Tuesday 27 May 2014

Raw broccoli and salmon salad with Avocado dressing


This recipe was written in the NZ Herald back in April this year. If you are looking for a meal idea that is healthy and tastes great, you've found a winner! This recipe caters for everyone! Gluten free, Dairy free, Sugar free, Clean eaters! If you are vegetarian or vegan you can easily take out the salmon :)

This recipe is so easy and can be achieved in 3 steps!




You will Need:

1 Head of broccoli broken in to florets
1 red capsicum, roughly chopped
Handful fresh herbs of your choice (I used coriander, Italian parsley and Vietnamese mint)
200 g salmon (smoked if you wish, I prefer mine not to be smoked)
1 cup black pitted olives
1/2 cup seeds (toasted if you wish, I use pumpkin seeds and sunflower )

Dressing:
1 avocado
Juice of a lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup water
2 cloves garlic*
sea salt
pepper

* Note that the 2 cloves of garlic is quite strong, change this to 1 clove if you don't want it too garlic-y :)

What to do:
Dressing:
1. Blend up all ingredients together until smooth.

Salad:
2. In a food processor, Pulse the broccoli, capsicum and herbs until a rice like consistency.

3. Transfer to a large bowl and toss in dressing, salmon, olives and seeds!

Enjoy!

I hope you like this recipe as much as I do! Let me know what you think!

Brit xx

Sunday 18 May 2014

Sugar free Healthy "Banoffee Pie"


Lately I have been getting that sweet tooth craving that just won't go away! When this happens it is so easy just to go into the snack cupboard and find some chocolate for a quick fix. But this is not going to be an option any longer!
I have come up with an idea that will satisfy that sweet tooth but will leave you feeling free of guilt.
There are a few different variations, so it can suit everyone! It is even Gluten Free!

For this recipe you can use either Organic cream or yoghurt. Some of you may be thinking that the cream is not healthy. Personally I would rather have natural products that have fat in them over processed sugar any day. I also think the yoghurt option tastes great too if the cream isn't for you :)



Recipe


Banana

Coconut oil
organic cream or organic Pro biotic yoghurt ( I use BioFarm )
Grated (sugarfree) Dark Chocolate. The higher the cacao amount the better!




What to do
Heat coconut oil in a pan and saute bananas until they start to bring out their natural sugars and caramelise.
Take off the heat**

Whip cream until semi whipped (if you are using it)

Place caramelised bananas in your serving bowl, with cream or yoghurt on top and sprinkle your dark chocolate on top!


**If you are in a hurry you can always leave the caramel part out and leave the bananas raw :)













Let me know what you think!

Enjoy
Brit xx

Saturday 17 May 2014

Healthy Dinner Idea


Medallions of Beef Sirloin served with sesame seed coasted cauliflower, bok choy, baby carrots and a simple sauce.

I love this dish because of the great colours. It has wonderful textures and the sauce complements the beef.
This recipe is not restricting at all. I know what it is like to find a recipe and only have half the ingredients in the kitchen! Feel free to swap ingredients for ones you have. For example, Cauliflower for broccoli, Bok choy for spinach, carrots for beans. Sesame seeds for bread crumbs. Even the sauce you can change the chicken stock to a beef stock.
Have fun getting creative and playing around with your ideas :)





Serves 4


You will need:
8 cauliflower florets
600-800g beef sirloin
50g flour
1 egg
1T Turmeric ground
1/2 cup sesame seeds
12 leaves of bok choy
12 baby carrots
2 T butter
2 T oil
Radish cress for garnish


Simple Sauce
1/2 medium onion
300ml chicken stock
150ml soy sauce
100g crushed tomato
50g sugar
1/2 root ginger
1 clove garlic
90 ml sesame oil

What to do:
Pre heat oven to 180 degrees Celsius

Blanch cauliflower in boiling water until just semi cooked, drain and cool.Combine Turmeric and sesame seeds Coat cauliflower in flower then egg wash coat in sesame seed mix.


To make the sauce, add all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 15 minutes, blend then pass.

Beef:
place oil in (oven proof- I like cast iron pans)  hot pan then pan fry your beef sirloin until it has a good colour on all sides.
Place in oven for 10 minutes or until medium rare.
Allow to rest for 5 minutes once cooked

Vegetables:
Place baby carrots in a saucepan. Just cover with water and add butter. Boil and simmer until cooked.
Add Bok choy and allow it to wilt.
You can either deep fry your cauliflower, or pan fry in oil until golden

Plate up with bok choy on the bottom, pour the sauce on, cauliflower, beef cut into 2 slices per plate, Carrot and garnish with cress.

Enjoy!

Brit xx

Friday 16 May 2014

Sweet Saturday! Souffle' Pudding with Sabayon Sauce


Souffle' Pudding with Sabayon Sauce

I'm always hesitant at putting food on my blog that contains sugar and is more of a treat food.
However I don't do it often and I think that it is important to eat in moderation.
This recipe would be great to make when having guests over or for any special occasion.
I love this dessert because it is super light and fluffy. It has a melt in your mouth texture and will please the most critical dinner guests!






Recipe
Makes 6 portions

You will need:
185ml milk
25g flour
25g butter + extra to line ramekins
25g caster sugar + extra to line ramekins
3 separated eggs

6 Ramekins to cook them in
Roasting dish to cook them in


What to do:
-Pre-heat oven to 230 degrees Celsius
-Just boil in milk in a saucepan.(Only so it just reaches boiling point. You'd rather in be just hot than over boiled.
-Cream the butter and sugar then mix in the flour
-Whisk the creamed mix into the milk and re-boil - stirring
-Remove from the heat, add the egg yolks one at a time - always whisking.
-Beat the egg whites in a bowl until stiff and gently fold into the mixture.
-Rub the extra butter into the ramekins so the souffles don't stick. Then lightly coat the butter with extra caster sugar. This allows the souffles to not stick once cooked and adds to texture and flavour :)
- Fill your ramekins 3/4 full.
-Place the ramekins in your roasting dish then fill the roasting tin with water enough to come level with your mixture in your ramekins.
-Bake for 12-15minutes


Sabayon Sauce

You will need:
5 egg yolks
100g caster sugar
250 ml dry white wine*


* you can use milk instead of wine and flavour it according to your taste eg vanilla, cinnamon.

What to do:
-Whisk the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl over a bain marie ( pot of simmering water) until a pale cream colour.
-Add the wine or milk.
-Whisk the mixture continuously until it becomes thicker.
*Note that the hotter the bain marie is, the quicker it will become thick. However it is very important not to let the eggs curdle if the bain marie becomes too hot. If this is your first time making this sauce, just take your time and it will eventually thicken slightly.


Enjoy! Let me know what you think in the comments

Brit xx

Thursday 15 May 2014

Liebster Award!!


The other day I stumbled across a lovely blog that had told me I had been passed on the Liebster Award!
Paige from www.pagebypaige.ca passed this award onto me. So thanks so much Page!
Everyone should go check out her lifestyle blog with everything from food to travel!
The Liebster award is passed on from blogger to blogger with under 200 followers. Its such a cool idea to get to know and support your fellow bloggers :)

The Rules:
-Provide a link back to the blogger who nominated you
-Post 11 random facts about you
-Answer 11 random questions set by the blogger who nominated you
-Nominate 5 bloggers with under 200 followers for the award
-Write 11 questions for them to answer
-Let the nominees know that you have nominate them

11 Random facts about me! 
1. My favourite television programe  is Home and Away. It is an Australian soap opera. I usually have to record it though cause most of the time I'm working when it is on
2.I'm scared of the dark
3. I have two cats called Minnie and Little-Puss
4.Born and Live In New Zealand
5.I LOVE  watching Youtube videos. The SACCONEJOLYs are my favourite!

6. I just got all 4 of my wisdom teeth out yesterday
7. I did the sport of rowing for 10 years (4 years were coxing)
8.I had a surgery called a Nissan Fundoplication for reflux when I was 19
9. I went to teachers college for a year
10. I can't vomit because of my surgery and neither can my boyfriend cause he had the same thing done when he was a baby.
11.I have an older brother who is getting married next year and I am going to be a bridesmaid! 

Questions from Paige!
1. You next dream travel destination is:
America, Europe, Great Britain
2. This summer I want to:
Summer isn't until December in NZ but I would love to travel and jump in lakes :)
3. Favourite stores/websites to shop at:
4. If I were to be stranded on a desert island the 3 things I would bring would be:
food, water, boyfriend
5. Who is your current favourite blogger?
I have so many I love to follow. But one of my biggest inspirations is Anna Saccone-Joly. She has an amazing style and has taught me so much about beauty and makeup!
 
6. I am known by my friends for.
Drinking smoothies and eating nuts
7. Favourite restaurant:
hmm I don't think I have one particular but anything with a good theme with a bit of privacy and food that is organic and free-range. :) 
8. The item in my closet I wear the most is:
Cardigans/knitwear! But in the summer it would have to be my denim shorts
9. I cant live without my:
Family and friends
10. Cat or dog:
Both? I have ALWAYS loved cats but I would love to get a wee puppy one day :)
11. Favourite food
Quiche or some kind of tart. I love these when they are packed with ingredients. yum yum! But if its sweet, I'm guilty when it comes to any dessert with either lemons or hazelnuts!

The Lovely bloggers I would like to pass the award on to are:





Questions for my award recipients 
1. Why did you start your blog?
2. What is your Dream Job?
3. Who is your role model?
4.If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be?
5. If you won 1million dollars what would you do with it?
6.Favourite Animal
7. Favourite Accessory 
8.Favourite Musician/ band
9. chocolate or vanilla?
10. Favourite meal to cook
11. Where do you see yourself in  5 years time?
 

Tuesday 13 May 2014

Healthy Snack Ideas



Now that I'm all graduated, I have been busy working and my eating patterns haven't been as 'normal' as I would usually like. Starting early and working late nights means I have to be really prepared with my meals.
Over the last week I have been trying to work all this out and what suits me best.
Today I want to share a few snack ideas I like to have while I am on the go!



Almond. These ones were brought raw but I toasted them myself :) You can do this with any nuts. I like to buy my nuts raw. Then I have the choice of roasting them, flavouring them with a spice (paprika is my favourite!) or I can just keep them raw. Almonds are packed with healthy fats like omega-6 oils, omega-9 oils and mono-saturated fats. They also contain a good amount of calcium therefore it is a good idea to add almonds to a vegetarian or vegan's diet to assist with calcium levels.


Carrot sticks and grapes
 These two are good for the sweet tooth but are guilt free!!



I love having watermelon for something a bit different. I would usually have an apple or banana for a snack but I think it is good to mix it up a bit when you can :)
Watermelon is great to cool yourself down on a hot day!

What snacks do you like to eat?
Let me know in the comments below!

Brit xx

Tuesday 6 May 2014

Easy Dinner Idea! Cumin-Crusted Turbot With Roast Vegetables.


Whenever I have fish at home I will most likely crumb it. I find it quick and easy and I always know it will taste good! I would usually use the classic method of flour, egg wash and bread crumbs.
This method doesn't involve the egg or the crumbs therefore making it quicker! Not only that, but it tastes great! 




This recipe uses a flat fish called a turbot but you can use any fish that is suitable for you at the time.
This recipe has a rose' wine "vinaigrette" that is made during the cooking process in the pan which saves time.

Recipe serves 4 main meals
Ingredients
4-8 fillets Turbot (depending if you want 1 or 2 per portion
3 T cumin seeds, toasted and crushed
3 T olive oil
1 cup rose' wine or red wine
1 shallot - chopped finely
2 T chopped fresh chervil
2 T chopped fresh chives
2 cups wild watercress
1 T butter
salt and pepper
100g each of potato, beetroot, Carrot and parsnip (or any vegetable you want to roast)
peeled and chopped into chunks

Cooking
Toss roast vegetables in a roasting dish with 1 T oil. Roast in oven at 180 degrees for 30-40 mins or until cooked and golden.

Turbot - Sprinkle both sides with cumin and salt and pepper. ( If you want you can sprinkle some flour over this)
Fry the turbot in a hot pan with 1 T oil for 1-2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan. Place the shallots in the pan and slightly caramelise. Then deglaze the pan with the rose' and simmer for 5 minutes or until reduced to 1/2 cup. Quickly whisk in the olive oil and stir in chives and chervil and season with salt and pepper.
Remove from pan.
Add butter and watercress and wilter quickly. Season with salt and pepper.

Serve Turbot on the roast vegetables and watercress, drizzle on the glaze.

Enjoy!

Brit xx

Sunday 4 May 2014

Queenstown NZ


I am very fortunate that I live just a short 2 hour drive away from one of the most beautiful places in the world. Queenstown is located in the South Island of New Zealand. It is often known as the "adventurer capital" and is a very popular place to visit. It is a small town with beautiful lake Wakatipu and is surrounded by the lovely Remarkables - which is a popular place to ski in the winter, Celil Peak and Walter Peak - which you can travel to on an old coal fired steam boat called the TSS Earnslaw. 



On the left is when we were driving to Queenstown, sheep being moved on the road - Only in NZ!

On the right is a well known part of the road to queenstown when you are travelling from the south called the "Devils staircase". It is a windy tight road but has amazing views of Lake Wakatipu.

Eat

My favourite place to eat in Queenstown is a cafe' called Vudu cafe. There is actually two of them in queenstown because the first one was so popular! They always have really creative yummy and healthy food and drinks! Definitely my kind of food!
 
Pumpkin roll , vegetarian version of the sausage roll. This had pinenuts in it as well which was super yummy!


Strawberry smoothie - my fav!

Let me know if you've ever been to Queenstown or you would like to visit and want to know more!
I would be more than happy to recommend places to stay or things to do!

Brit xx