QUINOA PANCAKES WITH GARLIC (VEGAN&GLUTEN FREE)

Ingredients:

- 1 cup boiled quinoa
- 1/4 cup rice flour
- 1 big boiled and mashed potato
- 1 carrot, coarsely grated
- 1/2 leek, chopped finely
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- bunch of fresh parsley, chopped
- salt, pepper to taste
- coconut oil

Directions:

1. Place a pan on a high heat and add coconut oil (about two tablespoons).

2. Add carrot, leek and garlic and mix with a wooden spoon.

3. Cook until the carrot has softened.

4. In a bowl mix quinoa with potato and ingredients from the pan.

5. Season to taste and mix with your hand until evenly combined.

6. Take a tablespoon of mixture for each panckake, form a small roundy patty and fry on medium-heated oil.

7. Garnish with parsley and organic ketchup.

RAW BEETROOT AND CARROT MOROCCAN STYLE SALAD

Ingredients:

- 3 carrots - coarsely grated,

- 1 big beet root (or 2 small) - coarsely grated,

- 50g sultanas - soaked in warm water for about 5 minuets

- 2 tbs fresh lemon juice

- 2 tsp of honey (maple or agave syrup if you don't use honey)

- spieces: 1/2 tsp of sweet paprika

                1/4 tsp ground cumin 

                1/4 tsp cinnamon

                pinch of cayenne

                pinch of salt

- 5-7 fresh mint leaves - chopped

Preparation:

1. In a big bowl mix grated beets, carrots and drained soultans (after coarsing the beets, dry them on paper towel, to avoid beetroots' juice colours the salad)

2. In a smaller bowl mix honey, lemon juice and all spieces to make a dressing

3. Mix in dressing into salad and leave in refigerator for about two hours to marinate

4. Sprinkle with mint leaves before serving

EASY VEGAN NETTLE SOUP

Nettle is wonderful health-boosting herb rich in vitamins (E, C, B₁ , K), minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulphur, iodine, silica) and antioxidants. It is also good source of protein. Nettle is perfect for clearing the blood and can help detoxify and rejuvenate our bodies.

Nettle has a very delicate taste and, in my opinion, goes perfectly with fresh spinach. Sometimes when I'm not having enough nettle, I add spinach to make the soup thicker. 

Don't forget to wear rubber gloves when picking nettles :-)

INGREDIENTS:

- bunch of fresh nettle (150-200g) - can be mixed with fresh spinach if we don't have enough nettle

- chopped onion

- 2-3 potatoes, sliced

- 1l vegetable stock

- olive oil

- salt, pepper

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat the oil in a soucepan, add onion and potatoes and simmer for about 10 mins.

2. Add the stock and cook until vegetable are soft.

3. In the meantime, put the nettle in a strainer and pour with hot water to take the sting out.

4. Chop roughly and add to soucepan, season to taste and cook together for about 3-5 mins.

5. Blend and serve!

DIY APPLE CIDER VINEGAR (ACV) FACIAL TONER

ACV toner is very easy to make at home, and also it's very cheap when compared to what we have to pay for store-bought toners. What's more conventional toners are usually mixture of harsh chemicals such as alcohol, mineral oils, parabens, astringents or fragrances.

Apple cider vinegar is a product of apples' fermentation. Malic and lactic acids found in the vinegar gently exfoliate the skin and help to treat acne and reduce redness. ACV toner also regulates the natural pH of the skin, clears and tight the pores and lightens age or sun spots.

It's really worth to try ACV as it is so inexpensive and very beneficial for the skin.

As for the ingredients all we need is raw organic unfilterd apple cider vinegar with "mother" and destilled/mineral water.

Dillution ratios:

- for sensitive skin - mix 1 part of ACV with 4 parts of water

- for normal skin - mix 1 part of ACV with 2 parts of water

- for combination/oily skin - mix 1 part of ACV with 1 part of water

No matter what is your skin type, I suggest to use sensitive skin ratio for first time to see how your skin reacts to ACV toner. Then you can experiment with the ACV ratios and see what your skins responds the most.

DIY WHIPPED (COCOA-SHEA-COCONUT-SWEET ALMOND OIL) BODY BUTTER

Here's a recipe for a homemade whipped body butter which is really easy to make without even any experience in home-making cosmetic goodies. This butter consists of four natural and amazingly nutritious ingredients that give your skin more radiant, healthy and youthful look. And these are the heros:

* Cocoa Butter - perfect for dry skin, moisturizes and nourishes even deeper layers of the skin. It's full of antioxidants which help combat free radicals and prevents skin from ageing. Cocoa butter is also great tool for fighting against stretch marks.

* Shea Butter - rich in vitamins (A, E, F), minerals and fatty acids. Shea butter helps in rejuvenating and moisturizing the skin, stimulates cellular activity, fights the effects of aging and is unbeatable in repairing rough and damaged (also sunburned) skin.

* Sweet Almond Oil - very gentle, doesn't cause allergies. Due to content of vitamins (A,B,D,E) and fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) it balances effectively the moisture in dry and irritated skin. Sweet almond oil is easily absorbed and doesn't leave skin oily or sticky.

* Coconut Oil - rich in saturated fatty acids, vitamins (B,C,E), folic acid and minerals (potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, zinc). It's naturally antibacterial, antifunginal and also protects against UV (SPF 4-6). Coconut oil has great anti-ageing properties and can help to improve the moisture and lipid content of the skin.

As for the ingredients we need half of a glass of each oil mentioned above and additionaly/optionally few drops of favourite essential oil or/and vitamin E oil.

Directions:

1. Gently melt cocoa butter, shea butter and coconut oil in a double boiler.

2. Remove from heat, add sweet almond oil (if you're adding essential oil or vitamine E add them, too) and stir all the ingredients until blended.

3. Let the mixture cool slowly, then move to the fridge for about an hour (it should start getting white and firm).

4. Remove frome the fridge and mix for few minutes until it gets white and fluffy.

5. Store in a glass jar.

Enjoy!