My Favourite Cold Remedies

Winter is arriving, it's that time of year again. Heaters are on, throats are dry, the cold virus is spreading....

The best call of action is prevention. The best prevention? Keep your throat moist! The cold virus loves dry throats as they can stick themselves onto you. Have a moist throat and the virus will just slide off and be digested, as per usual. 

There's lots of remedies that are out there that claim to cure the common cold virus. But lets face it - They just make the journey that bit easier!

Here are my favourite cold remedies - tried and tested by me, and my partner!

For me personally, I feel as though I recover quicker not using commercial over the counter cold drugs, but hey that's just me, I'm a minority.
My partner likes to have his usual favourite shop medicines along with these remedies.

My first personal go to remedy is Miso soup with coconut oil. I personally have a minimum of 6 cups a day, at least 2 cups of which containing a tsp of coconut oil depending how unwell I feel.
I always feel better whilst drinking this. Miso is very good for digestion and coconut oil is antibacterial AND antiviral, so it's perfect to consume during times of illness!

Organic coconut oil and miso paste is best.

You will need 
1 large mug
1 measured tbsp of miso paste (more or less depending on your taste)
half a tablespoon of coconut oil

Add boiled water to the paste and stir till it has dissolved. leave to cool for at least 15 minutes and add the oil  - Stir and be careful not to burn your lips! (that warning is from my own experience...)


Hot milk with coconut oil
This hot drink is great for soothing dry/sore/tickly throats - It's also a healthy yummy winter treat!
I use unsweetened almond milk as I'm allergic to dairy, but you will find that unsweetened almond milk is pretty low calorie too.

1 mug of hot milk (microwave at 80% power for about 1-2 minutes
half a tbsp of coconut oil
1 tsp Coconut sugar 
Leave to cool down before adding the oil to drink. 

Smoothies
A great way to get nutrients and perfect for if you have a sore throat.
Much healthier than ice cream and your body will thank you for the much needed nutrition!
Any smoothie you like will do, but here's an example.

1 chopped frozen banana/mango
half cup seedless berries (blueberries, cranberries, blackcurrants)
half an avocado/apple/pineapple
tablespoon maple or natural syrup (not refined sugar)
Milk of choice - half a pint
tbsp maca powder (optional)




Ice lollies
Great for sore throats and helps ease tickly throats - however can contain a lot of sugar. Why not make your own with real fruit juice, or coconut milk?
for example;
1 tin full fat coconut milk
2 tablespoons Maple syrup/agave
1 cup blueberries or pineapple, or your favourite fruits

Blitz the ingredients together, pour into a lolly pop mould and freeeeeeeeze!

Banana 'Nice'Cream
A great alternative to ice cream is frozen blitzed banana (if you can actually eat banana, unlike me) My partner loves this just as a regular treat and is so easy to make.
soothing for sore throats.
Pre freeze banana chunks so you can make this whenever you feel the need for ice cream!
Just blend one frozen banana with some milk. Add the milk slowly to be sure you don't end up with a smoothie! add a heaped tablespoon of smooth peanut butter to make a protein packed treat!

Mash potato, cabbage and gravy
This mixture makes a very comforting meal and is perfect for sensitive tummies, providing the cabbage is well cooked, and the gravy is gluten, dairy and yeast free. If you can't handle cabbage itself, make a cabbage broth gravy instead as cabbage is very good for the digestive system. 

CurryNot recommended for sensitive tums.
For head colds, the spicier you can handle the better!
Sweat out that cold!
For sore throats, a very mild curry using coconut cream and lots of turmeric will do.
For chesty colds, a mild but very flavorful curry with lots of onions if you can tolerate them
Curry recipe
Rogan Josh Curry

Echinacea 
A traditional herb that is known to help recovery from colds.

Olive leaf extract
Antifungal, Antibacterial, Antimicrobial - This natural supplement could help prevent a cold turning into an infection

If you really need Something to unblock your nose, Nothing works better than good ol' olbas oil in the shower/bath.
You can also buy menthol sweets which my partner swears buy.
When I treat my own coughs I try to only have buttercup cough syrup if I'm desperate, but since discovering miso and coconut oil, I've not needed to head for the medicine cabinet just yet!

Got a favourite natural cold remedy you can't live without? Tried and liked my suggestions?

Leave a comment below! :-) x

Vanilla Seeds

                 

These vanilla seeds are so tasty, and they only take minutes to make! 
Use as a tasty yummy treat, snack, or topping.

Ingredients: USA cups

half a cup sunflower seeds

3 quarters of a cup of pumpkin seeds 

2 tablespoons coconut sugar 

1 tablespoon coconut oil 

half a teaspoon of vanilla extract

In a frying pan, heat the oil on high - add the seeds and stir until all the seeds are coated in the coconut oil.
Turn the heat right down to low. Add the coconut sugar and continue to stir.
You may hear the seeds popping.
  The seeds will burn if you stop stirring them!
Once the coconut sugar has coated most of the seeds, remove from the heat and transfer
the seeds into a glass bowl.
Immediately add the vanilla extract - the seeds should sizzle. Stir with a metal spoon making sure the seeds don't touch you as they will be very hot.

I like mine on Dairy free yoghurt and sweet curries! 

Old Roads Lead To New Ones...

So finally! I had finished school with 1 gcse. The torment from the crappiest school ever had ended.
I was finally in control of what I wanted to do and study - at my own pace.
I tried a few different things, but my health as usual, didn't co-operate. I decided to take a
break - to follow some very good advice

Happy Therapy.

For a few years, mainly during school, on days when my headaches were sort of bearable, I would
find escape in video games. I loved how I could make my own decisions, run, drive, do anything at will in game.

I slowly came to realise that living in video games would never help my real life. Sure it was fun, and it can help you forget your pains, for a little while. But if you look hard enough, there can be better things to live for.

Over the years I had made lots of friends my age online, through charities - we all had chronic illnesses, so we could relate to what we were all going through. I know a lot of people don't approve, but that form of socialising was a life line for so many of us. We all helped each other through tough times.
Even online relationships occurred. They didn't last very long, but it felt real, for us.

My life took a drastic but positive turn when I was 17.
I started talking to a guy that was a member of the same charity I was with. We instantly clicked. Before we knew it we were talking over the phone and on webcam for hours a day.
But I didn't want a online relationship - I wanted something more - something real.

So after lots more talking, and introducing my parents to him online - we had permission to meet!
My parents accompanied me (I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, whether I could walk or not!)

We didn't spend much time together when we first met because I wasn't well enough, plus it was bloody freezing outside! But we got on so well, my best friend was now my date.
From there on, the ore time we had together, the more we wanted!

One problem however, was distance. Constantly travelling to and from was impossible for the both of us. The first few months of being together we lived out of suitcases. Parents supporting us, taking us from one home to the other.
But even with all that support, it was too much to handle.

I didn't want distance to be an issue anymore.
I was making my first independent decision - and that was to spend more time at my new boyfriends home.

My parents obviously were worried, and didn't want me to be away from home. It was emotional, especially for my mum, which I still find upsetting to think about...
But they still supported me with my decisions, and allowed me to do what I felt I needed to do.
I couldn't have asked for better parents. They're amazing - And still support me to this day.

I've been settled at my partners home for nearly 6 years now - time goes so quickly.
My health has been up and down,
and so has our relationship.
But with some tweaks as to how we communicate (advice from some amazing friends and family)
Our relationship is growing stronger every year.
We support each other through bad days as best we can,

And enjoy the better ones as much as possible too.

We don't know how long this journey to recovery will be - but it's a great comfort knowing that the person you're in love with is on a very similar path, someone that can relate and understand more than anyone else of what you're going through, and still willing to stick by you even when things get difficult.

A problem shared is a problem halved.

And when life is a bit too much for us to deal with, having friends on similar paths is always a great help too. I don't know what I would do without any of the ones I love. Friends, Family, and My Partner, all play a very special part in my life, and I cannot function without them.

It's always easier to solve a problem when you communicate, however difficult it may be to express how you're feeling, emotionally or physically.
If you don't explain what's happening, arguments that are easily preventable, can easily happen.

Communicate - express your feelings, good and bad. Listen. Focus on the positives. Never hold a grudge. Every negative has at least one positive - however difficult it may be to see. Life has balance.

Sometimes it just takes time to be found.

I may not have recovered from whatever is wrong with me. But I am certain that one day, I will find balance in life and health. 




It takes time to heal, and motivation to carry on. 



Doctors over prescribing medications, and meMedication and Me 

Easy 'Takeaway' Curry

The easiest, most versatile curry you will ever make!

It's Gluten free and Vegan

I don't follow exact recipes, I use what I have to bulk out the curry, so your favorite legumes and veg are all welcome to be in this curry - But I will give you some examples and basic instructions on what to do :-)

Due to the curry paste, this is not completely onion free, but I find that because I'm using a pretty small amount of the curry paste, I don't have any reactions.

Ingredients: for the sauce

1 200g block of creamed coconut - Grated
1 heaped teaspoon (or a measured tablespoon) of  Bhuna curry paste (it's entirely up to you if you want to add more for a stronger, spicier curry) 2 cloves of garlic
Black Pepper (I add lots because it adds a tiny kick, and has anti inflammatory properties)
A measured tsp of Turmeric powder (for colour) Add more if you like fragrant floral curries
half a tsp of Cumin 
Half a tsp of coriander 
1 tsp boullion stock
about 500ml of hot water, or enough to suit your favourite consistency 
That's the basics! If you want to change the taste slightly, add 3 cardamom pods, or a tablespoon of caraway seed - or use a different curry paste.

I like to add fried seeds to my curry for a sweet hint 

Basic veg and bean ideas for the curry sauce:

1 tin of ready cooked Butter Beans
200g Mushrooms
1 bell pepper - any colour
1 cup of cashews

Or:
400g cooked brown or green lentils
1 bell pepper
aubergine
200g Mushrooms

Or:
1 medium steamed sweet potato
Spinach
1 tin of cooked chickpeas


In a big pan or a wok, fry the chopped veg and minced garlic - add the grated creamed coconut and hot water followed by the beans or lentils. Stir, Add more water if needed.
Stir in the curry paste and other dry ingredients.
Heat through and stir often (medium to high heat for about 7 minutes)
turn the heat down, add more water if the sauce is drying up, leave on a low heat for about 10-15mins.

Serve how you like!

Medication and Me Part 2

You might like to read... 'Are you surrounded and covered in chemicals?' and/or Medication and Me  first.
After cutting down on domestic Chemicals, I started to wonder what the seemingly innocent  medication I was still taking, could be doing to me... 

I heard through the grapevine, that there are hospital wards dedicated to paracetamol poisoning.
Really?...
One half of my was surprised, yet the other half of me wasn't.

From my own experiences of being unwell, the first thing that doctors put me was paracetamol.
If it wasn't working, they just upped the dose! Guess what? It still didn't work...

After some years of relying on co codamol and other paracetamol related painkillers, I was talking to a friend to which she read about the dirty secrets of paracetamol.

Believe what you will, but from my personal experiences taking this drug, it all makes sense to me.

In the majority of medical trials, Paracetamol worked just as well as the placebo. (A placebo is basically a sugar pill. It does nothing.)
Pharmaceutical drugs only have to work better than the placebo in 2 trials. However, they can perform as many trials as they like.

I don't know about you, but to me, that hardly seems fair.

Everything I had watched and read about was slowly piecing together.

There are so many secrets that the Pharmaceutical drug industry keep from us, and try to cover up so many things. There are constant debates about what safe and what isn't.

Think about it- without illness and disease, Pharma' companies are not needed. How would they make money like they do, if civilisation was healthy?

In an emergency, you cannot fault western medicine. It's amazing what they can perfom and give to save lives. Modern day life wouldn't exist without it.

The problem lies with over-prescribing medications to people who do no necessarily need it.
Over prescribing painkillers, antidepressants, and antibiotics for minor problems just covers up the symptoms, it does not solve the problem itself.

Our trust to them can be like a gold mine to the pharma' industry.

What's more, is that over time, taking these drugs (for minor problems) will eventual cause side effects, which could mean that in time, you may have to take more prescribed drugs to treat those side effects, and those tablets will cause their own side affects... Before you know it, you could be taking a cocktail of different prescribed drugs just to treat side effects.
SO not only has your health declines and become addicted, dependant on prescriptions, The drug companies are rolling in your money.

I must stress that I am only complaining about prescribing medication where it is not needed.
If you have severe depression and all the natural approaches don't work, then antidepressants may be your answer to a happier life.

An example..
My dad recently had an issue of Sciatica - A trapped nerve in the lower back that affects the hip and leg. It's an extremely painful  condition to the point where some people are completely debilitated. Sitting up, or moving slowly and gently is impossible without awful pain.

The doctor recommended bed rest.. (Something that a person who works 2 jobs can't do)
And was prescribed very strong painkillers, which worked for a while covering up the symptom.. but the trapped nerve just got worse, to the point where strong painkillers worked no more.
So instead of the doctor recommending an alternative treatment to help free up the trapped nerve, they prescribed more bed rest...
And antidepressants...

How can antidepressants help a trapped nerve I hear you ask? They can't - It's just a way of saying that they can't help the situation, but here's something to make you feel as though we are helping - Plus it's something that we can make money with...

The side affects of these antidepressants took him to lala land! 'High as kite' My sister said.
My dad couldn't remember how to spell his home address to which he has lived at for 15 years whilst he was on this medication. SO not only was he spaced out, he was still in pain and could barely walk.
Something had to be done.

I know from my own experience what it's like being on antidepressants for so called pain relief. So I was instantly concerned for  my dad's health and wellbeing.

Chiropractic treatment has helped me on so many levels, and has also helped my own sciatica problems - So I instantly dug into my savings and paid out for 3 sessions at a local certified chiropractor.
My dad was a serious skeptic insistent that I wasted my money on this treatment for myself, but he was in so much pain, and so desperate, he would try anything - Plus he had to go, because I had already paid!

After his first adjustment there was immediate improvement! Halleluja!
We were so relieved. Luckily, he had only been on the anti d's for about a week, so he was able to stop taking them with no further problems

Never stop taking prescription medication without close medical supervision!


I never thought I would hear my skeptic dad talk about how good chiropractic treatment is, and how much it's helped him!
After some more adjustments, and regular stretches that he has been instructed to do, he is no free of sciatica.
He no longer sees the chiropractor unless he starts to feel symptoms return, to which he has only had to do once.

What would have happened if I hadn't had known about chiropractic treatment?
He'd still be in pain, addicted to goodness knows how many prescription drugs, probably jobless, housebound, disabled with pain...

Now isn't that ironically depressing to think about?...

My partner and I both have M.E (we met through a m.e charity)
Instead of being offered tests that we have never had before,
We are constantly being bombarded with the antidepressant talk. Because it's cheaper, and more profitable.
No thanks. These medications can be addictive, negatively life changing for people that don't suffer with depression, and dangerous.

http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2012/07/safety-warning-over-britains-most-common-antidepressant-daily-telegraph-30-june-2012/
Did you know that with some antidepressants, one side affect is suicide?

how can an antidepressant be an anti d' if it can make you SUICIDAL?!!!

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE!

But one thing that it does make, is money. lots of money.

Do your research - explore NATURAL ALTERNATIVES first
Try to treat your body as naturally as possible -

Nutrition
Chiropractic Care
Yoga
Cardio endurance training
Natural, good quality supplements if need be
De clutter your life from negative things, including people that constantly bring you down
Bring Feng shui into your home
Happy therapy - a list of hobbies
Listen to yourself!
Make time for yourself

What do YOU need?




I truly believe - That with every natural disease, there is a natural cure.

Because life is about balance. 

Medication and Me

Because of my personal experiences with western medicine, I have very little trust in doctors that are meant to treat disease.  I was over prescribed medication from a very young age, therefore causing havoc with the rest of my body.
To this day, if I go to the doctors, they try to prescribe me the same medication that has done me no favours in the past.

Here's why my trust in almost non existent towards western medicine..

From about the age of 3, I have had stomach issues. This was treated over the years with milk of magnesia, rennies, and antibiotics. I suffered a lot of ear infections, stomach bugs and coughs.

At the age of 7 I  developed acne which again was treated with antibiotic creams and tablets such as minocin-mr, Zineryt®, Erythromycin, roaccutane tablets and gel and Skinoren Azelaic Acid.

From the age of 8, I was having minor musculoskeletal symptoms (mild neck and shoulder problems, easily injured) I have never been able to hold a pen/pencil properly or comfortably.

I was on Minocin-mr for a few years combined with zineryt. When these stopped working I was given erythromycin to which I often threw up.
I was put on Roaccutane at the age of 9 (I can't remember how long I was on them for) Which has alone caused me some problems that I still suffer with to this day.

At the age of 11 I fell unwell with a 'virus' (I had no antiviral treatment) 
was bed ridden for months with no help of my GP - I was given paracetamol...

I was referred to a neurologist who sent me for an mri scan - results were normal but apparently Great ormand st found areas of my brain that had been attacked by a virus - I'm not sure if this information is correct.

The neurologist put me on amitriptyline, this drug gave me awful psychological side effects and did not help any of my symptoms.  

After 3 years of suffering I finally diagnosed with M.E at Great ormand st hospital - I have never been happy with this diagnoses. 

I had a constant headache, migraines that would last for weeks, extreme exhaustion, insomnia, stomach issues, weak, cognitive impairment.. I was bed, house and wheelchair bound for 5-6 years.

I have had no help from the NHS, just the occasional test, prescriptions that have made me feel worse,  and the inevitable shoulder shrugs... 

Unknowingly, my digestive system has been tortured for years by doctors. If only we had known at the time what the real problems were, we could have avoided pretty much all of future prescriptions I had. Tummy aches and acne would have been almost non existent if milk and gluten had been eliminated from an early age.
But it wasn't, so I'm suffering the consequences of further illness. A weak digestive system means a weak body, vulnerable to disease.

This chemical cocktail could have quite possibly caused the most chronic symptom I have now - M.E. All it took was a bit of stress to push my body over the edge - 12 years on and I am still fighting for recovery.
Painkillers and antidepressants are not going to help me - They made me worse to begin with, so why would I start taking them again now?

In  2013 I accidentally consumed dairy. I didn't realise until it was too late. The roof of my mouth and gums started to peel and become sore whilst I was eating, I spat it out but I had already consumed some of the product with my meal. Within minutes it felt like my stomach was being ripped to shred, like I had swallowed razor blades, or broken glass, being rubbed in by an invisible hand.
I went to the doctor the next day I felt so bad, I looked really unwell and couldn't stand up straight.

I was offered rennies..

FUCKING RENNIES!

I explained my frustration to my new doctor to which to my amazement he listened - he sent me off for further tests and referred me to a dietician.
Some faith had been restored...

All my tests came back normal (surprise surprise)
So I was diagnosed with ibs - ibs is basically a BIG umbrella diagnoses - Anything they can't explain about pain in the digestive system is put under ibs.

I eventually saw the dietician, clinging onto some hope that they could help me.
I was put on the FODMAP diet. I new diet that nhs is raving about claiming it helps ibs.
Sure, it helps some people, but this is me we're talking about here...

From the diet, I found that I'm intolerant to onions. So some success..

Wait for it...

I was told by my dietician to reintroduce onions.... Okay... Why? WHat's the point of eating something if I'm intolerant to it?
'There's no such thing as food intolerances'

Ummm okaaay.... So Why does Milk make me so unwell?

'You can't be intolerant to milk or gluten, you need carbohydrates to live, and calcium from milk, therefore you cannot be intolerant to them'

So suddenly in this world you can only get carbs from bread and pasta and calcium from milk...

My regained faith is going down the drain very quickly...

Ok I'm confused, so I asked her what I should do. She replied...
'start eating wheat, gluten and dairy and take Buscopan.'.

What. The actual. Fuck. (I didn't actually say that, but I wish I had!)

To this day, I am still speechless to that answer. Taking buscopan is not going to cure my problem,
it's just going to mask some of the symptoms.
Milk makes my skin go red and itch, so why the hell would I eat it?

I was so frustrated and upset, I needed help, but I wasn't getting any.
The only way I was going to get help was if I paid for it... of course, I wasn't surprised, I have to pay for all my treatments so what's the difference here..

I saw my nutritionist of whom I saw some years ago. She helped me then, she could help me now.

She put me on a strict diet of slow cooked bones and cabbage. to drink the broth.
Cabbages and bones are very good for healing the digestive system.
I had different variations of stew for about 6 weeks till I couldn't stand the taste!

I was put on a variation of supplements to take with my food to aid digestion and healing, I still take some of the supplements to this day - If I miss one, my digestive health dramatically drops.
My health maintenance is expensive. But if I don't follow these rules, I physically cannot function.

The first lot of supplements I was put on - I'm now on a different supplement regime.

If I hadn't seen a nutritionist and a chiropractor, I would be as unwell as I was 10 years ago.

So if you ask for my opinion on how to treat your health, Here's what I will always say.

If you have a small but annoying problem, and/or take pain killers most days, despite your doctor telling you there's nothing wrong, or that they can't help you...

Keep an open mind. See a holistic nutritionist, and a chiropractor.

It may just be the best investment you will ever make.

The cheapest ways to help prevent illness and disease

If you suffer with low moods, stress... Search for natural treatments.
Nutrition, counselling, CBT, Holistic therapies, yoga classes...
It's not as expensive as you might think.
Talk to them about your budget, they will try to help you as much as possible, even if it's just advice.

If you can't see a nutritionist, You can change your eating habits with the help of second hand books, like;
Patrick Holford, food is better medicine than drugs (you can get this book for less than £3 online)

Healthy recipe books
And other sources of information like;
CNM Nutrition youtube channel
Food Matters - a documentary Paul Mckenna - videos and books

These are my favourite books ^

Want CBT or counselling? But can't afford it?
Just ask or nag your doctor! It's a long waiting list, but it's worth the wait.
If you are honest to yourself and talk about the things that you want to change, be it intrusive thoughts, comfort eating, stress, ocd, anxiety...
Talking to a professional can help solve these issues.

Being offered antidepressants is a quicker and cheaper way to make you feel as though you are being treated.
They don't work for many people! 

They just create problems of their own.
Once you're on them, it's very difficult to get off them, it takes time, and it can make you unwell. Some people have to stay on them forever because their bodies have become too dependant on these useless drugs.

If you can't afford Chiropractic care - Why not try a beginners yoga class?
Just inform your tutor  of any health issues and pains you have and they will help and teach you ways round them. If yoga is still too difficult, visit your local swimming pool as often as possible! Floating and gentle stretching is a great pain management method, not to mention relaxing, without breaking the bank.

I find it very difficult to afford chiropractic treatment , but it helps me a lot - I personally can't live without it, but I am a chronically ill person - as much as I hate to admit it.

A healthy person with one or two problems may only need to see a chiropractor a few times, it really depends how mild or chronic your problem is. Your health and wellbeing is worth the investment.

We would pay £35 for a spa treatment, so why not for a treatment that could help, possibly cure long term pain?

With the help of holistic alternative treatments, natural supplements and pure motivation, I no longer take painkillers.

I'm in just as much pain as I used to be when I was taking painkillers every day, it has made no difference to my suffering. But I'm sure my liver and kidneys are thanking me for no longer swallowing toxic pills.

Maybe I'm just one in a million, but western medicine just does not work, or agree with me.
















Possibly the best tip of all? Visit nature, and listen to it. It will help you clear your mind and focus on the things that matter to you most.

About Me

Simple Gluten Free Vegan Chickpea and Mushroom Pie

The easiest and rather cheap pie filling I have ever made! I was really tired and wanted something quick, so I came up with this.
I've yet to perfect gluten and rice free vegan pastry, but it wasn't a bad attempt :-)

Instead of pastry you could add mashed potato, mashed swede and carrot, mashed sweet potato, or even mix the filling with pasta - it's totally up to you!

Serves 4 as a pie

Ingredients:

For the filling:

400g chestnut mushrooms
2 teaspoons gfv boullion or a stock cube
2-4 tablespoons millet flakes/quinoa flakes/oats
tablespoon chia seeds
400g tin of ready cooked chickpeas, or your favourite legume
tablespoon tomato puree
salt and pepper
optional extras...
one medium carrot chopped
25g peas 

chop the mushrooms ideally in a food processor and sweat down in a wok on a medium - high heat
once the mushrooms have become watery, add the boullion, tomato puree, chickpeas, millet flakes and chia seeds - stir.
Add hot water if the mixture looks dry.

Once the chickpeas are heated through it's ready to eat as it is! Serve with mash potato or pasta and veg,

For the pastry that's in the photo...
3 measured tablespoons of each,
buckwheat flour, chestnut flour, almond flour
heaped tablespoon coconut oil
level tablespoon sunflower oil
tsp xanthan gum
tablespoon soya protein powder (optional)
water to bind

Bind the flours and fats together till they form breadcrumbs.
Add water a little at a time, you don't want to mixture to become too wet.
once your dough seems pliable, roll out on greaseproof paper then either bake separately at 200oc for 15-20mins or on top of the filling  at 180oc fan for 20-30mins

My Teenage Hell

If you have read my other blog posts, you will know that I have been chronically unwell for 12+ years.

The first 6 years of this illness are pretty much just a painful blur. The bits I do remember are stressful and upsetting.

I was 11 years old, just a child. Bright, competitive, athletic and had many friends.

I still remember the first day I became unwell.
My life path taking an unplanned and very drastic turn, with a headache and sudden drop in energy.

I was a stressed child, which certainly didn't help the situation, but sometimes I wonder if that was just the beginning signs of the illness starting to take hold.
I was bedridden for weeks.
  The doctors diagnosed me with a virus. I would recover soon.
Family health professionals gave me intense therapy on and off for months.
I didn't improve - if anything, I was getting worse.

Classmates slowly stopped talking to me. Teachers getting less tolerant.
I should be better by now, surely.
I was automatically accused for being a truant. Faking it. - It was assumed that I didn't like school, so hid behind the 'I don't feel well' excuse.
Of course I didn't like going to school...
I felt truly and utterly shit!Who would like to go to school, college, or work, when you're feeling like death and not have an explanation why?!


That was basically my miserable life for the first 5 years of being unwell. Pushed from one doctor to another - accused as a faker.
It took 3 years of fighting doctors to get a diagnoses. I was eventually diagnosed with M.E...
I'm not even sure that having that diagnoses has helped me at all...
Because even after a diagnoses, I still wasn't being taken seriously.

'we all get tired'    'you can't be that ill'  'I get headaches, why are you so different?'    'are you better yet?'   'just push yourself'   'do you want to stay unwell forever?'

The list of patronising and embarrassing things people have said to me could fill a page...

The school I went to treated me very badly, cheating me out of a decent education, refusing to give me home tuition even though I was clearly entitled to it.
They would threaten my parents with legal action if I did not attend school at least an hour a week...
It was all lies. False, shameful blackmail. It was a money saving scheme. 
If a child does not attend school for 15 working days due to medical reasons,
they are automatically entitled to home tuition.
Information Here

The school played on my parents fear, hoping that they didn't know their legal rights.
The pathetic little arseholes that ran the school at the time knew exactly what they were doing.
It was unfair and caused unnecessary stress for me, and my family. What's worse, the school made all of this feel like it was my fault.

My parents were being blackmailed for no reason. But it was scary, so it worked.
I forced myself into school for an hour a week - If I really couldn't manage it, the house would be bombarded with phone calls and letters from the school, pressurising my parents to force me into school.
When I did go into school, I still had no peace, or praise. I was only to be nagged and bullied by teachers and students. They were too naive and ignorant to understand what I was going through.
The teachers in my eyes couldn't be bothered to even find nor believe what was wrong with me.

Most nights, suffering with an excruciating headache coupled with a useless aching body that felt like cast iron.. I often believed that I wouldn't wake up the next morning (if I actually got to sleep)
To my surprise, and sad to say, often disappointment, I did.
The pain was so extreme, even on strong painkillers - was a never ending torture. Pain so bad that it would even wake me up from sleeping. So insomnia decided to kick in as well.

Something must really hate me right now.

Steps forward... 

The last year of school and finally, we managed to get home tuition - Some relief!
I could finally relax a little, and attempt an education without dealing with the dickheads that made my already painful and miserable suffering life a living emotional hell.

I managed to squeeze out 1 GCSE. It's better than none! But if the school had treated me with the respect that I deserved, I could have achieved more.

With home tuition sorted - I could focus on rehabilitation. I started using a wheelchair to go outside, and started going for short car rides that weren't doctor visits.
All steps in the right direction.
To my relief, I'm not as sick as I used to be - but I'm still in pain, and I still struggle to do standard routines.
But as long as I praise myself for the progress that I have made, that's all that matters.

One thing I have noticed about writing this is that it had unleashed a lot of negative memories that I buried.
Buried negativity never leaves nor heals.

I'm utterly disgusted with how my family and I was treated during the most difficult time of my life.
I wish I could sue their sorry arses for every penny they have....

But lets just rein ourselves back into the real world...

One of the many things I have taught myself - and try to practice as often as possible are these 4 things.

1- Remember - However painful. Don't bury things, because they will rise sooner or later.
2 - Accept - Accept that these things happened, face them.
3 - Forgive - It may take time,
but holding a grudge will only manifest more negativity into your present day.
4 - Move on - Once you have accomplished the first 3 things, you will be able to move on.


Writing this post has forced me to remember many awful memories and their emotions that are linked to them.
I am learning to accept that they happened.
I have held a grudge for many years now, it has done me no favours.
I am now learning to forgive those people. They knew no different. I have not affected their lives in any way, so why should they affect mine any longer? 

Just keep walking through your mind..




Old Roads Lead to new ones

About me

Gluten/Dairy Free Cupcakes

Chocolate 

Left, Cappuccino - Right, Lemon 

 This recipe may already exist, but I certainly didn't find this in any book!

After trying hundreds of different recipes, I decided to just give up and experiment 

by making my own recipes.

This is the easiest, most versatile,
cupcake recipe I hope you will ever find.

It works for me, friends and family every time. You can change the flavour so easily without harming the texture or bake. 

Flavour variations are below the recipe.  

Sadly the gluten free flour I used at the time contains rice flour as like most ready made gluten free flours do, but fear not, I am on a mission to make delicious cupcakes without the need of rice flour when I have the energy - so watch this space :-)

This recipe can be made vegan.
Just swap the eggs for 1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce, or a tablespoon of ground chia seeds mixed with 2 tablespoons of vegan mylk and mix.
Watch this blog for specially made gluten free vegan recipes
in the future.

For best results weigh in ounces as that's what I use when I make these cakes. I have converted the measurements using an online converter from ounces into grams for those who do not have scales that measure ounces.

Tip - Mix well! Sounds simple, but it can so easily be missed. Traditional cakes don't always require lots of mixing, but for gluten free they require an extra bit of care. They take a little longer to make using a wooden spoon but it's worth it, don't be tempted to get the electric whisk out! If you really have to use an electric whisk or cake mixer, use it on the slow settings only.

ALWAYS add Vanilla extract no matter what flavour you're doing, otherwise it just won't taste right. (at least that's what I think, and I'm pretty fussy!) 

The fuss pays off, because this recipe has won me competitions!

Vanilla

You will need -
A muffin tin that holds 12 cakes, or 2 fairy cake tins
12 medium-large paper cases, or 24 fairy cake cases
a silicon cake spatula (so there's no batter wasted)
Medium mixing bowl
Ice cream scoop or 1/4 us cup and spoon
Makes - 12 large cupcakes or 24 fairy cakes 

Pre heat oven to 160oc Fan and line your muffin tin

Ingredients:

6oz / 171g gluten free self raising flour
6oz/ 171g golden caster sugar
6oz/ 171g dairy free margarine that's suitable for baking
2 medium/ large Eggs
1 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
1 teaspoon gluten free baking powder
1 vanilla pod or a tablespoon of vanilla extract

Combine the marge' and caster sugar
Fold in half the flour mixture then add the eggs/egg substitute, vanilla (other optional flavourings)
and xanthan gum.
Beat well!
Add the remaining flour and baking powder and mix until fully combined

Spoon out the mixture into the paper cases as evenly as possible, with the other end of a spoon, stir the batter in the cases to make the batter more even (this helps make a uniformed bake) Make sure the oven is pre heated to 160oc fan

Bake for 25 minutes, once out the oven  transfer the cakes to a wire wrack, leave to cool.

Decorate with your favourite butter cream and decorations and munch!

Flavour variations:
Chocolate chip - pinch of salt and 2oz/55g chocolate chips
cappuccino - use 3oz of soft dark brown sugar and 3oz of golden caster sugar instead of 6oz of caster' with half to 1 tablespoon of espresso coffee powder depending how strong you want to coffee to be (do not add water!)
Lemon - Grated lemon zest of a whole lemon with juice of half
Almond - add 2oz/55g of ground almonds and a cap full of almond extract (optional)
Chocolate - Add 2oz/55g cocoa powder, pinch of salt, and extra half a teaspoon of baking powder and half a tsp of espresso coffee powder (do not add water)

try these combinations:
Almond lemon,
chocolate chip coffee
Chocolate, coffee (and chocolate chip)