The Best Chocolate You Have Ever Had

I have a form of prayer and expression that celebrates life, the beauty, the possibility, the phenomenal wonder of existence, the overflowing glory of being and the moment- this prayer is making, sharing, and eating raw chocolate. I focus my creative activities on "raw" chocolate or cacao because this is absolutely one of best things you can put into your body. The nutrient density of this powerful plant-being is literally beyond anything I could have imagined. Many many people view their relationship with chocolate as negative. Seeing their "cravings" as bad, and that ultimately they lack self-control or obviously would not be consuming such copious amounts of the stuff. After much study and "hands-on" field research I am here to say- chocolate is medicine. Craving chocolate usually means that the body is needing a good dose of minerals and deliciousness. In North America 80% of the population is deficient in magnesium, as well as a host of other minerals, antioxidants, mood enhacing and brain supporting bliss chemicals phenyethlamines (also found in AFA blue-green algae & the San Pedro and Peyote cactus'),anandamide,and so much more. If cacao has the highest concentratinon of magniseuim of any food on the planet of course we are all going to crave it! Check out David Wolfes book Naked Chocolate for more indepth information and history on this plant.

To dive a little deeper into this concept. I have found that my body always craves the flavor profile of what is good for it, and when given only adulterated options in the past have chosen them. Example: craving pickles- flavors: salty, sour/vinegar. In this case store bought pickles made with industrial sodium chloride aka "table salt"- which is the salt equivalent of refined white sugar and bad news, and totally denatured vinegar. Vinegar is originally a living food teaming with probiotic (pro-life) bacteria which are the foundation of immunity within your body. So cravings for salty sour foods which in the past made me reach for processed pickled goods or salt & vinegar chips now alert me to eat living fermented foods like kombucha, sauerkraut, kim chi, apple cider vinegar (with da mother.)

I do not believe that the impulses of our bodies are ever wrong, they are always alerting us to a way to strengthen our system. Cultivating trust and discernment as to what is underlying the craving is an on-going and beautiful process of discovery. It is difficult if not impossible for the body to communicate what it needs effectively, if it is only ever fed or exposed to junk food. When we feed ourselves real, whole foods, then a beautiful self-trust begins to blossom. We can trust our self to take care of our self.

The approach I have deveopled through my health journey is to learn enough about what I am eating to feel really good about my choice, and give myself total freedom from there to enjoy myself. Cacao has been a great teacher in this, turning something that I had a guilty relationship with, to something that has become in my life "the medicine of all medicines." It is not called food of the gods for nothing!

After some requests, and more chocolate adventures, I wanted to present my basic recipe to create the Best Chocolate I have ever had. As with most of my gastronomical creations this is a basic recipe that can be dressed up or down. It is so easy, delicious, and super health enhancing, that it continues to be a transcendent experience. Check out my previous entry for a quick read on the benefits and history of chocolate. Remember raw chocolate is medicine. It is one of the very best things you can feed your whole being. I love this recipe so much that I made it for Darcy & I's wedding cake. Yes, that's right it was a triple layered, pure chocolate cake, jazzed up with dried hazelnuts, cherries, goji berries, and seasonal flowers for decoration. It was a delicious to eat as it was to look at!

Raw Chocolate Truffles

-2 cups Raw Cacao Butter (shaved or sliced thin)
-2 tablespoons Raw Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
-2 cup Raw Cacao Powder
-Raw Honey, Maple Syrup, or Raw Agave Nectar to taste
-2 tablespoons Vanilla extract
-Pinch o' Salt (Celtic, Himalayan, or a fine finishing salt- the quality of the salt will give the quality of the finished product)
-1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon (optional)
-1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)
*Medicinal herb powders of the adaptogen family (Reishi Mushroom, Cordyceps Mushroom, Holy Basil, Rhodiola, Eleuthero, Ginseng, Ashwaganda)
*Superfoods to Power-up (E3live powder, Spirulina, Bee Pollen, Goji Berries, Dried Blueberries or Cherries, Pecans, Walnuts, Almonds, ect.)
* Endocrine Supports/ Aphrodisiacs- Most of the above foods and herbs fall in to this catagory as well as Mucuna/Kapikachhu, Shatavari, Damiana, Pine Pollen

The How To:
In a double boiler melt cacao butter & coconut oil. Have food processor ready (or whisk and strong arms.) Add melted butter/oil, 2/3 of cacao powder, vanilla, 2/3 of sweetener. Blend together and taste. At this point I usually add the rest of the cacao powder, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and any additional herbs or special items- blend again. I have found that once the cacao truffle has set, more sweetness comes out, so I always slightly under-sweeten the batch. Have either molds or a cookie pan awaiting. Pour liquid chocolate into molds or onto a cookie pan and spread thin to create a "cacao bark" and place in refrigerator until firm. To make truffle balls (which I rarely have the time or inclination to make) pour into bowl, refrigerate until firm, and then with a mellon-ball scoop shape to desired roundness.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!
Love-
Robin

The Mighty Violet

The shy, but mighty Violet (a.k.a. Viola, Pansy, Heart’s Ease, Zi Hua Di Ding) is a plant that has been all but forgotten by modern wild crafters and herbal aficionados. As an abundant, local medicinal and edible delicacy, it’s worthy of our attention. Violas are a genus of plants belonging to the flowering Violaceae family. Violets are short-lived, perennial herbs with heart-shaped leaves and tri-colored or single colored flowers, and contain concentrated amounts nutrients and medicinal alkaloids in the leaves, roots, and flowers. All Violets are edible, but beware of harvesting if you haven’t seen the plant in flower. Violet leaves resemble those of other plants, some of which, are toxic.

The Violet has held a place of esteem in Pharmacopeias around the world, from the Ancient Greeks, nomadic Arabs, to the Korean Confucians. While utilized to address many imbalances the over-arching properties of the plant are cooling and soothing. In Chinese medicine it is used to clear heat and fire toxicity such as hot swellings, red, swollen eyes, throat, ears, and mumps. This application parallels the recommendations of Hippocrates and Pliny the Elder who used Violets for headaches, hangovers, excess of bile and chest inflammation, inducing sleep, strengthening and calming the heart muscles. Modern research affirms this. The sapoins and mucilage in Violets make them a soothing syrup (for irritating coughs or whooping cough), a calming extract for creams or poultice (especially for eczema, psoriasis, and hives), and a chill-out tea for the funkies (acidic hangovers from alcohol, sugar, caffeine, excess stress, anxiety.) The salicylates, also found in White Willow bark where Aspirin is derived from, help reduce inflammation in rheumatism and arthritis. Violets also have extensive applications as a homeopathic formula and flower essence.

There is much lore surrounding this little purple one. The Violet has been a symbol of modesty and shyness, as well as a steadfastness and loyalty. In the medieval times it symbolized Christ’s humility, and was grown extensively in monastic gardens. The power it holds as symbol of love and fidelity, as well as a medieval protector from the bad vibes of deception, inebriation, and evil, highlights the power and allegorical place that even the most humble flower can have in the psyche of a culture.

Ode to the Bees

The history of Apitherapy (the medicinal use of bee
products) is more ancient than culture.

The nutritional and medicinal value of bee products, in their natural and unadulterated form, is astounding! Pots of honey have been found in 2,000 yr old Egyptian tombs still edible! Raw, unprocessed honey is the richest source of live healing enzymes. Honey has been used to treat: diarrhea, ulcers, infections, IBS, gastrointestinal problems, cancer, staph infections, as well as have antibiotic eff ects in a number of infectious diseases. It can be applied to the skin to aid in healing from abrasions, abscesses, bed sores, burns, cracked nipples, cuts, and skin ulcers, just to begin! In China bee venom was used to treat epilepsy, diseases of urinary incontinence and arthritis. Sting therapy is still used today to treat a large variety of ailments. Bee Pollen is considered by many to be the most nutritious and complete food on the planet. In addition to all of this, bee keepers are known as some of the longest lived people on the planet- ripening into a long sweet life with their buzzing companions.

There are countless, historical and cultural records illuminating the glory, the sacredness, the utter brilliance of the honey bee, and for good reason. 150 million years ago when flowering plants first appeared on Earth, a symbiotic relationship between plant and bee occurred. For the first time flowers blossomed and in their wake, fruits and vegetables appeared; a pre-condition for human evolution. Wherever honeybees and humans meet, a magical and mysterious courtship begins, where the medicine of the bee illuminates and inspires.

Originally published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative's April 2011 Newsletter www.kootenay.coop

Love, Chocolate, and Mineralization Keeps a Good Thing Going

“The beverage of the gods was Ambrosia; that of man is chocolate.
Both increase the length of life in a prodigious manner.”- Louis Lewin, MD

What nourishes the heart? We all know that love is the most vital nutrient to keeping our hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies thriving. Next to love our bodies need essential nutrients, many of which are minerals.
For humans, magnesium is one of the most important and the most deficient mineral in the standard diet (over 80% of Americans are deficient in this mineral.) Magnesium is vital to healthy heart function and is
concentrated 18 times greater in this muscle than in the blood stream. It is also the main nutrient missing when heart problems occur. There are many good magnesium supplements on the market, but the absolute best
source of magnesium as well as other minerals including chromium, iron, copper, and zinc, is raw cacao.

Raw cacao has the highest amount of magnesium, chromium, and antioxidants of any food on the planet. The antioxidant content of raw cacao benefi ts the cardiovascular and general whole body health. The Mayan and Aztecs referred to chocolate as yollotl eztli which means “heart blood”, and is still revered as sacred. It was given at marriages, celebrations of love,
and as a key component of ceremonies, as well as used as a currency and monitored by the ruling class. The nutrient density of raw cacao benefits every function of the body and longevity in humans. Giving raw chocolate communicates your love and depending on the situation, amorous intent, as well as your desire for that person to live a long and healthy life.
May you have a very love filled Valentines Day.

Originally Published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative's February 2011 Newsletter www.kootenay.coop

Bring On The Cleanse

After the feast and foibles of the holiday season, and the aftermath of too many cookies eaten too quickly, many of us feel the need to clean out and recalibrate our internal reality. One of the most effective ways to do this is detoxification. Cleansing enhances your body’s natural healing mechanisms by giving them a break
from the substances that depress them, and it is an inherent aspect of preventative health. Preventative health is a practice of consciously choosing a lifestyle
that supports your overall immunity, well-being and thus longevity. When we seasonally or annually cleanse, we increase the likelihood of feeling good and thriving.

A detox program can help the body’s natural
cleansing process by:
1. Resting the organs through fasting;
2. Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the
body;
3. Promoting elimination through the intestines,
kidneys and skin;
4. Improving circulation of the blood;
5. Refueling the body with healthy nutrients;
6. Remove the old debris from the colon.

Any of these approaches on its own will help to facilitate greater health for your overall system, and yet a program that includes all of them is ideal. This
is why dietary changes, fiber supplements or colon hydrotherapy, and specific herbs and nutrients are helpful in this process. One of the misperceptions around cleansing is that it has to be intense, hard, and painful to be effective. Cleansing can be challenging because our bodies are removing toxins and in that process we can feel slightly ill. This does not usually mean that anything is “wrong”. If one
has a compromised immune system, cleanses should be done under the guidance of a professional.

Originally Published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-op January Newsletter 2011 www.kootenay.coop

Blue Green Algae Keeps the Blues Away

Thriving in British Columbia in the dark time of the year is a challenge
for many people and stress that can accompany the holiday season, as
well as the cold days can be taxing. For these reasons the Wellness department chose
to feature E3Live products in December. E3Live is a supplier of Aphanizomenon fl os-aquae, also known as “wild blue-green” micro-alga which grows in the
pristine environment of Klamath Lake, Oregon. This nutrient dense, wild super food, is one of the oldest life forms on Earth and is responsible for 80-90% of the oxygen in the atmosphere. E3Live has a huge array of brain-specifi c, mood and mental
clarity enhancing phenylethylamines (PEA); forty major and trace minerals including (iron, zinc, selenium, and magnesium); chlorophyll; antioxidants (such as beta-carotene, lycopene, and lutein); a full array of B vitamins: and is a complete protein that is easy to digest and loaded with enzymes. E3live also
has the highest amount of the immune enhancing blue-pigment phycocyanin which stimulates the production of stem cells from bone marrow as well as keeping the liver functioning at optimal levels. E3live also has high amounts of “love chemical” PEA contains (certain products like Brain-On and Brain-On Supreme offer higher concentrations of PEA.) PEA is an appetite suppressant that increases dopamine
levels and the effectiveness of epinephrine, which helps increase mental
concentration, positive attitude, and joy. There have been many studies done linking AFA with the improvement of concentration, focus, and the reduction of anxiety and depression. In the last five years E3Live has been gaining in popularity because
people who try it experience immediate results and benefits, from short term and long term use.

Originally published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative December 2010 Newsletter www.kootenay.coop

Beautiful Body Care

It is easy to forget that the skin is the body’s largest
organ, and that each pore breathes - bridging the
outside environment and the interior self.The skin has 3 main functions: to insulate and protect the body against invasion by bacteria and other
foreign things; to sense touch, pressure, heat, cold,and pain; and to help control body temperature by distributing heat through the skin and by preventing
dehydration. On average women put over 200 different chemicals on to their bodies a day solely through cosmetic products. What many people don’t know is that these chemicals have a direct impact on the inner workings of the body because
anything that we put on to the skin goes within. Many of these chemicals have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, liver damage, and a whole host
of other symptoms. For more information about the chemicals to avoid look to www.davidsuzuki.org/dirtydozen.
One of the best ways to avoid harmful toxins masked in body care products is to make your own. This way you can know what is going in it, and where that
product came from. Making lotions, salves, soaps, bath salts, shampoos, and conditioners is empowering because it is simple, affordable, fun, and takes less time than baking a cake. When I make lotion I know that it is clean, and it is a unique expression of creativity which brings me joy and satisfaction each time I use
it. Each creation is a marriage of flower infusions,spring water, the welcoming scent of bees wax, and the nourishing and pleasing sensation of skin renewed
and glowing from this kitchen alchemy. There is a kind of magic to it, one that can never be replaced by designer fragrances or promises of youth immortal.

Originally published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative November 2010Newsletter


This recipe was published in Herbs for Health magazine and is an excellent all-purpose skin cream created by the radiant herbalist Rosemary Gladstar. I have adapted recipe this many times over. To get funky with it use the basic premise of emulsifying equal parts oil and water mixtures (both at the same room temperature), to create adventurous and lovely creams.

Ingredients

WATERS

2/3 cup distilled water--OR distilled rosewater or
-- orange flower water)
1/3 cup aloe vera gel
1 - 2 drops essential oil of choice
Vitamins A and E as desired

OILS

3/4 cup apricot, almond or grape seed oil
1/3 cup coconut oil or cocoa butter
1/2 - 1 oz grated beeswax

Directions

1. Combine distilled water, aloe vera gel, essential oil and vitamins in a glass measuring cup. (Tap water can be used but it will sometimes introduce bacteria and encourage the growth of mold.) Set aside.

2. In a double boiler over low heat, combine remaining ingredients. Heat just enough to melt.

3. Pour oils into a blender and let cool to room temperature. The mixture should become thick, creamy, semisolid and cream coloured. This cooling process can be hastened in the refrigerator, but keep an eye on it so it doesn't get too hard.

4. When cooled, turn blender on the highest speed. In a slow, thin drizzle pour the water mixture into the center vortex.

5. When most of the water mixture has been added to the oils, listen to the blender and watch the cream. When the blender coughs and chokes, and the cream looks thick and white like butter cream frosting, turn off the blender. You can slowly add more water, beating it in by hand with a spoon, but don't over beat! The cream will thicken as it sets.

6. Pour into into cream or lotion jars. Store in a cool place.

The above is the basic recipe but you can get more detailed information about making this cream and ingredient properties in Rosemary's handy book "Herbs for Natural Beauty". This inexpensive book is a must have for anyone interested in making their own cosmetics.

Note: Do not use this or any other aloe-based product on staph or strep infections as aloe will promote the infection.

Fundamental Nourishment

To be nourished is to thrive. Almost every imbalance within the body, mind, and emotions can be linked to an absence of nutrients. If we are not taking in and assimilating enough of life giving essential nutrients through diet, pristine air, water, sunlight, movement, quality sleep, as well as hope, growth, inspiration, and love then our bodies alert us to this in a myriad of ways. This communication may come in the form of physical pain, lowered immunity,negative emotions, and endocrine disruption, just to name a few.

To nourish our bodies we must feed ourselves real food. Highly processed, adulterated food has little to no nutritional benefi t, and can be considered
dangerous if eaten in large amounts especially over long periods of time. By adding in nutrient-dense foods as well as tonifying, strengthening herbs into our diets each day, we enrich our own capacity to thrive. There is a new classifi cation of medicinal plants that are both a food and an herb, these ancient plants are the most nutrient dense and nutritionally potent on the planet. Author and Lecturer David Wolfe has newly defined these ancient and revered gifts of nature as “super foods” and "super herbs." These “help to nourish the brain, bones, muscles,
skin, hair, nails, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys,reproductive systems, pancreas,
and immune system, they also over the long term, correct imbalances and help to guide us towards a more natural and aboriginal diet.”(Wolfe;Super foods pg.3) So, when looking to enrich our lives through the substances we consume let us remember the age old adage” What you reap is what you sow.”

Originally published in Kootenay Country Store Co-operative's October 2010 Newsletter
www.kootenay.coop

Nourishing Your Noggin

Supporting Your Brain -
The Essential Role of Omega 3, 6, & 9 in Vibrant Health. From the moment of our conception to our elder years, every human body requires essential nutrients
to thrive; these must be derived from food, water,sunlight, and nurturance. Each of these elements promotes multiple functions within the body system, manifesting a synergetic effect that we call health. Health is a dynamic, ever-changing state of
being that is experienced through prime feelings of joy, energy, alertness, clarity within all the senses, and physical comfort. In order to survive, grow in vitality and maintain healthy mental, physical, and emotional development our bodies absolutely require Omega Fatty Acids. Omega fatty acids, especially Omega-3 are
key components to human brain development and on going neurological health. Studies have shown that brain development in fetuses and infants require Omega-3 (which is then converted by the body into DHA helping to properly form the little ones’ brilliant neural capacity), and that DHA-defi cient children have lower intelligence and poorer vision. Although Omega-3, 6, & 9 are not difficult to find in nature,
they are exceedingly diffi cult to fi nd in the western diet. Two main sources
of Omega-3 are flax and hemp oils,which are converted in different ratios to DHA as needed. Fish oils are a direct source of DHA. Low levels of DHA have been linked to memory loss, depression,bipolar disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, autism, infl ammation and general learning diffi culties or bad moods. For more information on the nutritional qualities of Omega Fatty Acids and their main food sources pick up a copy of the Co-op’s Guide to Fats and Oils, or view it on our website http://www.kootenay.coop/publications/fatsandoilsguide.doc

Originally Published in the Kootenay Country Store Co-operative Newsletter September 2010 www.kootenay.coop