Another year of neglect, and this blog *still* exists!

oooooooh boy. I keep coming back and this 'blog' is still here. As I want to write, but am more likely to write on a screen than in a diary, I guess I really should try a little harder this year! I have a brand spanking new computer, lots of thoughts running around and a whole stack on new cookbooks received for Christmas and my birthday.

First a disclaimer; I'm on a cleanse. I made a Frankensmoothie for breakfast :)

Frankensmoothie makes 2 large glasses

1 frozen banana
1 large handful of frozen strawberries
2 tbsp coconut yoghurt
1 tsp spirulina powder
1/2 cup coconut almond milk, more if needed

Blend all ingredients in a high powered blender. Drink/eat!











Week two and I'm pretty much down to fruit and veg only. Add in some nuts and seeds and that's about it. And tea. Lots of tea. I'm a little hungry, and a little grumpy but if overall it helps cut down the chronic inflammation I have, then all is good. So far I've been cutting back on coffee, alcohol, grains and dairy. Its been pretty hard as summer holidays is a time of travel, catching up with friends and eating lots! Long car rides have been hardest - thats prime snack time! On my drive down south on Monday I snacked on fried carbs, the ultimate betterworse food. You feel better for a mouthful, but worse for a lot longer! On my drive back to the city yesterday I was better prepared and had some snack tubs from the store; one of roasted mixed nuts, and one of superfoods (goji, sunflower seeds, almonds, coconut). It worked! It kept me satiated and awake. Here's to being prepared!!
So I have no pics to show you from my two lovely cookbooks, but I do have a Butternut Giner and Lentil soup for dinner tonight. The kids can have some toast to go with it, and although I do have some gluten free bread in the fridge that fits the cleanse, I think I'll just have it straight up :)

The most important food I ate in 2017

In May I signed up for the Ration Challenge as organised by Act for Peace. I committed to living on the same rations that a Syrian refugee living in a camp in Jordan would for the whole of Refugee Week (18-25 June). It was amazing. Super challenging and confronting, but a huge personal success when it got me talking to friends and family about their position on how we treat other humans.

One weeks supply of dry goods was posted to me and I had to reach fundraising goals to add in bonuses. I joined a local team and the 5 of us raised over $6000 to support Syrian refugees.

 So what does a weeks food look like?

We were instructed to add extra rice and flour, as could be collected at a local market in a refugee camp. The 120g block of tofu you see here could have been tinned sardines for the meat eaters. As I increased my fundraising tally I was able to add the following items to supplement the week; 8 tea bags, 50g sugar, 170g of one vegetable (I chose kale as I knew it would last for a week, and it is hearty), a bonus 120g of tofu, a $5 bonus item (I choose a fruit smoothie on day 4),

One of my fundraising strategies was to ask my friends and family to join me for a meal or a day. I would buy the ingredients and they would sponsor me to cook the extra food and deliver it to them.

This was what I offered them. A whole day pack included a tea bag for breakfast, rice and lentils with a flatbread for lunch, and rice, kidney beans and a chickpea and kale felafel for dinner.

Lets just say, I have amazing friends. This is how many people joined me and ATE like a refugee right alongside me, while donating as well.

Here are some other snaps of my cooking that week. 

I was well and truly ready for some more spice and flavour - and coffee - at the end of the week. It was truly an amazing eye opener and conversation starter. I raised $2407, enough to feed 6 refugees for a year which was a great feeling.  I think I am almost ready to sign up and do it again!! www.actforpeace.rationchallenge.org.au

A year in food photos

 Lets start my reminiscing of 2017 off with a toast. To good drinks, salad in a glass, and friends to share with.
This is a replica of a drink I had at Helen's birthday gathering at Guildhall. West Winds The Sabre gin, good tonic, cherry tomatoes, sliced red capsicum and cucumber. Delicious.

Next came a glut of kiwi fruit from Che Sara Sara that we could eat fast enough and was turned into fruit leather. Tangy!

 

I have no recollection of this delicious looking savoury dinner!

Plums. Lots of plums.

More proof that we do eat savoury dishes. Spiced pepitas make the best salad toppers

Pizza

I made tempeh!!!

 Glut of loquats led to this 

Another great gin - Four Pillars Christmas gin with strawberries and orange