Our sense of smell

We are all psychologically and biologically created to experience an intense and abundantly sensual world. But we find ourselves so consumed with everyday life, stuck inside our heads and our thoughts that we forget to be present, leaving us pretty much ‘sensorially’ depleted.

So what gets our senses tingling and a smile to our faces? The smell of freshly cut grass, percolated coffee or baked bread? Perfume or incense perhaps?

Smell is a very direct sense, and was no doubt one of the first senses to evolve in living creatures, telling them what was safe to eat, affecting their behaviour and communicating with one another.

I could go into the mechanics of smell, but without turning this into a biology lesson, it’s interesting to understand exactly how smell can affect your mood. Upon inhaling a particular fragrance, that odour goes directly to the limbic section of the brain that alters stress levels, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, pulse and mood.

It is only our sense of smell that is linked directly to the limbic lobe of the brain, our emotional control centre. So if we take essential oils or food, for example, we can understand how the fragrance/aroma of each of these can have some very profound physiological and psychological effect on our mood. A particular scent can arouse emotions and memories before we’re even consciously aware of them.

Next time you’re out in nature, try this exercise. Stand still, close your eyes and block your ears. All you’re left with is your primary sense of smell. By cutting off your other senses, your sense of smell becomes more acute, and less confused with all the other stimuli. Now suck it all in.

Sensory healing with Art

Art is one of the oldest forms of communication and self-expression. Even in the earliest days of our world, humans created works of art, first in the form of cave paintings and later in less “primitive” manners. Art has always been used to help tell a story.

But it has also been used to heal.  Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that can be used in a therapeutic setting using a variety of art materials such as drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, and writing.

Creative art therapy can also help empower someone working through their fears and those who wish to feel more in control of their lives. It can raise self-esteem, help people express themselves better, and gain a better insight on their lives.

Anything with colour and texture gets my creative juices flowing. I love cooking and working with food, so that was one healthy creative outlet I drowned myself in. The other outlet turned out to be using art as a form of therapy. I had all these old pieces of costume jewellery and trinkets I didn’t know what to do with. I found an old bird cage (pictured above) and a lamp shade (pictured below), and used that to display these pieces I never wanted to get rid of. Most of us keep our little collectables in a box, not knowing what to do with them. So stringing them from an old lampshade is a beautiful way to bring a little sunshine into a dark corner. If you’re the artsy type of course!

A few years ago, I had the pleasure of attending Afrikaburn – art in the dessert (pictured below – that’s me in the orange top). Now if that wasn’t a pleasurable permeation of my senses, nothing would ever be. It’s an unforgettable sensory experience, of delicious wholesome food, abundant wine, soulful music, unabashed dance, a myriad of colour, wacky art, playful touch, dessert heat, child-like play and time for quiet contemplation.  

Whether you’re a painter, a writer or a seamstress, being creative offers an enduring source of quiet contemplation, enabling us to still our minds and become calmly aware of the present moment. From acceptance to freedom, from happiness to love.  And that’s the ultimate place to be. In unconditional love.

So come to your senses. Learn to love yourself again. 

Live in the moment and start creating

Simply defined, creation means “the act by which, according to various religious and philosophical traditions, the world was brought into existence OR an original product of human invention or artistic imagination”.

If the Universe was created, and God created us, then it only makes sense, for life to continue, that we need to continue creating. Creating new life, creating work for ourselves, creating opportunities, creating fun and joy and love.

Every single one of us is a creative being. Even if you may not think so, we spend every day, creating our own life’s masterpiece.  I know, I am being very philosophical, but our entire lives are a work of art, and everyday represents a canvas or a blank page in a book, on which you get to add your brushstrokes to, or fill with your body of poetry, ultimately creating your own work of art.

So many of us want to skip to the end, falling over our feet in the process, or look into the future to see where our lives are going, worrying about the future, forgetting to take a moment, to live in the moment. But that’s like throwing paint on your canvas, hoping for a masterpiece to be created in one day, or jumping to the last page of a novel before you’ve even begun. Imagine listening to a song or watching a movie, and fast forwarding to the end. The end is not going to have as much of an impact or any meaning at all, if you have not experienced the journey there, the highs and the lows, now is it?

Take a moment, to live in the moment, and start creating. Even if it’s only starting with a vision board. And if you can’t make one, go digital and use Pinterest to collect pictures of all the things that make you happy. But START!

This image found on sincerelyarizona.blogspot.com

Alice in Kitsch wonderland

It’s been a while since I’ve been here, but Kitsch Cafe Restaurant and Vintage store is one of my favourite little spots in Hermanus and really makes me feel a little like Alice in Wonderland. Situated in one of the little side streets, on 3 High Street, this little gem is filled with wonderful eclectic surprises. It has two entry points. One is through the Chilli Pepper Lifestyle – Vintage store on Mitchel Street.

The other is though a vintage door on High Street, which makes me feel like I’m in a Cuban alley. And once you take a step inside, you’re greeted with delightfully, charming objet d’art. An old bicycle mounted on a wall or pram filled with flowers, are just some of the wonderfully wacky works of art.

The restaurant – Kitsch Café – is off course the cherry on the top for me. It has a great selection of Vladimir Tretchikoff prints hanging all over the show, as well as old records used as placemats, and retro styled furniture. It takes one back into a time warp and makes me think back to my granny and all her old fashioned collectables.

The food is delightful and fairly well priced. And the waitresses are all clad in 50’s outfits, tutu’s and all!

It’s a MUST visit, closing around 2pm on Saturdays, and not open on Sundays. Spoil yourself!

Fuel the flames with fabulous frittata

Life without eggs would be like life without sunshine. For me anyway. Eggs are one of those ingredients that can turn something as simple as a single turnip into a symphony. Only because they’re so versatile! Just google: what to make with eggs and a million ideas pop up. For me, personally, eggs Benedict is one of the most seductive breakfast foods on the planet. The tenderly poached egg white slightly parted to expose the yolk oozing out and dripping down the bright red fresh tomato. It’s enough to make me want to jump right back into bed.

In fact, eggs have been considered a sexual stimulant throughout the ages. So much so, that Casanova ate them before every love adventure. Sheikh Nafzajus, the author of “Perfume Garden” recommended eating as many eggs as possible. I think imagine what his cholesterol levels must have been like. Eggs fried in butter, in his opinion, gave “fuel” for an endless love marathon. Scientifically this is because of the great boost in testosterone that is provided by the good cholesterol that the eggs and butter provide. For a sensual dessert to get any woman in the mood, try some eggnog (egg mixed with milk, cream, honey, vanilla and nutmeg). This, and starting your day off with a few eggs, is a sure fire way to keep your sexual energy at its peak.

If however, sexual energy is not necessarily on the top of your priority list, and all you need is a quick, no-fuss, affordable meal, I would strongly suggest this fabulous frittata.

A well-made frittata is one of the world’s most perfect foods. It’s affordable, quick, and a great way in which to use last nights’ leftovers, or concoct something out of nothing, when that’s all you have in your fridge!

If you’re starting from scratch, it’s best to fully cook any addition that might release moisture into the eggs—mushrooms, tomatoes, baby marrows are some example of “wet” options, which water down your eggs. Sauté them separately. This also holds true for aromatics, such as onions or uncooked potatoes. I would suggest you add some colour though. Red peppers, basil, sundried tomatoes, olives, aubergine, etc. 

Season your eggs with salt and pepper before adding them to the pan or oven dish. And if you’re adding other ingredients to your frittata, season them separately.

One of my absolute favourite ingredient combinations include broccoli, smoked chicken and blue cheese. It's to die for!

Fabulous Frittata

INGREDIENTS

• 5 eggs
• Half an onion, sliced
• Half a green pepper, chopped
• Three small tomatoes, chopped
• One teaspoon crushed garlic
• 2 cups of ANY left overs or freshly prepared filling
• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup full cream milk
• ½ cup self-raising flour
• ½ tsp baking powder
• Dried rosemary, some salt, and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celcius.

In a bowl, beat the eggs with the milk and flour and set aside.

In a large pan, stir-fry the green pepper and onion with the garlic until slightly cooked but still crunchy. Then add the tomato and continue stir-frying for about a minute.

Pour the cooked veggies into a greased ovenproof dish and sprinkle with herbs and pepper. Then add your left overs to the dish.

Pour egg mixture over and sprinkle with cheese – gently work the cheese into the egg with a fork so it doesn’t burn before the egg is cooked.

Bake until egg has cooked through (about 10-15 minutes) then grill for two minutes to brown the cheese. 

If you want to turn this into a traditional quiche, just line the base of your dish with shortcrust pastry.  

Rise up to beautiful blueberries

Does this sound familiar? After a long day at the office, passion is the last thing on his mind, and if you start laying down the oysters he's bound to get suspicious and feign a headache. Besides that, not everyone loves oysters!

Need an action plan? Forget those little blue pills and try little tiny blue fruits instead.

Blueberries are one of the best foods for older men with erectile problems, according to a study done at the University of Maine. They are loaded with dietary fibres and are good for your heart and cholesterol levels. They are also packed with compounds that help relax your blood vessels, improving circulation. Better blood flow = more blood to the penis and stronger erections as he gets older.

To incorporate them into your meals, pack them into pancakes, enjoy them as a jam (available at most supermarkets), add them to Thai chicken dishes for some added sweetness, blend them into a smoothie, or try this Blueberry Coconut Ice Cream as a sensational after dinner feast for two.

Blueberry Coconut Ice Cream

INGREDIENTS

• 2-½ cups Fresh or Frozen Blueberries
• ¾ cups sugar
• ⅛ teaspoon Salt
• 3 cups Coconut Milk (full-cream, well stirred)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

METHOD

In a medium saucepan, combine blueberries, sugar, and salt. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil, mashing the blueberries with the back of a fork. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat and let cool for 10 minutes.

In a blender, combine coconut milk, the blueberry mixture, and vanilla extract. Cover and chill the mixture until cold, about 2 hours.

Pour the mixture into the bowl of an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer’s instructions. Transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in the freezer for several hours, or until ice cream hardens. The ice cream can be stored in the freezer for up to 1 week.

Exotic carrot concoctions

Besides the popular potato, carrots are one of those ingredients that are extremely versatile. You can prepare a few very tasty dishes, which are not only mouth-watering and colourful, but also have aphrodisiac qualities. Believe it or not, carrots assist with sexual disorders, which is primarily due to their high beta carotene content.

They’re those little spark plugs, which have suddenly become an engine driving restaurant menus. Chefs across the country are showcasing fine-looking specimens in a rainbow of colours, dressed and garnished without a sliver of meat on the dish. Well, maybe a touch of bacon here and there. These days, people are feeling more comfortable with having carrots in the centre of their plates.

Grate them, roast them, eat them raw, juice them, or add them to muffins and stews. My personal favourite is making a delicious Moroccan carrot salad in summer and this mouth-watering carrot soup in winter.

Exotic Carrot Soup

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, sliced
• 1 bunch carrots, cut into slices
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 tablespoon grated ginger
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Himalayan salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 cup full cream
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

METHOD

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, 5 to 6 minutes.

Stir in the carrots, broth, ginger, 1¼ teaspoons of the salt, and the pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the carrots are soft, about 20 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes.

Using a blender, puree the soup in batches until smooth. Return to pot and rewarm over medium heat.

Meanwhile, whisk the cream in a small bowl until soft peaks form. Fold in the remaining salt and the dill. Divide the soup among individual bowls and top with the dill cream.

Moroccan Carrot Salad

INGREDIENTS

• 5 carrots (about 1 half a kilo), cleaned and trimmed
• Small palmful of stoned dates
• Handful of toasted seeds, such as sunflower, pumpkin or pine nut
• Half a can of chick peas
• Juice of a small lemon
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil OR cold-pressed grapeseed oil/canola oil
• 1 tbsp maple syrup
• ¼ tsp ground cumin (tip: toast and grind your own seeds for best flavour)
• good dash each of ground cinnamon and salt – about 1/8 tsp each
• Generous handful each of washed mint leaves and flat leaf parsley (Italian parsley), along with some rocket and herb garden salad.

Optional add-ins: dried sour cherries, dried barberries or mulberries; dry-cure black olives; ½ tsp harissa paste; chopped oranges; goats cheese to garnish; preserved lemon juice (just a little though)

METHOD

You can use either raw grated carrot or roasted strips of carrot for this recipe. Pop the raw or roasted carrots into a large bowl, adding also the dates, sunflower seeds and chick peas.

Mix the lemon juice, maple syrup, olive oil, cumin, cinnamon and salt in a jar and give it a good shake. Pour this dressing over the salad and toss through. This salad will keep like this for a day or two.

Roughly chop the herbs and add to the salad. Serve with hummus or other dips, good Ciabatta bread, grilled fish or chicken – almost anything you like. For a heartier salad to have on its own, you may want to add white beans or quinoa to this. And a good few pinches of soft goats cheese as well. 

Bon Appetite!