DIY Veggie Chips

Chips are a favourite in this house, and we're not even fussy about flavour. Salt and vinegar, chicken, corn, bbq their all good. If their crunchy, salty and put in front of us.....well they don't last long. Needless to say that is exactly why I don't buy them! 

However, making our own is ok....Right? At least I can decide what their made of and how much salt goes on them. 

To make the batch above, I simply cut into fine slices kumera, zucchini, beetroot and taro (using one of those fabulous dicer, slicer, chopper thingies!) sprayed them with a little spray oil and sprinkled with salt then placed them in the dehydrater for about 4 hours. 

By using the dehydrater I am able to retain all the nutrients of the vegetables, but if you don't have one of these you can easily place them in an oven on a low to medium heat and they will be just as yummy! 

Now we can chip away to our hearts content! 

Do you like chips? What's you favourite flavour? 

Pineapple cutting.....

The other day a friend was over and noticed I had a pineapple sitting on the window sill.

"Oh I love pineapple, she says, but I never buy them cause I don't have a cutter"...... A What?

Long story short, for years she's passed the pineapples by at the fruit store because she thought you needed a special tool or cutter to be able to eat a pineapple. You know one that makes the pieces look like a donut, similar to the ones out of the cans. No, no, no.......

Well luckily for her, I was taught by a seasoned professional who knew the art of chopping a good pineapple, tool free (thanks mum!) and was happy to show her how! 

This is my method......

First you cut both ends off your pineapple 

Next you cut off the sides, little by little, keeping as close to the skin as possible ( don't worry about the little black bits left behind yet) 

Now you need to go around the pineapple removing the little black bits left behind. Do this by making little wedge cuts. This will ensure you leave as much pineapple behind to eat, and you'll make a pretty pattern too! 

Then you simply cut it into half, then half again and remove the hard centre core of the pineapple (the pointy triangle looking bit). You can eat this only I find it very bitter, so we save that for the juicer then next day.

Then it's just time to cut it into bite size pieces. 

Place it in an airtight container and keep in fridge.....makes the perfect afternoon tea! 

Yum! Hopefully now they'll be no passing it in the fruit store.
 

Do you like pineapple? How do you cut yours?

Have you avoided something cause you thought it was going to be hard? 

25 ways.....

25 Ways to say "Well done!"



1. Amazing job! You should be very proud of that result
2. Congratulations, you got it right
3. Good remembering
4. I knew you could do it! Give yourself a pat on the back
5. I'm impressed, your a natural
6. I'm very proud of you - it takes a big person to say they are sorry
7. Now you rally have the hang of it - see, all your hard work is paying off
8. One more time and you'll have totally mastered it
9. That is the best you've ever done
10. That's the right way to do it.
11. Well done - you nailed it that time
12. You figured that out fast - I'm blown away
13. I can see you've been practising
14. You're doing beautifully - I appreciate the effort your putting in
15. You're just about there - keep at it
16. Wow! You are full of great ideas
17. Nicely handles, that was a tough situation but you coped well
18. Excellent, I can see you've really been thinking about this
19. I'm impressed at how you've stuck at it
20. I love your attitude - you're on your way
21. Thank you for just getting on with it
22. Hey! This needs to be on the news
23. I know it didn't work out but you kept your cool
24. You didn't make it this time but top marks for trying
25. Great stuff - your a star!

sunshine

"Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

 

 

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry

 

 

Sunshine on the water looks so lovely

 

 

Sunshine almost always makes me high"

 

 

(words by John Denver - 'Sunshine')

girls weekend

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart" - Eleanor Roosevelt

There's a lot to be said about the importance of friendship. Friendships that are relaxed, true and without fuss. I am lucky enough to have many of these friendships in my life and I've made it my resolve this year to try and nurture these. Letting the people who know me so well, know how much they mean to me, especially now that I've moved away from them all.

 

 

So when a few close friends flew from Sydney to  Queenstown, New Zealand to enjoy a girls weekend with me, I couldn't have felt more special. It was heaven. We sat, read, tasted, ate, relaxed, slept, drank, soaked, walked, froze and chatted together like never before.

I tell you if your going to enjoy a girls weekend, then Queenstown is the place to do it! So much pristine scenery, wineries, and adventures to be enjoyed. It truly is a magical place.

When was the last time you got away with the girls? Do you do it often?

in the lunch box - cosmic cookies

This recipe was given to me by a friend about a year ago, and it's been a staple in our house ever since! Its great because you can add or subtract pretty much as much as you want. I like to add cranberries or goji berries for colour and chia seeds for goodness, and if you don't have molasses in your cupboard you can easily use golden syrup instead.....they are packed with goodness and simply yum! (as you know I usually double my recipes when cooking, but this one doesn't need to be, it's huge!)

 

It does look a little daunting with all the ingredients, but it is sooooo simple and sooooo worth it, plus remember, if you don't have the exact sugar or milk or seeds as the recipe, don't be afraid to experiment.....just use what you've got. Just remember to try getting the wet/dry portions similar)

Cosmic Cookies -

2 1/4 cups quick oats
2 cups spelt flour
1 cup sunflower seeds
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup flax seeds
1 cup granulated cane sugar
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 1/2 tsp sea salt
1 3/4 cups dark chocolate chips
1 1/4 cups raisins
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup blackstrap molasses
3/4 cup canola oil
1 cup soy milk

Preheat oven and line your baking trays.
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl combine all wet ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Portion into 1/3 cup measures and place onto lined tray. Gently flatten cookies before baking then bake for 20 min, or until browned

Enjoy x

I love how it looks in the bowl before cooking - although this photo makes it look a little like gruel!

 



Sewing seat

The house we've moved into here in NZ has a little room right at the front of the house that is just a little too small to use as a bedroom, but funnily enough just the perfect size for a sewing room! So I've got myself sorted by making a table (screwing a large timber length to the top of a little set of draws and supporting it at the other end by simple 2x2 timber legs) and its great. My own little space to hide out and create away. Only thing missing is the chair.......I needed a seat for the sewing room!

So when I saw this old piano stool on trade me, I just knew it would be perfect with a little loving. $35 later it was mine - bargain!
Before......

After........ 

In position........

 

I love it. I can store my patterns underneath and it's just the right height for sewing. Now there's no excuses!!!