I alluded here that I would clean up the backyard over the weekend but I didn't actually think I would do it.
Yes, that is a mega pile of weeds. No, that wasn't all of it. Yes, I am ashamed.
I was creating that monster all day yesterday and holy carp I'm paying for it today. Everything hurts! The upside is that I'm not too embarrassed to go out into the yard anymore and there's now room to plant new things. Herbs! Greens! Vegetables! Exclamation!
My aching muscles didn't stop me getting into test kitchen to make some little treats to take to work this week.
These lemon ginger balls are a mix of cashew butter, Sun Warrior protein powder, mesquite, honey, lemon zest, ground ginger, coconut oil and coconut flakes. They taste exactly like my Nanna's lemon slice. Except, well, better.
I've started this post so many times. Both in my head and on paper. But I'm never quite sure what I'm trying to say. I guess in the end it doesn't matter, it's the act of writing it down that helps.
A couple of weeks ago I was feeling great. And it had been so long since I'd felt so good that it was really quite strange.
And then I crashed.
A month or so ago I did an allergy test and the results came in last week. Turns out I'm highly reactive to lots of my favourite things. And it also turns out I was highly reactive to this news. Over the last twelve months I've taken huge steps in trying to eat as cleanly as I can. And this was the second time that I've been thoroughly knocked off my high horse and told that my healthy diet could very well be making me sick.
The kinesiology sessions and introspective work I've been doing have started to make me think about things in a different way and I came to the conclusion that the strong reaction and resistance I had to the idea of allergies and the feeling of vulnerability that came with it is most likely because, mentally, it's linked to something big. My kinesiologist wholeheartedly agreed and the next steps are to clear whatever it is that's holding me back. This, of course, scares the crap out of me. But more and more it's also becoming a hopeful, positive and exciting prospect.
So as I'm coming to terms with the immediate future without some of my favourite things (almonds! pineapple! kidney beans! oats! chickpeas!) it has also led to more experimentation in the kitchen. Which I'm always more than happy to do. Even with very simple flavours.
This was an allergy friendly lunch of grilled eggplant and asparagus, kale salad and Choosing Raw's amazing sunflower dill spread.
So now that I've got it back together plans for the weekend include a morning run tomorrow, some very much needed cleaning up of the garden and some long overdue lounging and picnicking in the park. (Questionable segue:) Something I certainly didn't plan was running into a lovely couple and their pet snakes on the way home from work tonight. I can now officially say that I have patted a python. Fact.
Have a lovely weekend!
Why is it that I derive so much pleasure from looking at photos of food? I devote much of my day to this (usually at work, sshhh). I can't smell it or touch it and I sure as hell can't eat it. But I'm obviously not the only one, hence the popularity of cooking shows, magazines and blogs. I guess it's because food is a common ground for everyone. Whether or not you have the same level of food obsession as me it is still something that is essential in life. So, without further ado some more additions to my addiction:
Roast Pumpkin Satay Salad
Self explanatory, really. This was roast pumpkin with a broccoli, carrot, cabbage coleslaw topped with a spicy peanut dressing and loads of coriander.
Green smoothies. This one was orange, banana, bok choy, broccoli and pineapple. With a sprinkle of bee pollen and my first experiment with yacon syrup.
Big Bad Beige Soup
This easy soup is fast becoming a winter regular in our house. It's leek, cauliflower, parsnip, potato with cumin, garlic and chili. Saute. Simmer Blend.
When it's accompanied with fresh coriander, pepper and a drizzle of olive oil it's much tastier than it's bland appearance would suggest.
In progress it looks a little like this...
And the finished product (Note to self, cracked pepper doesn't look so good in photos)
And introducing a new favourite breakfast!
Almond milk banana smoothie, mixed with oats, chia, sunflower seeds, honey and raisins. And then if that wasn't enough, topped with gojis and some of these tasty little friends.
My test kitchen has produced many other treats that either got eaten before the camera even knew what had happened or just didn't photograph well. Which is a shame, because coconut yoghurt is beyond delicious.
Over the weekend I headed over to my lovely friend Connie's place for a day of raw food experiments. We had been talking about doing this for months and, finally, it happened. On the first day of the Raw Food Rehab initiative. Serendipitous, no? The day ended up not being what I expected and was less about the food and more about about us bonding. Of course, there was of course still plenty of food involved.
Like this delicious apple-banana-coconut pie with rich cashew cream. Which looked fabulous.
Until it came time to serve it up. Then it was just a mess, albeit a very tasty one.
I also tried Philip McCluskey's cauliflower popcorn. I have to say I was hesitant before trying this as I have mixed feelings about raw cauliflower. It surprised me by being totally delicious. It didn't keep well though.
And this morning's breakfast. A banana, pineapple, broccoli, silverbeet, blueberry mesquite smoothie.
I know you're delicious and you know you're delicious, but why do you have to be so freaking ugly? (And what is that green growth in the background! Photography fail!)
I also whipped up a little something to take to work for second lunch. (First lunch was leftovers of a spicy pumpkin, potato, cabbage capsicum mush. Not pictured. It was even less photogenic than the smoothie. Believe it.)
Grated carrot, zucchini and apple with pumpkin seeds and raisins. Topped off with a honey-lemon-ginger dressing, I'm calling it a grated carrot cake salad. It was sweet and spicy and refreshing and generally just grate!
And tonight I headed out for some baked spud goodness with my spudtastic friend Hannah. I'm still not ready to take my camera out in public with me just yet. But soon.
Right now I'm drinking herbal tea and getting ready to curl up in bed with season six of the X-Files and call it a day.
Goodnight!
I was struck by the realisation this morning that the only way I'm going to be able to take great photos is to start by taking crap photos. And lots of them. So, I began with my picturing my breakfast this morning.
A green(ish) smoothie. Banana, orange, blueberries, spinach, bok choy, mesquite and acai. (Ok, so it's a little out of focus. I have great respect for people who can photograph a smoothie in a jar and make it look fabulous)
It's good, see!
I bought some carob yesterday to see if I like it. Turns out I do. Very much. Especially when it's in the form of these tasty carob, tahini and oat balls.
Also featured is today's lunch:
Kelp noodles with a cashew cheese sauce, mushrooms, kale, tomato and capsicum. Leftover from dinner last night. And delicious! Somehow, even after all this faffing about I still ended up being less late to work than usual. Go figure.
On my lunch break I headed down to the market for some supplies and another opportunity to work on my photography skills.
(Hello my deliciously ugly little friends...)
So there it is. My first foray into food photography. Hopefully it can only get better! And hopefully soon. I've got big plans for my camera and I tomorrow. Oh the suspense!
