Keep an eye on our new recipes as they appear – some cracking ones from Sue, well worth a try!  We will be printing these off onto sheets so that you can take them home – one of our resolutions for 2012!  For those of you who are gluten free (like me) then we already have some recipe sheets using the TEFF flour which is from a nutritious grain originally grown as a staple in Ethiopia, but now sourced from America and other countries.  Our supplier is Tobia Teff in London, and Sophie, who is Ethiopian and proud of it, says “Not one single grain comes from Ethiopia”! You can check it out at:  www.tobiateff.co.uk

After a reasonably mild and dry November it seems winter with its cold, wet and windy weather has finally hit Settle as we move into December.  However, here at Wholesome Bee we’re not going to let that get us down, with an excellent range of supplements and remedies that really can help fight off colds and flu  -  Beta Glucan … Echinacea … and more.

It is lovely to be still getting such positive comments about the new shop here on Duke Street, and we thank you all for those.  Something must be working, as we are much busier than when we were in The Shambles (talking of which, Gary Finch, local photographer, has moved into our old shop and has some lovely local work in there – well worth a visit!).

Saturday was the Christmas lights switch on, and Settle looks lovely – well done to all those who worked so hard on the tree and the lights.  We have our three trees lit up above the shop, but decided against entering the Winter Wonderland window competition as we are still struggling to keep up with all the changes we’ve had to make since we moved back in October. 

We have some nice Christmas gift ideas in the shop.  Himalayan salt comes in many forms and is very much the thing to have this Christmas.  We have salt lamps, tea light holders and bath salts, as well as the salt to add to your food – one of the purest salts you can get.  Sedbergh Soaps www.sedbergh-soap.co.uk/ have a very classy range of soaps and body-care products designed by Dorthe, high up on the family farm above Sedbergh, which are perfect for sensitive skin.  Dorthe herself suffers from eczema which led her to develop her own range of skin care products. 

There are also lots of lovely wrapped gifts from Potions & Possibilities who work closely with aromatherapist Julie Foster, from £9.99 for a box of bath and body-care products to £24.99 for the Time For You Luxury Gift Box  – a relaxing collection for those who are always on the go. Why not  take a look on their website www.potions.co.uk/ as they describe their products much better than we could.  We have lots of their ready wrapped collections and individual products in the shop, while stocks last! 

Stuck for a present for the woman who just won’t slow down!?  Try a Genki Haramaki  tummy wrap, winner of the camexpo Best New Product 2010, the Genki Haramaki is based on a traditional Japanese garment worn to maintain warmth and well-being.  We have a good range of sizes and colours now in stock.

 Maybe you prefer to make up your own gift box or hamper.  This was particularly popular last year.  We are in the process of laying out a range of baskets, boxes and trays in the back shop, all with lots of shredded, fluffy ‘fill’ ready for you to add your own selection of goodies from the shop.  We will then wrap these in crisp cellophane and finish with a  bow to create a perfect and individual gift that shows you’ve really thought about the lucky recipient.  You could make up a Yorkshire Food Hamper or maybe a Weleda  Bodycare Box, gifts for him, or for her, or for them!

I could go on about gifts in the shop, but it would be too lengthy –  if you’re still stuck for ideas (and you will think me mad for suggesting this) and if you have a wood, vinyl,  laminate or tiled  floor you would do a lot worse than to but one of our E-Mops!  Trust me, this has to be the most labour and time saving thing we have ever used – and so easy!  You can even test-drive ours in the shop ….. high quality and built to last this is the perfect gift for the hard working home-bird who doesn’t like a fuss!  Price £19.99 for complete mop and removable head which simply peels off to rinse or wash!

Important news (quick switch here from mops to chocolate).  Plain chocolate ginger is back in stock, as are the the Cocoa Dusted Almonds!  We have plenty of supplies of the chocolate ginger, but our suppliers are yet again saying that the cocoa dusted almonds are unavailable, so get them while you can.  Stocks of Gluten Free Christmas puds and cakes are also running low – it really is worth getting them now.  For Booja Booja fans, fear not, we think we have a plentiful supply of ginger, hazelnut, midnight espresso and champagne truffles (check our chiller where they are kept in tip top condition).

Wrapped gifts from Potions & Possibilities

So then this is it.  Less than a week to go, thank goodness for some dry weather so the lads can get on with the painting on the outside of the building!  Its all hands on deck (or scaffold) as someone, somewhere, smiles on us and promises a warm dry week so we can finish painting the outside of the building.  I guess until the scaffold comes down it won’t look much different.  Remember please that we close for business in the Shambles shop at 12 noon on Saturday 1st October and begin our move, opening on Monday 3rd here at 6 Duke Street at 9 am sharp!

Why Montmorency cherries?

Although all fresh fruits, especially cherries, are full of goodness, the Montmorency cherry variety has been found to be packed with high levels of antioxidants and flavonoids, including Anthocyanin and Melotonin.
Scientific evidence suggests that these compounds may help maintain healthy joints, normal uric acid levels and healthy sleep patterns and help muscles recover quickly from sport and training.

Why buy CherryActive?

The cherry trees are grown in a nutrient-rich soil using natural fertilizers and eco-friendly techniques to keep pests away, to produce the  range of antioxidant-rich Montmorency cherry products.
CherryActive Concentrate is made by pressing and gently reducing the water content, without using harsh heat treatments or damaging preservatives, to protect our fruit’s powerful antioxidants. There is no added sweeteners, flavourings, colourings  to keep it as natural and good for you as possible. Each 30ml suggested daily serving packs 8260 ORAC units (greater antioxidants than you’d find in 23 average portions of fruit and veg!). This is why they call CherryActive Concentrate The Antioxidant Powerhouse!
CherryActive Capsules are made from the skins of carefully selected Montmorency cherries. The skins are used as they contain the greatest concentration of nutrients so we can pack our capsules with as many nutrients as possible. The skins are freeze-dried to protect these important nutrients and milled to a fine powder to help absorption. The powder is then encapsulated in a 100% vegetarian shell without added fillers or other additives. The Natural Trade Awards are highly-prized accolades and the CherryActive Capsules won the Best Product – Supplements and Remedies Award in 2007. This is voted on by the leading authorities in the Natural Health Industry.

Should I choose CherryActive Concentrate or Capsules?

CherryActive Concentrate is a very powerful antioxidant and counts towards the 5-a-Day target. A 30ml serving diluted with water (we recommend 250ml) possibly makes the most powerful antioxidant drink on the market (8260 ORAC units – approximately the same antioxidants as you’d find in 23 portions of fruit and veg).
Some customers prefer the convenience of CherryActive Capsules to get high quality Montmorency cherry compounds into their system. These do not need to be kept in a fridge and can be easily carried when travelling.

Some customers choose both!

How should I store CherryActive Concentrate?

CherryActive Concentrate should be kept, opened or unopened, on arrival, in the fridge or freezer to keep it at its best, as there are no added  preservatives or other nasties (it is kept preserved by its natural sugars). It has a shelf life of around 12 months in the fridge and longer in the freezer (24 months).
The concentrate is a pretty hardy product and it may keep in good condition outside in a cool environment (eg cool air conditioned office, cold cellar etc). However, to ensure it retains optimum antioxidant properties keep in a fridge or freezer (remember, it doesn’t freeze in a domestic freezer, just gets thicker and this will extend its shelf life even further).

We have both liquid and capsules in the shop and can personally recommend this product.

Have you ever wondered what is so special about Manuka honey?

Manuka Honey is sourced from New Zealand’s remote, pollution free forests and is renowned for its unique flavour and health benefits. The bees feed off the Manuka plant (Leptospermum scoparium) which has delicate pink or white flowers and is native to New Zealand. [Read more...]