Ten Uses of Apple Cider Vinegar

If you’ve ever spoken to a health blogger before, you’ll know within approximately four sentences that they can’t possibly live without Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). But seriously, if you’re trying to get thrifty in the kitchen, ACV is a great place to start. Whether it’s to kickstart digestion in the morning, boost a salad or tone your skin, it’s an all-rounder. It’s basically the kid who somehow won every single prize at your school all the time; you know the one.

When purchasing apple cider vinegar, go for the real thing - I like this one here. Make sure to buy the real variety of apple cider vinegar that’s organic, unfiltered and contains the ‘mother’ ingredient which gives it it’s health edge. Personally, I love using Apple Cider Vinegar in all of my recipes but it has various uses. Here are my top ten uses for the wonderful ACV:

Let’s start off with the classic digestive aid. Apple cider vinegar has the ability to help us produce hydrochloric acid, an important stomach acid we need for digestion. I love to combine some apple cider vinegar, a squeeze of lemon, some Love Your Gut Powder and warm water in the morning before food to maximise its benefits.

We love our (gluten-free, paleo, refined-sugar free) bread, we love our (organic, grass-fed) butter but most of all, we love each other pickled vegetables. Pickled vegetables and ACV go together like Australia and it's love of new Prime Ministers. Using apple cider vinegar in place of regular vinegar is a great way to ferment your favourite veggies, or for flavouring at the end of fermentation.

If you’re a lover of all things rinse and repeat, you’ll have to try rinsing out your hair with apple cider vinegar. It can be used to supercharge your hair by detangling and adding shine. Just use two tablespoons mixed with water. You may need to experiment with this ratio as everyone’s scalps are different so adjust accordingly and get ready for beautiful, shiny and flowing hair.

Two words: gummy bears. Yes, you read that correctly. Everyone’s favourite sweet has just become supercharged. Apple Cider Vinegar is one of the star ingredients in my Apple Cider Gummy Bears. These nutrient-packed treats are the perfect treat for sneaking in some healthy goodness for the whole family. If you decide to shop for ACV gummies check out these Goli Coupons.

If your skin’s been feeling a little oily, apple cider vinegar can help rebalance the pH of your skin! It’s also full of anti-bacterial properties to help tone your skin. Try dabbing some on your skin when it's mixed in with a bit of water for the ultimate benefits.

Speaking of skin, apple cider vinegar can make a great make-up remover. Simply use one part of ACV to two parts water, dab a cotton ball with the mixture and gently swipe to remove your make-up. It’s genius I tell you, pure genius.

If you’ve been soaking out in the sun all day and you’re starting to turn into a peeled and unhappy crab, put some ACV on it. To take the sting out of the burn and reduce redness, try soaking a cloth with apple cider vinegar and place it on your sunburn.

If you’re a lover of all things bone broth (pick me! pick me!), you’ll probably know that apple cider vinegar is an amazing inclusion as it can help increase your nutrient absorption from the bones. If you’ve never tried including some in your bone broth recipe or if you’ve never even tried a home-made broth before, my Beef Pho Broth is a good place to start. Just a warning – this pho is so good that if you’re starting with it, you’ll probably never want to try a different broth recipe ever again. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

For anyone who has respiratory problems, you’ll know the key way to look after them is prevention. If you experience colds, asthma, bronchitis or anything the like, try using ACV as a humidifier with some filtered water with the ratio of 4:1. That'll do the trick.

For the ultimate salad dressing, you’ve got to try including ACV. Just add some extra virgin olive oil, lemon or lime, a pinch of salt and pepper and you’ve totally supercharged your dressing. It’s proven to help lower cholesterol and even improve cardiovascular health. Try this dressing on for size here.

There you go! My top ten hacks. I'd love to know - what are you favourite ways to get some Apple Cider Vinegar Loving into your life?

Roasted Fig, Walnut and Goat’s Cheese Salad

We are rolling into fig season and boy am I excited!

As you can tell by the name of this blog post, what you’re about to read, and subsequently make because it’s too good not to, is absolutely delicious. The reason the classic combination of roasted figs, beetroots, walnuts and goat’s cheese is such a classic is because of a little term I like to use known as ‘flavour pairing’. The recipe comes straight out of the pages of my new book Supercharge Your Life.

Now, true flavour is created and culminated by a cook - yes, I said a human cook, not a machine or production line. Flavours are best paired when they’re made from raw and real ingredients, just like Mother Nature intended. It’s the pure alchemy of the special ingredients chosen with love that produces a dish that is not only delicious, but pure magic.

To put it simply, flavour pairing is combining foods that have the same flavour compounds. Through my personal cooking experiences over the years, my interest in human taste biochemistry has only grown. While there are an impressive number of findings all about the topic, chefs use the notion of molecular gastronomy in preparing their dishes to create unique and tantalising tastes. This is exactly what you get in my Roasted Fig, Walnut and Goat’s Cheese Salad.

Combining certain foods together can also increase their nutritional value, helping your body absorb and utilise the benefits of each separate ingredient more effectively. It seems the whole really is greater than the sum of its parts.

Not only does flavour pairing increase how wholesome food is for our bodies, our mouths actually enjoy food more when flavours are chosen and balanced. It’s true what grandma said, you can taste the love in some cooking! For example, when a food is too bitter, we look for something sweet to counterbalance it (hello dark chocolate!). If a food is too salty, we look for something with a higher water content and bland flavour to balance it out.

This concept of creating perfect flavour pairings isn’t only used in the culinary world. It’s used by chefs, sommeliers, food technologists, perfumers, and now, even you. The idea of two separate entities complementing each other and combining together is also seen throughout our relationships. Let’s think about power couples. What makes a power couple a power couple? One is extroverted, the other is introverted; one is daring, the other is conservative; one is always running late, the other has an in-built alarm clock. Individuals in power couples complement each other and pick-up where the other may be lacking. This is pairing at its finest.

Similarly, certain flavours can balance others by counteracting or offsetting them to achieve harmony on the palate. For example, if you’re cooking and you’ve accidently dropped too much spice into the pan, you can bring a sweet ingredient into play to balance and neutralise the heat. If you intend to enhance or amplify a sweet flavour, try adding a touch of saltiness.

Think back to the last time you bit into salted caramel goodness or added some lemon to your guacamole. Just this little act puts you in line with world-class food tasters and chefs, practicing food pairing at its finest. Look at you go – MasterChef, watch out!

In all seriousness, am I the only one who thinks it’s amazing what our palates are capable of appreciating when we employ a few simple molecular gastronomy principles? Okay… just me.

The most exciting part about all of this is that you too can create simple, healthy, chef-inspired meals all in the comfort of your own home. To help you get started, I’ve listed some of my principle food pairings that I swear by. Be inspired and excited to experiment with some of these and reap the tasty benefits.

- To brighten up any dish and give it some va-va-voom (the scientific term), I recommend adding sourness and acidity. I favour lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar and brown rice vinegar.

- To balance out sourness, bitterness or spiciness, try adding something sweet like rice malt syrup, maple syrup, raw honey, mirin or stevia drops or powder.

- If your dish is a bit bland or bitter, try adding salt to bring out the flavours and aromas of other ingredients. My top salty additions are wheat-free tamari, coconut aminos, Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt.

- If your baked goods are too sweet, try adding something bitter to reduce the richness, heaviness or sweetness. Ingredients like citrus peels, raw cacao powder and dandelion root work like a charm here!

Try the gentle art of balancing by employing these tastes, and when in doubt, like everything in life, listen to your gut and trust your instincts.

If you’re ready for one of the best flavour combinations in history, and no, I’m not biased (okay, maybe a little), you can’t go past roasted figs, beetroots, walnuts and goats’ cheese. The chewy and sweet fig with its lusciously smooth skin, complemented by the grounding and earthy taste of beetroot, combines effortlessly with savoury, salty and soft goats’ cheese.

Trust me, if you’ve never baked a fig before, your world is about to change. While they’re delicious fresh, when they’re warm after some exposure to an oven, they’re unstoppable. Not only are figs delicious, they’re also high in fibre for good digestion as well as various vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin B and potassium. Combine that tantalising taste with all of the comfort feels of melted goat’s cheese and you’ve got one heck of a salad!

I believe deep down that goat’s cheese and beetroot were made for one another. Their romance is proof that opposites attract, and that two entirely different souls can be a match made in heaven. Here, the bright pink, sweet, earthy flavours of beetroot mingle with the rich, creamy tartness of goat’s cheese. I highly recommend investing in a quality goat’s cheese. It’ll be a little extra on your food bill, but it’s a decadent treat like no other and let's face it foods here to be celebrated and enjoyed.

This salad from Supercharge Your Life, is a simple, quick and elegant lunch or dinner recipe. This dish will quickly transport you to flavour paradise as it perfectly balances melt-in-your-mouth goat’s cheese, roasted figs, earthy beetroots and crunchy walnuts. Heavenly.

To read more about my new book Supercharge Your Life- How to put real food at the heart of everything go here.

Roasted fig, walnut and goat’s cheese salad

Serves 4

3 small beetroot (beets), peeled and thickly sliced
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
6 ripe figs, halved crossways
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
apple cider vinegar, for drizzling
100 g (312oz) walnuts
200 g (7 oz) English spinach, plus extra to serve (optional)
100 g (312oz) goat’s cheese
juice of 1/2 lemon
2 thyme sprigs
freshly ground black pepper
microherbs, to serve (optional)
1 orange, sliced and roasted, to serve (optional)

Method:

Preheat the oven to 220°C (425°F).

Toss the beetroot in a roasting tray with a drizzle of olive oil. Roast for 25 minutes, or until just softened.

Remove the tray, lay the fig halves, cut side up, around the beetroot then sprinkle with the cinnamon and drizzle over some olive oil and apple cider vinegar.

Roast for 5 minutes then add the walnuts and cook for a further 5 minutes, or until the figs are golden, plump and slightly softened.

Allow to cool to room temperature.

Put the spinach on a platter or in a salad bowl, add the figs and walnuts, and crumble over the goat’s cheese.

Drizzle with olive oil and the lemon juice. Top with the thyme, a grind or two of black pepper, some microherbs, extra spinach and roasted orange slices, if using.

GOLDEN GUT EGG NOG

Nog Nog.... who's there?

Just in time for the holidays, I got to film some fun cooking videos with my friend Irene from Nourished Life last week. We shook up the traditional egg nog and added some golden spice and everything nice.

This is a delicious dairy free and healthy version that the whole family can enjoy around Christmas time. It's so much better than the gloopy stuff from the carton!

Enjoy anti-inflammatory turmeric, spicy ginger, a hint of cinnamon and spiced rum (adults and pirates only Arrr... me hearties!).

Egg nog goes back to medieval Britain, but fear not, even your modern day Aussie knight in shining armour can shake this up for you.

By the way, if you're on still on the hunt for last minute Christmas gifts check out my Supercharged Christmas gift giving guide here.

Golden Gut Egg Nog

Serves 6

250 ml (9 fl oz/1 cup) coconut cream
750 ml (26 fl oz/3 cups) coconut milk
3 cinnamon sticks
1 teaspoon golden gut blend (plus extra to serve)
1 teaspoon vanilla powder or essence
5 egg yolks
Spiced rum (optional!)

Method

Combine all the ingredients except the egg yolks in a medium saucepan, stir gently until combined, then slowly bring to the boil over medium–low heat.
Remove from the heat and set aside to steep for 3–4 minutes, then remove the cinnamon sticks.
Whizz the egg yolks in a blender on high until frothy or whisk them.
Add the coconut milk mixture, then whizz for a couple more seconds or pour all into a shaker.
Serve warm or chilled, sprinkled with extra golden gut blend on top.

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MY TEA SCHEDULE + PUKKA TEA REVIEW

Hi, I’m Lee and I’m a tea-aholic.

Yes, yes, I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m addicted to tea. I drink several cups of tea a day and have found that there’s tea for every occasion and mood.

There’s a tea for waking up in the morning, soothing a sore throat that arises mid-day, cooling down in the afternoon, easing digestion after a big meal and even one for helping you tuck into bed at night. While there are plenty of tea brands out there that have a range of flavours and offer several health benefits, I have to say, no one makes tea quite like Pukka does.

Not only does Pukka create deliciously tasting tea, they also follow fair and sustainable practices for people, plants and the planet.

Pukka herbs harness the indescribable power of nature through their award-winning organic and ethically sourced organic herbal wellbeing creations. Their herbal blends are based upon Ayurvedic principles as they cultivate healing teas based on ancient wisdom, herbal expertise and of course, the best taste and flavours.

If a cup of their tea doesn’t warm you up enough, the fact that they’re involved in several social mission initiatives will. Their aim is to make the world a better place by donating 1% of their earnings towards environmental causes.

I love the fact that their tea bags are biodegradable, and only organic cotton strings and compostable tags are used, so perfect for the garden. Even their packaging involves recyclable paper with vegetable ink; it fulfils every one of my inner-hippie dreams! To me, this makes each cup of tea taste even better and more fulfilling. Who doesn’t love drinking your favourite cup of tea and saving the planet at the same time? I’ll wait.

Pukka is a leader when it comes to the herbal wellbeing and sustainable business revolution and that’s a train I’m definitely not missing. If you’re wanting to jump on the tea train but don’t know where to hop on, below is my very intensive tea schedule to help inspire your tea journey (I told you I’m seriously addicted!).

My first tea of choice is, of course, an Elegant English breakfast tea. I’m not sure if it’s because of my English roots or my love of all things comfort, but I have a serious obsession with the classic English breakfast tea. I usually have this tea with a drop of oat milk (my new favourite!) upon rising. Drinking this tea mindfully and slowly in the morning with a couple of deep breaths is the best way to enjoy it. Don’t even think about drinking this tea on the go as it doesn’t have the same effect (trust me, I’ve tried!).

Whenever I need a good freshen up, Pukka’s Three Mint tea has got me covered! This classic herbal favourite combines peppermint, spearmint and field mint to cool and calm you down. While we all know mint is a great breath refresher, it’s also beneficial for relieving indigestion and improving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Unlike many mint teas on the market, this tea doesn’t become bitter after a long brew; it’s a real winner.

After I’ve had lunch, my first tea of the afternoon is the Three Fennel. I love having it after lunch as it soothes digestion and offers a delicious blend of flavours for the taste palate too. It includes sweet Turkish fennel seeds, soothing wild fennel and feathery fennel leaf which is why it’s my after-lunch special. Drink up!

Liquorice and Cinnamon has to be one of my favourite tea flavour combinations of all time. Not only does it include the sweetness of liquorice and fragrance of cinnamon, it also provides a whole host of health benefits. Liquorice is often used in herbal medicine to soothe digestive complaints and even ease a sore throat, while it’s dynamic partner, cinnamon, can help reduce blood sugar levels. It’s perfectly warming, nourishing and sweet; cinnamon and liquorice are truly a power couple.

Having a cup of tea at night has always been a special ritual to me. It’s one of the most comforting cups of tea that I have throughout the day and lets my body know it’s time to tuck into bed and get my z’s on. Pukka’s Night Time Tea has been blended by a Master Herbsmith to create the ultimate sleepy tea. Combining a dreamy blend of oat flower, soothing lavender and silky-sweet lime-flower with the magical powers of valerian, this tea acts as a saviour for everyone, from those who can fall asleep at the drop of a hat to even those who are sleep-deprived. It’s a seriously special blend to calm the spirit, quieten the mind and put the body at rest.

So, that’s all for my tea schedule – I told you it was intensive! If you're keen to find out more about this tasty and feel good 100% organic tea brand head to Pukka’s site here.

Chocolate and Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

Our planet is absolutely beautiful. While I must admit, there are a million negative events that happen regularly on earth, I’m continually astounded by the potential for positivity and miracles to occur. There’s the magical interplay that occurs between seasons and the cycle of nature; harmonious relationships between humans; the ability to nurture our soil and earth and of course, the planet’s innate capacity to give back to us lovingly in return.

This is one of the inspirations for my latest book, Supercharge Your Life In fact, it’s one of the reasons I started Supercharged Food in the first place. I’m constantly in awe of the offerings that can exist within even one herb from the ground or a piece of fruit offered from a tree. It’s miraculous.

Speaking of miracles, isn’t it an absolute miracle when you make a perfect Instagram-worthy smoothie bowl with all the toppings and not blow your weekly budget? Especially when that smoothie bowl happens to be chocolate flavoured. If you know me, you’ll know I’ll use any excuse to eat chocolate. I don’t even need an excuse. You know, because of the antioxidants… obviously…

I mean, who says you can’t eat chocolate for breakfast?

Not me. That’s for sure.

This sweet and rich smoothie bowl is filled with berries, bananas and all-round goodness and can be enjoyed for breakfast, as a snack or even as a healthy dessert. By the way, if you're looking for great dinner options here's a special Dinnerly promo code & discount code.

The real key to a good smoothie bowl?

A high-speed blender. My blender has honestly changed the way I use my kitchen. While it may be one of the more expensive kitchen items you can buy, it’s totally worth the investment. One sturdy and versatile blender is worth every cent. High-speed blenders can perform certain tasks that regular blenders can’t, such as making nut butters and milks, whipping up instant ‘ice creams’, grinding coffee beans, and creating extremely smooth drinks. See some glass blender reviews.

It’s time to say goodbye to ‘sip and chew’ green smoothies for good. If you gravitate towards eating raw food, a high-speed blender will enable you to extract all the fibre and juice from your fresh produce without any pulp, which means you get better bang for your buck and less waste; it’s a winner all-round! You’ll notice that high-speed blenders vary dramatically in price. Rather than pay a premium for a brand name, I’d recommend purchasing a blender with a good warranty, as you want it to be a long-lasting investment, because you and your smoothie bowls are so worth it.

Now that we’re properly equipped to make our bowl, let’s talk about the ingredients.

No raspberry smoothie bowl can be made without raspberries! They’re high in antioxidants, low in sugar and delicious in taste. They also help sharpen the brain and boost our energy! While I’ve used fresh raspberries here, don’t underestimate the power of the frozen berry. I know their list of health benefits is as long as your arm, but you’ll often find me eating them simply because they taste so sweet and satisfying. Fresh berries are delicious, but if you know you have a busy week and may run the risk of wasting those sweet fruits, keeping frozen berries on hand avoids waste.

Here at Supercharged Food, I’m all about that bass, and by bass, I mean base, because that’s the secret to a good smoothie bowl. Frozen bananas are a classically-used base that always work like a charm. So, before you throw overripe bananas out, remember how easy and versatile they are. Trust me, they work their magic every time.

To add some creaminess to the picture, we also need avocado. I know, avocado’s may seem like a weird addition to some, but, in a smoothie bowl, they’re worth the weird looks your family may give you when you start the de-pitting process. Avocado provides a healthy source of essential fats to help us absorb all the vitamins we’re eating in our bowls. They also contain around 20 vitamins and minerals! You know what they say: once you go avo, you never go back. Buy them in season so they don’t break the bank!

If you’re looking to take your smoothie to the top, don’t forget the toppings. Here I’ve used passionfruit, edible flowers and lilly pilly berries. I also love adding home-made granola like this one here and chia seeds to help ease digestion, provide protein, omega-3’s and calcium.

If you’re in an early morning rush (seriously, how does time go so quickly in the morning and so slowly during the early afternoon?!), you can actually make this smoothie in advance and freeze it in a muffin tray. When it’s go-time, take three out, whiz them in your high-speed blender and you’re ready to go!

While berries and chocolate are obviously a loved-up, winning combination (hello chocolate covered strawberries!), if you’re looking for more smoothie combinations, these are some of my other favourites:

Maca + chocolate: frozen banana, coconut milk and maca powder smoothie, topped with nut butter, chia seeds and coconut.

Purple + crunch: frozen blueberry, spinach, banana and almond milk smoothie, topped with fresh berries and granola.

Mango + oats: gluten-free oats, coconut milk, banana, sea salt, chia and vanilla smoothie, topped with mango, cacao nibs and mint leaves (make the smoothie the night before for the oats to soak up the liquids and give the smoothie a lovely thick texture).

Matcha + pepitas: matcha tea powder, coconut milk, banana and mint smoothie, topped with pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sliced banana and cacao nibs.

Peanut butter + chocolate: banana, hazelnut, protein powder, cacao powder and almond milk smoothie, topped with hazelnuts, cacao nibs, pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and coconut flakes.

But really… if you had the choice to have chocolate for breakfast or not have chocolate for breakfast, which would you choose? To chocolate, or not to chocolate – that is the question!

The answer is chocolate. Always chocolate.

If you’re as obsessed with chocolate and berries as I am (because of all the antioxidants… right?), this is the spoonable smoothie for you. If you’re looking for more easy morning recipes, gut-loving tips and everything in between, be sure to get your copy of Supercharge Your Life here

Chocolate and Raspberry Smoothie Bowl

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas
1 ripe avocado, peeled
125 g (41/2 oz/1 cup) raspberries

2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla powder

130 g (41/2 oz/1/2 cup) sheep’s milk yoghurt or coconut yoghurt

125 ml (4 fl oz/1/2 cup) almond milk or milk of your choice

To top (your choice):
edible flowers, passionfruit, lilly pilly berries, banana, raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, almonds, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), chia seeds, coconut flakes, cacao nibs, granola and/or nut butter

Method:

Whiz all the ingredients except the toppings in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. The mixture should have a spoonable consistency.

Pour into two bowls and decorate with your chosen topping(s).

Eczema and the Gut + an Interview with Dr Peter French

It’s always a bumpy ride when skin issues surface. Particularly when it comes to children. Thinking about acne and eczema literally makes many parents’ skin crawl (myself included). My daughter Tamsin suffered from eczema throughout school and into university. When any signs of dryness or red bumps appear on your child’s skin and you've tried so many different products to ease the symptoms, but nothing seems to help it can be very frustrating.

Does your child often feel irritated? Do you both tend to suffer from skin issues? New research has come to light that may be the helping hand that we’ve all been waiting for.

The condition of your skin can say a lot about your health and common skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis can actually be a sign that your gut isn’t functioning properly.

I hear from many parents whose children are suffering from skin problems, two of the most common complaints are eczema and acne. Both can have a negative impact on quality of life both visually and with physical symptoms such as itchiness, pain and lack of sleep.

Fortunately the latest research that scientists are uncovering is the connection between the health of your microbiome and how it can directly affects and impacts your skin. This is welcome relief for many parents who are struggling to find answers that don’t involve hardcore steroid creams or medication.

It’s easy to forget that your skin is actually an organ; in fact, it’s your body’s largest organ. Your skin is part of the integumentary system, which also consists of your hair and nails and its main function is to act as a physical, chemical and antimicrobial barrier.

An important factor in keeping your skin healthy is sebum. Whilst the right amount of sebum protects the skin, too much can result in conditions such acne and too little can result in dry or cracked skin.

Your gut flora have been shown to influence sebum production (an oily secretion that reduces water loss from the skin surface and protects the skin from infection caused by bacteria or fungi) as well as the fatty acid composition of the sebum. Signals sent from your gut flora can communicate with the bacteria on your skin and research is beginning to show these interactions have a major influence on skin conditions such as dryness, collagen production and other skin issues such as atopic dermatitis.

This week I interviewed cell and molecular biologist Dr Peter French, Bioxyne’s Chief Scientist so that I could learn more about this condition that is affecting 10% of the population and find out more about the connections between atopic dermatitis and the gut. Over the years I made my own discoveries too such as the importance of gut health and the prevalence of staph infections in eczema cases. I had always been convinced that this was one of the missing links but it was never confirmed until now.

Even if this post only helps one family it will make my work worthwhile!

What is atopic dermatitis? What are the causes?

Atopic dermatitis (AD), also known as eczema, is a common inflammatory skin disease affecting 10% of the population, and posing a significant burden on healthcare resources and on the patients’ quality of life. The first signs of AD usually appear early in life (from 6 months of age) and often precede other allergic diseases such as asthma or allergic rhinitis. The majority of cases (at least 60%) arise within the first year of life.

(more…)

Supercharged Christmas Gift Giving Guide

Let’s get the holiday party started! May I present to you, my Supercharged Christmas Gift Giving Guide.

If you’re looking to approach the silly season mindfully, consciously and with sustainability in mind, to get the ‘baubles’ rolling, I’ve rounded up a few natural favourites that I’ve had my eye on for gift giving this year.

Whether it’s a natural health and beauty product for a special person in your life, something sustainable and nifty for the kitchen or an inspiring cookbook to give the gift of home cooking to friends and family– there’s something Supercharged for everyone this Christmas.

By the way I’ve featured some ridiculously good sustainable ideas and recipes to grace your table this Christmas plus my famous Turkey with all the Trimmings Recipe if you're interested.

Here are some thank you ideas for your family, friends loved ones or your lovely self!

Healthy Beauty

Weleda, Beauty Essentials Pack

Say goodbye to chapped lips and dry skin. This Weleda Beauty Essentials Pack deeply hydrates and protects for super soft skin and lips. The pack includes Weleda Skin Food and Weleda Everon Lip Balm.

Skin Food is an intensely hydrating whole-body moisturiser that restores and soothes dry skin. A blend of all natural ingredients including organic chamomile, calendula and wild pansy relieve rough skin. Combined with sunflower, lanolin and sweet almond oils and provides a protective barrier against the elements of wind and weather.

Everon Lip Balm is created with a selection of oils and waxes including organic jojoba seed oil, shea butter, rose wax and scented with delicate musk rose. This simply beautiful product not only moisturises lips to prevent drying, cracking and chapping, but it also relieves burn after exposure to sun and wind.

The best thing about this beauty pack is that you can take it anywhere and use at any time. Totally tote-able! A great Christmas gift for anybody who enjoys taking care of his or her skin naturally. $24.95 Shop here

KORA organics Daily Ritual Kit

Absolutely love this gift pack and have been using the three gorgeous products with great results, my skin feels soft and smooth, like velvet. The packaging itself is beautiful, inviting and feels really summery too.

The Daily ritual kit includes a cream cleanser, balancing rose mist and a hydrating moisturiser.

The cream cleanser makes removing make up effortless and leaves skin feeling flawless. I like how the balancing rose mist can be used anytime of the day so my skin can stay fresh all day. The hydrating moisturiser is great for my drier bits of skin too.

Using these three products twice daily makes it super simple to have healthier and more radiant skin.

The items included in these kits, are available individually too (our Christmas ornaments) for a limited time or you can purchase the full size 3 step system and save. $124.95 Shop here

Skin Juice Lemon Sorbet Bundle

This bright and beautifully boxed package fittingly reflects the natural and organic fruits, plants and super foods that each product is crafted with. Included in the bundle is a fresh and vibrant Lemon Sorbet Body Wash and a Lemon Sorbet Body Cream.

These both cleanse, balance and soften the skin with antioxidant rich, skin purifying fruit and plant oils that are free from harmful chemicals.

The body wash is created using conditioning shea butter, soothing aloe vera and calming cucumber hydrates, moisturises and calms irritation for an all over healthy glow. The body cream gives the skin a refreshing and non-greasy moisture boost. This light creamy blend combines antibacterial and purifying essential oils to maintain fresh and soft skin throughout the day and night.

What I love about both these aromatic skin care experiences is that they are crafted fresh from Skin Juice’s very own Juice Lab in the Hunter Valley, using sustainably and ethically sourced ingredients. And not to mention they leave your skin feeling and smelling like a fresh summer garden! $61.00 Shop here

ECO Modern Essentials - Christmas Favourite

Celebrate the festive season with this beautiful collection of pure essential oils and blends. They’re mood enhancing, relaxing, and perfect for all year round.

This delightful Christmas collection contains six blends including frankincense, orange and nutmeg, festive pine blend, cinnamon, ginger, and Christmas eve blend.

Frankincense Essential Oil 10ml: a spicy, woody, slightly balsamic scent.
Cinnamon Essential Oil 10ml: a sweet, warm and spicy scent with antiseptic qualities that can really lift your spirits.
Festive Pine Blend 10ml:a festive blend of Orange, Pine, Cypress, Frankincense, Cassia and Sage.
Christmas Eve Blend 10ml: a beautifully warming blend of Orange, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Cajeput, Cassia, Clove and Myrrh.
Ginger Essential Oil 10ml: a strong, warm and pungent spicy scent.
Orange & Nutmeg Blend 10ml:a delicious blend of Orange, Nutmeg and Clove.

With all these scents and aromas in the air, you’ll be sure to be filled with Christmas spirit and holiday cheer. $100 Shop here

Lük Beautifood

If you’re keen to get your hands or lips around a conscious gift this Christmas why not try lük beautifood’s Lip Nourish?

Now you and your friends can sparkle naturally with one hundred percent natural, toxin-free real food lipsticks. These are so lip-smackingly good you could actually eat them!

The nourishing sheer lipsticks combine nutrient-packed food ingredients that hydrate, nourish and repair your lips for a beautiful glossy and natural smile.

Made from moisturising avocado oil, soothing sesame oil and cacao butter, they deliver a sheer to pigmented veil of colour, while the incredibly soft, velvet-like texture makes them perfect for everyday wear. Delicious shades include Nude Cinnamon, Chai Shimmer, Mandarin Spice, Vanilla Chocolate, Tea Rose, Rose Lime, Peach Melon, Pink Juniper, Cranberry Citrus, Tangerine Pomegranate, Ruby Grapefruit and a cheeky little Cherry Plum. Pucker up and give your loved ones the gift of mistletoe-ready lips this festive season! From $29.95 Shop here

Inika Organic

What I love about INIKA Organic is that their products are 100% natural and certified organic. Unlike many other make up brands, there’s no need to compromise your skin’s health to get a beautiful, flawless look from your makeup every time you use it.

This wonderful set includes Long Lash Vegan Mascara in Black and Certified Organic Vegan Lipstick in Pink Poppy, beautifully presented in a gorgeous natural canvas makeup bag.

These products not only contain nourishing botanical ingredients that your skin will thank you for, but they also meet the highest of beauty standards. The Pink Poppy lipstick feels light and fresh on the lips and the mascara is ideal for anyone with sensitive eyes (including me!) It contains antioxidant-rich Sunflower Oil and Vitamin E to protect lashes from environmental damage, and Castor Seed oil to deeply condition.

These handy beauty tools will be following me everywhere I go for an effortless and natural touch up on the go. $45.00 Shop here

Ere Perez

Australian owned, Ere Perez has got to be one of my favourite natural cosmetics companies on the market, plus I’ve met Ere and she is absolutely lovely!. Simple products like foundation, mascara and even brushes are made completely from powerful botanical ingredients that transform, nourish and leave the skin feeling radiant.

My favourite foundation is the Oat Milk foundation. The light and non-greasy formula is crafted with natural oat milk. This helps to balance the pH levels in your skin, while creating a beautiful, natural finish that lasts.

Since I travel a lot for work, my skin dreads the dry and cold air on planes. But this natural foundation is ideal for air travel. It’s really soothing and has become a staple in my work and holiday carry bag.

The best way to apply this foundation is to use the Cream Dream, multipurpose brush. Not only is it stylish but it is also made with vegan bristles and a biodegradable corn resin handle. It beautifully blends and offers smooth coverage to the face. Hassle free and flawless face.

Is there anything avocado can’t do?! Move over avo on toast it’s now time to put avo on our lashes…yes you read that right. Ere Perez has formulated an avocado waterproof mascara made with mamey and avocado oils that help stimulate growth, regenerate and strengthen lashes. This natural, waterproof, volumising mascara is perfect for day or night. An effortless transition in a busy lifestyle.

The calendula powder foundation feels weightless and breathable on the skin. It helps to even skin tone with light reflecting qualities. Free from nasties and talc, this calendula powder is extremely sensitive and gentle on the skin.

These natural beauties are a great way to treat your skin or a best friend’s skin this holiday season! From $26.00 Shop here

Healthy Kitchen

Euclove Cleaning Essesntials

Packed into an adorable tote bag is all your cleaning essentials for the kitchen, bathroom, stainless steel, floors and more. However unlike most cleaning brands (even some who claim to be natural), Euclove steers clear from absolutely any synthetic chemicals and use a unique blend of pure essential oils sourced from Australia and India.

The kitchen cleaner is a tough everyday all purpose surface cleaner. It is crafted with a variety of essential oils including Australian eucalyptus oil. It not only removes dirt and stains, but also leaves a lingering clean fresh fragrance.

Using a blend of essential oils including clove oil, the bathroom cleaner prevents and removes mildew, cleans dirt and is antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic. Surfaces like ceramic, porcelain tiles, shower bases and sinks will be shining clean and smelling clean!

Euclove floor cleaner and the stainless steel cleaner use pure essential oils like blue gum eucalyptus to naturally leave floors and stainless steel tops bright and streak free.

You can use all these non-harmful cleanses with a premium woven microfibre. Perfect for an all purpose cloth, you can use it damp or dry, day or night.

This gift pack is ideal for anyone really, mums, dads, uncles, and aunties, kids who actually do their chores. Maybe this holiday, share it with someone who needs a light little push onto the natural pathway. From $7.99 Shop here

The Swag

Gift wrap your presents a little more consciously this year! Rather than reaching for that sparkly plastic wrapping paper, try getting your swag on instead. The Swag is a new way to keep your fresh produce fresher for longer in your refrigerator. Are you heading to the supermarket for your holiday lunch ingredients and coming back home with mountains of plastic bags with more plastic bags inside those plastic bags? That’s where the Swag comes in. It’s here to make your life a little easier, affordable and more environmentally friendly.

Made from three unique layers of 100% natural, unbleached, unseeded cotton materials these bags protect your fruit and veggies and keep them fresher for much longer! Giving your fresh produce a breathable environment that is moist, not too cold or too hot helps them to survive in your fridge and last 2-4 times longer than in the crisper.

The Long Swag is mostly used to store longer vegetables like celery, spinach and leeks. The little produce bags are the perfect companion for your durable shopping bags, ditch those fiddly, toxic, plastic bags and instead fill these little beauties with your loose produce – leaf spinach, grapes, cherries, garlic etc.

As most of you may know, I am a tea-aholic. That’s why I can’t help but love the new Tea Swag Set. These reusable Tea Swags are made from chemical free, 100% unbleached, unseeded cotton and have no nasties or plastic infused in them (unlike most single use tea bags).

Maybe make your holiday gift one for the environment and limit your use of single use plastic this Christmas. $72.95 Shop here

English Tea Shop Christmas Collection

Spoil your loved ones or even yourself these holidays! English Tea Shop Organic Christmas Collection Gold Cube Gift Set is a perfect gift for this Christmas.

It contains 96 sachets in a number of delectable flavours!

I’m talking about the finest and mouth-watering ingredients sourced directly from farmers and producers from all over the world.

Flavours include: Apple Spice, Christmas Punch, Christmas Night, Berry Savoury Pie, Sweet Vanilla Bread and Candy Man.

English Tea Shop Teas are Certified Organic and Fair trade produced.

The premium gift for the festive season and should be enjoyed in your favourite cup with your pinky finger out! $19.95 Shop here

Pique Tea Crystals

Speaking of tea, here’s a tea that’s perfect for after the big Christmas splurge! Pique Tea Crystals offer a fasting tea bundle that will be especially helpful post hefty Christmas dinner, long Boxing Day lunch and New Years Eve events.

Included in this bundle are the Matcha Green Fasting Tea and Ginger Green Fasting Tea. They are both formulated to help suppress cravings, provide satiety and boost energy burn. With a vibrant blend of the highest catechin containing green teas - Sencha Tea Crystals and Matcha Green Tea make the matcha and green tea ideal for morning fasts.

The ginger green tea uses botanicals from Traditional Chinese Medicine like ginger, licorice root, citrus and mint to suppress appetite, aid digestion and improve digestion.

These teas are infused with high catechin Green Tea Crystals to help reduce hunger pangs while improving digestive health. I’ve found this tea super soothing and calming with a warm and spicy blend and aromatic citrus notes and a hint of sweet licorice.

How is Pique different from many other teas? Their Tea Crystals dissolve instantly in cold or hot water so anyone can make Gold Medal winning tea with no effort.

Whether your loved one is tea connoisseur, tea beginner or even diehard coffee drinker, it’s impossible not to get hooked on the amazing flavor of Pique’s teas. Shop here

Books

Supercharge Your Life, Lee Holmes

Ok it seems funny to include my new book in here, but I am. Cheeky aren’t I?

My new book is a guide to making your supercharged kitchen the heart of your home, with over 160 nutritious recipes, information and inspiration to help you consume and live with purpose.

If you've spent years navigating one restrictive diet after another, it's time to shed the fear of eating the 'wrong' thing and fall in love with food again. An enduring kitchen is one where real food and thoughtful eating practices come together, and where commonsense and simplicity are celebrated.

The recipes are tried and tested, and beautifully tasty and nourishing and cover every occasion from breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, and festive occasions. The food as always is underpinned by my Supercharged principles of anti-inflammatory, balanced meals that draw from the traditional wisdom of Ayurveda. There are no fandangled ingredients in these pages; just honest, real, accessible food as close to nature as possible. I hope you like it! $29.95 Shop here

The Farm Community, Emma and Tom Lane

This beautiful book by Emma and Tom Lane encapsulates and celebrates the simple and sustainable way of living, eating, working and connecting at the Byron Bay property, The Farm.

It not only showcases a collection of recipes from organic growers, chefs and bakers who make up the community of The Farm, but it singlehandedly encourages and teaches you simple ways to live more sustainably, whether in the city, suburbs or the countryside.

The book includes enriching projects like drying flowers and making your own compost bucket which is right up my alley!.

Alongside an array of recipes ranging from gourmet to simple, all inspired by a love of growing and cooking farm-fresh food this book is one of my favourites this season and I can see myself delving into it for more seasons to come.

$30.95 Shop here

She Sheds Style, Erika Kotite

Bite the dust "man caves!" the “she sheds” revolution is taking over the world with style! Erika Kotite has created a guide to all things interior design, décor & style so that women can create a space for themselves, by themselves. They can do what they want in a room of their own. No boys, oh the joys ;)!

You’ll be able to look through ideas, detailed step-by-step projects, and use the handy decorating tips from a number of creative 'she shed' owners – then all you need to do is add your personal style to your own shed and relax! The book shows you how to create cosy go-to spaces and getaways with upcycling ideas and do-it-yourself decor.

There’s a handy gallery that includes more than one hundred inspirational photos to get you revved up about everything from décor to paint colours, interior design and even dip your toes into gardening and landscaping. Create your own hideaway from it all with this glorious book. $23.75 Shop here

Baladi, Joudie Kalla

The beautiful and bright cover will draw you in like no other! The contrast of colours between the bowls of dips alone is enchanting. This book is divine.

Joudie Kalla portrays wide-ranging‭, ‬vibrant and truly delicious dishes that are made with a twist on traditional recipes that originate from Palestine, her ‘Baladi’ which means home land and country. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The recipes are cleverly structured according to the various environments they originate from‭, ‬such as the land‭, ‬the sea‭, ‬the forest‭ and ‬the orchard‭. They’re also designed eaten together however she adds that flexibility works here too and the recipes can be mixed and matched! ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Whatever flavours you’re craving you can throw a beautiful feast together under Joudie’s direction or choose what you fancy and create your own tasty combinations!

Some of the spectacular dishes in this book include atayer sabanekh‭ (‬spinach‭, ‬sumac and onion patties‭), ‬samak makli‭ (‬fried fish selection with courgette‭, ‬mint and yoghurt dip‭) and a family favourite at our place her amazing lamb meatballs!. $44.80 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ Shop here

Ottolenghi, SIMPLE

SIMPLE is a collection of 130 brand-new dishes that include all the inventive components and flavour combinations that Ottolenghi is loved and known for, but this time with minimal hassle for maximum joy.

Bursting with bright and colourful photography, the book displays dishes that are suitable to whatever type of cooking you find easy – whether that’s getting a quick and easy after work dinner, using just one pot to make a delicious meal, or a flavoursome dish that can be prepared ahead and then served when you’re ready.

Each dish is falls into an area which is part of a simple key, that helps you to unlock the best recipe to suit you depending upon the time, ingredients and inclination you have.

S – short on time: less than 30 minutes
I – 10 ingredients or less
M – make ahead
P – pantry
L – lazy
E – easier than you think

As it’s Christmas time, I headed straight towards the Spring Roast Chicken with Preserved Lemon, full of yumminess for the holiday period because the recipe is built around minimal hassle for maximum joy! $34.95 Shop here

The Art of Kindness

Meredith Gaston’s words and illustrations in The Art of Kindness motivate us to care for each other, our earth and ourselves.

She is such a wonderful person and a friend of mine so I know these words come directly from her heart to the reader.

Her playful illustrations are set against inspirational essays and quotes, along with journal prompts, positive affirmations and beautiful meditations.

These ingredients reveal the joys of cultivating kindness and mindfulness into daily life and inspire us to grow through self-care, self-love and self-empowerment.

Once we can do this naturally, like a radio wave it will radiate to others in the community. Feeling loved and accepted is a gift worth giving to yourself and others. This is the perfect pressie for yourself, a friend or a loved one.

Such a beautiful book and gift for Christmas time. $18.75 Shop here

Jamie Oliver’s Christmas Cookbook

A beautiful cookbook is filled to the brim with all the classics you need for Christmas day and beyond. It includes a bunch of delicious recipes for edible gifts, party food, and new ways to love those leftovers.

Imagine all the classic Chrissy recipes and exciting new meals that’ll wow your guests and fill them with Christmas cheer. Say hello to Roasted Carrot and Avo salad and a whole bunch of interesting and helpful chapters that include cooking for the Main Event, Meat, The Wonderful World of Potatoes, Vegetarian Mains and Scrumptious Veggie Sides, Cute Edible Gifts and Festive Puddings.

The best part is, Jamie finally lets us in on the biggest Christmas secret of them all – what to do with all those Christmas Day leftovers. If you can follow Jamie's guidance and get help from friends and family you might just find your Christmas turning out as joyous as the merry photos inside Jamie’s book.

Jamie you've got me, hook, line and sinker! $37.75 Shop here

I Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with friends, family and loved ones!

Lee xo

A Sustainable Christmas + Roast Turkey with ALL the Trimmings

The festive season has arrived yet again, and boy do I have some ridiculously good sustainable ideas and recipes to grace your table this Christmas!

This celebratory season is all about love, connection and gratitude centred around the best food you'll cook all year. My latest book Supercharge Your Life features lots of festive recipes from decadent grazing platter morsels to gorgeous roasts and potluck favourites to share with family and friends over the Christmas break.

Supercharge Your Life centres around food as the catalyst for pleasure, enjoyment, love and connection. To ramp up the love even further, I’ve put a huge focus on how our food and entertaining choices can be a gift to heal our planet.

The Australian Retailers Association predicts that Aussies will spend approximately $48 billion over Christmas, which results in a massive increase in the waste we produce. The average western country is estimated to throw away around 300,000 tonnes of card packaging, 8000 tonnes/approximately 50,000 trees worth of wrapping paper, 125,000 tonnes of plastic, and 200,000 tonnes of meat!

This doesn’t sit well with me.

So here are some tips straight from my own personal Christmas plans that will hopefully inspire you and your family this year. Why not curate a Christmas experience that will help to save the environment and your wallet, whilst savouring a wholesome feast to delight the senses and warm the hearts of everyone.

Full Tummy, empty bins: Meal plan, meal plan, meal plan! To cut down on waste, be sure to carefully plan your Christmas day spread, being mindful not to over cater. Ask your guests to bring along some containers so that they can take leftovers home for boxing day lunch rather than tossing all that beautiful food in the bin. Compost or worm farm all your food scraps; it’s good for the garden and the planet!. And if you do have a full tummy try my Love Your Gut Synbiotic. It works wonders.

Use brown paper bags and newspaper: Instead of using wrapping paper, opt for leftover newspaper to wrap your gifts. Tie with ribbons or twine (tip- I always save these from gifts and keep them in a special box. This saves me money too!) and poke some foraged flowers, foliage or herbs into the bow. Brown paper bags can be used to bag up cutlery- just tie the top with twine and again pop in some rosemary. Brown paper can also be used to write up menu cards or to gift wrap fresh herbs for your guests.

Forage baby forage! Real plants and foliage offer a free way to decorate your table or create Christmas decorations. Walk through your garden or search for overhanging plants on your street on Christmas morning with a basket and scissors. Snip flowers and/or greenery and place in jars of water. Herbs like rosemary can be tied with string around cutlery or bunched up and given as gifts. Natives like eucalyptus can be woven into a wreath for your front door, or laid out across the middle of the table for a rustic tablescape. Dry eucalyptus leaves can also be used as name tags for your gifts. Simply hole punch them, thread ribbon on twine through them and write the person's name on the leaf for a unique and thoughtful touch.

Ditch the plastic tableware: Straws, cups, plates, and other plastic tableware are simply terrible for our environment and find their way into our oceans; destroying our marine life. Stick to your regular ceramic ware and metal cutlery or invest into some bamboo eco tableware that is more durable and biodegradable. Metal straws and beeswax wraps are widely available now and significantly cut down on single use plastics.

Make a mason jar snow globe: Skip on the plastic Christmas ornaments and make your own out of mason jars and desiccated coconut! Simply glue small ornaments or beautiful small items already available to you into the inside of the mason jar lid. Place a handful of the coconut into the jar, screw the lid on and place upside down for your very own DIY snow globes. Your guests will love the creativity!

Make a herb garland: Herbs are the perfect Chrissy decoration because they reflect the theme of greenery that we all love at Christmas, but they’re also an edible decoration! Weave together herbs like rosemary, oregano, basil, thyme, bay leaf branches, mint, or any others you like. Add red chillies, cherries or garlic bulbs for hits of other festive colours. Give sections of it away as gifts or use them to flavour your meals.

Explore the beach: Hit the seaside with kids and collect beautiful pieces of driftwood, stones, shells and feathers to express a beachy vibe for your Christmas table. Driftwood can be collected in different lengths to be glued together in the shape of a Christmas tree. Sand can also be placed in small jars and topped with a tea light candle.

Buy second hand or recycled: Buy a bundle of unique clothes, accessories, books or retro ceramics from your local thrift store as gifts and invest into the circular economy. Chances are that if they’ve survived one person’s ownership, they’ll be of the quality that can be enjoyed for years to come.

Give thoughtful gifts: Common Christmas gifts like ipads, phones, clothing and fashion accessories are encased in layers of styrofoam and plastic packaging. To eliminate waste, opt for experiences such as tickets to a concert or shout them a cooking lesson. If the kids are into video games, get them off their screens and into a real life experience like a go-karting class rather than giving them more “stuff”.

Use old magazines as placemats: For Christmas last year, I used decorating magazines as placemats. They were the talking point of the table and everyone wanted to take them home afterwards! Simple, creative thoughts like this can be a great way to upcycle things you already have in your home that would simply go straight to landfill.

If you really want to create a show stopper meal this Christmas, get organised, roll up your sleeves and throw yourself into the joy of creating and devouring this gorgeous recipe from my new book Supercharge Your Life:

I hope you have a lovely Christmas filled with good cheer, friendship, family and the kind of food that shares love and brings people together!

Xx Lee

Christmas stuffing balls

{ makes 12 }

These can be made the day before and warmed in the oven while the turkey rests – 10 minutes at 150°C (300°C) should do the trick.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 large brown onion, finely chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
500 g (1 lb 2 oz) minced (ground) pork
1 tablespoon dried mixed herbs (e.g. sage, rosemary, thyme)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus extra to serve
1 tablespoon lemon zest
110 g (3³₄ oz/¹₂ cup) cooked quinoa or 95 g (3¹₄ oz/¹₂ cup) cooked brown rice
115 g (4 oz/³₄ cup) pine nuts or crushed nuts
100 g (3¹₂ oz/1 cup) almond meal
2 eggs, lightly beaten
fine sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F) and grease a baking tray.
Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat, then sauté the onion, garlic and celery for 3–4 minutes, until the onion is translucent. Add the pork, mixed herbs, parsley and lemon zest, then cook until the pork is no longer pink. Add the quinoa and allow to cool.
Once cool, add the remaining ingredients and mix well.
Roll 60 g (2¹₄ oz/¹₄cup) portions of the mixture into balls, sit them on the prepared baking tray, then bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Cranberry sauce

{ makes about 500 ml [17 fl oz/2 cups] }

INGREDIENTS

310 g (11 oz/2¹₂ cups) fresh cranberries, rinsed and drained, or frozen cranberries
180 g (6¹₄ oz/¹₂ cup) rice malt syrup, plus extra as needed
125 ml (4 fl oz/¹₂ cup) filtered water
grated zest of 1 orange
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
¹₂ teaspoon ground cinnamon

METHOD

Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a gentle boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to medium–low and simmer, stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the mixture thickens.
Taste for sweetness, add more rice malt syrup if necessary, then cool and seal in a sterilised jar until ready to use.

Roasted whole turkey

{ serves 10–12 }

INGREDIENTS

1 × 6 kg (13 lb 4 oz) turkey, giblets removed
large handful flat-leaf (Italian) parsley
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
170 g (6 oz) butter, softened
grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
large handful thyme
small handful sage
3 bay leaves (optional)
2 brown onions, peeled and halved
2 leeks, pale part only, halved lengthways
4 baby carrots, halved
2 celery stalks, halved lengthways
2 garlic bulbs
1 litre (35 fl oz/4 cups) chicken stock

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 210°C (410°F).
Pat the turkey dry with paper towel. Place the parsley in the cavity. Season the turkey with salt and pepper, and place in a large roasting tin. Spread the butter all over the bird. Drizzle over the lemon juice, sprinkle over the zest, and tuck the remaining herbs under the bird.
Arrange the onion, leek, carrot, celery and whole garlic bulbs around the turkey, then pour in the stock. Cover the tin with foil and roast for 45 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 170°C (325°F) and roast for a further 3–4 hours. About 10 minutes before the end of cooking, remove the foil, increase the oven temperature to 200°C (400°F) and roast until the turkey skin is golden brown and crisp, and the juices from the thickest part of the leg run clear.
Remove from the oven and set aside to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving.

Enjoy your Christmas and let me know what you think of the recipe in the comments section below.

Pan-fried Pineapple with Mint and Coconut Yoghurt

In the wellness blogging sphere and health world, there tends to be a fear of dessert. Of course, everyone’s aware of the raw treat’s era, but that’s about where we’ve stopped when it comes to ‘healthy’ desserts. I want to tell you a big wellness secret: we don’t need to succumb to endlessly chewing on raw brownies or bliss balls to be healthy (I’m certainly no hater because I know that they’re delicious but there’s a time and place, people)!

I would like for you to take a second, hold my hand (through the computer screen… yes, I see you, extend that hand out right now), and close your eyes. Listen to me as I say this: health is all about moderation, not deprivation. You’re allowed to eat dessert, in fact, I encourage you to do so. While we eat nutritious food to keep our bodies thriving, we need dessert to keep us sane!

If you’re looking for a gut-healing dessert to have on hand for any and every occasion, you can’t go past my Pan-fried Pineapple with Mint and Coconut Yoghurt from Supercharge Your Gut. Speaking of gut supercharging, Supercharge Your Gut is filled with the latest research on all things gut-connection and some seriously delicious, gut-supercharging recipes. Not only will Supercharge Your Gut help you take care of your gut, it will also help you supercharge your life, which will provide positive consequences for both your mental health and overall wellness. You can find the link to it here.

After cooking up a storm of a main meal, my philosophy about dessert is simple: the simpler, the better. However, simple doesn’t have to mean a couple of cut-up, depressed old strawberries or a boring bowl of name-brand vanilla ice-cream. If you’re ready for a dessert that’ll take your tastebuds to paradise and beyond, it’s time to hone in on one of my favourite fruits, the mighty pineapple. Now, I know pineapple can look a little intimidating from the outside but trust me when I say this: it’s most definitely worth the fight.

The versatile and low-fructose pineapple contains an anti-inflammatory digestive enzyme known as bromelain - you know, the one that makes your tongue feel a little bit fuzzy after eating too much of it. Digestive enzymes are a vital tool when trying to maintain or rebuild gut health. They help break down larger molecules of food into more easily absorbed particles and so, are essential for good digestion and nutrient absorption. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to break down our foods properly. Through a whole range of complicated digestive processes, these enzymes break our food down into amino acids, fatty acids, cholesterol, simple sugars and nucleic acids.

In cases of leaky gut, digestive enzymes can help take the stress off the gastrointestinal tract and counteract the enzyme inhibitors that are found in nuts, seeds, beans, potatoes and lentils. People who have age-related enzyme insufficiency, leaky gut, liver disease, Crohn’s disease and other digestive diseases may require digestive enzymes in the form of supplements. However, certain foods, such as our wonderful pineapple, can naturally enhance digestive enzyme production. Bromelain can also help fight inflammation, assist in nutrient absorption and aid digestion. This means it’s a perfect ingredient to include if you’re experiencing any pain, tenderness, redness or indigestion. Did you know that pineapple has been used as a natural remedy for indigestion and allergies for centuries? I’m a sucker for traditional uses of foods! I just find it so fascinating… Anyway…

While fresh pineapple is obviously delicious, when it’s pan-fried, it’s seriously next level. I’m talking caramelised and gooey in the best way possible. Cooking pineapple will also help break down the tough cell walls of this fruit, making it easier to digest all of the goodness and nutrients.

Pan-fried pineapple pairs perfectly with probiotic-rich coconut yoghurt. Probiotics are high in anti-bacterial properties, which helps us grow the friendly bacteria in our guts. While this is useful for everyone because we all want sparkly-clean and functioning guts, it’s especially important for those who’ve taken an antibiotic for a winter flu or other ailment. Probiotics can help get your gut back into tip-top shape after antibiotics and even reduce antibiotic-related diarrhoea and constipation. Other factors that dismantle microbial diversity include acid-blocking drugs, stress, modern environmental toxins, chemicals in our water supply, pesticides on our food, using antibacterial soaps and cleansers, and the rising preference for planned caesarean sections, which can actually negatively impact our future generations microbial biodiversity.

However, there is some good news! We CAN help increase our microbial diversity by eating a wholefood, organic, varied and colourful diet filled with delicious foods, that include a range of probiotics. Probiotics are necessary for aiding digestion and helping with absorption of important nutrients to produce serotonin, the happiness hormone. But I mean, how can you not be happy when my baked pineapple recipe makes you feel like you’re sitting under a cabana in Fiji, drinking a Pina Colada and getting caught in the rain?

Not only does coconut yoghurt add to the gut-healing goodness of the recipe, the creaminess of the yoghurt cuts through the sweetness of the pineapple in all the right ways. This combination of classic summer flavours, pineapple, mint and coconut yoghurt is sweet, creamy, rich and plain old delicious. Trust me, everyone will be saying crème br-who? by the time they get their hands on this gut-friendly indulgence. Oh, and unlike most desserts out there, it won’t leave your tummy tied up in knots. Now that’s dessert with benefits. You’re welcome.

This dish is best served warm with some creamy coconut yoghurt and zesty lime. If you’re looking for more deliciously gut-friendly recipes, be sure to check out Supercharge Your Gut.

Pan-fried Pineapple with Mint and Coconut Yoghurt

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra virgin coconut oil
6 pineapple wedges, skin removed
zest and juice of 1 lime
250 g (9 oz/1 cup) coconut yoghurt
mint leaves, to garnish

Method:

Melt the coconut oil in a heavy-based frying pan over medium heat.
Add the pineapple, drizzle with the lime juice and cook for 4–5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.
Serve warm, with coconut yoghurt, garnished with the mint and lime zest.

How to build a renewable table

It’s time to spring into a new way of cooking. As much as I absolutely love constructing home-cooked meals, I know that not everyone, myself included, has hours to spend cooking up a feast in the kitchen every single day. Many of us lead very busy lives and have demanding tasks to attend to, often leaving the food we eat as the last priority.

While we all know that processed and take-away foods are something that shouldn’t be encouraged, especially for families, in the age of convenience, it can sometimes seem to be the only viable option. However, these foods are often made of unhealthy ingredients and can actually cost you more in the long-run.

It’s completely understandable why some people are under the impression that cooking healthy and nourishing home-cooked meals can leave you with little money or time to spare. When you look at your favourite TV chef, competitive cooking show or favourite cook on Instagram, the extraordinary meals that are created can seem out of bounds for us. They’re over-complicated, could never actually feed a whole family and are a bit too delicate for our likings. It’s time to get real; we need to cook meals that fill both our stomachs for a few hours and our fridges for a few meals.

It’s time to create dishes that last the distance in the kitchen; versatile dishes that can help save both money and time without compromising quality, health benefits or taste.

This is the perfect solution to our modern-day problem. While we lack the time, and quite frankly, the energy, we need to cook every day for hours, I’m going to show you how you can become one with your kitchen and cut your food bills in half. If you’re ready to create fresh, stress-free and nutrition-packed meals for you and the whole family, it’s important to find uncomplicated meals that are tasty, simple and use affordable and sustainable ingredients. This is the key to making your kitchen experience an effortless and more importantly, an enjoyable one.

By cooking in larger batches and creating a ‘base meal’, you can reclaim it to make delicious meals that can live on for another meal or four. Don’t get me wrong, re-using food doesn’t have to mean eating soggy leftovers or re-heating the same, boring prepared meal for a week straight. You can actually create different meals out of your meals, to prevent you from total boredom, food wastage and time wastage too.

In order to do so, you need to be inspired by the idea of consuming and creating a home-cooked, nourishing meals. There’s nothing better than the feeling of a fresh, warm meal, especially when it’s infused with love. When you’re able to reuse your kitchen creations in a style of continuum cooking, you won’t need to spend hours every day slaving over a hot stove. Continuum cooking allows you to cook with love and of course, spend more time with your loved ones.

Chicken Schnitzel is definitely an old-school family favourite. They’re the perfect treat and loved by children and adults alike. However, traditional, take-away schnitzels can be mad with relatively unhealthy ingredients that can leave tummies tied up in knots. These versatile schnitzel recipes makes for the perfect weeknight meal, school lunch and Sunday dinner.

RECIPE A

Chicken schnitzels with parsnip mash and garden salad

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

Schnitzels

6 chicken breasts, sliced in half widthways to form 12 pieces (4 for tonight’s dinner, 8 for the next recipes)
1⁄2 cup arrowroot (or tapioca flour)
3 eggs, whisked
1 cup almond meal
1 cup coconut flour
3 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp paprika
Sea saltand pepper

Mash (There’s enough here allowing you to save half for Recipe C)

1 onion diced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8 medium parsnips, peeled and roughly chopped
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp oregano
Sea saltand pepper

Salad  (There’s enough here to create Recipes B and C as well.)

4 large handfuls rocket
1 cup button mushrooms, halved
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1⁄2 cup Kalamata olives
1⁄2 avocado, diced
Small handful fresh basil leaves, torn
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Sea saltand pepper

Schnitzels

To make the crumb mixture, add the almond meal, coconut flour, paprika, sea salt and pepper to a shallow bowl, mixing to combine.

Place the eggs into a shallow bowl and whisk. Place the arrowroot flour in a separate shallow bowl.

Dip each piece of chicken into the arrowroot flour, then egg mixture, then the crumb mixture. Make sure that they are evenly coated.

Pre-heat a large fry pan on medium-high heat with 1 tbsp coconut oil. Cook each schnitzel for 4-5 minutes on each side, adding a fresh tbsp of oil each new round of schnitzels (cooking 4 at a time, depending on the size of your fry pan).

Set aside 8 of the schnitzels for Recipes B and C, first allowing to cool to room temperature then placing into a sealed container and refrigerating for up to 3 days.

Salad

Place rocket, basil, mushrooms, tomatoes and olives in a bowl and combine.Separate half the mixture and set aside in a bowl, refrigerating until preparation of Recipes B and C (this will keep undressed in the refrigerator for up to 5 days).

With the remaining half, add avocado, oil, vinegar, salt and pepper and mix well to combine.

Mash  

Sauté onion in 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp water in a large pot for 3-4 minutes.

Place the chopped parsnips into the pot with enough boiling water to cover. Add herbs and seasoning. Stir to combine ingredients.

Bring to the boil and turn down to simmer, cooking for 25 minutes, or until parsnips are soft.

Turn off heat and carefully pour out the parsnip broth into a jar, leaving just a little bit of water in the bottom of the pot.

Add remaining olive oil to mixture. Using a stick blender, or transferring to a food processor, blend until pureed. Set aside.

The leftover broth can be stored in the fridge and used as a vegetable broth or you can drink it right away as a nourishing beverage.

To serve, place a piece of schnitzel on each of the 4 serving plates, with a generous scoop of mash and side salad.

RECIPE B

Chicken Schnitzel and broccoli salad

INGREDIENTS

4 cooked chicken schnitzels
half of the leftover salad from Recipe A
2 large handful chopped cos lettuce leaves (or our choice of lettuce)
1 cup broccoli florets, washed
1 cup cauliflower florets, washed
1⁄2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped

ACV Dressing

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp garlic
1⁄2 tsp ginger
Sea saltand pepper

METHOD

Place cauliflower into a pot of boiling water, cooking for 4-5 minutes. Add broccoli and cook for a further 3 minutes. Remove vegetables from pot and set aside.

In a large salad bowl, add cos lettuce, leftover salad from recipe A, broccoli and cauliflower, stirring to combine.

To make the dressing, add all dressing ingredients to small bowl and mix well with a spoon to combine.

Pour dressing over the salad and mix again so dressing coats the salad well.

Spoon salad into serving plates and sprinkle a quarter of the walnuts over each salad. Slice each chicken schnitzel in half and place on top of salad so each plate receives 2 half pieces.

Sprinkle with some extra sea salt and serve

RECIPE C

Chicken schnitzel wrap with lemon and parsnip spread

4 wraps

INGREDIENTS

4 chicken schnitzels, cut into thin diagonal strips
4 gluten free wraps (see my recipe in the continuum cooking day section)
1 grated carrot
Juice of 1⁄2 lemon
Leftover mash from Recipe A
Leftover salad from recipe A
Sea saltand pepper

METHOD

Lay out the 4 wraps on your kitchen bench.

Spread a heaped spoonful of parsnip mash down the centre of each crepe.

Add all other ingredients evenly across the 4 crepes and season with sea salt and pepper. Squeeze a touch of lemon juice in each crepe.

Roll into cylinders, curling in the bottom edge so filling doesn’t fall out.

Cover in foil and store in the refrigerator until it’s time to take to work or school. Lasts in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

A Guide to Gifting

Hands up who’s been having a go at minimalism!

If you’ve never heard of minimalism, it’s basically the desire to live with less material things and using what you have rather than buying for the sake of buying.

When it comes to giving gifts as a minimalist, or giving a present to a minimalist, it can seem like an impossible task initially. I want you to know that it is possible to give beautiful gifts to your friends that align with your values.

You know when people say they don’t want anything for their birthday? We all know that’s not really true. People usually want something useful and practical, rather than items that are expensive and a waste of space.

Gifts can be thoughtful, practical and full of love. If a gift doesn’t fit into any of those three categories, it may be time to start brainstorming. It’s possible to give useful gifts to spread the minimalism love around with all of your family and friends.

No idea where to begin?

Are they into cooking or baking? You could give a new kitchen item! It doesn’t have to be super expensive either - think about what they’d truly value - maybe it’s a blender, new salad bowl or a reusable cup.

Let’s be real, I’m a bit of a book nerd. When I was younger, I used to sneak off into the library, sit in my shaded corner and read for hours. Okay, okay fine, you got me, I still do that. I think one of the most thoughtful presents to give someone is the gift of a book you’ve absolutely loved. Whether it’s made you feel ready to take on the world, tearful or full of joy, a thoughtful book can go a long way. They can even pass it on to their friend when they’re done with it and keep the reading going! Now that’s the nerdy, book-lover dream.

If you’ve ever looked at my blog or books, like ever, you’ll know that I love to bake. There’s nothing better than receiving freshly baked Golden Gut Oatmeal Cookies or turmeric fudge. Make it, put them in a mason jar, wrap a bow around it and you’re good to go!

Maybe it’s time to let go of the idea of material presents altogether. Your friend may love an experience. You could take them for a session of rock climbing, go on a walk and a picnic or even give them a token for a DIY-massage! The possibilities are endless with experience presents.

There we go - my top tips for meaningful gifting! Now, I’d love to know - what have you been giving your friends as presents and what’s the best present you’ve ever received? Comment below!

Lee x

Six Ways to Save Money on your car/petrol

If you’re anything like me, you’ll agree that cars are really only useful for one thing: getting you from A to B. Whenever I can, I choose to walk to places and have always had the luxury of choosing homes that are close to public transport. I think we can all agree that one of the worst things about cars are the expenses. Car costs, petrol and insurance always seem to creep up on you. Whether it’s taking it in for a service, filling up petrol or getting a new slip, I’ve always tried to get down and thrifty with it. I’m sharing with you my six hot tips for saving money on your car – you’ll thank me later.

Whenever I go down a hill, I make sure to lift my foot off the accelerator to save on petrol. At first, I found it a bit scary to just let it roll but sometimes, a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do! I also avoid speeding or rapidly accelerating because one, being safe is really cool and two, it doesn’t burn through my petrol as quickly.
Make sure your tyres are always inflated to the right height to save on petrol… trust me, it works.
Whenever I’m picking someone up and I’m waiting for them to come outside, I turn the engine off. By standing (or sitting!) idly by, you can go through a lot more petrol than you realise. It takes less petrol to re-start the car than by waiting with your tank on.
Stop braking up – your car that is! While aggressively speeding can make you whizz through your petrol faster, the same goes for braking suddenly. It’s much better to slow down into a halt than brake in a hurry.
If you’re handy, or you know someone who is, get your (or their) hands on some easy car repairs. You may try changing the lights or fuses by yourself but before you do, find some online tutorials before diving head-first into your trunk.
Ditch the car and walk! I seriously love walking and I know just how good it is for my mental health, physical health and savings. Here’s an easy way to junk your car.
If you must still use your car, then Route4Me route optimisation software is an ideal way to save petrol as it finds the shortest, most fuel-efficient route to all of your destinations. This route optimisation helps to reduce fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear.

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