Keeping warm with ginger in this cold front!

This week, its all about keeping warm and keeping those germs away! 

Izelle is all about ingredients that pack a punch, and none pack more of an anti inflammatory, ant-viral, anti-fungal and warming punch than ginger! Your Ouma and Gogo were not wrong about that ginger beer or the hot ginger tea! 

With a calming effect on digestion, a soothing effect on sore throats and all of the other benefits, it seems only fitting that tis week Izelle is celebrating this root with an award winning recipe from her cookbook, Mindful Eating! 

Ginger biscuit bake

Prep time: 10 minutes

Baking time: 40 minutes

Servings: 1 large biscuit bake

500 g steamed and mashed sweet potato or butternut

300 g almond flour

50 g tahini

2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon, plus extra for topping

4 tsp ground ginger

1 tsp ground cloves

1 tsp Oryx desert salt

1 tsp vanilla essence

2 Tbsp blackstrap molasses

3 Tbsp raw honey, plus extra for topping

3 large eggs

sesame seeds for garnishing

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C and spray an ovenproof dish with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Combine all of the ingredients except the eggs and sesame seeds and mix well.

3. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl until fluffy, then add to the mixture and beat for about 1 minute. 

4. Pour into the prepared dish, garnish with sesame seeds, a drizzle of honey and a dusting of cinnamon and bake for 40 minutes.

5. Serve warm or cold.

Note: This is the perfect guilt-free dessert loaded with iron and magnesium.

Why do we make use of these ingredients:

Sweet potato 

Sweet potato is an anti-inflammatory immune booster, full of nutrients and rich in beta carotene (an important antioxidant and precursor to vitamin A). It also regulates blood sugar levels and is easily digestible because of its high fibre content.

Butternut

Butternut is an anti-inflammatory rich in vitamin C and slow-digesting carbohydrates, which makes it one of my favourite vegetables. It is also highly alkaline, lowers cholesterol and boosts immune function.

Ginger

My go-to reason for using ginger is that it relieves pain caused by arthritis, but it is also anti-inflammatory and antifungal, and boosts the immune system. I always have both fresh and dried ginger to hand. I also drink hot water with freshly grated ginger, lemon juice, raw honey and cayenne pepper to give my immune system that much-needed boost if I start feeling ill or a bit rundown.

Oryx Salt

What is the purpose of adding salt during cooking? It’s to enhance flavour, right? So why not start by using a good-quality salt to do the job? Sun-dried and unrefined with no additives will bring out the best in your food in the healthiest way possible.

Raw Honey

Salt needs sweet and vice versa to enhance taste and flavour. So when you add sweetness, choose a sweetness that has a healing effect on your body and health. Raw honey is antiviral and anti-fungal, and contains powerful antioxidants. Its helps ward off allergies, stabilise blood pressure and balance blood sugar levels. It also boosts the immune system and promotes digestive health.

Almonds

Whether in the form of milk, flour, butter or flakes, almonds are packed with nutritional benefits. They boost the immune system, help repair damaged skin, help prevent cancer, reduce the risk of osteoporosis and have alkalising properties. They are also a source of vitamin E, magnesium and high-quality protein. 

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants, lowers blood sugar levels and has a powerful anti-diabetic effect. It is anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial.

Bicarbonate of soda

You will find this in my pantry as well as in the bathroom next to my toothbrush. Bicarbonate of soda alkalises the body, and so drinking half a teaspoon dissolved in water before I go to bed at night helps neutralise the acidity build-up of the day. It also provides relief from colds and flu, and supports healthy detoxification

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