SPICES - NOT JUST FOR CURRIES

I have a basic rule when preparing curries – onions, tomato, garlic, ginger, coriander, etc. There is something magical about spices. Some are said to be aphrodisiac! However, these spices have medicinal values not only in the tummy, but on the skin. Did you realise that the humble tomato is a great source of Lycopene - the most common carotenoid in the human body and one of the most potent carotenoid antioxidants. Naturally acidic with a rich source of vitamin C, it helps to brighten up dull skin by absorbing excess oil. Garlic is great for infections, turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and coriander is a refreshing herb for the skin.

I often get asked for facial masques for oily problematic skin so I came up with this recipe which makes 200g of dry masque:

72g Sea clay

32g Fuller's earth

25g Kaolin

20g Tomato powder

20g Lemon powder

10g Coriander powder

10g Garlic powder

10g Turmeric

1g Tea tree essential oil

Mix all your dry ingredients and add the tea tree essential oil. Stir well to incorporate and store in an air-tight container. Content may settle so you would need to shake it before use to break up any clamps of clay mix. To use: mix a tablespoon of the clay mix with enough warm water (or warm water + a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice; warm water + a tablespoon of fresh tomato juice (no UHT)) to make a thin paste – gently massage onto the face and leave to dry for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. Use twice a week.

DISCLAIMER:THIS INFORMATION MAY HELP THE READER UNDERSTAND HOW TO MIX CERTAIN INGREDIENTS FOR PERSONAL USE BUT IN NO WAY SHOULD THE ABOVE BE CONSTRUED AS CLAIMS MADE BY SHEABUTTER COTTAGE AS TO THEIR PERCEIVED MEDICAL BENEFITS. SHEABUTTER COTTAGE CAN NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY SPECIFIC USE OF THIS AND DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY ARISING.

GET SOME HEAT DOWN YOUR THROAT.

As a Ghanaian, I am used to spicy food and went through a culture shock when I moved to UK. Fortunately, I live in Reading which is home to most of my favourite food ingredients.

I wrote this recipe for an American soaping pal last year and have re-written it with minor changes - enjoy.

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NEW PRODUCTS

We have recently introduced new products to our range of products.

Fancy a face mask for that oily skin? Why not try blending some sea clay, tomato powder and lemon peel powder. Wash your hair and body with authentic African Black liquid soap and make your dry skin supple with a drop of Peruvian organic sacha inchi oil

 

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BRACING

I had been stuck at home for 3 days with my daughter who was not feeling too well, so it was such a relief when I "gained" freedom to get back to work on Friday and pack some orders.

We headed off South for the weekend and could not believe it when I found myself on the beach on a February afternoon!!!! It was cold, blustery and tiring with sand on my face. At least I had lots of fresh air to clear the cobwebs - especially when you live in Reading. It was such a relief to stumble upon Vesuvio for a cup of coffee and a nice piece of tiramisù (won't you if you had been walking for about a mile?)

A visit to Honeybrook proved more than we bargained for when we came across this chap.

IN MEMORY OF THOSE STRUCK BY CANCER

Keep the candle burning. A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle.

SHED THE OLD SKIN

Last Friday, I had plans to take things easy as I have been "running around" all week. However, the rascals had a different idea - they were both off school feeling under the weather. After managing to get them off to sleep in the afternoon, I got myself into the kitchen to concoct this African Black soap sugar scrub.

Ingredients:

Lots of patience (about 3 hours)

230g sugar (Whitworths Fairtrade demerara sugar)

132g African Black Soap

66g unrefined sheabutter

66g unrefined cocoabutter

66g fractionated coconut oil

20g veg. glycerin

The scrub makes 2 x 270g and smells wonderful even without any essential oils. The unrefined cocoa butter gives it a different edge to it. When you get to the M stage, your skin plays games with you. I live in a hard water area and managed to use only a tablespoon size of this scrub. My skin was really soft to touch.

Demerara sugar is very soft so this scrub is a bit porous when applied to the skin.

CHOÇOLÃT

My love of chocolates started at a very early age back in Ghana. It could have been due to the fact that my grandmother (bless her soul) was a cocoa farmer till her late 90's or I just could not resist the full flavoured dense Ghanaian chocolates.

Cocoa was first introduced into Ghana by the late Tetteh Quarshie on his return from a trip to Fernando Po (Equitorial Guinea) in the late 19th Century. Ghanaian cocoa beans are widely used in good quality chocolates.

I earned the nickname cioccolatina in Italy thanks to Raffaele for my love of chocolates. The name means little chocolates in Italian and has become a chosen name for one of my businesses. It was really difficult making these latest products as Valentine gifts as I had to restrain myself from eating the products. They smell fab - if I may say so.