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Forgiveness - without the strings attached

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Forgiveness seems like such a noble concept doesn't it? You forgive somebody for wrong doing, and everybody moves on with their lives happier and a little bit closer than before. When you're a child it seems so simplistic and it's portrayed as something you just have to suck it up and do, whether you want to or not. But what if the person or people who wronged you did something really terrible? Something really harmful, abusive or cruel. Should you still have to forgive them? Most major religions seems to say that you should, and this is where the whole concept of forgiveness becomes rather problematic to say the least. We've got forgiveness all wrong I'm going to go out on a limb here, and say that the type of forgiveness we were taught in the playground is not the kind of forgiveness we need as adults. It's noticeable that people in the holistic or "light worker" communities like to talk about grand concepts like unconditional love an

Easy Jowar Roti - White Millet (Sorghum) Flatbreads (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

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Since wheat has been very much off the table for me for a while now, I've been searching high and low for a good flour to use to make flatbreads for wraps and sandwiches. Much as I love gram flour (chickpea) flatbreads , which are delicious with curries, they don't have the right consistency and structural integrity required to make a sandwich wrap.  I wanted to find something that was closer to the wheat texture and taste that I've been missing but without the uncomfortable effect on my tummy. After a lot of searching, I kept coming across a mysterious flour called sorghum, but it always seemed to be mixed with other flours in bread recipes, and often with wheat - ugh! So I decided to go global, and search for traditional recipes from India that would be delicious, tried & tested and more importantly wheat free.  My Google search didn't disappoint! I soon found a whole array of recipes using Jowar Flour which I discovered was the elusive sorghum or wh

Gram Flour Flatbreads (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

Continuing my new obsession with gram flour , it was brought to my attention by a lovely person on Instagram that I haven't shared this recipe yet! I don't even have a photo, because whenever I make these they get eaten far too quickly for Instagramming. These are a satisfying and tasty flatbread that is the perfect accompaniment for curries and spicy foods. They also have a very slightly eggy flavour to them which makes them very good with tomato based curry. These cook very much like a pancake, but are quite firm and cannot be rolled up to use as a wrap. They are better torn or cut into quarters and dipped into delicious sauces or chutneys. This is another recipe that I have to credit to the amazing Ghazalla who was kind enough to teach me some of her traditional Persian and Indian recipes. It's definitely one of my favourites because they are very filling, satisfying and make the perfect contract to a hot and spicy curry. Makes 6 Ingredients 90z/255g Gram

Mexican Style Cornbread (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

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I'm so excited to share this recipe with you! I've spent some time over the past few weeks experimenting with cornbread, learning what it tastes like and trying various sweet and savoury versions. It's certainly an interesting texture but some have more flavour than others. This is my own recipe for the slightly more flavoursome Mexican style cornbread, and it's definitely my favourite savoury version so far, and makes the ideal lunch for work or when you're out and about.  I haven't added any chili to this one because I don't find that improves the flavour, but feel free to chuck some jalapenos in if you're feeling spicy! Check out my vintage Pyrex, bishes! Cornbread has been a godsend for me since I first started baking it. I can't eat wheat anymore, so it's been tricky finding something that is easy to make, has good structural integrity and has the sort of taste and texture combination I want. I love this one so much that it

Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

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I really love chocolate peanut butter cups, but I'm trying to be a bit healthier lately so I decided to have a go at making energy balls instead. Also, I had no chocolate in the house, so it was a desperate moment! The premise is pretty simple, you start with dates and add whatever flavours you want.  I fancied chocolate and peanut butter, partly because I knew I had the ingredients to make something flavoured with those things in my kitchen cupboards and partly because it's an epic combo. This is of course gluten free, wheat free, grain free, soy free, refined sugar free, dairy free, egg free and vegan.   The milled linseed (flaxseed) I used is from Lidl and the Coconut Cacao Spread was one I picked up at Holland and Barrett a while back and was wondering what to do with. This seemed the obvious use for it! You can change and mix up the ingredients however you like.  This is a recipe I devised using up leftovers in my cupboard so don't worry if you d

Cheesy Vegan Arepas (Vegan, Wheat & Gluten Free)

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In my search for wheat free bread products a couple of years ago, I stumbled upon Masa Harina.  I was originally hunting for recipes for cornbread, having never tried it and thinking it could be a useful staple to replace the wheat I'm no longer able to eat. Masa Harina is dried corn dough, often called corn flour, but not to be mistaken for the cornflour we use for thickening sauces here in the UK! I've also had a go at making corn tortillas with Masa Harina and they are really stunning.  I'm also working on sweet and savoury cornbread receipes for you all that I'll share soon. All in all, Masa harina is now one of my favourite non-wheat flours to work with. Arepas are small fried corn cakes that are traditionally eaten in South America. They are often sliced in half and filled. I've tried a few different fillings, including tomato & mustard, vegan sausage and vegan cheese and they make a pretty good wheat free replacement for a muffin or savoury bun

A Spiritual look at Facebook Libra

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Facebook recently announced Libra, their own cryptocurrency that they are planning to launch soon. The reception has been rather frosty, even in the mainstream media with co-founder of Facebook Chris Hughes, suggesting that it could shift too much power into the hands of a few corporations and away from the central banks of sovereign nations. When I read about Facebook Libra, the first thing that caught my eye was the logo they have chosen - the three squiggly lines. Something in my brain clicked that I'd seen it before somewhere and that it had occult significance. A little research revealed that the seemingly harmless 3 squiggly lines are a very ancient and powerful symbol of the ancient Babylonian pagan trinity Nimrod, Semiramis and Tammuz.  Sources suggest that this symbol is also one favoured by proponents of the New World Order, and there is speculation that this is the real origin of the modern Holy Trinity in Christian religion too.  The powerful occult numbe