my food: bread winner

Obviously I'm no stranger to the odd culture or ferment residing in the depths of my pantry, so it was only a matter of time before this happened:

Bread-making has never really been my thing. All that kneading, proving and knocking down just seemed like a bit too much effort and dedication. But my penchant for a fresh loaf slathered in cultured butter (combined with the fact that there is no decent bakery near me!) means desperate times...

My Thermomix has been the catalyst. It does it all for you which makes it too easy. So now that I'm armed with all the tools at my disposal, I have a date with my oven this weekend.

I'll report back with my results shortly. In the meantime, watch out Sonoma.

reality bites

So I poured some kombucha into a wine glass on Friday night and Rob told me that I had officially lost it. I don't know when this healthy lifestyle went from being a labour of love to an all-out obsession, but it has definitely happened. Our reality is this:

Noah thinks kefir is yoghurt (hey, close enough!), and as a "treat" he puts goji berries on it. To him, cacao nibs are chocolate chips and chia seeds are sprinkles. Our dessert tonight was "chocolate pudding" made from avocado, banana, cacao and maple syrup. Noah thought it was Christmas, so you can call me Santa.

We've made a game of swallowing fermented cod liver oil tablets without chewing them (it was the only way I figured he would take it and hey, it worked!). I don't want to think of the reaction if he ever accidentally bites into one of those - even I'm not game enough to take it straight!

With his tablet chaser of choice: kombucha.

Each morning, our green smoothie leftovers go into icy-pole moulds. These have proven particularly popular since I started adding Vital Greens powder into them.

As you can see, Harry just wishes he was eating solids already. Your time will come, my friend.

I seriously get excited when I think of all the good things these foods are giving his body - at the moment he hardly ever gets sick. Um,  #winning ! So far the one thing that I just can't win him over with is broccoli. We even call them magic trees and still no interest. Zilch. Ah well, you can't win them all!

And so much for being the crazy one in the family - I couldn't believe my eyes when Rob poured himself a glass of kombucha (instead of a beer, no less!) as he relaxed on the couch on Sunday afternoon. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

my life: obsessive compulsive

Yep, its a list of what I'm obsessing over right now.

superfood smoothies: I know, I know, this is nothing new. But this breastfeeding gig is making me ravenous (and also time-poor) and smoothies are the answer. Any combination of the following are sure to get me excited: coconut milk, almond milk, cacao, frozen banana, dates, spinach (seriously- you don't even taste it) and maple syrup with a topping of chia seeds and cacao nibs. Ah-mazing. As it gets colder, I plan to whizz these up for longer until the Vitamix heats them up slightly. Hot chocolate, anyone?

gwyneth: Yeah, this is nothing new either. I mean who isn't obsessed with her, even just a little? She is rad. I want to be her.

But since that's impossible, I'll settle with being her in the kitchen. Which is also rad.

Her latest book It's All Good is an amazing compilation of recipes suitable for all kinds of elimination diets. We're talking gluten-free, dairy-free and none of the fun stuff - coffee, alcohol or sugar. But since I don't strictly follow any particular diet (besides an all-around healthy one!), I'm just using it for some much-needed inspiration in the kitchen. I'll get back to you with how that goes.

thermomix: So I've kinda gotten caught up in the hype and I'm not ashamed to admit it. Rob gave me the go-ahead to buy one for Mother's Day (#winning!) so I placed my order a few days ago and am counting the hours until my life changes forever.

If you've never heard of one, then climb out from under that rock and have a look-see over here. At first glance, it all seems a bit steep for a kitchen appliance to set you back just under $2K, but what I will say is this: you can't put a price on time, it's our most precious resource. (Yes, I really did use that line. And yes, it really did work).

And to those of you who may be worried that an appliance like this eliminates the art of cooking? Let me just point out that there is no "art" of cooking at 5.23pm on a Tuesday with an infant on your hip, a toddler giving you hungry eyes and a burnt lentil dahl on offer to those with no sense of smell. My life will now be divided into two parts: BT (Before Thermomix) and AT (Don't make me spell it out for you).

Seriously - I'm so excited, I could wet my pants. But Gwyneth would never do that.

my food: crazy for kombucha

It doesn't take a lot to get me excited. In fact, a new hobby is just the ticket and at the moment I'm all about brewing kombucha. 

Never heard of it? Well my friends, "Kombucha is an effervescent fermentation of sweetened tea that is used as a functional food" (thanks Wikipedia). Want more info? This will fill you in.

Up until now I used to get my fix from a bunch of zany guys at my local markets, but this stuff is just too easy to make so I took it upon myself to start brewing. I ordered my starter kit from a lovely lady on eBay and two days later I was handling a SCOBY like it was no one's business. 

All you need to do is this: brew some tea, add a bit of sugar to feed to culture and leave it for a week to do it's thang. 

That is all.

Let me put it this way: if you like iced tea, then you've hit the jackpot. If you're a fan of soft drinks, then this will be your new crack. And if you just want a healthy and ridiculously refreshing drink full of probiotics and all sorts of goodness, then drink up my friend. 

If your digestive system could talk, then it would most certainly say: Thank You.

a peek into my week 27.02.2013

what I'm doing: Hanging with these boys. Yes I'm surrounded by testosterone but I kinda like it. For now. Not really looking forward to footy season in a few years time though, that's for damn sure.

what I'm eating: A whole lot of anything and everything! Breastfeeding will do that to you. High up on the (very long) list is the life-changing loaf of bread from one of my all-time fave food blogs My New Roots. Because it really is (life-changing, that is). And so easy to make. I've needed a super simple recipe like this in my life for awhile now - sometimes the idea of making bread can all seem just a bit too hard, but this one's a cinch. Plus it's super tasty and packed full of goodness. I doubt you need more convincing.

What else is on high rotation I hear you ask? Why, nothing other than some good ol' nut butter-stuffed dates. They are THE BOMB. Must be tasted to be believed. And then you can thank me.

A date with stuffed dates. Heaven.

what I'm drinking: This coming Monday I'm starting a four-day Lucky You juice cleanse: because three days seemed a bit short but five days too much (for now). I need a bit of a boost since I've been feeling less than chipper for a few weeks (I guess two pregnancies, two years of breastfeeding and now running around after two kids can do that to you!). It's time to do something for myself to get back on track and with a clean slate.

The last time I did this cleanse I didn't have to prepare meals for Noah (and left Rob to his own devices) so I think this time might be a bit more of a struggle. Any kind of meal prep while fasting is no one's friend. But I'm still super excited to do it - the juices taste amazing! Next on the wellness list? Getting back into yoga. Hopefully in the next few weeks, but let's just take it one step at a time, peeps.

what I'm reading: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon. I've been meaning to get my hands on this bad boy for so long, and the time has finally come.

It's by no means a quick read so don't expect a review any time soon, although I will happily make a sweeping statement: this book will change your life. Hey, anyone who writes about the benefits of butter will always be a game-changer. She's also just released The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby & Child Care. Traditional nutritional and holistic lifestyle advice for modern parents? Count me in! That book is on it's way to my letterbox as we speak.

what I'm wearing: So apparently it's all about leather at the moment which is perfect because I'm all about my Witchery nude shorts and Eska Alikai black skirt.

Although leather + humidity = a very sweaty combo, so if you happen to see me in these aforementioned pieces and its a hot day, I'd recommend you keep your distance.

what I'm wishing for: The Isabel Marant Bettys. Yes, still. 

Last winter I just wasn't sure that they'd be around long enough to justify the investment, but since the latest styles have hit the shelves I've found myself dreaming of them more and more. Now if only I can find the style I liked from last season then I'd be very happy woman. 

just another manic monday

Things are still crazy around here - time is flying and there's still plenty of renovation work to be done around our house before baby #2 arrives. Nesting mode is in full swing! I'm almost finished all of the painting (we're talking inside and out!), so next on the agenda is getting Noah's new bedroom ready which is the fun part! I'm just trying to do as much as I can while I'm still mobile as I plan to spend the last few weeks of this pregnancy either with my feet up or at the beach. Like so:

So that explains my absence on the blog - there just isn't enough time in the day at the moment! But I do have to share with you my latest obsession: raw cultured butter. You already know how I feel about raw dairy so this was always going to be the next step, no? Let me tell you - it's amazing! You can read all about the (long) list of benefits at some of my favourite sites Mercola.com and Natural News.

Meanwhile, how awesome is it that daylight saving has started? More so because our day now starts at  reasonable hour than because of the longer days. Getting back to 6am wake-ups has been amazing. Summer is definitely on its way!

making changes

Wow, what a week! It's been another busy one and the highlight was most definitely this:

Baby Guinevere

My gorgeous little niece who finally made her way into the world on Wednesday morning after a few false alarms. She kept us all on our toes but was definitely worth the wait. And let me tell you, it's lucky I'm already pregnant because there's nothing that will make you want a baby more than holding a newborn!

In other news, my week of hydration has been a huge success. The weather has been ridiculously warm which works well when you're downing smoothies and coconut water like they're going out of fashion. It's just so hard to keep fluid levels up when its cold!

If anything I definitely feel much more mindful about not only how much I drink but also how dehydrating certain foods can be. The obvious one being anything overly salty, but also meat and caffeinated drinks. I'm planning to focus on this a lot more now, and hopefully it will only get easier if this weather keeps up!

hydration motivation

I was browsing one of my favourite sites today and was completely inspired by this post on hydration. It was a timely reminder for me because recently I've been guilty of some major dehydration. Part of it is because I'm always rushing around and simply forget to have a drink, and part of it is due to being pregnant and the fact that I feel like I need to pee the second I drink anything - not fun!

But I've decided that I'm totally going to give this a go - a week of serious hydration. I want to focus on drinking more juices and smoothies (which is super hard for me in Winter - the last thing I feel like on an ice-cold day is an ice-cold drink), herbal teas and, of course, coconut water! Plus I'll aim to eat more hydrating foods, and less caffeine, salt and meat. Taking on a challenge like this is often exactly what I need to get out of a rut and back into trying some new things in the kitchen again. Wish me luck!

P.S. There are also a few follow-up posts on their site if you're interested in the idea. Just have a looksie here and here.

my food: going coco for cacao

So I just tried out a new recipe for cacao balls and I had to share - they're that good. I'd even go as far as to say that they're as tasty as these. Yep, you need to try them. If you have half as much love for chocolate and coconut as I do then you'll be glad you did.

You can thank me later.

my life 01.08.12

Can you believe that it's August already? It's the best month by far (the end of Winter and my birthday. 'Nuff said).

my food: So I made these cookies for Noah this week and keep getting asked for the recipe. They are super-healthy (wheat and dairy free, naturally sweetened and packed full of goodness) and they taste good too (bonus!) so it's only fair that I share it with you - it's adapted from a Jude Blereau recipe in Wholefood. I've made it before as a slice instead of cookies which works just as well if you feel that way inclined.

Oat Cookies

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup oatmeal (it sticks to the wet ingredients and helps to bind it all together)

1/2 cup sultanas

1/2 cup goji berries

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots or dried figs

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1/4 cup dessicated coconut

2 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 - 3/4 cup coconut oil (melted)

1/2 - 3/4 cup honey or maple syrup

2 eggs

Simply mix all of the dry ingredients together then add the wet ingredients (adding more oil or honey if you think it needs help to stick together). Stir well before shaping into cookies and baking at 180 C for around 10 mins.

my fashion: The combination of dressing for pregnancy and a ridiculously chilly winter (it feels way colder than usual, am I right?) means that I'm not exactly excited when it comes to fashion these days. So to lift the spirits I'm focusing my attention on accessories and online shopping. 

Exhibit A:

Acne sandals

Exhibit B:

See by Chloe bag

I love you both already. I just know we will all be so happy together in the warmer months.

my family : Meanwhile this week I am eagerly awaiting the birth of my niece! She is officially due tomorrow but I have been sitting by the phone for the past few days just in case she couldn't wait any longer to meet her favourite Aunty. Newborn cuddles are on the horizon and just the thought of it makes me giddy. Good Luck EJ! 

my food: back in the game

Ok, ok. I know how slack I've been with the blog posts. It kind of became an issue when we (and by we, I mean Rob) lost the charger for my laptop. Add to that the fact that he has been working long hours (and so his laptop hasn't been readily available) which means posting has been pretty much impossible. BUT I finally gave in to the fact that it wasn't just going to turn up out of the blue and bought a new one - so now I'm back with a vengence! (And by vengence, I mean posting at least a few times a week. Hey, its been a while. Baby steps...)

So what have I been up to? Well let me tell you that I am most definitely back in the game when it comes to food prep. Don't believe me? Why, here's proof:

Chicken curry (with homemade curry paste)

Homemade hummus

Pasta with broccolini, parmesan and breadcrumbs

Raw zucchini salad

Go me! This is a vast improvement compared to my efforts a few weeks ago. Though I must admit that I'm starting to tire of all of the winter produce and am dreaming of a new season. Not long now!

back in the kitchen

This pregnancy has really thrown a spanner in the works when it comes to cooking. So far, energy has been my biggest issue when it comes to the amount of effort (or lack thereof) that I currently put into preparing meals. It's a rather frustrating side effect combined with a sudden aversion to random foods that I can't quite put my finger on until they are presented on a plate right in front of me. So far on this list we have onions, honey, pork and broccoli (just to name a few) and weirdly enough I have hardly any cravings for tea or chocolate... Who am I?!

But despite all this I'm determined to push through it all - I have an inkling that my lack of energy comes not only from the pregnancy but also from a lack of good, whole food as a result of my laziness. Although I am not eating badly, I usually have a much healthier (and at least more diverse) diet which I'm going to aim to maintain on my better days. So the plan for this week? I'm not going to get too ahead of myself here, but I am thinking along the lines of something like this for dinner tomorrow night:

Black Sesame Otsu

The recipe is from one of my favourite cookbooks Super Natural Every Day but is also available here. I'm already excited.

my food: sweet treats

I think I can feel my cooking mojo coming back. Finally! After a few weeks off where I took it real easy, I had a super-productive day in the kitchen. Naturally, the first thing I had to make was some of my favourite raw brownies, and since the food processor was out I also made a batch of powerballs which I find just as addictive!

They are such a great snack for kids. Seriously, if Noah didn't dig them then I wouldn't have to make a new batch every week or so! I also had a hankering for some pancakes, so it was the perfect opportunity to try out this recipe for a buckwheat version from the Gaia Retreat website.

Now I know buckwheat doesn't sound like a particularly tasty ingredient (especially compared to other such delicacies as plain white flour and icing sugar) but thy were surprisingly delicious! This is how they turned out before I slathered them in maple syrup and sliced banana - they looked way too appetising after that so I didn't actually manage to get a photo before I demolished the entire plate. My bad... but you get the drift!

my food: seasonal juicing

One of the best things about the change of the season (come on, let's try and be positive about the fact that Winter is upon us people!) is the abundance of juice-friendly fruits and vegetables that suddenly appear. Case in point:

Let's just say that I am totally in my element right now.

And I'm not the only one.

finger food: delicious and nutritious

There is nothing more child-friendly than finger food, and nothing more fickle than the child for whom the finger food is made. Noah's preferences change on a daily basis and he never likes the same thing more than two days in a row, if he has decided that he likes it at all. So I am constantly on the lookout for new recipes to make, and the Millet Muffins from Heidi Swanson's cookbook Super Natural Every Day have been a winner (so far).

Here is my adapted recipe:

280g wholemeal flour
60g raw millet
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarb
Pinch celtic sea salt
225g natural yoghurt
2 eggs, beaten
120g unsalted butter, melted
175g honey

Whisk together the wet and dry ingredients in separate bowls, then add the wet mixture to the dry bowl and mix until it has just comes together. Divide equally into a 12-hole tin and bake for 15 mins at 200C.

The original recipe also includes lemon juice and zest, which I left out of half of the mixture just in case, but he didn't seem to have a preference either way. This is a really great base recipe and not overly sweet. I think it'll be delicious with some added fruit next time.

my life: the weekend edition

You know how we all have that one month in which every occasion seems to fall? May is that for me, so this weekend was a busy one. Rob and I celebrated our seven-year anniversary on Saturday, plus it was my mum's birthday on Sunday. Happy days!

my fashion: I was feeling a little bit fancy (and absolutely freezing as well, might I add) so it was time to pull out the (faux) fur.

I just love this one, which I picked up at the Avalon market day a couple of years back. Also loving these boots which were an absolute steal from Target, but are already dirty from one-too-many days spent at the local park.

my food: We went to St Malo Bakery for breakfast on Saturday. The food there is soooo good, and I just love looking through the sweets cabinet. You can see the chefs baking out the back and the breads are all organic - bonus!

Rob had the Breakfast of Kings as usual (basically breakfast with the lot) and I treated myself to the Brioche french toast. Seriously, if you live in Sydney, this place is worth visiting!

my family: In between all the celebrations there wasn't time for much else although I did manage to squeeze in a walk from Manly to Shelley Beach - beautiful!

We also moved some furniture around the house to accommodate our new couch. Scout is now mourning the days that she was allowed to sit up there with us. To be fair, she is now allowed to sleep on the rug! Ahhhh kids...

Now all I need is another weekend to unwind from this one.

everything in moderation: moderation is everything!

As much as I am an advocate for living a healthy lifestyle, I am most definitely not one to impose rules or restrict myself - where's the fun in that? I like to make the healthiest choices possible the majority of the time, but there is always room to move.

Reading this article on How Green Smoothies Can Devastate Your Health kinda puts it all in perspective. Who would've thought that you can be too healthy - that you can eat too many greens and have it work against you?! It sounds like crazy talk! If anything, an article like this promotes the importance of moderation and I love that. So for the sake of protecting our health, let's not forget to go easy on ourselves. Moderation is everything - so would someone please pass me the dark chocolate?!

my food: weeknight dinners

So I got a little bit excited on the weekend when I bought Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar Cookbook. There are so many recipes that I want to try and not enough time! I haven't done her 8-week I Quit Sugar plan yet as I'm not sure I'm keen on the idea of limiting fruit (and I haven't read the e-book yet so can't decide whether or not I should until I know more details), but the cookbook is totally up my alley - how delicious do these Avocado and Coconut water popsicles look?!

Source

They're on my to-do list for later in the week once my rock-hard avos have softened up. In the meantime, I made her sweet potato soup. It passed the taste-test by Rob, who doesn't particularly like sweet potatoes, and I loved it because potatoes and lentils are just some of my favourite things.

My cooking approach tonight was a slightly different story. I'd lost my mojo by mid-afternoon so all I was up for come dinnertime was a tried-and-true staple. Since I already had some brown rice soaking I made fried rice with free-range and nitrite-free bacon (this is the only bacon I use, otherwise I just omit it), organic eggs, spring onions, peas, corn and tamari. Delish. It hit the spot.

I'm going to have another flick through the cookbook for some more dinner inspiration and I'll be sure to let you know how those popsicles turn out!