Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Nov 1, 2011, 2:14 pm
Today, the 1.11.11,  is World Vegan Day and is the first day of World Vegan Awareness Month 2011. Worldwide many events have been planned over the coming month and whether you are interested in taking the plunge and giving up all animal products for life, taking the Evolve 30 Day Vegan Pledge or ...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - May 23, 2011, 8:46 am
Almond trees have been cultivated since the Bronze Age and their nuts were one of the first seeds and seed oils to be used by man. Almonds are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, D and E, and contain calcium, magnesium and potassium. Almond oil comes in two types, sweet almond oil and bitter almo...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - May 6, 2011, 11:12 am
Kale is the same  cruciferous vegetable family as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli. It is thought to have originated in Asia and was brought to Europe around 600 B.C. There are three main types of kale, the original curly kale and the much later varieties of dinosaur (Tuscan) and ornamental (salad...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Apr 3, 2011, 4:27 pm
Oats (Avena sativa) are probably one of the the most useful grains as they are nutritious, healing, cleansing, slimming, and a beauty aid. They are also known as groats. Oat grains have been discovered in Egypt that dated back to 2000BC. They contain an excellent amount of manganese, good amounts of...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Mar 16, 2011, 7:09 pm
Just a quick note to wish all my Irish visitors a happy St Patrick's Day. If you haven't decided what food to serve here are a few useful, last minute, links with recipes: 1)Erin Go Bragh and That's No Blarney!  at Vegetarians in Paradise 2)Vegan St. Patrick’s Day at VegNews  ...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Mar 4, 2011, 9:00 am
We require iodine to remain healthy. Vegans do not eat eggs, fish or cheese which contain iodine, therefore we need to look for foods that do. Iodized salt contains iodine, but many of us have cut down on salt or we are using salt that is not iodized, we need to find other sources. Thankfully that...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Feb 24, 2011, 2:12 pm
We all know the wonderful clean smell of lemons and lemon essential oil has the same fresh, citrusy smell. The best essential oil is extracted from organic lemon peels by cold pressing. Lemon oil is edible and is light yellow with a greenish tinge and a thin viscosity. The major constituent in...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Feb 5, 2011, 8:12 am
Available from McFadden FarmsValentine's Day is around the corner and thinking of it brings an old, old tradition to mind. The night before Valentine's Day, young women in Europe and Britain, placed a few bay leaves either under their pillows or in little red bags pinned to them. This was said to le...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Jan 23, 2011, 1:24 pm
The nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus), a favourite plant with both children and adults Worldwide, was originally from South America. It is also popular not only for it's pretty bright flowers, easy direct sowing and fast growing, but also as an edible flower. Other pluses are that they attract hummingbi...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Dec 7, 2010, 8:41 am
For hundreds of years couscous has been a staple grain dish in the Mediterranean   countries. Basic couscous is made by rolling and shaping moistened semolina. The end result is tiny round pellets. In some parts it is also made with barley, millet, yams or cornmeal. Nowadays,the commercial, ...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Nov 5, 2010, 4:23 pm
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) is the common garden mint that most of us know. It originated in the Mediterranean region. The Ancient Greeks believed it symbolized hospitality, the Romans revered it's medicinal and culinary uses and are said to have been the first to create mint sauce. Due to it's use...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Nov 1, 2010, 8:41 am
The 1st of November is World Vegan Day and is the first day of the World Vegan Awareness Month. World Vegan Day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis of The Vegan Society U.K., to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Vegan Society in 1944 by Donald Watson. He coined the name Vegan for...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Sep 29, 2010, 6:40 am
Black beans, also known as turtle beans, are generally available both dried and canned. Like most common beans they are said to have originated in South America and Central America, becoming a main part of the diet of the Indians in those areas. Today black beans are a main ingredient in Mexican, ...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Sep 27, 2010, 9:53 am
 There are many different stories of where the herb angelica (Angelica archangelica) originally came from. Some say Africa, some say Syria and others say Iceland. What is known is that, by the Middle Ages, it grew in the many cooler parts of Europe. Angelica features both in Christian and in Paga...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Sep 9, 2010, 4:38 pm
Broccoli (Brassica oleracea italica) has been cultivated for over 2000 years. It is said to have been developed from the cabbage by the ancient Etruscans of the Eastern Mediterranean region. Broccoli only reached France around the 16th Century, and spread throughout Europe and the US around the 18t...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Aug 18, 2010, 11:24 am
There are many varieties of pine but the one that is normally used therapeutically is the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). Also known as Scotch Pine and Norway Pine. The tree is native to the North and West of Europe. The best quality pine pure essential oil is extracted from the needles of the Scots...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Aug 13, 2010, 2:29 pm
I don't know anyone who doesn't enjoy eating watermelon on a hot, Summer day. Apart from being a wonderful thirst quencher it has a cooling effect on the body. Watermelons are part of the same family as cucumber, squash, and pumpkin. The watermelon is thought to have originated in the Kalahari Deser...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Jul 30, 2010, 10:50 am
Patchouli, that wonderful essential oil loved by the Hippies of the 60's, still remains a favourite with many folk. Patchouli oil is extracted from the leaves of the P.patchouli/P.cablin plant which is part of the mint family. The plant is native to Malaysia and India and was only introduced into Eu...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Jul 27, 2010, 8:13 am
Magnesium is extremely necessary for good health, being one of the major elements required by our body. Like all minerals, magnesium cannot be made in our body and must therefore be plentiful in our diet. Thankfully, even with soils depleted of minerals and further loss of nutrition during transport...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Jul 14, 2010, 9:57 am
Strawberries are not just a tasty and nutritious fruit, they are also excellent for the health and are especially good for our skin. The Romans and the herbalists of the Middle Ages also noted their health properties, as well as their culinary delights. Nutrition wise strawberries contain exce...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - Jun 8, 2010, 1:33 pm
Image via WikipediaThere is nothing nicer than a fresh, organic, wonderfully sweet fig. Sadly they are not available all year round, so the next best option are dried figs. Figs are very nutritious, great for your health, and can be added to both sweet and savoury dishes. Figs are the fruit of the...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - May 24, 2010, 8:47 am
Oolong tea is made from the same plant, Camellia Sinensis, as white, green and black (Ceylon) tea. The difference between them is how they are processed and often the area and temperature they are grown in. Green tea is not fermented, oolong tea is partially fermented by the raw leaves being sun-wil...
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Jackie F. posted an article on The Vegan Diet - May 7, 2010, 12:02 pm
One question asked by people when becoming Vegan is, will they get enough calcium without supplementation? Yes they will, as calcium is found in most veggies, fruit, nuts, cereals and seeds. Plus the fact that plant protein does not cause calcium loss from bones, unlike animal protein. Research has...
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Jackie F. posted an article on Herbs 'n Oils - Apr 23, 2010, 8:28 am
Basil essential oil is well known for it's wonderful health properties, whereas basil infused oil which is also health giving is mainly known for it's culinary uses. The essential oil is extracted from the sweet basil plant (Ocimum basilicum) by steam distillation. It is also known as tulsi e...
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