When you have a bad day, the saying often goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Contrary to this negative connotation, lemons do actually bestow many positive uses.
Lemons are identified by their pungent, sour taste and smell. This fruit is not just for seasoning food or flavoring drinks, or as a type of air freshener or dish soap fragrance. In fact, lemons have quite a few practical, everyday uses that may add some vigor to your Paleo lifestyle.
Main components found in lemons include citric acid, malic acid and vitamin C. Citric acid and malic acid are the most abundant acids found in lemons, although there are many other acids present, and they are responsible for giving lemons their sour taste.
One of the great things about lemons is that regardless of the time of year, you’ll typically be able to find fresh lemons available. They also have a fairly long shelf life.
Lemons can be kept at room temperature, out of the sunlight for about a week; and in the refrigerator for up to a month. When selecting your lemons, make sure to look for those with thinner peels, because thicker peeled lemons tend to be less juicy.
10 Ways to Use Lemons
Below are 10 ways lemons can give back to your life:
1. Deodorize garbage disposal
The next time you have lemon peels to dispose of, try throwing them down your garbage disposal instead of in the trash. In just seconds, your smelly garbage disposal will turn into citrus bliss. Make sure you cut the peels small enough to avoid any technical difficulties. Adding some baking soda will also help to curb any odors.
2. Sanitize cutting board
Cutting boards are unfortunately not perfect, especially if they are made of wood, and cleaning them can be tough since they are not recommended to go into the dishwasher.
Every month or so (maybe even sooner depending on how much use you are getting out of your cutting board) it’s a good idea to give your cutting board a bath.
To do this, cut a lemon in half and use this to give your cutting board a scrub down. It’s also helpful to put some salt on the board before you start in with the lemon action. Rinse with hot water when you’re done and you are good to go with a sanitized and food residue-free cutting board.
3. Cleans stainless steel
It may take some extra elbow grease compared to chemical cleaners, but using lemon juice is safer and cheaper. Lemons are highly acidic and have a low pH value, which will help get rid of hard water stains on stainless steel (ironic, right?).
Squeeze 2-4 lemons into hot water. Take a cloth and soak it into the lemon water mixture, and then scrub your stainless steel appliance until it shines through like new. Rinse with water when you are finished.
4. Cleans soap scum and water stains on shower doors
Breaking down soap scum is another cool thing citric acid can do. Lemon juice and lemon oil are great for cleaning your shower. Use a brush or a cloth to coat the areas you would like to clean, let it sit for a while, scrub out the dirt, and rinse clean with hot water.
5. Removes odors from other foods on your hands
Getting your hands dirty is all part of being in the kitchen. After you cut some garlic or onion, or handle some shrimp or tuna, your hands may smell like they need a serious cleaning and water doesn’t always cut it on its own. It doesn’t take much lemon juice to get rid of the strong odor; just rub a small amount onto your smelly hands.
To reduce any harshness to the skin, you can dilute some lemon juice with water before applying it. Definitely rinse your hands with water after this one.
Be aware if you have dry skin that applying lemon juice may not help the situation, so make sure to moisturize your skin when using this Paleo remedy.
6. Lighten sun spots, for skin toning
Staying out in the sun may leave you sunburned, but sometimes it can just leave behind sunspots. Lemons are high in vitamin C and citrus flavonoids, which both help to reduce the melanin production in your skin. Lemon juice alone is a little harsh on the skin, although you can rub a lemon slice directly onto your sun spots.
Mix 1-2 teaspoons of honey (to add moisture and to take away some of the bite) to 1-2 slices of lemon juice, and apply it to your sunspots for at least 20 minutes to get a lighter skin tone. Never apply immediately before or after sun exposure. Lemons also exfoliate dead skin, which can help clear out your sunspots.
7. Bug bite itch relief
The First Century Greek physician Dioscorides was known to prescribe lemon balm for scorpion or animal bites. The juicy, citrusy, pulpy fruit has antibacterial properties which can bring relief to your pesky mosquito bites as well as other bug bites.
Apply some lemon juice to the itchy areas (warning: be careful, as it may sting!) or try rubbing the peel directly onto the bite. Beware that using too much may irritate your skin.
8. Soothe a sore throat
Sore throats can be a pain in the neck (literally), especially if you have to talk to people on a daily basis. Instead of purchasing lozenges and over-the-counter syrups right off the bat, try using the juice from half of a lemon and a small amount of water, and gargle it over a sink. The citric acid in the lemon water will help to break down the mucus causing the soreness, as well as soothe the pain and inflammation.
9. Get rid of dandruff
If dandruff is getting in the way of your good looks, try using lemon juice to help fight this fashion don’t. Before you get in the shower, use the juice from a few slices of lemon and massage it into your scalp.
Citric acid attacks dandruff from the roots of your hair follicles. Mixing coconut oil with lemon juice and massaging it into the scalp may help to moisturize your scalp as well as remove your dandruff.
10. Boosts immune system, aids digestion, and reduces inflammation
Not only did Dioscorides use lemons for bug bites, he also recommended lemons to the delicate and weak as a digestive aid, to calm people’s nerves and to counter depression. Drinking a glass of lemon water with a meal, or eating preserved lemons can help to reduce inflammation and swelling in your joints.
Liz Lang is a Clinical Research Coordinator with the Southern California Institute for Research and Education in the field of Gastroenterology. Liz graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a degree in Public Health Sciences. She has an insatiable thirst to learn how the human body works in order to keep people healthy. When Liz isn’t in the clinic, she enjoys exploring nature, yoga, and trying new things (especially food!).
A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.
Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.
When it comes to fighting cancer, preventative treatment is better than reactive. Here are 20 cancer-fighting foods that will help protect you!
One of the best measures of defense is our lifestyle, as outlined in the scientific research. Everything you do, whether it’s not sleeping enough, exercising regularly, smoking, drinking alcohol, eating poorly – constitutes your lifestyle. Unfortunately, cancer also is impacted by our genetic makeup – which we are born with.
What we do have control over, however, is epigenetics. Epigenetics can be over-simplified to mean “how your environment and choices impact your genes”. This can be otherwise stated as – you guessed it – lifestyle! There are foods – all of which can be found in a Paleo Diet – that can help prevent and also help to cope with cancer.
Unsurprisingly, there are lots of vegetables on the cancer-fighting foods list!
So without further adieu, here are the top 20 cancer-fighting foods!
1. Kale
Kale is pretty much the best vegetable to be eating on a regular basis. Since it has gone mainstream, you are also no longer the (only) health nut in the break room with raw green stuff on your plate – added bonus. The nutrients in cruciferous vegetables offer somewhat rare protection against DNA damage – which can often result in cancer.
Why is kale one of the best cancer-fighting foods? Well, one reason is that kale offers the most polyphenol content of any cruciferous vegetable. Kale also contains sulforaphane, which is a bioactive compound shown to be very helpful for preventing cancer. Eat up!
2. Spinach
Popeye was no fool – spinach is a nutritional powerhouse. In particular, spinach seems to be beneficial for prostate cancer.
Though spinach is helpful for preventing cancer for many reasons, its effect against prostate cancer is likely due to epoxyxanthophylls – a group of carotenoids found within this green veggie. Popeye was no fool – spinach is a nutritional powerhouse.
The anti-cancer effect of spinach glycoglycerolipids is due to angiogenesis inhibition. In more detail, this is based on the selective inhibition of DNA polymerase activity.
For practical uses, all you need to remember is that the more spinach you have, the better your odds of fighting cancer.
3. Cauliflower
Cauliflower is a little bit forgotten when it comes to scientific research, but you will find that there are quite a few studies linking cauliflower to potentially lower rates of cancer. Cauliflower not only has antioxidants, but also has sulfur-containing nutrients which help fight against cancer.
Cauliflower even contains additional phytonutrients which may be helpful in activating detoxification enzymes and regulating how they function within the body.
These are called glucosinolates, and cauliflower contains gluconasturtiin, glucobrassicin, and glucoraphanin. Dig in!
4. Broccoli
Broccoli simply has some of the best bioactive compounds to help fight against cancer. Sulforaphane is the main element found within this green veggie, which helps to deter cancer.
Cabbage has a particular glucosinolate which has received extra notice in cancer research, named sinigrin. And if you are looking to get the most bang for your buck with cabbage – eat it raw, as studies show it has better health results in this form.
Steaming it is also a good option. Just make sure to include cabbage in your weekly nutritional rotation!
6. Carrots
These orange veggies pack quite a few cancer-fighting elements into one light package. Most important though, is the anti-cancer compound falcarinol. Why is this so important?
Some studies show that tumors in rats were reduced by a third, upon ingestion of falcarinol. Definitely food for thought!
7. Sweet Potatoes
Similar to carrots in many regards, sweet potatoes also pack a large amount of nutrition into a small amount of calories.
Experts have even found that there are significant antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects on human cancer cells when consuming sweet potatoes.
8. Seaweed
Somewhat forgotten by almost everyone, seaweed actually has many anti-carcinogenic properties. An important element found here is fucoidan, a complex polysaccharide, which has possible abilities to make cancer cells self-destruct.
However, more research is required before anything more definitive can be stated on this subject. One thing is for sure – you should munch on these cancer-fighting foods from time to time to reap the health rewards!
Raspberries contain ellagic acid – more in fact, than almost every other berry. Get black raspberries to get the most bang for your buck. And why exactly is ellagic acid important? Very simply, it helps to inhibit tumors.
11. Papayas
Papayas are very often forgotten about – but they shouldn’t be. While the verdict is still out, many substances found in papayas may have some anti-cancer effects. Slight warning – papayas are still high in sugar, so don’t make this fruit an everyday occurrence in your diet.
12. Lemons
It seems like lemons have been truly forgotten about, except maybe in your water at a restaurant! The case here is, again, not the lemons, but the compounds found within them. In this case, the phytochemical limonene has been used in clinical trials and is showing some promising anti-cancer activity.
13. Rosemary
Rosemary is a great way to add some extra punch to some of your favorite Paleo foods. When it comes to cancer prevention, there is particular potential in rosemary extract, carnosol, carnosic acid, ursolic acid, and rosmarinic acid. What does this mean for you? Start adding this herb to some of your favorite dishes, and take one more step towards better health.
14. Garlic
Garlic is well-known as being extremely healthful, but there are some interesting notes that affect its anti-cancer properties. Did you know, for example, that letting garlic sit after you’ve chopped it can help to increase the benefits?
Various population-based studies have shown that garlic may help with cancer. You can apologize to your significant other in advance for the bad breath, but you are helping your own health in the process!
15. Brazil Nuts
Brazil nuts get a lot of their cancer-fighting punch from selenium – a trace mineral that is found in extremely large quantities in this particular nut. You do not need many Brazil nuts to reap the benefits – so do not overindulge, as they are calorically dense.
Since green tea has a variety of other health benefits, there is no reason not to include this in your diet!
18. Tomatoes
Some interesting studies have shown that tomatoes and broccoli, when eaten together, are a virtual powerhouse against cancer. The lycopene in tomatoes is what is doing the work, while concurrently, the sulforaphane in broccoli is doing the job. Eat both, to increase your odds against disease!
Blueberries have many beneficial compounds for helping to fight against cancer. But perhaps most importantly, they have anthocyanin antioxidants – which help to give foods blue, purple and red colors. The many anthocyanin compounds in blueberries include: malvidins, delphinidins, pelargonidins, cyanidins, and peonidins.
While some foods show small differences in nutritional profiles when comparing organic vs. non-organic items – this is not the case with blueberries. Always go with organic berries whenever possible.
Besides the anthocyanin antioxidants, blueberries also contain: caffeic acids, ferulic acids, coumaric acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, gallic acids, procatchuic acids, kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin and other phytonutrients. Eat up!
Eating a solid mix of the best vegetables and most nutrient-dense fruits, while also sprinkling in some beneficial herbs and spices, is a sure-fire way to help decrease your risk of cancer. Once you have cancer, there is no clear way – nutritionally – to make it better. However, some studies have shown small success with very low-sugar, high-vegetable diets.
Remember, it is better to start making good choices today, rather than waiting until it may be too late. Preventative medicine is the best kind of medicine – and that includes eating a nutrient-rich, vegetable-filled, Paleo diet full of cancer-fighting foods.
Written by Casey Thaler
Author Bio:
Casey Thaler, B.A., NASM-CPT, FNS is an NASM® certified personal trainer and NASM® certified fitness nutrition specialist. He writes for Paleo Magazine®, The Paleo Diet® and Greatist®. He is also an advisor for Kettle and Fire and runs his own nutrition and fitness consulting company, Eat Clean, Train Clean®.
A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.
Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.
With countless coffee brewing methods available to us today, you may be wondering: “Does it really matter if my morning cuppa comes from a French Press, or a drip coffee machine? And what the heck is a percolator?”
Any coffee lover would agree that the method you use to brew your beans does make all the difference in the aroma, texture, freshness, and taste you end up with in your cup.
The coffee brewing method you use, can also determine the nutritional value and the amount of antioxidants in your java, and may even help reduce your exposure to the carcinogenic chemicals that occur with certain coffee brewing techniques.
Let’s look closer at the key differences, and benefits, in eight different coffee brewing methods so that you can decide which one is right for you.
French Press
One of the simplest brewing methods that steeps coffee grounds in hot water and then presses the grounds out.
Benefits:
The coffee beans only come in contact with the French Press and hot water (opposed to passing through a filter), which yields a stronger cup of coffee in terms of caffeine content and flavor.
A glass or stainless steel French Press is considered one of the “cleanest” coffee brewing methods, because it doesn’t use the bleached paper coffee filters that contain chemicals, called dioxins and epichlorohydrin, which become carcinogenic when they come in contact with water.
“Boiled” coffee brewing methods help preserve the antioxidants found in coffee beans, such as chlorogenic acids. Chlorogenic acids are the reason why coffee is said to have protective effects against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and dementia.
The strength of brew in a French Press is easy to customize.
Caffeine Amount: Average of 107.5 mg per 8 oz cup.
French Press Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
This simple brewing method steeps coffee grounds in hot water and then presses the grounds out. You can find a French press at most grocery stores, coffee shops or home appliance stores.
Tools:
French Press
A kettle (for boiling hot water)
Ingredients:
Boiling hot water
Coffee grounds (2 T per one cup of water)
Instructions:
Measure the ground coffee and place in the French Press.
Allow the boiling water to cool for 1 minute, slowly pour into the French Press. Stir brew.
Steep the coffee between 3-5 minutes.
Press the plunger to the bottom and drink immediately.
Automatic Drip Coffee
The most common type of coffee maker, most likely found in your parents’ kitchen and hotel rooms.
Benefits:
You can set it before you go to bed so that your morning coffee has already started brewing when your alarm goes off.
High-end automatic drip coffee makers have many unique features, such as built-in coffee bean grinders, a “keep warm” time setting, and choosing the length of brewing time which can alter the strength and flavour.
Although drip coffee makers may yield a slightly weaker brew than “boiled” coffee brewing methods (due to the fact that the grounds are filtered), the filter has been shown to prevent an oily compound found in coffee beans, that blocks the cholesterol-regulating receptors in your intestines, from passing through.
In other words, drinking several cups of “boiled” coffee each day, may contribute to raising your LDL cholesterol levels (which is more of a concern if you have a diet high in refined sugar and fats), while filtered coffee won’t contain this fatty acid.
Important Note About Coffee Filters:
Standard white paper coffee filters are bleached with chlorine, and contain carcinogenic chemicals such as epichlorohydrin and dioxins. Dioxins are a by-product of paper bleaching, and can accumulate in tissues and disrupt hormones.
While it’s unclear exactly how much of these chemicals can wind up in your cup, it’s safer to stick to unbleached paper coffee filters, or better yet, switch to reusable hemp coffee filters which are better for you and the environment.
Caffeine Amount: Since the beans are in contact with the water for longer periods of time when using a drip method, drip coffee is higher in caffeine at roughly 145 mg per cup.
Automatic Drip Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
High in caffeine and convenience, the automatic drip coffee maker is the most common brewing method.
Tools:
Automatic coffee maker
Unbleached paper or hemp coffee filters
Ingredients:
Ground coffee beans
Water
Instructions:
Place the ground coffee in the filter.
Pour the water into the reservoir.
Hit the “brew” button.
Adjust the other settings as necessary.
Pour Over Coffee
This is another drip coffee method that produces a strong, full bodied cup of coffee. Some coffee fanatics say a “pour over” coffee is the best they’ve ever had. You may be familiar with the Chemex and Hario, which are common pour over coffee makers.
Benefits:
Yields a stronger and more intense flavor because it wets the coffee grounds evenly, which better extracts the unique notes and flavors from the coffee beans.
The pour over method allows you to have complete control of the taste, strength and water temperature.
Chemex filters are designed to remove sediment, oils and fatty acids, which is also said to make the coffee flavor richer and eliminates the undesirable parts of the coffee bean.
The Chemex is made from glass. This is a preferable option compared to plastic, which contains endocrine disrupting chemicals, such as BPA, that may leach into hot beverages.
Many coffee experts claim there is a “craft” to using the pour over. You have to use a high quality, specifically ground coffee bean (coarse grind only), and a specific type of filter and water temperature. Most experts also agree that once you get it right, it’s worth it.
Caffeine Amount: Since the beans are in contact with the water for longer periods of time when using a drip method, drip coffee is higher in caffeine at roughly 145 mg per cup.
Pour Over Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
Chemex and Hario are common pour over coffee makers, yielding a strong, full bodied cup of coffee
Tools:
A pour over coffee maker (such as a Chemex)
Pour over coffee filters (Chemex filters if you’re using a Chemex)
Filter holder
Ingredients:
Hot (not boiling) water
Course ground coffee beans (should be similar in texture to brown sugar)
Instructions:
Boil the water and allow it to cool for 1-2 minutes.
Place the dripper on the pour over machine, and the filter into the dripper.
Add the grounds to the filter, making sure the grounds are leveled.
Pour ¼ cup of water over the coffee grounds slowly, making sure all of the grounds have been wet evenly.
Wait 30 seconds.
Pour the rest of the water over the grounds in 2-3 equal parts, pausing between pours to allow the coffee to be extracted evenly.
Cold Brew Coffee
Cold brewed coffee is exactly as it sounds: coffee that’s been brewed cold. However, it has a few key differences from regular coffee when it comes to acidity and taste.
Benefits:
Approximately ⅔ less acidic than hot coffee, which makes it better tolerated for those who have conditions that are aggravated by acidic foods (for example, acid reflux).
When coffee is brewed cold instead of hot, the lower acidity produces a naturally sweeter taste.
Cold brew is steeped for 18-24 hours in the fridge, which produces a coffee that’s richer in flavour.
It doesn’t go stale as quickly as hot brewed coffee, so you can make a batch ahead of time to last you the week.
Caffeine Amount: The amount of caffeine in your cold brew will vary based on the beans you use. Cold brew coffee is higher in caffeine than hot brewed coffee because of the long steep time.
Cold Brew Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
Cold brew is steeped in the fridge for a day, making for a less acidic glass of iced coffee.
Tools:
A large glass jar with a lid or cover
Sieve or cheesecloth
Ingredients:
Coarse ground coffee beans
Cold water
Instructions:
Place the coffee grounds in the glass jar.
Cover with cold water and stir until combined.
Cover the glass jar with the lid.
Let steep for 18-24 hours.
Filter the coffee grounds with a sieve or cheesecloth into a large bowl, to remove the grounds.
You now have your cold brew! Store it in the fridge and enjoy.
Turkish Coffee
Fine coffee grounds brewed in a brass pot over a low temperature to strengthen the flavor. Turkish coffee is considered more of a “sweet treat” to sip on slowly because white sugar is added during the brewing process (along with spices such as cardamom and cinnamon).
Benefits:
The lower brew temperature of Turkish coffee can eliminate the bitter taste of boiled coffee.
You only need about ⅓ of the amount of coffee grinds required for other coffee methods.
The addition of cardamom and cinnamon may help with digestion.
Caffeine Amount: 163 mg per 8 oz, or 61mg per 3 oz.
Turkish Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
Fine coffee grounds are brewed in a brass pot over a low temperature for a strong cup of Turkish coffee.
Tools:
A brass or copper cezve
Ingredients:
Sugar (we recommend coconut sugar in place of white sugar)
Water
Fine coffee grounds
Instructions:
Measure the amount of cold water you need and pour into the cezve.
Place cezve on stove and turn the heat to medium-high until the water heats up, but do not let it boil.
Add your coffee (1-2 heaping teaspoons per 3 ounce cup).
Do not stir the coffee, but let it float on the surface. This prevents it from clumping up and yields a smoother brew.
Add sugar if using, but again, don’t stir.
Once the coffee starts to sink into the water from the surface and the sugar dissolves, you can begin stirring and turn the heat down to low.
Stir until a foam starts to form on the surface.
Once you see the foam, turn down the heat and take your pot off the stove. This is when small bubbles will start to form. You can continue stirring at this point.
Eventually, a thick froth will build, and Turkish coffee experts say that serving it at this stage is when the coffee will taste best.
Percolator Coffee
An “old-school” stove-top coffee method that cycles boiling water through coffee grounds inside a small chamber. This method was most popular in the 1950’s to 1970’s and was replaced by other coffee methods, such as the automatic drip coffee maker.
Some people claim the percolator produces over- extracted coffee with a poor taste, but others say it produces a rich, full bodied cup of coffee.
Benefits:
Keeps coffee hot for longer periods of time without burning it.
Ideal if you’re making coffee for company: it yields 9-10 cups!
Caffeine Amount: Average of 200 mg per cup.
Percolator Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
This “old-school” stove-top coffee method cycles boiling water through coffee grounds inside a small chamber.
Tools:
Percolator
Stovetop or burner
Ingredients:
Water
Coarse ground coffee
Instructions:
Wash the percolator thoroughly before use.
Open the percolator.
Measure the cold water (approximately 6-8 ounces of water per cup)
Pour the water into the bottom chamber.
Assemble the chamber with the stem and bottom chamber.
Add the coffee to the top chamber (2 tsp of coarse ground coffee per cup)
Place the percolator on the stove, or other heat source, and heat up gradually.
Wait for the liquid in the bottom dome to begin bubbling or “perking”, which is when it’s ready to drink.
If you’re using a manual percolator, remove it from the heat at this point to avoid burning the coffee.
AeroPress Coffee
A coffee brewing method that uses the force of gravity to extract flavour from the coffee beans.
Benefits:
Higher PH than drip coffee (less acidic).
Only takes 30 seconds to brew.
Lower caffeine content (roughly the same amount per cup as 1 shot of espresso).
Inexpensive equipment (easy to find online or in specialty coffee shops).
Travel friendly, since it’s light, compact, and made from plastic.
“Pour and push”: simple, hassle-free brewing technique.
Caffeine Amount: Approximately 64mg of caffeine per single serving.
AeroPress Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
This coffee brewing method uses the force of gravity to extract flavor from the coffee beans.
Tools:
An aeropress (it looks similar to a plunger)
A cap for the end of the aeropress
Aeropress filters (metal or standard paper filters)
Coffee scoop measure
A funnel for getting coffee grounds into the aeropress chamber
Stirring spoon
Ingredients:
Ground coffee beans
Boiling hot water
Instructions:
Bring water to a boil and allow it to cool for one minute.
In the meantime, grind 4 T of coffee beans.
Place the filter inside the AeroPress cap.
Place the cap on top of a coffee mug. If using a paper filter, wet the filter with a small amount of room temperature to warm water.
Place the funnel on top of the filter and pour in the coffee grounds. Remove funnel.
Pour the hot water over the top of the coffee grounds to the top line on the AeroPress.
Quickly stir the coffee once using the paddle stirrer (which comes with the AeroPress), or a spoon.
Plunge and press. Insert the plunger and press down firmly until you hear a “hiss” noise.
Give the coffee a quick taste to see if you like the strength. You can add more boiling water to the coffee if you want it weaker. You can also split this cup into two and add extra hot water to make two servings.
Moka Pot Coffee
A stove top coffee maker that uses steam pressure to brew strong, espresso-like coffee.
Benefits:
No electricity needed (just a stove top flame).
Inexpensive to purchase.
Made with aluminum, which helps keep heat in.
Concentrated, robust flavour.
Note: Some methods suggest using cold water in place of pre-boiled water in a Moka Pot, but this can actually boil the coffee before the coffee is extracted from the beans.
Caffeine Amount: Approximately 120 mg of caffeine per 8 oz.
Moka Pot Coffee
Recipe by Brandi Black
This stove top coffee maker uses steam pressure to brew strong, espresso-like coffee.
Tools:
Coffee bean grinder
Moka pot
Damp towel
Ingredients:
Coffee beans
Boiling hot water
Instructions:
Fill the Moka Pot’s lower chamber with cold water below the valve. You don’t want to fill past the valve, otherwise this can affect the taste of your coffee.
Grind approximately 4 T of coffee beans (grounds should be medium-fine, but if the grounds are too fine, they can clog your equipment).
Boil water and allow to cool for 1-2 minutes.
Place boiling water into the bottom chamber of the Moka Pot.
Insert the funnel into the Moka Pot, and fill it with coffee grounds. Give the grounds a shake to even them out, but don’t tamp them (this avoids clogging).
Screw on the top of the Moka Pot.
Place the Moka Pot on the stove element over medium heat.
When the water begins to boil, the pressure slowly pushes the coffee through the upper chamber. If the coffee starts gurgling, turn the heat up slightly.
Listen for a bubbling, hissing sound. This is when you know your coffee is done.
There’s no limit to the ways you can enjoy your coffee, and now you know which methods to look for in coffee shops that will cater to your taste preferences.
Personally, our favourite “clean” coffee brewing methods for a full-bodied, delicious tasting cuppa are The Chemex, cold brew and good ol’ French Press.
Written by Brandi Black
Author Bio:
Brandi Black is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist and the creator of Feel Best Naked, a health blog for women who want to clear up their skin, lose the muffin top and make the bloat disappear. After years of experiencing (and then healing) her own unbalanced hormones, she’s now obsessed with helping other women feel spectacular in their own skin with natural remedies for hormone balance.
A lot of people have gotten results from the Keto diet, and enjoyed the foods that it has to offer. However, many of the people who are following this diet have a hard time finding the recipes that they need, especially ones that are quick and easy to complete.
Fortunately, Kelsey Ale, noticed this problem, and decided to do something about it. She’s found that making recipes in a slow cooker gives you meals which are not only delicious, but also take very little time to make. Mostly you just put a few simple ingredients in the slow cooker, and let it do the rest.
