Detoxing Menu Plan!

Well here it is... the long awaited and highly anticipated Week 3 menu plan! You all must have been starving waiting for this one.. haha. This week I am starting an exciting 6-week Detox! I've been a bit slack with my eating lately as I started working a lot lot more hours and the colder weather made me want to binge in a big, bad way!! So I am feeling seriously crappy and can't believe how different I actually feel and look! My energy levels, skin, hair and bloating have taken a massive downwards turn so a 6-week detox is just what we need! This is a fairly strict eating plan. I will be eating only whole foods and no wheat, gluten, dairy, meat or processed foods. I'm also being brave and cutting out all alcohol and coffee for the detox, starting Bikram Yoga and creating ultimate Zen life. Woohoo!! Cant wait to start and cant wait to see how I feel at the end of it! It would be amazing if anyone wants to join me on this journey so please keep me posted and challenge yourself! xx


Week 3 - Detox Time!

Sharing is caring... Introducing 'Creative Kai'

My friend Shoney has just started a food blog 'Creative Kai'. She currently works at an amazing restaurant 'Nourish Bistro' in Banff, Canada. Check out their website - their dishes are to die for! So Shoney has heaps of awesome inspiration and this blog features some of the fantastic meals that she cooks. This is her first post Thai Lentil & Potato Cakes... Personally I cant wait to try it! Give it a go and let me know what you think... x

Creative Kai: Thai lentil and potato cakes: This dish came about as I had a lot of mashed potatoes that needed to be used, a bag of lentils, and a fridge full of fresh veges....

O is for Oats

Cant bare getting out of bed in the morning for fear of freezing in mid-air? Staying an extra 10 minutes in the shower to let your bones thaw out? So many layers of clothes that you look like an Eskimo with just two eyes peering out of your coat? Yup, its Winter again! This explains why I am suddenly craving good old Rolled Oats (Porridge) for breakfast. However.. in the good old days I would dose my Oats up with Brown Sugar and Creamy Milk, or fruity Yoghurt, sometimes even Cream! This year I've ditched the Dairy and Sugar and come up with a couple of incredibly tasty toppings. Hope you enjoy them as much as me!

Rolled Oats with Apple, Almond and Cinnamon

      -Stew diced Apple in 1cm Water in a saucepan

       -Once soft stir into cooked Oats and sprinkle with Almond pieces and Cinnamon

Blueberry and Honey Oats

      -Half cook oats then remove from microwave. Stir in frozen or dried Blueberries

      -Cook Oats for remainder of time and stir Manuka Honey through while warm

Banana Berry Oats

       -Defrost Berries by placing in microwave for 30seconds

       -Stir sliced Banana and Berries through cooked Oats

Sultana and Cardamom Spiced Oats  

       -Cook oats with Cardamom and a dash of Vanilla Essence

       -Stir through Sultanas and serve with a dash of Almond Milk

 

Happy Winter Feasting! Have you got any favourite Oats recipes?

Perfect Pumpkin Soup

A nice and easy one for you all.. everybody loves pumpkin soup and it's just so simple to make! I love making this one for lunches and freezing portions. Pumpkin soup freezes much better than my vege soups so its a favourite for stocking up!

1/2 Pumpkin, diced - Top Tip - Microwave pumpkin for 10minutes before attempting to chop! 
3 Cups Vegetable Stock
200mL Coconut Cream
1 Onion
3 Cloves Garlic
1 Tablespoon Grated Ginger
1 Teaspoon Chilli
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1 Teaspoon Cumin
Fresh Coriander to serve

Heat Olive Oil in a large pot.
Stirfry Onion in Garlic, Ginger and Chilli

Add diced Pumpkin and saute for 3 minutes
Pour in 3 Cups Vegetable Stock, Cumin and Nutmeg.
Simmer for 20minutes or until Pumpkin is tender.

Mash pumpkin until it forms a thick puree. Transfer to blender and process until smooth.

Stir Coconut Cream through the soup and sprinkle Coriander on top to serve!

Super salads...

Well its been a while since I've updated my blog and I feel a bit like a neglectful mother so in the next couple fo hours/days you are gonna be seeing a whole lotta lovin' and action! I have heaps of recipes to post so hopefully I can get most up here pretty quickly! This first one is from about a month ago. My greatest friend and I treated ourselves out to lunch on a beautiful autumn day. We found a great little cafe with lots of fresh and seasonal produce and, being the responsible and healthy people we are, we each chose a delicious salad. We were so impressed with what came out that I had to steal the recipe just for you guys! So here we have two fantastic, delicious, restaurant quality salads for you to indulge in. Enjoy!

Manuka Smoked Salmon, Cherry Tomato, Avocado and Pinenut Salad.

-100 grams Manuka Smoked Salmon roughly diced
-Handful Cherry Tomatoes roasted for 15minutes
-1 Avocado, diced
-Cos Lettuce
-Pinenuts
Mix all ingredients together in a large salad bowl.

Whisk 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil and 1 Teaspoon of Balsamic Vinegar together and drizzle over salad before serving



Salt & Pepper Squid with Sundried Tomatoes & Rocket in a Chilli Lime Dressing


1 Squid Tube sliced thinly into rings
          -Coat with whisked egg then dip into almond flour, coarse black pepper and salt mix
          -Fry in a shallow pan with 1-2cm of Olive Oil
Sundried Tomatoes
1 Avocado, diced
Rocket leaves
Pancetta - grilled till crispy
Mix all ingredients in a large salad bowl

Whisk together
     - 1/3 cup Olive Oil
     - 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice
     - 1 Teaspoon Chilli
Drizzle over salad before serving

Both salads are impressive, although the Squid salad is a little more work. Let me know if you get a chance to make either, I'd love to hear how they went!

xx