Simple Sexy Food is an aphrodisiac cookbook like no other. Honest and direct, detailed and informative, it’s packed with exclusive recipes, food and sex tips, descriptions and histories of ingredients and even survey data about what food people find sexy. And it’s the only aphrodisiac cookbook written by a clinical sex therapist who also happens to be a foodie!
Pumpkin Pie Spice & Pumpkin
by Linda DeVillers
Lore and Fun Facts
Pumpkin on its own is among the newest sexy food in this list, with no longstanding reputation as a lust booster. In the United States, most of us associate pumpkin with fall holidays, from Halloween to a delicious pie served at Thanksgiving.
In other parts of the world, pumpkin is a common ingredient in many savory dishes. Pumpkin pie spice, which may really be the star of this show, is generally made with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and allspice.
Some fascinating double-blind randomized studies reveal the effects of different smells on male sexual arousal. In one, each participant was connected to a small blood pressure cuff to measure blood flow to the penis. The participant was then blindfolded, and soft music…not really, but it does start to sound really kinky! Next, one at a time, a surgical mask scented with one specific scent was placed over the participant’s nose and left in place for one minute. At that time, penile blood flow was measured for each of the many scented masks worn. An interval of three minutes separated exposure to each new smell, during which participants did not wear a mask.
In the first study, baked cinnamon smell was used as a control scent, but ironically it wound up creating the most blood flow to the penises of young and middle aged men. A second study included men aged 18-64 and tested 30 scents, including both perfume and food. Some scents were actually combinations, resulting in 46 scents being tested. This time the pumpkin pie spice/lavender mixture triggered the greatest measurable penile response. Blood flow was increased by an average of 40% in all but the oldest men (who responded more to vanilla). So if you want to get the blood flowing to your special guy’s manhood, spritz a little lavender under your blouse and bake up a pumpkin pie!
Sexy Nutrients
Like so many simple, sexy foods, pumpkin is a winner nutritionally. It’s loaded with beta-carotene, which helps keep your skin and eyes healthy and vibrant, and is a good source of vitamin C, vitamin E, and lots of B vitamins—thiamin, niacin, B6 and folate. B-complex vitamins are essential for keeping your nervous system happy.
Adequate levels of folate during pregnancy significantly reduce the odds of various birth defects such as spina bifida or other neural tube deficits. Pumpkin also provides potassium, which keeps body fluids regulated, as well as manganese, and copper. It’s also an excellent source for dietary fiber for keeping your digestive and circulatory systems in good shape. What’s more, it has just 40 calories in a full cup, so it won’t weigh your man down to nibble your pie!
Now – here’s a recipe for you to try this for yourself.
Spiced Pumpkin Pancakes
SEXY FOODS: pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, egg, pecan
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs, separated (let egg whites come to room temperature)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons pureed cooked pumpkin (plain, not pumpkin-pie filling)
2/3 cup nonfat milk
2 tablespoons canola oil or other mild
vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped pecans, optional
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon dark rum, optional
1.In a medium bowl, sift together the flours, sugar, baking powder, pie spice, and salt.
2. In another medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks slightly. Then whisk in the pumpkin, milk, oil, and vanilla to blend well.
3. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients, whisking just until smooth. (The batter will be thick). Mix in the pecans if using.
4. In a small, deep, clean dry bowl (not aluminum or plastic), beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff but not dry. Fold the egg whites into the batter in two additions.
5. Brush a large nonstick skillet with oil then heat over medium-high heat until a water droplet dances in the pan before evaporating.
6. Working in batches, pour the batter by 1/4 cupsful into the pan. Quickly spread the batter to form 4 1/2-inch rounds; do not crowd the pan. Cook until bubbles form on the surface of pancakes and bottoms are light brown, about 2 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook until done. For each new batch, brush the pan with oil to coat, and reheat to medium-high before adding more batter.
7. Place cooked pancakes on a warm plate and cover to keep warm while you cook the remaining pancakes.
8. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, warm the syrup, butter, and rum if using.
9. Serve the pancakes with the syrup.
Love Skills
Breakfast in bed will never go out of style! Sneak out of the sheets and whip up this scrumptious recipe. If you have work, be sure to keep an eye on the clock since morning “sessions” are sure to interrupt your schedule!
2 servings: About ten 4 1/2-inch pan cakes
© Aphrodite Media 2012 All rights reserved.
Permission granted to Cheryl Malandrinos for use on her blog
Do aphrodisiacs work? What exactly are they? How can I use them? We answer these questions and many more during the Simple Sexy Food virtual tour with clinical sex therapist and foodie – Linda De Villers, PhD. There are many ordinary foods that can have aphrodisiac effects – and we’re going to help you understand them.
A Message From Linda De Villers PhD
I created this book to help you enjoy the remarkable relationship between food and sex. These two themes run brightly through my own life both personally and professionally, and are inseparable from my sense of who I am. Having counseled and taught thousands of people on the loving arts, and having fed nearly as many in my kitchens over the years, I find myself in a state of barely contained excitement over the opportunity to share what I know with you. I am the only author in this field to be credentialed in both sexual health and food, having worked and presented internationally and conducted research on the joint topic over the course of my career.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment