Traditional cough syrup

Ingredients
(i) 1 piece of ginger
(ii) 1 lemon
(iii) 3 ½ cups of water
(iv) Honey (to taste)

Preparation 
(i) Wash the piece of ginger thoroughly
(ii) Wash the lemon
(iii) Cut the ginger into small pieces (without peeling)
(iv) Slice the lemon into small cubes
(v) Into the boiling water add the pieces of ginger
(vi) Let it boil for about two minutes
(vii) To the solution (water + ginger) add the lemons and let it boil for a minute
(viii) Remove the solution from the fire and cool it.
(ix) Pour the solutions into three cups
(x) Add honey to taste

Sip the syrup that will fight the cold away.

Avocado Face- Mask

The benefits of avocado whether eaten or directly applied on the skin cannot be overemphasized. Avocados contain vitamins A, D and E, natural oils and amino acids known as glutamine which are essential for helping the skin remain soft, moisturized, spots and freckles free as well as keep the skin younger.

Vitamins A, D and E help defend against free radicals, which promote damage to the cells and contribute to the aging process.

The natural oils in avocado are easily absorbed hence they nurture and replenish the skin by cleansing and restoring nutrients. This aids in stimulating growth of new skin cells and improves blood circulation in the skin. The oils also help in moisturizing the skin thus making it soft.

The amino acids (glutamine) cleanse and protect the skin from environmental damages like sun and cold.

The mask

To make a mask with avocado, one needs ½ ripe Avocado. Peel the ripe avocado and mash it to a smooth consistency. One can substitute mashing with blending the ripe avocado until it is smooth.

Wash face with warm water to open the pores on the skin. The open pores absorb the essential nutrients fast. Wipe the face lightly then massage the face with the avocado.

Leave it on the face until it is completely dry. When the avocado mixtures dries off, it can be peeled off the skin. Wash face with warm water then rinse with cool water.

When treating dry skin honey can be added into the mixture.

NB

This can be done once a week to keep the skin replenished.

Have a smooth skin this week!

Egg- Avocado Hair Treatment

Avocado is widely known for its use in rejuvenating skin and hair. It contains anti-oxidants which makes the hair softer and keeps it hydrated. The vitamins A, D and E in the avocado are of benefit to the hair.  

Its helpful fat boosts collagen that keeps the skin younger and softer. Thus, it is a good mask for the skin.

Egg protein helps in strengthening weak hair or any hair if it is not weak. It helps repair dull, damaged or coarse hair. These damages could be caused by weather conditions, over-use of hair treatment and chemicals, water from the swimming pool among other conditions.

Requirements

½ piece of a medium Avocado

1 or 2 egg-yolks (depending with the length and volume of the hair)

 Method

• Take the avocado put in a bowl and mash it using a fork or spoon (whichever that suits) till smooth
• In a separate bowl, whisk or using a fork beat the egg to a smooth consistency
• Pour the egg into the avocado and mix them to a fine mixture

How to apply

• Wash hair normally then cleanse with  shampoo
• Rinse with cool water and squeeze the excess water from the hair
• Into the palms of your hands, pour the consistency and apply thoroughly on the hair and massage evenly from the roots of the hair to the tip
• Comb the hair with wide-toothed comb until the whole head and hair is covered with the mixture
• Leave it on the head for ten- twenty minutes
• Rinse the hair with lukewarm water thoroughly

NB

Do not use hot water. The egg will be cooked on your head! It also makes the egg smelly and hard to wash out.

In the process of conditioning the hair... also apply the consistency on your face.... it will work-out well....

Also note that avocado has tiny fibres that can be left in the hair if not well rinsed. The best thing to do is stand in a shower and let the water run through the hair, or sieve the avocado before use and after mashing.

This method is an easy and inexpensive way to treat both natural and treated hair. It leaves the hair stronger, health and shiny.

Sweet Potato - Peas Mash

I visited my granny the other day and this is she cooked for me.

Ingredients

• 6 – 8 large sweet potatoes
• 2 cups pigeon peas (green)
• 1 cup of green maize
• Salt to taste
• Any green vegetables for mashing

 Method

• Wash and boil maize and pigeon peas together till tender
• Wash and chop the green vegetables
• Add the vegetables to the peas/maize in the pot
• Cover and continue cooking till the vegetables are well cooked add salt
• Add sweet potatoes to the mixture and continue cooking till ready, making sure that there is no excess water  
• Mash the mixture and serve hot

Can serve 4 – 5 people

Serve with a sauce, meat stew, mutton, chicken or eat plain

You are lucky that you can choose to serve it with whatever you want, I ate mine plain. It was sweet but you can make yours sweeter

Tip
You can always fry the food after boiling peas and maize together. Then boling sweet potatoes seperately.... it adds taste to the food.

Let me know if you have other ideas of cooking sweet potatoes or peas

Arrowroot meat stew

Ingredients

• ½ kg meat
• 3 medium carrots
• 3 medium size tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons cooking fat
• 2 medium size red onions
• Salt to taste
• 6 cups warm water

Method

• Heat the oil in saucepan
• Add onions cook until golden brown
• Add meat and cook until tender, add salt 
• Add tomatoes (skin covered)
• Add carrots and other food additives
• Cook until carrots are half way cooked
• Add arrowroots, mix well, then add water
• Cook until the arrowroots are cooked but not broken 
• Serve hot with ugali, rice or 
• it can be served on its own with some vegetables

Arrowroot & meat stew

Ingredients

Boiled arrow roots without peeling

5 medium size arrow roots
For Stew
½ kg Meat
3 medium size tomatoes
Cooking oil
2 red/spring onions
Salt to taste




Method
Wash the arrow roots (without peeling) and place them in a cooking pot
(When peeled the arrow roots tend to be soggy because water gets into them)

Peeled arrow roots

Add water in the pot to cover the arrowroots
Bring them to boil until cooked (soft) but not broken








Stew
Heat cooking oil in saucepan
Add onions cook until golden brown
Add meat and cook until tender, add salt
Add tomatoes (skin covered)
Add other food additives to your taste
Add a cup of water for and bring it to boil
Cook for about 45 mins
When ready peel the arrow roots and cut them into pieces as desired
Serve when hot

Arrow root and meat stew

Skin Rejuvenators

To spare yourself from spending too much money on your skin, invest on some high quality foods and fruits and see how your skin responds. These food types can be eaten or applied directly on the skin as masks or scrubs. What we eat many a times affect the way our skin age more than what the creams and other skin care products would. It is therefore important to watch what we eat. For a younger, supple and soft skin the following foods could be helpful.
(a) Blueberries

As their skin suggest, these dark skinned fruits are rich in antioxidants and anthocyanins.  While antioxidants help in eliminating the free radicals that cause wrinkles and age your skin, the anthocyanins help in boosting the collagen level in the body thus keeping our skin tight and prevent it from sagging.





(b) Avocados
Avocado is widely known for its use in rejuvenating skin and hair. This is because of its helpful fat that boosts collagen that helps in making the skin younger and softer. It can be used to make homemade scrubs and masks for the skin.
(c) Citrus Fruits
The fruits of the citrus family include oranges, lemons, mandarins and grapefruits. All these are known for their vitamin C which is not only good for the body but also is responsible for producing anti-aging components that keeps the skin younger. When used directly on the skin; oranges and lemons help in drying off stubborn pimples and skin rushes.
(d) Watermelon

This succulent fruit contains both Vitamin C and A which are essential for healthy and radiant skin. The seeds are also important when eaten because they contain selenium, vitamin E, zinc and essential fats which are great for preventing against the free radical damage leading to premature aging. The best way to have the benefit of the two is to blend them together for a healthy, delicious drink.




(e) Nuts and seeds
These should be consumed daily to prevent premature aging because they contain selenium and vitamin E. They also contain collagen which prevents skin sagging and wrinkling.
(f) Brocoli

Brocoli comes from the cruciferous family and is widely known for its health benefits as well as rejuvenation of skin. Together with other members of this family of vegetables i.e. cabbage, Brussels and radishes are better when steamed as the vitamins are retained.  





(g) Liver
In addition to providing iron for the body, liver has vitamin A which is important for production of Keratin. Keratin is a component for protecting the skin while iron is vital for the circulation of blood all over the body thus transporting the essential products to reach the skin as well as eliminate waste products.
(h) Soya milk
Soya milk is a good source of vitamin E and lecithin which are essential ingredients to fighting against premature aging.
(i) Oil fish
Oil from fish is essential as it contains fatty acids that help keep skin youthful and healthy.  That is why older people take oily- fish supplements for a healthier and younger skin.
(j) Brown rice and wholemeal cereals
Eating high fibre foods is good for your health as the fibre help in food digestion, increase energy as well as keep the skin glowing. These include; brown rice, oats, whole grain bread and other cereals.

Photos courtesy of  www.pachd.com