Plump Chicken Breasts with Tantalising Sundried Tomatoes

Being feminine in nature, eating tomatoes inspires love and passion. Due to its fleshy centre and gorgeously red colour, it is a good addition to many romantic dinners. Fresh, ripe tomatoes, when sundried, make an especially beautiful addition when stuffed into chicken breasts.

INGREDIENTS

·         4 skinless chicken breast fillets, pounded thin

·         1 medium red bell pepper, diced

·         6 garlic cloves, minced

·         5 large sun-dried tomatoes, diced

·         1 teaspoon thyme

·         2 circles feta cheese, crumbled finely

·         ¹⁄₂ cup breadcrumbs

·         Olive oil

·         Salt

·         Pepper

·         Toothpick

·         Spring Onion, chopped (for garnish)

DIRECTIONS

·    Sauté garlic and red bell pepper, in Olive Oil, for about 3 minutes (enough to blend the flavours). Set aside to cool.

·    In a bowl, combine Feta cheese, breadcrumbs, thyme, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and red pepper mixture. Toss until well mixed (this will be your "stuffing").

·    Lay a flattened piece of chicken breast on a cutting board or your counter.

·    Put a 1/4 of the above mixture on the flattened chicken breast like you would be making a wrap and roll as tight as you can get it. Secure it with a toothpick.

·    Place chicken breast "roll" on a greased baking sheet, brush with olive oil (this gives it a lovely golden brown texture), and season with salt and pepper.

·    Preheat oven to 180°C. Cook for about 35 minutes.

·    Garnish with chopped green onion and serve hot.

Some interesting facts

Whether you make your own or buy them at the store, sun-dried tomatoes serve as an excellent source of several nutrients, and deliver a range of health benefits.

Due to their high moisture content, tomatoes deteriorate rapidly after they’ve been picked. But removing the water through drying preserves them, while retaining their flavour. Drying brings out their natural sweetness, and sun-dried tomatoes add robust flavour to a variety of dishes.

You can make them at home, either by drying them in the sun under a cheesecloth or by baking them at low heat in the oven. Sun-drying is economical, but the process can be tricky because they need a specific temperature range. 

The Provocative Pomegranate

“Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely. Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.” King Solomon, in the Song of Songs, cites the pomegranate in one of the most famous love poems.

Pomegranates are a favourite theme in visual and literary arts. Thanks to their all-religions symbolism, they can be found in artworks throughout the centuries. Famous paintings include Early Renaissance Italian painter Sandro Botticelli’s Madonna of the Pomegranate (ca. 148) and French painter William-Adolphe Bouquereau’s Girl with a Pomegranate, 1875.

It is no wonder then that if music, art and poetry are the food of love, then pomegranates would appear to stand closely in line. The deep red of the jewel-like seeds alone seems to inspire desire and heat, so it's no wonder that it's looked to as a food that enhances pleasure and encourages love. Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love, is credited in Greek mythology with planting the first pomegranate tree. Some people even believe that the fruit that Eve used to tempt Adam was a pomegranate rather than an apple.

Because of the many seeds, pomegranates are often associated with fertility and abundance. The pomegranate appears as a romantic symbol in sonnets and literature dating back centuries. Found in writings and artifacts of many cultures and religions, the pomegranate is an original native of Persia. This nutrient dense, antioxidant rich fruit has been revered as a symbol of health and eternal life.

Only the juice and the seeds inside are edible. Pomegranate juice is most popular, with a glass offering more antioxidants than red wine, green tea, blueberries, and cranberries. The seeds are often tossed into salads as a brilliantly colourful, crunchy, and nutritious addition. I have a friend who, without fail, sprinkles pomegranate seeds onto her already colourful salad, making for a sensually healthy edible masterpiece.

Although the seeds can be bought, they are fairly expensive so seeding them yourself may prove to be more affordable. This task may seem quite arduous for just a piece of fruit but getting to these bright red jewels may be well worth it. Known as a superfood, the pomegranate is a nutrient dense food source rich in phytochemical compounds.

This ruby-red fruit has been shown to be a cure-all for just about any ailment. They contain high levels of flavonoids and polyphenols, powerful antioxidants claimed to offer protection against many ailments. It helps stomach upsets, menopausal hot flashes, conjunctivitis, osteoarthritis, lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, stimulates the immune system, wards off the flu, reduces inflammation, reduces risk of heart disease and protects against cancer.

The seeds make quite a gorgeous topping for cranberry sorbet. Alternatively, here’s a delightful Pomegranate Sorbet recipe. For a delightfully romantic twist, I would suggest serving them to your guests in quaint porcelain tea cups or pretty little glasses.

POMEGRANATE SORBET

Makes: 4 servings, about 3/4 cup each

Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours (including freezing)

INGREDIENTS

·         6 pomegranates

·         1 lemon

·         1 cup sugar

·         2 cups water

METHOD

·         Cut pomegranates in half crosswise. Gently lift out seeds, section by section, and place in a saucepan. (You should have about 6 cups of seeds.) Set aside.

·         Using a vegetable peeler, remove lemon zest in wide strips (be careful to leave the bitter white pith behind), allowing the strips to fall into the saucepan with the pomegranate seeds. Squeeze the lemon and strain the juice into the saucepan.

·         Add sugar and water; bring to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Cook over medium-low heat until the pomegranate seeds turn pale, about 10 minutes.

·         Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, pressing on the seeds to extract as much juice as possible. (Discard solids.)

·         Chill until cold. Pour into the canister of an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions.

·         (Alternatively, freeze in a shallow metal cake pan until solid, about 6 hours. Break into chunks and process in a food processor until smooth.)

Recipe sourced from www.eatingwell.com

The Spice of Life

Spices have long been revered for their power to increase virility or fertility, enhance sexual pleasure, or inspire fidelity. 

Stories and legends from the past have informed us of various foods, herbs, plants and spices that seemed to act as performance enhancers. Regardless of their sources, collectively these compounds are known as aphrodisiacs, after the Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite. 

In Western culture, plants, roots, herbs and other substances reported to enhance sexual passion are met with general suspicion yet, today modern pharmaceutical companies capitalise on interest in aphrodisiacs with pills designed to enhance sexual response. Fortunately, research in this area is beginning to confirm some of the observations made by many herbal experts who, for centuries and millennia, have used roots, barks, leaves, herbs, and various plants of all sorts to enhance sexual experience and performance.

When considering their health benefits, a report on WebMD, by David Herber suggest that herbs and spices should be used at their peak to get the most out of them, as their active compounds degrade with time.

Herber further explains that studies show that many different herbs and spices offer health benefits, with most of the evidence existing for cinnamon, chili peppers, turmeric, garlic, oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary.

Even films about food are designed to indulge your senses. Take the film, “The Mistress of Spices” as an example. The story is of a young girl, Tilo who was initiated as one of several young Mistresses of Spices by the First Mother, who warns the girls about certain rules they must follow, or face dire consequences. They are instructed never to leave their respective stores all around the world, physically touch the skin of the people they meet, or use the great and incomprehensible strength and power of the Spices to their own ends.

Her life takes a turn one day, when a young architect named Doug crashes his motorcycle outside her store. Tilo tends to his injuries while trying to ignore their mutual romantic attraction. Her life changes when he touches her and they begin to fall in love.

But the Spices are suddenly angry and jealous, and things soon start to go sour in her relationships with her other customers. 

He goes all out to help her customers one last time and tells the Spices that she will spend just one night with Doug, and then she will give herself utterly to them. She closes the store and goes off with Doug for the night. After a night of love-making, she leaves him a note that she must leave and cannot return, but that she will always deeply love him. Then she goes back to the store and sets the Spices on fire, with her at the centre of the flames, as a sign of eternal servitude and slavery to the mystical Spices.

As darkly romantic as what this sounds, I felt inspired to stock every conceivable spice I could lay my hands on. I wanted to drown myself in those colours. The fragrance of a spice shop is enough to fill you with intense desire.

Whether you want to encourage a little extra “spice” in your boudoir or add more flavour to your edible creation, spices are a must-have in anyone’s kitchen. They brighten and liven up a meal and make your senses sizzle!

How to get in the mood with food

 

Eating and sex may be the only two acts that evoke all of man’s senses simultaneously, and both provide an abundance of sustenance and pleasure. It is not surprising then that some foods have been described as orgasmic. I am sure many of you have heard the expression, “Ah, better than sex”, when someone eats chocolate. Let me explain…

Scent attracts us like no other form of perception. Take cinnamon, for example. Cinnamon may be a pretty useful aphrodisiac, and it has been scientifically proven that men are most sexually aroused by the scent of cinnamon buns. There was a time when cinnamon was more expensive than silver. It’s been claimed to be great for reducing the blood sugar levels, that can be a cause of decreased libido.

In something as simple as preparing a dish, a true sensualist is overwhelmed by the feeling of creating something so profoundly delicious and exquisite. With every delicate slice, brush of olive oil or butter, or mound of something decadent, a true sensualist will feel the intimate explosion of flavours, deliciously melting in her mouth, leaving her feeling completely satiated and spent. It the kind of thing that makes her throw her head back, close her eyes, and moan.

Some foods are legendary for their claimed aphrodisiacal properties: chocolate, for its stimulation of hormones; oysters, for their resemblance of female anatomy; truffles, for their smell. It has been said (I am not sure by whom) that truffles smell like sex.

But, without subjecting yourself to forbidden fruits, if you want to add a little spice to your love life, whip out those utensils, turn up the heat, add a little steam, and sample some of these intoxicating kitchen aphrodisiacs!

Aniseed
Aniseed has been used as an aphrodisiac since the Greeks and the Romans, who believed it had special powers. Sucking on the seeds is said to increase your desire.

Almonds
As a symbol of fertility throughout the ages, the aroma of almonds alone is thought to induce passion in a female. Try serving Marzipan (almond paste) in the shapes of fruits for a special after-dinner treat.

Avocados

It could be the sensuous pear shape or the rich flavor of the fruit that gives avocado its aphrodisiac reputation. They do contain important fatty acids that help with circulation.

Basil (sweet basil)
Basil is thought to stimulate the sex drive and boost fertility. It is also said to produce a general sense of well-being for body and mind.

Caviar
Sturgeon eggs contain a large amount of vitamins and phosphorous. Try caviar with vodka for a real experience if your budget allows it!

Chocolate
It’s no accident that chocolate is the gift of love as it contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a chemical which is released in the brain when you’re in love. The Aztecs referred to chocolate “nourishment of the Gods.” Chocolate contains more antioxidants than red wine. The secret for passion is to combine the two. Try a glass of Cabernet with a bit of dark chocolate for a sensuous treat or even a little espresso with chocolate.

Carrots
The phallic shaped carrot has been associated with stimulation since ancient times and was used by early Middle Eastern royalty to aid seduction. With its high beta-carotene content to boot, perhaps that’s some added justification for a piece of carrot cake?

Coffee
Although too much caffeine is considered a depressant, small amounts of rich dark coffee in special little demitasse cups are enough to stimulate both the body and the mind. A little goes a long way, so consider an espresso before embarking on an “all-nighter.”

Coriander (Cilantro seed)
The book of The Arabian nights tells a tale of a merchant who had been childless for 40 years and but was cured by a concoction that included coriander. That book is over 1000 years old so the history of coriander as an aphrodisiac dates back far into antiquity. Cilantro was also known to be used as an “appetite” stimulant.

Cucumbers
It has been found that women become aroused by the scent of cucumbers. Whether that’s true or not, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize why these long, cool vegetables are considered to be an aphrodisiac.

Liquorice
The Chinese have used liquorice for medicinal purposes since ancient times. The essence of the Glycyrrhiza glabra (liquorice) plant, glycrrhizin, is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Chewing on bits of liquorice root is said to enhance love and lust, and is particularly stimulating to woman.

Mustard
Believed to stimulate the sexual glands and increase desire, prepare a tenderloin roast (fillet mignon) for two with a mustard and peppercorn sauce on a romantic night.

Nutmeg
Nutmeg was highly prized by Chinese women as an aphrodisiac. In quantity nutmeg is claimed to produce a hallucinogenic effect. A light sprinkling of the spice in a warm pumpkin soup can help spice up your evening. According to Daniel Amen, MD, author of Sex on the Brain, nutmeg is used in Indian medicine for enhancing desire. In one animal study, an extract of nutmeg had the same effect on mating behavior as Viagra.

Nuts
Whether you prefer walnuts, almonds or macadamias, nuts have had a reputation as aphrodisiacs for centuries. During harvest festivals in Rome, maidens passed out bowls of nuts as symbols of fertility.

Pepper
According to The Perfumed Garden (an ancient Arabic love manual), ground pepper mixed with cardamom or lavender, galanga, musk, honey and ginger is a potent topical aphrodisiac for men. As an aphrodisiac pepper is thought to stimulate libido due to its invigorating and vasodilator action, increasing the volume of blood vessels that irrigate the genitalia during a sexual act. You can use it in combination with almonds and a glass of milk; almonds are also aphrodisiac (contain arginine, an amino acid involved in the mechanism of erection). Milk is a reputed aphrodisiac because it contains peptides that stimulate production of endorphins.

Tomatoes
Known as love-apples by the French, the humble tomato may have been the real culprit that got Adam and Eve kicked out of Eden. Fresh, ripe tomatoes, locally grown and eaten in season are a very seductive food. Try them with a little fresh mozzarella cheese and some basil.

Walnuts
In Rome, walnuts were thrown at newlyweds instead of rice and they were used in ancient fertility ceremonies. I can’t imagine how painful that must have been! Walnuts are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to improve heart health and circulation. Healthy blood circulation is essential for maintaining an erection, so you do the math.

Wine

A glass or two of wine can greatly enhance a romantic interlude. Wine relaxes and helps to stimulate our senses. Drinking wine, in moderation, can be an erotic experience. A moderate amount has been said to “arouse” but much more than that amount will have the reverse affect.

Extracts of this article originally appeared on The Atlasphere.

Understanding your Inner feminine Self

The intention of this blog is to provide a holistic platform to living your life abundantly through your senses. It is also an amazing guidepost to the most important aspect of your life: an understanding of yourself. As a woman today, you face the challenge of discovering yourself within the context of many life experiences. You wear a variety of faces and play many roles, experiences which can both enhance and complicate your feeling of satisfaction with yourself and your life.

We are finally acknowledging and realising within today’s world, that men and women experience life differently.  The workings of your psyche are likely to be experienced quite differently through your filter as a woman, than they would be if you were born male.

Sometimes showing the world who you really are is not as easy, and sometimes the world may not respond as you had hoped! It is often helpful then, to take a look at the differences, attitudes and images you project, as well as the person who resides at the core of your being. It is crucial then, that you maintain a strong connection with the core of your being, so that you remain aware and awake, instead of allowing your own direction to be shaped by beliefs, ideals or attitudes, which seem more powerful than your personal focus. Instead of being driven by these beliefs and ideals, you grow more fully into yourself when you add your own ingredients to the soup and alter the outcome. Your crusade can then be quite exciting.

This blog is designed for you, a woman in a world of change, a woman seeking to become whole.  When you reflect upon the qualities and sensuality of a woman, you may discover some self-illuminating facts about yourself. Self-understanding has a marvellous way of emphasizing your personal power.