Chocolate Oreo Truffles

This was the first recipe I ever did by myself, and Mastered! A little bit naughty, and a whole lot of Yummy!! These are great to take to ‘Pot Luck’ parties, work gatherings, afternoon teas, family gatherings, the list goes on…

Preparation Time: 
Part 1 – 10min
Part 2 – 10min
Part 3 – 2min

‘Cooking’ Time:  
2+ hours

 

INGREDIENTS:

500g Milk (or Dark) Chocolate

100g White Chocolate

500g Oreos

250g Cream Cheese

Crush the Oreos in a large mixing bowl. Once crushed add the cream and mix together with clean hands. Then grab small amounts of mixture and roll into balls; I usually go for golf ball size portions but you can make them as big or as small as you like! Then place all Oreo balls on a plastic tray/ plate and refrigerate for 1 or more hour/s.

Take the Oreo balls out and either move them all to a separate tray/area or get some new trays out. First melt all the milk/dark chocolate (500g) in a pot over the stove on low heat. Keep mixing the chocolate to ensure a creamy consistency. Once all the chocolate is melted, bring the pot over to the Oreo balls. Begin dipping the balls into the chocolate mixture, fully submerging them either using a fork, a skewer, or your fingers (Very Messy!) Once a ball is covered in chocolate place on empty tray, continue this till all the balls are done; leave a bit of space be together from the chocolate. Place the chocolate covered Oreos in the fridge for 1 or more hours.

Finally take the Oreo balls out of the fridge. Now melt the milk chocolate and then drizzle over the balls as desired to decorate. You can then jazz the Oreo balls up for each season; Christmas, I like making them look like mini puddings buy putting red and green candies on top. Halloween; I will dye the milk chocolate orange. Birthdays or events; you can add sprinkles, etc. to brighten them up. Use your own creativity, and post your creations in the comments below!!

ENJOY!

- Danie J

Ice Ice Baby

Taking a cold shower every day is beneficial in many ways, according to health and fitness experts. Usually, taking a cold shower is seen as some kind of punishment, especially when it’s the result of a bathroom plumbing problem, but did you know that getting under a cold shower can help your circulation, help you sleep better, and help prevent injuries?

It’s all true. In fact, in certain parts of the world, dousing young children with buckets of ice-cold water is seen as a therapeutic health practice! Even though there is plenty of evidence to show the health benefits of taking a cold shower, it can take some time for your body to get used to it.

It Improves Your Mood; The science of the cold shower happens mostly in the brain. (That is, your brain’s neurotransmitters handle the information that the shower is colder than usual, so we’ll start there.) Taking a cold shower stimulates the secretion of noradrenaline in the brain, which is known to boost mood, help fight off depression in many forms, and reduce feelings of stress in the body. This means you’ll start the day in the right frame of mind. Taking a cold shower can also promote the production of testosterone, the hormone that helps stimulate muscle growth. So, taking a cold shower can also help make you stronger!

Circulation; Taking a cold shower can also help improve your blood circulation. For instance, when taking a hot shower, the blood goes to the skin to protect it, whereas with a cold one, the blood rushes to the internal organs to protect them—and that’s a much longer trip for your blood. More blood circulated to the area of the organs can help them function more efficiently throughout the day. Some experts also believe that taking a cold shower can elevate blood glucose, thereby suppressing the appetite and helping raise body temperature.

Where To Start; If you decide to try a bit of cold shower therapy, it will initially feel a little uncomfortable. Just as when starting a new exercise regimen, leaving one’s comfort zone is always a little shocking. That’s okay, because you will get stronger and more resilient, and soon your body will not only have adapted to the new temperature, but it will crave the cold water. To start, a number of experts recommend a progressive transition to cold showers from warm ones. To do so, begin showering normally, and by the middle point of your shower, start to turn the temperature down a little bit at a time, until your body is no longer comfortable. When the water is cold, take deep breaths to control any shivering and to help maintain a consistent body temperature. Do this for a couple of minutes for three days, after which you start the cold water a little earlier each day, until your entire shower is taken under cold water.

A SPECIAL GOODLUCK TO ALL MY CANADIANS DURING THE WINTER!!

- Danie J

Your Summer Food Essentials-PART 2

PEPPER (CAPSICUM):
Beautifying Compound: Capsaicin
Beauty Benefit: Reduces Inflammation

You can't really go wrong when choosing your favourite pepper, but keep these two bits of beauty info in mind: red, yellow, and orange bell peppers have more beauty benefits than green bell peppers, and hot peppers, like poblano, chile, and jalapeno varieties, contain much, much more of the anti-aging phytochemical capsaicin found in the white membrane inside the pepper. Whether you go sweet or hot, all peppers support good circulation. But peppers with higher levels of capsaicin are especially anti-inflammatory chemoprotective, circulation boosting - and anti-aging. Capsaicin suppresses a cell signal that starts a chain of inflammation and aging process in the body. Sweet bell peppers only have trace amounts of capsaicin, but they're extremely high in collagen-building vitamin C. On sweet yellow pepper has about 600 percent of your daily vitamin C needs. Sweet bell peppers are also great sources of of B vitamins for healthy hair and anti-aging beta-carotene for firm, elastic skin. Rinse peppers in cold water and eat them raw to keep their delicate antioxidants intact

PINEAPPLE: 
Beautifying Compound: Vitamin B/Pyridoxine
Beauty Benefit: Supports Healthy Hair Colour

This sweet tropical treat contains a powerful anti-inflammatory digestive compound that breaks down protein and boosts overall digestion. Pineapple's enzymes combine with its insoluble fiber to help you maintain a flat belly and less bloat when you eat it fresh (in moderation, since it's high in natural fruit sugar). Pineapple is rich in vitamin B6 and copper, two nutrients for healthy hair and hair colour; plus potassium, for circulating beauty nutrients around the body. Pineapple also balances water and heat in the body, making it a wonderful summer food.

RASPBERRIES: 
Beautifying Compound: Vitamin B/Biotin
Beauty Benefit: Strengthens Hair And Nails

These delicate, gem-like berries contain an impressively large list of antioxidants, from collagen-protecting anthocyanin pigments to toxin-fighting ellagic acid. Raspberries also offer age-fighting, collagen-building nutrition from vitamin C and plenty of fiber for their small size. The raspberry has blood-building and liver-supporting properties that strengthen and support gorgeous skin and healthy hair, plus biotin that's important for growing hair and nails. It's high content of manganese also helps the body preserve mitochondrial health.

TOMATO: 
Beautifying Compound: Lycopene
Beauty Benefit: Defends Against UV Damage

Eating tomatoes while the sun shines has another beauty benefit: the anti-cancer nutrients lycopene and beta-carotene in tomatoes defend the skin from UV damage that causes wrinkles, age spots, and lines. Eating tomatoes regularly concentrates this photoprotective benefit in the skin. Cooking tomatoes increases lycopene absorption, as does a drizzle of olive oil - the natural pairing to ripe summer tomatoes that provides vitamin E to amplify the damage-preventing actions of vitamin C. Tomatoes are also anti-inflammatory and high in potassium, to keep your electrolytes in balance for healthy circulation of beauty nutrients.


WATERMELON: 
Beautifying Compound: Iron
Beauty Benefit: Maintains Healthy Red Blood Cell Production

Watermelon is a long, hydrating drink of water for your skin (92% of every bite is H2O). The antioxidant lycopene in watermelon gives your body strong UV-defense properties that work in tandem with your sunscreen to keep you sun-damage-free all summer. For summer slimness, watermelon reduces water retention and cools and detoxifies the body. It's a surprising source of iron - important for red blood cell production, which leads to healthy hair, pretty pink nail beds, and radiant skin. It also helps the body make arginine, an amino acid that is indirectly involved in bodily healing and the production of anti-aging HGH. Arginine supports cardiovascular health, ensuring healthy blood flow throughout the body.


ZUCCHINI: 
Beautifying Compound: Magnesium
Beauty Benefit: Calms Nervous Function

Not only is zucchini - and yellow squash, a zucchini variety - a seriously low-cal veggie (just 20 calories in one small zucchini), its fiber and detoxifying pectin make you feel full and block absorption of even more of its calories. But don't think the beauty benefits of zucchini are bland. Zucchini offers a dose of anti-aging vitamins C and A, plus relaxing, blood pressure-lowering magnesium and potassium. You'll find beauty nutrients like B6 and folate for healthy hair, and riboflavin for collagen building, in every bite.



- Danie J

The Final Countdown

I was one of those kids that started counting down the days till Christmas in November, and well… I still do! I love planning things and counting down to things happening in my life. It makes me get so excited about them, but I know I can sometimes get a little out of hand (anything over a year is a BIT TOO EARLY to start your countdown I guess). 

Count downs are great; great for keeping track of when an event/thing is happening; great for giving you something to look forward too; great for passing time. Ah, that last point there… “Great for passing time”, when in today’s society did we decide it was great to count down to things and wish for them to hurry up, all we are inevitably doing is wishing away our days, wishing away our time. And WHY would we ever want to do that!? Not everyone does this, some people are great at living in the moment, I am most of the time, but I still have my little count down timers for trips, and events, and that’s ok. We need to realise that yes it is ok and good for us to look forward and countdown to something, but we need to make sure that we are only counting down/ looking at the number and not wishing away our days.

Whenever I find myself thinking ‘Ohhh I can’t wait for this trip, I wish it would go faster’ for the rest of that day I specifically look for things to do and look forward to only on that day. Every day of our lives should be enjoyable. Some may be more enjoyable then others, but we really need to start seeing the beauty in every day. Whether you are as fortunate as me, and living in a national park beside giant mountains, or whether you are couped up in a small apartment, sick as a dog, do something to make that day memorable… watch your favourite movie, order out your favourite food, go for a walk, sit by a lake, ANYTHING.

Again, no you won’t remember every day for the rest of your life, and yes some days will always automatically be better, but I’m challenging all of you, to at least try and look forward to something in Everyday (as well as your awesome future plans)


- Danie J

First Summer In Canada

So I am currently living in Canada… Lake Louise Alberta to be more specific and right now it is -30 Degrees Celsius, and I am sitting here reminiscing about summer. If you don’t know already, I am not Winters Biggest fan, I love snow, I think it’s so beautiful, and there is lots of fun things to do in it, but I just can’t seem to handle the cold temperatures and getting dressed in so many layers every day for 8 months straight. And yes I have already spent a very long, cold and snowy winter here in Canada last season where I managed to survive temperatures of -42 Degrees Celsius, but lucky (kind of sad, as I hate goodbyes) I am only doing a very short 2-3 month season this year before I am off on my next adventure (somewhere A LOT Warmer…. Keep Posted!!)

I love and live for summer, coincidentally i only realised that half way through my first very long and cold winter last season. But all in all I still pushed through and enjoyed ‘summer’ for the very few months it was here (like 2 months). My first summer in Canada was pretty amazing, I went white water rafting (not my first time); Fun, but cold, rapids were only classes 2-4 so good for first timers. Rock climbing; I loved it so much, a full body workout but oh my gosh, if you are reward driven then try this out, the views you get the higher you go for to die for! LOTS of Hiking (I will post another blog on some of the best hikes here in the area). Zip Lining; Bike Riding; Horse Riding; Canoeing; Bear Watching; Road trips through the mountain range. All in all, If you are very outdoors and love being active, a summer in the Canadian Rockies is a MUST DO once in your life. 

- Danie J

Your Summer Food Essentials-PART 1

BLUEBERRIES:
Beautifying Compound: Anthocyanins
Beauty Benefit: Boosts Skin Elasticity

When it comes to blues, go easy on the eye shadow and fill up on the berries. On the surface, blueberries may not look powerful, but their deep blue skins contain a stable of anti-agers that keep you looking, thinking, and seeing yourself, at least 10 years younger! Specifically, anthocyanin pigments boost skin's elasticity and connective tissue (bye-bye sagging) and protect against UV damage, while catechins defend against wrinkles. Vitamins C and E top the list of the more common beauty nutrients in blueberries (they are even more powerful together, since C helps regenerate E in the body), and their healthy does of potassium boosts the circulation of nutrients and oxygen. They may even help reduce fat storage in your body, thanks to their ability to decrease insulin resistance. Eat them fresh or frozen, but not dried, for the biggest benefits. 


CANTALOUPE: 
Beautifying Compound: Vitamin A
Beauty Benefit: Protects Against UV Damage

Cantaloupe combines two major beauty vitamins, A and C: just 1 cup/170g has more of both A and C than you'll need in a full day! Vitamins A and C are powerhouse prevention against acne, wrinkles, sun damage, lackluster skin, and dry scalp. Cantaloupe also has plenty of potassium to keep your body hydrated and your beauty nutrients circulating, aided by vitamin B, which keeps sodium and potassium balanced in your body. Those B vitamins are also key for healthy, lustrous hair. cantaloupe is superoxide dismutase that supports mitochondrial health. For optimal digestion, eat your cantaloupe by itself, or at least thirty minutes before a meal.


CELERY: 
Beautifying Compound: Sodium
Beauty Benefit: Maintains Electrolyte Balance

It's healthy balance of sodium and potassium makes it a natural diuretic, with the power to cool, detox, and flush your body of excess fluid. Celery is just what you need when you're feeling a little too hot and heavy in the summer heat. And as you're cooled by celery, you're calmed, too, thanks to the phytochemical coumarin and its blood pressure-lowering properties. Celery's content of silicon supports skin elasticity and hydration, plus healthy hair growth. As you crunch away, remember that celery also defends against inflammation and wrinkles.


CUCUMBER: 
Beautifying Compound: Silicon
Beauty Benefit: Boosts Skin Elasticity And Moisture

When it's hot outside, cucumbers are like a cool breeze for your body and beauty. they're rich in silicon, a beauty mineral that's essential for healthy connective tissue and skin moisture and elasticity; and they're packed with water (95 percent!) for a hydration and detoxification boost. The potassium in cucumbers keeps beauty nutrients circulating, while magnesium keeps you calm (and together, research shows, these two chemicals may lower blood pressure). Cucumbers are anti-inflammatory, kidney-cleansing foods that prevent water retention and keep your body slim. They're a surprisingly good source of vitamin K, and super low in calories (an entire cucumber contains only 45). It's worth buying organic cucumbers so you can eat them with their skins, which are a good source of vitamin C and chlorophyll.


PAPAYA: 
Beautifying Compound: Lycopene
Beauty Benefit: Defends Against UV Damage

It's no surprise that this sunny orange fruit bursts full of age-fighting vitamin C; there's about one and a half times your recommended daily intake of vitamin C in 1 cup/225g of the tender flesh. Together with it's natural does of vitamin E, beta-carotene, and lycopene, papaya protects skin from signs of sun damage, like wrinkles and brown spots. Even more beautifying: papaya contains a digestive enzyme that reduces aging inflammation and promotes healthy digestion of proteins, as well as phytochemicals thought to protect from cancer. Papaya seeds are said to cleanse the intestines.


- Danie J

What To Look For In A Backpack

So with a little over a month before i head on my First big 'Back packing' Trip, i thought i'd write about one VERY important thing to do with Travelling and Backpacking.... YOUR BACKPACK. Picking the right backpack is an important part of any trip. Too big, and you’ll have too much extra weight. Too small, and you’ll never fit anything in. Pick the wrong material, and when it rains, your stuff will be soaked. There are so many options out there that it can be very confusing.

What to look for in a Backpack?

Water resistant material – While your pack does not need to be 100% waterproof, make sure your bag is made out of a semi-waterproof material so everything doesn't get wet in a drizzle. Many packs come with tarps/ waterproof covers you can put over them in case of some rain.

Multiple Compartments – A good bag must have multiple compartments. This way, you can break up your belongings into smaller sections so it’s easier to access and find the stuff you need. For example, my clothes are in the main compartment of my bag, my shoes in the bottom, toiletries in the front/separated small bag, and miscellaneous in the front/separated medium bag. It saves time from having to dig around your bag to find what you are looking for.

Padded Hip Belt, Shoulder Straps, & Back – Most of the weight you will be carrying around will be pushing down on your hips and shoulders, so you’ll want a padded belt to make supporting the weight more comfortable. The belt will help provide support and distribute the weight load more evenly on your back causing less strain and problems. Make sure the padding is very thick and made up of a single piece of material as it will be less likely to split and thin out. The hip belt should also be adjustable so you can tighten it for extra support. A lumbar-shaped pack makes carrying it more comfortable, as it allows for a more natural arch to ensure no back pain. Another bonus, this type of pack creates a small space between your back and the bag allowing air to move through which is a fantastic way too keep you cool after you've been lugging your bag around in 40+ degrees Celsius.

Does size matter – No one backpack size is better than another. What matters is that your backpack is the right size for what you need, and the right size for you. It should be proportioned to your body, so that might mean a backpack that is 40 liters or 80 liters. If your backpack is too big or too small, the weight won’t be balanced properly and will cause back pain or make you unsteady when carrying it. You don’t want a bag too big in comparison to yourself, it can leave you feel vulnerable and an easier target for someone to knock over/or take your things. But, you also don’t want a pack that is clearly too small and overflowing with all your stuff. When you are at the store (and any good camping/outdoors store will do this), they should be able to stuff your backpack with the equivalent of 30 pounds (15 kilograms) so you can see how that much weight feels on your back.


- Danie J