Archive | Uncategorized RSS feed for this section
Video

Are you a human being or a human doing?

20 Jan

just-be

I have a confession to make: I like being busy.  Like busy busy.

I came to this realisation over the holidays when I ran out of things to busy my life with.  The house was clean, I’d been to the gym, and friends were away.  It was just me, myself and I.  I had no flipping idea of how to just ‘be’ because I really just ‘do’ too much.

The concept of just sitting down and doing nothing felt obscure to me. As much as I wanted to chill out I couldn’t.  Finally faced with a day of peace and quiet, I found my head filled with thoughts.

If only there were an off switch!

Slightly frustrated I decided that maybe a more active approach to relaxation was in order. Sounds like an oxymoron right? Anywho, I decided to try something I used to do during times of stress which I find quite useful: one minute meditation.  It’s as simple as closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing.  If thoughts appear, just let them float by like clouds passing in the sky and then return your awareness to your breath.

I enjoy listening to this piano music as I breathe, but do what works best for you

I find this one minute is enough to transition me into a calm headspace so I can just ‘be’.

What relaxation techniques do you find useful?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Healthy Wholegrain Gluten Free Bread

6 Jan

I love bread.  Like a lot. It’s pretty much the ultimate vessel for a multitude of sweet and savoury delights….

pbj

like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

55521007877356091_7J9bOLFt_c

or french toast for breakfast

butter

or just fresh with a schmear of butter.

Unfortunately bread to a disliking to me many years ago and I had to say farewell to my dear wheat filled friend.  In an effort to improve my tummy troubles I went gluten free.  At first I was excited about the prospect of the new diet because it meant trying out new foods and products.  I’m a girl that enjoys perusing the shops, and the health food store is no different.  So I happily loaded up my basket gluten free goods.

I remember my first experience with that gluten free ‘bread’ I purchased.  Let’s just leave it at this: it kinda sucked.  Like kinda really sucked.

Since that day I’ve been searching for a gluten free bread that is both delicious and nutritious to help satisfy those carby cravings of mine.  And I think I’ve finally found a winner.

Boom this just happened. Whole grain gluten free bread

This bread just happened and it’s amazing! It’s healthy, it’s hearty, and it’s absolutely delicious.  But more than that it’s good for you too.  Many store bought gluten free breads are made with refined white starches (high G.I.), and contain different gums and funky additives to achieve a ‘normal bread’ consistency.  Not necessarily the best for your health, especially if you are watching your blood sugar levels.

So I made it my mission to find a recipe and bake my own bread.  The recipe I adapted below has no refined starches or gums, is high in protein and fibre, and is low G.I. as well.  But more importantly it tastes great, and has a lovely soft texture.  I suggest slicing it on the day you make it and storing it in the freezer to preserve it’s freshness.

Healthy Wholegrain Gluten Free Bread

Whole Grain Gluten Free Bread @ The Healthy Diva

 Adapted from the gluten free goddess

Makes one 9-inch loaf

Ingredients

  • 1 package rapid dry yeast (2.5 tsp)
  • 1/2 cup luke warm water
  • 1 tbsp honey (I used Kangaroo Island Organic Honey. Seriously good stuff)
  • 3/4 cup brown rice flour
  • 3/4 cup blanched almond meal/flour
  • 1/2 cup millet flour
  • 1/4 cup buckwheat flour
  • 1/4 cup quinoa flour
  • 2 tbsp brazil nut protein powder*
  • 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 1 tsp fine sea salt
  • 2 tbsp (40ml) olive oil
  • 2 whole eggs + 2 egg whites (free range/organic if possible)
  • 1/3 to 1/2 cup warm water
  • 1/4 cup quinoa flakes

Directions

  1. Line a 9-inch baking pan with baking paper and set aside.  Warm your oven for 5 – 10 minutes on low, then switch off.
  2. Place 1/2 cup warm water and honey in a large measuring jug. Stir to dissolve honey then sprinkle over yeast and mix to combine.  Cover jug with tea towel and set aside to let the yeast proof.
  3. In a large mixing bowl combine all the flours, protein powder, flaxseed and sea salt.  Mix the ingredients with a whisk.
  4. In another bowl beat together the eggs, egg whites and olive oil.
  5. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, fold the egg mixture through the flour.  Add luke warm water a few tablespoons at a time until you achieve a thick smooth batter.
  6. Spoon batter into prepared baking pan and smooth the top.  Sprinkle the top with quinoa flakes and place in warm oven to rise for 50 minutes
  7. After 50 minutes, turn the oven on to 180° Celcius (350° Fahrenheit) and bake for 50 to 55 minutes.  The loaf should look golden brown when done.
  8. Turn out bread and cool on a wire rack.  Slice and enjoy as desired.

*You can use the following in place of the brazil nut powder: 2 tbsp coconut flour, brown rice protein or pea protein.  Changing the ingredients will affect the finished product.

Before baking

Before baking

The finished product

The finished product

Good gluten free bread is a blessing and I’m definitely one content carbivore right now.  Did somebody say PB&J??? Coming right up :)

What’s your favourite way to eat bread? (Favourite topping, meal, sandwich, etc)

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

A new year…and it’s time to jump

2 Jan

tumblr_mfvqa2hnBZ1qak0uxo1_500

Happy New Year Diva Readers!!! My oh my it’s been a while since I’ve written to you, and I do apologise for my hiatus, but I’m happy to be back writing again.

2012 was a huge rollercoaster for me. There were highs, lows, and many a lesson learnt.  I started out last year with grand intentions about different aspects of my life, set specific goals, and really worked hard towards achieving them.  Some goals were a complete success, others….not so much.  But all in all 2012 was a great year, and the world didn’t end as the Mayans predicted which means…Hello 2013!

This new year brings with it a new outlook.  A fresh start in which many people make resolutions about their health or fitness.  And of course there are plenty of books, weight loss pills, and fad diets promising results which pray on these innocent people.  The fundamental flaw is not the products, the flaw is us.  They make us believe that we NEED something or someone to fix our problem, when in fact the truth is we are the only ones who can control our destiny.

This was the biggest lesson I learnt in 2012.  I must confess that for years I have been a ‘serial searcher’.  Always looking for something external to help me solve a problem or reach my goal.  I had lost faith in my own abilities; I had lost belief in myself that I ,indeed, could do anything.  I had to face the harsh reality that I was in charge of making things happen.  But why had it taken me so long to accept it?

FEAR.

It all boils down to fear.  

I realised that in order to reach my goals I’d have to do lots of scary stuff all the time.  I knew it was going to be hard and uncomfortable but I needed my self belief back and this was the only way.  In psychology they call this ‘radical acceptance’.  Knowing it’s going to be hard, not wanting to do it, but managing to do it anyway.  You face your fear and realise the world doesn’t end, and so your confidence slowly starts to grow.

It’s kind of like jumping off a tall cliff into the ocean.  You stand at the edge deathly terrified, but you muster up the courage to jump.  You fly through the air towards the ocean with a mixture of emotion; exhilarated yet anxious.  Then finally you hit the calm beautiful deep water, and realise you did it and you are alive.  Each time you jump off the cliff into the ocean, your fear gets a little less as your confidence grows a little more.

26599454020062203_C9eCwNif_c

And maybe that’s why change is so hard.  It’s scary. It’s unknown.  It’s easier to stay with the status quo.  But change IS possible.  You just need to believe that it is.  You need to believe in you!

Once you believe in yourself anything is possible.

“Face your fear. Do it anyway. Leap even before you think you’ve grown the wings to fly. Dare to dream. Take turtle steps towards your vision. You got this.” -Lindsey Lewis

Wishing you all the best for 2013.

-Sarah xo

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tasty not sexy recipe #1: Mediterranean Meatballs

31 May

Like a lot of health food bloggers, I really enjoy cooking, and sharing the fruits of my labour with my lovely readers.  For me it is a creative  and therapeutic outlet (and baking up a batch of healthy cookies is also way cheaper than seeing a therapist too!). Whether I’m experimenting with new-to-me ingredients, putting a healthy spin on a classic dish, or just baking some comforting cookies, the kitchen is my ‘zen’ zone.

My dream kitchen

But to be honest, a lot of the stuff I cook doesn’t get to grace the pages of my blog.  Half of the time I will make something really yummy, only to realise halfway through eating that I never took a picture!  Pretty sure nobody wants to see a half eaten plate of food, so I usually just continue chowing down instead.  The other half of the time, I make something really yummy and take a picture only to realise….it doesn’t look all that sexy.  Which brings me to this post: Tasty not sexy.

I think seeing so much media around food photography and food styling has made me really critical of my abilities as a home cook.  Sure I want my food to look good, but the more important thing is how it tastes!!!  So I decided to stop being Miss Judgy Pants about the quality of my photography and just share the recipe instead.

Tasty not Sexy Recipe #1: Mediterranean Meatballs

Gluten free (Grain free option), dairy free, Low FODMAP

Seriously how do you make a ball of meat in tomato sauce look appetising?  But who cares anyway.  These balls are filled with the goodness from shredded broccoli, chopped celery, baby eggplant, and even pureed parnsips!   My brother is like the ultimate vegetable hater, so I take every opportunity to sneak in extra veggie nutrition where I can.  He didn’t detect any flecks of green so gobbled them down happily (and then proceeded to eat the leftovers too).  I made close to 50 meatballs from this recipe so feel free to freeze the leftovers for a quick dinner mid-week.  

Prep time: 25 mins        Cooking time: 45 mins

Makes about 45 meatballs

 Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp garlic infused olive oil, divided
  • 1 large stalk celery, finely diced
  • 1 stalk of broccoli, grated
  • 2 finger eggplant, finely diced
  • 1 medium parnsip, peeled, boiled & pureed (about 1/4 cup puree)
  • 1/4 cup gluten free rolled oats, ground into flour**
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried chives
  • 1 cup fresh basil leaves, cut chiffonade
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp Worcester sauce
  • 1 whole egg + 1 egg white
  • 500g lean beef mince
  • 250g lean pork mince
  • 500ml tomato & basil pasta sauce

To serve

Method:
  1. Heat 1 tbsp garlic oil in non-stick pan.  Saute celery, shredded broccoli, and eggplant for 8 – 10 mins until soft.  Add water one tablespoon at a time to prevent vegetables from sticking to pan.
  2. Combine cooked celery mixture with remaining ingredients, excluding tomato sauce. Mix thoroughly using clean hands.
  3. Using your measuring spoons, scoop out a tablespoon of meat mixture and form into a balls.  Mixture should make about 40 – 50 meatballs.
  4. Cover meatballs loosely with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 10 mins to firm up.
  5. Heat remaining 1 tbsp garlic oil in non-stick pan.  Saute meatballs in batches, for several minutes until browned on both sides.  Once all meatballs are browned return them to the pan and add tomato pasta sauce. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
  6. Reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 25 – 30 mins.
  7. Serve with gluten free pasta, vegetable spaghetti and a green salad.
**Substitutions: To make this grain free omit the oats and use 1/4 cup walnuts or almonds ground into flour.

You will probably see a few more entries in the tasty not sexy series over the coming weeks and I do hope that you try some of the recipes.  While they might not look as appealing as pictures from a magazine I can assure you they taste terrific.  And if you are being super judgemental about your own abilities I urge you to stop! You are only human and don’t need to do everything perfectly.  So make your food tasty and nutritious, snap a quick pic and eat!

What’s your favourite dish that’s really tasty but not so sexy?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Getting to know me: A to Z

24 Mar

A few weeks ago Janetha from Meals and Moves posted an A to Z survey to help us get to know her a bit better.  And as an added bonus she created a template so we could all play along too.  So who is this gal in the bright red top anyway?  Well let’s find out. Here’s my A to Z:

A is for age: I’m 23 years old, will be 24 this year.  I’m still at uni though. Lot of my classmates are like ‘Oh my goodness I’ll be turning 20 this year…that’s so old!’ which makes me feel even more like a grandma.

B is for breakfast today: I had 1/2 cup of gluten free oats with berries, sultanas, and chopped nuts.  At the end I whisked in 1 whole egg, 1 egg white and 1tsp of sunwarrior vanilla protein.  All topped off with a bit of maple syrup.  It was divine.

C is for currently craving: Something lemony.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t have something with lemon.  I have it with hot water and fresh ginger, squeezed over a salad, or add some zest to my dinners.  I’m in love with lemons.

D is for dinner tonight: I’m making these hamburgers with corn, salad and some raw veggies.  I make double batches of these patties and freeze them for quick dinners during the week.

E is for favorite type of exercise: My favourite type of exercise is weight training, but I also like walking (I’m not talking about a lazy saunter either…I mean a walk with purpose that makes you huff and puff) and Pilates (I’m actually a qualified instructor…how could I not love it!).

F is for an irrational fear: Bugs! Anything that creeps and crawls just gives me the jitters. I can’t go to bed if I know there is one in my room for fear it might ‘attack’ me in my sleep.  But my dad always rescues the critters and puts them back outside.  He’s pretty awesome like that!

G is for gross food: Brussel sprouts.  I’ve tried to like them, really I have, but I just can’t get over the bitter flavour.  In general, food that grosses me out has more to do with the texture than the actual flavour.  For example, I’m not a fan of oysters due to the slime factor.  I also don’t like mushy things such as mashed potatoes.  It’s weird I know.

H is for hometown: Sunny San Diego, California.  Miss that place!  I lived in pacific beach until I was 14 when we moved to Australia.  My extended family still live in the US and I always look forward to going back for visits. (Fingers crossed it will be sometime this year!)

Back in San Diego for my cousin's wedding. Miss these guys!

I is for something important: Take time out for yourself.  By looking after yourself better, you will be more equipped to take care of others around you.  You are worth your time!

J is for current favorite jam: When I first read this I thought it meant favourite jam as in food (mine is strawberry), but it’s about music (doh!).  So my favourite song of late is In the Air (feat. Angela McCluskey) by Morgan Page, Sultan, Ned Shephard & BT.  I always blast it on my ipod when I’m at the gym.

K is for kids: Not anytime soon.  I love hanging out with other people’s kids, but I’m not sure if I want my own.  Plenty of time so just wait and see.

L is for current location: Sydney, Australia.  We’ve lived in a few different places in Australia, but have ended back where we started.  It really is a special place.

M is for the most recent way you spent money: At officeworks shopping for back to school stationary.  I get all excited when i get to buy new notebooks, binders, and pens.  I like to colour coordinate everything as well.  This year the theme seemed to be purple!

N is for something you need: Pants.  Don’t worry I have some on now, I just need more for the upcoming cold months.  Oh and a new pair of running shoes as well. I have really narrow feet so it’s hard to find a pair that fits well. I might just end up ordering these online.

O is for occupation: Current occupation is a student.  But hopefully in a few years time it will be exercise physiologist, and dietitian.  So I’ll pretty much be graduating in 2000 and never…

P is for pet peeve: People who eat desserts really daintily.  Nibbling away like a mouse on a cupcake is just not acceptable.  You need to mong into that thing to really appreciate all the flavours.

Gracefully unhinging my jaw to enjoy the full flavour of these cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery in NYC

Q is for a quote: I have lots of different quotes that I like, but this is a current favourite.

R is for random fact about you: I have really crappy vision and used to be extremely cross eyed.  I started wearing glasses when I was 18 months old.  You know how mothers tend to keep something like a baby’s first pair of shoes? Well my mom kept my first pair of glasses.  I went through multiple surgeries to try and straighten my vision, and the last one finally worked.  Now people are aware that yes I AM talking to them, not some imaginary person to their left or right.

S is for favorite healthy snack: That’s a hard one!  Lately I’ve been eating more savoury snacks: Hardboiled eggs, raw nuts, or a small piece of my salmon slice.  If I want something sweet I opt for a piece of fruit (bananas are my favourite) or a healthy baked treat (these muffins are to die for!)

T is for favorite treat: I.love.hot.chocolate! I have one every night and find that it really helps me sleep.  It might just be the sugar crash which causes me to nod off, but I’m ok with that.

U is for something that makes you unique: My accent.  It’s really mixed up. Sometimes I sound really American and other times I roll with an Aussie twang.

V is for favorite vegetable: Broccoli!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really love all vegetables though.  But I hold a special place in my heart stomach, for broccoli.

W is for today’s workout: Didn’t do one.  I attribute this to lazziness and lack of sleep.  Tomorrow I start day 1 of phase 3 of Jamie Eason’s LiveFit Trainer.  I can’t believe I’m up to phase 3 already! I actually am quite proud of myself for sticking with it.

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Lots!!! Growing up I was quite accident prone.  It’s not a good thing when staff start to recognise you at the hospital.  Luckily none of my injuries were too serious.  The worst was probably my broken leg.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: Receiving my copy of Oxygen magazine in the mail (I still subscribe to the US version) and watching the first episode of Jersey Shore season 5.  Watching reality TV is one of life’s greatest guilty pleasures.

Z is for your time zone: GMT + 11 hours.  Living in Australia means I’m a day ahead of all my US buddies.  When I fly back to california I always arrive before I’ve technically even left.

Now it’s your turn! Pick a letter and give me your answer. I’d love to get to know you better too!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

11 Things

26 Feb

I’ve been tagged!!! While reading a few interesting facts from the 11 things survey on Samantha Cangelosi’s blog, I realised she’d tagged me to do this next.  So here goes:

Rules:

  1. List 11 random things about myself
  2. Answer the 11 questions she asked me
  3. Come up with 11 questions to ask other bloggers
  4. Tag 11 bloggers to do this next
11 Things About Me:
  1. I’m a dual citizen of both Australia and the USA.  I was born in California and moved to Australia when I was 14.  Last year I made the leap and became an Australian! I feel blessed to be a part of two magnificent countries
  2. I’m a leo
  3. Broccoli is one of my favourite foods, and I probably eat it almost every day.  I actually get cravings for it!
  4. I was involved in equestrian sports for over 12 years.  I competed in show jumping in America and in Australia at quite an elite level.  It was my true passion growing up, and definitely kept me out of trouble.  I hope I can return to the sport one day.
  5. Pink is my favourite colour.  But that wasn’t always the case.  Growing up I was a massive tomboy and preferred blues and greens.  How I’ve changed
  6. I still live in the dark ages because I don’t own a smartphone.  I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before I cave and get one.
  7. I love animals.  At one point our family had 2 dogs, a cat, a rabbit, and a horse.
  8. I’m still old-fashion when it comes to some things.  I like hand-writing birthday cards and letters to send to friends that live far away.  Some people may think this is outdated, but I love to do it.
  9. Reality TV is my guilty pleasure. I love to unwind with a bit of Jersey Shore or Real Housewives.  Don’t judge me.
  10. I’m a total morning person.  I get a lot accomplished in the morning and enjoy the peace and quiet while everybody is still sleeping.
  11. I have a memory like an elephant.  I’m really good at remembering facts and numbers in particular.

Her Questions

What is your dream job?
  • To work as an editor at a fitness magazine. I love writing, reading, researching and teaching others about fitness.  This would be my ultimate dream job!!!!

Why’d you decide to start blogging?

  • I started blogging as an outlet to help myself on this journey of self-discovery.  But I also wanted to inspire, motivate and connect with others.  I have found blogging to be extremely fulfilling and have met so many wonderful supportive people along the way!

Who’s your favorite music artist(s) right now?

  • That’s a tough one! I love all kinds of music so don’t have one favourite in particular.  At the moment I’m listening to Adele when I’m in the mood for something soulful.  But when I need something more upbeat it’s a mix of pop and dance music like David Guetta, Nicki Minaj, or Madonna.

If you had three wishes, what would they be? And no wishing for more wishes!

  1. I wish that they could find a cure for cancer
  2. I wish that people could teleport (I’m not a fan of travelling on planes)
  3. I wish that discrimination didn’t exist
Cooking or baking?

School or work?

  • School – I love learning.

What is the best thing that has happened to you this week?

  • So many good things.  Seeing my friends and realising how blessed I am to have these people in my life would have to be a highlight.


Where is one place you are dying to go?

  • Home – I’m dying to go back to the US and see my family

Does Toddlers and Tiaras creep you out?

  • Never watched it, but it does look really creepy!

What’s your go to comfort food?

  • Chicken & vegetable noodle soup!  It cures everything.

Warm weather or cold weather?

  • Warm weather for sure.  Spring and summer are my favourite seasons!
My 11 questions for you:
  • What is your dream car?
  • What are some of your quirky qualities?
  • What is your favourite ice cream?
  • Sweet or savoury?
  • Cardio or weight training?
  • Favourite book or magazine?
  • How do you like to relax and unwind?
  • What’s your fondest childhood memory?
  • Who is your celebrity crush?
  • Coffee or Tea?
  • What are your 3 biggest goals you hope to achieve this year?

People I’m tagging:

Happy Dietitian

Fueled by Salad

Ola Fitness

Frugal Feeding

Our Life in 3D

Andrea Drugay

madisoncary

Tags: , , , , , ,

Tuesday Trainer

22 Feb

lindsayslist.co-tuesday_trainer Hey guys! So glad you all liked the butt blasting workout on monday! Today I’ll be jet-setting off interstate to visit friends and have one last break before the craziness of university starts again.  I’ve got my bags packed, healthy snacks for the flight, and of course my favourite gossip mags to keep me entertained.

But I haven’t forgotten about you!!! For another inspiring workout head over to Lindsay’s List for her ‘Welcome to the Jungle Workout’.  This week’s theme features animalistic moves, like my donkey kick, and will definitely get you fit in a flash.

What are your essential items when you travel? Favourite books? Music?
Do you pack healthy travel snacks? What are your best picks?

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday Link Love

27 Jan

Friday Link Love

Happy Friday all!  Today is a collection of links I’m loving from around the blogosphere and web.  Hope you enjoy!

1. Mark Sisson from Mark’s Daily Apple lists his Top 6 Anti-Inflammatory, and sardines is one of them!

2.  Chelsea from Clean Eating Chelsea gives us the low down on beans, beans, beans.  Find out the nutrition info, a simple cooking method, and some yummy recipes to use them in!

3.  The lovely Kris from i heart wellness tells us how to rock our confidence.  You gotta love yourself for who you are!

4.  How’s your Build A Better Breakfast challenge going??? If you’re needing some fresh ideas Averie from Love Veggies and Yoga lists her favourite breakfast recipes

5.  Pinterest is my new love (you can follow me here)!    If you’re not sure what I’m talking check out this post by Janetha G. from Meals and Moves.

6.  For me the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Take a look at these gorgeous french kitchens from Becoming Madame.

7.  Are you thankful for what you have?  If one of your goals is to be more positive about your life, why not take up The Gratitude Challenge with Angela from Oh She Glows.

8.  If you’re in the market for a new pair of running shoes, check out this review of the ‘On-Cloud’ shoes by Lindsay from Cotter Crunch.

Questions:

  • What new blogs or articles are you reading?
  • How are you going with your goals for this year?  If you need some motivation check out these posts.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Be A Domestic Goddess: Life Lessons From Nigella Lawson

1 Jan

Today it seems, that celebrity chefs are more like gods and dining isn’t just about good food, it’s about creating this euphoric experience.  It is safe to say we are in the midst of a food fetish.  There are whole television channels dedicated to cooking, and new recipe books popping up on the shelves every week.

I will admit that the recently finished series of Junior Masterchef was a guilty pleasure of mine.   I was always amazed at the ‘cheflings’ creativity and meticulous attention to detail.  The food would stand beautifully presented, on a gleaming white plate, almost too perfect to eat.  And these were just kids! To be honest, all of this just makes me, a humble home cook, feel inadequate.

Can you believe a 10 year old made this?!

And then I discovered Nigella.

While channel flicking the other day, I came across Nigella Lawson’s show ‘Nigella Express’. The basis of this show is to teach viewers that they can cook fabulous fast food with short-cuts straight from the domestic goddess herself.  As there was little else on, I said to hell with it and kept watching.  And this is what she taught me:

Love your imperfections

What I love about Nigella is that she embraces the imperfections of her cooking.  She chops things into uneven pieces, turns her back on measuring spoons, and still turns out beautiful dishes.

Get Real

In the real world, people have busy lives.  We work, we have families, and commitments.  Seriously who has the time to roast 20 different spices and grind them in their mortar and pestle (because we all have one these) for tonight’s chicken curry? Nigella totally gets that.  She uses things you would actually have in your pantry, and insists they are equally just as good.

Simple is splendid

Have you bought a cook book recently?  Well if not, I’d just like to give you a quick warning: beware the laundry list of ingredients.  I know the title reads ‘Cheese Ravioli’ but with 3 different kinds of cheese, and sauce made from scratch, it’s far from what you would call ‘easy’.  And this is why I love Nigella the most.  Her recipes call for a short list of simple ingredients, but turns out a dish that is packed with flavour.  One of my favourites: White Bean Mash

Addictive White Bean Mash

I’d like to take a second to say, thank you Nigella.  You’ve made me feel like less of a failure for serving my family canned tuna with their store bought spaghetti.  So save your energy, turn your back on haute cuisine, and embrace the home cook within.

Questions:

  • What is your best kitchen or cooking tip?
  • Do you have any new favourite recipes?

Leave your comments below!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Couch Potato Workout

26 Dec

Happy boxing day!!! Feel like you have a bit of a food hangover from christmas??? Don’t beat yourself up about it, instead just get moving!  Here is a workout you can do in the comfort of your own home.  All you need is a couch and a bit of floor space.  Warm up by going for a short walk around the block or jogging in place for 5 mins.  Then perform each exercise consecutively without rest.  Perform the circuit 2 to 3 times.  Rest for 1 to 2 minutes between rounds.  To download click on the link below.

The Couch Potato Workout

I’ll be back tomorrow with a gluten free recipe using your christmas leftovers.

Questions: How do you stay fit over the festive season?

Do you prefer weights, cardio, or both?

Tags: , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 483 other followers

%d bloggers like this: