The Picnic !

We all have our own little Christmas traditions.

For me, there are just three simple things that mark the beginning...

1. When my tree gets its annual fluff and adornment in November (no comments please).

2. The smell of the first mango and cherries of the season.

3. My annual Christmas feast.

Little did I know that 16 years ago within the walls of my Prahran apartment, six friends, copious amounts of bubbles and Madonna impersonations into the wee hours of the morning would mark the beginning of something special.

Chit Chat ChompDecember 9, 2015Christmas

Egg + Toast Tarts

Say hello to Nicole.

Nicole is a freelance writer hailing all the way from St Louis Missouri, where she raises 5 teenagers (yes you heard me…5 teenagers), all whilst sharing her love of home cooked, feel good family food on her blog Daily Dish Recipes.

Daily Dish Recipes was born in 2005 with the goal to provide her readers with easy, made from scratch, recipes they could cook at home. God, I love this goal Nicole, as I’m a huge fan of people getting back into the kitchen, ditching the junk food and cooking from scratch.

So in honour of Nicole’s style of cooking and in honour of my grumbling tummy and in honour of my need for tote-able picnic food (now that Summer has hit Melbourne), my Secret Recipe Club recipe for this month is……

RecipeChit Chat ChompDecember 7, 2015Breakfast, Gluten-Free, Secret Recipe Club, Vegetarian

Are you a snacker?

So what type of snacker are you?

Not too long ago, I was "the bored snacker". You know the one, the person mindlessly snacking in front of the TV, not tasting the food being put into my mouth, and it had nothing whatsoever to do with being hungry.

Over the last few years, I've managed to rid myself from snacking. It took time, but my body eventually adjusted, and then poof, gone - foggy 3pm brain, and gone - constant need to think about food. Wow...food freedom is utterly addictive!

So why ask this question now?

RecipeChit Chat ChompDecember 2, 2015Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Summer, Spring, Vegan3

Paris to Provence 2015

Chit Chat ChompNovember 30, 2015

Where's the cheese ?

The cat is well and truly out of the bag.

In just over a months time, I'll be packing my bags, pocketing my passport and flying off to a little town called New York City.

A snowy Winter wonderland awaits me in the Big Apple where I plan to ice-skate, walk aimlessly for hours discovering the best food places this town has to offer and perhaps indulge in a little New York Cheesecake....or two.

In ode to this up coming adventure and inspired by my utter love of all things French, I present to you a combination of some of my favourite ingredients and flavours in life - my petite "no-cheese" cheesecake.

RecipeChit Chat ChompNovember 25, 2015Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dessert, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free, Si, Summer, Spring, Paleo3, Vegan2

A Place Called Yard !

Far far away in a little town called Paris lives a pretty, yet unassuming restaurant called Yard.

This little Parisian gem is not interested in being amongst the hustle and bustle, but can be discovered hiding down a little back cobbled lane, away from prying tourist eyes. An hours walk from our apartment brings us inside this oasis where you'll find me...hungrily and impatiently waiting for the seasonal (albeit limited) menu to be placed in front of me.

And each year I walk away having indulged in and subsequently voted for "the dish of the trip"

Eateries, Recipe, TravelChit Chat ChompNovember 22, 2015Travel, Eateries, Paris, Dessert, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free, Chocolate, Paleo3, Vegan2

COOKBOOK: Love, Amiee x

This is seriously one gorgeous cookbook.

No bullshit.

When the lovely people of Murdoch Books sent me the cookbook Love, Aimee x by Aimee Twigger, I was hooked from the first turn of the page. Oh who am I kidding, the cover alone had me reaching for my rolling pin and apron. From the photos and home-crafted recipes, to the beautiful styling (and even the font used throughout), this book is feminine, pretty and utterly indulgent.

Aimee Twigger is the incredibly talented lady behind the blog Twigg Studios and her first cookbook is not only filled with beautiful recipes it's filled with wonderful crafty tips for beautifully wrapping and presenting her creations to be given as edible gifts for any occasion. Perfectly timed for Christmas!

Recipe, CookbookChit Chat ChompNovember 18, 2015Cookbook, Dairy-Free, Summer, AIP, Paleo, vegan, Sugar-Free10

Chocolate Granola !

Breakfast.

Who the hell would ever knowingly miss eating it? It's my favourite meal of the day and a meal I would NEVER miss.

My usual breakfast of choice is savoury, based around eggs, avocado (which I can't get enough of lately) and veggies. It's usually packed full of protein, fat and greens that keep me going right through until those first stirrings of hunger around midday.

Some days, not often, but occasionally, I crave something different. A little crunchier. A little sweeter. Like this chocolate granola that I keep stashed in my freezer for such times.

Don't be fooled. This breakfast cereal still packs a protein and fat punch and will keep you going through to your next meal....no need for mindless snacking between meals with a bowl of this baby in your tummy....

RecipeChit Chat ChompNovember 15, 2015Breakfast, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free, Winter, Autumn, Chocolate, Paleo, Vegan1

IN SEASON: Asparagus

No other vegetable signifies the arrival of Spring like asparagus.

In season in Australia from September to March, this little gem of a vegetable is loaded with nutrients from fiber, folate and vitamins A, C, E and K.

It's also packed with antioxidants, ranking it amongst some of the top vegetables for its ability to neutralize cell-damaging free radicals, potentially helping to slow the aging process.

Not bad, huh?

RecipeChit Chat ChompNovember 11, 2015Breakfast, Salad, Vegetarian

Sweet Potato Dip !

I’ve been contemplating the tough questions in life lately……

1. How will my body react when I re-introduce it to milk?

2. When is it respectable to put up your Christmas tree?

3. When did we start wearing caps into restaurants?

4. Can I eat sweet potato dip for my breakfast?

RecipeChit Chat ChompNovember 8, 2015Vegetarian, Small Bites, Paleo1, Vegan1

Macadamia Nuts !

Cookies.

A word my bro despises (preferring ‘biscuits’).

A word that conjures up sugar and gluten laden treats.

A word that brings back memories of New York (interested in why, see here).

However, these cookies are different. They’re part of my religion as they’re mixed, rolled and baked so often in my house. Containing only the smallest amount of sweetener, they’re refined sugar, fructose, gluten AND dairy free. They’re crunchy and delicate, and they’re addictive. Trust me.

Yesterday, I tweaked them with macadamias.

Recipe, Thyroid HealthChit Chat ChompNovember 4, 2015Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Chocolate, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo3, Vegan2

Secret Recipe Club - November

Say hello to Sid.

Sid is the ever so happy Danish/American cook, photographer and author behind the blog Sid’s Sea Palm Cooking: I cook, therefore I am.

Sid loves having fun in the kitchen and warmly shares her food and recipes with friends (from her monthly tapas nights) and the blogging community as a whole.

I haven’t been to Denmark (yet!), but fall in love with the country every time I watch a Danish movie or read a book based in Denmark, so of course, I was going to pick one of her many delicious looking Danish recipes from her blog to be my Secret Recipe Club Dish of the Month.

Chit Chat ChompNovember 2, 2015Gluten-Free, Secret Recipe Club

Envy + Chocolate

I'll be the first to admit it - I am 100% guilty of comparing myself to others. Most days I'm more grateful than jealous, but in those weak moments, especially with instagram at my finger tips, I have been known to feel those horrible pangs of envy.

From comparing my photos through to comparing my lifestyle. In those weak moments I forget that the perfect food photograph possibly took them all day to achieve, and that beautiful shot of a home, a holiday, or my dream career was possibly fought tooth and nail for with a lot of hard work, savings and time.

Seriously....who am I to whine when I get to travel to France each and every year!

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 28, 2015Sugar-Free, Chocolate, Dairy-Free, Vegan3

The Lunch Challenge

The Challenge.

~

A three course lunch menu taking into account a non-seafood eater, a non-meat or chicken eater and for moi, a non-gluten and refined sugar eater (and at the moment, a non-cow milk dairy eater). Holy smoke. Talk about a challenge.

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 25, 2015Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dessert, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free, Winter, Autumn, Paleo3

No dairy + Elixir !

I've been taken off dairy. Crap!

I'll happily live my life without twirling wheat pasta, buttering bread with gluten and sucking on sugary lollies, but the thought of not being able to enjoy my daily, creamy, fluffy, life altering cafe latte is killing me.

Yes, it may only be for the next 6 weeks, but it will be 6 weeks of hell for me and for everyone around me. That's a promise. Especially those little sh*ts who insist on drinking their lattes in front of me. They will pay. (See - me not drinking my latte could be a health hazard).

Recipe, Thyroid Health, Nutrition, NourishChit Chat ChompOctober 21, 2015Thyroid Health, Dairy-Free, Small Bites10, Paleo, AIP, vegan

Rosy Rocky Road !

Yes I’m a girl. Yes I like to shop... for shoes. Yes I think Matt Damon is hot. But no, I’m not a chocolate lover. That is until raw cacao come walking into my life.

It’s slightly bitter, it’s rich and it’s not sweet. Mix with berries, nuts and rose petals and I’ll be swooning like Scarlett O’Hara:

“How fickle is woman” - Rhett Butler

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 18, 2015Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Chocolate, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo3, Vegan2

HOW TO: Make Almond Milk

Dairy. Good or bad?

I've been researching this topic A LOT lately in connection with my thyroid issues. I'm still not sure how I feel. Anxious, scared, relieved, curious?

I have, however chosen to ignore all the research when it comes to my daily latte (for now).

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 14, 2015How To, Dairy-Free2, Small Bites10, Paleo4, Vegan2

Vanilla Bean Powder

When I east sugar - I scratch.

My thyroid swells, my brain gets foggy and I'm suddenly ravenous. It's taken years of experimenting on myself to discover this fact.

My problem...I love to bake (why couldn't I love gardening instead?).

So like a dog with a bone (albeit one of those cute fluffy ones) I've been searching for ingredients that don't send me screaming down the street.

My latest discovery...Vanilla Bean Powder!

Now I do realise this product has been around for ages, but I'm finally on board.

Now, I'm in love.

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 11, 2015Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dessert10

Fish Patties !

I have a tip for you - you can't fry soggy mash!

Hmmm...maybe not such an exciting tip, but a good one nevertheless if you plan on making fish patties. I'm not only talking about potato mash, but mashed food in general. It's a tip I've kinda known for a long time, but not often put into practice.....unfortunately.

If you use this tip with these patties (by making sure you allow to firm up in the fridge before frying), you'll love me forever.

Is that weird?

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 7, 2015Gluten-Free, Small Bites, Grain-Free, Paleo1

SRC | Butter Chicken

Say hello to Sarah!

Sarah loves to bake (like me). She is from Ontario, Canada (a country I hope to one day see soon, and a country where my niece Miss B is studying at university....well, she says she's studying...hehe). Sarah fully admits to being a comfort eater (like me too!), and is the lovely lady behind the blog Things I Make for Dinner, a place where she keeps weekly menu plans and showcases her newly tried recipes.

I love that Sarah and her husband lose weight and save money by cooking and eating at home (this made me laugh Sarah) and what put a big smile on my face is that she adores French food (ME TOO!!) Things I Make for Dinner is my Secret Recipe blog for the month of October, and my recipe this month is a long-time favourite, yet one I rarely cook myself. That's all changed now....

RecipeChit Chat ChompOctober 5, 2015Secret Recipe Club, Mains, Paleo2

~ blog ~