I can't get this tune out of my head today. Love the lyrics too.
Paleo Heaven
In the past week two of my friends have recommended I check out the new Hobsonville Point Farmers Market. So, I set off this morning to see it for myself and what a treat it turned out to be!
It was the farmers market that I see in my dreams, a bustling crowd in an old corrugated Iron Barn lined with stalls offering beautiful cuts of organic New Zealand meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, Frenz eggs (which, according to Paul Chek are the highest quality eggs on the planet), Chicken Liver Pate, Macadamia nuts, smoked garlic bulbs and my new discovery....Pork Scratchings!!
Now that my pantry is chocka with delicious real food I have the feeling it's going to be a great week!
A Day in the Life of My Stomach
When I first discovered Primal Nutrition I was immediately sold on the theory. There was the science, the history and many a testimonial to verify that the way we ate 10,000 years ago is still how we are designed to eat today.
But there was one little problem. The practical aspect. Living in a society that typically eats cereal for breakfast, a sandwich for lunch and pasta for dinner, how on earth was I going to adapt eating like a Cavewoman to our modern era??
My first obstacle literally came bright and early in the morning, with breakfast. The initial breakfast option that sprung to mind was the classic bacon and eggs, but since my Monday mornings.....or my Tuesday mornings for that matter don't allow time for cooking breakfast, I settled for smoothies, less work than a cooked breakfast yet no more work than jam on toast. After some experimentation with recipes I have settled on Coconut Berry Smoothies as my staple weekday breakfast.
Now, since I didn't require a morning snack (I was too full from my smoothie) the next meal in line to be Primal-ised was lunch. This wasn't a difficult task since I'd previously have something along the lines of a salad sandwich. This meant, all I needed to do was eliminate the bread and increase the size of the salad, while including both a source of protein, such as leftover meat from dinner or salmon, and a source of fat, such as avocado or olive oil. If the weather is cooler, I now often prefer to steam some vegetables and put the protein and fat sources on top.
Then along came afternoon snack time, a time previously spent lurking around the kitchen looking for anything that vaguely resembled sugar! These days I still feel the need for a snack in the afternoon (possibly since I'm Crossfitting and Breastfeeding which makes my absolutely ravenous!), but it now looks like one of the following:
- A couple of hard boiled eggs
- Vegetable Soup
- Cocoa Snacks
- Sesame Crackers with Almond Butter
Dinner, the easiest meal to Primal-ise by far since most meals I previously made are already Primal or in need of only a few minor tweaks. Therefore, dinner at our house usually looks something like......
- Roasts done in the slow cooker
- Sausages with Steamed Veges or Salad
- Casseroles made in the slow cooker
- Chicken Caccitore
- Mince and Vegetables (oh so plain but it's 2-year-old Jacinda's absolute Favourite!)
- Satay Beef
- Pork Belly Roasts
There you have it. Nothing gourmet, no portion control, just real food the way nature intended for us to eat.
Coconut Berry Smoothie
Having experimented with a few smoothie combinations, I have settled with this concoction as my staple weekday breakfast.
Why? Because it keeps me nice and full until lunchtime, is quick and easy to prepare and tastes delicious!
Coconut Berry Smoothie - Serves 2
- 1x400ml can of Coconut Milk
- 2 Tablespoons of Coconut Oil
- 2 Cups of Frozen Mixed Berries
- 4 Tablespoons of Unflavored Whey Protein
Chicken Caccitore
Ingredients:
500g Chicken Thighs, raw and cubed
2-3 kumaras peeled and cubed
1 diced onion
1 clove of garlic, crushed
440g can of tinned tomatoes
1 1/2 cups of sliced mushrooms
1 tsp vegetable bouillon
1 tsp oregano
1 handful of chopped parsley
Salt and Pepper
Method:
- Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees
- Place Chicken in an oven proof dish and top with remaining ingredients
- Bake covered for 1 hour
'GG's' Knitting
The only thing I've created lately, is a baby, and she leaves me not much time for other versions of creating, such as knitting.
Therefore, today I will showcase the beautiful work that my Grandmother, known as 'GG' by my girls (short for Great Grandma) has made for baby Lucy.
There is something so special about Grandmothers knitting for a new baby, the fine wool is extra soft and you know the piece is safe from the stains appear with the onset of solids and crawling. But most precious of all is that you know that one day your Grandchildren may be wearing that same little piece of handknitting.
For more 'creative spaces' head over to kootoyoo
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Laundry, Laundry everywhere!
Must be time to make some of my own detergent.
I tried both a powder and liquid version with both working wonders on all our grubby washing, as well as smelling naturally fresh and clean.
Here's How.....
Washing Powder
5 Cups Lux Soap Flakes
7 Cups Borax
3 1/2 Cups of Washing Soda Crystals
Mix all together and place in a large Container, use approx 1/2 a cup per load
Liquid Laundry Detergent - Thanks to Wendyl's Green Goddess
½ bar Castile or vegetable-based or Sunlight soap, grated
1.5 litres of water
½ cup washing soda
50 g borax
1 litre hot water
Place soap in a saucepan with the first quantity of water and heat on low until soap is dissolved. Stir in washing soda and borax. Stir for a few minutes until thickened and remove from heat. (If you're using Castile or vegetable-based soap it won't thicken straight away, but don't worry, it will overnight in the bottles). Add 1 litre of hot water to a bucket. Add soap mixture and mix well. Fill bucket with another 5 litres of hot water and mix well. Pour into old milk bottles or other containers and set aside for 24 hours or until mixture thickens. Use ½ cup of mixture per load. It is easy to squeeze from the bottles as it is quite gluggy.
Happy natural laundering!
Just to Let You Know....
Lucy Imogen, our precious new daughter arrived on the evening of April 21st.
Everything couldn't of happened more perfectly, arriving at home after a short labour.
During the past 2 weeks we have been getting to know her and resting as much as possible during the early days of her life.
A true miracle.
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