Blueberries and Brown Rice

As I type this rain drops are attacking my window.  Soon I’ll be walking my dog in the squelchy, slushy grass that lines the water-logged footpath outside. Cashew, my dog, likes to dawdle and sniff every solitary blade of grass in the Olympic-sized park at the top of the hill and the snuffling and shuffling can be problematic on days like today when time is limited and bucket loads of rain are pelting down and collecting in rather large swimming pools on the awaiting pavement.

Right now I’m in bed with a cup of morning chai and for some reason; blueberries and brown rice are whispering sweet nothings in my ear. Maybe it’s just the two of them and the fact that their nourishing combination goes together like a man and his wife that is making me feel comforted and absorbing my thoughts.

The food I’ve been eating lately is simple stuff, not because it’s all the rage, but for other reasons.  My mission when nourishing my body is to ensure I cook with the least amount of processed foods and look for ingredients that are environmentally sound where I can.

All rice, travels through several processes before it makes its way conveniently to your plastic package. Once picked, the seeds are milled to remove the outer husk. This results in simple, untarnished brown rice.

But wait, there’s more to this story.

Banana Ice Cream

This is the easiest banana ice cream recipe you’ll ever make. Said me.

And because it’s so simple, why not rope the kids to lend a hand. After all it’s an intrinsic part of their nature to learn and explore the world before them, so let’s begin their inauguration slap bang in the central hub of the home, the kitchen.

Empowering kids to make their own healthy choices and filling them with healthy, nutritional food, that will energise and revitalise them during such an important time of mental and physical growth, will benefit them not only now but also in the years to come.

The main element of this recipe is bananas; child friendly because of their lofty dose of potassium – an essential ingredient to keep pint-sized nervous systems in good shape. Without potassium, no new brain cells can be created.

The potassium and carbohydrates found in Australia’s number one selling fruit are the ideal brain food to help children stay alert. Potassium enables muscles to contract and expand efficiently during exercising, helping to prevent cramping. So don’t expect any Jungle Jim or rope swing misadventures any time soon.  Bananas contain plenty of essential nutrients like fibre, vitamin C and B6, as well as natural sugars glucose, fructose and sucrose, providing children with natural energy.

Cacao contains high levels of antioxidants and being rich in flavanol, it helps to boost brain function by enhancing blood flow to the brain, perfect for growing, active minds. The cocoa bean is especially high in magnesium converting into calcium and iron by the body, essential for growing strong, healthy bones.

My favourite benefit of this recipe is that the combination of banana and raw cacao allows children a natural sweet treat whilst ensuring they are still receiving essential nutrients that their growing bodies crave and are reliant upon.

Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients
2 bananas frozen and cut into chunks
1 TBS raw cacao powder
6 drops liquid stevia or sweetener of your choice
1 TBS almond butter

Method
Pre-peel bananas cut them into chunks and place in a freezer bag in the freezer
Once frozen, place them into a food processor with the cacao, stevia and almond butter
Puree until creamy stopping to scrape the sides when needed

Tahini and Chocolate Mousse

Dig in… It’s all good. 

What’s that word when you’re busting loose? Mousse Mousse.  There’s nothing like a little old school hip hop and chocolate to boost your mood. Hip hop and chocolate just seem to go together like Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.

Speaking of chocolate, have you noticed how often it’s accompanied with bucket loads of the white stuff, sugar, it can be a real downer in the health department.

So, for all you hip hop fans and chocoholics out there, I’ve created a pop-locking recipe (a concoction of all-things-good-for-you), that tastes delicious so you and your crew can dig in guilt-free.

Sugar Free Chocolate

 

Hey guys… I have just reinvented the chocolate recipe to make it more creamy, smooth, tasty and delicious.  Here’s the new recipe, enjoy!

White Chocolate Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup organic coconut butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 TBS vanilla essence
• 10-12 drops liquid stevia or 1 tsp powdered or to taste
• 2 TBS shaved cacao butter

Method:

• Melt cacao and coconut butter and oil in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water then add additional ingredients
• Place in a container or mould of your choice and freeze for 30mins. Break into bite sized pieces.

Dark Chocolate Ingredients:

• ¼ cup raw organic cacao powder
• ¼ cup organic coconut butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 TBS vanilla essence
• 10-12 drops liquid stevia or 1 tsp powdered or to taste
• 2 TBS shaved cacao butter

Method:

• Melt cacao and coconut butter/oil in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water then add additional ingredients
• Place in a container or mould of your choice and freeze for 30mins. Break into bite sized pieces

• Don’t forget, you can make other versions to suit your taste by adding orange or peppermint essence, crushed raw almonds, walnuts or cashews.

Supercharged Lasagne

My mantra for this year is…

‘It’s the small changes you make every day that count’

Making a concerted effort to eat more vegetables and less processed food will have an ah-mazing effect on your body. Even if you feel the irresistible lure of comfort food, including a couple of healthy swap outs, like using zucchini in place of pasta and adding yoghurt instead of white sauce you can still enjoy a wonderfully healthy and filling meal such as this scrumptious Supercharged Lasagne.

I think small changes everyday work. When you think about it, that extra-large slice of cake or chocolate square is ok, on occasion, because if we go cold turkey and become too strict on ourselves then we end up craving a sweet treat even more.   Then what can happen is that you starve yourself of the occasional treat and then when you do relent you gorge out on the whole cake, which can leave you feeling guilty and mad at yourself.

Cashew and Coconut Yoghurt Dressing

Drinking coconut water it seems is de rigueur.  But have you ever wondered what happens to all that delicious coconut flesh still left behind in your newly lopped coconut?

Do you even eat it?

I was thinking just that the other day so I wanted to create the perfect recipe using all of the coconut, meat included.

You might be thinking that raw coconut meat contains a large amount of saturated fat, but please don’t let that scare you away!  Most of the fat in coconut meat is a medium chain fatty acid, which is broken down a lot faster than long chain fatty acids. As a result, it doesn’t contribute to high cholesterol.

A good thing to remember when it comes to coconuts and all good fats is moderation is the key.

Here are a few good reasons why all of the coconut should be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet…

Supermodel Vegetables

You don’t have to be a supermodel to have a close personal relationship with your veggies.  Finding appealing ways to increase your intake of veggies  isn’t always a simple walk on the catwalk.  Although we all realise the benefits of including them in our diets, there is often a disconnect between what we know and what we actually do.

The abundance of options in the vegetable department can often be overwhelming as many of us struggle to accessorize our veggies and turn them into attractive designer dishes.

Enter three delicious vegetable recipes, which will transform your evening meals and have you hungering for veggies, putting you front and centre.

Downton Abbey Gingerbread Biscuits

Run, run as fast as you can…these wickedly good gingerbread biscuits won’t last long on the high tea table.  An aristocratic tea time classic, they would feel perfectly at home in elegant Downtown Abbey.

Actually, gingerbread men were first introduced by Queen Elizabeth I, made for her amusement, she would have gingerbread men sculpted into her favourite dignitaries and courtiers. You could have some fun with this one!

Gado Gado

Gado Gado

A typical Indonesian dish, gado gado literally translates to Mix Mix. There are a number of different regional versions of this exotic buffet of vegetables throughout Indonesia and many consider it to be a national dish. It cuts across your palate in a multitude of ways from sweet to tart, spicy to salty.

Gluten Free Christmas Lunch

Photography by Lise

Constructing a gluten free Christmas lunch is as easy as mince pies! From your first mouthful of spicy nuts to your last gulp of egg nog we have all of your Christmas needs covered and then some!

So you want to have your guests eating out of your hand this festive season….Whether GF or not, enjoying a delicious banquet of healthy and satisfying dishes is the perfect way to combine family festivities, full tummies with limited food overs.

Want to know more about setting the scene and pre-planning? Read Planning your GF Christmas menu  and plan to start a week before the big day.

The Starters

Hors D’oeuvres and nibbles are a fun part of Christmas lunch and go down really well whilst people are mingling around and settling in.  Serve GF Lemony Herb crackers with a selection of Christmassy dips such as No Bean Hummus Baba Ganoush and Salmon Pate or this flavoursome Chicken Liver Pate recipe.

Activated nuts are popular at Christmas time as they can be made in advance and will stay crunchy for the entire Christmas holidays and beyond.  Here’s a guide on how to activate nuts which includes recipes for Turmeric Pepitas, Tamari Almonds and Curried Cashews.

The Main Event…

Carve up this elegant traditional Christmas Ham accompanied by seasonal apple cider vinegar roasted vegetables.

If you’re in moving away from traditional turkey and looking for something nutrient rich and flavorful, I adore this Paprika, Garlic and Rosemary Chicken and the rich ruby red colour looks right at home on the Christmas table.

Serve with Turnip fries and indulge in a simple and delicious Brussels Sprouts recipe enhanced with garlic, toasted walnuts and lemon peel.

On the hunt for a GF stuffing recipe? Here’s my favourite one composed in a muffin pan. Muffin Stuffing.

Avoiding Meat? Tempting Zucchini and Celery Nut Loaf  is a good option.  To serve six make two loaves with plenty of vegetable sides.

The Dessert…

Plum pudding is not everybody’s cup of tea so why not serve something a little alternative this year?  Yummy Gluten Free Fruit Mince Pies are cute and fun and you can wash them down with egg nog inspired Chai Custard.

Hope you all have a very happy festive season

Lee xo