Want to see for yourself how psyllium works? Mix a couple of tablespoons into a glass of water and let it sit. After a while you will see that the water has turned to gel. When taken as a supplement with a large glass of water or two, it does the same thing. As it moves through the intestinal tract the gel mixes with other materials, suspending and carrying them along more efficiently than they would move in a psyllium-free environment. Psyllium may also be used as a binder in gluten free recipes.

Westpoint is pleased to announce that we have added organic whole psyllium husk to our regular line. Organic psyllium is grown on a certified organic farm without pesticides, herbicides or chemical fertilizers, and steam sterilized.

The following excerpt is a delicious holiday treat for two – serve as-is or add a shot of rum for extra special occasions.  We wish you Happy Holidays, from our family to yours.

Gingerbread Latte

Ingredients
1 ½ tbsp Organic Cane Sugar
1 tbsp Blackstrap Molasses
¼ tsp Ginger Powder
4 Whole Cloves, lightly crushed
1 tbsp Water
2 cups Milk
1 ½ cups Coffee OR 4 shots Espresso

Garnish
Whole Nutmeg, freshly grated
Turbinado Sugar
½ cup Cream, whipped

Directions

1.  Prepare coffee or espresso, put ¾ cup or two shots in each mug.
2.  In a saucepan combine sugar, molasses, ginger, and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer over moderate heat, stirring often.
3.  Add the milk in a stream, whisking vigorously, and heat, still whisking, until it is foamy and hot but not boiling. Pour over coffee, garnish and serve.

The cold, dark and damp weather inevitably leads to more evenings spent safe and warm inside with friends and family, so it’s always good to have freshly-baked goodies on hand for entertaining.  Many cookies, pies and bars can be assembled ahead of time and frozen before baking, saving time in the kitchen when you could be visiting.

It can be tricky for those with allergies or special diet requirements to navigate the many offerings of the season.  Westpoint carries a variety of ingredients to help make baking for ingredient-sensitive loved ones easy, including gluten free flours, flour mixes and baking ingredients, egg replacer, soymilk powder, organic products, and several sugar-free sweeteners.

These traditional Italian almond cookies are high in protein, dairy free, gluten free, salt free, low cholesterol, and low in sugar.

Amaretti Cookies

Ingredients

2 Egg Whites
½ cup Organic Cane Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
2 ½ cups Blanched Almond Meal

Topping
2 tbsp  Turbinado Sugar
36 Whole Unblanched Almonds

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.  In large bowl, beat egg whites until soft peaks form.  Add sugar, 2 tbsp at a time, and continue beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
2. Fold in almond meal.
3. Form mixture into 1 inch balls and place 2 inches apart on parchment paper lined baking sheets, flattening slightly.
4. Sprinkle Turbinado sugar over cookies and place an almond in the centre of each one.  Bake for 20 minutes or until firm to the touch and light golden brown.

Combining gluten free flours can play up the strengths of each flour, resulting in a blend that is customizable to the needs of a particular recipe.  You can blend your own, or try a pre-blended mix such as Westpoint’s new Organic All Purpose Gluten Free Flour Mix.  This organic mix combines the lightness of rice flour and tapioca starch with the fibre of chickpeas and rice bran, as well as the binding power of guar gum.  This mix is ideal for the majority of gluten free recipes, and can be substituted cup-for-cup with wheat flour.

Some of the best gluten free recipes don’t rely on imitating wheat flour; they are created with a particular type of gluten free flour in mind, such as these Brazilian cheese buns, Pão de Queijo.  Their moist, chewy texture could only be achieved with tapioca flour.

Tapioca is an almost flavourless foodstuff made from the treated and dried cassava (yucca) root.  Though it doesn’t contain much protein, tapioca is a good source of calcium, phospohorus, and vitamin C. Tapioca starch adds chew and a light sweetness to baked goods, which is desirable for certain breads and pastries.  It is translucent when cooked, which makes it a popular thickener for soups.  It combines well with rice, bean, and sorghum flours, and holds up well to freezing.  Tapioca keeps well and can be purchased in quantity.

For more information about the gluten free diet, or to locate your closest chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association, please visit http://www.celiac.ca.

Pão de Queijo

Makes about 20 rolls

Ingredients:
1 cup milk
1/4 cup oil or butter
½ tsp salt
1 lb (450 g) Tapioca flour
3 eggs
1 cup (200 g) grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Bring the milk, oil or butter and salt to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high flame.
2. Remove from heat and slowly whisk in the tapioca flour until it forms a smooth batter. Set aside to cool until lukewarm.
3. Beat in the eggs one at a time until they are fully incorporated, then stir in the parmesan cheese.
4. Form 2-3 tablespoons of the batter at a time into balls with moistened hands and set on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake until puffed and golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve hot.

Tip: Rolls can be frozen and baked directly from the freezer.

Keep an eye out for the booklet at your local health food store, and if you like it, don’t forget to donate to the Canadian Cancer Society.  Retailers, please contact us if you need additional copies.

Theobroma Cacao

The Mayans long regarded cacao as a health food, giving it medicinally as well as to athletes and soldiers, and modern science is proving that they were right. Cocoa has been found to have a higher anti oxidant capacity than even red wine and green tea. In addition, it may reduce blood pressure, help regulate immune cells, and combat the decrease in brain function associated with ageing. See the World Cocoa Foundation website for more information and the latest cocoa research.

Westpoint Distributors is happy to be able to provide Certified Organic Natural Cocoa Powder. Grown in cacao’s native Peru, it’s perfect for all of your own delectable cocoa concoctions. Why choose organic? No chemical pesticides or fertilizers are used in the growing of it, so it’s better for you, the workers, and the planet!

While you’re baking, enjoy some Mayan-style drinking chocolate made with our rich, dark and delicious Organic Natural Cocoa Powder. Use just water for authentic Mayan flavour, or add milk and whipped cream for a mouth-watering modern fusion drink.

Mayan Drinking Chocolate

Ingredients:
6 cups water or 2 cups water and 4 cups milk or light cream
1 Ancho or Chipotle chili pepper, fresh or dried, coarsely chopped
1 Vanilla bean, split in half
1 3” stick cinnamon
¾ cup Organic Natural Cocoa
2-3 tbsp honey

Optional:
Ground almonds
Whipped cream

Directions:

1. Add chopped pepper to 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cook until liquid is reduced by half.
2. Add vanilla bean and cinnamon to remaining water or milk. Heat to almost boiling, remove from heat.
3. Stir in cocoa powder and honey. Remove vanilla bean and cinnamon stick.
4. Add chili-infused water to taste*.
5. Serve hot or cold, sprinkled with ground almonds and whipped cream, if desired. Serves 4-6.

Tip: Make a paste with cocoa powder and a small amount of cold water to avoid lumps.

*Mild: 2-4 tbsp Medium: ½ cup Hot: ¾-1 cup

Research demonstrates that hemp seeds possess superior nutritional value as a food source. They are high in essential fatty acids (EFAs), protein, energy, fibre, iron, calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin B1. Sprinkle them on pasta, salads, cereals and yogurt, or use in a variety of recipes such as soups, sauces, baked goods, nutrition bars, and smoothies. Westpoint carries Canadian Organic Raw Hulled Hemp Seeds that are the perfect crunchy addition to your meals.

Another excellent way to incorporate hemp into your diet is by using hemp flour, which is milled from the hemp seed cake (the product remaining after the hemp seed has been crushed for oil). This gluten free flour will add taste and nutrition to your recipes, especially breads, cakes, muffins, and cookies. Westpoint’s Organic Hemp Flour can be substituted for 25%-50% of the wheat flour in a recipe, or can be used as is in any gluten free recipe.

As a food supplement, hemp protein powder is a gluten free, highly digestible whole food powder that can be used in place of all other proteins, such as soy or whey. Mix generously into juices, shakes, or smoothies for added protein, or substitute ⅓ to ¼ of the flour in a baking recipe. Our Organic Hemp Protein Powder contains 48.5% protein.

Give hemp foods a try today!

Matcha is a finely ground, high quality tea powder ground from the handpicked spring buds and top leaves of the Camellia sinensis tea bush. Since the whole tea leaf is consumed rather than just the steeped tea water, matcha is nutritionally superior to loose or bagged green tea varieties. Westpoint carries Organic Matcha Green Tea Powder and traditional bamboo whisks to help you create that perfect cup of matcha tea!

To prepare matcha green tea, place one teaspoon of Matcha in a chawan (deep bowl). Pour in eight ounces of hot water, just before it boils. Stir vigorously with a chasen (bamboo whisk) in a “w” or left to right pattern, not a circle, until frothy. Sip right from the bowl and enjoy.

Matcha can also be added to cakes, cookies, yogurt, pudding, ice cream, or any food that would be complementary to the taste of green tea. It has also become especially popular in lattes and smoothies. Westpoint has recently added Organic Matcha Latte Green Tea Powder to our product line, a sweet, refreshing treat that can be consumed hot or cold.

At Westpoint we carry a variety of cereal flakes meant to be cooked like oatmeal, including grain varieties such as Kamut®, Quinoa, Soy, Spelt, and Triticale. These nutritious cereals are optimal for warming our bodies and jumpstarting our brains on those cold, rainy days, of which there will still be many to come in Vancouver! But what about those lovely spring days when the sun is shining and you’re in a hurry to get out the door?

In addition to our Unsweetened Granola, we are pleased to introduce two new ready-to-eat cereals: Organic Amaranth Puffs and Organic Quinoa Puffs. Amaranth and quinoa are ancient, gluten free grains that have an excellent nutritional profile and provide your body with whole grain carbs to use as “brain food”.

For an even better source of vitamins and minerals, we recommend adding our dried fruits to your cereal, such as our new Unsulphured Strawberries, our Organic Apple Slices, or our crisp Organic Banana Chips. Incorporating nuts and seeds into your breakfast will add protein and healthy fats to help jumpstart your day: try Almonds, Brazil Nuts, Cashews, Filberts (Hazelnuts), Flax Seeds, Hemp Seeds, Macadamias, Pecans, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, or Walnuts.

Please visit our new Facebook page and tell us how you like to eat your cereal puffs!