diverse leaf formations for...

...endless possibilities - this time, onion, potatoes, red lentils and spices to taste are ready to jump into a pot for a soup creation which will turn out...

...YUMMY; well - the soup really turned out yummy - BUT - cooking unfortunately is harsh to those incredible, magical colors...

And since I usually show my pictures in their pure and raw state without any photo shop adjustments, I had to decide against the 'after cooking' pics...

Awww...you had just started drooling?

Don't be sad - here are some awesome, faboulus food blogs with incredible mouthwatering pictures for you!

green kitchen stories

Cucina Piccina

You can find even more at BRIGITTE - my all time favorite women's magazine. They run a monthly food blog award program right now and will name the overall best food blog at the end of the year.

O.k. - have to run...warm soup is waiting....

Yogatta look into this...

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 09:07:00 +0000

Remember my sweet sweaty Yoga diving experience back in August?

Well - a thoughtful empathic Yogi left me a wonderful web link which REALLY spiced up my home practice.

YOGIS ANONYMOUS offers a great service in bringing live-streaming and on demand yoga videos right to the front of your mat after you paid a small fee for unlimited weekly or monthly access.

It's just fabulous - I absolutely LOVE it! "Click"; close your eyes and there you are - practicing in a Los Angeles Yoga studio together with your fellow Yoga enthusiasts.

You get to choose from PLENTY of different classes with great - sometimes world renowned - teachers and events ranging from level 1 to level 4 (!) "flying on and off the mat" classes, where you can watch some awesome yogis gracefully throwing dozens of handstands inbetween the most crazy asanas. BREATHTAKING...

The good thing though is - after surviving the intimidation - that I'm a lot more willing to push myself through demanding sequences and explore pushing my personal boundaries than I would ever do practicing on my own.

So - from now on NO more excuses that you couldn't make it to class - it's available all the time and wherever you are...

If you want to give it a try - please remember: It's YOUR precious body and YOU are responsible for it. Gentleness and mindfulness should definitely be your class mates...

O.K. pals - whatcha say???

"Uhmm...I guess...after carefully discussing our options here...

...we'll start with...uhmmm...

Savasana Relaxation..."

OM NAMASTE

Gold - the 3rd

nospam@example.com (Lebenslustiger) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:45:00 +0000

What did I do with those yummy apples???

I filled my tummy with plenty of golden apple crumble!

Here comes my very simple, all time favorite recipe:

Wash, cut and core 450g/1lb apples into 1cm/½inch pieces.

Put in a pot and steam to half soft with just a little bit of water (1-3 Tablespoons) on the bottom.

Transfer to a greased baking dish and sprinkle with a breadcrumb like mixture of:

300g/10½oz sieved flour (I like spelt), pinch of salt

200g/7oz butter, cubed at room temperature

175g/6oz sugar and some cinnamon if you like

Bake at 180C/350F/Gas for 40-45 minutes until the crumble is golden brown and the fruit mixture is bubbling. Serve with golden vanilla custard, whipped cream or Vanilla ice cream.

Mmmmm - soooo GOOD!!!