Everything about this veggie tart is a good thing.
I'm excited about making it AND eating it, so I thought I'd better share.
It may be vegetarian, it may be gluten-free and it may be green, but by golly it's good.
Read More
Did you know you can buy bread mixes in a box at the supermarket? Apparently, they're made for our convenience.
Seriously?!
A box filed with fake ingredients and loads of sugar, designed to make us feel like we're bakers. That we're filling our bodies with goodness just because we've switched the oven on. I like to think we're a little smarter than they give us credit for. I like to think I am.....well, at least occasionally.
Okey dokey, I've had my rant, so now to a quick bread recipe THAT IS packed full of nutrition and nothing fake in sight.
Read More
Imagine how glorious your day would be if custard was part of it. Thick, creamy custard studded with tiny sweet vanilla seeds and subtle lemonyness (look the other way if your an English nerd). Custard that allows your shoulders to drop with each slow and deliberate stir of the wooden spoon. Custard that contains organic and fresh ingredients and none of that naughty refined sugar, gluten or fructose.
Mmmmm....just imagine.....
Read More
I'm not normally one who runs around in circles or 'fluffs' around the edges of things. Being a Taurean, once my mind is made up it's full steam ahead, and watch out to anyone standing in the way.
So I'm at a loss as to why I'm fluffing around the edge of my health.
I've been told a million times from a million experts to run screaming away from gluten, but not wanting to be one of 'those people', I don't say anything and continue to munch away on food that's doing me harm.....and can I tell you.....I'm starting to suffer! What a wonderful thing our body's are when they tell you they need help. Now I just need to stop, breathe, listen AND act.
Read More
Did you know that by adding bananas into your diet you can help combat depression, make yourself smarter, cure hangovers, help protect against type II diabetes AND cure the itch of a mosquito bite?
Nope..they're not just for monkeys!
Read More
It's my new favourite thing to do.
Make pastry from ground up nuts.
No gluten in sight.
Just buttery, crunchy and oh so tasty pastry that adds the jua de vivre to a yummy but otherwise simple vegetable tart.
There is no looking back for this little duck.
Read More
These are the biscuits I want with my tea.
Simple and plain. Dry and sweetless (I know, not a real word!)
They are not a celebratory biscuit and they're not award winning, but they're a round circle of pure comfort.
In fact, they're not sweet at all, which is perfect for my taste buds and my cup of tea, but for others upping the syrup content may be your answer, or perhaps a switch to raw honey or pure maple syrup would be your prerogative.
Whatever your decision - eat them on the day!
Read More
2010 was the last time I was in New York.
Some days it feels like a lifetime ago, others, like yesterday.
Aromas and songs can transport me back to the moment we munched on ice-cream in Brooklyn, or to the cheese and olives we collected from the Garden of Eden Gourmet. However, the one memory that always springs to mind and that I didn't indulge in at that time....
Read More
Perhaps chocolate is a more sexy choice for cupcakes and perhaps vanilla would be my normal, personal choice, but somehow the humble root vegetable known as carrot was all I could think about.
So on a glorious Saturday afternoon I grated, sifted, stirred and baked.
This recipe is gluten and refined-sugar free, but I didn't notice.
Read More
Raspberries: Research has shown that these little red rubies can actually help with obesity, regulate your blood sugar levels, keep your digestive system nice and healthy AND help lower your risk of developing chronic disease. Geez....I simply ate them cause I loved the taste of them!
Did you know that just one cup of raspberries gives you a third of your daily intake of fibre, helping to keep you full for longer?
So with all of this information I’ve now put in your head, and the fact that I can tell you for a fact that they taste bloody good – the little recipe that I'm providing you with today is so worth trying.
Read More
On Monday's you will more than likely find me hiding out at a little hole in the wall down one of Melbourne's busy lane ways. This is no exaggeration as it is literally a hole in the wall, but inside that hole are two of the sweetest ladies you're ever likely to meet. Also in that hole, you'll also find some of the yummiest food being whipped up.
A huge smile always appears on my face when Sally whips out the rolling pin and cookie dough, or when we end up playing "waitress" whilst sipping our own coffee. These lovely ladies have the biggest smiles and hearts in the business and whenever I find myself whipping out my own rolling pin, I always think of them.
Read More
All of my adult life I've been obsessed with food. It's no secret. I'm constantly planning meals for the next day whilst eating my breakfast. I read cookbooks curled up in bed, and I find nothing better than roaming around food shops, reading labels...yep, I'm that sad!
That being said, the one thing I no longer obsess about is snacking. Having spent the last few months getting rid of sugar cravings....I feel free! What a brilliant feeling it is!
Read More
Did you know that the Hazelnut is rich in unsaturated fats, you know the kind of fat that is actually good for the heart? Much of this fat is called oleic acid, which has been shown to lower "bad" cholesterol and raise the "good" kind.
They're also packed full of magnesium and vitamin E, which has been proven to protect your skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation, such as skin cancer and premature aging.
This is just the tip of the iceberg!
Read More
Did you know that the peanut is actually a legume and not an actual nut? I didn't, and only learnt this little fact recently.
What I did know, however was that they are packed full of nutrients, minerals, antioxidants and vitamins as well as mono-unsaturated fatty acids, which helps to lower "bad cholesterol" and increase "good cholesterol".
So basically (I believe), this little treat can be and should be enjoyed whole-heartily in the full knowledge of what an amazing and loving gift you're giving to yourself.
Read More
Don't you think there is something so perfect about food that can be eaten with your fingers in just one to two bites. With little bits of frosting sticking to your fingertips, waiting patiently (or sometimes not so patiently) to be licked off.
Maybe with this following confession you might find me a little strange, however the process of making these petite little morsels of food gives me huge pleasure. It's like stepping back into my childhood when I would whip up recipes for my dolls as they sat around waiting for their tea party to begin.
I bet barbie would have loved these little cupcakes instead of the "special" cupcakes made of mud and leaves that I would proudly offer to her.....maybe.....
Read More
Here's a little treat for you since it's Friday, since it's cold and raining here in Melbourne, and since the weekend is right around the corner.
I've been really enjoying experimenting with gluten-free flours at the moment. I myself am not celiac, but I do prefer the way my body (especially my tummy) feels when I don't consume too much gluten. I'm also a big lover of all of those beautiful, lesser known flours out there that actually give love back to your body, rather than the highly processed white flour on the market shelves these days. I know this is not a fair statement to make, as I still do bake with this flour regularly when making cakes for family and friends, but for my own personal consumption....I reach for the buckwheat, coconut and brown rice flours first.
Read More
Well, the holiday is well and truly over..sob..sob.
As much as I love the freedom of travelling (especially in France), a small part of me always loves coming home to my own bed, my own shower and my everyday eating routine. Are you the same?
So this little lady has decided to go back to basics. I'm back off fructose, gluten and basically anything processed to try and be good to this poor little tummy of mine. Giving my body a chance to get back to neutral. I'm giving it a big love-filled hug by filling it full of highly nutritious plant food, protein and good fats. It's thanking me for it.
So in ode to "getting back on track", my oven was switched on and this little treasure came popping out.
Read More