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Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

5/25/2021

Gluten free, healthy and looks appealing…? Can it be?

I am happy to say this one is a winner in all the above categories. Just a little pre-planning is needed as the dough requires refrigeration before cooking. I made the dough the night before and baked the cookies the next day. My colleagues did a taste test and gave them rave reviews! They loved how soft and chewy they were. When I got home the remainder of the cookies had been eaten by my family. I knew we had a winner when no one suspected they were actually healthy, as well!
There is a very slight coconut taste so if you do not like coconut try substituting the coconut oil for grass fed or vegan butter.
This is the perfect food to bring out to a picnic this weekend along with the Rhubarb Lemonade.

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes approximately 14 to 18 cookies

½ cup smooth almond butter
⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
6 tablespoons maple syrup
1 egg (or flax egg)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup almond meal
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 cup dark chocolate chips or dark chocolate bar broken into small pieces

In a large mixing bowl combine the almond butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, egg and vanilla extract. Blend together until smooth. Add the almond meal, baking soda, and salt. Stir until just combined. Fold in the chocolate chips or pieces.

Place the cookie dough in the fridge for at least an hour, but up to 24 hours. You want the dough to be firm.

Preheat the oven to 350 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Scoop out rounds of dough about 2 inches apart as the cookies will spread.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the centers are puffy. Cool before serving.

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Two New Rhubarb Recipes to Share with You

5/25/2021

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Two Treats today! Rhubarb is in season, oh yes it is!

Looking for a nice mild pudding that you can use as a base for any type of topping? Here you go! The possibilities are endless. In this version the rhubarb is a nice contrast to the milder base. If your rhubarb is green you can add one small beet diced into the rhubarb for color. Remove it before serving or leave it in. I used canned light coconut milk but any type of milk will work. Take the hard topping off and whip it with some sweetener to make a thick whipped cream. I served it with a fresh strawberry on top. I love strawberries and rhubarb together. Yum!

Chia Pudding with Rhubarb
Serves 2

Chia Pudding

1 cup (250 ml) light coconut milk*
1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons chia seeds
Zest of a lemon

*If using canned coconut do not use the hard topping. You can save this part and whip it with some sweetener to make a whipped cream.

Rhubarb Compote

3 stalks rhubarb, ( 1 cup roughly chopped)
Juice of a lemon
1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup to taste.

Instructions

To make the Pudding:

Add the coconut milk, honey, and vanilla to a bowl or jar. Whisk to combine.

Add the chia seeds and mix again, then cover and refrigerator for at least and hour, or until the seeds have gelled and the pudding is thick.

Rhubarb Compote:

Place the rhubarb, lemon juice, and honey in a small saucepan.

Cover the pot with a lid and turn to medium heat and simmer until the rhubarb is soft, about 10 minutes.

Set aside to cool fully.

Place pudding in a serving dish and place compote on top. Eat as is or add a dollop of whipped coconut or some diced strawberry.

This is a strange drink that I thought would be too sour but instead is refreshing and really does taste like lemonade. Your guests will not know that you have made it with rhubarb. The original recipe contained 4 cups but I found it a bit strong so I doubled the water. You might also want to increase the sweetener or try Monkfruit, Swerve, Truvia or even maple syrup.

Rhubarb Lemonade

3 stalks rhubarb chopped (2 cups)
1 to 2 litres water (4 to 8 cups)
Juice of 2 lemons (about ⅓ cup)
¼ cup (60 ml) raw honey

Place the rhubarb and water into a medium pot and heat on high. Once the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for about 5 minutes, or until rhubarb is soft.

Remove the pot from the heat and puree until smooth. Strain the mixture, then whisk in the lemon juice and honey.

Place in the refrigerator and cool for at least two hours or until cold, before serving.

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Immune System Deep Dive - Information from Conversations with Susanne

5/12/2021

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Information presented in Conversations with Susanne: An Interview with Dr. Brian Smuk about the Immune System .

In this interview Dr. Brian and I take a deeper dive into what you need to do to support your immune system especially when it is challenged by a flu, virus, the common cold or more serious health challenges.
It is important to recognize that your immune system is an actual system that functions well when it's in balance and harmony. Research is looking at the effects of lifestyle choices on the immune system and although we are focusing mostly on supplements it is important to recognize the importance of other factors such as:

Nutrition
Sleep
Exercise
Your ability to process stress in your life
Relationships
Smoking
Toxic Exposure
Alcohol and Drug Use
Over the counter drug use, pharmaceuticals and antibiotic use

In regards to supplementation for a stronger immune system the Basic protocol includes:

A Greens drink - these contain enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics
EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids) - these are the healthy fats in the form of Omega 3’s.
Vitamin D - get your D levels checked and take accordingly ( most people need at least 5000 units)
Vitamin C - 1000 mg for maintenance and increase to bowel tolerance when needed
Zinc - 90% of people are deficient in this important mineral

Next we add Accelerators and Anti’s (supplements that work like an antibiotic):

Accelerators are typically site specific homeopathics or botanicals such as:

Echinacea - increases the number of white blood cells
Mushroom Extracts - Chaga, Reishi, Turkey Tale, etc. boost the immune response
Oscillococcinum - is a homeopathic remedy said to shorten symptoms of colds and flu
Arsenicum, Belladonna, Ferrum phosphoricum are all remedies that can be used. Seek out a practitioner for help choosing the right remedy for you.

Anti’s are those supplements that are generally antimicrobial, antiseptic, antibacterial, and/or antifungal. They are:

Iodine - this ancient remedy is a mineral that helps grow and repair damaged cells.
Colloidal Silver - an antibacterial agent
Oregano Oil - antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
Garlic - it helps the body resist or destroy virus, unwanted microorganisms and infections
Ginger and Turmeric - both reduce inflammation and strengthen the immune system
Elderberry - high in antioxidants and vitamins, prevents and eases flu and cold symptoms
Black Walnut - used to treat parasitic worm infections, infections and cancers.

Watch our video on my Youtube channel, Susanne Jakubowski, https://youtu.be/Jb7-857aAXw and https://youtu.be/1LFo4BXUyi8 to get a deeper understanding on how to use these remedies.

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Changing your Microbiome to improve your Health

5/2/2021

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Gut Health - Time to make a change!
The really exciting news regarding your microbiome is that it only takes 3 days of eating for health to change. It does take longer to heal the gut lining itself (3 months to a year depending on actions taken) but in the meantime you will start to feel better both physically and mentally! Cravings will dissipate, weight will drop off, hormones will balance, mood will improve, inflammation will lessen, you will get better sleep, and lastly, gas and bloating will disappear. Hopefully, feeling this much better will be the incentive to keep you on track.
Here are my recommendations for healing the gut:

Feed your gut prebiotic foods which are the foods that feed the healthy bugs in your gut. Specifically, eat pomegranate, apples, asparagus, banana, beetroot, cabbage, garlic, leeks, oats, snow peas, and shallots/scallions. A little more unusual but equally effective are green banana flour, chicory root and dandelion greens.
Eat probiotic foods such as yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, and pickles. These foods have live microorganisms in them or beneficial bacteria which have profound effects on all systems in your body. Without the prebiotics, probiotics are not as productive. You need both.
Eat foods high in digestive enzymes like pineapple, papaya, mango, raw honey, bananas, avocados, kiwifruit, ginger and most fermented foods as listed above. Our bodies need digestive enzymes to break down food into smaller molecules and a lack in this area can result in gas and bloating or increased food intolerances. If you do not have a gallbladder you should be taking digestive enzymes daily.
Eat fiber rich foods such as beans, whole grains, apples, spinach;, broccoli, flaxseeds, raspberries, carrots, chia seeds and quinoa. Fiber increases the transit time of food being digested and ensures regular elimination. Food left too long in the body allows more toxins to be released into the blood.
Skip the sugar and artificial sweeteners as they cause gut dysbiosis, an imbalance of the gut microbes. Sugar feeds the bad bugs and smothers the good ones creating ama or yeast in the body. Artificial sweeteners destroy the gut lining and increase certain strains of bugs that are linked with metabolic disease. Aspartame has been shown to raise blood glucose levels just like regular white sugar.
Go on a chemical free diet - chemicals in our foods, household products and in the environment can negatively affect our microbiome by killing microbes, changing their growth rate and changing or killing off the nutrients in the gut. All those vitamins and micronutrients may never be absorbed into our systems if the toxins kill them off first. Soak your fruit and vegetables before eating as it helps remove pesticides and kills bad bacteria.
Eliminate Gluten - this is still a controversial topic but more and more research is pointing to the benefits of eliminating gluten for the health of your gut microbiome and general gut health . Gluten triggers the immune system to react and it reacts with inflammation or irritation to the small intestine. Digestive dysfunction like gas and bloating are often the result.
Consider intermittent fasting - if you want to heal your gut then you need to give it a rest from the constant barrage of foods; we are not only eating too much we are eating constantly and our bodies can not cope. They are spending so much time digesting they never have time to repair and heal. Try not eating any food after 7 p.m. and leave at least 8 to 12 hours before breaking your fast.
Reduce stress - the root cause of all disease can be attributed to stressors. Psychological stress isn't the only type that affects the gut microbiome. Environmental stress, toxic overload, sleep deprivation and anything that disrupts the circadian rhythm can negatively affect your gut microbiome. Not providing your body with the proper nutrients puts an incredible physical stress on the body as does eating the wrong foods. Reduce stressors and learn to cope with those you can not change.

Heal the gut and you heal the body. This may be one of the most important journeys you take on your way to good health. It involves some dedication and lifestyle changes but it can be done. You will see symptoms, aches and pains and even some diseases disappear with a healthy gut.

Please share and stay tuned for part 4, supplements for the gut.

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Susanne's Blog

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Two New Rhubarb Recipes to Share with You

Immune System Deep Dive - Information from Conversations with Susanne

Changing your Microbiome to improve your Health

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