Avocados, Bastards and Turtle Cheesecake

did you have a beautiful lover's day, Angels?




I was thinking about you all day but donated the broadband cord (no wifi here) to Husby as a gift. He sweetly took the day off to spend it with me and as he's flying this morning it's my chance to pop on and discover what You got up to on Valentine's?!!




ALSO I couldn't wait to share this video with you.   Having spent most of my time in the states before in NYC and Boston, the business of EATING is a real eye-opener down here in Florida. I appreciate seeing first hand the challenges we discuss in my curriculum at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and this sweet little video highlights the changes the school supports and much of what we believe in as students.






On our Valentine's we took a short ride to the beach (my choice of destination:  Cocoa Beach pier) a little touristy and run-down, but so salty and authentic, it felt like stepping back in time.

cocoa beach pier tiki bar

Chocolate turtle cheesecake!

We super-indulged; I actually ate the seasoned fries on my plate, and for once we had dessert- a Cheesecake sampler,(selection of three cheesecake slices).   My favourite was the Chocolate turtle cheesecake laced with caramel and walnuts.
(probably very naughty of me to post that recipe link there for you ;)

I've never in my life before heard of turtle cheesecake which means far too many years not knowing this decadent treat!

It's certainly a once-a-year special dish.  you read it here.




Back at the estazia last night, I was as "full as a goog"! as we say down under (goog = egg), only did a few yoga stretches instead of the 12 bastards - that's what they are called, REALLY, I promise you- I've been doing all Jan and Feb thanks to Men's Health magazine challenge.  I admired so much Husby doing 25 pushups.  He hasn't done a Bastard yet, though ;)  





Back to healthy, this morning I had my first cup EVER of Kombucha green tea, via Yogi teas.  It was absolutely delicious and I can now fully appreciate the fascination and fan base Kombucha has, even though mine was only made from a tea bag and many inspiring fellow coaches brew their own!

 Breakfast= also a whole fresh avocado chopped into a bowlful of green leaves- baby spinach and mixed lettuces.




Confession:  A year ago I could not eat avocado, i considered it such a high calorie food with what I thought to be zero taste.   

 Just another brilliant tiny, life-changing adjustment the year of training as a Holistic Health Counselor has given me.  I now even crave the creamy, sweet chewy flesh- it seems to go especially well with baby spinach and a squirt of lemon juice- and appreciate it's jam-packed with antioxidants, fat-soluble vitamins, fibre and plant fatty acids not only beneficial for heart health... but unbeatable for great skin, and a satiated feeling.


Finally this morning so far :)), intead of jumping on the laptop as soon as Husby walked out the door, and dangerously delaying my exercise (dangerous, you'll know, because life has a funny way of jumping in and hijacking you as the day wears on!) I laced up my Nikes straight away and did a few laps of the compound, ending with a lovely chat to a curious squirrel.  Yet another beautiful occurrence which is everyday living in the sunshine state, and which I am loving so much!

But back to you, Angels.  How did you celebrate Valentine's?  I'd love to know!

love to you yesterday, today and always,

Samantha.


"You are beautiful, and loved more than you know."

cocoa beach pier

O Happy Day~ recipe for a Winter Birthday Pavlova

Uh-Oh, a birthday with a big "0" in it.
And this close to Christmas, too!


Like all the Saggittarians I know, my lovely husband is a happy-go-lucky adventurer with his hands in as many pies as possible.


There was no way he was going to be left out of his Own plans for a birthday celebration!


Saggittarians are strong-willed and usually sociable.  But when there's something on their minds they can be impossible to cajole from their caves.  Such was the affliction here and we found that this saggy-trousers didn't want to share with friends or family much- well- at all, on his special day.  No party??? Oh, the curse of the "0" birthday!


Happily we both got inspired by a traditional Aussie recipe celebrated this time of year down under.  Importing it to the Isle of Man seemed an ideal alternative to a Winter Sun escape...


To make a PAVLOVA is so beautifully simple that even I, who quavers under the responsibility of making a pretty cake from scratch, let alone a BIRTHDAY cake, was doing jim-jiminies in the kitchen.

Thankyou to beautiful friends who encouraged me to make D's birthday beautifully simple and personally special.  Without your lovely suggestions- which I'll be sharing in another post!- I'd have been swept into the ocean of "not doing enough".  Instead, the day was perfectly fulfilling.  I hope you'll make a pavlova on a special day for your loved one, too!


Winter Pav.




You'll need:

• 6 free-range eggs, seperated (whites needed only)
• 1 1/4 cup caster sugar
• 2 tsps cornflour
• 1 tsp vinegar
• 1/2 teapoon vanilla essence
• 300ml double or whipping cream (please choose organic proen to be better for our health and the planet) 
• Selection of soft fruits to decorate (Down Under they favour kiwis, bananas and passionfruit puree.  Here I used pomegranates, sliced mango, banana and strawberries)

1. In a clean dry bowl beat the egg whites til soft peaks form
2. Slowly add the sugar one small pour at a time (I'd like to experiment next time by adding less sugar) and mix til just combined
3. When all the sugar is beaten in, add the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla extract
4. Spoon the mixture on to a baking tray lined with baking paper.  Spoon it into a round shape (you can trace a circle onto the baking parchment using a cake tin)  Alert:  it will keep round but may also expand widthways as well as upwards so allow plenty of extra paper at the sides.
5. Bake in a pre-heated to 120 degrees C oven for 1 and a half hours or until firm to the touch.
6. Once firm, turn the oven off and leave the meringue to cool completely in the oven with the door ajar.
7. Whip the cream and slice the fruits prettily for decoration.
8. Once the meringue base is cool, spoon the whipped cream over the base
9. decorate with the fresh fruits and serve immediately.

tips:

~  To easily de-seed a pomegranate, soak it in a bowl filled with cold water for 5-10 minutes. Thank you Hannah Marcotti for this tip!  If you're the sort of darling that needs extra info, here is a resource for you.

~  Use a spatula to make round swirls n the meringue before placing it in the oven, looks so pretty upon finale.

~  Did you know, though high in sugar, this is a health conscious dessert?  Filled with fruit, wheat and gluten-free, and high in protein.  Enjoy in moderation!


~ What to do with the left over egg-yolks?  here's a recipe for a unique "Gold Cake" -you'll need a flour substitute if you're gluten-sensitive.  What about a healthy mayonnaise without additives ; a rich custard for a child who doesn't like eggs, or a delicious crustless quiche to use up lots of wilting green vegetables you've got hanging around?  What's your favourite recipe using eggs? Do share!

How to cook Quinoa- with a little help from my friends

Yesterday I was blessed to meet some lovely health-conscious souls at Holland & Barrett health foods.  We had lots in common- a desire for a delicious dairy alternative (I use Kara Coconut milk), quest to perfect our Gluten-free baking (Karina's Kitchen is my go to for this; so much information for gluten-free living!) and a LOVE of Quinoa.  But the question kept on popping up-  how to cook quinoa?


When I came home the hubs had chopped up some organic chicken and was at a loss on what to cook it with.  I felt like some fresh corn tortillas with lots of spicy vegetables, but he was hunting in the pantry for couscous, as he felt like "something light and not doughy" to go with the chicken.  As I've been slowly ousting the wheat and gluten from our diets there wasn't any couscous to be found; but we did have a great supply of quinoa, and dinner just fell into place after what I'd been chatting to others about all day!

yum. thanks to the Dinner Mom for this Curried chicken quinoa pic! 

How to cook Quinoa


Store-bought quinoa has usually been washed and air dried but always rinse the grain to get rid of any chaff or mold (uncommon if you buy pre-packaged quinoa, but best to take precautions as we do with any grains).  Quinoa isn't a grain in actual fact; it's a complete protein from the family of spinach.  This family contains saponin which can taste bitter; soaking the quinoa for 5 minutes before cooking, then rinsing once more further minimises the saponin effect.


I cook quinoa easily using the "absorption method"; the traditional (and in my experience, easiest) way to cook rice. Here's how:

1. Oil a saucepan and heat it on high.
2. Add 1 cup of quinoa and toast it on high for half a minute in the saucepan
3. Add enough boiling water (I pour it straight from the kettle) to cover the quinoa + 1 centimetre.  Stir the pot, turn the heat down to low, and pop on the lid.  Your quinoa will be ready in 9-12 minutes!

You can tweak this basic recipe so easily:

• to make a tasty savoury quinoa, add a teaspoon of vegetable bouillon or half a stock cube when adding the hot water.  A dab of butter at this time really amplifies the taste.
• to make a porridge-type breakfast or sweet dessert quinoa, use milk, single cream or your favourite dairy substitute instead of the boiling water.  Bring up to near-boiling point before lowering the heat and popping on the lid of the pot.

I always use my nutrition school's concept of "cook once, eat twice" with wholegrains, so as we watch the Rugby World Cup final this morning we'll have a beautiful bowl of Breakfast Quinoa; adapted from the Savvy Vegetarian , to fuel us for the day.


Many thanks to Chris and Mandy at Holland & Barrett Douglas for the chance to meet your customers to share my passion for healthy living and the transformative power of Health Coaching.  It was a lovely experience.  And welcome to a healthy circle, all new friends!

Simply delicious. for when the nights & purse-strings draw in...

hello beautiful health angels... do you love, as I do, to pounce on the pulses as the nights draw in?

Isn't life's tapestry so beautiful, as it weaves itself?  This morning husby & I focused on our household spendings, and were shocked by our cost of living.  We don't consider ourselves to live luxuriously; our usual treats are dinner out once a week; a couple of meals here at home when we spoil each other by cooking with the finest ingredients and match it with a lovely wine; a weekend away every season.  We live very well- feel super blessed!-, but hardly living it large...

Still, we were not pleasantly surprised at the cost!  And so we have decided to have a simple season here on our cold British Isle.  And so to lunch... where we discovered, quite by accident, en route to a split pea soup with leftover ham, the most delicious dish that's going to be one of my autumn and winter staples.  Check out the vital statistics and tell me if you're not in love, too!

• Can feed a family of four for under £3.  
• Vegetarian & deliciously balanced in proteins, 
• Filling and wholesome 
• Low carbon footprint
• Ready in just over half an hour (you don't even have to stand watching it!) 
• Prepared in 3 steps
• Uses 4 ingredients; and 1 of them is water

I like to call it Yellow Split Peas with Creme Fraiche.

It's not a soup.  It's what happens when you rinse and cover 2 cups of spilt Yellow Peas with cool water, bring to the boil then simmer for 20 minutes with a shake or two of salt.  Then add a cup more water, and simmer another 15 minutes.  The peas won't be mushy; still nicely formed; soft yet chewy.  A la risotto, all the water will have been absorbed. 

Scoop up a big bowlful each and add a dollop of creme fraiche.  If you like to get fancy, snip some chives or sprinkle a few fresh parsley leaves on top!; but you will not believe the simple sublime dish that is just a sunny bowl of split peas.

Did you know?  Eating an animal protein, such as cheese, yoghurt, eggs or milk, with legumes and pulses acts to "unlock" the essential amino acids the body cannot digest in pure vegetables alone, and so creates a complete protein.

~*~

And here's the price: 1 bag Dried yellow split peas from Waitrose  £1.49

Local creme frache  £1.62

salt & water... £0.20

~*~

warm fuzzies this Autumn to you!

What's your favourite low-cost, feel good feed?  Share your thoughts, below!

Autumn Inspiration- oh, the places you could go! (events!)

What's new and good with you this weekend?


here... I'm watching the Rugby World Cup as Summer's gone and the sky won't be comforted. Sloppy wet velvet ribbons from the heavens... such a lovely day to be indoors...
 and, a little later, bracing the beach for the benefits of barefoot running!  


Feeling in need of some autumn inspiration, yourself?  You could be with amazing people and places to join hearts and entrepreneurial, healing spirit with.  Yes, you could.




For energy that could shift NYC to a new level, hang out at the Jarvitz Center on Manhattan the weekend of 17 & 18 September.  FallIINto action, the beautiful Institute of Integrative Nutrition School conference is taking place, with our guru leader Joshua Rosenthal and the eternal Deepak Chopra in residence.
and in the same building the same days (SPOOKY):  ICANDOIT New York, offered by the beautiful Louise Hay and earth angels Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson and Doreen Virtue to name a few.


October 23 sees something, amazing I would love to attend:  Rich Happy & Hot with Marie Forleo.  These women!  Want to be there!  Even if just to experience Danielle LaPorte holding court with her white hot truth... because self-realisation rocks.


For all of this, living on the other side of the pond and wishing I could flit like a butterfly across the Atlantic to meet all my heroes, and sit cross-legged in front of them for even just 20 minutes... I WILL be rocking it with the girls at Holistic MBA in Philidelphia November 3.  A knock-your socks off opportunity to Step Into Your Spotlight.  World, is that you a knockin' on my door?  I'm... almost... ready!


Inspired by these crazysexy opportunities (oh, btw, the magic Kris Carr will be at RHH with Marie and Danielle too!) I thought any of us, any at all, with an interest in holistic health and healing should meet.  This side of the Atlantic.  


So... Our autumn event... It's London, IINit?  Are you a student, graduate or business-owner in the UK from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition?  We'll be hanging out on a Saturday afternoon in October at Wholefoods Kensingtons raw food bar, Saf.  You could be with amazing people and places to join hearts and entrepreneurial, healing spirit with.  Yes, you could.  Come meet up in London!  Details, RSVP and please add a comment on our facebook page, here!




love,
Samantha
xo

Sunday Share~ Happy Anniversary

This man.

...who helps me
Listens to me
Bends to me til breaking point...




Takes me to Tiffany when it's closed
(But arranges home-delivery)



Real life-~ and my~ hero


Happy 4 years anniversary!


On the menu: Fisherman's lunch & Strawberries with greek yoghurt drizzled with raw honey.


 Thank you for sharing our special day!

Summer by the Sea 1 ~recipe

 

We are so lucky to live by the ocean and these pale summery days are perfect for finding new picnic places around the cliffs and on the shore by the Bay.  Husby, when he's not in a helicopter, is enjoying a new hobby: fishing.  Yesterday he caught mackerel.  Poor darlings!

adapted from Channel 4's cook it!

But oh- how deiciously yum they were, simply grilled back at home after D'd taken the insides out, and I rubbed them with butter and salt.

I'd never buy mackerel by choice really; am I a fish snob?  It's not really an elegant fish:  quite small, boney, with a strip of dark meat running through which is stronger tasting than the delicious white meat- but it's nutritious and environmental qualities are outstanding.  Rich in Essential Fatty Acids; an excellent source of protein, of course; a sustainable fish caught locally... and it is always such an adventure to cook & eat something you've caught yourself- from blackberries to fish!  

Been fishin'?  Do try this delicious simple recipe, 

Griddled Mackerel with Fennel.

1 mackerel per person, gutted and filleted (so easy to do yourself!)

1 small bunch fat leaf parsley, finely chopped

1 fennel

Juice of half a lemon, the other half cut into wedges to squeeze over the fish

2 garlic cloves, mashed with salt

Butter (optional)

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

How to...

• In a glass bowl, mix by hand the parsley, juice of half a lemon and mashed garlic.  (Now you've got "gremolata"- an italian herb combination deliciously zesty which freshens up any rich dish!)
• Rub the fish with butter and sprinkle with sat.
• Heat a griddle pan, or (as I do) a george foreman/electric grill, on high for half a minute.  Sprinkle the pan or griddle with olive oil, add the fennel and grill until soft and juicy, about 1 min.  Remove and set aside.
• Add the fish to the pan or gril and cook for 3 minutes or until fish softly flakes when poked by a fork.
• Serve the mackerel atop the fennel, sprinkled with the gremoata (parsley mix).  

Roast sweet potatoes and onions are a lovely accompaniment- recipe for Gorgeous Sweet potato wedges here! 

 Maybe you've done it before, but it is really a new experience to have pulled abundance straight from the sea for our dinner!  I wish you a beautifully healthy & abundant end of August.

What's summer without... a picnic?

THAT gorgeous Berry Yoghurt cake- perfect for summer sharing!  Recipe here.

As a little girl I was blessed with parents who loved the outdoors.  We'd often, in the Great Aussie way, have a barbie on summer afternoons after Dad had mowed the lawn.  Fresh cut grass and the smell of sizzling beer on a hot plate (it's the best cleaner, you know), take me right back to age 7.


When I was in uni at Sydney my sophisticated boyfriend and I would buy a kilo of king or tiger prawns from the fish market in Pyrmont on our special occasions and take them back to Manly Head, where we'd set up a lavish lawn picnic in the national park.  We'd bring our champagne buckets filled with ice, too many bottle of NZ sauvignon blanc and perhaps a salad and fresh baguette.  But it was really about the gorgeous fresh pink prawns and afterwards, daydreaming on a white sheet under the impossibly wide blue sky.


I like to think I've picnicked my way round the world ever since, and given a sunny day, my catering thoughts immediately turn al fresco.
More memorable picnics include: in Central park, NYC, where I saw my first fire-flies... high on a mountain in Austria, eating packed-cheese sandwiches and fresh picked blueberries from beneath our feet... 


And here on the Isle of Man, where the weather is so tumultuous, where a mornings sunbathing can be followed by an afternoon of freezing fog.  Picnic style changes due to location, doesn't it?  Here I've learned it's not about the equipment, the style, the setting.  We go where the sun is strong and people few.  We're off on one now (it's been sunny for a few hours, late august, and the sky is that funny pale blue colour where it's impossible to tell if there's clouds or not... sun's hot though; we'll chance it.


What to eat?
In thinking how much I wanted to share the joy of picnicking with you, because, to alot of the friends I've dragged along with me, they don't understand the point of :- preparing.packing.unpacking.eating/spills/forgotten items/weather changes/bugs/location variables/packing.unpacking cleaning (to which I say whatwouldyoulike.pop it in there.anything else you need/what would make it super special.i know where we're going, it's a surprise. right, just here is fine. yum/yum/oh look at that/oh that makes me remember/would you ever like to/wouldn't it be nice if/i've always wanted to.time to go. wasn't that great.it's good to be home.), I had in my mind to pop here a picnic menu of simple yummies that make alfresco just so good.


Happily- so happily- I had unexpected help because just when one is in the middle of a great blogpost and one's attention invariably switches to facebook, what should appear but my talented friend Lisa Miller's article in nourish magazine suggesting How to tempt picky eaters.  She suggests a selection of healthy goodies, and so many of these are perfect picnic fodder too!


When you're lured by the promise of fun and relaxation alfresco, here are some wonderful ideas for your menu. *means they're going in my backpack for our jaunt right now! 

Nibbles:
Healthy tortilla chips, home-made veggie crisps, home-popped corn
Dips: hommus, tzatiki*, peanut butter, minted yoghurt, salsa
Vegetable crudites*, celery, cucumber, carrot, sliced peppers, baby beets, broccolini, asparagus, apple
Hard boiled eggs, peel them once sitting down


The main event:
Chicken- organic, pre-roasted and cut into portions (a british thing?) 
Turkey salad rolls* -recipe to come!- a wonderful portable gluten free lunch for energy
Nori rolls filled with avocado, chopped cabbage and toasted sesame seeds 
Pre-grilled sausages, gluten free*
Prawn, calamari, or crayfish tail dressed in garlic chilli and olive oil
Salads:  Quinoa with peanuts and shallots*; Wild rice with pineapple or apricot; Mixed leaves with green beans; Caprese (tomato, basil and mozzarella stacks)


Thereafter;
Local organic cheeses, rye crackers
Grapes
Strawberries*
Olives
Greens organic chocolates
Home-made cake or health bars* the Berry Yoghurt cake pictured above's recipe, here!


Beverages:   Sparkling water, elderflower cordial, wine or champagne* if you are this way inclined; a martini shaker, ice, vodka, orange segments and cranberry juice.

Enjoy these beautiful days alfresco whilst you can, beautifuls!

The Universe wants us to eat Perfect Wedges.

YEEhar, woohoo and La-Ti-Da~ insert slam dunk here!~ this little bean has ...OH! just knocked over the water glass!


OK, I'm back!  Thank you beautifuls!  This little bean has just perfected-
Gorgeous Sweet Potato Wedges.  Carries health warning:  You may never eat another french fry again.


sigh.  I love looking at this picture, taken a few minutes ago.  All that's left now is a smudgey plate.  How many tries to get to this point? Too many!  But now the pudding is proven!  Am saving this recipe!  And sharing the secret!--->




What Samantha did right:
Don't peel the sweet potatoes (yams).  Wash, pat dry, and slice at an angle
Boil slices in salted water for 10 mins
Let drain on a clean tea towel.
Spread over a tin lined with baking paper; drizzle with olive oil
20 mins into cooking in @200 degrees/390F, sprinkle with salt and nutmeg
Cook a further 20 mins.


These beauties mopped up some organic (store-bought) hommus.  Missing my avocados (this time last year, I wouldn't touch them!)... tomorrow, with baby spinach, I promise myself!


New focus:  quality; not calories.  whole foods, not diet foods, 4 weeks in on this one, no weight change... Taste = a million times improvement.)


with a happy heart and wishes on the wind to you this full-moon night-


Samantha
xxx