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Showing posts with label Cook Bake Eat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cook Bake Eat. Show all posts

Detox made yummy..

Hello lovelies and warm weekend greetings from Sydney! I am thrilled that the sun has returned to our Wintery patch of the world, and as such life feels pretty great! :)

via Tumblr

As I mentioned a couple of posts ago, I have received a few emails from people in regards to the 'detox regimes' that I embark on.
My regular readers will know that I go on a 4-8 week detox stint 3-4 times a year. In fact I am enjoying 'week 7' of my second round for 2011 as I type this!
It may come as a surprise that I use the word 'enjoying' but it is true, I am actually genuinely enjoying it! I will even go as far to say that I really look forward to my detoxes these days - so much in fact that they have become more frequent and longer!


1. Don't Settle For Less, 2. Scandie Foodie, 3. Chance Facebook, 4. Sweet Paul Magazine
 
May I add here though that I by no means am a 'health freak', nor do I intend to become one. But I do love the powerful & tangible benefits of clean, nutritious, and healthy foods. I can assure you all that eating/living this way does not mean going about daily life feeling deprived or starved in any way! 
To me it all comes down to a 'lifestyle' choice, and how we aim to find one that make us feel, look and be the best we can possibly be. Most importantly, any initiative or change to ones life and habits has to marry organically into every-day routines & life in order to work in the long run. 


1. Unknown, 2. Babauhaus, 3. Red Stamp, 4. Australian Gourmet Traveller

The detox queries I have received are mostly from people who read my 'Squeeky Clean' post at the beginning of the year. I wrote that post as an introduction and starting point for finding out more about the kind of 'detox programme' I do. It is a long and comprehensive post that takes you through the basics of detoxing and also gives reference to a couple of good sites.
There are many different programmes out there, including ones that incorporate 'fasting', 'parasite elimination' and 'breaking a candida cycle' and I am happy to talk more about all of these at a later stage. For now, I am basing my posts on a broader detox programme that will benefit everyone and that is not too hard to implement.



1. One Thousand Rings, 2. Fabulous K 3. Canelle et Vanille, 4. Sweet Paul Magazine

Some of the questions I have received relate to foods & recipes, and this brings me to the core of today's post.. namely 'yummy detox friendly foods'!
Over the (detox-) years I have built a little 'mental library' of every-day-recipes that work for me, and I will eventually add these to a dedicated 'blog page' (or separate blog..), but today I wanted to introduce you to a wonderful 'food blogette' named Maria.


This talented Finnish girl grew up in a small remote town just south of the Arctic Circle but has called Australia home since a few years back. 
Inspired by her mother and the abundance of amazing raw produce here in Sydney, she cooks up a delicious storm of healthy foods which are showcased through her vastly popular blog 'Scandi Foodie'. You will want to click that 'subscribe button' fast people!

via unknown source on Tumblr

The 'Scandie Foodie' dishes are delicious, wholesome, and packed with nutrients. Maria cooks with skill, style, and with great insight to seasonal & quality raw produce! 
Having salivated my way through her impressive and impeccably photographed (!) 'smörgasbord' of recipe posts I knew this would be the perfect reference to give my friends who asked about guidance on food & eating.
With Maria's permission I am sharing six 'detox proof' dishes that I personally will try in the near future. Rest assured though that there are plenty more where these came from..!
Thank you Maria for letting me showcase them here. You are such an inspiration to me!! xx

Chestnut & Apple Crumble - HERE


Brown Rice & Fig Tartlets - HERE


Fig & Goat's Cheese Tart - HERE


Paradise Pear & Kamut Couscous Salad - HERE



Savoy Cabbage Rolls With Brown Rice & Chanterelle Filling - HERE

Prawn & Wattleseed Fettuccine - HERE


All recipe pictures by Maria for 'Scandie Foodie' 

 ** * **

That's all for now folks, but I promise to chat more about detoxing later and to also share some of my own recipes. 
Of course you are always welcome to drop me an email with more questions until then.


 via Wet Hot American Summer

Hugs to all and happy new week for tomorrow!

xx Charlotta


One last (but not least) thing! My blog and posts are being featured on the  'Decorating Forum' all week. Do pop across and check their 'forum' and Facebook out.  Thank you Julie-Ann - hope your members enjoy my blog. x

Celebrate Spring with a 'Herbed Party'...

Hello my dears and happy Thursday! With Easter just around the corner, my Swedish mind inevitably drifts to Spring. I guess this proves that you can 'take the girl out of Sweden but not Sweden out of the girl', because really, I should be immersing myself in Autumnal glory as this is the season we're enjoying here in Sydney right now.. Oh well..


So, the other day I came a cross this suite of pretty pictures, and suddenly found myself dreaming up a 'herb themed lunch' with a buffet of foods and drinks inspired by the first harvest of herbs from the Spring garden. Why not eh?!

 I love this idea!
I was thinking baskets of freshly baked breads - perhaps some with flaky sea salt and fresh rosemary on top. Racks of 'Herb crusted Spring lamb' (click for recipe) and a large tray of Swedish 'Hasselbacks Potatis' (see here for recipe).

 Beautiful picture and recipe via 'Almost Bourdain'

There would also be bowls of beautiful ‘Salsa Verde(click for recipe), and scrumptious ‘Pesto Genovese’ (click for recipe). And perhaps a nice big plate of lightly steamed green asparagus with a side of sage butter, and a big salad of tender Spring time vegetables tossed with fresh Coriander leaves & a light dressing.


The hardcore ‘Scandi’ that I am, I would also add a fresh batch of ‘Skagen Röra' (see my mother's recipe below), and most definitely also a tray of home made ‘Gravlax’ (click for recipe) fringed with zingy lemon wedges. Both of these recipes use fresh dill as a core note and out of all herbs, dill is the one that is most true to my beloved Sweden. At least in my humble opinion.


I would serve up a variety of good wines (I love Lewin Estate Art Series whites, and Penfold's reds) and also set up a side table with a few jugs of flavoured water.  


 

I also love ‘lavender flavoured’, and ‘rose or tulip petal’ water. These are wonderful, and if you decide to make them please ensure you use 'pesticide free' petals only. Perhaps you grow these in the garden, but if you are relying on your local florist or flower market, please ensure you tell them what you are using the petals for so that you are given ones that are 'suitable for consumption.
 This image via

Last but not least. If you are able to get your mittens on some fresh passion fruit, I can highly recommend you make Australian chef Bill Granger's 'Passionfruit & coconut slice' for desert! Serve up with minted whipped cream and reap the rewards! Bake two - you'll need it!

This image via 'Almost Bourdain'

Hope you feel inspired to put on your own 'Herbed Party' to celebrate the unfolding Spring in the Northern hemisphere. Such a glorious time of the year and so much fun to have!


xx Charlotta