Today I’m taking you on a trip to Lightning Ridge, the spiritual home of my brand new natural skincare product, Supercharged Food, earth mask & scrub.

But first, I want to invite you to explore the notion of lotions and potions that we use on our skin and the abundance of products that lurk on our supermarket shelves. Ones that are often loaded with damaging chemicals, unnatural fillers and questionable ingredients. Although they may show initial promise and improvements, long-term use can contribute to toxic build-up, and unhealthier skin.

Navigating beauty products can be a bit of minefield, especially with so many choices available and even bigger promises made. Like many of our packaged foods, labels on beauty products can appear confusing and tough to decode; unless you have a degree in chemical engineering of course!

A make-up minimalist

A sneaky selfie with my new mask – I took this with #nofilter and #nomakeup #cleanbeauty

I’m turning fifty in a few months, so for me using real ingredients is what I prefer to use on my skin to keep it full of life naturally.  I’ve found the best ingredients for my skin are ones that literally come straight from the earth.

At my core I’m a true make-up minimalist. I want my natural skin to shine through and always look to avoid untrustworthy ingredients that have been proven to be harmful for health.

Fan girling

As you may already know, I’m a raging fan-girl of diatomaceous earth. I’ve been using it for over five years and it’s the key ingredient in my Love Your Gut powder. During that time, almost accidentally, I stumbled across the fact that it’s also an incredible skin healer due to its 90% silica and mineral composition.

The happy accident occurred when I added a couple of drops of water to my powder and found that it created a beautiful natural paste that when applied to my skin had remarkable results. I used it weekly on my face and began to see immediate results such as softer skin and reduction in pigmentation. I also love how it dries as a clay but most importantly it washes off very easily.

This little discovery got my creative juices flowing and I began thinking about how beneficial it would be to be able to create a dual purpose product, one that I could use as a deep cleansing mask and secondly as a gentle facial scrub in the shower more regularly. I also knew that I wanted it to be affordable and cost under twenty bucks!

Lightning bulb moment

I then started to experiment by using the diatomaceous earth as a scrub, but found it to be almost too fine to work with so I knew I needed to combine it with something else. That’s when my “Lightning” bulb moment came in the form of a mineral called Volcamin, which I discovered in a deep underground seam in the iconic town of Lightning Ridge in outback Australia.

So with excitement and a little bit of trepidation, I immediately started packing my bags for a 12-hour train trip deep into the Australian outback.

Becoming one with nature – everything from my soul to my skin was totally immersed in this beautiful earth!

Lightning Ridge is an unforgettable place which funnily enough gets deep under your skin! It’s the kind of town that has a magnetism that seems to keep drawing you back in. Some people travel there and never ever leave and I can understand why.

One of the highlights of Lightning Ridge is a wonderful natural therapeutic Bore Bath with water pumped from the Great Artesian Basin that is two million years old. Almost as old as my (LYG) dinosaur powder!

As I slid into this gorgeous soft and warming bore bath under the outback stars, I started to really relax. The water is naturally hot, about 45 degrees celsius and laden with naturally occurring minerals that are therapeutic for tired and aching muscles. Naturally it felt like I was in heaven.

The Therapeutic Lightning Ridge Spa Baths

But the next day I awoke to some interesting outback creatures that even a Google search couldn’t decipher. OK. Moving on...

I jumped into a beaten up four wheel drive explored the opal fields and vast desert moonscape. During my time in Lightning Ridge I met some lovely, earthy and grounded people who helped to show me around and spent time with my long time friend Rebel a ridgy didge local.

Unexpectedly, we stumbled across a shaman who had erected a teepee and medicine wheel on her property, after receiving a calling to travel to Lightning Ridge to heal people.   We snuck up to Lunatic Hill too, a landmark after my own heart and ran into Brian McCudden the guy from the bar scene in the movie Crocodile Dundee; boy was he a real outback charmer!

I also ventured down a mine, deep underground to see and feel the minerals first-hand.

The only negative thing that’s a positive

Lightning Ridge Volcamin is a high in silica and it’s also high in negative ions that are a major positive for your skin. Negative ions are a deep skin cleanser because they act like a magnet attracting positively charged dirt, oils, and bacteria. Although its super fine it absorbs water so the particles turn into a fantastic scrub. As an exfoliator, it gently removes dirt, dead skin cells, makeup, and pore-clogging environmental toxins.  It also settles down rosacea with great results.

I made a friend who was just as excited about my new product as I am! Or perhaps he was just being friendly.

Once the minerals and their benefits were discovered I began experimenting with levels and combinations and used myself as a crash text dummy until the formula was perfected. I’m really happy with the results and my skin has never felt younger or healthier.

If you’re keen to get your hands on it, and want to know if this natural skincare is for you, firstly let me share with you some of it’s benefits.

Earth mask & scrub…

• Supercharges your skin with just two natural mineral ingredients straight from the earth
• Is rich in sensational silica. Good for softening and tightening skin, giving you a more youthful appearance
• Is high in negative ions to attract and remove microscopic surface and deep pore deposits of dirt, oils, and dead skin cells
 without causing irritation
• Helps to reduce the appearance of age spots, rosacea and pigmentation
• Enhances blood circulation for cell regeneration

• Reduces pore size for clearer, tighter, more radiant skin
• Restores your skin’s natural PH balance

• Is effective for acne, blackheads and pimples


So, the biggest question now – how to use it?

It’s simple! As a mask, just add water to a tablespoon of the mask, apply evenly, leave for ten minutes and then wash it off. As a scrub, work it into a paste with some water and apply it using circular motions, two to three times a week.

After you use it, you’ll notice how soft, glowing and tight your skin feels, along with an overall more youthful appearance.  You’ll be feeling instagram-ready all day, hello hash tags #nofilter #nomakeup #earthmask.

I’m so proud of this new product and can’t wait for you to try it out for yourself! This is skincare at it’s most simple and most pure. Two minerals straight from the earth. And that’s it.

Supercharged Food, earth mask & scrub is available here.

You can watch a quick video about how to apply it here below. (Apologies for the sound quality 🙁 it was windy in the Ridge!).

Lee xo

Dental care is something that is sometimes overlooked but should't be!  Your mouth is the main gateway between the environment and your body. Taking good care of your pearly whites takes much more than bi-annual dental visits. To avoid bad breath, gum disease and to maintain overall good oral hygiene, you need to be taking care of your teeth daily and the best way to do it is naturally.  

So, how do you go about keeping your teeth looking like a scene out of Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts does a hair flick to reveal a flash of her mega-watt smile; revealing a super white and sparkling grin?

Here are some suggestions for natural dental products that’ll help to get your smile camera-ready and perfect for dazzling friends, family and total strangers…

drTung’s Toothbrush will completely transform the way you think about oral hygiene. While regular toothbrushes clean off some plaque, they often leave a build-up of bacteria in certain areas which can lead to gum disease, cavities and yellow teeth! DrTung’s Ionic toothbrush, brushes away plaque molecules, leaving your teeth clean, your breath fresh and smile sparkling.

drTung’s Floss is a gentle floss that’s clinically proven to remove up to 55% more plaque for a superior clean. It is extremely easy to use, soft on your fingers (so no more finger lines!) and has a delicious natural cardamom flavour, one of my favourite perfumed spices. The floss is made of natural plant and bees wax coating, the container is made with EcoPure and the product isn’t tested on animals, so you can keep both your teeth and the planet super clean!

drTung’s Tongue Cleaner. Why not scrub your mouth clean with this easy yet effective tongue cleaner? It glides on your tongue and removes harmful bacteria, even getting all those hard to reach places! drTung’s Tongue Cleaner is the top choice of dentists and health experts and I certainly can see why. In fact, it’s 5x more effective than tongue cleaning with a normal toothbrush! Tongue cleaning has been talked about in Ayurvedic practices and is said to remove ama (or toxins/bacteria) that accumulate. From an Ayurvedic perspective the removal of ama enables you to enjoy and taste your food even more. Cheers to that!

drTung’s Oil Pulling Solution. In ancient Ayurvedic texts, oil pulling is recommended as part of a daily routine to strengthen teeth and naturally draw toxins out of the body, improving both oral and overall health! I use it daily and love it. It’s a recycled, cruelty-free product made of over twenty-four botanical ingredients, including sesame oil, to detoxify your body, prevent stained teeth and maintain overall balance. Read more about drTungs here.

My Magic Mud Whitening Tooth Powder is a revolutionary product that whitens teeth and improves oral hygiene, leaving teeth clean and polished. This powder is completely natural, made of only activated charcoal and clay, so it’s flavourless and perfect to clean the teeth of all ages. It does get a bit messy to handle so I would recommend using it in the shower. You can find out more about it here.

Can you smell the festive pine scent of mistletoe in the air?  Christmas festivities are not far away and when it comes to stocking fillers, and gift giving, now is the perfect time to start brainstorming ideas about the best present for your friends, family and loved ones.

While it’s important to enjoy the festive season (so yes, that may mean eating an extra slice of Christmas cake and pudding!) there are lots of fun and quirky presents to fit the bill for people who are excited by a health and wellbeing lifestyle.

If you’re looking to give the gift of health this season, to get the ‘baubles’ rolling, here’s a round-up of what I’ve had my eye on for gift giving this year. Whether it’s a new and exciting cookbook for your partner to roll up their sleeves in the kitchen with, a nifty kitchen appliance for quick and easy family meal making or a natural beauty product for a special person in your life – there’s something Supercharged for everyone this Christmas.

BOOKS

Grown & Gathered by Matt and Lentil Pubrick is dedicated to your future garden, full pantry, warm home, celebrations and happy everyday routines. The book begins with observing through the seasons and centres on traditional living made modern.  It’s the perfect pick for anyone looking to learn more about gathering, foraging and preparing food, preserving, growing their own fruits and veggies, raising animals and trying out tasty and home spun wholefood recipes.  For only $45, you can teach a man or woman to farm, cook and eat for their lifetime!  As an experienced chai wallah, I gravitated straight to the Authentic Chai and it was heavenly.  You can find out more how to grow and gather here.

The Beauty Chef by Carla Oates truly embodies the philosophy that beauty comes from within.  Oates delivers over 150 recipes that are specially created to transform your health and beauty from the inside, by balancing gut-bacteria and the outside, focusing on recipes for glowing and radiant skin.  Now, who wouldn’t want to feel their best over the holidays and beyond?  As it’s Christmas time, I headed straight towards the gingerbread men, full of digestion–boosting spices; ginger and cinnamon. $49.95.  Pick it up here.

Spice Health Heroes examines the healing power of spices and how to use them in everyday life! This amazing cookbook includes the history and traditions of spices and includes recipes for everyone’s palate which are contributed by internationally renowned chefs like Yotam Ottolenghi and Peter Gordon.  What I love about the book is that it features a comforting and cleansing broth inspired by the wonderful Hippocrates, truly embracing his famous quote, “let food be thy medicine and medicine by thy food,”  The Hippocrates Healing Broth features ingredients that go back to antiquity and it comes with helpful tips like; when you prepare the soup, chop the leeks, onions and garlic at least ten minutes before cooking them to stimulate their active ingredients. $49.95.  Go here for more.

Eat Right for Your Shape by Lee Holmes I know I’m cheeky throwing one of my own in here but I absolutely love this book!  It’s the perfect prezzie for absolutely anyone: from a newbie in the kitchen to a wholefood Ayurvedic ninja warrior!  Eat Right for Your Shape is more than just a cookbook; it takes its readers on an Ayurvedic journey to good health and focuses on bringing balance back into everyday life.  Featuring over 120 delicious and nourishing seasonal recipes with ingredients that correct your doshic imbalance, in order to create harmony, weight management and health put it under the tree this Christmas. $34.99.  Discover the joys of Ayurvedic cooking here. 

Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook is packed with all the classic Chrissy recipes and exciting new meals that’ll wow your guests and fill them with Christmas cheer. Say hello to Roasted Carrot and Avo salad and a whole bunch of interesting and helpful chapters that include cooking for the Main Event, Meat, The Wonderful World of Potatoes, Vegetarian Mains and Scrumptious Veggie Sides, Cute Edible Gifts and Festive Puddings.  The best part is, Jamie finally lets us in on the biggest Christmas secret of them all – what to do with all those Christmas Day leftovers.  Jamie you've got me, hook line and sinker! $38.50. Buy here.

The Complete Gut Health Cookbook: Everything You Need to Know About the Gut and How to Improve Yours by Pete Evans.  There’s nothing we love more on this blog than gut health!  In his latest book, award-winning chef Pete Evans, alongside naturopath and nutritionist, Helen Padarin, share information on gut-boosting ingredients, healing herbs and over 100 new recipes to cook your way to gut health!  It’s a great book if you’re looking for tasty recipes and ferments to support ongoing gut health once you've healed your gut. My favourite recipe? I was bowled over by the Sesame crusted avocado bowl with chicken and sprouts it’s a good one for when your gut is ready to digest all that yummy goodness.  $39.99.  Read more here. 

Disobedient Gardens by Michael Cooke and Brigid Arnott is your go-to present for aspiring gardeners who need some real and organic inspiration! Cooke and Arnott will make anyone look at greenery with different eyes, as they acknowledge that gardens evolve in the same way that relationships do; they take time to grow, have a personality of their own and are each uniquely beautiful. The pages are filled with enchanting garden designs that feature aged weathered finishes that only time and patience can achieve. Designs that make use of earthy up-cycled finds, punctuated across secret garden spaces.  $59.99.  Get gardening here.

Neil Perry’s Good Cooking is all about using the best quality produce to create simple, healthy and delicious meals. What's cooking good looking? Did someone just say Spicy Barbecued Chicken Wings? Ok now I'm listening!  Perry gives an insight into what inspires his cooking, drawing from his favourite local and international cultures in both his renowned restaurants and his own family kitchen.  The book focuses on using seasonal produce and bringing the joy back into cooking with his special and unique “Neil Perrilicious” touch.  Produce takes the starring role in each recipe. $49.99. Be part of the magic here.

NATURAL BEAUTY AND SLEEP PRODUCTS

Supercharged Food, Earth Mask & Scrub is the best end-of-year present you could get a pal!  This beautiful mask and scrub combines the healing powers of minerals and pure clays from the iconic Australian outback town of Lightning Ridge, to beautify and soften skin, remove dirt and oils, improve age spots and keep the skin full of life.  It works as a facemask and exfoliating scrub, leaving skin cleansed, nourished and glowing; ready to start 2017 in supercharged style. $19.95.  Find out more about it here.

Butter London – High Tea Pack. Everyone’s favourite nail polish, with colours that look good enough to eat, Butter London has created a perfect collection for any occasion.  The High Tea Pack dazzles us with four beautiful colours: deep berry, creamy nude, melon and minty green!  It’ll take you all the way from the tapping of your computer keys in the office to striking a pose at the annual Christmas party. $44.95.  Choose your colour here and be prepared to shine.

Inika Natural Makeup Kit is a wonderful gift for a gal pal, sister or favourite female.  This premium quality gift pack is suited to fair to medium skin tones.  Not only are the products Australian-based, organic, cruelty-free and vegan -  they’re great value for money.  The kit includes a primer, liquid foundation, BB cream, loose mineral powder and a make-up brush, they’ve truly thought of it all!  $49. Find it here.  

Badger Sleep Balm is a fantastic gift for every adult or child who deserves a good night’s sleep (so, yep, I'm guessing that covers just about everyone!).  This completely natural balm combines calming essential oils to soothe your loved ones to sleep and can even be used as a beautiful scent to calm and relax.  For those of you who travel a lot and want to combat jet lag or catch some sleep whilst on the plane this works wonders.  The perfect little stocking filler or dangle it from the Christmas tree as a decorative ornament. $14.95.  Stock up here.

Goodnight Co. Silk Pillowcase ensures Rapunzelesque tangle-free hair and a youthful complexion!  The silky pillowcase is breathable and hypoallergenic, allowing a better night’s sleep and ensuring everyone who uses it wakes up feeling refreshed and revitalised.  The smooth, tight weave of natural silk fabric helps to keep the skin retaining moisture as you sleep.  Think of this as the perfect ME present for the person who never spoils themselves. $69.95.  Indulge yourself here. 

Luk Lip Nourish.  Ruby Grapefruit, Peach Melon, Tangerine Pomegranate…No I’m not describing the latest gourmet mocktails…I'm listing the new 100% natural sheer lipsticks from Luk Beautifood.  This Australian boutique beauty brand is based on the premise that beauty is created from the inside with fresh, healthy food. Brimming with delicious, nourishing ingredients we should be eating, the Lip Nourish range supports your body’s natural processes to deliver stunning results. The all-natural, edible Lip Nourish range is rich in antioxidants, omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. The menu comes in ten delicious sounding and tasting flavours incorporating organic cold pressed citrus and spice oils. Without additives and nasties, now there is even more reason to go naked this silly season.  Visit the store here.

HEALTHY HOME

Vanessa Megan Candle. A beautiful and enriching touch for any home, this candle is created from blending five essential oils. The essential candle’s soothing scents (hello lavender, ylang ylang, patchouli, and geranium) will leave everyone who takes in its aroma,  feeling restored and tranquil.  Place it on the by your bed or even on the Christmas table as a centrepiece to invite warmth and togetherness. $49.95.  Pick it up here.

Full Circle Cucumber Water Bottle Boyfriend or husband not behaving well? Show him this picture! Ok jokes aside, this is an interesting new water bottle, bringing cucumbers into beautiful spirals for a subtle and fresh take on ordinary water. The bottle comes with a spiralizer, is made of glass and is BPA free. Who doesn’t want to sip on water like they’re sitting at a spa whilst reducing their carbon footprint at the same time?  Perfect for people who love to stay hydrated in the go.  $30.95.  Drink it up here.

Phillips “Grain Master” Rice Cooker is an automatic rice-cooker with built in settings to ensure quinoa, porridge, lentils and of course, rice, can be cooked to perfection!  This easy-to-use whizz machine keeps food warm for 12 hours following cooking and is super easy to clean – mum’s and dad’s and home cooks everywhere will be rejoicing at the ease and simplicity of use! Put this on the Christmas shopping list for parents or busy cooks and make their life in the kitchen a lot easier. $159.00.  Read more here.

The Loqi Reusable Shopping Bag Forest Set contains four reusable bags that are water-resistant and can carry up to
20kg of weight, so are suitable for the gym, the beach, shopping, sleeping overnight and everything in between!  The bags come in funky colours and fold into themselves so are super convenient and with an arty boho look.  Save on supermarket plastic shopping bags and reuse these.  $39.95.  Get shopping here.

Dr Bronner's Rainbow Sampler Pack is a beautifully packaged range of Liquid Soap that has over eighteen uses in, on and around the home.  This sampler pack is a great introduction to the range of amazing products, with six cruelty-free, certified fair trade and vegan bottles. $29.95.  Go here to include these in the Santa stocking for the eco friendly friend or relative.

Water Co. Therapy Shower Filter Deluxe filters up to 99% of chlorine, maximising youthful skin conditions!  The filter uses Vitamin C and natural sea collagen, to ensure beautiful and firm skin.  The good news for environmentalists is that the filter uses approximately eight litres per minute, which is a whopping one litre less than most water saving filters; saving the environment and your skin, what could be better? $159.  Clean up here.

Fressko Glass Tea Flask is made of double-walled glass to ensure that both hot and cold drinks remain the right temperature for hours on end.  The bottle has an infusion so makes the perfect carrier for chilled fruity iced tea whilst enjoying endless summer days on the beach or to warm up at night with a hot toddy that you can carry around town or take with you on your holiday travels! $49.95.  Get your toddy on here. 

Paderno Spiralizer 4-Blade transforms vegetables into noodles, spirals and more!  Its super nifty compact design is perfect for making your favourite ‘zoodles’ ‘coodles’ and ‘swoodles’ (that’s sweet potato noodles for the uninitiated) and salads that look and taste no less than supremely supercharged. At $40.00 you can have endless fun with this machine and make anything from stir fries to salads and beyond.  Pick it up here.

KIDS

Nevada Fun Face Paint Goody Pack is a face paint with no nasties!  This fabulous face paint is made with only Mica and Zinc Oxide, so is perfectly safe for kids to play and paint with. All that is left is to just add water and your imagination. Included in the pack are: 3 surprise coloured face paint powders, 2 applicator sponges, 2 double-sided brushes and a sheet of tattoos.  $24.95.  Paint the town red here.

Supercharged Food for Kids by Lee Holmes.  Me again!  This book will convert even the pickiest eater into one who loves eating delicious recipes that are fully road tested and asked to appear frequently on the weekly menu.  

The book encompasses all the best tips, tricks and shopping guides to get the kids to enjoy their favourite pizza and ice cream spiders but with a couple of ingredients swapped out to make them supercharged.  Oh, and did we mention the healthy chicken nuggets recipe?!  Yes, please! $24.99. Pick it up over here.

Natural Instinct Sunscreen for Kids is your best bet for protecting the kids' precious skin from sun damage over our blistering Aussie summer.  The sunscreen is specially designed for young skin with moisturising ingredients and best of all, leaves a white layer on the skin to see where the sunscreen has been applied so that you never miss a spot again! Genius.  Stuff this into the kids' stocking this Christmas.  $19.95. Buy here.  If you’re looking for other sunscreens for kids, be sure to click this link here too! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

So there you have it my healthy Christmas gift guide.  I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and good luck with choosing the perfect gift for your friends and loved ones. Look out for my Christmas day recipes on the blog too. 

By the way, if all the Christmas food and activity has left you or your children tired and lacking in energy, then why not supplement your diet with a healthy boost for the New Year?

Love Your Gut Powder is an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, gluten-free, vegan, and GMO-free magic carpet ride to wellness.

This natural gut health mineral rich food product makes a remarkable difference in digestion, nutrient absorption and waste removal. Think of it as the perfect present for anyone needing a simple way to kick-start their health coming into the new year! $18.  Pick up your packet here.

Acai bowls and Buddha bowls step aside! There’s a new nourishing bowl popping up in trendy cafes, instagram feeds and mouths throughout the world – the Poke bowl; pronounced poh-keh.

What is a poke bowl?

Poke is a Hawaiian dish which also has a heavy Japanese influence, and is characterised by the use of raw, sashimi-style fish. Poke originates in Hawaii and can be translated to mean ‘cut or slice’, referring to the way the fish is prepared.

The fish is usually marinated in a variety of fresh herbs and spices, soy sauce and sesame oil, and can be served sprinkled with fresh ginger, sesame seeds and fresh chilli.

In Hawaii poke isn't generally served on top of white rice, but there are different versions of it springing up around the world mainly atop sushi rice and brown rice.   I’ve opted for quinoa in my supercharged version of this coastal dish. Quinoa is gluten free, high in protein, high in fibre and contains magnesium, vitamin B12, iron, potassium, calcium, phorphorous, vitamin E, antioxidants and essential amino acids! I’ve also swapped out soy sauce for a healthier tamari variety.

When you’re buying the tuna, remember that fresh is best! Try and purchase a cut with minimal white lines, as this is connective tissue and can make the tuna chewy. The tuna should be firm to touch, with little to no odour and it should have a deep red/purple hue. The fish offers an array of healthy amino acids and essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fats. Modern adaptations of poke also call for salmon, crab and octopus. 

This wholesome and wholegrain dish is bursting with tangy oriental flavours and enticing aromas and can be enjoyed on a balmy summer evening or by the fireplace on a crisp winter night.

It's healthy and simple and downright supercharged!

Recipe:

Quinoa:
2 cups quinoa, rinsed
3 cups water
Few slices of ginger (optional) 
1/4 cup chopped coriander
Optional: add some sliced ginger to the pot at the beginning to infuse throughout cooking.

To cook quinoa:
Add quinoa and water to a pot. Bring to boil and let simmer until fluffy.

Sesame macadamia coconut topping:
1/2 cup macadamias, roughly chopped
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup coconut flakes

Roast all ingredients in a pan until fragrant and set aside.

Poke:
1/3 cup tamari
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tbsp chopped shallots
1 clove garlic crushed
Large knob ginger grated 
Zest and juice of half a lime
1/2 - 1 long chilli 
3-4 sashimi grade tuna, cut into cubes

To make poke: 
Combine all ingredients except tuna in a bowl and stir. Add in tuna and toss to coat. Let sit in fridge for 20-30 mins to let the flavours absorb.

To assemble:
Stir coriander through quinoa before serving. Add quinoa to bowl. Add poke on top of the quinoa. Top with avocado, prepared macadamia topping and extra coriander! 

E ʻai kāua!
(Let’s eat!)

Give it a go and let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Lee x

Gluten free foodies rejoice!

There’s a new trend dominating the foodie world; Be prepared to replace your bland, lacklustre, mundane breakfast toast for.... *drumroll* Supercharged Sweet Potato Toast! 

Sweet potatoes are very versatile vegetables, and it seems that their uses are infinite.  They can be added to baked goods, mashed and coupled with steamed vegetables, baked as a healthy alternative to fries.... and now they can even be used as a nutritious and delicious gluten free alternative to bread. 

Sweet potato is a complex carbohydrate, meaning that the natural sugars that give it that rich, sweet flavour will release a consistent flow of energy into the body all morning long. These inexpensive, orange hued root vegetables are high in fibre and overflowing with essential vitamins and minerals and, best of all, you won’t find that afternoon bloat after overindulging in bread. 

Despite being cooked in the toaster, the sweet potatoes maintain their soft and moist texture, and they can be toasted with their skin on or off depending upon your preference.

The topping opportunities are endless too, with both sweet and savoury options pairing nicely with these golden, guilt free and gluten-less slices of goodness!

I’ve featured some of my favourite toppings that will leave you lusting for sweet potato toast yearlong.

Supercharged Tip: try to buy a nice round sweet potato, as they’re easier to cut into ‘toast’ shapes.

Give them a whirl and let me know what to think in the comments section below.

Recipe

Method: 

1. Slice sweet potato length ways into slices about 0.5-1cm thick (this will depend on how much knife control you have as well as the quality of your knifes!) 
2. Put in toaster for between 2 to 4 rounds on high, making sure it doesn’t burn

Tip: use chopsticks to manoeuvre them out of the toaster if they get stuck!

Topping #1: Cinnamon Swirl Nut Butter and Berry Chia Jam

Ingredients: 

• 3 tbsp Nut butter of choice
• Cinnamon
• 1 tbsp Chia Seeds
• 1/2 cup fresh Strawberries or raspberries
• Squeeze of Lemon juice
• 1 tsp Rice malt syrup or stevia or raw honey

Method:

1. To make the jam, mash berries with a fork for a more chunky jam, or blitz quickly in a blender. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and rice malt syrup or stevia. Stir in the chia seeds and let sit for 15 minutes. 
2. To make the nut butter, add a good pinch of cinnamon to your favourite nut butter and swirl in
3. To assemble the toast, spread on the nut butter, drizzle with chia jam and top with fresh berries, toasted coconut and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon

Topping #2: Hummus and Tomato Bruschetta 

Ingredients: 

• 3 tbsp hummus 
• 1/4 cup chopped cherry tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 tbsp chopped red onion
• Chopped coriander
• 1 tsp olive oil 
• squeeze of lemon juice
• salt and pepper to taste

Method: 

1. Toss all ingredients except for hummus in a bowl 
2. To assemble toast, spread with hummus and top with tomato and cucumber mixture

Topping #3: Smavo and Feta 

Ingredients: 

• 1/2 a small avocado OR 1/4 of a large one
• 2 tbsp good quality feta, crumbled
• Toasted pepitas 
• Salt and pepper
• Squeeze of lemon juice

Method: 

1. Smash avo with a fork into toast
2. Top with feta, pepitas, salt, pepper and lemon juice
3. Optional: Add a poached egg on top!

Enjoy 🙂

Lee xo

In need of a little umph and energy?

These Spicy Lamb Koftas from my Ayurvedic bible Eat Right For Your Shape are the perfect energy building food.

Lamb's gamey taste will remind you of the strong blood building qualities of red meat which also helps you build internal heat; a serious requirement of the flighty vata, who tends to feel the cold and become destabilised physically and emotionally. Vatas out of balance caused by a lack of warmth, grounding and digestive fire will be prone to dry skin, poor circulation, muscular aches and pains and arthritis.

Koftas are such a comfort food; even their name is filled with an ultra-cosy vibe. Their hearty nature will warm up your metabolism, so you feel warm from the inside out but can be eaten any time of the year. Rosemary & cumin highlights add to the warmth and spiciness of this rustic and sturdy dish.

Where possible, it’s important to purchase organic and 100% grass fed and finished lamb, which will contain higher amounts of healthy fats including omega-3 fatty acids, bringing another level of wholesome nourishment to build energy and stamina.

Pastured meat’s EPA fatty acid components are also incredibly important for mental health, as EPA is directly linked to brain function and emotional stability.

The fat content in these lamb kofta’s will bring an increase in digestive fire, as will the inclusion of fiery spices like warming ginger and the grounding zing of fresh parsley.

Lamb's natural oily and warming qualities will make you feel capable and maybe even a little competitive. It’ll bring the bounce back to your step, and make you feel more focused and driven.

Enjoy these delightful ayurvedic kofta’s as a midweek meal that’ll be enjoyed by the whole family.

Kids will especially find them fun to eat on their little skewers, and they’re a great way to ground littlies as a trusty witching hour meal to bring them back down to earth!

For busy families, double the recipe for lunch the next day. You can even serve them minus the skewer as a great protein addition to a salad made with seasonal vegetables.

I hope you enjoy them 🙂 Let me know what you think in the comments section below.

Spicy Lamb Koftas

Serves 4 makes 8 koftas

• 500 g (1 lb 2 oz) minced (ground) lamb
• 1 small brown onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 2.5 cm (1 inch) piece of ginger, peeled and grated

• 1 tablespoon chopped mint

• 1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

• 1 teaspoon mild paprika

• 1 teaspoon ground cumin

• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• Celtic sea salt, to taste

Preheat a chargrill pan or barbecue hotplate to medium.
  To make the koftas, mix all the ingredients in a bowl until well combined. Divide the mixture into eight portions and form each into a short sausage shape. Thread each onto a bamboo skewer and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Place the skewers on the prepared pan or hotplate and cook for 10 minutes, turning halfway through.

Serve with a garden salad in warmer months or roasted vegetables in winter.