Glorious Simple & Delicious Salad

Divine Red Cabbage Salad. Thank you to Smitten Kitchen! 

Divine Red Cabbage Salad. Thank you to Smitten Kitchen! 

This salad is so simple and yet so good, Original recipe is from Smitten Kitchen-abbreviated here.

Ingredients are few - 

Red Cabbage - as much as you desire.

Olive oil - as much as you like - start with a table spoon and massage in by hand - add if necessary.

Lime Juice - again this is to taste, start with half and move on from there. I like it pretty limey! Add and stir all around till well mixed. 

Feta - crumble and add in. 

Dates - chop up some pitted dates to taste, start with half a cup. Mix in. 

Parsley - start with a tablespoon and add more if you love it. Mix in or leave as a garnish on top. 

Sesame Seeds - toast till light brown and sprinkle.

Sit down with a big bowl of it and consume!! 

Instant Fire Cider

Brogan Ganley Wellness - Fire Cider

Ok we all wish we'd made the 'proper' fire cider 6 weeks ago before we started to feel that cold coming on.....but maybe we didn't! Here is an 'instant' version -which I think works pretty well.  *Just don't plan on kissing anyone for a while after you drink it -unless they LOVE garlic! 

Ingredients

1/3 cup - Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 cup - Lemon Juice (approx 1 lemon if it's juicy!)

1/3 cup - Honey (being from New Zealand I recommend graded Manuka honey)

1 tsp - Ginger (fresh or powdered) 

1 tsp - Garlic (fresh or powdered)

1 tsp - Turmeric (fresh or powdered)

1 tsp - Cayenne powder

Black Pepper

Now the ingredient quantities are flexible -if you are not a hot n spicy fan lessen the Cayenne, etc- personalize it. Same goes for fresh v powder -if you don't like 'bits' I recommend using powder, it more or less dissolves. 

Use a jar with a lid, add lemon and apple cider, honey and rest of the spices. Shake it up! 

If I feel something coming on - you know, that 'sort of' sore throat, or 'sort of' achey feeling -take a tablespoon every 15 mins for an hour or two. Then every half an hour / hour. It's not an exact science, but I think it can really help reduce cold time or help you avoid one altogether. The ingredients are high in vit c, and anti-inflammatory properties. 

It can be kept in the fridge for a several weeks. Just shake each time you use. 

Go brew! 

Quick Smoothie Recipe

BroganGanley-Wellness

I generally use what ever fruit and vegetables that I have in the fridge but I do always put in a banana as it helps with the blending consistency. 

I usually chop up the fruit and hard vegetables first and put them in on the bottom near the blade. Leafy greens on top. This just helps to mix more easily and you are not having to constantly open and mix or shake up. 

Ingredients

x1 banana - I use about 3/4 and then use the rest on top

x1 beet - depending on the size, half if its a big one. 

x1 handful of blueberries

x2 big handful's of spinach

x1 other leafy greens -this may be whatever you have - kale is great but is very fibrous and will change the consistency so play with the amount. Start with a handful and go from there depending on your taste. 

x1 apple -  or half and then use the rest on top or on the side. 

A bit of whatever you fancy or what is in season. The above is generally my base and then I add in a little bit of whatever I have e.g., cabbage, carrot etc etc. 

Mix it up to the consistency you like. Some people put into a glass and drink - I find the consistency too thick for that and like to eat with a spoon -but there are no rules and regulations about these things! If you like the consistency a bit more fluid you might like to add a little water, coconut water or aloe vera -all good ways to give it a little more fluidity. Add little bit by little bit though - a little goes a long way.

Toppings can include nuts and seeds. I like to lightly toast mine -cast iron pan on the stove top. Coconut is lovely on top - just make sure you get unsweetened version. I love pomegranate at the moment - it gives a lovely crunch. Sometimes I add in oats if I feel like I need a little more sustenance. 

Go ahead give it a try and enjoy! Play around with amounts and what you put in until you find a mix of what works for you. Let me know how it goes!