Flu-fighting Power Porridge

FLU FIGHTING POWER PORRIDGE 

This porridge is a fabulous. I absolutely love it. Especially recently when I’ve been working a lot and starting to feel the strain on my body and mind! Anyone working in retail during this christmas lead up will most definitely know what I mean…I hate customers.

The ginger, turmeric and macrobiotic salt provide you with immune boosting properties. The salt is also beneficial in balancing your electrolytes This is extremely important if you’re feeling dehydrated. Adding carrot to your morning breakfasts is also a great way to add in some veggies! Finally, topping your bowl with the anti-bacterial nature of local raw honey as well as the protein loaded activated nuts and hemp seeds will fuel you for a few hours.

Now do you see how this is a flu fighting power porridge?!

I’m obsessed – I hope you become obsessed too

Sarah x

Ingredients

– 1/2 cup of organic oats or gluten free oats if intolerant

– 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk (or any other milk of choice)

– 1/2- 1 cup of water

-1 grated carrot

– 1.5 tsp of grated ginger

-1.5 tsp of grated turmeric

-1/2 – 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

– 1/4 tsp of nutmeg

– 1 peppercorn

– 1 green cardamon pod (optional)

-1 tbsp of organic sultanas

Toppings

-1 small handful of activated nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts)

-1 tsp of pepita seeds

-1 tsp of hemp seeds

– 1/2- 1 tsp of raw or local organic honey (omit it vegan)

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Method

1. Place all the ingredients except the water, carrot and the toppings into a small bowl and let it soak for around 15 minutes.
2. In a small saucepan, transfer the spicy oat mix and add half a cup of water. Cook on low heat for about 5 to town minutes.
3. Next add the carrot and mix throughly, if you find the mixture is a little too dry for your liking, add a little more water. Cook to desired consistency. The longer you cook it the better!
4. Remove form heat, add to a cute bowl and top with desired toppings. In my opinion, activated nuts, seeds and honey go super well. The honey has anti-bacterial proprieties (if using raw, local honey) and the nuts + seeds not only provide you with that desired crunch but also contain beneficial protein and healthy lipids that will help keep you feeling satiated.
5. Enjoy this lovely porridge when you have the time to sit and relax with a warm tea and a book. It’s the best way to begin the day if you’re feeling a little worn out (..me!)

Spicy Porridge

Mel’s in Europe at the moment which means that mornings at home have changed quite drastically. I no longer wake with Mel’s sleepy face running to the bathroom to go pee (she pees a lot! haha – sorry for that reference Mel), nor do we get to go on beach walks together early in the morning before the rest of Melbourne wakes. We don’t get to sit at the table with our organic coffees whilst talking about the events of the day and we definitely don’t get to make a wholesome breaky that we can both enjoy. Missing out on all of this sounds so sad and tragic but I am using this as an opportunity to self reflect and tune into what my body needs.

 My mornings are now 100% dedicated to ‘me’ time. I wake pretty early, do some slow movement which is usually in the form of yoga, a light weights session or a beach walk (around half an hour) I then commit to 15 minutes of meditation using the 1 giant app. (highly recommend this app for anyone new to meditation) I have found that I don’t really need the app anymore, but I do love having that extra guided support so I’ve continued to use it.

After around 45 minutes on my mat, I make my way to the kitchen and prepare myself a wholesome, nourishing and satisfying breakfast. I’ve started to mix it up a bit to give my body an array of nutrients day to day. Mel and I have also taken a deep interest into Ayurvedic medicine so my meals have now also evolved around Ayurvedic principles (not all meals but I try to be mindful about how I can add an Ayurvedic touch when I can). Mel knows much more about this than I do so I’m sure she’ll be posting frequently about this topic soon!

 We are definitely mostly ‘Vata’ types so foods that ground are highly beneficial for us. I have found that my body is responding very well to foods that are mostly cooked rather than raw, with adding spices and ghee whenever I can. Ghee is clarified butter which is an extremely nutritious alternative to traditional butter or oil. I have also loved making homemade chai’s either after dinner or in the morning.

In terms of breaky, I have begun to introduce porridge in the mornings. I love making a warming bowl of organic oats or rice flakes with added turmeric ginger and sometimes carrot. Topping with yoghurt, or adding whole organic unhomogensied milk is also fantastic. I don’t particularly love sweet breakfasts so I tend to opt for a more savoury type but in saying that I also do love to indulge in a banana and coconut porridge from time to time.

After nourishing my body and If I have a bit of time, i’ll make myself an organic coffee at home with biodynamic unhomogensied milk (the only milk Mel and  I will drink). Enjoying my coffee whilst checking in with emails, social media (terrible habit) and journalling, I’ll head for the shower. I like to body brush for about 5 minutes before showering and only use certified natural body wash in the shower. Reducing my toxic load is a priority for me. The only moisturiser I use for my body is coconut oil. It works tremendously for me, I absolutely love it!. Plus I bought a massive jar for around 16 dollars and its lastly me ages! Bargain!

There is my morning routine. I have noticed that if I don’t do all of these things, I feel somewhat unsettled and ‘off’. The power of the morning is so understated.

Just realising how much I have just ranted in this post (sorry!) I just wanted to make a point highlighting that finding a morning routine that works for you is a very self-nurturing and self-respecting way to welcome the day. Whether that be taking some time out to read the paper or sit outside calmly with your coffee – our mum loves to start the day like this, or walking the dog around the block. Whatever it is, find what works, find what you love and find what you can stick to every morning. Do this and your body and mind will thank you for the rest of the day.

Trust me.

p.s I miss mornings with Mel.

Finally, here is my spicy porridge recipe

Ingredients; serves one

– 1/2 cup of organic oats (or gluten free oats if intolerant)

– 1.5 cups of water. (if you want a creamier consistency, you can add half a cup of coconut milk or unhomogensied full cream milk plus 3.4 cups of water)

– 1 tbsp of organic sultanas

– 1.5 tsp of grated ginger (can add more depending on how spicy you like it!)

– 1.5 tsp of grated turmeric (can add more depending on how spicy you like it!)

-1/2 tsp of macrobiotic salt or himalayan salt

– 1 tsp of hemp seeds (preferably unhulled)

-1 tsp of golden flax seeds

-1 tsp of pepita seeds (pumpkin seeds)

Originally I wanted to create this dish with a tad of Japanese influence so sprinkling your porridge with tamari toasted sesame seeds would be perfect! I’ll definitely try that next time!

Method

1) Grate your ginger and turmeric finely and add to a saucepan with your oats, water and sultanas.

2) Cook your oats on the stove on a low heat for around 20 minutes. You want the flavours of the turmeric and ginger to infuse into the oats so the longer you cook it the better!

3) Once ready, pop into a nice bowl and top with the seeds. If you have sesame seeds, whilst your pats are cooking you can toast about a 1.5 tsp of sesame seeds in a small pan with a tad more salt or tamari. If toasting with salt, this method is called Gomasio. Gomasio is a wonderful addition to any dish, its grounding and super tasty!

4) Enjoy your oats on a cosy couch (I most definitely did!)

Hope you enjoy it

So much love,

Sarah x

I am cold. Very cold.

Water colour painting by Wayne Roberts 

So here I am writing from my cosy room in my aunts apartment in Neuchatel, Switzerland. It’s raining outside and very much icey cold, but hey that’s what you expect when you choose to come to Europe for the winter months. I spent my morning with the usual yoga and meditation followed by a coffee (Americano style) & avocado on wood fire fresh dark sourdough. This bread is next level good, I literally haven’t had a bread better than this one in a very long time. God I love you Europe.

Due to these cold winter months, I will be cooking meals that compliment the season. Of course I will be enjoying meals with my family most of the time however when I find myself alone Ill be experimenting in the kitchen trying to come up with some nourishing oatmeals, spiced rice, dahls, stews and soups. Many, many soups. Oh and can’t forget the chai lattes that Ill be brewing myself in my aunts tiny kitchen. So stay tuned kids because Ill be posting the recipes up here!

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If you’re interested in Ayurvedic medicine than here are some ideas you could implement in your diet in order to feel your best if you’re feeling un-steady and disconnected:

– Spiced basmati rice with raisons, cinnamon, nutmeg, fresh grated ginger and ground turmeric. Add a teaspoon of ghee just prior to eating.

-Coconut and sesame oatmeal. Cook you oats in almond milk and coconut oil, then simply add some toasted coconut and sesame seeds on top. Sesame seeds are beneficial for female hormones, so if any of you ladies have any issues in this area get onto the sesame seeds!

-Morning Poha. Either savoury with carrot and zucchini or sweet with coconut milk.

-Vegetable Dahs with brown rice.

-Coconut milk curries.

-Golden Milk (ground turmeric with pepper and raw brown sugar). Drink before bed to ensure a restful nights sleep.

-Kitchari. If you’re feeling slougish than this is the perfect meal to give your digestive system a well deserved rest.

You can find varying recipes of each of these dishes online if you suss out some blogs or reliable websites. My go to woman is Jody Vassal. She knows her stuff.

I find myself researching Ayurvedic principles for hours as to me it’s extrememly interesting and I can personally relate to most of it, but hey its not for everyone. But I assure you if you start researching you will most likely become hooked, like sarah & I. I also recommend seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner if you want to take it that next step further.

Much love from my little corner of the world. Its now time for more coffee.

 

Pumpkin, Turmeric and Leek soup

Nothing warms your belly quite like a big bowl of pumpkin goodness.

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Our version of the typical ‘mums homemade pumpkin soup’ has added immune boosting properties with the addition of turmeric and ginger. Super nourishing and warming on a chilly night. We love to get a little over board with our toppings, adding avocado, wilted kale, cheese,  extra spice, fresh herbs and sometimes some protein like poached chicken. The options are endless!

Like most of our recipes, this soup is easy to throw together – all you need are a few staple spices like turmeric and cumin, herbs like parsley and thyme and veggies.

** Also, the small side bowl in the above image is a sneak peak of our pumpkin and sweet potato curry. The recipe for this little gem will be up on the blog soon!

Ingredients 

– 3/4 of a large butternut pumpkin

– 1 Leek

– 2 small carrots

– 750 ml of water (1 Litre if you want a ‘thinner’ consistency)

Use a homemade vegetable stock if you have that on hand, if not water is fine! (we used water)

– 2 garlic cloves

– 1 small/medium brown onion

– 1 tsp of grated fresh ginger

– 1 tbsp of ground turmeric or grated fresh turmeric root

– 1 tsp of ground cumin

– 1 Bay Leaf

– 1 quarter of a cup of finely chopped fresh herbs (thyme, sage and parsley)

– Half a tsp of cayenne pepper

– Pepper to taste

– Himalayan Salt to taste

Toppings: Avocado, wilted kale, parsley and bocconcini cheese. We also added a ‘Moroccan souk’ spice that we purchased from a spice shop in the city. You can just finish with either dusting some more turmeric or quickly whipping up your own dukkah. 

Method

1. Heat your pot with some coconut oil and start by sautéing your onion, garlic and ginger. Heat till onion browns (be careful not to burn it)

2. Add a dash of water and all your spices and keep sautéing for a couple of minutes to create a paste like consistency.

3. Next add your Leek – sauté for a few minutes before adding your pumpkin and carrots.

4. Cook the veggies in the pot for about 10 minutes, making sure to continue stirring so that the onion doesn’t brown.

5. Add your water, himalayan salt and bay leaf and bring the pot to a boil.

6. Once boiling, lower the heat and simmer for about half an hour (the longer the better).

7. Turn off the heat and blend your mixture with a hand blender.

8. Voila! You have made pumpkin soup, easy hey?

9. Top with your favourites. We mixed through some wilted kale, avocado, bocconcini cheese (we also love haloumi in soup) and parsley

10. EAT

M + S xx

Autumn Chickpea and Veggie Stew

As mentioned previously in our green soup post, we’ve just entered Autumn. Despite the beautiful colours and cosy evenings, this change in season has left us feeling a little ‘under the weather‘ so to speak. After a long day at uni all we wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a big bowl of warming stew. So guess what, that is exactly what we did. 

Well, that’s kind of what we did. First we had to get changed out of our uncomfortable uni clothes (hello tight jeans and winter boots), unpack our uni bags (weighing what feels like a small house) and drive to the shops to buy the ingredients……eugh. 

Anyway, once back home, we put together this chickpea and vegetable stew with immune boosting spices to combat this change in season. This recipe is super easy to put together, especially on those ‘I just can’t be bothered cooking anything’ kind of days and it’s extremely nutrient dense which makes it a wonderful nourishing dinner. 

Your house will be filled with a comforting fragrance and your tummies will be filled with an array of nourishing veggies. Need we say more?

Ingredients

– One broccoli head

– 2 carrots

– 1 zucchini

– A bunch of asparagus

– Half a cup of organic frozen peas

– Half a medium sized purple sweet potato

– 1 can of organic, reduced salt* chickpeas

– 2 cans of organic reduced salt* whole tomatoes

– Half a diced brown onion

– 2 garlic cloves (minced)

– 1 small knob of ginger finely sliced

– 2 teaspoons of turmeric

– 1 teaspoon of cumin

– Half a teaspoon of cayenne pepper

– 1 Bay leaf

– 1 teaspoon of coconut oil

– Himalayan salt and pepper to taste

– Shredded spinach and kale

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Method

1. Wash and chop all the vegetables into two centimetre pieces

2. In a medium sized pot, heat the coconut oil for a minute or so. Add the onion, garlic and ginger with a dash of water. Stir till the onion browns without it burning.

3. Add a little more water plus all the spices. This should create a paste like consistency

4. Add the vegetables (Except the chickpeas and tomatoes) and mix through with the onion and garlic paste.

5. Once the veggies have tenderised a tad, add the two cans of organic salt reduced tomatoes and bring to the boil.

6. Once boiled, reduce the heat to a simmer and add the chickpeas.

7. Cover the pot and cook for 15-20 minutes.

8. Once cooked, stir through the spinach and kale.

9. Serve either on it’s own or with some steamed brown rice or quinoa.

The loveliest meal filled with immunity boosting properties. Perfect for a cosy autumn evening

M + S xxx

Warm Moroccan Chicken Salad

Ingredients (serves two for a main or three for an entree/light meal)

– One small eggplant

– Half an avocado

– One small zucchini (we used three tiny zucchini’s from our organic garden)

– Two small truss tomatoes

– Around four large leaves of kale

– Chicken breast (one or two depending on how large you want this meal to be)

– Two heaped tablespoons of greek yogurt

– Half a pomegranate

– Homemade dukkah (click on link for recipe)

– Pine nuts

– A little bunch of Moroccan mint leaves

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Method

1.  Place a pot of water on the stove and bring to boil with some salt

2. Cut the chicken breast in small cubed chunks and place in water once it boils, leave chicken in for aprox  5-7 mins depending on the size of the pieces (test one piece to see whether it is still too pink inside)

3. Whilst the water is coming to a boil, wash all vegetables thoroughly and cut open the pomegranate – removing the seeds from one half only.

4. Slice the zucchini horizontally so that you have rectangular pieces around 3 cm’s long. Place zucchini under the grill with a drizzle of olive oil and pepper. Leave until it begins to brown at the edges. You could also add dried cumin before placing under the grill

5. Chargrilled eggplant: Use tongs to safely hold the eggplant on top of an open stove and keep rotating it above the flame until the skin starts to blister (be careful!). This will take some time but it will create a lovely, rich chargrilled effect.

6. Dice the tomatoes and avocado into small portions

7. PLace the kale leaves on the bottom of the plate and from here use your hands to mix all ingredients together thoroughly with a teaspoon of olive oil. Once all ingredients are on the plate, neatly place the pomegranate, dukkah and yoghurt on top.

8. Eat a moroccan feast

*If you wanted to create this into a heartier meal, try adding some couscous or freekeh. If you enjoy dates, they would also work nicely.

M + S xx

Superfood dukkah

Dukkah is an awesome addition to basically any meal. From a few veggies you’ve thrown together to a masterpiece of a dinner spread, dukkah can uplift your breakfast, lunch or dinner from ‘meh that was alright I guess’ to ‘holy smokes that was yum’.

Not only is dukkah delicious, it is extremely easy to make! All you need is a few spices, seeds and nuts and you’re good to go!

For our dukkah we like to add superfoods to give it the added nutritional punch. Black chia seeds and linseeds are our go to super foods in this case. Obviously if you don’t have these on hand in your pantry you don’t need to add them!

We’ve added the measurement for each ingredient in tablespoon/teaspoon format as it’s just easier that way whilst making it!

***The ingredients below are different from those pictured in the visual above. We didn’t take a photo of our most recent dukkah batch. Sorry guys! 

Ingredients:

– 1 tablespoon of Cumin either ground or seeded
– 1 tablespoon of turmeric either ground or seeded
– A pinch of ground coriander seeds
– 1-2 tablespoons of sunflower seeds
– 1 teaspoon of pepita seeds
– 1-2 tablespoons of activated almonds (we use Lovingearth)
– 1 teaspoon of linseeds
– 1 tablespoon of black chia seeds
– 1 tablespoon of either white or black sesame seeds
– A pinch of Himalayan salt
– A pinch of pepper

Method:

Making dukkah is so easy peasy! All you need to do is ground each ingredient together in a stone bowl. (There is definitely a name for the bowl but I can’t think of it right now! Surely you guys know the bowls that we’re talking about)
Make sure to ground the almonds and seeds first before adding the other ingredients!

You can enjoy this dukkah on anything and everything! We especially love it on our avocado in the morning. It’s also a great addition to salads and dips!

Hope you enjoy! If you happen to make this recipe, we’d love to see it! Tag @avocadotimestwo on your Instagram photos so that we can see your dukkah creations!

Much love on this happy Friday

M + S xx