Cooking Club will be making new truffle variations for CoolTan Arts' International Women's Day Thursday 6th March. We are looking for 2 or 3 people to to help design and make them? Please contact Jill at CoolTan Arts. 0207701 2696 or jillcooltanarts@gmail.com

Our Valentine's Day Love Truffles for all....recipes and nutritional values

Love Truffle No. 9*

Cranberry, Apricot and Chocolate: (makes 48)

(Vegan/Nut-free)

2 cups dried apricots

2 cups dried cranberries

2 teaspoons orange zest

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 large bar of dark chocolate,  or 3 tablespoons raw cacao powder + 1 dessertspoon Xylitol sweetener

Blend everything except chocolate and xylitol in a food processor until it forms a large ball.

Roll into balls and place on parchment paper.

In a bain-marie*,  melt the chocolate bar in pieces. Or, mix together the cocoa powder + Xylitol.

Using a pair of tongs, dip one side of each fruit truffle into the melted chocolate,  or roll into the cocoa powder + xylitol mix

Allow to cool and place in the fridge to harden.

 Arabian Nights*

(Almond, Lemon, cardamom and Rose)

(gluten-free)

3 cups ground almonds

1 cup dried fruits (dessicated coconut/apricots/cranberries/dates)

2 teaspoons ground cardamons

2 tablespoons runny honey

Zest of 2 lemons

dessicated coconut to sprinkle

Pinch of salt

1 tablespoon rose syrup/rose water or 2 drops rose essence

Blend almonds, fruit or coconut, in a food processor until mixed and ground well.

Add into the bowl all the other ingredients, except the dessicated coconut (saved for sprinkling).

Wet your hands (to prevent sticking) and mix together.

Form into small balls and roll in the dessicated coconut.

Refridgerate or freeze to harden and set.

 Love Action*

Goji, Pumpkinseed, saffron

(vegan, diabetic-friendly and gluten-free)

2 heaped tablespoons raw coconut oil

6 handfuls pumpkinseeds

6 handfuls gojiberries

3 teaspoons maca powder

1 pinch saffron

1 tablespoon Cacao powder

1 pinch spice mix powder

Melt the coconut oil in a bain-marie* adding a pinch of saffron until it is a warm liquid

Then add it to the Goji berries, Pumpkin seeds, Maca, and spice and blend together in a food processor until it forms a large ball.

Roll out into bite-size balls and dust/roll in cacao powder

Allow to set in the fridge. 

* A Bain-Marie is a heat-proof  bowl sat in a pan of hot water. Foods to melt, such as chocolate, butter or coconut oil can be melted in the bowl.

Love Truffles: Nutrional values and benefits.

 Goji Berries…..They are high in vitamins and stimulate the immune system by increasing production of white blood cells.  They contain Germanium which regulates our CD4 cells which play a big role in fighting viruses. They offer an important boost to people with H.I.V infection whose CD4 cells decline.

Pumpkin Seeds…They are very high in zinc, which boosts immunity through white blood cell count. Good for fighting colds and flu’s. Eaten regularly, they will  keep reproductive organs healthy and raise sperm-count. Essential for men’s prostate care.

Maca……A naturally sweet, earthy-tasting Peruvian root powder with aphrodisiac properties. It has many reported benefits, such as: anaemia, hormone imbalance (men and women), menopause, fatigue, depression, osteoporosis. It gives energy and is used o aid weight-loss.

Raw Cacao powder …(Raw chocolate without any additions)  it is dense with Magnesium, a vital mineral that is now lacking in Western societies. Magnesium is needed for good heart rhythm and blood pressure, muscle relaxation and contraction, a strong nervous system. Cacao has a protective antioxidant influence. It also has iron, It acts as an “adaptogen” which balances mood.

Coconut Oil….is a unique type of fat called “medium-chain triglycerides”. These contain NO cholesterol, and help the liver process fats properly, using them for energy rather than storing them – which is relevant for weight-loss. You can use coconut oil for cooking and as a butter / margarine substitute. There have  been studies with -good results, where it has been seen to boost alertness and brain function in people with dementia.

Xylitol…. made from Birch bark. It is made into a natural sweetener that looks like white, granulated sugar but , in contrast, is safe for diabetics and has many health benefits:    It helps prevent tooth cavities and plaque because it is alkaline. It has been shown in research at Oulu University, Finland, to improve bone-density therefore helping prevent osteoporosis. It is used in ear infection remedies and clears out blocked wax. Will prevent candida  yeast infections and bad breathe usually caused by sugar.

 Orange and lemon zest….Both contain Bioflavinoids in the rind/zest which protect blood vessels. They have high traces of Vitamin.C for whole body health. Lemons and Limes have added antibiotic, antifungal and antibacterial properties that are so strong, they can kill 80% of bacteria naturally found in seafoods.

Cranberries ….Are well known for keeping our urinary systems in good working order and treating cystitis. Use unsweetened cranberry juice to cleanse and tone the urinary tract, gastric ulcers and gum disease.

Almonds…They contain good fats that will lower cholesterol, Vitamin. E to regenerate cells, magnesium and Potassium and B- Vitamins. which benefit the nervous system.

Cardamon….Known to Indian Ayurvedic medicine for 100’s of years, Cardamon is an aromatic seed used often in curries and Indian sweets. It has a positive action on the nerves, helping serotonin to flow into the neuro-receptors. This acts as an anti-depressant and reduces anxiety levels. It is also used to much effect on digestive problems, bed-wetting and weak bladder control- especially when linked to nerves.

Saffron…Ayurvedic medicine cites Saffron as amild  antidepressant and nerve tonic. It is now being used more widely in herbal supplements for stress. It is rich in B.Vitaminns.

Honey…Has flavinoids and antioxidants to help combat heart disease and prevent cancers. Antibacterial and antifungal for colds, flu’s and throat infections. Soothes gastric ulcers. Make sure your honey is made by bees able to free-foraging on plant and flowers rather than sugar-fed hives.

Rose…(Culinary rosewater or syrup) Is mood-balancing a mild sedative. Soothing and calming for anxiety and depression. It also contains Vitamins A,C,D,E and B3 and is an antioxidant- helping to fight against pollutions.

Recipes by Jill Newman. Photos courtesy of Amy Bradshaw and Rachel Ball.

*All ingredients can be bought locally at G.Baldwin& co  www.baldwins.co.uk
 and from Hiep Phat Chinese and Vietnamese supermarket. 
Both are on the Walworth Rd, Southwark, SE17

Coming soon......our Valentine's Day "Love Truffles" secrets revealed!!!

Shiitake Mushroom Risotto (Anti-inflammatory)

Shiitake Mushroom Risotto

This delicious recipe contains some wonderful ingredients that are major players in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

Ingredients

Vegetable bouillon

1 red onion

2 cloves of garlic

6 sun-dried tomatoes

1 stick of celery

Extra virgin olive oil

250g (9 oz) Arborio risotto rice

8-9 dried shiitake mushrooms

Dash of white wine

Handful of fresh spinach leaves

Method

1.   Make up 1 litre of stock using the vegetable bouillon – I’d advise about 1 level tablespoon to 1 litre water.

2.   Finely chop the red onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and the celery, plus a little salt. Sauté these in a large pan in a little of the olive oil until the onion is soft and becoming transparent.

3.   Next, add the risotto rice to the pan and stir the onion mixture and rice together. Add to this just enough stock to almost cover the rice. Allow this to simmer constantly.

4.   As the stock gets absorbed, keep topping it up until you are left with about 300 ml of stock.

5.   At this point add the shiitake mushrooms. The reason that these are added in so late is to protect their active chemicals which can be damaged if exposed to extremes of temperature for too long.

6.   Continue to cook in the same way – adding stock as the rice absorbs more and more. When all the stock has gone in, add the dash of white wine (maybe 80 ml.) Then allow the whole mix to cook down until the texture is close to a thick oatmeal texture, and the rice is soft. At this point add the spinach as it will wilt in seconds.

To finish, add a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to the mix and beat the mix until a creamy texture is reached.

Coming next week: An Anti-inflammatory Risotto

We have some members of Cooking Club who have rheumatoid arthritis, so we found this recipe by Dale Pinnock in his book "Medicinal Cookery".
The recipe contains foods that help alleviate the symptoms.
We will be cooking this recipe together next Tuesday 11th February, from 10.30 til 2pm in the CoolTan Community Kitchen.
If Cooking Club interests you, please contact CoolTan Arts.

CoolTan Arts

Third Floor, 224-236 Walworth Road

London, SE17 1JE

Telephone and Fax: 020 7701 2696

info@cooltanarts.org.uk

Referrals email: referrals@cooltanarts.org.uk