thermomix raw protein bliss balls

It's the second day of winter here in Australia and already my body wants to hibernate under a heavy feather doona and fill it's tummy with not so healthy treats. In the past these treats consisted of anything potato but this year I've been craving sweets. But not just any sweet. Chocolate. Yes, you heard right. Chocolate of all things!

So to satisfy my new chocolate cravings and tame the veteran chocoholic in the house without compromising our health journey, I made my own version of the ever so popular bliss balls. We still get our chocolatey fix while jam packing all of this natural goodness into our bodies!

  
I like to use a variety of nuts and seeds to jam pack as many vitamins as possible, but if you don't have all of the nuts or seeds on hand, use any combination that you have in your pantry. And if you're allergic to nuts, use only seeds and add some coconut. The variations are endless and will suit any taste and diet!

 Try them for yourself, they're SO easy and SO SO addictive...

NB. Use the gram directions if using your Thermomix and the cup/spoon directions if using your food processor:

 Add the following ingredients to your Thermomix or food processor:

120g pitted organic dates (about 6 large dates)
40g raw organic almonds (1/4 cup)
40g raw organic cashews (1/4 cup)
40g raw organic walnuts (1/3 cup)
35g organic sunflower seeds (1/4 cup)
35g organic pumpkin seeds (1/4 cup)
60g organic sultanas (1/2 cup)
2 tbsp raw organic cacao (not cocoa)
1 tbsp organic chia
1 tbsp ground organic linseed/flaxseed

Thermomix speed 9 for 45 seconds or process in your food processor until the mix is ground and dough like.

Roll into balls and then roll through organic coconut or more cacao. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes.  

And last but not least, enjoy and don't forget to share them!

Makes 20-24

Michelle xo

time and money saving tips for work lunches

In my last post I shared some ideas on how to get organised and save time and money in the kitchen.

So when it comes to work lunches, I want to be organised.

No. Strike that.

I NEED to be organised.

You see the problem is I'm addicted to anything not organic at the moment. And to make matters worse, my office is next door to McDonald's and adjacent to Southland Shopping Centre with two tempting food courts at my finger tips. And did I mention my office is next door to McDonald's?

Yes, organic eating is a huge priority in my life, but I'm still human. I still crave chips and I still buy a not so healthy lunch if I've forgotten to bring my own. 

So as you can tell, I NEED to be organised!

And this is how I do it...

1. Breakfast at the ready!

I love rolled oats and sometimes quinoa but like most people, don't have the time to make it fresh each morning. So on Sunday night I will make a batch and portion it into a few containers. Then during the frantic morning rush, all I have to do is add my milk, cinnamon and heat or take it to work and eat it while my computer loads. Simple! (This also works with the ready made fruit salad and boiled eggs I mentioned in my previous post) 

2. Prepare lunch the night before!

A couple of years ago I started preparing my lunch and snacks the night before. Because even with the best intentions, mornings can be frantic and it's easy to leave the house having skipped breakfast and forgetting to prepare lunch. 

3. Portion snacks once a week!

A few months ago, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, I had a mini meltdown while on the phone to my sister. Always the optimist, she suggested I continue to rethink ways I can cut back on my to do list to give myself more of a break each night. Her first suggestion was to portion my work snacks for the entire week rather than each night. She made a lot of sense this beautiful sister of mine! Now it doesn't sound like much, but remember I eat organically and organic rarely comes in single serve tubs or ready made packets!

Now every Sunday night I set aside 10 minutes to portion out my snacks. 

The yoghurt...

The nuts and seeds...

I also air pop dry corn...

And bake some muffins, muesli bars or banana bread...

One trip to the fridge and pantry. One spoon, knife and chopping board to wash. One bench to wipe. Much more free time of a weeknight and healthy snacks at the ready to curb unhealthy snacking! Then each night all I have to do is make my salad/sandwich/wrap or pack leftovers and I'm done!

4. Keep a stash of healthy snacks at work!
For days I've forgotten my lunch or ploughed through my whole days worth of snacks by 11am, I have a drawer stocked with healthy snacks. Extra nuts, wholegrain crackers, cashew spread, air popped corn, baked beans and extra fruit... Now there's no excuse not to eat healthy!

5. Carry a stash in your handbag!
A zip lock bag of nuts, dried fruit, popcorn, etc. is perfect for snacking on the run and saves you a fortune in trips to the vending machine when out and about. I also carry around my trusty stainless steel drink bottle filled with filtered water to prevent me from paying over $3 for a bottle of water or succumbing to the Coke temptation!

You see, being organised not only equates to health eating and more money in your pocket but also an extra 20-30 minutes to sleep in each morning!

Yippee!

Michelle xx  

time and money saving tips in the kitchen

I often receive blog emails from you asking how I manage to fit so much into my day. The honest truth is I am no different to any one of you and I'm certainly not superhuman!

There are days my fridge and pantry are practically empty and my house looks like a tornado has torn through the walls. There are days I've rushed out the door and arrived at work with mascara on one eye and having forgotten breakfast, lunch and my swipe tags. There are weeks I've forgotten to call mum or respond to a friends text or email. Then there are days my 'to do' list multiplies rather than reduces and other days I fall into a heap having done nothing at all. 

All this and I don't even have children!

But if you do, then I am in awe of you because you probably manage to fit a whole week of tasks, errands and experiences into just one day! You need to tell me how YOU do it!!

But to answer your question, short of adding an eighth day to the week, I do have to find creative ways to save time and money. My most significant time hurdle involves my choice to live my life as organically as possible. This translates to shopping at multiple stores each week and making almost everything from scratch. And I mean almost everything.

But of course where there is a will (and a budget *sigh*) there is always a way!

Here are a few ways I save time and money in the kitchen:

1. Check the fridge and pantry, browse the supermarket catalogues and write a shopping list!

This way I don't double up on what I already have (except for my non-perishables which I buy on special and in bulk); I can plan my meals around the specials (particularly meat where huge savings can be made); there is little to no impulse buying; and the shopping trip is shorter because I know exactly what I need! 

2. Prepare weekly meal plans!

This allows me time to plan out well balanced meals and prompts me to make a start on things that need to be done the night before (eg: take meat out to defrost or soak beans over night). And say goodbye to mid week trips to the supermarket because you would have bought everything you need when you made your one trip to the supermarket with that magical list! 

 

3. Frozen staples at the ready!

I only use dry beans and legumes and try to eat seasonally but I have to be organised! So every few months I cook big batches of beans and chickpeas and freeze portions in ziplock bags. Then with the convenience of a can (but without the added nasties found in the aluminium or its's plastic lining which usually contains Bisphenol A (BPA)), I can add a bag to my soup, pasta or salad! Toward the end of each season I also buy fruit and vegetables in bulk (and raid my parents vegetable garden!), wash, chop (blanch where needed) and freeze portions in ziplock bags. This is a must if I want to eat organic yellow peppers and berries in winter and hearty winter vegetables in summer! Not to mention beautiful organic stewed apples ready to be used in muffins, pies, banana bread and on ice-cream. Yum!

4. Wash salad and sandwich ingredients and store in crispers!

How many times a week do you search for all your bags of fresh sandwich or salad ingredients and wash them ready for use? If you're like me, once or twice a day! But now after I return from my grocery shop, I wash all of my lettuce and store it in a Decor crisper. I also have another container with my usual salad ingredients - tomatoes, cucumber, capsicums and carrots - all washed and ready to be used. And why pay more for the pre-washed lettuce and pre-cut vegetables? We all know they're not actually washed and stored using water!

5. Pre-cut vegetables for tomorrow or the day after!
If you're chopping up vegetables for your roast tonight, why not cut extra for tomorrows lunch or for the soup or stir-fry you're planning on making tomorrow and the day after? Saves on time and washing up!

 6. Roast vegetables!
If I have the oven on, I will put in a tray of red capsicums, zucchini, sweet potato or any other vegetable I find in the crisper. When done, peel the roasted capsicums and store the vegetables in air tight containers. Perfect for a quick and healthy addition to your salad, sandwich or risotto! 

7. Double the quantity!

When cooking, I often double or triple the quantity. This leaves me with extra serves to have for lunch the next day or to freeze for nights I get home late or don't feel like cooking.

8. Cook ups!

I wait until particular organic meat cuts go on special and I buy in bulk. Then every two months I spend a half or full day cooking big batches of meals to freeze. I'll make bolognese, pasta sauces, stews, soups, pizza bases, quiche, schnitzels and meatballs, etc. Think of how much time you would save and how many nights you don't have to cook! That's good enough incentive for me plus it saves me money too!

9. Make your own stock!
Next time you're making soup, why not double the quantity and freeze half the strained broth for the next time you need stock? It takes no time at all and you know exactly what's in it... No glutamate, added salt, colors, preservatives or anti caking agents!

10. Prepare a container of vegetable and cheese sticks!

If you're like me and love snacking but always reach for the naughty snacks because they're quick and easy, then this tip is for you! Every few days I peel and chop carrots, cucumber, celery and cheese and store in the fridge in air tight containers. I also make a big batch of spicy pita crisps with left over pita pockets every couple of weeks. Great for snacks at home or ready to take to work, or to add to a meal where the vegetable count is looking a little grim!

 

11. More snacks!

Air pop  some corn, make a fruit salad and boil some eggs once a week, then when you're feeling like a snack, it's ready to eat and there's no excuse to reach for the chips or biscuits!

12. Bake!

Bake a cake, muffins, cookies, muesli bars, anything that takes your fancy. It's quick, cheap and you know exactly what you've put in it! I try and make something at least once a week to add to the lunchbox, as a healthy dessert or to put out when visitors drop in unexpectedly. Don't forget you can also freeze muffins, cake and banana bread in single portions - just be sure to wrap them well!

13. Buy in bulk!
For the non perishables, buy them in bulk and when on sale. 10c here and $1 there may not seem like much, but over the year you could be saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars!

So what are you waiting for? Go get organised and save yourself lots of time and even more money!

Michelle xx

ransacking mum and dads vegetable garden

Nothing tastes or smells better that organic homegrown produce and I am fortunate enough to be given the best of the season every time I visit my parents. They live on a ten acre hobbie farm and in their free time they work tirelessly to maintain acres of vegetable garden, orchard, vineyard and olive grove - yielding beautiful, fresh organic produce all year round. 

But I dare say they are a little disappointed in my brown thumb and my ability to kill everything... even the cacti I received last year! Every time I visit, dad, eager to start me a vegetable patch of my own, questions me about the progress of the outdoor component of the renovations. Has the site been excavated yet? When are you doing the concreting, the paving, the decking? When are you doing the landscaping... you know it's too late now to plant the tomatoes! Eeeek!! I'm dreading his visit this weekend when he realises I've also killed the herbs and chilli plant mum grew from seed!

Oh well, we can't all be natural born gardeners... And if I was, who would be at my parents house every weeked ransacking their garden? No doubt their property would be overgrown without me! *haha*
  
Look what I got this week - snow peas, spinach, garlic and broad beans...

Three kinds of lettuce...

Thyme, chives and oregano...

Lemons and mandarins...

And from Ash and Mark's - a kilogram of mulberries...

And grapefruit...

I can't wait to start cooking! See you all soon...

Michelle xx

my health and a move toward organic living

Baby blanket's and cake pops aside, I'd like to begin sharing something on my blog that has become very important to me over the last year... organic living. 

But where do I start? For those of you who don't know me personally and for many of you who do for that matter, it is time to share something very personal about my life and hopefully it will put this move toward organic living and therefore my upcoming blog posts into better context.

I have been very unwell for many years now. Since 2005 I have experienced many unrelated, often debilitating symptoms and my doctor (and many after him) could not make head or tail of what was happening with my body. Not even an emergency admission to hospital could solve the puzzle. After years of poking and prodding, many misdiagnoses and much self doubt, I gave up on ever knowing what was happening to my health. But amidst it all I had a rock who felt my desperation and never let me give up. My rock recommended a doctor and urged me to give it one more try. Surely I was worth it, they remarked. So I fought for those additional tests and this new doctor was finally able to put all of the pieces together. Finally. There was more than one diagnosis, and perhaps this was the reason for many of the previous doctors giving up. Nevertheless, it was an answer. Finally.  

I wasn't prepared to hear what I heard and the first few days left me feeling shell shocked. The usual thoughts ran through my mind... Why me? How will I live with this? What does this mean for my future and all of the hopes and dreams I had for my life? I finally had the answer to all of my questions, yet there were more tears and questions than ever before. But a week or so later I was able to look upon this devastating news as a blessing. Life was going to be somewhat of an uphill battle but knowing certainly felt better than wondering and doubting myself and my symptoms. I knew I would never be without this 'petunia' (an affectionate term my sister has bestowed upon me to describe what is happening with my body) but I knew I had the power to make changes in my life that would render some of my symptoms void. 

Even for some of my closest family and friends, I have chosen not to disclose the true extent of this 'petunia'. Not to be ignorant or deceptive, but because I don't want nor do I need this 'petunia' affecting everything I do and every interaction I have. I want a rich life with God, family, friends and all of my treasured God given gifts. I do not want pity, sadness or grief interfering with what I share with those I love. I do not want to live life by a label. So for this reason, my 'petunia' will be left unspoken and unnamed, at least for now.
 
So with that, I intend to share with you in my blog, ways in which I have managed my symptoms rather than dwelling on this 'petunia'. The symptoms of almost every condition, disease or disorder can be lessened a little, or a lot, just by relying more on what nature has to offer rather than what man has artificially manufactured. I am not writing this post to preach about how you should live your life, but rather to share my experience in the hope you too will become more conscious of how you feel, how you live and how what you do may be affecting your health, your life and your earth.

Since my diagnosis a little over a year ago, I have made many, many changes. I cleared out all of my cosmetics and personal care items (much to my sisters delight who subsequently became the beneficiary of my vast nail polish collection!) and traded them for organic alternatives. I did the same with my cleaning products and linens. Then there were the changes to my food and food practices. Overall, some were small changes while others were rather radical in the eyes of some. Some were easy while others have been excruciatingly painful (namely my addiction to Mc Donald's fries and Hungry Jack's whoppers... both of which I still regularly indulge!) and will take time to overcome. A lot of time! But no matter what some have had to say about the changes (without knowing the reason for it, of course!), I will not let their comments sway me. These changes have made a world of difference for me and that is all that matters to me right now.

I love that with these changes, I am very slowly creating a new and better me. I am becoming conscious of the effects chemicals have on me and the world and with each small change I am protecting another small element of my health and the earth's future. I also love that my changes have made an impact on the life of many people I love. Some have chosen to use stainless steel water bottles rather than reusing disposable plastic bottles while others have chosen to buy glass lunch containers rather than reheating their lunch in reusable plastic containers that leech harmful chemicals. Some have chosen more natural body products while others have started to grow their own herbs or eat grain bread in place of their usual white loaf. 

So there it is. My secret has been shared with the world. And my message to you is that you don't have to change everything as I have attempted to do. ONE change in YOUR life will undoubtedly benefit you, your health and the earth. So why not make a change today? I can show you how!

Michelle xx