The Health Benefits of Mint

By Ozlem Warren on May 16, 2012 in Health Benefits of Spices 4

The Health Benefits of Mint

There are many great uses for mint, whether it be for freshening your breath or adding some flavor to recipes, including your Turkish and Mediterranean dishes. Mint is also good for your body as well. Here are some of the health benefits of mint.

Respiratory Disorders: Mint helps open up your breathing passageways in your nose, throat, bronchi, and lungs. Mint also soothes the throat and gives relief to those suffering from cough, colds, bronchitis, and other respiratory disorders. Many balms also incorporate the use of mint. To find out ways in which you can use mint and other foods for helping others lead healthy lives, as well as information on educational opportunities for a career in nutrition, click here.

Digestion: Mint contains compounds that activate saliva glands in the mouth and glands in the stomach and intestines that secrete digestive enzymes, all of which are important in the process of digesting foods. It is good as an appetizer, in a main course, and also after a meal with some mints or mint tea. Many great chefs will incorporate mint into meals knowing full well about its digestive benefits.

Nausea and Headache: The aroma that is produced from mint can be a great antidote to nausea. Sometimes taking in the aroma of some freshly crushed mint leaves or smelling some mint oil is enough to do the trick. Mint is also a great remedy for headaches. Simply rub some mint balm or oil on the forehead and around your nostrils.

Immunity: Mint contains compounds with antiseptic properties. This helps inhibits the growth of bacteria that contribute to viral infections and other illnesses.

Oral care: This is probably the most well known health benefit of mint. With its germicidal and breath freshening properties, mint is utilized in many oral care products, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, floss, and breath fresheners.

Skin care: Mint’s antiseptic and purifying properties make it great for getting rid of pimples, rashes, and skin infections. It can also be used for treating bites from such insects as mosquitoes, wasps, bees, and hornets.

Cancer: Some research has suggested that mint contains anti-carcinogenic properties that help prevent the development of cancer. Also, the digestive aiding properties of mint help flush any existing carcinogenic material out of the body more rapidly and efficiently.

Burns: By applying mint balm, oil, and juice to burns, you can help heal and soothe the skin.

Body heat: Mint can help reduce body heat. Drink a cold glass of mint juice on a hot summer to day to reduce your body temperature and lessen your risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Stomach ache: Primarily due to its digestive aiding properties, mint helps get rid of stomach aches and reduce abdominal pain.

Sources:

http://rajanjolly.hubpages.com

http://www.organicfacts.net

Delicious Pasta with Caramelized Onions, Bell Peppers and Chilli Flakes

By Ozlem Warren on May 14, 2012 in Pasta – Makarna 15

Some days are simple pasta days in our house. It is ready in no time, and you can still pack in a lot of flavor using only a few fresh ingredients. I have been recently making this pasta dish a lot; it is delicious, ready in less than 30 minutes and you feel good about eating and serving fresh, healthy food. (For instance, there are so many health benefits of onions, from helping to prevent common cold to heart disease.) The sweetness of the onions and the bell pepper balance the tangy lemon juice and the little heat from the chilli flakes so well. This dish certainly saves the weekday supper for us; I hope you enjoy it too.

Serves 2-3

Preparation time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes

350gr/12oz penne pasta

I medium onion, cut in half and thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper, deseeded, quartered and thinly sliced

Juice of 1 lemon

30ml/2 tablespoons olive oil

5-10ml/1-2tsp red pepper flakes/chilli flakes

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Handful of flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

Grated parmesan or pecorino romano to serve

Sauteed onions and bell peppers work so well together

Heat the olive oil in a heavy pan and sauté the onions for about 5 minutes, until they soften. Add the bell peppers; give them a good mix and sauté for a further 5 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice and the red pepper flakes/chilli flakes. Season with salt and black pepper, mix well. At that point, lower the heat and let the mixture gently keep on cooking for another 8 minutes; the bell peppers will soften and the onions will lightly caramelize eventually.

In the meantime,place the pasta in a saucepan of boiling water; add a little salt and a dash of olive oil. Stir occasionally and boil for just about 9 minutes,until “al dente”. Towards the end of the cooking, take 2 tablespoons of the pasta’s cooking liquid and add to the pasta sauce, mix well. Once pasta is cooked, drain the water and mix the pasta with the sauce.

Serve hot immediately,with chopped parsley and some grated pecorino or parmesan over the pasta, if you like.

Afiyet Olsun!

Wisley in Full Bloom

After a period of (much needed) rain, we welcomed the sunshine this weekend inEngland. And what a welcome; spring is in full bloom! Here are a couple of shots to share from the RHS Wisley Gardens in England.

I have been seeing this very beautiful blue flowered tree in front of our home, and now I know its name; Hippocrepis Emerus – very pretty.

I am reserving my spot on that bench, surrounded by beautiful flowers, what a way to chill out

It is the season for the Rhododendrons, they have been in full bloom and the colors are mesmerizing. This red one is Rhododendron “Markeeta’s Prize”

With these flowers, a happy belated Mother’s Day to all who celebrated yesterday.

Best wishes for a good week to you all,

Ozlem

Petersons Fund for Children Charity Fundraiser & Some Delicious Nibbles to Share

By Ozlem Warren on May 7, 2012 in A Slice of England, Appetizers and Mezes, Salads 14

I was delighted to be a part of a good cause last week; Petersons Fund for Children Charity Fundraiser in Surrey, England.

Peterson’s Fund for Children’ is a registered local charity that supports children who struggle with cerebral palsy and other similar mental / physical disabilities. It has been in existence for nearly 4 years and through extensive fundraising efforts has provided therapy and equipment otherwise unavailable at the NHS in England. The aim of the charity is to help as many local children in need as possible in the hopes of improving their quality of life and offering them opportunities in order to maximize their individual growth and potential.

Twice a year, Charlene Peterson hosts this fundraiser and kindly opens her house to vendors to raise money for the charity. Wonderful vendors from different lines of businesses have joined forces together last week to help raise funds for the charity, and it was a big pleasure to be a part of this wonderful event. Here are some wonderful vendors from the fundraiser:

Ilgen’s Peshtemal towels can be used as beach towel or sarong or other outdoor use.

Here are Ilgen’s wonderful Turkish Peshtemal towels and natural soaps from the fundraiser event. Her light, super absorbent 100% cotton peshtemal towels (or mixture of luxurious blends including bamboo and silk) are simply wonderful and practical. llgen’s website Cotton & Olive will be up and running within a month, for further enquires please email ipaydas@btinternet.com.

Anila’s delicious home made curry sauces

I was delighted to meet Anila’s and taste her award winning curry sauces and samosas!!

Maro’s wonderful herb infused olive oil

Maro’s Kitchen was another wonderful vendor, with her herb infused extra virgin olive oil from Crete, so delicious. She also carries individually made spice mills; for further enquires, please email maroskitchen@gmail.com.

Home made baklavas for a sweet treat

I had some delicious home made baklavas, walnut, red pepper paste and olive oil dip over crackers at my table. I served the dip with rocket salad over the top; very easy to prepare and great for entertaining. The spice bowls are hand painted from Turkey, they have been a big hit. My heartfelt thanks goes to my parents and my sister for providing them 🙂

Walnut and red pepper paste dip on crackers and spice bowls from Turkey

Olives with Red Peppers, Spring onion and Parsley

I would like to leave you with this easy to prepare but very tasty, refreshing mezze, appetizer. It’s ready within minutes and goes very well over crackers or toasted bread. I also like to mix it with cooked pasta, bulgur or couscous for a healthy and delicious meal. Pomegranate molasses, a southern Turkish dressing, adds a wonderful, sharp and tangy taste to it. If you can’t get pomegranate molasses, you can replace with a good quality balsamic vinegar.

Seasonal, fresh ingredients make refreshing, healthy, delicious meals

Serves 4

Preparation time:10 minutes

175gr/6oz Turkish, Greek, Italian or Spanish olives, pitted

1 small red pointy or bell pepper, quartered and sliced coarsely

1-2 spring (green) onions, finely chopped

Handful of flat leaf parsley, coarsely chopped

10ml/1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

5ml/1 tsp pomegranate molasses or balsamic vinegar

Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Simply mix the chopped vegetables and olives in a bowl. Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil and the pomegranate molasses (or balsamic vinegar) over them, combine well. Season with salt and ground black pepper.