My Homemade Alioli (Garlic Mayonnaise)

This is a year round staple in our house, but given its the start of the holiday season and with lots of people off to ‘Sunny Spain’, then what better time to bring a bit of sunshine into your home? Well the darn English weather doesn’t seem capable!!

Frigiliana  - one of my favourite places in Spain. Yes I know it's a funny name but so gorgeous, so many happy memories. 

Image via Trip Advisor

Ingredients

3-4 tbsp Mayonnaise (jarred or homemade if you can be bothered!)

1-2 cloves of garlic* (depending on how brave you are!)

Lots and lots of freshly chopped or dried parsley

Lemon juice to taste (fresh or concentrated)

Salt to taste

* I find bashing and finely chopping rather than crushing helps prevent that awful taste in your mouth the next day. Sorry no cures for garlic breath here!

Method

1. Throw everything in a pretty dish and stir. Easy peasy!
2. For best results leave covered in the fridge for at least an hour – tastes even better the next day!
3. If I am in a rush, I substitute the fresh garlic for dried garlic.

Serving Suggestions

• A must with paella – one day I may reveal that recipe too!
• Goes perfectly with fingers of toasted pitta, drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt – mouth watering heaven! 
• My twist on Patatas Alioli – roast some diced potatoes with olive oil, rosemary and sea salt and pour/dollop the Alioli over the top! Yum yum!
• Amazing in sandwiches or wraps instead of butter or plain mayo.
• Gorgeous stirred into homemade soups and pasta dishes.
• Try this for a simple but delicious lunch: serve with fresh bread, olives, cheese, chorizo and sliced tomatoes sprinkled with sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a glug of extra virgin olive oil or even better truffle oil! All washed down with a nice cool glass of sangria!

Variations

• Add some chopped fresh chilli for a spicy kick.
• Use roasted garlic instead. You may need more cloves depending taste. A lovely recipe is at The Hungry Mouse - Roasted Garlic Three Ways
• My son’s favourite has 1-2 tsp Paprika added to it. 
• Goes great with hot paprika too.

My son's favourite - Alioli with paprika

Interesting - Alioli actually means garlic and olive oil – I may try this recipe this weekend! Spanish Food - Alioli - Olive Oil and Garlic Sauce

Oh There Are Plenty Health Benefits Too:

Garlic has a vast array of health benefits; its anti bacterial - so great for fighting coughs, colds and candida, warts and toothache. It increases antioxidant levels so a great anti-ager. It has antibiotic properties so good for acne. Great for high blood pressure, cardiovascular health and high cholesterol. It is also believed to regulate blood sugar levels by increasing the levels of insulin so good for diabetics.

Parsley is rich in vitamin C, A and beta-carotene. It can help reduce the risk of diabetes, is cancer fighting, great for cardiovascular health and a healthy immune system. Great for reducing the symptoms of asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. And with antioxidant properties it helps protect against those darn free radicals in the environment stressing and trying to damage our precious skin - what more could you want?!

Lemon - an antioxidant so great for the skin, rich in vitamin C - great for colds and aids digestion. It's high in Potassium so good for high blood pressure and is a diuretic so helps rheumatism and arthritis.

The mayo is... well the naughty bit!

Enjoy – I’m off to make some now - can’t resist!

Are you using the right Lip Balm?

Want gorgeous, kissable lips like these? Then read on...

Unlike the rest of our skin and face our lips do not produce sebum (keeps our skin and hair moisturised). That is why they get chapped and dehydrated, especially in the dry and cold seasons.

Mineral oil or Paraffin (cheap by-products of petroleum) based lip balms draw moisture away from the lips making you lick them, drying them out further. You should try to look for a lip balm that contains shea butter or beeswax which attracts moisture from the air to the lips and conditions them. You might be surprised to hear that famous brands like Carmex, Dior and Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Cream all contain petroleum based ingredients.

Now you may be thinking "but I can’t live without my Vaseline" – just take a minute to think why you are lip balm addict?

Is it because as soon as it's worn off, your lips are dry again and desperate for more? Or...

Is because it’s your wonder product and it keeps you lips soft all day long and you hardly ever have to reapply?

If you are using the right lip balm you shouldn't have to constantly reapply. So next time you go to buy a lip balm – have a close look at the ingredient list. Don’t we all long for smooth kissable lips?!

Here are some natural balms I love.

Aveda Lip Saver SPF 15 soothing and moisturising botanical balm. With antioxidant rich beeswax, refreshing cinnamon leaf, clove and anise oil. Has sunscreen and antioxidants to protect the lips from UV and other harmful environmental factors. £11.50

Neal’s Yard Organic Shea Nut and Rosehip Lip Formula keeps lips soft and smooth with moisture replenishing organic shea nut butter and hydrating rosehip oil. Rich in moisturising vitamins A and E. £7.05

Eve Taylor Seal & Protect Lip Balm SPF 10 vitamin E rich balm with nourishing shea butter and beeswax and hydrating jojoba seed oil. Soothing and healing calendula and a hint of cooling mint and sweet orange. The natural sunscreen protects against the elements all year round great for sun or wind damaged lips. Great on any sore or chapped skin including nose and hands. Available from Rituals Beauty for £4.79

Could there be something other than the weather making your lips dry?
During my consultations I use Eve Taylor’s System of Analysis* to help detect where the skin problem originated, holistically looking at the physical as well as the emotions to help us understand the cause and effect. It really is fascinating stuff!  (By the way beauty therapists don’t diagnose medical conditions - this is a doctor’s role).

* Each part of the body influences the other and if you can find the origin of the cause of a problem you can help restore balance - Eve Taylor OBE

Using this system we know that dry cracked lips can relate to problems with the intestine, so we then look into whether you suffer from things like IBS, constipation or other digestive problems. Little things like changes to your diet and lifestyle can really help.

To order any product from Rituals Beauty, call 0789 4120073 or email hello@ritualsbeauty.co.uk. If you aren't local, I offer a postal service for a little extra cost.

The Marvellous Medicinal Marshmallow

If you suffer from any of the following then grab a Marshmallow. Yes I said Marshmallow...

If you have asthma, bronchitis, respiratory problems, bladder infections, sinusitis, sore throats, fluid retention or digestive problems such as IBS, then marshmallows could help.

The sap from the marshmallow root has a high mucilage content which helps the body expel excess fluid and mucous and can soothe the mucous membranes and a dry hacking cough. Originally it was used medicinally as a remedy for sore throats. Stoma nurses often recommend it for people who have had an ileostomy due to serious digestive complaints including Crohn's disease or bowel cancer.

Marshmallow is a natural source of beta-carotene (antioxidant), amino acids (proteins essential for every bodily function), minerals and vitamins. You can take it as a supplement from Health Food shops or even better treat yourself to some delicious handmade Veggie Marshmallow’s from Moonraker's Marshmallows. NONE VEGGIES please don’t look away, there is a reason I am recommending the veggie ones. This is because they are made with marshmallow root and not gelatine (a protein substance derived from collagen, a natural protein present in the tendons, ligaments, and tissues of animals).

The use of marshmallow to make sweets dates back to Egyptian times. Marshmallows were originally made by whipping the sap of the marshmallow root which was very labour intensive. In the late 19th century, French manufacturers discovered other ways to create a chewy base using egg white or gelatine combined with modified corn starch.

Don’t you just love it when you find out sweets are good for you?! I wonder if Haribo can get rid of headaches?!