Pumpkin Soup with Crispy Chickpeas and Kale

The pumpkin, sweet potato and carrot in this soup are excellent sources of carotenoids which are a group of brightly coloured pigments responsible for the orange colour of these veggies. Carotenoids are potent antioxidants, which when eaten in their whole food form protect against cancer and other degenerative diseases, while also improving your immune response to infections. Beta-carotene is the most important carotenoid for adequate vitamin A intake. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin required for vision, gene transcription, boosting immune health and great skin health.

To make the soup, roughly chop half a butternut pumpkin, half a jap pumpkin, 1 large sweet potato and 2 carrots. Fry off an onion in some coconut oil until it starts to colour and add the veggies. Pour over enough veggie stock to cover, add 'Berbere' a fiery Ethiopian spice mix, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil then turn down to a simmer and leave until all veggies are broken down enough to blend. Please make sure the soup is cooled before using a hand mixer or any other device for that matter, as being burned by pumpkin lava is not ideal. Blend until silky. 

                      

Since I'm not eating grains anymore, I won't be having any bread with my soup... To make this dish more of a complete meal I like to add some chilli garlic kale and crispy chickpeas. Both these elements add texture and flavour as well as bounds and leaps to the total nutritional profile.

To make the chickpeas, drain and rinse the a couple of cans chickpeas well, make sure you remove all water as this will slow down the cooking process. Place on a lined baking tray with a little olive oil and salt and into a preheated oven until golden and crispy. Make sure to check on them regularly as it only takes a second for them turn, catch and burn. These crispy chickpeas are so versatile and temptingly moorish. They add texture and class to any dish and make for a pleasant change when snacking on mixed nuts gets old. I'm so obsessed with them, I carry I snap lock bag around in my bag for sustenance on the go! They keep well, so I like to make a big batch and store them in an airtight container for when I need them next. For the next element of the dish, combine kale, garlic, chilli and lemon zest and toss in a hot pan with some coconut oil until cooked through.

Adorn soup with kale, chickpeas and goats cheese or feta. 

Veggie stack with marinated chicken, salsa and hummus

This flavour packed dish incorporates and exaggerates a couple of quick and simple culinary keepsakes in my chicken, those being a versatile marinade, speedy salsa and punchy hummus.

    

    

To allow for maximum flavour, I like to marinade as far in advance as possible as this gives time for all the flavours to marry and also helps to tenderise the meat. I used chicken tenderloins for this recipe, but any other protein would tie in just as nicely. To marinade, combine 1 teaspoon raw honey, juice of half a lemon, clove of crushed garlic, pinch of each cumin, paprika, mustard seeds, chilli and salt ( lemon myrtle if you have it) and olive oil. Massage the meat and set aside.

Slice pumpkin, eggplant and sweet potato, drizzle with oil and arrange on a baking tray to roast in a preheated oven until tender and lightly coloured. 

To make salsa, slice cucumber lengthways, scrape out seeds with a teaspoon, julienne then finely dice. Dice half a Spanish onion and 3 tomatoes to roughly the same size. Combine everything in a bowl with half a bunch coriander, the juice of a lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil.

To make the hummus, combine 1 can chickpeas, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon tahini, juice of half a lemon, salt, pepper and olive oil in a food processor and blitz until you reach the desired consistency. I like to add a little water to loosen instead of adding more oil as I find the flavour of the oil can overpower the other flavours. These measurements make more than you'll need for this dish, but the hummus will keep in the fridge for a couple of days. Having homemade dips in the fridge is a lunchtime lifesaver for me. Partnering dips with raw veggies, nuts, cheeses, salad mix, or leftover dinner components makes for a nutritious and satisfying lunchbox.

To assemble this tower of goodness, arrange the veggies topped with some hummus, another layer of veggies, the chicken and finally embellish with a scattering of salsa. Serve with avocado and crumbled feta.

Spring Clean

Although it doesn’t feel like it today, spring is fast approaching. To inspire for the months ahead, I thought I’d share a few ways to spring clean your body to have you feeling freshly cleansed come the change of season.  A detox doesn’t have to be something we think of every now and again when we start to feel a little off and in need of rejuvenation. I believe that we should always be trying to detoxify not only our bodies, but also our lives. Welcome new experiences and opportunities and become aware of what is not serving you well anymore. Take active steps everyday to ensure your body is in a constant state of flow and rid yourself of all things toxic.

Eat whole, organic foods By choosing to eat unprocessed, natural foods in their original form, you are nourishing your body the way nature intended. By eating this way, you can avoid the chemicals, additives and preservatives found in processed foods.

Incorporate detoxifying foods The liver and kidneys act as the body’s filtration system. To aid in cleansing these organs incorporate parsley, coriander, dandelion root, licorice root, cayenne, turmeric, garlic, lemon, grapefruit, sea vegetables, artichokes, beets, chlorella and milk thistle into the diet.

Drink plenty of water We are made up of approximately 70% water, so replenishing that water is essential for every function in the body. Water moves energy throughout the body and carries nutrients and oxygen to all cells.

Breathe properly Our bodies are designed to release toxins through breathing by exhaling carbon dioxide, the natural waste of the body’s metabolism. Breathing deeply and supplying the body with enough oxygen, releases tension, relaxes the body and mind and brings clarity. Slow down and focus on your breath.

Increase good gut bacteria The word ‘probiotic’ is a compound of two Greek words: “pro” to signify promotion of and “biotic” which means life, and by this very definition, probiotics affirm life and health. Having healthy gut flora is important for digestive health as well as maintaining overall health. Include probiotic rich foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, miso, pickles, tempeh, kimchi and kombucha tea.

Exercise Increases circulation and moves lymphatic fluid. Metabolism speeds up, breathing increases, you sweat, all of which help to dislodge and transport toxins out of the body. Deep massage is also a good way to move lymphatic waste.

Add apple cider vinegar Alkalises the body and helps detoxify the liver. Make sure to buy the raw, unfiltered, organic variety. Similarly, start each day with warm glass of water with the juice of ½ a lemon.

Sip on herbal teas Teas are a wonderful way to integrate mind-body medicine. Be guided towards herbs that are appropriate for you and enjoy their therapeutic qualities.  Green, black, white and oolong tea are all high in antioxidants which to help neutralise toxins. Dandelion and nettle have a diuretic effect, which help to flush the liver of toxins, reduce fluid retention and aid digestion.

Eliminate toxins Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and processed foods are some of the obvious ones, but exposure to other hidden chemicals has a significant impact on the level of toxicity in our bodies. Cleaning products, detergents, hair care products, deodorant and cosmetics, just to name a few, contain an array of synthetic ingredients, which all add up to create toxicity in the body. Become a smart shopper, read labels, buy ethically and intelligently.

Dry body brush This technique spreads energy through the chakras, opens the pores to release stored toxins, stimulates circulation and softens deposits of hard fat below the skin and prepares them for discharge.

Be grateful Remind yourself of all the positive things in your life, notice the simple pleasures and acknowledge everything you receive.

Eat Clay The molecules in the clay contain a powerful magnetic energy, which can be used to attract and hold several types of toxins, pulling the toxins from affiliated tissues and into themselves. Dissolve about a tablespoon into water or juice and drink. Alternatively, if eating clay doesn’t appeal to you, it makes an amazing face/body mask.

Learn to meditate Achieving a state of relaxation has been linked to higher levels of ‘feel-good’ chemicals such as serotonin and to growth hormones that repair cells and tissues. It lowers the heart rate, boosts immunity and enables the body to thrive.

Listen to your body People sometimes confuse listening to the body with listening to the mind. The mind governs “should” and “shouldn’t” thought forms that have the potential to undermine the body’s natural instincts that work to keep you in a state of balance. Connect to your body, trust it will keep you safe.

Green Smoothie

A delicious and incredibly nutritious way to start the day!

         

1/4 cup juice of spinach and kale

1 frozen banana

1 heaped teaspoon each of maca, bee pollen, flaxseed, coconut cream, raw honey

1/4 cup almond milk or raw milk kefir

Kefir is a highly nutritious and easily digestible alternative to regular milk products and is a great way to re-establish good gut ecology. Most yogurts or supplements contain at least 10 million friendly bacteria from lactobacillus and bifidobacteria families per bottle or capsule. Kefir has a live organism count averaging 1 billion per millilitre so if you drink 100 mls you are getting 100 billion. Not only that, the diversity of bacteria, yeasts and other favourable organisms far outweigh that of any other probiotic product or supplement.

Raw milk contains an abundance of beneficial vitamins and minerals, but unless we can efficiently digest the milk we can't absorb them. 

Kefir grains digest milk on our behalf. They break down the milk sugar (lactose) into lactic acid and break down the milk protein (casein) into basic amino acids, ready for our intestines to absorb and use to build our own proteins. 

Kefir is a great source of vitamins B1, B6 and folic acid.

Chocolate Avocado Tart

This last week I have had a couple of friends return home from the wonderland that is Byron Bay. Every trip I take there is blissful and full of magic. I am always so impressed by the community’s love and appreciation for wholesome, nutritious food and how quick and easy it is to enjoy a meal outside of my own kitchen without compromising my abstracted food fantasy. Being the health conscious irritant that I am, at home I find it quite difficult to eat out at snatch and grab lunch spots (there’s only so much sushi and salad you can handle!), however in Byron, the options are vast and varied. One of my absolute favourite places to eat is the forever full of life, ‘Orgasmic’. Here they make the most incredible freshly baked pita pockets filled with goodness. Falafels, spiced tender chicken or, I’d have to say the best beef kofte I’ve ever eaten are just some of the fillings to choose from. The selection of condiments and salad make for the whole experience so please don’t be fussy and get everything you can! 

If you appreciate the good food rhythm that Byron moves to, swing by Bellingen on your way home, just as we did. It has to be of the most beautiful little towns I’ve seen, also with the fantastic ideology that food is best grown and produced locally by sustainable and ethical means. If you are ever lucky enough to grace this attractive little town, please stop into No. 5 Church Street, a space where they believe “their food is a vehicle to express how they feel” and wholeheartedly promote the growth of the local community by using local, organic and bio-dynamic produce. They also have live music and other social community events to enjoy while you embrace their incredible food philosophy so check their website, www.5churchstreet.com, for more information. 

The last time I was there, the waitress (who is also the owner, which I love!), encouraged me to try the chocolate tart – her very own recipe. How could I say no? Usually a chocolate tart is not something I would order off a menu, but when the dish arrived, it was spectacular! Served with homemade vanilla gelato and berry sauce, this chocolate tart was the best of all chocolate tarts I had eaten. After offering much acclaim to its utter lusciousness, I was informed that its primary ingredient was in fact avocado and all other ingredients absolutely raw! Not really one for buttery pastry or creamy fillings, this recipe was incredible and something I must try recreate at home.

Indulging in reminiscence and missing my last roadie adventure, I set task to recreating this memorable tart.  Here is the recipe I came up with, not nearly as delicious as the one I first had the pleasure of tasting but near enough to satisfy. Start by blitzing raw almonds with almond meal, hazelnut meal, a pinch of sea salt and medjool dates. Once this has formed a rough dough, squish firmly into the base and up the sides of a spring-form cake tin and place in the freezer. In the food processor, combine 2 large ripe avocados with good quality cacao, agave nectar, 2 dates and coconut sugar. When the mixture is velvety and smooth, spread over the base in an even layer and place back into the freezer. One this has set, blitz frozen mixed berries and pour over the tart, then back into the freezer. Once the berries have set in place, release the spring-form and remove the tart from the tin using a pallet knife and transfer to a serving plate. It is kindest to leave the tart to defrost a little and soften slightly to bare witness to the maximum creaminess obtainable. Nourishing served on its own or with good quality vanilla ice cream for a cheeky treat.

Chai

Place 1 cinnamon stick, 6 whole green cardamom pods, 6 whole cloves, small knob of ginger sliced, 4 whole black peppercorns and 3 cups of water into a small pot and bring to the boil. Cover, reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to steep for 10 minutes.

Return pot to the heat and bring to the boil, the fragrance is so enticing at this stage. Remove from the heat, add 1 tbsp loose leaf black tea, cover and set aside for about 5 minutes. Strain the infusion through a fine mesh sieve and return the liquid back to the pot. Stir in 1 cup milk and 2 tbsp raw honey  and heat on a low flame for a minute or so. Pour and serve.

Although some might think this procedure to be a bit excessive and time consuming, the end result is well worth the wait. The ceremonial practice that is tea drinking has long been used as the focal point of social gatherings in cultures all over the world. Making tea in the traditional way, instead of using a ready- made tea bag owns quite a therapeutic quality and really, who doesn't love a tea party! 

                             

Ocean Trout with Porno Salad

Our hunter-gatherer ancestors lived a life of balanced eating.  No nutrition books or scientifically proven theories, just an innate knowing of what their bodies needed to stay nourished. So far removed from this seemingly simple concept today, we may find it hard to practice balanced eating. Common to all traditional diets is the 1:1 ratio of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. Over the course of human evolution, the balance that once was has been lost, and in Australia it is estimated that the general population is eating roughly 25 times more omega-6 than omega-3 as part of the average diet. Comparing this to the diet on which human beings evolved and our genetic patterns were established, it becomes apparent that this imbalance could present risk to a multitude of health complications.

Omega -6 is pro-inflammatory, while omega -3 is anti-inflammatory. Being that inflammation is at the root of almost all known chronic health conditions, it is important that we attempt to realign balance between the two. Please don’t take from this that omega-6 is ‘bad’, each perform distinct biological functions and offer their own unique health benefits, we need both types in our diets. I cannot emphasise enough how crucial balance is to a healthy diet, but also that there is no one size fits all approach.

You may be one of the health consciousness individuals who strays from processed foods and eating out; and incorporates plenty of quality omega -3 rich foods into your diet- fish, flax, chia, walnuts, in which case it would probably be beneficial to incorporate more quality omega-6 essential fatty acids. Hemp seeds contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), the active omega-6 form, while sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and raw nuts also contain omega-6, but in the inactive, linoleic acid (LA), form. To convert this to the anti-inflammatory GLA, you'll need a sufficient amount of Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, zinc and magnesium.

However, with omega-6 found abundantly in corn, soy, canola, sunflower, safflower and other commercially used cooking oils, as well as corn and soy being fed to commercial meat, as a population we are generally consuming an excess of omega-6 every time we eat out or anything packaged. Avoiding gluten, sugar, and dairy when buying from the supermarket or eating out is very achievable these days. Avoiding vegetable oil? Lurking in the shadows of almost every food label, proves to be much more difficult. 

So the point of all this rambling… most of us should be consuming more omega-3 and less omega-6 essential fatty acids! Omega-3 is found in flaxseeds and walnuts, but humans have trouble converting the fats from these plant sources into the longer chain derivates, EPA and DHA. Since EPA and DHA (especially DHA) are responsible for the benefits omega-3 fats provide, and since EPA and DHA are only available in significant amounts in seafood, it follows that we should be consuming seafood on a regular basis.

When trying to incorporate more fish into your diet, avoid consuming fish that are known to have high mercury levels. The toxic effect of mercury far outweighs the benefits associated with omega-3 fatty acids. Examples of high mercury-containing fish include both raw and cooked varieties of shark, swordfish and tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico. When possible, please choose wild-caught fish instead of farm-raised fish, especially if you believe food carries an energetic imprint.

One of my favourite fish dishes and something I make regularly is Ocean Trout served with ‘Porno Salad’. I’m not sure why it’s called that, but that’s what my Mumma called her salad, which was the platform for this one, so that’s what I call mine!

I find this fresh and zingy salad the perfect accompaniment to the oily fish. Start by making the dressing - so that the peas can bathe in it and soak up all the flavours while you prepare the rest of the meal. Combine about ¼ cup of olive oil with a tablespoon or so of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon sugar and 1 bunch chopped mint. Warm through a packet of frozen peas in boiling water, strain, and stir into the dressing. The longer the peas are left to steep, the more pronounced the flavours become. Don’t stress if you think this looks like too much oil, as what the peas don’t absorb will be used to dress the salad leaves.

Ask your fishmonger to de-bone the trout fillets if you can, otherwise just use tweezers and patience to carefully remove the bones. Rub the fish skin with salt and place skin side down onto a moderately hot grill. I like my trout just turned from raw, so I wait until I see the colour change creep up the side of the fillet then turn over.

My favourite way to serve this is to arrange a mix of salad leaves on a large platter, topped with the minty peas, slices of avocado, snow pea sprouts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Serve with the ocean trout or any other omega-3 rich fish of your choice, quinoa and Greek yogurt. The perfect balance of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids!