A land called Oz - Australia Day BBQ

Yesterday was Australia Day. My mates and I did what Aussies do best: barbecued, ate aussie 'delicacies', drank beer, swam, listened to JJJ top 100 and gasbagged late into the afternoon. It was a sweltering day, but extremely fun and relaxing - just how Aussie Day should be!


Here's the 'Great Australian Bite' buffet table,  with a few aussie foods:

Some good ideas if you're ever hosting an Australia Day BBQ or party, or just an aussie themed party include:

• BBQ sausages and steaks with salad
• Lamingtons (which a guy friend produced from scratch and brought - they were amaaaazing!)
• Pavlova
• ANZAC biscuits
• Caramello Koalas
• Furry Friend chocolates (Cadbury)
• Australia shaped biscuits (use an aussie cookie cutter, colour green and gold and write aussie-isms on them! see below)
• Mini toasts with vegemite
• Aussie themed cupcakes - use australia flag toothpicks from $2 shops, green and gold sprinkles, chocolate icing with shredded coconut for lamington style cupcake, chopped up tim tam, anzac cookie or caramello koala on top - see below)
• Tim Tams!
• Sliced fruit in shape of australias (e.g. pineapple and watermelon - use cookie cutter again)
• Fruit cake and bushells tea
• BEER
• Ginger beer punch
• 'Big Red' soup flavoured Smiths chips

Decor ideas:

• Aussie bush arrangement - collect branches from gums, banksias, bottlebrush - anything native you can find. It's free and looks very effective (see below)
• Australian flags
• Aussie children's books
• Tins of baked beans, heinz soup etc.
• Gum leaves in floating candle bowls
• Gum branches
• Australia day banners
• Visit your party store or $2 shop for loads of aussie stuff

Kick-ass babushka!

I absolutely adore BODYCOMBAT at Fitness First. It’s a really high energy workout which uses elements of boxing, karate, muay thai, taekwondo and tai chi. I always feel so strong and powerful - nothing like a bit of girl power.

There’s this track called ‘Kalinka’ which I think is sooo strange, but it’s my favourite part! It makes me feel like a kick-ass babushka doll.

The Greedy Goat - a bleat and an eat

This morning a dear friend and I enjoyed a slow Sunday breaky at The Greedy Goat in Palm Beach.

Source: http://www.thegreedygoat.com.au/ 

The atmosphere of this place is heart warming. Randomly perched on the side of Barrenjoey Road, The Greedy Goat is a hidden gem. Its modern farmhouse decor is casual, cosy and inviting with sturdy floor boards, lovely wooden tables and an alfresco dining section - complete with comfy bright cushions. This cafe is very popular amongst the locals - all morning they rocked up in their swimming costumes to chill out the front, tuck into breaky and sip their morning coffees.

As the name suggests, the food is fresh with a genuine farmyardesque quality to it. I even noticed a little note on the menu which noted their eggs are from free roaming chickens in the Hunter Valley - how lovely! I ordered vine ripened tomatoes, avocado & goat's cheese on sourdough. It was simple and delicious. Just perfect. My breakfast companion enjoyed the greedy goat breakfast (sausages, bacon, eggs, beans, tomato, toast), which I am told was incredibly satisfying!

I noticed goats cheese is a key ingredient for many dishes on the menu (go figure)!  Goat's cheese is a great source of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin (vitamin B2), protein and potassium. So yay for strong bones! I also read an American study that proved increased calcium in the diet increases fat loss 20 times more than those on a low calcium diet. Very interesting!

Source: http://www.thegreedygoat.com.au/ 

As we soaked up the morning sun, savoured our breaky and sipped on T2 tea brewed in adorable little tea pots, we bleated about life and where we're headed. On further reflection, I feel both of us might actually have goat-like tendencies (minus the smelliness and intense passion for alfalfa). We're both very inquisitive and curious, keen to explore new places and meet new people. We have a remarkable ability and yearning to overcome obstacles quickly (we're impatient!) - ever noticed how goats are very intelligent and quick to escape their pens if given the chance? Goats can also balance on the most obscure and precarious places - like trees. I feel we both should and can find balance - even when we feel as if the weight of our worries will bring us crashing down. We must strive to somehow make the best of every situation and balance precariously until it's safe to come down and explore new weird and wonderful places in life.

Oh, and we'll try any morsel put in front of us, just like any greedy goat would.

The Greedy Goat is the perfect place for a fresh, delicious and casual breakfast on the northern beaches. Apparently it's fantastic for lunch too, I'm keen to try! Great food, friendly staff and cosy, homey decor. Treat yourself! x 

Website: http://www.thegreedygoat.com.au/ 
The greedy goat is located just after the Palm Beach 'bends' at:
1031 Barrenjoey Road
Palm Beach 2108
Northern Beaches Sydney

Chai up your life

I am a chai fanatic. I love chai tea, soy chai lattes, chai scented candles, even just saying ‘chai’ for the sake of it. I adore cinnamon, vanilla and honey in everything, so that’s probably why!

I came across my FAVOURITE chai at The Rocks Aroma Festival in 2010. Let me introduce you to Bondi Chai.

It is an all-Australian product: made in Australia, using mostly aussie ingredients and is Australian-owned. It comes in Vanilla Honey or Club Cinnamon.

It’s gluten free, halal certified, made with skim milk powder and whey powder. I make mine with 99% fat free soy milk. Bondi Chai is also 99% fat free if made with skim milk, so you can enjoy this scrumptious drink without feeling too guilty! On a hot day, it’s also nice blended with ice for a refreshing Chai frappe.

I contacted Martin, co-owner of Bondi Chai with a ridiculously enthusiastic email about how good their chai is, also asking if I could be a Bondi Chai demonstrator. Not only did he reply just as enthusiastically, he said he’d love to have me on board and is even sending me a complementary packet of Bondi Chai. LOVE!

Here’s a recipe I used for Chai cookies I made at Christmas - people loved them!

Chai Cookies

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 30 (2 cookies each)

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup wholemeal flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened  
• 1 cup sugar or stevia
• 3 tablespoons Bondi Chai
•  1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups corn flakes (crushed to 1 cup)

Directions

1. In large bowl stir together flour and baking powder. Set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter, sugar and 3 tablespoons Bondi Chai on medium speed of electric mixer until combined. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well. Add cornflakes and flour mixture, mixing until combined.

3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in 2 tablespoons Bondi Chai, if desired. Place on ungreased baking sheets, flatten with a fork. Bake at 190C about 7 minutes or until light brown. Let stand on baking sheets for 1 minute. Remove and cool on wire racks

Adapted from this recipe: http://www2.kelloggs.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?id=6146

Raw Unadulterated Chocolate - Healthy Bliss

Raw dark organic chocolate is above all, my favourite type of chocolate. It is one of the healthiest types of chocolate you can get! It’s uncooked, unprocessed and sweetened with natural agave syrup. The cocoa beans are not roasted, meaning they are super high in antioxidants to absorb free radicals and toxins to help reach optimal health.

Raw cacao also has lots of seratonin, dopamine, anandamide and phenylethlamine which help to make us super happy and boost wellbeing! Cacao is also an aphrodisiac, boosting feelings of pleasure ;o).

The Loving Earth range of dark chocolate bars are simply gorgeous. They come in ‘Almond and Purple Corn’, ‘Crunchy Mint’, ‘Dark Chocolate’, ‘Goji and Camu’, ‘Lucuma and Maca’ and ‘Sour Cherry and Acai’. http://www.raw-chocolate.net/products.

You can buy them online, or head to the Health Food store in Newport, Sydney.



I also have the Raw Cacao Powder from Loving Earth. It’s made of pure, ground, raw cacao. I love it on my morning oats! Scrummy.

REMEMBER: This should be a special treat to whisk away those chocolate cravings. It’s also a lovely gift for your Valentine, or even to give to a special friend in need of a chocky fix.

Coral Anniversary - a Healthy Tropical Feast!

Sunday was my parents’ 35th Anniversary, which is traditionally the coral Anniversary. To celebrate this extraordinary milestone, my sister and I channeled our inner masterchef and created a scrumptious three-course dinner party.

As one of my 2011 goals is to eat clean, naturally each element of the menu was healthy in some way. We also made sure we used quite tropical flavours to reflect the coral theme. I justified the healthy menu by telling my dear parents that I want them to live a fulfilling, healthy and long life together so we can celebrate many more Anniversaries to come! Worked a charm ;).

So, glowing with excitement, my sister and I set off to Thomas Dux to buy some delectable fine foods (and sample apple crumble, tamari nuts and fresh lamingtons to aid the decision-making process!). Thomas Dux is my favourite food store - I think I experience a foodgasm every time I visit there (probably because I am a sucker for free samples)!

http://www.thomasdux.com.au/ Visit their website, they have loads of interesting foods and amazing recipes. Sign up to their ‘Taste Buds’ newsletter too!

MENU

Starter: Sonoma Soy and Linseed Artisan Sourdough Bread dipped in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Pukara Estate Traditional Dukkah

Why? Sourdough bread is good for us because it’s easily digested, high in B1, lowers insulin response and is high in minerals. The linseeds are high in omega 3s, which are an essential fatty acid, good for beautiful skin and general wellbeing! Oh and of course Sonoma sourdough bread is particularly delicious! I also love that the brothers and Dad behind the business started it up by restoring an old wood-fired oven on a property in NSW and it flourished from there. Gorgeous! http://www.sonoma.com.au/ Try out their bread, you will love it, especially if you’re a bread fanatic like myself! Though, remember, everything in moderation…

The Pukara Estate Dukkah was lovely and nutty. It’s made of sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, hazelnuts, cumin and corianda.  Sesame seeds are often overlooked I feel. They’re rich in minerals such as calcium and magnesium which are important fo healthy bones and zinc for good skin and iron for energy! Cumin rocks because it’s full of flavour and boosts metabolism and immunity. I’ve also discovered this dukkah is really yummy on salads! http://www.pukaraestate.com.au/Content_Common/pr-Olives_Traditional-Dukkah—90gm.seo

Main: Roast Pork on Sweet Potato and Orange Mash with Mango Chilli Salsa

Why? Oh my goodness! The combination of flavours in this dish is like a tropical party in your mouth. I found this recipe in one of Mum’s cooking magazines, which also happens to be on www.taste.com.au. This website is my ‘go to’ website for all cooking occasions, if only for inspiration. It’s amazing!

The mango, chilli, lime and corianda salsa was divine and very tropical. Mango has heaps of vitamin A, C, E and fibre - fantastic for seeing well, good skin and hair, boosting the immune system and fat burning.

The sweet potato mash with freshly squeezed orange juice was soooo good. Sweet potato is one of my favourite super foods - its packed with A,C and E, folic acid, potassium, fibre, calcium, iron AND phosphorus. It also reminds me of Christmas roasts!

We trimmed ALL the fat off the pork to make sure it was super lean. I may or may not have been brainwashed by the pork ads on tv - you know, the ones where she says ‘I might pork him again tonight’, followed by terrible innuendos and petrified children at the dinner table. But, I have learnt that this meat (if lean) is an amazing source of protein (essential if you want to boost metabolism and build muscle which will in turn burn more calories whilst resting), as well as thiamin, niacin, B6, B12, selenium, zinc and omega 3s. Basically all the elements for healthy skin, hair and nails, protection against heart disease and boosting the immune system.

Recipe: If you don’t like pork, try chicken!

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15998/pork+with+sweet+potato+mash+mango+salsa

Sides: Rosemary Potatoes, Roast Vegetables with Reduced Fat Fetta

Why? The rosemary potatoes are simple. Cut em up, stick em on a tray, lightly spray with extra virgin olive oil, chuck on chopped rosemary and cook in the oven! I’m lucky because my sister bought me a lovely little herb garden for Christmas, so I have my own endless supply of rosemary - I highly recommend! Such a lovely aroma too.

The roast veg - same thing, chuck in your favourite vegetables (we used pumpkin with skin on for extra nutrients, capsicum which is super high in vitamin C, zucchini and eggplant). Throw in some low fat fetta, extra virgin olive oil spray, rosemary and cook it baby! Yum!

Dessert: Mixed Berry Parfait in Cocktail Glasses

Why? This was the perfect ending to the meal - sweet, light and scrummy. We crunched up Nature Valley crunchy honey and oat bars in the bottom of the glass. Mind you, these are very tasty on their own (all good chefs test their creations…!) http://www.naturevalley.com.au/holding/Default.aspx

Then we blended mixed frozen berries with apple juice to make a healthy berry compote which we drizzled around the glass and on top. Everyone knows berries are super high in antioxidants - so I was excited about that! They’re also an excellent source of fibre.

We then layered with chopped strawberries ($5 for 3 punnets at Thomas Dux that day!), blueberries and chopped watermelon (which is apparently an aphrodisiac - tying in well with the love theme).

The next layer was this gorgeous low fat vanilla bean greek yoghurt, which I think may have been ‘Black Swan’. I love natural yoghurts because they’ve got live cultures in them which are important for a healthy balance in the gut and digestion. Apparently the calcium in these yoghurts (the real yoghurts, not the highly processed sugar ones) are fantastic for helping us burn fat more efficiently.

GIFTS

Dad bought Mum a lovely hair voucher from Portfolio Hair in Mona Vale. Us girls have been going to this salon for many, many years. We’ve used them for endless formals, 18ths, 21sts, special occasions, hair make-overs (when I’ve needed to re-invent myself!) and most recently my brother’s wedding.

They have recently updated the salon, it now has a gorgeous chandelier and orgasmic massage chairs. They’ve got plasma televisions, savvy and friendly staff and you get unlimited free coffee or a selection of luxury Tea Drop teas (my favourites are Malabar Chai and Honeydew Green).

http://www.teadrop.com.au/luxury_tea/index.php?PHPSESSID=ee9a289a65b9c3a1d66cc3f009cbaa0b

My sister and I gave Mum a modern and beautiful bunch of blue hydrangeas, white lilies and exotic greens from the new Wild Lotus in Newport. If you want a unique bunch of flowers at VERY reasonable prices, this is THE place to go on the northern beaches. Have a look at what they can do http://wildlotusflorist.com.au/flowers.php 

We also gave Mum coral coloured earrings from the Family Jewels in Newport. This place is a treasure trove of unique jewellery of soooo many colours, shapes and styles. http://www.thefamilyjewels.com.au/

Berkelouw Books in Mona Vale is not only a paradise for readers, it also has a range of unique cards and gifts. We bought Mum and Dad a gorgeous card featuring that coral heart which is just off the Great Barrier Reef. It was sentimental because our last family holiday was to Hamilton Island which is right near this coral heart.  http://berkelouw.com.au/

The quote I used in the card was:

‘Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success’ Henry Ford

They loved it! Mum adores quotes (as an ex English teacher) and Dad loves cars! Perfection.

All in all it was a delectable feast which brought us even closer as a family. I love them.