We are what we eat…?

I find it mind blowing to think that I’ve always disregarded this string of words “we are what we eat”. But after watching a number of doco’s and doing a bit of reading, it truly is amazing that my husband and I are still standing. I am so thankful for discovering this new way of living!

Tonight, we have watched the documentary “Food Matters”. It questions a lot of the medical profession, in particular their treatment of cancer. Watch it…please if you even watch the first 15 minutes and the last 5 minutes I’m sure you will find something hits home with you. For me, it’s the concept that we need to empty our body of toxins before we can begin absorbing good nutrients. A simple and easy way to do this is to drink 1 – 2 liters of water first thing in the morning. Tomorrow, I begin…

Today’s lessons and journey have involved:

• Drink 2liters of water as soon as you get up (even before feeding the kids…??)
• 51% of your diet should be raw plant based foods
• ‘White Flour’ from the supermarket is a bunch of crap – it contains little or no nutrients and is a major part of the reason people are becoming gluten intolerant.
• You really are what you eat!

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Back again

So far I haven’t been very good at keeping this up to date. But recently I have really discovered my passion for this whole foods lifestyle. I’ve been watching lots of interesting documentaries and youtube clips which have been inspiring me further. Hubby and I have both lost just over 22kg each in 6 months. The interesting thing is, neither of us are yet inside our healthy weight range. However, this is not our primary goal. We are set on eating food as close to its natural state as we can. So here are some things I am venturing into…

Today I have purchased and tasted Sauerkraut for the first time and really enjoyed it both on a salad at lunch and with sausages and potatoes for dinner.

Yesterday I begun my apple cider vinegar journey. I have been feeling a bit bloated in the last few weeks (something I will write about another day) and decided to give it a go. I watched this great clip that was really simple and easy to take on board. Apple Cider Vinegar. I’ve had a sore tummy all afternoon and thought I’d try having some tonight as well as the morning. My tummy relaxed within minutes and has been comfortable for the past few hours.

Last week I discovered flour milling at home and am now waiting for the first of the month to come around so I can buy our flour mill. The benefits of milling at home are astounding. We decided again that we go through a lot of flour and that we should be using quality flour with the best nutrients for you. Home flour milling. Watch this video for a good understanding of why milling your own flour is best.

I have also purchased a sourdough and Kombucha starter. I’m really looking forward to getting into the fermentation world. Watch this space…

Catch ya soon

2Sweet

Planning ahead

After a busy weekend I have really struggled to get my a into g and tidy the house. I do wonder if it’s just me that struggles with this. It was a bit of a stressful start to the day today I made myself sit on the sofa and read a bit more of Linda Hallinan’s book. It was time to re-group and look at where I’m heading with the food for this family.

Currently I’ve been shopping at least twice a week, but often three times a week. Spending anywhere from $300 to $500 a week on groceries. Today, I’ve done our family budget and decided it’s a bit ridiculous spending that much. So I’ve budgeted $300 a week which is to include anything I buy for the vege garden or orchard as well…obviously there will be the odd time that I go over the budget, but that’s why we make rules isn’t it? To break them??

Wish me luck…

Tomorrows job before grocery shopping is to take a wander around the garden and determine what produce we have in the garden that can be used rather than purchased.

DUCK SHOOTING WEEKEND

It’s been a busy one! Duck shooting in our house starts at 5am with a cooked breakfast with the whole family. I have a very good husband who is excellent at cooking breakfast! Him and I are out the door by 6.30 ready for a days shooting together. This is only the second year that we have been able to shoot together and it has by far been the most successful!

Duck shooting is usually an opportunity to eat lots! Chocolate, chips and dip, lollies, wine, fizzy, you name it we ate it. This year, we had our food all planned out very carefully because there was no ‘mother’ at the house preparing our meals. We ate very well, but such a contrast to the past. Lunch was lamb shanks in the slow cooker, snacks were fruit or nuts, drinks were water or peppermint tea. We ate much less this weekend than any other duck shooting in my life and I put that down to no refined sugar.

As well as duck shooting, today has been mothers day. I bought myself a wee treat because I knew hubby was too busy preparing for duck shooting. I bought Lynda Hallinan’s books ‘Back to the Land – A year of Country Gardening’ and ‘Foggydale Farm – Jam Sessions’. I’m going to get my but into gear and get our garden and orchard all reved up.

Happy Mothers Day to all the lovely ladies out there!!

 

ANZAC BLISS BALL

I’m heading to a friends for a catch up tomorrow and she commented that she wasn’t sure what to ‘serve’ a friend who doesn’t eat sugar or dairy. I told her I’d bring us a treat and set to making these delicious looking ANZAC bliss balls that I had seen on facebook leading up to ANZAC day.

ANZAC BLISS BALLS

• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 rounded tablespoon cashew butter*
• 3 tablespoons maple syrup

1. Place the ingredients into your processor and blend at high speed until the mixture resembles a fine, sticky crumb. Use your hands to press and shape the mixture into balls. Place the balls into the fridge to set.
2. Eat and enjoy.

*cashew butter / spread is readily available in the health section of the supermarket, from health food stores and online. Alternatively, it is quick and easy to make your own. Here is our simple recipe.

update – I made these and we really enjoyed them. But the next day I baked them and we enjoyed them even more! You can see the pic and the details here.

I decided to bake mine and although they don’t look quite as perfect, they do smell delicious. 

Hummus

I’m back into this. I have had so many people asking for my recipes lately and I haven’t got around to sending them on, so I’m going to get cracking and keep adding my recipes here like I originally planned. That way if people want them, they can come straight over here and find them…hopefully.

HUMMUS RECIPE

1 Can of chickpeas drained
2 tbsp of tahini (or peanut butter/cashew butter)
Heaps of garlic – at least 5 good sized cloves
Juice of 1 – 2 lemons depending on taste
A good pinch of salt
Olive oil to combine about 1/4 of a cup to start

Put all the ingredients in a kitchen wizz and blitz until it’s a consistency you are happy with.
I often add a handful of Basil leaves which adds a nice flavour. 

Enjoy 🙂

 

Bliss Balls

It’s Easter and we are not eating chocolate…so I’ve decided that I will try to make some yummy sweet treat for us over the weekend. Here are some of the recipes I’m going to try.

No Blend Lemon Bliss Balls

• juice and zest of two lemons (lemons weighing approximately 100 grams each)
• 3 tablespoons honey*
• 2 cups desiccated coconut
• 2 cups Macro almond meal

1. Place the lemon juice, zest and honey into a medium sized bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Add the coconut and mix to combine.
3. Add the almond meal and mix to combine.
4. Use your hands to press and shape the mixture into balls. I made 20 balls.
5. Place in the fridge to set.
6. Enjoy.

*you can use rice malt syrup if you prefer.

4 Ingredient Carrot Cake Bliss Balls

• 1 cup dry roasted cashews
• 1 cup desiccated coconut
• 10 medjool dates, seeds removed
• 1 carrot, roughly chopped (60 – 80 grams)

1. Place the ingredients into your processor and blend at high speed until the mixture is broken down and resembling a sticky crumb. Use your hands to press and shape the mixture into balls. Roll in desiccated coconut if desired and place into the fridge or freezer to set and to store.
2. Eat and enjoy.

4 Ingredient No Blend Bliss Balls

• 1/4 cup honey*
• 1/2 cup nut butter** (for the nut free version click here)
• 1 tablespoons cacao or cocoa
• 1 cup desiccated coconut

1. Place the honey and nut butter into a bowl and mix to combine.
2. Add the cacao or cocoa mix to combine.
3. Add the coconut and mix until well combined.
4. Use your hands to roll the mixture into balls.
5. Place in the fridge to set.
6. I made eight balls but only four stuck around for the photo

*you can use rice malt syrup if you prefer.

These are from the site Whole Food Simply have a wee look at Bianca’s recipes.

Do you have another delicious sugar free treat?