{Almond, Veggie & Herb Dip}

Since I found Tess from Healthy Blender Recipes I have been eating very differently. I have had some battles for a lot of my life with digestion issues, and something has clicked in me over the last few years (but more so recently) that isn't craving dairy or meat as much. I still eat it, and am not a hard core vegan/ vegetarian at all. But I am finding myself drawing more to 'plant based' foods.

I just made a dip for lunch and it was SO delicious I just had to share it. The bowl was VERY empty afterwards and I wish I had made more. As per usual when I am cooking, and not baking, I made it up as I went. But, feel free to play around with quantities and ingredients to suit your tastes.

Ingredients:
A handful of raw almonds
A few tbls water
1/4 cup semi dried tomatoes
1/4 cup roasted eggplant
1/2 cup baby spinach leaves
Fresh parsley, coriander and basil to taste
Pepper
Small squeeze of fresh lemon

1. Blend almonds and water until it makes a nutty paste and looks 'milky' in a food processor
2. add in all other ingredients and blend until a 'dip' consistency.
3. Taste and make any adjustments needed (I added a bit more lemon and some onion and olives to mine at this point).

Serve on garlic toast, with veggie sticks or on crackers :)

Lauren x

{The PMS of Motherhood}

Being a stay at home mum with both my beautiful and active boys home basically all the time (mr 5 is at prep 2 days) is an honour and a joy but an exhausting one!

There are two types of days that commonly cross my path.
The first of which is what my day has been like today. Days like today fall into a Parenting for the Moment Seasons category (or PMS - lol ;)
These days/ seasons are where you are so caught up in the 'nowness' of the moment, and your energies are spent dealing with the immediate issues.
For me this looks like fighting over toys, the battle to eat dinner in less than an hour or put clothes on a child that loves running around nude, the 'joy' of toilet training paired with close to 10 loads of washing a week!

You know you are in this 'PMS' when you find your self counting down to nap time or bed time and usually have a coffee in your hand whilst trying to pass off Vegemite toast or some other breakfast food as dinner!

It's days like this that happen every so often that make it hard to parent for the future and realize that the little body that is testing your will right now, will be someone's wife or husband, father or mother. Taking the time to build value into our kids and teach them lessons that will shape them into their future roles is a privilege. Its something that I try to build into my boys frequently. Much like this picture below states:



When I have days loaded with 'PMS' like today it's when I am especially grateful for my amazing hubby who will send me off for a run, or pour me a bath so I can have some me time, breath and put things into perspective. That and drawing from my prayer and worship life allows me to dig deep and power through.

We are all human and bad days happen, but what I am saying is that we aren't meant to 'camp there'. So know you are not alone, that many mums parent through 'PMS' (of both kinds haha) and so we are all in this together!

Bless you;
Loz x




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

{No Bake Healthy Sweet Treats}

I found this website last night and went into my sort of "chefs coma".
What's that you ask?!
It's when you completely zone out and that mostly happens with a good cookbook, a foodie magazine or a blog etc.... These 'episodes' (lol) are characterized by lots of flipping, making mental notes, making bookmarks of recipes to try, gushing over the spectacular photography and planning future events just so you can use that recipe!

This blog is called "The Blender Girl" and you should read her story - it's fascinating.
I love her food philosophy and think society could get a long way by incorporating some of these types of recipes into our diet. No processed foods, no bad fats but lots of good food as nature intended it.

So I just made my first "blender girl" recipe. I started with her 'raw vegan chocolate fruit balls'




I didn't have all the exact ingredients and added some extras - so here is my take on Tess' recipe.


Ingredients (made about 16 balls)
1 cup mixed raw nuts (I used 1cup of cashews)
1/2 cup pitted chopped dates
1/2 cup dried chopped apricots
1/2 cup raisins
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tbsp fresh orange juice (I only had apple on hand)
a couple of drops – 1/8 tsp of natural almond essence (I used vanilla)
I added 2 tbl LSA and a small squirt of honey

1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup desiccated coconut

Method
Mix the coconut and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside for rolling.
Put all other ingredients in a food processor, and slowly add in the orange juice if it doesn’t bind together completely.
Roll into small balls and coat with the coconut mixture.
Store in a sealed glass container in the fridge.


I have to say these are delicious and I was thrilled with the result. Took a minute to prepare and it's great having them in the fridge to satisfy the sweet tooth.

Enjoy;

Lauren X




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

{Honey and Macadamia Frozen Cheesecake}

I had some friends over last night and knew I had a busy day beforehand. So, I planned a few things that allowed me to not be in the kitchen all day and still have a dessert 'buffet'.

Sunday evening I made this cheesecake and took it out of the freezer 1/2 hour before serving.

1. Do a normal biscuit base as per regular cheesecake (I use 3/4 packet of digestive biscuits and about 100g of melted butter pressed into a spring form tin).

2. In a food processor add 500g cream cheese, 300ml cream, 1/2 cup honey and 1/2 cup of macadamia nuts.

3. Blitz up this mixture, pour onto the biscuit base.
4. Squeeze some extra honey on the top and swirl it in. Freeze overnight.
5. Half an hour before serving take it out and place it on a platter. Top with fresh strawberries and drizzle some honey on top.


This is so easy and tasted delicious! You could easily freeze it and have it on hand over the happy summer season if you, like us, often have spontaneous dinners or BBQ's happen and you don't have to lift a finger!


Enjoy;
Lauren x

{Menu Chalkboard}

A few months ago I went to the treasure shop with my boys and I bought a frame that I wanted to re-use. The frame cost me a few dollars.

I saw potential in this discarded old thing.

With a little bit of black board paint left over from another project and some bright red cherry paint on the frame, I made this board to put up the menu for the week. It sure beats the handwritten paper on the fridge. My family love knowing hats coming up too!

Enjoy;

Lauren x