Gluten free fruit mince pies

Fruit mince filling

280g brown sugar

200g raisins

2 granny smith apples coarsely grated

Chicken liver pate

6 eschalots
100ml dry white wine and 100ml of port
600g of unsalted butter
900g organic chicken livers
1 egg

Protein-Energy Slice

Ingredients: 

250g nuts

100g shredded coconut

150g organic cocoa butter

4 tablespoons organic coconut oil

2 tablespoons of organic cocoa powder

1 teaspoon of vanilla powder

2 tablespoons of agave syrup (optional)

Crunchy artichoke and parsley salad

Artichokes are now in season and what better way to eat them than raw and crunchy with a little olive oil and lemon.

Baked Crumbed Sardines

I finally found some sardines at the fish markets last week. I went around 7am so the market was very busy with fishermen off loading the catch of the day. The only customers were me and two Italian men wearing suits and with the most Godfather-like hair styles. They didn't quite look the part but neither did I! They looked very serious as they were selecting their fish. I imagine that they would taking it home to their Italian wives to be cooked for them for lunch.

Sardines are a great source of omega 3 and calcium. Heavy metals aren't such a problem in little fish like sardines either.

Flourless Chocolate Cake

3x 125g block of 70% lindtt chocolate
10 organic eggs
1/2 cup of rapadura/brown sugar
250g of organic unsalted butter
pinch of salt

1.  Preheat over to 180 degrees
2. Separate eggs, putting whites in bowl for whipping and saving reds in small bowl for later
3. Whip whites until the hold firm peaks
4. Melt butter and chocolate in a bowl over pan of simmering water. Careful the the bottom of bowl doesn't touch water and burn the chocolate. 
5. Whip yolks with rapadura/brown sugar until pale and frothy. 
6. Add in butter and chocolate mix to yolk and sugar and mix well. 
7. Fold in eggs whites slowly. 
8. Grease a 20cm spring form pan and put mixture in.
9. Cook for 1 hour  (may still be slightly moist in the middle but serve hot and it is like a self saucing cake) 

Serve with lots of fresh raw cream

Avoiding colds and the flu this winter

Here are six ways to avoid getting sick or beating the flu this winter: 

Anzac Biscuits

Today being Anzac day, I thought I'd make Anzac biscuits...

Leek and Bacon Quiche with spelt short crust pastry

For the pastry:
150g of unsalted organic butter (cold) and cut into small cubes
300g organic Spelt flour (wholemeal is best but white is fine)
pinch of salt
30ml of water

Eveleigh Markets

Activated almonds, ricotta, and lemon cake

Ingredients: 

500g ricotta

6 organic eggs separtated

1 cup of rapadura

3 tablespoons of buckwheat flour
250g of activated almonds

juice and rind of 4 lemons

250g organic butter @ room temperature

Chocolate Polenta Cake

200 gm unsalted organic butter (at room temperature)
1 cup cup of rapadura /agave
1 1/2 cup almond meal
7 tsp cocoa powder
4 organic eggs, beaten
10 table spoons yellow polenta
1/2 tsp baking powder

Easter Long Weekend

I spent this Easter long weekend in the country, at my partner's parents place. It is the most magic place. We really do have the best of both worlds, the beach and the country side.

Easter Saturday dinner was 8 hour lamb and brussel sprouts cooked in butter, followed by a traditional Russian Easter cake. The Easter cake had ricotta, cream cheese, sultanas, and lemon rind in it.  Of course, Sunday there was an Easter egg hunt with lots of yummy Swiss chocolate eggs.

Nearby there is a diary which we visit every afternoon at 4pm to collect fresh raw milk. This is always the highlight of my stay down there as I really feel like I have a connection and control over the source of my food. We are almost self sufficient there in terms of food.

We are planning to get away from Sydney as much as we can to unwind and eat amazing fresh foods.

Protein Shake

Spelt Banana Bread

This is a recipe which I make for a friends 2 year old son who is a bit of a fussy eater. This version of banana bread is really healthy as I sweeten with molasses, it is full of iron, essential fatty acids from the almond meal and walnuts and potassium from the bananas. 

Slimey Capsicum

This is a really delicous way to make a capsicum salad. My boyfriends mum is the creator and she calls it Slimey's.

Where to shop and markets...

Markets
This is my favourite market. I go there every Saturday at 9am straight after training. They have the freshest, season produce, plus lots of pasture raised meats. http://www.eveleighmarket.com.au/farmers.html

Quick fixes

I have come across quite a few scary websites. I'm not mentioning names but the quick fix detox diets that are out there are crazy. Detoxes and diets offering a range of results from weight loss, to boosting immunity, to fertility!

Update on cleanse

Some of you have been asking for updates on my cleanse. I am feeling amazing, as if I have been reborn. Still taking my herbs, have one day left of them. Digestion is perfect and have lots of energy this is probably due to increase ability to absorb nutrients.

I have had a few moments of failure. I had a wedding to go to where I had 2 glasses of wine. I know this doesn't seem like much but the hang over was horrible. I have made up my mind, I am no longer going to drink except for the occasional with friends or to celebrate a special occasion.

I have started craving porridge. I have allowed myself to have it once a week but I use regular whole rolled organic oats (not quick oats), soak them over night and cook in Cleopatra's milk on a low heat in the morning. I add a pinch of salt for taste and a bit of rapadura. Delicious : )

I am official finishing the cleanse next Saturday. I am looking forward to a weekend in the country side, with freshly picked organic vegetables and lots of time to rest and digest. I plan not to go back to eating refined sugars, soy (not even soy sauce)and carbohydrates. I will cook my own sweets and desserts when I feel like them. I never want to eat non organic eggs, milk or meats. I know sometimes it is hard ie eating out but I will do my best. Of course I will take lots of photos and update you on a fabulous long weekend of eating and resting.

Happy Easter
Brit x

Myths and Truths about nutrition

Myths and Truths About Nutrition

Myth: Heart disease in America is caused by consumption of cholesterol and saturated fat from animal products.

What's Wrong With "Politically Correct" Nutrition?

What's Wrong With "Politically Correct" Nutrition?

"Avoid saturated fats"
Saturated fats play many important roles in the body. They provide integrity to the cell membrane, enhance the body's use of essential fatty acids, enhance the immune system, protect the liver and contribute to strong bones. Saturated fats do not cause heart disease. In fact, saturated fats are the preferred food for the heart. Your body makes saturated fats out of carbohydrates.

Confused About Fats?

Confused About Fats?

These nutrient-rich traditional fats have nourished healthy population groups for thousands of years:

* Butter
* Beef and lamb tallow
* Lard
* Chicken, goose and duck fat
* Coconut, palm and sesame oils,
* Cold pressed olive oil, Cold pressed flax oil, Marine oils

Characteristics of traditional diets

Characteristics of Traditional Diets

1. The diets of healthy primitive and non-industrialised peoples contain no refined or denatured foods such as refined sugar or corn syrup; white flour; canned foods; pasteurised, homogenised, skim or low-fat milk; refined or hydrogenated vegetable oils; protein powders; artificial vitamins or toxic additives and colourings.

Weston A Price

About Dr. Weston A. Price

Dr. Weston A. Price, a Cleveland dentist, has been called the "Charles Darwin of Nutrition." In his search for the causes of dental decay and physical degeneration that he observed in his dental practice, he turned from test tubes and microscopes to unstudied evidence among human beings. Dr. Price sought the factors responsible for fine teeth among the people who had them- the isolated "primitives." The world became his laboratory. As he travelled, his findings led him to the belief that dental caries and deformed dental arches resulting in crowded, crooked teeth and unattractive appearance were merely a sign of physical degeneration, resulting from what he had suspected-nutritional deficiencies.

Paleo diet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCFZoqmKf5M

Watch this...it sums up everything

Pasture Pefect

Lately I have been making a real point of only buying and eating pasture raised meats. Pasture raised meats have a higher nutrient content than just organic. They are also very humanely raise and slaughtered.

Sourdough Buckwheat Bread

This is the best bread ever. It is gluten and yeast free. Alana you are a genius : )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ1gILKKTbs

Almond, Sesame seed and Spelt biscuits

200g spelt flour
150g unsalted organic butter (at room temperature)
1 organic egg
1/2 vanilla bean pod
90g of rapadura or brown sugar/honey
50g finely chopped activated almonds*
50g sesame seeds lightly toasted

Raw Milk

I don't drink pasturised milk. I don't see the point. Real whole milk has so many more benefits.
To read more go to http://www.realmilk.com/.

2 WEEKS....4 TO GO

Pictures of our beautiful Sunday lunch

2 weeks down and 4 to go. From now on in it will be much easier than the last two weeks. I have lost a bit of weight. I don't have scales as I dont believe in them but I am fitting into my jeans that I have had since I was 13 if that is any measure.

Beautiful sunny day 8...

Last night we went to Hugh's pop up restaurant. Hugh is the farmer who grows and harvests then cooks the food in a cafe in Chippendale Thursday- Saturday. Last night we had a mixture of things.

Week one success

It is Saturday again, which means I have completed my first week of the cleanse. It has been 2 weeks since I haven't had caffeine and chocolate and a week since eating anything processed, tinned foods, sugar, starchy vegetables (no potatoes or sweet potato) and grains or diary. I have been drinking lots of water and herbal teas, eating pasture feed organic meats, fresh fish, lots of organic vegetables and a few berries. I feel amazing, my skin is clear and I'm not one bit tired.

Day 5

First day back at college and I consider making the 8 week cleanse a 6 week as I looked at my diary and realised 6 weeks is Easter and 8 weeks means no chocolate Easter egg hunt : (

Day 4 of Cleanse

This morning I had the most yummy breakfast of two fried eggs and bacon. My dog Digby watched on very eagerly as I chowed down. I haven't had this for breakfast since I was a kid. I remember every Sunday my mum would make scrambled eggs with bacon and fresh orange juice. It was always such a treat as it was the only day the whole family would eat breakfast together. We were always a family that ate dinners together but not breakfast as much.

Tonight, I made a delicious Shepard's pie. I put some coconut oil in a large frying pan and chopped some rosemary, celery, shallots, leek, minced 4 cloves of garlic and grated some carrot.

Day 3 of cleanse

I had training this morning with Guss from Origin of Energy. We are now entering the meditative exercise week, which means 20 reps and 5 sets using a lighter weight. These exercises are to go with the cleanse to we are regenerating the body and building energy. After training I was very hungry. I always am but especially because of the cleanse. I have 3 scrambled eggs with some dill and a coconut. For lunch I had a fisherman's soup with lots of mussels, prawns and monk fish, made by my boyfriend who is an amazing cook and a salad of radicchio and fennel.

Day 1 of Cleanse

I had many criticisms yesterday. It was probably the hardest day to start. I had a friends birthday and a house warming. It's funny that everyone assumes that you are doing a cleanse for weight loss. I am certainly not on a diet. When did the words cleanse or detox become code word for diet?

8 week cleanse

Tomorrow I am starting an 8 week cleanse. This means no sugars (except for lemon, limes, green apples and berries), no grains, low GI vegetables, nothing fermented, no diary for first 2 weeks, no caffeine, no alcohol. Im doing it along with Aaron and Alana for Origin of Energy and with the assistance of Anthia, my naturopath from Ovvio.

My Favourite Ingredients

Grains

Quinoa is a gluten free and high in protein (12-18%) and is considered a complete protein. Although I would never substitute healthy pasture feed meat and eggs for a vegetable source of protein as vegetable sources of protein are much harder to absorb. For me, I use quinoa for the texture. I add it too my bread, soups, and stews. You can also steam it and use as an alternative to rice of cous-cous.

Amaranth is also gluten free and much the same as Quinoa is high in protein.

Buckwheat is from the rhubarb family. It is not technically a grain, therefore gluten free. I must admit I haven’t cooked with buckwheat as much as I would like to. I will be updating is section once I explore this grain a little more. I have a great recipe for Sourdough Buckwheat Bread .

Spelt is my favourite grain to bake with. It is the perfect substitute for wheat flour. Although it still contains gluten and is a close relative to wheat, I can still use the same recipes and achieve the same tastes and flavours but produce food that is easier to digest. These days wheat is in so many things, sauces, processed breads etc, and most people find they are intolerant to it.
 
Kamut and Rye are much the same as spelt. They still contain gluten but can be tolerated by those with a wheat allergy. I love using Kamut or Spelt pasta, I find I don’t feel as bloated after eating it. I use a combination of Rye and Spelt flour to make my Swiss style bread.

Oats Although not gluten free oats, are great to tone the nervous system and to fuel you for a busy day. I use organic whole rolled oats (not the quick oats variety).



Sugars

Someone once tried to argue that white sugar is the same as any other alternative to sugar such as rapadura. They are correct that the molecule of glucose in white sugar, honey, rapadura etc is the same. But I believe that we must have some pleasures in life and food is one of them. I use sugars that have a nutritional benefit as well to sweeten my foods.

Rapadura is full of vitamins and minerals unlike refined sugars because it still contains the nutrient dense molasses. It has a caramel taste and completely dissolves in water.

Black strap molasses is know as an old fashion remedy for just about anything.

Manuka honey has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties.

Oils/Fats

Butter I use Gympie farm butter if I can get it. If not any organic cultured butter is good.


Coconut oil Nui's is the best I think Click here to view Nui website


Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil At the moment I am using up the last bit of Little General and then I am starting a new bottle of Nolan's Road.

Making Swiss Style Bread from Scratch

Today I am preparing bread for weekend breakfasts. There is nothing better than having nice crunchy toast with eggs on weekends. There are so may different types of breads out there that I can be confusing. Sometimes I buy sourdough spelt bread from the Sonoma Bakery in Paddington but there is nothing better than home made bread.