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Small Victories Book Review Plus Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

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Food always tastes better when made with love. Whether it's from the passion the cook has for it or from the love for the people it’s being created for. Each mouthful becomes even more pleasurable when love is involved.

Julia Turshen’s new cookbook Small Victories is full of wholesome yet exciting meals made from such moments. Revealing and laughing at her own cooking mistakes, turning them into useful tips, Turshen encourages you to overcome the daunting and stressful task of making a meal. To find enjoyment in the ‘small victories’ like not dropping any celery on the floor when first learning to sauté, or turning ice cream that wouldn’t freeze into a dinner party milkshake hit.

Small Victories has a humble quality, from Turshen’s expert but easy-going guidance, to its focus on utilising good, fresh produce that is accessible to most home cooks. With a few ingredients and flavours included to help broaden your pantry and excite your tastebuds, Turshen takes away the angst of having to find and buy these ingredients if you don’t have them, by providing effective alternatives.

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Out of milk? You can still have pancakes for breakfast (or dinner)!  Try out the ‘Sour Cream Pancakes with Roasted Blueberries’ recipe from the book, which I Supercharged by using a Turshen alternative of buttermilk rather than sour cream. By the way if you’re dairy free coconut milk would be just as nice!

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This book is Turshen’s outstretched welcome into her home kitchen, with beautiful nostalgic photography and personal stories, and every turn of the page is filled with the essence of her love for food and cooking.

The other wonderful thing about Small Victories is that you don't need to be an expert to enjoy it; if you're more of a "one recipe kind of a cook" the book features creative ways to reuse recipes, turning your single mastered meal into a multitude of delicious moments.  

Small Victories is a great introduction to food for new cooks because it gently takes away the seriousness of getting it right and finds laughter and pleasure in your ‘small victories’.

My first stop was the Sour Cream pancakes and I made a couple of supercharged switches using buttermilk in the recipe which I'm sharing with you here.

buttermilk pancakes

Buttermilk Pancakes with Roasted Blueberries

  • 1 ¼ cups (160g) blueberries, rinsed and drained
  • 3 Tbsp coconut sugar
  • ½ cup (60g) oat flour
  • ¼ cup (30g) sorghum flour
  • 1tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup (240ml) Buttermilk or coconut milk
  • Coconut oil for cooking and serving

Preheat oven to 200°C

In a baking dish, combine the blueberries with 2 Tbsp of the coconut sugar and stir to mix.

Place in the oven and roast, pulling the baking dish out a few times to stir the blueberries, until their skins burst and they have released lots of juices, this takes about 20 minutes.

Using a fork or a potato masher, crush the berries a bit so that they become jammy. Set aside.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the flours, baking soda, and salt and whisk to combine.

Crack the eggs into a medium bowl, add the buttermilk and remaining 1 Tbsp coconut sugar, and whisk until the mixture is uniform. Pour the buttermilk mixture into the flour mixture and use a wooden spoon to mix everything together. It’s okay if the batter isn’t perfectly smooth – it’s better to under mix than over mix.

Set a large cast-iron pan, or your largest frying pan over medium heat and add 1 Tbsp coconut oil. Once the oil melts, swirl the pan or brush the pan to evenly coat the surface.

Pour the batter into the pan using a ¼ cup (60ml) increments to form pancakes that are roughly 10cm in diameter, cook only as many pancakes at a time as can fit comfortably.

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The minute that pancakes become too precise is the minute they become no fun, so don’t stress over this – it’s okay if they’re not the same size. Cook the pancakes until small bubbles appear on the surface and the undersides are nicely browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Flip the pancakes over and cook until the second sides are nicely browned, another minute or so.

Transfer to warm plates and continue making pancakes, adding more coconut oil as you go, until you’ve used up all the batter.

Serve pancakes immediately, with more coconut oil on top and the warm roasted blueberries.

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SPIN-OFFS  You can use coconut milk, buttermilk, sour cream or even yoghurt.

SHAKE UP THE TOPPING ROUTINE by roasting just about any fruit in place of the blueberries (berries are the most jammy, but all fruit benefits from the concentrated caramelisation that happens in the oven). Roasted blackberries, sliced bananas, sliced peaches, and thinly sliced apples or pears are all really delicious. Or rhubarb! Just keep an eye on the fruit while it’s roasting, as some types (e.g., apples) take a little longer than others and some (e.g., sliced bananas) take not much time at all.

THE ROASTED FRUIT TOPPING IS VERY VERSITILE; serve it with coconut cream for dessert, on toast spread with goat's cheese for breakfast, or on waffles for any time. Stir it into yogurt. Or serve alongside or grilled rich meat like pork shoulder or pork chops. Or lamb! Lamb loves fruit.

JULIA TURSHEN has co-authored such cookbooks as Spain…A Culinary Road Trip with Mario Batali, It’s All Good with Gwyneth Paltrow, Mastering My Mistakes in the Kitchen with Dana Cowin, and The Kimchi Chronicles, Hot Bread Kitchen: The Cookbook, The Fat Radish Kitchen Diaries, and Buvette: The Pleasure of Good Food

She hosted the first two seasons of Radio Cherry Bombe and has written for Vogue, Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Saveur, and The Wall Street Journal.  She lives in upstate New York with her wife, dogs, and cat.

 Follow her on Instagram + Twitter!

Green Bean Subji

green bean subji

Whoever said that veggies are boring and time consuming deserves a rap across the pork knuckles!

I’m in total awe of the power of veg and constantly surprised by the depths to which I can go in exploring different ways to express the beauty of these gorgeous ground dwellers.

In India, and particularly the Ayurvedic realm; veggies are prized and highly emphasised, not to mention a handy frugal option with high levels of nourishment.

Today I'm sharing a special dish I discovered when I was studying in Kerala. You can read more about my Indian cooking adventures here or in my recipe book Eat Right for Your Shape.

I’m especially proud of Ayurvedic cuisine for its wholesome and innovative approach to preparing quite elaborate meals out of simplistic veg. This glorious green bean subji is a prime example.

Subji is an Indian term that literally means ‘vegetable dish’- and can be in connection with any vegetable in a variety of different cooking methods. Subji’s can be dry, wet, or in curry form.

This spectacular subji is based on the humble green bean, but is impressively dressed up with a list of medicinal and flavourful Ayurvedic ingredients like cumin, ginger, mustard seeds, shredded coconut for texture and the freshness of coriander leaves. In minutes your regular bean is transformed into an exotic, aromatic vegetarian dish that’ll really blow your hair back and widen your eyes. (more…)

Cheaper Alternatives to Superfoods Plus Four Recipes

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You’ll find no shortage of celebrities endorsing various superfoods all over the world wide web and their social media accounts; which is all well and good until you get a closer look at the price of these super-expensive life enhancers!

WARNING: Beware of the following hash tags when scrolling:

#superfoods #functionalfoods 

But really, you don’t need to burn a hole in your wallet to achieve a healthy and balanced diet. Keep reading for some delicious, healthy, and very affordable alternatives to so called superfoods! I like to call them Supercharged Foods.

Many of you may be wondering, what makes a food a ‘superfood’? Well, to be honest there’s no concrete definition, however, the name ‘superfood’ is actually a marketing term, not a scientific one. A superfood is described as being any food that contains high levels of antioxidants, flavonoids, vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants are well known for their ability to strengthen the immune system, thereby warding off diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.

The health benefits of these ‘superfoods’ are the result of studies done on specific essential nutrients, that are known to prevent disease and improve immunity, and the foods that they can be found in, in large amounts. If studies show that a specific food contains high concentrations of antioxidants, trace minerals and vitamins, such as Vitamin C, K and B, it can then be referred to as a superfood.

Each time a new study is released shedding light on the health benefits of a specific food, the media runs with this information, publishing their own news stories about these newly researched superfoods. In 2014 kale farmers struggled to keep up with the new demand for kale after several studies reported that kale contained high levels of antioxidants and other essential nutrients, leaving many supermarkets out of stock. The media has a lot of influence over consumers, and with consumers becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of eating healthy wholesome foods, it’s no surprise that supermarkets take advantage of this by drastically increasing the price of these foods!

However, some studies can be misleading, and the results reported can be misinterpreted by the media and consumers. Just because studies have reported that a specific food, such as blueberries, contain large amounts of antioxidants, it doesn’t mean that you have to start eating blueberries every day to maintain vibrant health! Superfoods aren’t the only foods that contain essential nutrients. And by eating a balanced diet that is full of variety, you can guarantee that you’re eating enough essential nutrients without even picking up a superfood.  (more…)

Warm Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato and Beetroot

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Today’s recipe on the blog is absolutely delicious and good for the waistline too!

I was so excited to receive a WW freshbox from Aussie Farmers Direct this week. It was conveniently delivered to our home with enough fresh food and veggies to feed a family of five.

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An abundance of colour was revealed when we opened our box that was filled with fresh vegetables from zucchinis and cabbages to tomatoes and sweet potatoes.

It also included Australian farmed meats as well as garden-fresh herbs, citruses and spices.

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My daughter and I were home when the box arrived so we planned a mother daughter cook up! We both loved how all of the ingredients were 100% Australian made and grown.

Tamsin who is studying philosophy commented, “So mum, this means we’re supporting Australian farmers and manufacturers, and promoting a sustainable life that isn’t detrimental to the environment”. I was really happy that she had thought about that and that it was something she was interested in knowing more about.

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All of the fresh food is delivered in recyclable cardboard boxes and because all of the ingredients are locally sourced product, the carbon footprint of boxes is much less than imported goods that may have travelled from the other side of the world. On top of that with such fresh and healthy ingredients, it really encourages families to eat well and live more sustainable and healthier lives.

Another great thing about the WW freshbox is that you’re not only provided with an abundance of ingredients but also given easy to make recipes that are simple yet healthy, and can be greatly enjoyed by anyone.

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My daughter and I decided to make the warm quinoa salad with roasted sweet potato and beetroot. The recipe was fairly straightforward with only a few simple steps, and took only 45 minutes until it was ready to eat!

I loved this recipe and especially enjoyed the warm quinoa; it is such a nutritious food that is gluten-free, high in protein and one of a small number of plant foods that incorporates all nine essential amino acids.

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Tamsin loved the dish because of the crispy roasted sweet potato and beetroot, which she dutifully sliced and popped into the oven to roast and when they appeared 30 minutes later, claimed they were absolutely mouth-watering. Not only that, sweet potatoes are also a great source of vitamin A…healthy and delicious!

It was super fun spending time with my daughter and sharing time cooking together.

WW freshbox makes eating healthy super easy and convenient with farm fresh produce and recipes delivered directly to your door.

To get $25 off your first order use promo code WWSUPERCHARGED on checkout www.getwwfreshbox.com.au (conditions apply).

Terms & Conditions: For new customers on first order only. Minimum spend $65. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. See AussieFarmers.com.au for full Terms & Conditions. Valid until 31.10.16

And now for the scrumptious family friendly recipe….

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Warm quinoa salad with roasted sweet potato and beetroot:

  • Serves: 4
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 30 mins

Ingredients

  • 500g sweet potato unpeeled, cut into thin wedges
  • 500g beetroot, trimmed, peeled, cut into wedges
  • 1 cup (200g) quinoa, rinsed, drained*
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
  • ⅓ cup coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 2 tbs finely chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 1 tbs extra-virgin olive oil*
  • 1 tbs red wine vinegar* (we used Apple Cider Vinegar)
  • 3½ cups (875ml) chicken stock*
  • 50g marinated feta, drained

*From your pantry

Method

  1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Place the sweet potato and beetroot in a large roasting dish in a single layer. Season with salt and pepper and lightly spray with oil. Roast for 30 minutes or until golden and tender.
  2. Meanwhile, rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain. Place in a medium saucepan with 2 and 1/4 cups stock. Use remainder to serve 2. Bring to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes or until the water is absorbed and the quinoa is tender.
  3. Add the warm roasted vegetables, onion, parsley, mint, oil and vinegar to the quinoa. Season with salt and pepper and gently toss to combine. Serve topped with marinated feta.

Full disclosure: Please note this is a sponsored post.  Sponsored posts go towards the running of Supercharged Food.

 

Homemade Kombucha

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Fermented foods are a beautiful way to increase gut health when your gut is strong and ready.

If you’re familiar with my four week online Heal Your Gut program, (the next round kicks off soon), you'll know that after giving your digestive system a rest and healing the gut lining, when your gut is feeling stronger you can start adding fermented foods to your diet to boost beneficial gut flora. Go gently and see how your gut reacts – try small amounts each day and see how you feel.

Kombucha is one of the most enjoyable and delicious ways to introduce the world of cultured foods into your life, as it basically replaces the need for soft drink, providing a mildly sweet, slightly sour and naturally fizzy beverage that is enjoyed by adults and kids alike.

Kombucha begins life as an ordinary sugary tea, but the addition of a SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) transforms it into a fermented drink. The SCOBY bacteria and yeast eat most of the sugar, yielding a drink full of natural probiotics that will dance around happily in your intestines. A small amount enjoyed daily has many gut-healing properties.

Aside from colonising the gut with probiotic bacteria that are wonderful for your immune system, this delicious fermeted tea holds an impressive collection of health promoting properties that have been enjoyed in Russia, Japan, Poland, Bulgaria, Germany, Manchuria and Indonesia for generations. According to the Weston A Price Foundation:

Kombucha is rich in B vitamins and a substance called glucuronic acid which binds up environmental and metabolic toxins so that they can be excreted through the kidneys. Glucuronic acid is a natural acid that is produced by the liver. Kombucha simply supplies the body with more and boosts the natural detoxification process.

Glucuronic acid is also the building block of a group of important polysaccharides that include hyaluronic acid (a basic component of connective tissue), chondroitin sulfate (a basic component of cartilage) and mucoitinsulfuric acid (a building block of the stomach lining and the vitreous humor of the eye).

Kombucha has also been linked to a myriad of other benefits such as improved digestion, fighting candida (harmful yeast) overgrowth, mental clarity, and mood stability. It truly is a tonic rather than simply a yummy beverage.

Don’t be afraid of the fermenting process which can seem like a complex lab operation rather than a kitchen recipe. Honestly, you just have to take the plunge and enter into the world of fermentation to realise that with some basic knowledge of the way bacteria feed on a constant supply of sugars, the process of keeping your culture alive and enjoying it’s wonderful and delicious creations is actually a very straightforward, common sense process that will become part of your daily rhythm.

Once you get the hang of making it, you can flavour it up with ginger and turmeric or even berries. Purchase a SCOBY online or, if you’re very lucky, a friend might give you one. You can buy kombucha online or at a health food store, although once you’ve made your first batch, you won’t need to buy it any more.

You’ll also need a breathable cloth such as muslin (I use a nut bag), a rubber band, and one sterilised wide-mouthed, 1 litre (35 fl oz/4 cup) capacity glass jar with a lid (Mason jar).

Homemade Kombucha

Ingredients:

  • 1 litre (35 fl oz/4 cups) filtered water
  • 2 organic black tea bags
  • 55 g (2 oz/ 1/4 cup) organic sugar
  • 1 SCOBY (see above)
  • 100 ml (3 1/2 fl oz) homemade or store-bought kombucha (see above)

Method:

Put the water in a medium saucepan over medium heat and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, add the tea bags, and steep for 20 minutes. Remove the tea bags, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Set aside to cool.

Pour the tea into the sterilised jar, then add the SCOBY and the kombucha. Cover with muslin, secure with a rubber band and write the date on the jar.

Store undisturbed in a cool, dark, dry place for 7 days, then test it to see if it’s ready. It should be fizzy and slightly sour/vinegary. If it’s still sweet, let it ferment for a day or so longer (usually up to 10 days).

Once the kombucha is ready, carefully remove the SCOBY using a clean long-handled spoon and place it on a plate with a little of the liquid to stop it drying out (then use it to make another batch straight away). Pour out 100 ml (3 1/2 fl oz) of the kombucha and keep aside to make another batch, then pour the remaining liquid into a jug through a sieve and then into a clean glass bottle with a lid. Secure the lid tightly and make a note on the bottle of the date. The kombucha will keep in the fridge for 2–4 weeks.

Yum! 

Fivelements

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Imagine a location that feels like another world away, but is in reality just a hop, skip and a jump from anywhere in Australia. A place where you can fly and flop all within the space of a few hours and feel like you’ve been transported to a parallel universe.

Located in Bali, nestled alongside the sacred Ayung River near Ubud, and beyond the hustle and bustle of Kuta and Seminyak lies Fivelements, an award winning eco-conscious wellness destination which is inspired by the natural and holistic Balinese way of life.

Fivelements encourages guests to nurture harmony of their spirit, the environment and with one another and tune-in to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs, allowing an organic healing process to naturally unfold.

Medicine cabinet love. My all time favourite ingredients ginger and turmeric.

Upon arrival I was greeted by warm Balinese smiles and given a refreshing coconut welcome drink before being led through pretty gardens and stone pathways to my private modern thatched hut. It literally felt like I had stepped into the colour and magic of a traditional Balinese painting.

My gorgeous hut away from home

Flinging open the wooden doors will reveal a surprising level of plushness and comfort. The beautiful rooms are peaceful and serene with jaw-dropping natural décor and attention to detail. With an emphasis on nature, the elements of timber, bamboo, stone, water and natural tones all meld comfortably within the space and open balmy air.

Sleeping tight under the net

Walking through into the bathroom my heart skipped a beat when I saw the liberal use of stone and wood, housed with bamboo to bring as much of the outside in, and create an ambience of being totally at one with nature.

Stone and Wood

And then there was THAT shower.

Forecast: Sunday morning showers

One of the other water highlights of Fivelements is the open-air bathtub which sits inside a private bamboo enclosure, enabling you to enjoy your surroundings during a relaxing salt water soak. It was perfect for soothing my weary yoga muscles after a big day of yoga the day before.

In the early evening, the girls from the spa popped around to offer me a revitalizing bath ritual composed of five powerful healing ingredients: lemongrass to activate blood circulation, aromatic Balinese orange and lime, and pandan leaves and ginger to awaken your senses and clear my mind.

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Bath ingredients!  Orange, pandan, sea salt, ginger and lime.

Move over Vivid Sydney! The supernatural volcanic stone bath featured customised therapy lighting which showcased the seven colours of the chakras, and as you lay there it encouraged the unison of the mind, body and spirit and the connection with nature.

Each of the five residences at Fivelements features a private, hewn-boulder bath overlooking the Ayung River.

Each of the five residences at Fivelements features a private, hewn-boulder bath overlooking the Ayung River.

Post bath time bliss, I sat on the private deck, a wonderful place to unwind from any stresses in laid back style, and perused the menu which was prefaced as offering raw vegan living foods cuisine in celebration of our “aliveness.”


Long lunch with mountains of greens

When it comes to food at Fivelements their goal is simple; to allow mother-nature’s cuisine to shine with all her exciting tastes, textures, vibrant colors and pure flavours. It was evident to me that the food they serves was prepared with love, passion and attention to detail and each dish just oozed the feeling of being so healthy and full of energy-giving nutrients.

Living Foods

The menu is based around the concept of a fine-dining healing cuisine of ‘Living Foods' comprising of raw vegan fare, and other lightly-prepared plant-based dishes. As I like to have a mixture of cooked and raw foods this suited me perfectly.

You can choose to enjoy the refueling food either in your room or at Sakti dining room, which is a bamboo architectural masterpiece, topped off with a sweeping thatched roof in the shape of a banana leaf, a Balinese symbol of food. The restaurant overlooks a pretty lotus pond on one side and the mesmerizing Ayung River on the other.

Virtuous breakfast offerings

During my three day stay, I happily ate my way through their fantastic menu, at breakfast I enjoyed Coconut Chia Porridge with local Tulsi Seeds, Oats, Activated Seeds, Goji Berries and served with Coconut Milk, on day two I had a Superfood Dragon Bowl with Purple Dragonfruit, Banana, Coconut, Chia Seeds, Strawberries, Sprouted Nut Granola, Lime Yoghurt and Cinnamon and on my final day I enjoyed the Spiced Granola with Activated Nuts, Oats, Coconut Milk and Banana, which was my favourite!

Main meals always begun with a serve of Curried Kale Chips with Balinese Spices, and Coconut and one of the highlight meals was the South Indian Dahl with Coconut Yoghurt, Coriander and Chili, served with crunchy flaxseed crackers.

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I made this raw zucchini pasta with marinara sauce during the cooking class

On the menu, there were mountains of zesty green salads to choose from featuring edible flowers, leaves and raw dressings, Balinese Green Urab-Urab with Organic Greens, Vegetables, Herbs, Coconut Bacon and Aromatic Balinese Dressing and one of the popular meals is a Shitake Mushroom Burger with Rice Bun, Caramelized Onions, Kimchi Mayonaise, Umami Ketchup, Pickles, Jicama Slaw, and yummy Sweet Potato Chips which I polished off for dinner.

Dessert was also a feast for the eyes not to mention the tummy, there’s nothing quite like experiencing the Milk Chocolate Mousse Cake with White Chocolate Ice Cream, Raw Cacao Syrup and Chocolate Tuile with a side of Homemade Cashew coconut Ice Cream.

This really is clean eating at it’s finest.

Once you’ve had your fill of fruits and organic vegetables it’s time to relax by the pool on the comfy terry toweling lined day beds and indulge in an afternoon drink.

Lazy days by the pool

There are plenty of beverages to choose from; smoothies, juices and healing and comforting hot elixirs and tonics were all offered. I enjoyed the Bali Spiced raw hot Chocolate and Chai Latte made with locally sourced Tea and Spices, Coconut Milk, Coconut Sugar.

One of the major attractions of Fivelements is the spa which is central to the area and a place where you can not only be slathered in locally made ingredients and transported to a world of bliss but also experience energy healing, rejuvenating massages, deep bodywork, ultra-nourishing body care, local super food facials and unique water healing experiences.

Room with a view

Featuring nine private healing rooms for Balinese therapies, each has their own ensuite bathroom and bathhouse with a river stone healing bathtub.

All of the treatments at Fivelements embrace holistic Balinese-inspired therapies and are administered by traditional Balinese healers using ancient wisdoms passed down from direct lineage.

Following the Balinese principle of Sekala-Niskala, which holds that we all live equally in two worlds; the seen or conscious world Sekala, and the unseen or psychic world Niska- la, the Balinese healers engage the help of the higher divine source during each healing session.

Gorgeous foot soak bath with Balinese sea salt, petals and lime.

 

Whilst I was at Fivelements, I joined Chef Made Tantra for culinary training which was a fantastic experience, he certainly took me on an inspiring gastronomical journey! We created some absolutely delicious basics and dishes such as coconut milk, green juice, cashew dressing, and granola.

A man on a mission

Chef Tantra is a man on a mission with a passionate interest in local and native ingredients having worked in hotels across Bali and overseas.   During the class he showcased exciting and absolutely delicious vegan and vegetarian fare made with flare using aromatic herbs, vegetables, spices and a healthy dose of flavours.

Cooking class ingredients

During the class I had an introduction to living foods and the importance of using local and in season food sources and also picked up some great tips about quick and easy meal preparation, I shared with him some of my own cooking tips too as we had a mutual interest in simple and healthy recipes. He was most interested in nutritional yeast flakes and wheat free tamari!

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I learnt how to make a delicious garden blend soup with fields of greens, crushed garlic and orange, and also a marinara sauce that we had with the zucchini pasta that day for lunch.

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Garden green soup with swirls

The soup was delicious and so energy boosting and I felt like a million dollars afterwards 🙂

I really enjoyed my time at Fivelements and came home refreshed and revitalized with a sense of peace and harmony.

To find out more about what they offer you can visit their website: http://www.fivelements.org

Healthy Rhubarb Crumble

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Crumbles would have to be one of the most simple and comforting desserts on my list for entertaining friends. I love that they can be so versatile; utilising virtually whatever seasonal fruit you have on hand and they’re also very difficult to mess up!  This recipe is from my eBook The Renewable Table.

A crumble, traditionally known as a brown betty, is a dish of British origin that can be made in a sweet or savoury version, depending on ingredients used. A sweet variety is much more common and usually contains some form of stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of fat (usually butter), flour, and sugar.

The most common of the crumbles is the illustrious apple crumble, but they extend to the common use of berries, peaches, plums and delicious rhubarb.

Crumbles boomed in popularity in Britain during World War Two when the nation was in rationing mode and a crumble topping offered a more economical alternative to pies due to shortages of pastry ingredients.

I somehow find a soul connection to the generations of housewives throughout this time in history, who had to learn to be resourceful and frugal, yet still had the desire to put delicious and nourishing meals on the table for friends and family.

A crumble is an extremely versatile and budget friendly option, as toppings can be made from an array of pantry wholegrains and fats like butter, ghee or coconut oil, and glutinous grains can easily be switched up to include a mixture of nuts, seeds, gluten free grain flours and coconut. I sometimes add gluten free oats as a crunchy topping too. Sweeteners are also up for negotiation; utilising wholefood and low fructose sweeteners of your choice.

This crumble uses gorgeous rhubarb, which is packed with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are wonderful for supporting a thriving and energetic life. In traditional Chinese medicine, rhubarb is hailed for soothing stomach ailments and relieving constipation, and is also used as a poultice to reduce fevers and swelling.

Rhubarb is also high in vitamin K which makes it a lovely ingredient for improving bone health, and limiting neuronal damage to the brain in the case of Alzheimer’s.

Rhubarb is also an immune system supporting ingredient due to its high levels of vitamin C along with vitamin A for infection fighting and antioxidant protection that will extend to glowing skin, healthy mucous membranes and improved vision.

Enjoy this scrumptious crumble as a delightful and cosy dessert that will bring that joyous element of sweetness into your life without overloading your system with inflammatory wheat and sugar. (more…)

Fighting the family worm disaster with Diatomaceous Earth

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Worms. I’m sorry, this isn’t the most enjoyable subject material, but if you’re a mum or dad with  school aged children, you may already be familiar with this unsavoury situation. If you haven’t experienced it in your family yet, it’s time to get informed so that when the problem rears its ugly head you know exactly how to tackle it. I also have some great news on a natural way you can rid your body of these pesky critters before resorting to drugs.

Pinworms, also known as threadworms are the a parasitic worm and the most common worm infection in Australia, the UK and the USA.  Kids are more likely to pick up an infection than an adult, probably because of children’s tendency to put their fingers in their mouths, and you may notice worms emerging in your family when your littlies begin day care and school. An annoying truth of the childhood worms experience is that once a child is infected, other members of their household are also likely to get pinworms unless strict hygiene practices are observed.

Threadworms are spread by children scratching their bottom and carrying the worm eggs back to their mouth with their hands. They can also be spread indirectly through food and dust. The eggs can survive up to two weeks outside the body, and once these eggs are swallowed, they hatch in the small intestine and travel down.

Despite the ugly reputation, a pinworm infection is relatively harmless and can be easily treated.

On the other hand, if you're struggling with any type of pests in your home or commercial area, it's time you get in touch with http://www.thebustersgroup.co.uk/.

What to look out for

Signs of a pinworm in children include

  • Tiredness, or generally feeling “out of sorts”
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Lowered appetite
  • Itchy bottom, especially at night
  • Small white worms appearing around the anus
  • White worms in stools

Home care practices

When you notice an infection of worms, you can help reduce the spread to family members through

  • Discouraging scratching the bottom
  • Keeping everyone’s fingernails trimmed and clean. A nail scrubber is a good option.
  • Washing hands with warm soapy water after the toilet
  • Laundering bedding in hot water
  • Vacuuming the house often to remove eggs

Ridding the body of worms naturally

Diatomaceous Earth is a brilliant first step alternative to over the counter drugs and is something that I personally consume regularly to rid my body of parasites, especially during travel overseas or if I suspect an infection. It’s been very effective in gently cleansing my digestive system. And a clean digestive system is the starting point for overall body and mind health. 

Diatomaceous earth is one of the best natural, food based anti-parasitic medications. It works by attracting bacteria, fungi, viruses, pesticides, drug residues etc to absorb them. The hollow cylinder structure allows pathogenic bacteria to become trapped and passed through the body. Larger parasites found in the stomach are actually cut up and killed by the Diatomaceous Earth particles!

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My naturopathic grade, Diatomaceous Earth, also known as organic fossil shell flour or as I like to call it Dinosaur powder, also contains 15 minerals that are beneficial to your overall health and wellbeing. With its detoxifying properties, you will be able to absorb these minerals much more effectively!  Being high in silica it has the added benefits of better hair, skin and nails too.

One teaspoon of diatomaceous earth taken by an adult, once a day for seven days, can be extremely effective for killing parasites. 

You can simply add your appropriate dose to water or juice daily, preferably before meals. You can even add it to smoothies or sprinkle it on top of your children’s cereal as it’s completely free of additives, fillers, sugars, artificial sweeteners or preservatives! These healthy food alternatives are an excellent way to teach your children how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Many trusted naturopaths like this Toronto naturopath would highly recommend it to all people who want to feel the benefits of a proper diet and the effect it can have on their wellbeing. 

Love Your Gut, Diatomaceous Earth is a safe food grade product and of the highest D Earth grade. When using it, be sure to drink plenty of fluids and always consult your health care practitioner when treating children.

Find out more about my Love Your Gut Powder here.

Panasonic French Door Fridge

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I love it when I get to learn new things, particularly when it involves two of my favourite pastimes: food and eating!

Last week I was fortunate enough to be part of an incredible sushi making master class at Toko Restaurant in Sydney. We spent the morning learning from top chefs how to carve and create sashimi and I also had a hand at rolling out some sushi too… then eating it of course.

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This class was one of the added bonuses at the launch of Panasonic’s new range of eco-friendly fridges. The hero product on the day was the new French Door fridge, showcasing an impressive range of functional, intelligent and elegant technologies.

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Within the French Door fridge is a centralised vegetable case which offers an airtight design, keeping humidity levels high, halting the natural drying out process of foods over time. They’ve also introduced Vitaminsafe technology which operates within the vegetable crisper. This activates the natural defenses of fruits and vegetables to help keep them fresher for a longer period of time, saving you money and frequent trips to the supermarket.

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Panasonic also showed off a new premium range of bottom-mount fridges which comes with Prime Fresh technology in a special dedicated compartment. This new feature helps to maintain the flavor, texture and nutrients of produce that lives in the fridge by lightly freezing fresh meat and seafood to around minus three degrees Celsius. As food is only slightly frozen, it extends the life of your perishables while still maintaining nutrients, flavour and texture. A handy time saver that removes the need for long defrosting time.

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All of Panasonic’s fridges keep bacteria and nasties at bay. This is particularly useful if you tend to put things in the fridge and leave them for ages, and then are surprised to discover a soggy Christmas pudding from 2012, or last month’s Thai takeaway. Within the fridge is an Ag Clean silver coated filter which cleans the circulating air to kill 99% of mould and bacteria inside the refrigerator. That’s good news for you, but not such good news for your long-standing fridge dwellers.

Another great environmental aspect of the new range of fridges is that the cooling systems evenly distribute chilled air from the rear panel throughout the refrigerator for gentle cooling, maintaining a constant temperature.

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Energy consumption is reduced due to the four Econavi intelligent sensors that actively monitor usage patterns, lighting and temperature. Once these have been established by this very clever technology, your fridge energy output can be adapted to your unique usage patterns, enabling you to have the most efficient operation of your fridge and also save money on energy bills. And we all want a bit more of that!

The sleek, modern and functional designs with touch controls and recessed curved handles are seamless and good looking enough to complement any kitchen. If you’re in the market for a new fridge, I’d recommend this gorgeous range.  Find out more here.

My Thrifty Bohemian Wedding

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A bowling club by the sea was the eclectic backdrop to my recent June wedding where we celebrated making us official.

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In keeping with our autumnal theme, as sheets of rain hammered in sideways off the ocean onto the RSL’s flat roof and rivulets rushed down the sandstone walls, inside, our cheery crowd of friends and family gathered warmly around us to help celebrate our happy event.

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The grand thunderstorm provided a dramatic soundtrack to our fun-filled and festive afternoon. From the onset, we wanted to create a bohemian wedding with a community feel and the venue we picked felt as though it just oozed that old school village hall charm.  We decorated and lit up the wooden stage to make it a focal point of the hall and ceremony. 

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Growing up in Canterbury in the UK meant that our village hall was central to the town, so when it came to planning our wedding, we wanted to create a day that was homespun and one that reimagined the tradition of a community coming together to celebrate the unity of a new family. 

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We didn't set out to transform the place but wanted to accentuate and capture it's simplicity, so rather than add too much, we embraced it's blank canvas appeal and emphasized the old piano and stool and the dart board chalk board (that the kids personalized on their own initiative). 

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It was important to us that we took the non-traditional route and avoided all the wedding clichés. Although we wanted to make a statement, it wasn’t the kind of statement about how awesome we are or how lavish and stupendous, but a statement of love, family, community and friendship. Oh and our great love of the classic Aussie bowling club. I mean how could you not?

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We also didn't want spend months stage managing or filling up a A4 ring-binder file with wedding inspirations, only to get caught up in the minutiae. We weren’t keen on spending a fortune on unnecessary formalities so we chose to stay true to ourselves and keep the day as simple as possible without grandeur or fuss.  We planned the wedding in four weeks.

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The fun part of planning the wedding was seeing whether we could create something memorable on our shoe-string budget of $5k. So we immediately discarded any thoughts of extraneous expenses and started to get pretty creative with our limited funds.

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Through the process, what we discovered was so enjoyable about planning a boho wedding was that it frees you up to be unconventional and not worry about the lack of seat covers and pretty bows on the backs of chairs, which didn't really matter to us, and we realised what was more important was the acknowledgement of the bond we have as a family.

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A boho wedding enables you to explore and celebrate your individuality. Plus we both didn’t feel that adding money and too many ideas would add any more to the laid back and easy day we had planned.

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So in the planning stages we really only had a couple of pre-requisites, one of them was to ensure we were supporting sustainability and local producers and secondly when we chose things they had to fall under the notion or idea of "this is us". 

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Our life and belongings are pretty minimal and we needed those values to be reflected on the day, with everything second hand or homemade or able to be recycled in order for it to have the least amount of impact on the planet.

The environmental ethos of the wedding became important particularly with the DIY decor, flowers and stationary. Invitations were designed by us and sent via email to save paper clutter and a tree or two.  We used recycled coasters which had been hand printed using a letterpress by Coco Press Design.

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We didn't want anything flown in from across the other side of the world so we sourced everything we could locally. In lieu of presents, because we live uncluttered and didn't want or need any new stuff, we asked people to either make a cake or bring a herb or potted plant for the garden that would remind us of them and also give back to Mother nature.

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When it came to decorating the venue, we raided my florist friend Georgie’s green house where I discovered she had been collecting beautiful flora which had been drying over time in her back garden in Bondi.  On the tables we used seed and pods that were collected on local ramblings and street-shopped dried maple leaves to complete the Autumnal feel.  

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The club was decorated with old rope from Fowler’s Gap research station, about one and a half hours north of Broken Hill, that was going to be thrown away.

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The Banksia, Gymea Lily and Coral Fern were all part of Georgie’s dried flower collection. Because she's doing a master in art in sculpture, particular flowers with texture inspire her and often get reused in her work and practice.

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We supplemented the recycled flowers with local seasonal fresh flowers from the market and calendula, jonquil, stock and spray chrysanthemum were placed into recycled juice jars on the tables and along the windowsills to create window-scapes.

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On the Friday night many people including the kids mucked in to help set up the hall and add their own touches to it, I loved the eclectic mix of styles that made the room feel simple and natural.

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We established a beautiful display table with fresh in season produce provided to us by Harris Farm and filled buckets of kale, celery and pumpkin and seasonal fruits and vegetables which were donated to charity after the event.

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Being a foodie at heart, ingredients became the basis of the beautifully scented flower crown I wore. It was reusable too and the produce was cooked up the next day and turned up on the family dinner table!  The remainder that wasn’t being used ended up in the composter to be put back onto our garden.  

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My stunning edible bouquet was also founded on food and stuffed with kale, echinacea, rosemary, parsley, pineapple, wheat and mint and garnished with sprigs of baby’s breath and chrysanthemum.

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Instead of confetti, the flower girls carried bread-baskets filled with rose petals that came from a local grower.

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My friend Emmily from Depths of Beauty, is a natural makeup artist and eco beauty advocate and she did my hair and makeup. I love her business as she shares information and educates people through her master classes about the importance of non-toxic beauty and helps to inspire healthy and positive change for people and the planet.

For my wedding look she used only natural, organic and ethically made beauty products and on the day I felt naturally beautiful and radiant. She focused on creating dewy skin, highlighting the eyes and adding subtle colour on the cheeks, finishing with a natural nude pink lippy for a flush of colour.

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On my skin I used my favourite Natural Instinct rose hip oil with rosemary and their silky body lotion which is deliciously hydrating and smells amazing too. 

During the night we enjoyed a spectacular feast of slow cooked lamb shoulder with cinnamon and spices and local greens and of course it wouldn’t be a supercharged party without my famous turmeric cauliflower dish. Our friends helped us out by donning aprons and piling up plates with the delicious food from Shuk Bondi.

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At one stage I enlisted my German friend Cindy and put her in charge of making the chai tea as she's a natural born organiser. Its usually tea for two but in this case it was tea for 92!  We had a collection of old teapots from home that were filled to the brim and whisked onto the tea trolley whilst still piping hot and ready for the tea-totallers. 

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In addition to the Stone & Wood Beer and Treehouse Cider, we also had refreshments from Remedy Kombucha, and a collection of fresh juices and smoothies from Organic Avenue Juices and beautiful Ovvio Organics Teas for the more health conscious guests.

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When it came to a cake there were no fondants or fancy fixings but we encouraged guests to get into their home kitchens, roll up their sleeves and create their favourite home made dessert which formed part of our communal dessert trolley.  This became one of the highlights of the night and received many ooohs and ahhhs and mmms from the guests.

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The trolley was laden with all-over-the-place stunning desserts, everything from chocolate ganache to flowerless orange cakes, sticky gingerbread cake and Justin’s brother’s legendary Christmas trifle.  The desserts were handmade with love and adorned with fresh berries, stunning wildflowers and nuts and seeds.

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Oh, and ridiculously adorable handwritten hearts which gave us all happy feels.

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The entertainment was provided by the guests, who were asked on the invitation to nominate their favourite song to make up the track list. It didn't have to be a wedding song but just one that they liked and meant something to them. The music was an assortment of tunes from all eras, mirroring the eclectic bunch of people who came along to the wedding. Guests also embraced the bowling club chic theme and many got into the spirit by donning their best sneakers, boots and vintage clothing as we danced the night away.

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At the end of the night guests piled into the kitchen scraping their dinner plates into our make-shift compost bins and leftover cake and food was delivered to Wayside Chapel and the homeless at Bondi Pavillion. 

We didn’t ask guests to clean up but for many of them they said it felt like a natural thing to do. Everyone pulled together in the kitchen, washing and drying dishes to get the place reordered and back to its bowling club best. It was so lovely to see how we worked together as a little community and that really was the spirit of the wedding. 

Justin's favourite part of the day?  Seeing Lee arrive and knowing she was in (op shop) boots and all!

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Lee’s favourite part of the day? The wedding ceremony and wheeling in the cake trolley followed by the chai trolley! The reactions that we got from people were incredible. Plus enjoying all the delicious homemade cakes...

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It was a wonderful wedding and really captured the spirt of love and community.

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A big thank you to our supporting cast...

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Bircher Muesli Bowl +Video

 

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A sweet little video about a breakfast you can make the night before.

I’m using rolled oats, the standard bircher base plus grated apple but you can swap out for pear if you prefer.

There are other crafty switches you can make too, the apple juice gives it a light sweet flavor, but it can be swapped for coconut milk or almond milk for a much creamier and deeper complexity and consistency.

Crunchiness is a must, so topple on seeds and flaxseed meal or depending upon your personal preference just about any kind of nuts such as chopped hazelnuts or walnuts will give you a bit of texture and crispiness.

Gently stir in some yoghurt of choice during the process remembering to leave some to dollop on top in the morning.

I hope you’ll embrace this bircher and make it a regular part of your breakfast routine.

From my recipe book Eat Right for Your Shape.

And just in case you need it, here's the recipe. 

Bircher Muesli

Serves 1

  • 1 apple, cored and grated

  • 95 g (31⁄4 oz/1 cup) gluten-free rolled oats
  • 125 ml (4 fl oz/1⁄2 cup) apple juice

  • 130 g (41⁄2 oz/1⁄2 cup) sheep’s milk yoghurt, plus extra to serve (optional) 2 pinches ground cinnamon

  • 2 tablespoons pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • 
2 tablespoons sesame seeds

  • 1 teaspoon flaxseed meal

  • fresh blueberries, to serve

Method

Combine the apple, oats, apple juice, yoghurt and cinnamon in a bowl and stir well. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or if making the same morning, cover and refrigerate for 1 hour).

When ready to serve, stir through the seeds and flaxseed meal, and top with the blueberries. Serve with extra yoghurt if using.

Let me know what you think about this recipe in the comments section below.

Happy Cooking

Lee 🙂

Oven Baked Peach and Berry Pancake

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Looking for some fresh breakfast inspiration?  Batter up babycakes 🙂

If you’re seeking something on the sweeter side, I'm offering an easy-to-make, fruity, Ayurvedic breakfast option that’ll steer you clear of the cereal box or the shake-it and bake it pancake mix and towards a healthier and nutritious opening act.

This beautiful peachy-keen baked pancake is bursting with vibrancy, sweet flavour and is incredibly easy to make; a perfect way to begin a lazy weekend, enjoyed with a steaming chai tea as it conveniently bubbles away with no need for flipping!

This is one of my most prized breakky recipes from my latest book Eat Right For Your Shape, and beyond its morning-satisfaction capabilities, it’s also high in the nourishment stakes.

If you follow Ayurvedic philosophy and identify as vata (air) dosha, you may tend to worry a lot. You require grounding, especially in the mornings before you set off for your day. This will keep you focused, and prevent your mind and emotions flying in all different anxious directions. For you, grounding will come in the form of good fats and oils, and warming foods.

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