Summer Solstice Tips

Summer Living - Take It Easy

The summer solstice (or estival solstice), also known as midsummer, occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere(Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight. At the pole, there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice.

Summer Tips

This is the best time of year to lose weight, so choose foods which are easy to digest, eat salads and fresh fruits. Sea vegetables salads such as wakame with grated apple, Arame mixed with fresh greens are a great way to pack in minerals.  Use Sweet White Miso to lighten up the taste of your daily miso soup and simply cook with tiny tofu cubes. Macrobiotic Paella is a favourite dish of mine to cook at this time of year served alongside a delicious summer salad. Use spring onions and some parsley for garnish.  On the whole our diet should be of a cooler, lighter nature. Foods that strengthen the heart are bitter endive and dandelion, asparagus, whole grains such as rice and bulgur or couscous, and don’t forget to drink lots of clean living water. Dandelion root tea is an excellent tea for strengthening the heart and also aids in digestion.

Summer Solstice Peach Kanten & Sweet Date Cream

Kanten is a Japanese dessert that is somewhat likened to jelly or Jell-O. It is made with agar-agar, a gelatinous substance that comes from several species of dried seaweeds. It’s a macrobiotic classic dessert. Deliciously simple, and simply delicious, this healthy dessert is also packed with the natural fibre found in agar flakes.

Kanten

6 sweet ripe peaches

3 medjool dates, pits removed

1 cup apple juice

3 tbsp agar flakes

Pinch sea salt

Topping

Sweet date cream

Fresh blueberries

Sprig fresh mint for garnish

Sweet date cream

½ cup cashews, soaked overnight

4 tbsp almond milk or filtered water

3 medjool dates, pitted

¼ tsp lemon juice

¼ tsp vanilla

Drain the cashews and place all of the ingredients for the cream in a high-speed blender. Blend until creamy. You may have to stop and scrape down the sides of the blender with a spatula a few times.

To remove the skins of the peaches easily, soak them in boiling filtered water for 30 seconds then transfer to an ice bath. Remove the skins and stones from the peaches and transfer the flesh to a blender. When blended you will have around 3 cups of puréed peaches. Add the dates to the blender. In a small saucepan bring the apple juice, agar flakes and sea salt to a boil, reduce to low and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Pour into the blender and blend to a creamy consistency. Divide into individual serving dishes and chill in the fridge to set. Top with some sweet date cream and fresh berries. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint. Makes 4–6 servings.

Thank you for your interest and have a healthy and enjoyable summer.

In good health