Marinate your own Feta

Marinating feta is so rewarding. It takes no time at all and you can get really creative. You can put what you like into mix. I choose some ingredients that I love and think go nicely together. There really is nothing to it. When choosing cheese to marinate go for the best quality and choose organic. Go with goats or sheep's cheese wherever possible. They have a sharper flavor and a more intense aroma but are a healthier choice. I personally love sheep's cheeses and yogurts. But if you don't substitute for cows.

It is best to use soft feta and it absorbs more flavor and it tastes better. You can use it salads, smeared on sough dough toast, cheese platters anything you fancy. The left over oil can also be used in cooking and as salad dressing. 

Ingredients

1 packet of sheep feta

Extra virgin Olive oil
1 Chile
1 lemon skin slice 
1 tsp pepper corns
1 tsp coriander seeds
2 sticks of fresh rosemary ( depending on size)

Method
1. Get a medium sized jar, sterilise and make sure it has a secure lid.
2. Chop the feta into cubes or break it up with your hands it does not have to be exact.
3. Fill the jar with the feta and then add herbs.
5. Then pour the olive oil till the cheese has been submerged.
6. Stick it in the fridge and let it sit for at least 24 hours. It will keep for up to two weeks.

Leftover Salad

A quick salad using leftovers and produce that is commonly in your fridge. I usually make more fish especially so I can put into a salad for work or uni the next day. Make some extra roasted vegetables and you have yourself a great salad for work. This I made when I was at home but can easily be made the night before and taken to work.

I put radish in this salad, radish is one of my favorite vegetables. It is incredibly detoxifying combined with rocket and you have yourself a great detox salad.

Ingredients
1 fillet of leftover salmon (or any kind of fish)

2 handfuls of rocket

3 small radish

1 onion
Handful of cherry tomatoes

Dressing

2tsb olive oil

1 tsb coconut oil
1/2 tsb apple cider vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste
Squeeze lemon juice

Barley and Lamb Soup

My very own immune boosting soup. This soup I choose to do from simple run of the mil ingredients to show how you can create a delicious healthy meal that will help boost immunity and nourish you. 

We seem to have lost the knowledge about making bone broths. Bone broths are on of the most nutrient dense and healing super foods out there.  Remember your mum making you chicken soup and how good you felt afterwards. That wasn't just placebo, that was because the bones were cooked for hours and realeasing all the beautiful nutrients. Bone broths help with digestion, mineral absorption and overall gut health. It also contains proteins that help promote collagen regeneration, this helps with skins, hair and nails health. The longer you cook the bones the better; that way you get all the benefits. I always have some bones in the freezer to add to soups and stocks. This creates a gelatine that is nourishing for your digestive tract.

The apple cider vinegar and salt help extract the minerals from the bone. If you dont have either add some lemon juice but salt is really best for this one. It also gives a beautiful flavour. 

Ingredients

2 lamb shanks

1 cup of soaked barley 

1 large carrot or 2 small ones

2 potato

1 white onion

2 cloves of garlic

1 tsp of salt
Cracked pepper to taste

1 tsp of apple cider vinager

1 liter of water or homemade vegetable stock

Method

1. Soak barley overnight in a flat bowl, see how here.

2. Chop all the vegetables into pieces.
3. Get a large pot with a lid and add all the garlic and onions, simmer for a few seconds and then add the rest of the ingredients except the barley.
4. Simmer for 4 to 6 hours on a medium heat adding in the barley about 3 hours in. Add salt and pepper if needed.
5. This is great to make at the beginning and keep in the fridge for dinner for a couple of nights.

Turmeric Lentil Patties

Lentil's compared to other beans and quick and easy to prepare. They do not need as much time soaking and cooking takes only a few minutes. I still soak lentils overnight but your really only need to soak them 10 hours. There are many different varieties so change it up. Use different kinds of lentil's for different dishes and don't be scared to try new kinds. I used small brown ones for this recipe but any kind would do. Lentil's are high in fibre helping to regulate blood sugar levels. They also contain many trace mineral such as B vitamins and a good amount of protein.

Ingredients 

Lentils:

1 cup of lentils (soaked overnight)
3 eggs beaten

2 tsp of tumeric

1 tsp of dried chilli
1/2 small onion, finely chopped
1 garlic finely chopped
1 tsp of flour ( I used coconut flour)
Salt and pepper to taste
Coconut oil for frying

Yogurt dressing:
1/2 cup of greek style yogurt
1 small cucumber
1/4 bunch of mint leaves

Method
1. Soak lentils overnight
2. Cook on a moderate heat for roughly 10 minutes.
3. Allow to cool slightly. In a separate bowl whisk eggs together  and add spices.
4. Stir the eggy mixture in with the lentils in a large bowl and make sure it is mixed in well. It should have a very wet consistency if need be add another egg.
5. Heat the pan on a high heat. With a large spoon get about half a handful sized saucepans and drop into the coconut oil. Don't worry if its runny it will stick together.
6. Cook for 3 minutes and then flip over to cook the other side. Repeat the process till you have finished the mixture.
7. While the lentils are cooking chop cucumber and mint and add with the yogurt, mix well. Add fresh mint for garnish.

Chocolate Treat

A desert recipe that is not only guilt free but is actually good for you? You thought it could never happen but here it is, the most delicious treat you will ever have. You can change the type of fruit that you add to this to suit your own taste. The best thing about it that it does not take any time at all to prepare or make. This means you can serve those hungry mouths at a drop of a hat. 

Chocolate has gone back and forth in the media trying to determine if it good for you or not. And as many other things it largely has to do with its processing. The cocoa bean has so many benefits but processed "chocolate" is full of chemicals and all sorts of nasties. The chocolate that is pre packaged is so far removed from its original bean that its hard to put them in the same category. There is plenty of raw chocolates available now which have not been heated and do not contain copious amount of sugar.  

Here is a list of raw chocolate companies I recommend 

Loving Earth raw chocolate bars are my favourite they have the most amazing chocolate plus all there products are raw and taste delicious.

Conscious chocolate is gluten, dairy and soy free and complete raw.

Cocolo chocolate is a beautiful Australian based company and they sell at most health food and deli stores.

Mast Brothers hand crafted chocolate made and packaged locally in brooklyn.

Benefits of cocoa

 Cocoa contains a substance called phenylethylamine a feel good chemical that is the same chemical that is released when you fall in love. This is great if you need a mood booster.

High in magnesium which helps regulate moods and keep your stress levels down as well as helping with PMS symptoms.

Boost your energy levels due to a substance called Theobromine that gives you a natural lift without the lows of other stimulants.

Help your heart! Recent studies have shown that it can help with your cardiovascular system such as lowing blood pressure and reducing cholesterol.

Cocoa also contains substantial amount of protein to this is good for cell repair.

Ingredients

2 tsp of cocoa

1 handful of blackberries (fresh or frozen)

5 pitted dates

2 avocados

Method

1. Make sure that the dates do not have any seeds even when you buy pitted dates on the odd occasion they will still be there. So it's best to be on the safe side.

2. Mix all ingredients in a blender till smooth. You can use a hand blender if you do not have one.

3. Garnish with blackberries. 

Wedding

I have been a bit absent as of late because I decided to get married! I thought I would share some foodie pics. The photography was done by the amazing Dan O'day Photography  he is seriolsy amazing and worth using for any function.

Photography: Dan O'day Photography
Catering : Lamour Catering

Blueberries and Cream

Yep you heard me CREAM! Cream has had a bad rap over the past few years. It has been linked to whole range diseases such as heart disease and obesity. And although the humble milky goodness contains a high amount of saturated fat is not the cause of the growing obesity epidemic. We are aware that fat is necessory for normal bodily function but it is also very important to have saturated fat. Saturated fat is needed for cell function and brain function. And despite the theory eating fat will not make you fat!I promise! In fact quit the opposite. 

The source of cream on the other hand is a cause for concern. All dairy products MUST come from organic, grass fed and free range sources. Try and get to know your dairy farmer and know the products you buy. Make sure that the milk has not been homogenised and preferably not pasteurised(if you can get your hand on it). Always use the products you trust or even better make your own cream, butter and yogurt. If you stick to these simple guidelines about dairy you can eat those delicious treats you have been missing out on.

 Ingredients

Handful blueberries

Drizzle of cream

Sprinkle of cinnamon 

Layer on a plate as you wish and you have yourself a delicious desert.