Lee – Page 26 – Supercharged Food

10 Uses for 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 realvariety 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 Powderand 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 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 Brothis 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?

A DIY Light Bulb Vase

The other day, I was thinking of what presents I could give to some of my family and friends for the upcoming holiday festivities. They know I've never been interested in buying fast-fashion that lasts a season or trinkets that get thrown away a mere few months into the new year so, they await an individualised, and often DIY, gift from me. What could I gift this time?

I was walking around my house and noticed that one of my lights were starting to fade. This my dears friends, is what I truly call a lightbulb moment - I was going to make a DIY lightbulb vase!

Forget out with the old and in with the new, here at Supercharged Food HQ, we’re all about in with the old and out with the new. There’s nothing I love more than reusing and upcycling for a renovated and eco-friendly lifestyle and gift.

Rather than wasting a lightbulb that’s served its purpose, beautify it and include some nature in your home while you’re at it too. This simple craft of making your own light-bulb vase only takes a few minutes per bulb. If you’re looking for a simple ‘thank you’ gift or easy way to brighten up your home or next event, you’ve got to light the way with a light-bulb vase. They’re totally the new thing – just scroll through your Pinterest!

There’s nothing that lifts my cheeks more than than reusing and upcycling - it makes me feel like I'm a serious contestant on a home renovation show. Plus, it can help contribute towards living a more eco and budget-friendly lifestyle.

So, the next time you have to take out an old light bulb, think twice before you throw it away.

So now for the real question – how on earth do you do it?

Well, you’ll need:

Old light bulbs
A needle nose plier
Nail set
Hammer
Wire/floral wire for the hanging vase
Wire cutters
A wooden dowel
Drill
Electric tape (optional)

Be mindful that you’re working with glass so maybe it’s time to take a selfie with some safety goggles and gloves. Your Instagram feed will thank me later.

Method:

First thing’s first – over a rubbish bin, use the nail set and hammer to break apart the bulb. Be extra careful here as you’re playing with glass.
Once you’re done, remove the small silver layer with your pliers and throw the black glass into the bin. Next, break the layer inside the glass carefully, again using the nail set and hammers. Also, break off any pieces around the inside edge of the bulb.
Now for the fun parts – remove the inside of the bulb with your needle nose pliers. Also shake out the loose glass so you’re just left with the vase.
Once you have your vase, drill a hole that’s big enough for your wire to fit in. Now, cut your wire into about 50cm or 20-inch pieces. Pull the wire through the dowel and start wrapping it around the dowel clockwise approximately 2-3 times.
Use the wire cutters to remove the wire from the dowel cutting right at the hole. Adjust if needed by turning the wire with pliers to tighten or loosen it depending on what you need.
You can now bend the wire down to form a base, shaping it whichever way you like.
If you want to make a hanging vase, drill two holes in the bulb base and attach floral wire.

Ta-da - you’ve just DIY’D a light-bulb vase! Enjoy your upcycled gift and let me know how you went with it.

10 Things You Can Upcycle Now

If you haven’t noticed, I’m a little bit obsessed with the art of upcycling. Instead of throwing away the stuff you have that’s somehow always lying around and has no real purpose, it’s time to upcycle! Here’s ten of my favourite old things to upcycle and renew:

An old cabinet or dresser is a perfect first-step to upcycling a new place. It’s time to start seeing the beauty in your broken and damaged furniture. Try painting old cabinets to bring them back to life and turn on the charm to an old favourite. If it’s really damaged beyond repair, you can repurpose some of the wood to create new pieces. How’s that for DIY?
If you have any jars lying around, old wine bottles or even a perfume bottle, simply give them a good rinse and use them to hold lights! They’re small enough to do the job perfectly.
Old envelopes that are in good condition can be reused and sent again. I recommend keeping any useful envelopes for future references. If you’re not much of a letter sender, you can even shred old envelopes up and use them as mulch for your garden.
Turn your old denim jeans into a funky pair of shredded shorts or even a bag.
Bathroom supplies can be used for more than just the bathroom! I collect my old toothbrushes and use them to reach hard-to-reach places. It makes me feel a bit like Cinderella, but it does the trick! Speaking of toothbrushes, toothpaste contains can be upcycled as a frosting tube for icing cakes; simply rinse it out, cut the bottom and you’re ready for your next great bake-off!
When you’ve finished the end of a toilet paper, set the roll aside and let the kids have a play! There are so many funny art projects to be had by simply gathering a few rolls and paint together. It can actually turn out really beautifully too.
As any Instagrammer knows, mason jars and old glass containers are seriously your best friend. Seriously – you can use them to store nuts, seeds, grains and if you’re hipster enough, even salads to take to work or school.
If you have any old maps lying around, you can repurpose them into gift tags. Just cut them up and get your origami on for your latest gift tag or book mark.
If you’ve got an old rake that you’ve been meaning to throw out, rake it in; you can use it as a gardening display rack! Simply hot glue it upside down in your garden, get some string and tie your favourite gardening tools onto it.
Ready to become the milkman… or woman (we don’t judge here!)? Instead of throwing old plastic milk jugs away, cut the end off and re-use it to store your own home-made granola, pet food or even flowers! It’s perfect.

DIY Terrarium

Have you ever bought yourself some fresh Rosemary from the supermarket for the latest recipe you want to try and by the time you walk through the door it’s already somehow deteriorated?

It’s safe to say, we’re not all born with the green thumb; but that’s okay! There are plenty of ways to get your gardening on besides building a forest in your backyard. Whether you’d describe yourself as inept when it comes to creating botanical creations (hey, you said it, not me!), or you’re an absolute superstar gardener who deserves every award ever, terraria are the perfect low-budget and low-maintenance gifts for pretty much anyone – including yourself.

Get ready to get those gardening boots on and slip on your favourite gloves, you’re about to make your own terrarium.

Firstly, choose an open or closed glass container of some sort – you do you.

Then, cover the bottom with about an inch-sized layer of pebbles or rocks.

Next, it’s time for activated charcoal. Yes, I know you’ve heard about it as the latest wellness trend and our plants love it too! Similar to how you use my Love Your Gut Powder to clear our bacteria, just use a thin layer of activated charcoal to keep the water fresh and prevent mould or bacteria building up.

Then, add some potting soil. Be sure to pick the right soil for what you’re planting – cacti and succulents use different soil to moss and ferns so watch out!

Once you’ve plotted your soil, it’s time to finally place your plants in your newest terrarium creation. Be sure to start with the largest one first so you can squeeze them all in there!

When it’s time to decide where it goes, imagine that you’re planting this beloved beauty into the Amazonian rainforest. The plants need sunlight, but not too much, they also need access to water but you don’t want to drown them! If it does receive too much sun, it’ll give your serious growing pains! Give it sun, but not too much, be like Goldilocks and choose a spot that’s juuuuust right.

I recommend watering them every three months with just a little sprinkle of water. If it starts to smell or look a little dry, it’s time to give it a splash!

Enjoy your terrarium!

Tablescapes Done Simply

If you've ever hosted, well... anything before, you'll know that it's very easy for the price to somehow get a bit out of hand.

While hosting a meal can become an expensive ordeal, it doesn’t have to be. Whether you're hosting a luscious meal for a special event or just want to make everyday a little more exciting, creating the perfect tablescape is the best way to upcycle your dinner table without costing you a cent. This way, you can turn a regular dinner into a communal celebration and feast.

It's time to talk tablescapes!

Before we jump straight into the creation of a tablescape, we need to start at the very beginning because as Julie Andrews says, it’s a very good place to start.

I recommend choosing a theme – this helps you create a beautiful environment that’s somewhat cohesive and looks pre-planned. Let your creative spirit run free and choose anything you like.

Maybe you love a garden style with some flowers or pots from the garden; maybe you’re into oceanic views and want to pick up a few seashells and corals, or maybe you’re into minimalism and want things plain and simple! If you’re big into colour-coding, you could choose one block colour or a few colours and textures. Find a feel that works for you.

Next, you must decide your base. If you’re going for a theme that’s loud, a plain white table cloth may be your go-to, or maybe, choose a colourful one! You know what? You can even ditch the cloth and use pieces of fabric instead. If you want to know my helpful hint, inexpensive brown paper works like a charm too. I also like parts of old wood - wood you look at that?!

It's now time we figure out the plates you’re going to serve the food on, the most important part of a dinner party. I love going into second-hand stores for pre-loved and quirky finds that are super vintage. Remember, not everything needs to match. You can use contrasting colours, textures and patterns. Just think about the overall look you’re trying to achieve; if it works, then it works.

Now, it’s decorating time. Let your creative juices flow! Whether it’s dinner for one, a romantic candle-lit dinner for two, a family gathering or girl’s night in, let your imagination roam free.

One of my favourite ways to decorate a table is by letting the food provide colour on the table. If you're a lover of all things red and deep purple, citrus fruits, pomegranate seeds and pumpkins always look gorgeous. I love using cinnamon sticks, lavender and rosemary (not at the same time!) to create a beautiful aroma; who needs a diffuser anyway?

For a larger gathering, you may choose to place cutlery in a wooden box or rustic second-hand container or tin. If you’re going outdoors, feel free to use flower pots as utensil holders too.

Like any good Instagrammer, remember to recycle and upcycle your jars! You can use these jars to create a bohemian wonderland. Save all your spice jars and glass jars and cluster them together to hold flowers or even hand-made condiments.

That's it - my guide to tables capes! I'd love to know your favourite way to create your tablescape - let me know down below.
Lee x

The Complete Guide to Composting

Are you looking to get rid of some of your waste… get your head out of the gutter… actually, maybe don’t! Get ready to get your hands right amongst the waste in your gutter. It’s time to talk about composting. By starting a compost system in your house, you can help contribute to a more sustainable future right in your own backyard.

If you’ve never heard of composting, it’s a natural process in which microorganisms help break down food scraps and other natural materials into a re-usable form for growth; it’s the circle of liiiiife (imagine Simba on the rock here). By composting, you can turn your trash into treasure and save money on chemical-filled fertilisers and pesticides. It’s also really fun and is way easier and less-hippie than you may think!

The first step is to find a good location for your bin – be sure to make it somewhere that’s easily accessible for you. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the shade or the sun, just as long as it’s convenient for you.

Then, it’s time to treat yourself to a bin. This can be a standard compost bin or a homemade one. It’s up to you. When you’ve got your bin sorted, it’s time for the fun part – filling it up. Be sure to throw all your fruit and veggie scraps, teabags and flowers into the big. You can also include leaves, twigs, soil and shredded newspaper in the mix too; I’ll explain how now.

Fill the first layer with dried leaves and twigs and be sure to wash it properly as water helps encourage the growth of bacteria which helps compost breakdown. Now fill the second part with all of your food scraps and plant scraps, just as thick as you made the second layer. Then, layer on the dried leaves and twigs again, including some shredded newspaper or veggie scraps too – make sure to add more water and water it down at this stage too. You can then finish it off with a thin layer of soil from your garden to help kickstart the compost growth. Now it’s time to add everything else including other food scraps.

Every time you empty the bin, cover it with some of the twigs and garden disposables to continue building a balanced compost. You’ll know when it’s ready to use when it’s reached a rich and dark soil. When you’re ready to empty it, simply tilt the bin, scrape away the finished compost and start again.

The following can’t be including in your compost bin: onions, lemons, dairy, meat and acidic ingredients as these can impact the pH of the compost.

Oh, and just by the way, just like your digestive system finds it easier when you first chew your food into smaller chunks, your compost bin appreciates the same. By breaking your layers up into smaller pieces, you’ll allow the compost to break down more efficiently.

To keep your compost breathing (yes, I know I said breathing… turns out plants have feelings too. Vegans, I’m looking at you), you need to give it some room to breathe. Be sure to turn it over and fluff it up at least monthly with some kind of garden fork or compost turner tool which you can get from a gardening store.

There you go – your compost bin is ripe and ready to use!

How to Create a Kitchen Garden

If you’ve ever picked a sun-ripened tomato off the vine, you’ll know what I mean when I say there’s no experience quite like it - it’s bright red, bursting with flavour and will tingle your tastebuds in all the right places. No tomato can quite compete once you’ve tried a home-grown one.

It’s crazy to think that only a few generations ago, most of the food we consumed was grown in the garden of our ancestors homes. Apart from cutting your grocery bills, turning your garden into your kitchen will change the way you think about food. There’s nothing that tastes better or is made with as much love as home-grown produce. Home-grown fruits and vegetables have proven to be full of more flavour and nutrient-value than their supermarket counterparts. If you’ve been thinking about growing your own garden, why not take the plunge and plant a few seeds in your backyard? There are so many incredible benefits of gardening.

Before starting, I recommend finding an open and sunny spot that receives enough light to help the vegetables grow. If you don’t have these kinds of conditions, some crops that tolerate the shade include cherries, blackberries and rhubarb.

When it comes to watering your little new best friends, your vegetables always appreciate moisture. If you're in a warm climate, they need at least some moisture - be sure to water your vegetables when the top inch of the soil is dry. If you have in-ground crops, they may need watering once or twice a week.

If you’re not quite convinced to start your garden in fear of weeding, trust me, I'm not about that life either. There are ways to prevent weeding including purchasing mulch. Buy organic mulch in the store as it can prevent most weed seeds from germinating. If weeds do start to grow, mulch makes it a lot easier to pull them out.

If you’re hanging on to the edge of your seat but just don’t know where to begin (yes, I know gardening can be very thrilling but hold your horses!) I’ve listed my garden gems below:

Strawberries

I began my strawberry patch with small seedlings I picked up at a local nursery. They need full sun to grow and moist, well-drained soil. Instead of washing your strawberries and eating them mushy, I recommend wiping them with a paper towel. I use strawberries to top my Gutmeal, Strawberry Teacakesand Chia Berry Jam for my Sweet Potato Toast. I even use them in a few of my salads. In Australia, strawberries are around for two seasons – summer and winter.

Cucumbers

You’re looking as cute as a cute-cumber! I recently found some small cucumber plants and knew I had to get them as I'd heard from the gardening crew that they’re a good year-round plant. I decided to plant them inside my house and have created a wigwam-type trellis from bamboo canes, because they’re vines and like to do a spot of climbing. While I can admit they don’t look like they’re ready for their close-up photo-shoot, they make up for it with their beautiful taste. Make sure the area you choose to plant them does get some sun. I’ve put an automatic watering system because cucumbers do get thirsty (who knew?) and can become bitter with insufficient moisture. I’ve learnt that it’s best to grow cucumbers within 8-10 weeks and to cut off with secateurs or a sharp knife. I love them in my green juice, in my Cripsy Salmon Cutlets with a Pumpkin & Rocket Salad hereand as cucumber noodles (coodles) in this soup recipe here. Cucumber ages other fruit, so don’t store these guys next to other fruit. They can also dehydrate easily.

Tomatoes

Ahh, the one and only tomato. I love that these fruits (yes, I said fruit), can be found in a myriad of different shades. A new book title – fifty shades of tomato? Maybe not… anyway, these beautiful tomatoes can be ruby-red and orange, purple and even black, and in many different sizes, shapes and flavours. I’ve placed my roma (plum) tomatoes in a hanging basket; warm and under cover. These toms go well in salads, oven-roasted with herbs or made into a paste. If you’ve ever been described as a tomato after being out in the sun, there’s good reason! Tomatoes love the warmth – you can even grow them indoors if you don’t have access to a garden. If you want to ripen tomatoes, put them in a brown paper bag and leave them at room temperature until they’re ready. This process usually takes a day or two. Store these whole tomatoes in a cool place and they should stay ripe and ready for chewing for up to five days. Once you’ve cut them, the best place to store them is in the fridge. I love them in my Pan-fried Toasted Greens with Pomegranate and Cauliflower Rice Salad, and as replacement for tinned tomatoes in my Greened up Shakshuka.

Supercharge Your Life + Layered Salted Caramel Peanut Fudge

Are you ready to Supercharge Your Life?

In celebration of my new book release in February 2019 and in partnership with Booktopia, I’ve wrangled a very special pre-order discount for you, if you’re keen to get your hands on a copy. You can read more about it here. Or if you're in the US you can order a copy here.

Supercharge Your Life, is a book that culminates all that I’ve learnt throughout my journey of life and the years of research, cooking and writing I’ve enjoyed during the creation of Supercharged Food.

To be perfectly honest, in the world of wellness I’ve seen the waves of fad diets, exotic superfoods and kale smoothies rage and settle. I’ve also observed the underbelly of the wellness movement; where the extreme focus on clean eating can create more anxiety than it’s really worth.

I wrote this new book to take the fear out of food again. My aim is that it will be a breath of fresh air for our relationship with food; widening our focus from the meaning of food simply being a potential catalyst for health or harm- towards a much broader and truly holistic perspective.

Food ties through every part of our lives, and when we perceive a broader appreciation of food and its power, we can lighten up a little; connecting food with purpose and joy once again!

The book includes over one hundred and sixty tried and tested, nourishing recipes that will 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.

To help you understand the diverse, multifaceted power that extends from your relationship with food, I bring forward the concept of The Seven Keystones Of Life: Home and Family, Friends and Community, Career and Passion, Finances, Health and Longevity- with Love and Food at the centre of it all. I take you on a journey of how each of these areas represents a complex cultural, philosophical and even political relationship to food, and how each keystone is interwoven.

I explore concepts such as leading your household’s food culture, voting for the ethical production of food with our wallets, food as fuel for our passions and creativity, hospitality as the language of the heart, our food choices being key to a long and a fulfilling life and cultivating a respect for the wonder of earth's provision of food that traces back to our ancestors.

Supercharge your life is broken up into three sections: Eat, Love and Connect:

The kitchen truly is the heart of the home, and as a pragmatist, I’ve made sure to include all the “how to’s” for creating your ideal kitchen, understanding flavour profiles and pairings, building a spice rack and stocking your pantry, fridge and freezer slowly and systematically; ensuring the heart of your home is a supercharged paradise.

With our lives becoming more and more full, one of the easiest things to go out the window is our food organisation- so I’ve included a detailed section on how to simplify your meal preparation and food budget, so you can eat wholesome and affordable food whether you’re a large family or a cash-strapped student. With an extended segment of “The Lost Art of Cooking Vegetables” you’ll have all the tips and knowledge on how to turn cheap, everyday veg into a wonderous feast.

Love is all about the heart, baby! Both your own heart, and the heart of what food is truly all about: hospitality, sharing love through nourishing and delicious food and creating memories with those we adore most. This is about shifting from a perspective of food and cooking as an inconvenience or a chore, towards a fresh rekindling of love towards the natural, instinctive and utterly human behaviour of turning base ingredients into something to savour.

Have you ever actually stopped to relish in the magical interplay of nature’s forces, and how our food makes its way from soil to plate? In this section I really delve into my own food philosophy including my adoration for the ancient healing art of Ayurveda and eating with mindfulness and gratitude and the ways in which we can open our eyes to the power of our food choices as a way of loving this planet we call home- including tips on my top ingredients for growing in your own edible garden.

I get a little political in here too- waving my banner for purposeful and ethical food choices so that we can make positive change in our food systems. Seeing your food budget as an investment into your world and your time in the kitchen as a way of loving your community is a way to spark new love and appreciation for food and its purposeful place in your life. I share a range of delightful recipes in this section; from how to create your own supercharged fruit infused water jars, and pot luck delicacies such as my super green hummus with turmeric and sesame crackers that can be taken along to gatherings and picnics.

Here is where we connect all the dots. You’ll learn about what eating for pleasure really looks like, the psychology of eating, how to identify whether you're eating from a place of freedom or fear; and how to let go of our intrinsic “immortality complex”. You’ll discover how to transform your thinking from fearful towards a liberated relationship to eating.

It really is my belief that food should first and foremost be enjoyed and savoured, and with so much nutritional information out there, we can be frozen like a deer in headlights when it comes to choosing what to eat. Casting the chains off a rule-based approach to food, I really take us back to good old fashioned, common sense eating.

Connection is all about relationships, and what’s better than food to bring people together? I really focus in on meal times as one of the most important rituals in our day for both nourishment and connection with our loved ones, with some friendly tips and reminders on why this is so important. I educate you on how to re-create the lost art of meal times in a busy twenty-first-century world; including some Pinterest worthy tablescape inspirations that'll be sure to turn your next mealtime gathering into something that places beauty and value on those at your table.

This truly has been a delightful process and I’ve poured my heart and soul into a book that'll hopefully impart in you a new sense of freedom, joy and connection into your life through the power of wholesome food.

I adore every single one of these recipes and hope you will too!

I’d love to share a recipe from the book that’ll be sure to spread love to all your friends and family. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think in the comments section below. And to find out more about the Booktopia special click here.

Layered salted caramel peanut fudge

{serves 4–6}

This is one of my favourite freezer desserts, and I like to keep it ready to grab at a moment’s notice. A decadent delight, it homes in on the irresistible flavour combo of caramel and sea salt. The unique peanutty edge makes it fulfilling for adults with a cuppa, but also brings plenty of happiness to little kids.

Fudge

270 g (9¹₂ oz/1 cup) almond butter
80 ml (2¹₂ fl oz/¹₃ cup) coconut oil, melted
90 g (3¹₄ oz/¹₄ cup) rice malt syrup
30 g (1 oz/¹₄ cup) raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Celtic sea salt

Salted caramel and peanut

90 g (3¹₄ oz/¹₄ cup) rice malt syrup
2 tablespoons cashew butter or other nut butter
2 tablespoons coconut oil
sea salt, to taste
35 g (1¹₄ oz/¹₃ cup) roasted salted peanuts

Method:

Line a 12 × 18 cm (4¹₂ × 7 inch) baking tin with baking paper.

To make the fudge layer, whiz the almond butter and coconut oil in a food processor until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and process until smooth and creamy. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin to 3 cm (1¹₄ inches) deep and smooth the top with the back of a spoon or a spatula.

For the salted caramel and peanut layer, clean the food processor then process all the ingredients except the peanuts until the mixture has a caramel-like consistency.

Spoon the salted caramel over the fudge, smooth with the back of a spoon or a spatula, then scatter the peanuts over and press them in gently. Freeze for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. If stored frozen for longer, it may need some time in the fridge to soften a little before serving.

Sprinkle with extra salt before serving, if you like.

My Fast Your Way to Wellness Online Program Is Here

Fasting? You need a plan.

Are you keen to learn more about intermittent fasting and not sure where to begin? Or perhaps you've tried it but didn’t get off on the right foot?

After the overwhelming response I’ve received to my cook book, Fast Your Way to Wellness, (I realise that sounds like an oxymoron, but bear with me 😉 ) I knew I had to lend a hand to those of you who’d like to take intermittent fasting to the next level or, those of you who need a little bit of extra help getting started and keeping it going!

If you’re eager to embark on a health journey that’ll change how you look and how you feel, my Fast Your Way to Wellness 6-week Online Program is your answer.

The practice of intermittent fasting has improved my life so much and I’d love for you to experience these benefits for yourself. I started the practice in menopause after realising that the weight creep, night sweats and low energy were foreal! (Not kidding).

I wanted to find an easy and sustainable way to lose the extra weight I had gained and feel my best, and intermittent fasting has been the best way for me to do this naturally and with minimal effort. I personally follow the 5:2 method of intermittent fasting and delay breakfast each day to give myself and gut a good 16 hour break between meals, the 16:8 approach. But there are a number of ways you can do it to make it fit in with your lifestyle and these are all covered off on the program. You choose... your day your way!

I’ve created this program for you because I do know how you feel; I’ve been there. Bloated, tired, frustrated, confused, moody and unable to shed weight. And that was just menopause ha! It’s time for a change!

You deserve to enjoy a healthy life, and one that enables you to follow all of your dreams and passions. My new and affordable Fast Your Way to Wellness program provides you with a step-by-step guide to help nurse you through your journey, with delicious recipes and ideas, menu planners, shopping lists, inspirations, scientific research, tips and everything else you need to get started on changing your life for the better! You can read more about what it involves here.

If you’ve never attempted intermittent fasting before, and you’re interested to try it and reap all the wonderful health benefits, or if you’re a fasting professional but have run out of recipes and need inspiration to keep it going, then why not consider my six week online plan? It's affordable at only $69 for the full six weeks and super easy to do!

Are you?

Tired of constantly feeling bloated, tired, frustrated, confused and moody
Looking for a complete health reset and want to feel healthy and happy
Ready to get off the diet rollercoaster for good
Keen to lose weight and keep it off
Desperate to increase your energy
Interested in balancing your hormones
In need of improving your sleeping patterns
Choosing to reduce bodily inflammation
Wanting to look after your gut health and improve your beneficial gut bacteria
Needing to reduce your blood pressure
Sick of your slow metabolism and want to increase your fat burning capabilities
Ready to normalise your hunger hormones for better appetite control and more

If any of the above feel like you, then this proven program works. While of course we’ll be looking at dietary changes, we’ll also take a deeper look into my key tools and show you how to implement intermittent fasting into your weekly life. Over the six-week plan, you’ll discover:

The benefits of intermittent fasting and why it’s helped me and so many others regain control of our lives
How to knock back cravings and understand what they mean
Self-care practices that actually work
The lo-down on exercise
How to practice portion control
How to clean out your pantry and enjoy foods that benefit your health without restricting your diet
How to re-wire your brain for complete wellness
And so much more

And now for the part you’ve been waiting for… what about the food?

Intermittent fasting will provide the most health benefits and is much more achievable if you consume food that is full of wonderful nutrition and not low calorie junk food.

This isn’t a time of deprivation but rather, a time where you enjoy what you’re eating and take pleasure in the experience. Even during an intermittent fast, eating should be joyful rather than a chore.

This program emphasizes avoiding processed foods to give a break your digestive system. You’ll be eating more natural, easily digestible whole foods to satiate you and provide you with good nutrition. Fasting is a healing process that gives your gut, brain and body time to reboot and recover and the recipes and ideas are super easy to make and implement.

Fasting encourages choosing foods that don’t have an ingredient label. Instead, we focus on toxin-free, and chemical-free foods. The recipes and foods are real and delicious but they are also super easy to buy from your supermarket and create simple meals with. Some of the delicious meals you’ll discover include sweet potato hot cakes, Mexican scrambled eggs, a bento box, an aromatic zucchini curry, steak with caramelised onions and so much more!

So what are you waiting for, sign up today!

Nina and Pieter said, “We are loving your Fast Your Way to Wellness program. The chicken meatballs with marinara sauce and curried carrot soup are weekly staples for us. We’ve also made the ginger and coriander fish, pea soup, prawn curry and saag chicken curry! This is the best intermittent fasting program out there.”

Are you keen to try it? Let me know your thoughts about intermittent fasting in the comments section below.

Lee xo

Family Hub Organics Vegan Food Wrap Review

If you’re trying to hop aboard the plastic-free train, Family Hub Organics is your next stop!

Family Hub Organics is a family-run business from Perth in Western Australia, a place where I grew up and love to visit. They hand-craft a range of products that make sustainable and conscious living easy and affordable. This includes Beeswax and Vegan Food Wraps, organic soaps and body products, organic lip and perfume balms and all-natural laundry cleaners suitable for very sensitive skin. Literally a sensitive person's salvation!

In fact, their slogan is: Simple. Natural. Ethical. If that’s not something you want to get on board with, I don’t know what is. All of the ingredients they use are sourced ethically, as they don’t support environmental devastation, slave or child labour situations or poor working conditions.

Their Vegan Food Wraps, made of all-natural ingredients, are definitely what sold me. Next time you’re wrapping up an avocado, you’ve got to try it - aren't they the cutest? They’re made of vegetable wax, tree gum and jojoba oil and yet, are a fabric-base. These wraps are reusable, washable and even compostable but they last up to 12 months if you give them proper care.

They’re an amazing alternative to single-use glad wrap; something I would love to see phased out of our kitchens.

If you’re keen to save money, and save the environment while you’re at it too, these wraps are your new go-to! They even make for the perfect gift.

Get ready to avoid food waste, reduce your carbon footprint and add some colour to your kitchen. I’ve received the Vegan Food Wraps – Starter Set which includes two pieces that are 1 x 23cm x 23cm wrap, 1 x 30cm x 30cm wrap at only RRP $24.95.

I absolutely love them and can't wait to buy more!

Have you ever used food wraps? What do you think of them? Feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

Lee xo

My Magic Mud Review

Do you know what we don’t talk about enough?

Oral hygiene.

We can talk all day about how to supercharge the gut, how to detox the liver, balance hormones and yet, we seem to forget the passageway to all of those things; the mouth!

If you’ve had enough lip-service and you’re ready for the organic and fluoride-free solution to your oral hygiene, My Magic Mud is the key. The company was founded by Jessica Arman, who started her company at a local farmers market in Central Texas. It’s now become one of the top brands in North America and Australia.

Why, do you ask?

The My Magic Mud Whitening Toothpaste in Peppermint uses activated coconut shell charcoal and bentonite clay; the first of its kind. It’s made with wholesome ingredients that’ll naturally give you those sparkling, shiny pearls you’ve been scrubbing so hard for! It's scientifically verified to safely clean, polish, and whiten your teeth. RRP $19.95 at 113g.

Are you ready to get flossy? My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Infused Dental Floss will help you amp up your dental routine and floss like a boss. This non-GMO, vegan and cruelty-free wax coating is infused with peppermint, meaning it’ll enhance your delicious smelling breath and happy gums! This activated charcoal floss is definitely a key product that’ll make you the MVP of your dentist room the next time you go. RRP: $8.95 at 50m.

About to meet a first date or potential boss but just chowed down on copious amounts of garlic bread (insert face palm)? Welcome My Magic Mist Breath Spray! This spray is sugar-free and free of toxic ingredients. Oh, and the taste? Imagine a cool, crisp burst of peppermint and eucalyptus oil. That's sure to impress a first date! RRP: $14.95 at 29.6ml.

Are you looking for a magical oral rinse? My Magic Mud Activated Charcoal Alcohol-Free Oral Rinse, which comes in a classic mint flavour will give you the blast of mint you’ve been searching for. It’s an extremely gentle yet effective rinse that’s necessary for optimising your oral hygiene. While it’s alcohol-free, it's also full of natural anti-inflammatory ingredients to soothe your gums and mouth, such as aloe vera and turmeric. Think vegan, paleo, gluten-free and fluoride free too! RRP: $14.95 at 420ml.

Have you tried these oral hygiene products? Let me know in the comments section below.

Pressed Purity, Proteco Oils

Do you know what’s absolutely fiiiiine?

Fine cold-pressed, high-quality oils by Proteco; they’re oh so dreamy!

So, what makes Proteco oil’s so fine?

Proteco is the leader of cold-pressed oils in Australia and uses only the greatest, freshest Australian produce.

Proteco have a diverse range of products that can be used in a multitude of ways – it can take you from your morning skincare routine all the way to your stir-fry for dinner; because after all, you are what you eat.

The advanced extraction and filtration technology they use (I know, sounds fancy already!), ensures that every single product is of a high quality and consistency. Proteco practice cold-pressing their products, which means that they press fruits or seeds with a modern steel process so that they’re not refined or stripped of their natural oils, antioxidants, vitamins and flavour. Unlike many pressed oils, Proteco don’t use chemicals or extra solvents, so you can be sure that all of the raw materials, aromas and nutritional values are preserved, just the way we like it!

Who needs a house when you can have the flesh of real avocados pressed into an oil instead? I’m obsessed with Pressed Purity’s Avocado Oil. Avocados are high in healthy monounsaturated fats, vitamins and minerals. This oil is particularly nutrient-rich and versatile; it’s probably in that natural moisturiser you were applying earlier today! Personally, I love using avocado oil in my salad dressing, but it’s also delicious drizzled into stir fries and soups. If you’re all for avocado on the skin, it’s an amazing moisturiser to calm down itchy skin and replenish dry and chapped skin! Avo look at that! RRP $12.95 for 250ml.

Are you ever frying up fish or marinating your proteins and wanting to take it to the next level? Cue: Macadamia Oil! Macadamia oil is fast becoming a favourite cooking oil because of its nutty flavours and high tolerance to heat. I love it in my baking but it’s also seriously amazing for nourishing dry skin. RRP $7.95 at 250ml.

And finally, let’s talk about hemp, baby! Hemp seed oil has all of the incredible properties that you’ve heard about hemp, but this time, it’s grown with organic farming practices. Hemp makes for the perfect oil as it contains a perfectly balanced ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which is required for optimal nutrition! If you’re looking to boost your immunity, brighten up your skin, boost your hair and strengthen your nails, hemp is where it’s at. Oh, and if you’re worried about hemp being related to cannabis, don’t worry, unlike its sketchy brother, Hemp seed oil contains no THC so it’s a family-friendly oil! RRP $16.95 at 250ml.

Have you tried these oils? Let me know in the comments section below.

Lee 🙂

Strawberries

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

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