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!

Looking After Our Precious Teeth!

Today has been a big day for my little family; our 6 year old son had a big tooth removed as it has severe decay. He was extremely brave, bless him and has bounced back fantastically. Don't worry I won't show you his tooth!

Image via http://www.forlifeandstyle.com

We have always prided ourselves on having a healthy, balanced and freshly prepared diet, with the odd treat here and there. So you can imagine we were absolutely mortified when we were told it and the opposite one would have to be removed and that if he was an adult it would require a root canal!!

Image via Natural Health Tips

After chatting to the dentist we were relieved to discover the cause of the decay wasn't through negligence (we were told he has fantastic oral hygiene - phew!!) In fact her daughter had a very similar problem with the same teeth; we then discovered both of our children were raised mainly on Soya Milk and she is convinced that caused the decay.

Image via http://lactosefreemilk-s.com

Once I had stopped breast feeding, he was prescribed a special Hydrolysed formula (partly digested whey proteins) by our GP, as his lil tummy couldn't tolerate the large milk proteins in cow's milk. We then moved him on to mainly Soya Milk, ensuring it was non GM and organic. As the unsweetened variety tastes like cardboard, we decided to opt for the one sweetened with apple juice. He also had a very slow weaning process (nearly 2 years) as his digestive system was so sensitive. He was renowned for being a pained baby.

Image via http://www.itsamummyslife.com

I'm not berating Soya Milk in any way, but it appears to be the acid in the apple juice that sweetens it that has contributed to the decay, together watered down apple juice (he didn't like water) and healthy snacks; such as raisins and dried fruit bars - which we now understand their sticky texture tends to grip to the teeth! You can't win can you?!? These are great things to give your child and a much better option than sweeties, but following the tips given at the end will help you decide the right time to give them.

Interestingly when we spoke to our family Acupuncturist, he asked which teeth were decayed, when I said the 2nd back bottom teeth on either side, he said "Ah that makes sense, these point to the stomach meridian (energy pathways) and the digestive system" - fascinating!

Links between the teeth and the body.

Image via http://www.drnirvana.com/your-teeth-and-your-health

So What Causes Tooth Decay? 

Your mouth is full of bacteria; this combined with small food particles and saliva form a sticky film - plaque, which builds up on your teeth. When you have food and drink high in carbohydrates (sugary or starchy), the bacteria in the plaque turn the carbohydrates into the energy they need and produce acid. And over time, the acid in the plaque starts to break down the surface of your tooth.

Why not change your cane sugar to tooth kind Xylitol like we have? I've written an article about the benefits of this tasty, healthy, natural sugar: Delicious, Healthy and Tooth Friendly Carrot Cake - Yes Really!

Here are some simple tips we've gathered from dentists and my favourite nutritionist, dietician and chef Jane Clarke, to give your whole families toothy pegs the best chance of a long healthy life!

Image via LOC

1. Sweet foods aren't just foods containing sugar; they also include fruit, fruit juices, smoothies, sucrose, glucose, honey, maple syrup and starchy foods which convert to sugar (carbohydrates). 
2. 'No added sugar' doesn't mean it doesn't mean its sugar free!
3. Brush teeth before breakfast if having fruit or fruit juice OR wait one hour after eating or drinking anything acidic before brushing.
4. When brushing spit out the toothpaste, do not rinse out with water; this will wash away the fluoride coating that protects your teeth throughout the day.
5. Use a straw when drinking acidic drinks to reduce contact with teeth. We let our son choose his own straws to make it more fun.
6. Drink water between meals instead of juice and fizzy drinks 
7. Diet drinks aren't any better as they, as well as the 'full fat' versions contain acids, which have been said to draw calcium from our bones. Sugar and acid combined give the teeth a double hit.
8. Chew sugar-free gum for 10 minutes after meals, this will produce more saliva to help neutralise the acid in the mouth. We use Orbit Complete® with Xylitol.
9. Finish a meal with cheese or milk to help neutralise any acids.
10. Avoid giving food an hour before going to bed as you don't produce as much saliva when you are asleep.
11. Avoid snacking between meals, this limits the times the teeth are under attack from acids.
12. If having sweet treats, juice or fizzy drinks, give them with a meal rather than on their own.

Life would be Très Boring if we didn't have the occasional treat, everything in moderation I say. So these little toothy treats are dedicated to our gorgeous brave boy, who has a major sweet tooth (like his mum LOL)!

Image via kCreative Cake Pops

These were made a dental student Erica Sweet Tooth who has a passion for baking! Don't worry she's not trying to give us all cavities, like me she just believes in everything in moderation.

These were made for a Dental Practice grand opening by Sweet Simplicity Confections

Image via Azucar Con Amor

Cake for her dentist by Jocelyn Cakes

Delicious, Healthy & Tooth Friendly Carrot Cake - Yes Really!

This yummy Carrot Cake has become a firm favourite with my family, especially my son who has a very sweet tooth (he gets it from his mummy!) We are real foodies in our house and our young son has always been a fantastic eater, willing to try anything and everything. One of his early favourites were olives and salami. We are great believers in building a healthy relationship with food and are always keen to find healthy alternatives to treats, but don't want to compromise on taste. So when we discovered this recipe we were over the moon!

I know regular Carrot Cake isn't one the real baddies but still it contains sugar, however this one is super good for your teeth as it is made with Xylitol. I often pop a piece in my son's school lunch box, reassured his teeth are being looked after all day.

Xylitol is a natural sugar alternative made from birch bark. It has 40% fewer calories and 75% fewer carbohydrates - bonus! Xylitol is recommended by dentists as it's tooth kind, having a "cariostatic effect, that actively inhibitis tooth decay". It has a low GI, is ideal for Diabetics and also helps fight the nasty Candida bug as discourages growth of yeast - fantastic and even better news it won't bring your skin out in pimples!

Carrot Cake – by Sue Simkins from “Cakes from the Tooth Fairy” book - with some little extras from me!

Ingredients
110g (4oz) butter – softened
110g (4oz) Xylitol*
150g (5oz) grated carrot (grated weight) – fresh carrots give maximum flavour and goodness
Finely grated zest of 1 orange
110g (4oz) wholemeal flour
50g (2oz) plain flour
2 tsp cream of tartar
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1tsp ground cinnamon
50g (2oz) ground almonds
2 fresh eggs

Topping
250g tub mascarpone
1-2 tsp  Xylitol*
4 drops of good quality vanilla extract or paste

18cm (7in) greased, loose bottom cake tin or silicone cake tin

Optional extras from me! – dried fruit, chopped nuts i.e. almonds or walnuts – if doing this add a little milk as the dried fruit will absorb some of the liquid.

Method
1. Preheat oven to 160C (fan oven) or equivalent
2. Whizz the butter and Xylitol in a food processor.
3. Add the grated carrot and orange zest and whizz again.
4. Add the flour, raising agents, cinnamon, ground almonds and eggs and whizz until combined.
5. Add dried fruit and mixed nuts (optional).
6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin.
7. Bake for about 40-45 minutes or until a skewer inserted comes out clean.
8. Leave the cake in the tin for a few moments, then loosen the sides and bottom with a palette knife, remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
9. When cool make topping
10. Stir the vanilla extract, mascarpone and Xylitol
11. Apply with a palette knife
12. Dust over with cinnamon or coca or both.
13. Pop some chopped nuts on top too

You can also use the mixture to make 12 muffins or a tray bake (20cm/8in square lined brownie tin) – cook these for 20 minutes at 160C or until skewer comes out clean - enjoy!

* You get better results if you give the Xylitol a few turns in a coffee grinder, blender or pestle and mortar to create finer texture of caster sugar.

Sue Simpkin's - Cakes From The Tooth Fairy  is a wonderfully fun, beautifully written baking book. With gorgeous little fairy illustrations and interesting tips from the "Tooth Fairy" herself! It has loads of gorgeous treats to make with Xylitol, even some unusual ones like "Scented Geranium Cakes" and "Lavender Scones".

You can get Xylitol Total Sweet online or from health food shops or click this link to find a local supplier and read more on this lovely product. Gary Rhodes has written the forward for the book so it's well endorsed!

You can buy it from Amazon: Cakes From The Tooth Fairy

Note on Xylitol Total Sweet

The body treats Total Sweet differently from sugar and artificial sweeteners and some users find it can have a laxative effect. If this occurs reduce the amount you are using until your body gets use to it. To help avoid this effect we suggest no one uses more than 50g a day.

Images from http://www.totalsweet.co.uk/ & http://www.mrssimkins.co.uk/