Ciao Bellas!

Love is in the air… and so is the aroma of freshly made chocolate.  There's no better time to share a recipe for my delicious Love Heart Chocolates for you to woo your boo or BFF.

When you think of Valentine’s Day clichés do you conjur up little Italian men meandering and weaving their way around restaurant tables selling freshly picked red roses for "all the beuwdiful ladies out there"?

However you celebrate The Feast of St Valentine, make the ones you love feel special and show your adoration with delicious hand-made Love Heart Chocolates made with raw cacao for the ultimate understated romantic gesture.

What makes these indulgent delights so lovingly special is their smooth and velvety texture and chocolaty and buttery taste.  As they melt in your mouth they also fill you up with goodness too.

Why choose to frequent confectionery aisles, when the superiority of homemade chocolate is so simple to achieve at home?

Whether you’re indulging in a little self-love, or wanting to impress that special someone, my Love Heart creations exude adoration and will win over the hearts of even the most discerning chocolate lover.

If you do happen to go overboard this Valentine’s Day, be sure to remind yourself of the following reasons to eat raw cacao, especially when you're nibbling on your second batch of chocs.

• Raw Cacao is overflowing with one of the world’s most deficient major minerals, magnesium. In fact, there’s no known source on earth that provides more.  Magnesium is essential in developing a strong healthy heart, can help to relax menstrual cramping, strengthen your bones and open up more than three hundred detoxification pathways in the human body.
• Raw Cacao is super-rich in antioxidants.  Ten percent of raw cacao powder is filled with them. They act as protective factors for the heart and circulatory system by increasing the ability of arteries to dilate, improving the functioning of the cells that line blood vessels and reducing the oxidsation of bad cholesterol (LDL).  Interestingly, dairy appear to counteract these amazing antioxidant effects; just another added reason you should try my DAIRY FREE love hearts.
• Raw cacao= happier you= lots of loving! Thank Phenylthylamine (PEA), a chemical that’s released into the blood stream when we are sexually aroused, and abundant in the brains of happy people.   PEA is responsible for dopamine (the pleasure hormone), adrenaline and noradrenaline. When you eat cacao, your mental concentration will increase, livening up your attitude and increasing positive emotions such as joy, happiness and perhaps some hanky panky with the apple of your eye. Nudge nudge wink wink!

Bite into my bite sized treats anytime of the year and if you’re having a downer of a day pump yourself up with cacao.  It’s a delicious way to improve cognition and emotional health.

These can be made in different shaped moulds for after dinner treats or fun treats at your next family party. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, add some orange or peppermint extract, crushed raw almonds, walnuts or cashews.

This recipe is from my new recipe book Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian.

Happy Vee Day,

Love Lee xo

Love Heart Chocolates

WF DF GF  SF  VEG  VG

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 40 g (11/2 oz) shaved cacao butter
• 1/4 cup organic coconut butter
• 30 g (1 oz/1/4 cup) raw cacao powder
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
• 10–12 drops stevia liquid, or 1 teaspoon powdered, or to taste

Method

• To make the dark chocolate, melt the butters in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. Add the other ingredients and whisk until smooth.
• Place in love heart moulds and freeze for 30 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer and wait a few minutes before popping the chocolate out from the moulds. If in hard moulds, tap the bottom until the hearts fall out.
• To make white chocolate, follow the method above but omit the cacao powder.
• The chocolates will keep in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Feeling puffy? And I’m not talking about Puff Daddy, Diddy, Sean Coombs, P.Diddy.  If a notorious B.I.G tummy is ruining your swagger, read on for ways to beat the bloat and find a flatter and healthier tum.

During the festive season, we tend to consume a whole lot more, with the average person munching through three times their usual food intake on Christmas day alone.

We create more meals during the holidays so it’s not surprising we slip into January still feeling like we are suffering the dreaded Boxing Day bloat.

Because of all dat ‘flava’ and the additional foods we consume, indulging on sweets, desserts, alcohol, rich, salty and fatty foods, this causes bad bacteria to multiply in our gut, producing the gas that makes us look and feel like Biggie Smalls.

If you’ve ever arisen with a flat stomach, only to find it distended a few hours later, it can be very hard to channel your inner fly girl when you have to undo your jeans mid-morning and look like you’re expecting by the time you go to bed. That’s so wack!

But back up, now that the festive season is over and your relaxed food intake is being tightened up, I’m gonna break it down and give you some tips from my Heal Your Gut program, on how can you work off all of the roast potatoes and chocolate truffles sensibly.

‘We about that action down here at Supercharged Food yall’.

I have no idea what i just wrote 🙂

One of the best ways to settle down your over worked digestive system is to give it a well-earned rest so that you can reset the balance.  This is not just rest from food but also environmental and physical factors.

KEEP STRESSORS AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS AT BAY

Your gut is extremely sensitive to what is going on in your life mentally and emotionally. Negative emotions and stress are two big triggers for an upset tummy. Generally, when we find ourselves in a specific stressful situation (a work deadline, an argument with our partner) we’re aware of the tension, physically and mentally.

But sometimes, the stress or negativity goes unnoticed or is unconsciously buried deep into our subconscious to protect us from the pain and discomfort. When this happens, your bloating becomes a way for your body to communicate with you.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Are you holding on to emotions, such as fear and anger, and accumulating them instead of digesting them?

Take some time to honestly look at what is going on in your life on a deeper level than just what sort of food you’re eating. There might be a very powerful message behind your bloating that you're unaware of.  Run it back and press rewind in your mind.  You know where it’s at!

Word up! Some other simple ways to reduce bloating are;

CONNECT WITH YOUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM WHILE EATING

When you’re feeling stressed, upset or rushed, your nervous system goes into fight-or-flight mode. Stress hormones are high and blood flow to your gut is reduced, which makes your digestive fire weaker and your digestion slower. As food is not properly digested, fermentation and bloating often occur. To avoid this from happening, always eat in a quiet environment. Sit down and take a few deep belly breaths. Never eat standing, at your desk or while checking your phone. You know it!

To give your digestive system all the support it needs to optimally digest the food, be mindful of the food you’re eating and the amazing process happening in your body.

Start by thoroughly chewing your food. We’ve all heard that digestion starts in the mouth, yet very few of us chew their food properly. This advice alone could greatly reduce your bloating. No half steppin’.

Eat slowly and put your fork down after each bite. Eating quickly causes more air to be sucked into your stomach, resulting in gas and bloating.

Avoid these common – yet very often overlooked, off the chain culprits;

DON'T DRINK TOO MUCH WATER WHILE EATING

I’m a fierce advocate of listening to your body cues so I’d never advise not drinking if you’re thirsty. However, try and avoid gulping down large amounts of water whilst eating, as it will dilute your digestive enzymes, making your digestion weaker and bloating more likely to occur.

STOP CHEWING GUM

Chewing gum leads to swallowing air, which can cause bloating, it’s as simple as that. Plus, sugar-free gums are usually packed with sugar alcohol, like maltitol, sorbitol and xylitol, which are no-no-notorious for causing gas.

QUIT DRINKING THROUGH A STRAW

Again, this causes excess air to be swallowed. Gulp!

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Catching up with friends over a barista made coffee in your local café is always fun but now you can bring the party back home anytime of the day and show off your barista skills at the same time.

NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto coffee machines are snazzy and super light-weight.  I was fortunate to review the stylish Dulce Gusto CIRCOLO which comes with its own Play & Select wheel. This means all you need to do is simply turn the selection wheel to your desired setting. With the push of a button and a few café like sounds you’ll be sipping a perfectly poised and consistently tasty café-style drink.

The CIRCOLO is not only is simple and quick to use, but it’s also stylish, compact and versatile and looks especially cute on my kitchen bench.  The other good news is that it’s a fast worker and only takes seconds to make a delicious A-grade coffee.

I’ve been enjoying the decaffeinated capsules but if you’re looking for a 3pm caffeine hit there’s a huge range of coffee capsules including espresso, cappuccino, chai tea latte, hot chocolate and many more. There’s also a great range of iced capsule options which are a great fix for the warmer months when you’re looking for a refreshing chilled drink.

Whatever your budget, NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto has a matching machine. With six different models, ranging in price from $99.00 to $229.00, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that suits your needs.

NESCAFÉ DOLCE GUSTO capsules can be purchased from Coles, Woolworths, IGA, Harvey Norman, Big W and Target, as well as other major retailers and online.

All NESCAFÉ® Dolce Gusto® capsules can now be recycled via a partnership with experts TerraCycle®.

For more information about the range visit www.dolce-gusto.com.au

I’m excited to be reviewing the Thermos^® Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar.

I personally use this product to carry around foods and employ it religiously whenever I’m doing my Heal Your Gut program as it’s the perfect vessel to transport around soups and mashes without having any accidents on my travels.

Using a Thermos^® ensures that every single one of my recipes stays conveniently warm or chilled and ready to eat whenever I need it. Because the seal is leak proof, you can pop it in your bag without fearing the worst and it has maximum temperature retention, keeping food hot for up to 7 hours and cold for up to 9 hours for those chilled drinks you want to keep cool in summer.

I tend to avoid using plastic where and whenever I can so Thermos^® is the perfect option for anyone wanting a spill-proof vessel to carry fibre rich soups, hot drinks and mashes to work or if you’re travelling on the go.

Thermos^® is the leading manufacturer of insulated food and beverage products worldwide and has been for over one hundred years so you can really trust that the quality and usability is top notch.

I love the fact that the jar is really functional and also stylish too.  I have the dark blue one and it looks truly gorgeous.  It has an unbreakable stainless steel interior and exterior so you know that it’s going to last the distance and it comes with a cute full size stainless steel folding spoon.

You don’t have to worry about the feel of it either, it’s beautifully cool to the touch when filled with hot liquids and sweat proof when you ferrying cold beverages from A to B.  It has a wide mouth making it easy to fill, eat from and most importantly clean when you get back home to the wash basin.

The Thermos^® Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar can be purchased here.   (RRP: $29.99)

Now that the New Year is in full swing, you’ve probably already firmly set your customary resolutions.  Perhaps you’d like to try and eat healthier, exercise more, or maybe you’ve bookmarked a few blogs and cook books and you’re busting to get back into the kitchen and reacquaint yourself with your food processor?

Healthy cooking can be a breeze when you have time on your hands, the luxury of being able to source fresh ingredients and the desire to cook.  The challenge is striking the balance between affordability and quality, ensuring you’re not spending all your free time preparing food and finding recipes that are not only convenient and easy on the wallet, but simple to make with ordinary nutritious ingredients.

Spoiler alert…

So often we’re strongly encouraged to buy an ingredient or health product because it’s good for you, or because someone has told you that it’s healthy, but healthy eating shouldn’t be about strategically placed health claims.  It is really just about simplicity and keeping it real. Buying fresh ingredients in their truest form and preparing them to your liking is the key to being healthy as is leaving packeted processed foods with a string of unfavourable ingredients on the shelf.

When it comes to ‘healthy eating’ why not make this year, the year to discover what YOU believe in?  Make a stand to eat by your own rules, your way, without self-doubt or others trying to persuade you otherwise?

In the new year, instead of being overly health obsessed and bounding in with gusto to try the next “super berry from the Amazon” or being hoodwinked by a more restrictive, bigger, better fad diet, you know the ones that hustle, race and elbow each other out of the way to weasel their way into your apprehensions and anxieties faster.  Maybe it’s time to begin to believe in you and your inner sense of self knowing and wisdom when it comes to being healthy?

I believe that finding real food that makes you feel happier, more energised, alive and other adverbs can be produced easily without all of the punchlines and sensationalism.  It certainly feels like the right time to throw 2014’s faddish ‘optimal’ diets out the door, broaden your horizons and do what feels right for you. If that means natural boosters or meal replacement shakes to energise you, thats ok too.

Healthy eating is not about deprivation and it doesn’t mean that yummy dishes like nachos need to be abolished.  These angelic nachos from my new book Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian are an easy to make healthy alternative to traditional nachos that are often laden with dodgy ingredients and leave you feeling bloated afterwards.   I’ve reinvented traditional nachos to give them a renewed sense of freedom that the new year can bring.  Nachos can be enjoyed regardless of how old you are, in fact they’re the kind of dish which improves with age; much like kombucha, good cheese or Dominic West.  Yes really. 🙂

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There's really no excuse to not get your veg on right now.

If you're looking for a light and healthy spin, combine any raw veggies in this kaleidoscopic feast for a completely balanced meal.  It's a recipe straight out of the pages of my latest book, Eat Clean, Green and Vegetarian.

It’s easy to throw together and deliciously healthy. The tahini and lemon dressing tastes so much better than any pre-packaged dressing you would buy in the grocery store, and it takes a nanosecond to prepare.

Over the Rainbow Salad with Tahini and Lemon Dressing

WF  DF  GF  SF  VEG  VG

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 2 cups mixed salad greens
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 1 small beetroot (beet), thinly sliced or spiralised
• 40 g (11/2 oz/1/2 cup) shredded  purple cabbage
• 1 red capsicum (pepper), seeds and membrane removed and diced
• 1 yellow capsicum (pepper), seeds and membrane removed and diced
• 1 carrot, thinly sliced or spiralised
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 avocado, peeled, stone removed and sliced into wedges
• sprinkle of pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• handful of bean sprouts
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, to garnish

Tahini and lemon dressing

• 135 g (43/4 oz/1/2 cup) tahini
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 5 drops stevia liquid
• 1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt, or to taste

Method

• Place all the salad ingredients, except the sesame seeds,  in a bowl and carefully mix together.
• To make the dressing, place all the ingredients in  a bowl with 60 ml (2 fl oz/1/4 cup) of filtered water  and blend until a smooth paste forms. Add more  filtered water, if required.
• Dress the salad, sprinkle over the sesame seeds and  serve immediately.

🙂

Supercharged Tip

For a cheesier dressing, add 2 tablespoons of nutritional yeast flakes. If you love soy, this salad can be garnished with cubed fresh, organic tofu, marinated in wheat-free tamari for 5 minutes and fried in a small amount of coconut oil on all sides until crispy.