Super Foods - IncaBerries {recipe & giveaway}

Have you heard of Incaberries?

To be honest, I hadn't either....until I was sent a packet of these organic little treasures and asked to review them here on the blog.

I don't review and write about everything I receive - only the really 'good' stuff I want to share with you....and these fell into the 'good stuff' category!!

"Incaberries are the new superfood packed full of mother nature's goodness. Organically grown in the rich volcanic soils of South America, Incaberries have been eaten by the locals as a folk medicine for centuries"

They basically look like a fat, red sultana. But are packed with flavour!

Why are they called a SUPERFOOD? Because they are Organic, high in fibre and antioxidants. They're 100% natural, and contain no additives or preservatives. And, as a bonus; they also have NO gluten, or cholesterol....and are fairly high in protein for a fruit!

To find out more about these berries, including where to buy them; check out their website: http://incaberry.com.au/

The Incaberry can be eaten straight from the packet as a healthy snack {Ryder loved them!}, or as a complimentary dried-fruit on a cheese platter, OR used in almost any recipe. They can be used in sweet and savoury baking, dinners, sauces and more....check out the treasure box of recipes on the Incaberry Website.

I decided to use some Incaberries to make myself a new, healthy nutritious breakfast cereal.

I like a good quality muesli - so decided to make my own....

Here's how:

• 1 cup of organic rolled oats
• 1 1/2 cups of puffed rice
• 1 large tablespoon of lecithin granules
• 2 large tablespoons of LSA {ground linseed, sesame and almonds}
• 1 large tablespoon of Black Chia Seeds
• 1 large tablespoon of sunflower seeds
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon {ground}
• 1/2 cup of Incaberries
• 1 handful of Goji Berries
• 1 tablospoon of flax seeds

{Tweak the quantities to suit your tastes and needs.}

Mix altogether, store in an airtight container in pantry.

Enjoy with low fat {or Almond} milk. I also put a dollop of Natural Greek Yoghurt on top and drizzled with Maple Syrup {hey, I'm a sweet tooth!}. IT WAS GOOOOOD!

Perfect way to start the day.

Next, I'm going to add some Incaberries to my good ole' Lemonade Scones recipe, and am wondering how they'd go in some banana bread muffins?!

The uses of these berries are endless!

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AND....the good people at incaberry.com.au, have provided me with FIVE packets of these organic berries to share with five of YOU!

There are 4 ways to go into the draw to win a packet of these bags of goodness:

1. Leave a comment here on this post, telling me how you'd enjoy eating these berries.
2. 'LIKE' Incaberries on Facebook. Come back here and leave a comment on this post, telling me you're now a liker of their page.
3. Follow my blog....over there on the right column in the NETWORKED BLOGS ---> Then leave a comment here telling me you've done so.
4. Share this giveaway on your Facebook page, twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or blog and then come back here; leaving a comment telling me you've done so. 

You can enter up to four times.

The FIVE winners will be drawn next Friday 15th March at midday. Winners will be drawn by random.org and notified by email, and listed here on this post as an edit. {MAKE SURE you include your email when you enter this giveaway so I can easily email you!}

Australian entries only for this one - for postage reasons. Thanks for understanding.

ENJOY! And THANK YOU!!!

seriously good bread {recipe}

I first stumbled across this bread recipe on Instagram { follow @mynewroots } for more amazing, healthy recipes; and then went on to check out the linking website: mynewroots.org

The recipe caught my attention because {1} Chris & I don't eat a lot of bread, but this looked pretty tarn tootin' yummy {2} it seemed easy enough - no kneading like most other breads and {3} it was healthy!

As quoted from Sarah: "The Life-Changing Loaf uses whole grains, nuts, and seeds. It is high in protein. It is incredibly high in fiber. It is gluten-free and vegan. Everything gets soaked for optimal nutrition and digestion. I will go so far as to say that this bread is good for you."

So....I gave it a go....

And I think you should to. I rate it :)

I used a mixture of Flannery's Organic foods and Woolworth's Macro Foods in the ingredients. Both affordable and easily accessible to buy.

And here's how.....

Makes one loaf:

Seriously GOOD Bread:

Ingredients:
1 cup sunflower seeds
½ cup  flax seeds
½ cup  hazelnuts or almonds
1 ½ cups rolled oats
2 Tbsp. chia seeds
4 Tbsp. psyllium seed husks (3 Tbsp. if using psyllium husk powder)
1 tsp. fine grain sea salt (add ½ tsp. if using coarse salt)
1 Tbsp. maple syrup (for sugar-free diets, use a pinch of stevia)
3 Tbsp. melted coconut oil or ghee
1 ½ cups water

Directions:
1. In a flexible, silicon loaf pan combine all dry ingredients, stirring well. Whisk maple syrup, oil and water together in a separate smaller bowl. Add this to the dry ingredients and mix very well until everything is completely soaked and dough becomes very thick (if the dough is too thick to stir, add one or two teaspoons of water until the dough is manageable). Smooth out the top with the back of a spoon. Let sit out on the counter for at least 2 hours, or all day or overnight. To ensure the dough is ready, it should retain its shape even when you pull the sides of the loaf pan away from it it.
2. Preheat oven to 175°C.
3. Place loaf pan in the oven on the middle rack, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove bread from loaf pan, place it upside down directly on the rack and bake for another 30-40 minutes. Bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool completely before slicing.

Store bread in a tightly sealed container for up to five days. Freezes well too – slice before freezing for quick and easy toast!

NOTE: Make sure you use a silicon loaf pan. I didn't have one, so just used a standard tin loaf pan {greased} and it did the job fairly well....but the bread did stick and fall apart as I was trying to get it out mid-bake for the flip! I'm off to buy a silicone one this week so I can bake the bread again. Coz it ROCKS!!!

Breakfast - egg, spinach, avo...and THE bread. It was good.

I'm no food photographer, am I? You get the gist though!? IT WAS YUMMMMMMY!

Moist, nutty, tasty....addictive!

Original recipe can be found here. All photos in this post are my own, except the first one - I copied it from here and edited it with the text.

Are you a bread eater? What are your thoughts on this recipe?

Chocolate Chia Pudding.

Chia Seeds. Have you tried them? They seem to be the *in* thing at the moment. And I can see why. These little seeds are packed with antioxidants & high in Omega 3. They're the new SUPER FOOD! I hadn't even heard of them, until I got a text from Chris one day asking me to buy some {he was recommended them by his gym trainer}. So, like a good wife, I did! And we LOVE them! I sprinkle on them salads. I add them into Ryder's purees. Into our stir-fries, juices & baking.

So, when I saw a dessert recipe using them on Ironmum Karla's blog, I HAD to give it a try.

Not only is this dessert SO SO SO EASY to make, but it's healthy! Bonus! And by god, it tastes GOOOOOD! I'm addicted to it.

You will need:

• 1/4 cup of chia seeds {I use the raw, organic, black seeds from Coles}
• 1 cup of milk. Use an unsweetened one like Rice Milk or Almond Milk. {I use almond because we always have that - it's Chris's choice of coffee milk}
• 1/2 - 1 tablespoon cocoa powder. {the original recipe says Cacao powder, which is slightly healthier....but at $8 a bag, I just use my Baking Cocoa!!}
• Natural Sweetener {if needed} {I use Honey!.....just a squeeze}

Steps:

1. In a large jug or bowl, add the milk, cocoa & honey, beat using a whisker until mixed well.
2. Add chia seeds & whisk again.
3. Put in fridge for 10-15mins.
4. Then stir again with whisk or spoon.
5. AND WAHLAH!!!! Serve with fresh fruit or yoghurt. Or just on it's own!!

This recipe makes enough for 2 servings. 

I just adore the texture of it.....smooth, yet pudding-y & sticky & cold. And the chia seeds create this little disco in your mouth.

See, I told you! So easy, and super healthy!

ENJOY!

Chicken Noodle Soup. Winter Warmer.

Last Friday I made my simple Chicken, Noodle & Vegie Soup & posted some photos on Instagram. The recipe was requested.....so here it is :)

I got this recipe off a friend a few years ago. We went around to their place for lunch & she cooked the soup in front of me so I would remember the recipe easily {yes, I'm a visual learner} :)

I like it, because it contains simple ingredients, it's very easy to make....and perfect for winter!! And because the bits are chunky....you can pick out certain bits for fussy eaters....{aka my 4yr old!}

Ingredients:

• Chicken Drumsticks {I use 6 to feed my family of 4, but you can use more or less}
• Chicken or vegetable stock powder {I recommend Vegeta for this recipe}
• 2 carrots
• 1 parsnip
• 1 suede {I accidentally bought a turnip last week...it was great...not a huge difference really}
• 1 whole {peeled} onion
• 5 garlic gloves
• A pinch peppercorns
• 2 teaspoons of Rock salt
• Fresh Parsley
• Fresh chilli {chopped}
• 1 packet of vermicelli rice noodles
• Water

Steps:

1. Peel carrots, parsnip & suede. Chop into chunks. Peel skin from Garlic Cloves but leave whole. Peel onion but leave whole.
2. Place chicken drumsticks in a large pot and fill with cold tap water, so chicken is covered...about 3/4 of the pot full.
3. Put on stove top; on high.
4. Add rock salt, peppercorns, whole onion, 1 heaped tablespoon of Vegeta Stock powder & 3 garlic cloves.
5. Throw in the chopped vegetables once the water has started to heat.
6. Let it boil on high for 30mins-1hour. {I sometimes add some more water & stock powder if needed as it decreases}.
7. Turn it down, and let it simmer/cook for up to another hour. {I'm casual on the time....as you can eat it as soon as the chicken is boiled through.....or you can let it slow cook for as long as want.
8. 20mins before serving, add the chopped parsley, and any other salt or pepper {if taste requires it}.
9. Boil kettle and in a large bowl, cover the noodles with boiling water. Let them sit to soften for 5-10mins.
10. When you're ready to serve up..... Using a pasta strainer and another large bowl/pot, pour the liquid from the soup, so the liquid & chunks are now separated.
11. Put a large handfull of cooked noodles in the bottom of each person's soup bowl.
12. Using tongs, pick out all the good chunks of vegies & chicken {which will beautifully fall off of the bones & the skin can be left behind} and place into each person's bowl on top of the noodles. 
13. Pour the declicious liquid over the noodles & chunks; into each person's bowl.
14. Serve with cut up fresh garlic & chopped chilli sprinkled on top.

ENJOY!!!! Simple wintery goodness! And it's been perfect soup weather here in Brisbane this week. COLLLLD!

No Cook Playdough Recipe.

Like most toddlers, something Ella loves.... rain, hail or shine is: PLAYDOUGH! I've been making playdough for years {long before becoming a Mummy} because it's a great thing to have in a classroom. I use playdough when I have a class in Years 1-3, because it's great for fine motor skills & can be used to make patterns, number, letters, shapes etc.

Today, Ella & I made some! Our last batch was about 6 months old & was starting to look & feel a little aged :) I thought I'd put the recipe on my blog...because it's the easiest & quickest recipe I've ever used for playdough, and it requires no cooking or standing by the stove-top stirring :)

You will need:

• 2 cups of plain flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 2 cups of boiling water
• 4 tablespoons of Cream of Tartar
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil {I use vegetable oil}
• a few splashes of food colouring

Process: You basically put all the ingredients in a large bowl & mix! At first, it doesn't look like it's going to mix very well....it has a clag glue look to it :) But keep mixing. I then let it sit for about 10mins {to cool because of the boiling water in it} and then I get it out on the bench & knead it like bread dough & it comes together perfectly!!!! WAHLAH! That's it!!! And you can add glitter or coloured sand/rice to it, if you really wanted :)

I told you it's easy :) And so much cheaper than commercial playdough {and I actually prefer the feel & texture of it!}

ENJOY!!!!

An Accomplished Day.

I'm sure most Mothers {or Women for that matter} would relate with me & understand, when I say that everyday is so different....and can be so unpredictable. You can try to 'run a tight ship', have a structured routine, be organised, have a plan, stick to the to-do lists etc.....but at the end of the day....each day is so different!

I'm not a fulltime stay-at-home-Mum.....but I am lucky to be able to job-share my class....which means I only work 3 days/week as a Teacher...I love that! So....my Mondays & Tuesdays are all about being a MUM! I also run a business, keep a house, love a husband & then try to squeeze some 'me' time & my hobbies in too! Like everyone, I'm constantly striving for balance & organisation and a way to make it al work!

Some days are great! Others are disastrous :) You know those days, where you're tired & irritated?! When the house is mess, but you are struggling to find the motivation to clean it.....where cooking is the last thing you feel like doing....where your emails are building up faster than you can read them......where the kids are just as irritable & frustrated as you.....where the only mail you get is bills.....where you feel impatient & snappy! I too, have those days! And then that night as I'm tucking Ella into bed, I feel a little guilty that the day wasn't filled with excessive smiles & craft & photos & trips out & lots of play! I kiss her little face & promise that the next day will be better & that having bad days is all part of the balance of life! She gets it :)

Well....yesterday was not one of those days....it was a GREAT day! An accomplished day! And although I wish everyday was as productive & fun.....I know that we have to take the bad to better appreciate the good....and to keep things interesting, it can't always be good! It's all part of the flow of life I guess....and all part of the journey :)

Yesterday.....Valentine's Day 2011.... started with a great feeling! Ella was unwell {still sniffly & congested} so we had to cancel our plans for the day :( I refused to let this get us down....so a great day we had!

We crafted & painted:

We made a quick trip down to the local grocer to get some supplies for a special Valentine's Dinner for Chris :) We then made the most scrumptious Flour-less Chocolate Brownies!! Recipe from here!

We set the table...full of love & colour! We used Ella's art creations from the day, as placemats :)

Then we squeezed in a bike ride down to the local creek, where I attempted to do a 'Valentine's Day Photoshoot'....I'm not photographer....but love to snap away & pretend to know what I'm doing haaa {more photos to come later}:

And, somewhere amongst all that, I managed to do 2x loads of washing, Ella wrote letters to all her friends & enveloped them all, we read books & made organic vegie patties for dinner, we watched Barbie A Fashion Fairytale & we went on a mini bug hunt in the backyard! WHAT A DAY!

I'm not listing all this to rub it in or make anyone feel bad.....coz I sure know....it's all about balance baby! And with each GREAT day....probably comes a couple of bad days :) So, I'm taking yesterday's awesomeness & appreciating it for everything that it was!

“There’s no secret to balance. You just have to feel the waves” {Frank Herbert}

How was your VALENTINE'S DAY?

Who knows what today will bring.....let's go find out....