Eating Your Way to Health – A Woman’s Guide

What Is Chlorophyll?

2011-04-12T20:28:00.003+10:00

Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green pigmentation. It absorbs the sunlight and turns the energy from the sun into usable energy through a process called photosynthesis. There are many health benefits associated with consuming chlorophyll.

Health benefits:

· Research suggests that chlorophyll has an alkalising effect on your body and consuming chlorophyll daily is my number 1 detox tip!

· Chlorophyll has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

· Helps with the growth and repair of tissues.

· Helps to neutralize the pollution that we breathe in every day.

· Natural deodoriser to reduce bad breath and body odour.

· Neutralizes free radicals that do damage to healthy cells.

· Research suggests that chlorophyll has the potential in stimulating red blood cells to improve oxygen supply.

· Useful in assimilating and chelating calcium and other heavy metals.

· Delivers magnesium and helps the blood in carrying oxygen to all cells and tissues.

Foods sources:

The main sources of chlorophyll are green leafy plants however the therapeutic benefits are destroyed during cooking therefore supplements are the best option. Chlorophyll supplements are available as extracts, liquids, capsules and tablets. Other sources of chlorophyll include green tea, alfalfa, parsley, spirulina and barley grass.

Vegies From The Sea...

2011-04-01T17:53:00.002+11:00

These interesting sea creatures are packed full of nutrients and minerals like iron, iodine, calcium, Vitamin A,B,C, manganese and magnesium. Sea Vegetables are great for your teeth, bones, hair, skin and nails and help to keep your thyroid in good health. Research has investigated the cholesterol lowering properties as well as positive effects on cancer prevention.

You may be thinking that they are going to taste like seaweed fresh from the sea but they really don’t have a strong taste especially once you add them to your food.

Different types of sea vegetables:

Kombu: Looks like a long stick of seaweed and is highly alkaline. When added to water it becomes soft so add it to soups, brown rice and quinoa.

Nori: Sheets of nori is what is wrapped around nori rolls. You can use these sheets by adding your own ingredients to them and rolling up or otherwise tear the nori into strips and add to salads, rice dishes, vegies and soups.

Arame: This is a species of kelp and can also be added as a garnish to dishes or eaten on its on own with some tamari and ginger.

Wakame: Soak wakame in water before adding to salads or add it in the last couple of minutes to your cooking. Wakame has probably the strongest taste out of all the varieties above but super delicious!

Start experimenting with sea vegetable today!

Eating for Health!

2011-03-25T12:43:00.005+11:00

For the past few weeks i have suffering from a bad cold/flu which has developed into a nasty cough and after speaking with Emma over the weekend she mentioned to me to not forget to eat shiitake mushrooms known as the "medicinal mushroom", taken as a remedy for upper respiratory diseases, poor blood circulation, liver trouble, exhaustion and weakness and to boost life energy. She also reminded me about miso as it is high in protein and rich in vitamins and minerals.

So, therefore, i developed a yummy healing recipe; Take a look;

Base Soup Healing recipe

6 shiitake mushrooms, sliced

20g miso

1/2 cup vegetable stock

In a small pan, heat stock, add mushrooms and miso and bring to boil and cook 1-2 minutes until mushrooms are just tender. Spoon into a bowl and eat immediately.

Alternative: Add 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil to pan and add mushrooms, stock, miso, 1 chopped red chilli, 1 shallot finely sliced, bring to boil and cook 1-2 minutes until mushrooms are just tender. Spoon into a bowl and eat immediately.

10 Day Cleanse

2011-02-01T10:59:00.004+11:00

Day 10 - 2 rasher bacon with 1 scrambled egg and mushrooms, winter salad, apple, salad, lamb and cooked vegetables, vegetable sticks and selection of cheeses.

OK - I've done it. No coffee for 10 days and plenty of water and feeling great! Can't wait to do this cleanse again soon! ... Michelle :-)

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-31T10:35:00.003+11:00

Day 9 - stewed fruit and yoghurt, salad roll, banana, grapes, grapefruit, salmon and salad.

Nearly done...can't wait for a coffee! Happy Days...M x

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-31T10:29:00.002+11:00

Day 8 - Muesli with fruit and milk, baked potato and cooked beans, salad, carrot soup, fish with yoghurt and salad.
Carving Coffee...but still no coffee yet, drinking lots of water and tea!
Two more days to go..
Michelle :-)

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-31T10:23:00.003+11:00

Day 7 - vegetable juice, cooked fruit with almonds and yoghurt, mushroom risotto, salad, pear, lamb stir-fry, celery sticks and a apple. More water please! Again still no coffee! 3 days to go! Cheers, Michelle :-)

10 day Cleanse

2011-01-31T10:16:00.004+11:00

Day 6 - Scrambled eggs with mushrooms, orange juice, spiced pumpkin soup, wholewheat roll and butter, salad, hommus with celery and carrot sticks, steamed fish and cooked green vegetables. Lots and lots of water and i still haven't had a coffee !! Michelle :-)

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-27T09:50:00.004+11:00

Day 5 - Porridge, 1 slice wholewheat bread or toast with butter. Salad and a apple. Cooked vegetables with either chicken or meat. Plain day...headache has gone and remained strong still no coffee or alcohol for 5 days now! Yippee...half way through!

Mich xx

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-27T09:36:00.004+11:00

Happy Australia Day!

Today having a BBQ with family and I'm taking a Indian spiced iced tea with me. Use 2 x chai tea bags, 3 strips lemon rind, 1 cinnamon quill, 1 star anise to 1 Litre boiling water. Let brew for 1 hour before transferring to a water bottle and serve with lots of ice.

Day 4 - Fruit and natural yoghurt with chopped nuts. Baked potato with butter, coleslaw, a ripe pear, vegetable casserole with steamed broccoli and a orange.

I must admit i went a little out of routine today and had some BBQ prawns, lamb and barramundi which my brother brought to our BBQ and they were amazing and oh course a lamington!

Feeling good!

Mich xx

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-25T13:16:00.003+11:00

OK - Feeling not too bad apart from a headache and very hungry.

Day 3 - 2 slices wholewheat toast with butter, large fruit salad, salad, cooked green vegetables and wholewheat pasta with tomato sauce.

Mich xx

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-24T10:06:00.003+11:00

Day 2 - freshly juiced apple, carrot and mint, then rest of yesterdays soup, sweet potato salad and cooked cauliflower with cheese!

Going well so far, felt terrible yesterday afternoon and evening but today feeling good.

8 more days to go!

Mich x

10 Day Cleanse

2011-01-24T09:59:00.003+11:00

Good Morning - i started a 10 day cleanse yesterday which means no coffee, alcohol and lots and lots of fruit and veg's.

Day 1 was a 1/4 watermelon, vegetable soup, brown rice and veg salad more soup and cooked vegetables and beans. Yummy! Mich x

Happy 2011

2011-01-05T13:44:00.003+11:00

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you have had or still continuing to have a enjoyable festive season. Over the holidays i was book writing and recipe testing in between spending time with family and friends. i am looking forward to this new year ahead and would like to thank everyone for their support and good wishes with our book adventure. Any new year resolutions ??? Anyone found a great recipe over the holidays ?? Have a great week everyone and blog soon. Michelle x

Packing Day this Saturday!

2010-12-06T10:32:00.002+11:00

I will be one of over 560 registered volunteers helping Sydney Basket Brigade to decorate, pack and deliver hampers just before Christmas Day.

Sydney Basket Brigade source donations of products and money throughout the year, to fill hampers full of food and a present for individuals and families in need over the festive season.

The Sydney Basket Brigade team is a 100% volunteer organisation. No-one gets paid for their help and everything we achieve is made possible by donations, good will and people’s time.

I am really forward to the day and happy to assist! Check out their website:

http://www.magicmoments.org.au

Wishing you all the best for the season! Michelle x

MEDIA RELEASE

2010-11-29T09:27:00.003+11:00

EAT YOURSELF SEXY
EXCLUSIVELY FOR LIFESTYLE YOU

MONDAY 8 NOVEMBER

XYZnetworks’ LifeStyle YOU today announced that it has commissioned Southern Star Entertainment to produce an Australian series of the Cineflix International format, EAT YOURSELF SEXY. Inspiring and uplifting, EAT YOURSELF SEXY encourages women to take control of their lives and get back on the road to loving themselves.

“LifeStyle YOU prides itself on knowing Australian women. Our viewers contact us all the time with requests for makeovers, diet and exercise plans and relationship advice. When we found this show we knew it was perfect for LifeStyle YOU as it covers the gamut and the goal of what Australian women want to be – healthy, happy and sexy,” said Nicole Sheffield, General Manager, LifeStyle Channels. “Eat Yourself Sexy crosses genres with diet and fitness advice along with makeover tips and is about the realistic makeover to get Australian women feeling sexy again.”

EAT YOURSELF SEXY follows the stories of eight women, one per episode, as they transform their bodies and find the power to reignite their relationships with the help of a team of experts. From the salad dodging housewife whose libido has gone missing to the frantic mum-of-three who never has time for herself, this series will help Australian women lose weight, regain health and reclaim their long-lost mojo once and for all.

Hosting the Australian series and guiding these women along their life changing journey is LifeStyle YOU presenter Sarah Wilson. Sarah knows it’s possible to eat yourself sexy and she is going to prove it. Along with expert nutritionist Emma Sutherland and trainer Blake Worrall-Thompson, they are on a quest to transform these women from saggy and stressed-out, to sexy and stunning in just eight short weeks.

"The premise of Eat Yourself Sexy is so refreshing. The series is about changing your eating patterns to not just lose weight, but feel better about yourself and regain confidence, energy and sexual spark. I think Australians will learn a lot from this show... it goes into the kitchens and bedrooms of everyday women and holds a mirror up to our habits,” said Sarah Wilson.
EAT YOURSELF SEXY follows the Cineflix International format of the series, which sees international nutrition sensation Gillian McKeith use her no nonsense, tough love approach to get women back into shape.

Southern Star Entertainment will produce the eight-part one hour series for LifeStyle YOU which is currently in production. EAT YOURSELF SEXY is set to premiere mid 2011.
“Eight Australian women with very relatable food issues fess up about wanting to get their health on track and find a new sense of body confidence. What they learn and how they change is deeply inspiring,” said Courtney Gibson, Director of Programmes at Southern Star Entertainment.

LifeStyle YOU is available on FOXTEL and AUSTAR.

Book Update

2010-11-22T08:45:00.004+11:00

Sorry we haven't blogged for awhile; Emma has been busy with her clinic work and i have been busy with my full-time job (Breville's Test Kitchen Manager and Cooking Specialist). So, I wanted to give you a update on the book. Emma has completed all her research notes and i have been madly recipe writing and testing. We sent out all the recipes recently to keen recipe testers and this was such a positive experience for us; we received constructive feedback and some twigging and retesting was required and now we are in the second round of recipe testing. So our aim is by end of December to have all recipes tested so that we can start approaching publishers early next year - Wish us luck! Cheers, Michelle

My New Best Friend is also Product of the Month!

2010-10-31T12:07:00.004+11:00

Ssshhhhh - I have a secret to share with you. It's my new kettle and it is amazing! You may be wondering what all the fuss is about but this is not just a kettle. It is the Breville Automatic tea maker and kettle and it makes me the perfect cup of tea every single morning. It has 5 different temperatures and 3 different tea strengths. All I do is press "Herbal" and "Strong" and put my tea in the large tea basket and voila - perfectly brewed tea and it even keeps it warm for an hour! Perfect as I love to top up my tea throughout the morning.

As far as smart designs go, this little baby is hard to beat. A clear glass jug so I can see my tea brewing, a clear beeping to alert me to my cuppa and it really does look rather special in my kitchen. So bravo Breville on making my morning tea ritual just that one bit more special and enjoyable!

Zucchini Fritters

2010-10-26T10:36:00.003+11:00

We'll ladies who would have thought zucchini and mozzarella to be friends! Last night i made Bill Grangers Zucchini Fritters from October Issue Delicious Magazine and they were absolutely fabulous. Attached my photo for proof! Happy Healthy Cooking. Cheers, Michelle.

Mint Lassi

2010-10-21T07:46:00.005+11:00

I have mint growing wildly in my courtyard at the moment and I've been using the mint leaves in tea, or finely shred and/or tear leaves to mix in salads or add to other herbs to garnish curries and if your planning on cooking a spicy curry, I have the most soothing drink to refresh and cool down your mouth, here is my Mint Lassi.

Mint Lassi
2 Tablespoons biodynamic organic wholemilk yoghurt
125ml fullcream organic milk
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
8 ice cubes
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
Sprig mint

In a cocktail shaker, add all ingredients except mint and shake well.
Pour chilled yoghurt drink into a glass and top with a sprigs of mint.

Delicious!

Happy Healthy Eating!

Michelle xx

Pomegranate Martini

2010-10-07T09:34:00.004+11:00

Pomegranates are a good source of Vitamin C, B5, Potassium, Polypheriols such as Tannins and Flavonoids. Besides from being good for you the humble pomegranate is delicious in taste and looks spectacular!

Last night after a busy day the office, i made a refreshing pomegranate martini and sat in my courtyard, sipping generously and reflecting at the day events. I used Rosehip tea in my recipe for extra wellbeing and if your on a alcohol free diet this drink is still very good, just remove the vodka and add extra tea.

Pomegranate Martini

Makes 4

1/2 pomegranate (seeds removed)

100ml rosehip tea, cooled

100ml 100% pure pomegranate juice

60ml vodka

16 small ice cubes

1. Place all ingredients except pomegranate seeds into a cocktail shaker. Shake and fine strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds.

Drink in moderation!

Enjoy and Happy Cooking.

Mich x

Get the Scoop on Natural Sunscreens

2010-09-29T16:27:00.008+10:00

After the last few days of beautiful weather I started thinking about how to protect my skin yet still enjoy the sunshine. I love summer and feel so alive after a day at the beach, sand in my toes and sun on my face! So to find out what a natural sunscreen is and how to avoid the nasty chemical sunscreens this summer keep on reading.

How do sunscreens work?
Sunscreens protect the skin from burning by either absorbing the harmful rays or reflecting them from the skin. No sunscreen can provide total protection from all of the sun's rays and that’s why it is always important to cover up using appropriate clothing and eye wear especially during the hottest part of the day. Sunscreens are filters of UV energy. They are used to filter a proportion only of UV rays.

What active ingredient does natural sunscreen use?
They use Zinc Oxide (250mg/g) which reflects UV-A and UV-B rays rather than chemical actives which absorb these rays.

Does natural sunscreen contain Nanoparticles?
Nanoparticles are man made, extremely small particles that can easily enter the body and can be found in cosmetics, moisturizers, mineral make up and sunscreens. They are used in sunscreens to prevent the white film once applied. Natural sunscreens should not contain Nanoparticles. Friends of the Earth's Safe Sunscreen Guide states "Studies have shown that Nanoparticles can produce free radicals and DNA damage, especially when exposed to UV light. These studies suggest that rather than offering us sun protection, if nano-sunscreens are absorbed into our skin, they could result in serious damage."

What does Broad Spectrum mean and is it important?
A sunscreen that provides broad spectrum protection protects against UV-B rays as well as UV-A. All sunscreens protect against UV-A rays which cause loss of elasticity, premature aging and skin cancer however not all protect again UV-B which causes sun burn.

Recent studies have shown that UV-B radiation plays a large role in causing gene mutations that can lead to skin cancer. Therefore it is vital that when using a sunscreen you check that it offers broad spectrum protection.

Check List for Your Sunscreen

Free from:
Chemical UV filters/absorbers
Nanoparticles
Titanium dioxide
Sulphates
Parabens
Petrochemcials
Artificial fragrances

Emm

xxx

Tomatoes

2010-09-27T15:34:00.006+10:00

I just love tomatoes, they are rich in Vitamins C and A and provide the body with lycopene, a valuable source of nutrition which prevents damage to the cells causing cancers. They come in all different varieties which vary in colour, size and flavour.

Over the weekend i made Baked Chicken in Tomato and here is my quick and easy recipe.

Baked Chicken in Tomato

Serves 2

1 eggplant, trimmed and sliced in 1cm rounds

1 x 250g punnet cherry tomatoes (mixed varieties)

1 x 400g bottle organic tomato pasta sauce

4 organic chicken drumsticks

In a large baking dish, layer eggplants and tomatoes. Pour tomato sauce over and add chicken drumsticks, turn to coat in the sauce.

Bake in a hot oven (180C) for 1 hour until chicken flesh meat is falling off the bone and vegetables are tender.

Spoon a large ladle of vegetables into a shallow bowl and top with two chicken drumsticks. Add more sauce and serve hot.

(Optional) Top with shredded basil and grated Parmesan.

Happy Cooking and Eating !

Cheers, Michelle xo

Morello Cherry and Almond Little Cakes

2010-09-19T07:19:00.003+10:00

Spring; this morning i jumped out of bed and made these yummy little cakes for breakfast. The taste and smell of the sweetness of maple and cherries mixed with roasted nuts is just amazing!

1 cup almond meal (or process mixed nuts)
1/2 cup 100% pure organic maple syrup
3 x 60g organic eggs
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1 cup stoneless cherries, drained (morello)
10g butter, melted for greasing

1. Preheat oven to 160C. Grease 6 cup muffin tin with melted butter.
2. In a medium bowl add almond meal, syrup, eggs and vanilla and mix with a wooden spoon or soft spatula until well combined. Add cherries and gently stir in (be careful not to break cherries).
3. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tin and bake for 30-35 minutes until cakes have risen and are golden brown in colour.
4. Cool in tin for approximately 10 minutes before running a knife around the edges of each muffin to release from the tin.
5. Cool completely on a wire rack before serving with a creamy yoghurt. Enjoy!

Happy Cooking and Have a good day :-) Cheers, Michelle xx

Mushrooms – the New Superfood!

2010-09-11T22:03:00.005+10:00

Those innocuous mushrooms in your shopping basket could be the answer to your vitamin D deficiency! Expected revisions to the recommended daily intake of vitamin D, which are expected this summer, may do wonders for mushroom sales. "There's a better understanding of importance of vitamin D in human health," said Tara McHugh, a research leader at the USDA.

At least 40% of Australians don't get enough vitamin D, but others estimate it may be twice that number. In addition to aiding calcium absorption by the body, vitamin D may help numerous health conditions including osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, multiple sclerosis and even a reduction in overall mortality.

Vitamin D, a fat soluble vitamin found in few foods, occurs naturally in fish oils and has been added as a supplement to milk since the 1930s to help combat rickets, a major health problem at the time. Humans also create it naturally when ultraviolet rays from the sun strike the skin. It’s our “sunshine” vitamin!

While it has been known for years that mushrooms also can generate the vitamin, it wasn't until a few years ago that people started thinking about its commercial viability. It was found that exposing mushrooms to a short burst ultra violet light produces a daily allotment of vitamin D in 120 grams of mushrooms without a negative impact on other nutritional benefits, appearance, taste or shelf life. In comparison, one cup of fortified milk provides about 30% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.

So, add mushrooms into your diet for an added boost of vitamin D, an essential nutrient for optimal vitality! Read about my immune boosting soup that features the powerful Enoki mushrooms.

Have you checked you vitamin D levels after our cold winter?

All Things Hunter Valley

2010-07-27T22:16:00.002+10:00

I have just spent the last 3 days guest presenting at the Golden Door Health Retreat in the beautiful Hunter Valley. I love to go there as it is a place where people transform and achieve huge goals. My role this week was to take the guests through a series of seminars and a cooking class. The focus was weight loss and how to achieve a healthy state of being. I just love this kind of work and my mission is always to inspire people to achieve an incredible level of health and wellbeing and I was in the perfect place for this!

I regularly guest present at this gorgeous retreat and every time I have this experience I love it. The surroundings are rolling hills covered in vineyards. As I look out my window in the morning I can see hot air balloons slowly rising. I was blessed with a Leo full moon and I spent a good hour at the top of meditation hill soaking up the moon rays. It felt exquisite and I was so full of energy that I spent the next 5 hours writing!

So if you can take a week away from your life and want to transform your current situation make a trip to the Golden Door. The crew they have are highly trained and they have hand picked the best from every occupation and therapy. There are links below to my various activities from the last few days. If you want more information about what to expect simply email me through my website.

I am in the process of organising a 5 day Female Health retreat for January 2011 so let me know what you would be interested in learning. This is an amazing opportunity for me and I would love to see you there. Cooking classes, seminars and one on one consultations are just the beginning!

While I was there, I picked up a copy of Michael Hallock’s amazing CD called “Aaah Inspiring Meditation”. We talked about this 2 years ago and I am so proud of him reaching his goal. I love his cd - incredibly soothing and the perfect tool for anyone who is stressed and feeling frazzled. You can buy a copy here.

I visited Michael recently on my trip to Bali. He is helping set up the most amazing retreat I have ever laid eyes on. It is in Ubud and I really cant express how incredible it is. it has just opened and you can read more about it here.

I am sure that I will be back to Five Elements and look forward to a regular visit to such a special place.

I am off to Thailand tomorrow to conduct some research that I will tell you about soon. In the meantime keep warm and infection free by reading my tips. In case you are wondering about my photo, Tamburlaine winery is an organic winery that I always visit when in the Hunter. To my delight, they have just released an organic Blanc de Blanc - now that makes me happy!

View from Meditation Hill

Check out the view from cooking class!

Executive chef Mark and I with my Detoxification Salad

Executive chef Mark in action

Herb of the Week - Nettle

2010-07-18T21:27:00.005+10:00

Miso and Nettle Soup

I adore fresh nettle and have been lucky enough to get my hands on some organic varieties. Just remember to wear gloves as it can give you a mild rash or hives temporarily. Nettle is an incredibly powerful herb and I use it for pregnancy as it is so rich in nutrients. It's also used for hay fever, dermatitis, arthritis and blood noses.

I made some lovely nettle and goats cheese frittatas as my snack at work last week and this week I have made a quick soup.

Ingredients
1 litre water
2 medium carrots, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 leek, cut in 1 cm rings
2 Tbs quinoa
2 Tbs miso, dissolved in a bit of water
4 Tbs nettle leaves finely chopped
Servings: 6

The nettle tops should be harvested early in spring when they are still very small (about 5 cm). Only use the small unfolded top leaves.

Put carrots, onion, leek and quinoa in water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 30 min until tapioca is clear and soup is slightly thickened. Stir from time to time to prevent the tapioca from burning. Add the miso and mix to dissolve. Add the chopped nettle leaves and only bring to boiling point. Don't boil to preserve the vitamins. Serve the miso soup immediately

Winter Flu Fighter Juice

2010-06-23T17:40:00.003+10:00

I had a really bad cold a couple of weeks ago. Emma e-mailed me her juice recipe which is an absolute winter winner and recommends having it 3-4 times a week throughout winter. Emma say's all you do is grab 1 small beetroot, 4 carrots, 1 inch of fresh ginger, 1 clove of garlic and 1 whole lemon. Get yourself a mighty fine juicer and juice in the following order: First carrot, garlic, ginger, beetroot, 3 carrots then lemon and it really is best if you can use organic ingredients as they are far more nutritionally dense. Add to a big glass with a few ice cubes and you will be feeling amazing and germ free!

Happy Juicing and get well this Winter everyone!
emma and michelle xx

Words emma and michelle copyright 2010. picture by www.rawfoods-livingfoods.com

In our 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's and all Fun and Fabulous

2010-06-19T14:00:00.006+10:00

OK some food for thought; maybe a little cliche especially after blogging about a way to man's heart cook book but a question for all the single ladies, where do you look these days for love ? Do you hit the bars, go on-line social networking sites, grocery store, friend network, social clubs or activities; maybe a cooking class ?? What are today's savvy woman doing to attract themselves a date ?? If we have careers, friends and good family support, what are we doing about getting out and about and start dating! What are you doing to ensure that you have a work/life balance? Enjoy your life!

Mich xx

The way to a man's heart

2010-06-19T13:18:00.004+10:00

OK i will admit that i have a fetish for second hand cook books and recently i was at a Antique Fair which is another passion of mine collecting "Shelley" art. Anyway, on my travels around the fair floor i discovered a seller with his mothers cook books and i couldn't resist but take one called "The way to a mans heart, The Settlement Cook Book" complied by Mrs. Simon Kander, printed in USA, 1940 and copyright The Settlement Cook book Co. Tested recipes from the Settlement Cooking Classes, The Milwaukee Public School Kitchens, The School of Trades for Girls and Experienced Housewives. In my opinion this book is completely practical with loads of helpful preparation tips and cooking techniques. I've enjoyed the past few weeks simply flicking through the pages and reading about how things were once done. In this particular book the seller's mother has circled her favourite recipes and made notes alongside a few which has given me insight into what this family was eating and what recipes worked. It has been used thoroughly and loved as i am noticing lots of food markings on the pages. As i left the seller's stand he said to me "i hope you enjoy this book and get many years out of it" and i said to him "Thank you and i'll let you know that you have given this book to a good home".

Happy Cooking! Mich

Words and Picture by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Lemon Slice

2010-06-15T13:58:00.004+10:00

If you've got the girls coming round for morning tea and you have a spare hour the day before, try whipping up a batch of my simply scrumptious Lemon Slice using organic ingredients where ever possible to gain more flavour and taste.

Lemon Slice

Makes 16 slices

Base

1 cup plain flour

1/4 cup icing sugar, sifted

75g butter, chopped

pinch salt

Filling

2 x 60g eggs

1 cup caster sugar

2 Tablespoons plain flour

Zest and juice 1 lemon

1 teaspoon baking powder

Topping

300g sour cream

1 cup icing sugar mixture, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Make Base - Combine flour, sugar, butter and salt into a food processor. Process until mixture forms a ball. Press pastry into a lined 22cm square slice tin with baking paper. Bake at 175ºC for 15 minutes until lightly browned.

2. Make Filling - In a mixing bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, flour, lemon zest and juice and baking powder until well combined. Pour over hot pastry crust and bake for 15 minutes or until set and slightly browned.

3. Make Topping - In a mixing bowl whisk together sour cream, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread evenly over hot filling and bake for 10 minutes or until topping is set. Cool on a wire rack for approximately 30 minutes and refrigerate overnight before cutting into equal squares.

Enjoy !

Cauliflower Fritters

2010-06-10T14:34:00.003+10:00

OK - Winter has definitely hit town and i am sitting at my desk blogging with the heater and oven on to keep the room warm. ....Cold weather inspires me to cook healthy comforting foods and on Sunday night i whipped up these yummy fritters which really satisfied me. Try them next time your looking for that something special!

Cauliflower Fritters
Serves 2
2 cups cooked cauliflower, mashed and cooled
1/2 cup plain flour
20g goats cheese
1 x 60g egg
2 Tablespoons chopped herbs (optional)
1 garlic clove, peeled and infused in 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon baby capers
Handful baby salad greens
3 Tablespoons oil (olive or rice bran), for frying

1. In a bowl mix together cauliflower, flour, cheese, egg and herbs until well combined.
2. Heat oil in frypan over medium heat and drop spoonfuls of mixture into hot oil and cook for
1-2 minute each side until well browned and heated through centre. Remove and drain on paper towels.
3. Serve fritters warm drizzled with garlic oil and capers and a side of fresh greens.

Enjoy!

Mich

Words, recipe and photo by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Importance of Organic Food for Children - Study released

2010-06-09T17:53:00.005+10:00

I have always passionately believed in the importance of eating organic food. Children have smaller and less mature livers than us and so chemicals have a greater impact on them. I have long been advising parents to remove pesticides from their children's diets but having solid research to emphasise this is great. Please be aware that the link between pesticides and behavioural disorders is now compelling!

A Harvard based study recently published in Pediatrics demonstrates a link between Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and organophosphate pesticides. The researchers found a strong correlation between the level of pesticides detected in the urine of children and the condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. Those children with more pesticide exposure were more likely to have ADHD. The researchers concluded: "These findings support the hypothesis that organophosphate exposure, at levels common among US children, may contribute to ADHD prevalence. Prospective studies are needed to establish whether this association is causal."

For the most commonly detected pesticide chemical, dimethylthiophosphate, children with levels higher than the median of detectable concentrations had double the odds of ADHD compared with those with non-detectable levels."

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) "... is one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity (over-activity)," says the National Institute of Mental Health. The Center for Disease Control said 3% to 7% of school-aged children in the United States had ADHD in 2003, with 2.5 million children medicated for the condition.

Exposure, says the Center for Disease Control, does not have to be direct. Eating foods that have organophosphates sprayed on them can contribute to effects on an individuals' health.

Emm

xxx

Winter Colds and Flus

2010-06-05T08:27:00.006+10:00

Well, I can't believe it but I have a revolting cold! A head filled with congestion, razor blade throat, a nasty cough and I feel miserable. I do find that more clients succumb to infections at the change of season than in winter itself. So I have made a huge batch of my immune boosting soup and wanted to share my recipe with you. Of course this soup is best when totally organic as the nutrient value will be much higher.

Ok so first let me explain why these ingredients are so wonderful for you:

Chicken - perfect protein to support your production of disease fighting immune molecules
Onion - helps to break down mucous
Garlic - a natural antibiotic
Ginger - stimulates circulation enabling more efficient clearing of toxins
Chilli - high in vitamin C
Enoki mushrooms - has properties that are anti cancer so can help fight any nasty bugs
Risoni - a great carbohydrate source for energy
Lemon - uplifts mood
Parsley - high in iron which stimulates immunity
Goji berries - traditionally used in China in convalescence, specifically in broths

Ingredients (use your inutition on quantities)
Chicken thighs
Chicken stock ( I always have some pre made in the freezer)
Onions
Garlic - lots
Ginger - lots
Chilli - lots
Enoki mushrooms
Risoni
Lemon zest and juice
Parsley
Goji berries

Method
Saute onions, garlic, chilli, ginger until soft. Add chicken thighs and brown them. Pour in your stock and simmer. Once chicken is cooked take it out and shred with a fork. Add chicken back in with risoni, Goji berries and enoki mushrooms. To serve, place lemon zest on the bottom of your bowl. Add soup and top off with lemon juice and parsley.

I have eaten nothing but this soup for the last 36 hours and have woken up this morning feeling so much better. I can actually breathe through my nose and my headache has gone. So, the next time you feel a nasty cold coming on remember this easy recipe and start cooking!

Emm
xxx

Pesticides Linked to Hyperactivity in Children

2010-05-19T17:12:00.003+10:00

Children exposed to higher levels of pesticide found on commercially grown fruit and vegetables in the United States were more likely to have attention deficit/hyper-activity disorder (ADHD), according to a study published on Monday. Researchers in the United States and Canada studied data from 1139 children aged between 8 - 15 and found children with higher residue levels of pesticides known as organophosphates were roughly twice as likely to have ADHD, the study in the journal Pediatrics found.

"The present study adds to the accumulating evidence linking higher levels of pesticide exposure to adverse developmental outcomes," the study concluded. Roughly 40 organophosphate pesticides are registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency for use in the United States, and about 33.11 million kilograms of the pesticides were used in agricultural and residential settings in 2001, figures cited in the study said.

Although residential pesticide use is common, the National Academy of Sciences found that the major source of exposure for infants and children comes through the diet, the study added. According to a 2008 report cited by the study, detectable levels of pesticides were found in a range of vegetables. A sample of produce tested found 28% of frozen blueberries, 20% of celery and 25% of strawberries contained traces of one organophospate, known as malathion.

Other types of pesticides were found in 27% of green beans, 17% of peaches and 8 per cent of broccoli. According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 4.5 million children aged between 5 - 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD up to 2006. Between 3 and 7% of school-aged children in the United States suffer from the condition, figures show.

So, the importance of organic food for children is no longer just a health fad. There is compelling evidence to show the advantages of avoiding pesticides.

As always, organic is simply the best for many reasons!

Emm

xxx

Pear and Goats Feta Salad

2010-05-16T15:43:00.003+10:00

What a special weekend we have had, i am in complete admiration for Jessica Watson who sailed around the world solo at age 16 - what an inspiration to us all !

This afternoon, i made another favourite staple of mine pear and goats feta salad. Here is my recipe, enjoy! Michelle

Pear and Goats Feta Salad
Serves 1
3 baby cos lettuce leaves, washed and shredded
1 corella pear, cored and thinly sliced
40g goats feta, crumbled
8 nuts (peanuts, walnuts, brazil), chopped
1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1. In a large bowl toss all ingredients together and serve generously into one bowl and eat immediately while lettuce is crisp.

Recipe, photo, words by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Cheesemaking Workshop

2010-05-13T09:14:00.003+10:00

This week i had the most amazing experience of learning how to make soft cheese in a home style kitchen environment. It was a full day of cheese making jammed packed with loads of interesting facts and tips for making cheeses. In soft cheese class we learnt how to make Camembert, Fetta, Ricotta, Quarg (Cream Cheese), Mascarpone and Yoghurt. To top it all off at the end of the day we were given a goodie bag which included a sample of each product to take home. Visit: www.thecheesemakingworkshop.com.au. Happy Cooking! Cheers, Michelle

Chia - My New Favorite Ingredient for You!

2010-05-12T18:15:00.003+10:00

Chia seeds were first used as food as early as 3500 BC and were one of the main dietary components of the Aztecs and the Mayans. Chia seeds were eaten as a grain, drunk as a beverage when mixed with water, ground into flour, included in medicines, pressed for oil and used as a base for face and body paints.

Chia is one of nature's complete superfoods and contains the highest plant based source of Omega 3, dietary fibre and protein. It is a great tasting seed that is easy to include in the daily diet for improved health.

Omega 3’s – chia contains 20% omega 3 which means that chia is anti-inflammatory, great for your skin and essential for healthy hormone balance

Dietary fibre – chia contains 36% fibre so this will help to keep your cholesterol low and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease.

Antioxidants – chia is bursting with antioxidants that help to neutralize free radicals and promote health and vitality.

Here is a fantastic recipe courtesy of The Chia Co, who grow chia in the pristine Kimberley region of South Australia at a latitude that maximizes omega 3 content.

Crunchy apricot & Chia Granola

Ingredients

300g rolled oats 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/3 cup honey, warmed 2 tablespoons light olive oil 100g sultanas 100g dried apricots, diced120g hazelnuts, roughly chopped 100g shredded coconut 60g sunflower seeds 30g black chia seeds

Method

Pre-heat oven to 160oC. Combine oats, hazelnuts, shredded coconut, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon, honey and olive oil in a large bowl. Make sure the honey coats the grains and nuts evenly. Spoon mixture into a large baking tray lined with non-stick paper. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the granola becomes golden and crunchy. Stir frequently while cooking.3. Add sultanas and apricots and stir through granola. Store in an airtight container and serve topped with a dollop of your favorite yoghurt.

PS My favorite breaky at the moment is Dovedale's Chia bread with sauteed spinach and a poached organic egg. This keeps me feeling energetic for hours and hours!

Emm

xxx

EWG's Shoppers Guide to Pesticides Sneak Preview

2010-04-29T20:17:00.004+10:00

I am an ardent fan of the EWG (Environmental Working Group), an amazing resource that you just have to bookmark. I have learnt so much over the years by reading their research, supporting their campaigns and following their advice. One of the best book I have ever read on chemicals was written by two of their scientist. FYI, it's called "Slow Death By A Rubber Duck" and it made a profound impact on my life. I suggest that you get a copy and read it, it's one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

As I am on their favorite list, they send me info before it's released to the general public. I have been waiting with bated breath for the release of their annual "Shoppers Guide to Pesticides" that lists the "dirty dozen" the top 12 ingredients that are most loaded with pesticides. SO, ensure that you only buy these foods organically:

1. celery
2. peaches
3. strawberries
4. apples
5. blueberries
6. nectarines
7. capsicum
8. spinach
9. kale
10. cherries
11. potatoes
12. grapes

So, go ahead and explore all of those links I have given you and let me know your feedback!

Emm
xxx

Get Involved with Earth Day on April 22!

2010-04-20T19:33:00.001+10:00

Forty years after the first Earth Day, the world is in greater peril than ever. While climate change is the greatest challenge of our time, it also presents the greatest opportunity – an unprecedented opportunity to build a healthy, prosperous, clean energy economy now and for the future.

Earth Day 2010 can be a turning point to advance climate policy, energy efficiency, renewable energy and green jobs. Earth Day Network is galvanizing millions who make personal commitments to sustainability. Earth Day 2010 is a pivotal opportunity for individuals, corporations and governments to join together and create a global green economy. Join the more than one billion people in 190 countries that are taking action for Earth Day by clicking here.

My Favorite Product of the Week

2010-04-14T18:37:00.003+10:00

My absolute favorite product at the moment is my “I Love My Hair” black coconut and Tahitian vanilla conditioner. I have found myself washing my hair on an increasingly frequent basis just so that I can be enveloped in the incredible aroma! It reminds me of my beautiful spiritual mentor, lazy afternoons in Thailand and that warm cosy feeling after a day at the beach.

Apart from the smell, the philosophy of this company (owned by singer, Toni Childs) is just perfectly aligned to my own vision. They use organic ingredients, embrace the concept of ‘love thy self’ and donate 5% of net profit to women’s charities!

“It’s time to stop using products in an effort to be loved, and instead begin to use them to love ourselves...” How perfect is that statement.

Honouring ourselves as women is a tradition that has been lost to the busy, multi tasking, perfecionistic expectations that we place on ourselves. It’s time to get back to these rituals and each time I wash my hair I now take the time to stop and think about me. On my shower door is taped a piece of paper with the following written:

“If you are going to dream, dream BIG, it’s FREE!!”

Let me know your favorite ritual in which you honour yourself as a woman – let’s share them!

HypnoBirthing Makes the Media!

2010-04-13T21:42:00.006+10:00

I have just had the most wonderful experience - a newspaper wants to feature me and HypnoBirthing! I have already been interviewed and this was one of the quotes:

What are the benefits of Hypno-birthing?

“From the statistics collected by the HypnoBirthing Institute, we know that caesarian rates are halved! 65% of HypnoBirthing women do not use any pain medication and the epidural rate is decreased by two thirds. I would say that these are very impressive statistics as in Australia we have one of the highest Caesarean rates in the world – 30.8%. That’s double the World Health Organisations recommendation of no more than 15%. In my experience HypnoBirthing promotes a rapid postnatal recovery, facilitates a beautiful bonding experience and returns birth to the natural process it is meant to be.”

HypnoBirthing is an incredible tool that I teach people and I recommend that you read more about it here if you are pregnant. Or forward this on to any pregnant friends.

I did a photo shoot this morning with the gorgeous Noah Raeburn who was such a star! He slept peacefully throughout the whole shoot and only stirred briefly with the sounds of the shutter. I want to thank Noah’s parents, Ash and Brian, for letting me come to their home and take these photos. I will let you all know when the article comes out!

Rocket Pizza

2010-04-13T16:56:00.005+10:00

Last night after a busy day at the office i came home and cooked another favourite recipe of mine which is my rocket pizza!
This pizza is light but very tasty and has minimal toppings which is the way i like it. It is cooked in a matter of minutes. It is so delicious that it makes a healthy meal to have anytime but I especially like it in front of the TV.

Rocket Pizza
Serves 1

1 x 20cm round wholewheat flat bread
3 Tablespoons organic tomato sauce
1/2 buffalo mozzarella cheese, pulled in pieces (shredded)
1/4 bunch rocket, washed and shredded
1 Tablespoon aged balsamic vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 210ºC.
2. Place flat bread on baking tray and spread with tomato sauce, top with cheese and bake in oven for 5-7 minutes until cheese has just melted and base is crispy.
3. Remove pizza from oven and immediately slide pizza to a serving plate, cut into quarters then top with rocket and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Happy Cooking and Eat Well !

Michelle :-)

Food Styling, Photo, Recipe and Words by Michelle Thrift 2010

Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad

2010-04-12T17:33:00.004+10:00

I hope everyone had a great weekend ? I was at Sydney Royal Easter Show on Saturday and looked at Industry Districts Fruit and Vegetable displays, Cookery Competition Winner displays and Oh course, can not go to the show without having the famous Country Woman's Scones as a Devonshire tea ! What a delight ! After a excellent day at the show and eating to much, the following day i indulged into something a little lighter; my Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad for lunch. If you are stretched for time but want something healthy and tasty give my salad a go!

Buffalo Mozzarella and Tomato Salad
Serves 1

1 baby cos, washed and shredded
1/2 buffalo mozzarella cheese, pulled in pieces (shredded)
1 large tomato, roughly chopped
1 Tablespoon lemon infused extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar (ACV) - Organic Mother Apple
freshly ground sea salt and black pepper

1. In a large bowl toss all ingredients together, season to taste with salt and pepper and serve in a bowl and eat immediately.

Delicious!

Happy Cooking and Eating Well !

Michelle :-)

Food styling, photo and words by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Easter Bunny Delivers More Than Just Eggs!

2010-04-09T21:53:00.001+10:00

The Easter Bunny may be delivering more than just a sweet treat over Easter with research finding that consuming just six grams of chocolate per day may lower blood pressure and the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction. German researchers examined the association between chocolate consumption and vascular disease based on food frequency questionnaires and blood pressure measurements in nearly 20,000 people aged 35 – 64 years who were free of stroke and myocardial infarction.

After eight years of follow up, those with the highest chocolate consumption (an average of six grams daily) had a 39% lower relative risk of myocardial infarction and stroke compared to those who consumed less than two grams per day.

The inverse relation of chocolate consumption appeared stronger for stroke than myocardial functions. Baseline blood pressure measurements accounted for 12% of the lower risk of cardiovascular events, the researchers said. “Flavonols appear to be the substances in cocoa that are responsible for improving the bioavailability of nitric oxide from the cells that line the inner wall of blood vessels” the researchers stated.

Participants were asked how frequently they consumed a 50gram chocolate bar from “never” to “five times a day or more”. In a subset of 1568 participants asked to recall their chocolate consumption over a 24 hours period, 57% reported eating milk chocolate, 24% ate dark chocolate and 2% ate white chocolate.

So, this research proves that a little bit of everything is ok and eating a small square of dark chocolate every day can be extremely beneficial to your health! Oh I am so happy to read this research ; 0

Source

European Heart Journal, online 31 March 2010

Sustainable Seafood

2010-04-03T15:51:00.004+11:00

As it is the Easter Weekend you may be planning on having seafood, something to consider if you haven't already is purchasing seafood from either fished or farmed sources that maintain or increase production in seafoods future without jeopardizing the ecosystems from which it was acquired. The sustainable seafood movement has gained momentum as more people become aware about both overfishing and environmentally-destructive fishing methods.

Australia's fishing fleet and aquaculture farms are moving towards low impact, responsible fishing to improve ocean health and provide for a sustainable seafood future. This weekend and in the future when purchasing seafood ask questions to your seller such as; is the fish caught locally?, is it fresh and in season?. Be an aware consumer buy Australian local seafood and avoid deepwater or long-lived species that are over-fished, such as orange roughy, sea perch, shark, tuna, redfish, scallops, warehou, gemish, swordfish. Try leather jacket, sand whiting, mullet, calamari, squid and ocean trout.

To find out more visit:

www.amcs.org.au

www.seafood.net.au

www.greenpeace.org.au

www.tarongafoundation.org.au

Happy Seafood Cooking and Happy Easter!

Mich xx

Words Information sourced from Wikipedia and Taronga Foundation.

Hot Cross Bun

2010-04-03T14:37:00.003+11:00

Tradition says that these sweet spiced buns were once made from leftover leavened dough used to make the christian communion wafer to which they added dried fruit and marked with a cross as a symbol of the crucifixion and only eaten on Good Friday.

Now days Hot Cross Buns are a sweet, glazed bread like bun made in many different flavours such spice, spice and fruit or chocolate and sold in most supermarkets, cafes, bakeries all over the world leading up to Easter and over the Easter Weekend. They are a delicious treat served warmed and spread with butter and are best eaten with your loved ones and a cuppa tea!

I must admit that i have been sampling Hot Cross Buns allover Sydney these past few weeks and even today i had a bun for my morning tea which i thoroughly enjoyed. However to me the most pleasurable way to enjoy a Hot Cross Bun is to make a batch of buns from scratch to share with family and friends as they visit for Easter. Find a recipe your like then create it your own maybe by adding in a little extra spice or a little more chocolate and then once you have mastered the recipe have this as your family favourite tradition to make each Easter Holidays to share with everyone.

Happy Cooking and Happy Easter!

Mich xx

Easter Week

2010-03-29T10:36:00.005+11:00

What does Easter mean to you ?

Are you celebrating for religious reasons or enjoying the abundance and overload of chocolate eggs in food stores and the buzz of the community around the holidays this week or all of the above ?

For me as a Catholic follower Easter is about the celebration of the Christian feast of the Three Sacred Days (holy days) culminating in the celebration of our Lord's rising from the dead and the holidays and oh course the food!

What are your plans this Easter ? Are you heading away, attending a mass, having a dinner party?.

I would love to hear your stories, send us a e-mail or post a comment. Mich xx

Martini

2010-03-29T10:29:00.002+11:00

Shaken or Stirred ?

How do you like to make your Martini's?

To me there can be nothing more pleasing then filling a cocktail shaker half full of crushed ice, topped with 60ml gin, 10ml dry vermouth and shaken. Pour into a martini glass with out the ice and top with a toothpick of lemon rind and green Sicilian olive and then start sipping generously while cooking or winding down after a busy week !

Mich xx

Julie and Julia

2010-03-29T10:14:00.002+11:00

Five years ago i purchased Julie Powell's book "Julie & Julia - 365 days, 524 recipes, 1 tiny apartment kitchen" and it was a great read. The book has more detail of Julie's and Julia's life then the recent movie "Julie & Julia" which was based on the book and both true stories of Julia Child and Julie Powell. My mum took me to see the movie when it came out in 2009 and i love it and could relate to many scenes. My sister gave me Julie & Julia DVD for my birthday so on Friday night after a busy week it set the scene for the weekend ahead and i watched this great inspiring food focused feel-good movie. I got up early Saturday morning and did my usual housework and then made a weekly menu and shopping list and then it was to the shops and back home to cook most of the bases towards my weekly meals which i then keep in fridge and it only takes minutes of a evening to put together good quality, nutritious, flavoursome dinners, all of this accompanied by a martini.
Mich xx

Agave - No More Sugar!

2010-03-24T18:23:00.003+11:00

I have been using agave nectar for a few years now and just love it's versatility. First of all, agave is actually a syrup derived from the cactus plant. A similar cactus plant produces tequila! Agave is traditionally used in Mexico where they have been harvesting it for thousand of years - you must know by now how much I love traditional foods.

Agave has a low glycemic index so it perfect for those of you that are either diabetic or have insulin resistance. The rates of insulin resisitance are soaring and I see this in clinic on a daily basis. Check out the Glycemic index of sugar (95),honey (77),maple syrup (54) & agave (26-40) for a comparison.

When you purchase agave nectar ensure that it is organic as it is a crop that is frequently sprayed with pesticides. Buy it in glass bottles, not plastic and store in a cool dark place. I personally love the dark agave syrup as it has a stronger flavour and contains a higher mineral profile than the light variety. If you are using agave for baking then the light is more suitable. As a replacement for sugar, use 25% less agave syrup than you would normally use of sugar.

Emm

xxx

Michelle's Birthday

2010-03-23T10:45:00.004+11:00

Thank you to everyone for all the beautiful birthday wishes. I have had a great birthday this year! A dinner party Saturday night then followed by relaxation treatment at the day spa on Sunday and yesterday i went to the Zoo and was glad to see the 12 day old elephant "Mr Shuffles" (picture left).
Enjoy Life!
Mich xx

Michelle's Tandoori Chicken Lettuce Wraps

2010-03-19T13:44:00.003+11:00

Hello everyone, sorry i haven't written for a while, been busy with work and planning my birthday celebrations for this weekend but i have a recipe for you which is just amazing ! I made it last night and it was delicious so i needed to tell you all about it...here it is... Mich x

Michelle's Tandoori Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Serves 2

2 chicken breast fillets, skin and fat removed

2 Tablespoons tandoori paste

2 Tablespoons yoghurt

Juice of 1 lemon

8 large lettuce leaves, washed

8 Tablespoons taziki dip

Fresh mint and Coriander leaves, torn

1. Cut chicken into 8 thin slices. In a bowl mix together and marinade chicken, tandoori paste, yoghurt and lemon. Allow chicken to develop in flavours overnight or up to 3 days.

2. Place marinated fillets onto a baking tray and roast in a hot oven 210ºC for 15-20 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

3. Arrange lettuce leaves on a platter, top each leaf with yoghurt, then a slice of chicken and top with mint and coriander.

4. Eat immediately by wrapping lettuce leaf around filling.

Enjoy this weekend !

Thai Style Chicken Larb

2010-03-11T10:55:00.005+11:00

Larb is a spicy minced-meat salad found on menus in most Thai restaurants. Recipe varies in each region of Thailand and generally contains a lot of sugar and oil. My recipe is light in fat and has no sugar added but still has big bold fresh flavours of Thailand cuisines.

Thai Style Chicken Larb
Serves 2
1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 x 5cm piece ginger, peeled and finely grated
2 red chilli, finely chopped
2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
500g lean chicken mince (*Note: turkey mince can be used and has less fat)
1 lime, juiced
1 baby cos lettuce, leaves broken apart
1 cup mint leaves
1 cup coriander leaves
50g peanuts, chopped
50g cashews, chopped

1. Heat oil in a large frypan and saute onions, garlic, ginger, chilli, kaffir leaves and chicken over a medium to high heat, stirring, until mince changes colour and starts to brown approx 5-7 minutes. Add lime juice and cook for another minute. Spoon cooked mince into a bowl.
2. Pile lettuce onto a large serving platter and arrange mint, coriander and nuts into small bowls.
3. At table, spoon mince into lettuce leafs, top with herbs and nuts.

Happy Cooking !

Michelle

Picture and words by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Quinoa - My Fav Ingredient

2010-03-10T17:31:00.007+11:00

First of all, this is pronounced keen - wah, not kwinoa. Really important that we avoid shop assistants hiding their guffaws at our mispronounced requests!

Although actually a seed, quinoa is most commonly considered a grain and is a relative of leafy green vegetables like spinach and Swiss chard( think cancer fighting here!). It is a recently rediscovered ancient "grain" once considered "the gold of the Incas." I consider it one of my key Super Foods and eat it at least 3 times a week.

Quinoa is high in protein (12-18%), 50% higher than wheat. Not only is quinoa high in protein, but the protein it supplies is complete protein, meaning that it includes all nine essential amino acids. This means it takes less quinoa protein to meet one’s needs than wheat protein. Not only is quinoa's amino acid profile well balanced, making it a good choice for vegans concerned about adequate protein intake, but quinoa is especially well-endowed with the amino acid lysine, which is essential for tissue growth and repair.

It is a good source of dietary fibre and phosphorus; is high in magnesium and iron; is a good source of vitamins A, E and B; and contains more calcium and fat than other grains. Quinoa is also gluten-free and extremely easy to digest. Usually a Fair Trade product this means that the people growing the crop are paid a fair price for their hard work - much more ethically responsible!

My cooking method is to treat quinoa much like rice. Soaking helps quinoa to cook evenly and loosens up the outer coating of saponin, which can give a bitter taste if not removed. I find that if you are buying boxed quinoa, as opposed to loose, it is generally already rinsed. Dry pan fry it for a few minutes to enhance the nuttiness. Bring two cups of water to boil with one cup of quinoa, cover at a low simmer and cook for 7 - 10 minutes or until the germ separates from the seed. Ensure that you fluff the quinoa with a fork before serving. The cooked germ looks like a tiny curl and should have a slight bite to it (like al dente pasta).

I particularly love the red variety and as it is higher in iron it is a better choice for me. I love it done with some zested lemon rind, fresh parsley from my garden, some of my mum's extra virgin olive oil and lastly some Himalayan salt. Add to this a beautifully grilled snapper fillet and you have one of my favorite dinners! Or I make a quinoa flake porridge with raspberries in winter. Let me know how you like to use quinoa and share your favorite recipe!

Love Emm

xxx

'The Cook and The Chef'

2010-03-05T13:15:00.003+11:00

My mum and dad gave me as a present the boxed set DVD's of 'The Cook and the Chef -Four Seasons'. These DVD's centre around produce from each season and feature Australian cook Maggie Beer and Executive Chef Simon Bryant. These two are very inspiring, making healthy fresh recipes from mainly using Australian organic local produce. I am currently finishing to watch Summer and now will start on Autumn for recipe ideas. Mich xx Words by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

Day 28 of Detox - I did it!

2010-03-03T12:12:00.002+11:00

It's been a few days since I blogged - I was birth support for my friend and we now have one more gorgeous soul in this world. It was an incredible experience for us all and bub is so beautiful!

I only just realised that today is officially my last day of detox – 4 weeks gone! I actually feel so good I may continue until the weekend, which is another 5 days. I have a dinner engagement on Saturday and I know I will have a couple of glasses of wine so detox has to end by then.

“Retoxing” must be done carefully and it is a perfect opportunity to test what foods agree with your body. So, post detox, reintroduce a new food e.g. wheat, and watch your body for 4 days. Do not introduce any other new food in this 4 day period. Look for signs such as bloating, indigestion, change in bowel habits, headaches, itchy skin or perhaps the return of symptoms that you had pre-detox and haven’t felt after week 1. Any foods that give you reactions indicated that your body does not digest them well, you may have an intolerance or simply it does not agree with you at this point in time.

If you are aiming for optimal health, not average health, then you will need to avoid these foods until after your next detox. By then, try a small portion of it and you should be fine. It really helps to keep a journal during a detox and write a summary at the end. All my patients email me food diaries on a weekly basis as well so that I can support them through any food difficulties.

The Reiki course today was fantastic – it was very practical and involved meditation style exercises which I loved. I won’t go too much into it but I have a lot of support from other realms and sometimes that is easy to tap into and other times it feels blocked. Well, today was an easy day and I could actually feel and hear the energies at play. My third eye opened and I felt an incredible vortex of energy – I do believe that humans have only just touched the surface of their energetic abilities.

I do need to remember to meditate more – I learnt transcendental meditation as a child and did this for years so I can quite easily access that serene internal space. I have been working on my spiritual path for many years and it is something that I find integral to development.

Now that detox has officially finished, let me think about how I feel. Physically, my goal was to improve my fitness and I have definitely achieved that. The regular gym sessions have me toned and feeling really strong and grounded. I actually had a BioImpedance Analysis done and compared it to my last one 14 months ago. I have lost 5cm around my waist, dropped 3kg pure fat and increased my muscle mass by 2kg! I am ecstatic about that result! I didn’t want to lose weight but I am happy to see my stats shifting to a healthier long term profile.

Mentally I feel incredible and this is what makes detox so addictive for me! I can stay up late, get up early, feel fantastic and my neurons are firing beautifully all day long without a lapse. I do believe that we don’t utilise our potential mental abilities nearly as much as we should – they say that Einstein only used 12% of his brain capacity!

Spiritually I feel very grounded and in tune with myself – my intuition is much clearer. It is like looking through a clean window as opposed to a dirty one. Always watch your dreams while detoxing as your subconscious will talk to you quite clearly through them. The more you listen to this little inner voice of wisdom the more your intuition will become clear to you.

So, I want to say thank you for walking this journey with me and keeping me company. I have loved sharing this with you and I hope that it inspires you to begin your path towards optimal health. I have given you an insight into how life looks whilst on my detox program and how I manage with food, exercise and life’s busy demands. So, now you know the easy way why don’t you go to my website, join in the fun and begin your way to better energy, brighter skin and a more youthful you!
Love Emma

'Sex and the City'

2010-03-03T09:03:00.004+11:00

OK - who can confess that they were hooked and watched TV series 'Sex and the City' and we can't forget the movie? Over the past couple of weekends i have pulled out my entire collection of S1-S6 and watched every episode of the four thirty something girls experiences of a city full of relationships in the 90's. To me i especially enjoyed following the four girls life journey's as i can relate to many subjects but i also had pleasure in watching the amount of cosmopolitans and martini's that were consumed during the series. Including but not limited too the amount of scenes that centre around food, whether it was eating at a fine dining restaurant or cooking a meal at home or baking muffins, or eating take-out around the TV, or having a picnic in the park, having a piece wedding cake, or a cupcake for afternoon tea, there sure was a lot of food filmed and it was so nice to see that food played such a role within the girls everyday lives. I sure would have loved to be one of the food stylist's for this gig !!

Mich xx

Michelle's Lettuce Tacos

2010-03-02T10:59:00.004+11:00

I am preparing for dinner tonight a very special recipe which is "Lettuce Tacos". Mum use to make variations of this recipe for us growing up and I recently discovered a similar recipe in print from Jane Kennedy's Fabulous Food, Minus the Boombah Cook book which inspired me to share my version which i think is fabulous! You still get all the wonderful spicey flavour from the mince but mix it with crisp lettuce, a little grated cheese and finely chopped tomatoes and you'll feel like your in Mexico except without the fat and calories of corn-based shells.

Michelle's Lettuce Tacos
Serves 2
1 tablespoon cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
1 brown onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 red chilli, finely chopped (seeds optional)
350g lean mince (Your choice of either beef, chicken, turkey, veal or pork)
1 x 375g bottle home-made or premium pasta sauce
1 baby cos lettuce, washed, leaves broken apart
60g cheddar cheese, grated
1 x large tomato, chopped
1. Heat oil in a large frypan, saute onion and chilli until soft. Add mince and brown until cooked, stirring occasionally.
2. Stir in pasta sauce and 500ml water and cook for 10 minutes until sauce is thick.
3. Arrange lettuce leaves on large serving plate, spoon mince into a bowl and place cheese and tomatoes into serving dishes. Then at the table spoon tablespoons of mince into cos lettuce leaves and top with cheese and tomatoes.
TIP: use other lettuce's of your choice make sure leaves are large enough to hold a couple of tablespoons of mince and toppings.
Enjoy - you won't look back!
Happy Cooking - Mich x
Words and picture by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010

March Season of Autumn

2010-03-01T15:51:00.007+11:00

What a special past 16 days we have had with Vancouver Winter Olympics. My brother's family live in Vancouver and have been lucky enough to attend some events - they even won tickets and touched a gold medal!..I spent most of my Sunday with an eye on ice figure skating - how graceful they glide along, i had such joy watching TV yesterday. Well, today is 1 March and for me this is one of my most favourite months of the year as it is both my sisters and mine birthday month. My sister turns 40 on 19 March and I am turning 33 on 22 March just 2 days apart, our preparations are underway for a month of celebrations...This morning i woke up early and went for a walk at drawn and realised that with the start of a new season; March- Autumn - we will be looking for figs, nashi, beans, celery, chestnuts, grapes, leeks, parsnips, pears, plums, sugar snap peas, pumpkins and fennel all at peak taste and quality and just waiting to be cooked with and eaten. Enjoy cooking good food tonight! Words by Michelle Thrift copyright 2010.

Michelle's Marmalade

2010-02-28T11:18:00.005+11:00

Large nectarines, oranges and lemons were in my fridge they smelt amazingly fragrant and with cravings for something sweet i decided to make marmalade. My recipe is so quick and easy. It can be doubled or tripled depending on how much you want to make.

Michelle's Marmalade
Makes 2 x 400g jars
1 nectarine or peach
1 orange
2 lemons
2 cups sugar
1. Wash fruit and cut in half or quarters, remove seeds and discard, then thinly slice citrus and roughly chop nectarine flesh (discard stone).
2. Place all fruit into a large saucepan with 1 litre water and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for 30 minutes until fruit is soft. Add sugar and stir well. Brush sides of saucepan with a wet pastry brush to remove any excess sugar or fruit. Place a small heat proof plate in freezer. Bring fruit and sugar mixture to boil, then reduce to a simmer and continue to cook until it turns a dark amber colour and mixture should be thick and sticky taking about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove plate from freezer and spoon a tablespoonful marmalade onto cold plate, wait a minute then using spoon push marmalade on plate and it should be set, if runny continue to cook until ready, checking if set regularly.
4. Once ready remove from heat and spoon hot marmalade in two clean jars and top with lids. Turn jam jars upside down once then back again just to heat lid. Allow to cool.

Now, immediately after i had made this marmalade i toasted a slice organic rye sourdough and spread with butter and topped with spoonfuls of marmalade - it was a instant fix to my sweet cravings and it tasted absolutely delicious.

The next day i had a naturopath session with Emma and took her a jar of my marmalade. We mentioned that she only had a couple of days to go on her detox and what a yummy treat to give herself would be to spoon a few tablespoons marmalade in 1 cup softened vanilla ice cream mixing well and refreeze. Spoon into chilled glasses and eat immediately - it's amazing!

Eat Marmalade within 5-7 days. Store in Fridge.

Words and Picture By Michelle Thrift Copyright 2010

Day 26 of Detox

2010-02-27T23:36:00.002+11:00

My little gorgeous niece has learnt how to crawl! I am planning on popping in for a demonstration on the way to clinic so will add a photo of her in action. My brother has been frantically coordinating the expansion of his physiotherapy business. He has relocated to huge premises and is opening on Monday. I will be practising there and also running my HypnoBirthing classes weekly. I am very excited about this as I know he will create an awesome space with a lot of great energy.

I stayed up till 1am working, as did my cat Simba (see picture), so I slept until my book keeper phoned at 9am! I haven’t slept in that late for ages but I must have needed a catch up.

Apparently it is going to be filthy hot this weekend and I have a Reiki course all day tomorrow so I won’t be able to go to Bondi early morning for my swim. As I missed the gym this morning, I will go for a swim at Golden Door when I arrive tomorrow night.

Breakfast was cereal, fruit and yoghurt – for some reason on this detox I haven’t been eating many eggs. I could make frittata for lunch or dinner quite easily as it is a great protein source but eggs don’t appeal at the moment. Lunch was left over salad from dinner which I snacked on between seeing patients.

I had a social outing this evening which is probably the first big one for 3 weeks. I felt good about it before I went – I am not tempted by alcohol or bad food. The only thing I was concerned about were the options available for dinner! I have generally found that most restaurants and pubs can serve a piece of grilled fish with salad or vegetables. I always ask for dressing on the side and no sauce on the fish, just a lemon wedge. As far as drinks go I have mineral water with fresh lemon or lime - that is easy to access.

Did I tell you that my tomato plants have shrivelled up? I am trying to revive them but it is looking grim. I rang my grandma to ask for some emergency tips but she didn’t have any new ones for me.

Tomorrow I have my Reiki course so that should be great. I am curious as to how I will find it – I am not into fluffy stuff and while I am a big believer in energetic systems (think chakras, chi, prana etc) I need the scientific side as well. Will let you know how I go!

Day 25 of Detox

2010-02-26T22:25:00.004+11:00

I woke early to go to the gym and felt rather tired for the first time in weeks. I did my cardio which all seemed very difficult and my time on the rower was 10minutes, 48 seconds, which as you know, was not great. Then I realised that I had my period – oh, it all clicks into place now!

Day 23 was a shocker for me – unorganised, cranky, I think I cried 3 times in that day and I was so irritated. You know what makes me chuckle quietly? It’s the fact that every time I get my period I have an “ahaa!” moment, like it is so unexpected! I can hear the mental process now “so that explains why I felt so emotional, tired, irrational etc”. It occurs every month but each month it still comes as a surprise. So anyway, I left the gym and came home to do a 20 minute express Pilates DVD (love these when I am feeling lazy) and have a nice breakfast of gluten free cereal, white peach and apple juice.

I made a smoothie to take to clinic – a banana, 2 passion fruits, frozen berries, oat milk, flaxseed oil and probiotic. I then had my last watercress soup from the freezer and I had forgotten how nutritious it is. It is packed with antioxidants, minerals and especially iron which I really need right now. I can feel the goodness seeping into my cells! Todays photo is my soup.

Dinner was stunning red snapper fillets, which are perfect on the BBQ. Ensure you have a really hot surface, a little olive oil, put the fish skin side up and sear the surface, turn it over just briefly then turn it back again, put the lid down on the BBQ and let it cook for approximately 3 minutes. Then I always like to let the fish rest for a few minutes while I dress the salads so that it becomes really tender.

Today I bought a quick slice mandolin!!! This is a kitchen implement that very thinly slices vegetables. I love this so much it is geeky! So I made one salad with red cabbage and a dressing of red wine vinegar, EVOO, salt and pepper. I aimed to just let the red cabbage shine as it was a perfect specimen. The other salad contained mixed lettuce, carrot, cucumber, avocado, snow peas and sugar snap peas.

Day 24 of Detox

2010-02-25T17:52:00.003+11:00

I had a crazy day in clinic today – even my 15 minutes breaks ended up being used for acute phone consults! So it is late and I have just finished writing reports to GPs and psychologists – not my favourite part of being a naturopath but a necessary one.

I used about 6 lychees with my cereal this morning along with a kiwi and it was a taste bud sensation. I took left over salad of rocket, sugar snaps, cucumber and avocado for my mid morning snack. All my friends laugh at me as they know that I often eat left over salad before I go to the gym in the morning. It started when I was younger – I have always enjoyed making salads but I always made so much that we never ate it all at dinner.

So I would stand with the fridge door open in the morning pondering what to eat for breakfast and the salad would just scream out to me “EAT ME!!!” So I did. I then began researching what traditional cultures ate in the morning and I discovered that the cereal and toast phenomenon was a relatively recent invention. In China they eat congee, in Japan it’s miso, in Greece it’s fetta, olives with coffee etc. So our Western version of toast and jam or cereal with milk is what we feel we are supposed to eat, but is it really the best start to the day? Why can’t breakfast be savoury and more substantial? Have you ever heard of the expression “eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunch and a pauper at dinner”? So, if you are getting bored with your breakfasts, think outside the square and choose a savoury dish instead.

Lunch today was a Pitango lentil soup – I am in love with this company as they are certified organic, family run and have lots of different meals to choose from. I often have their take home meals in the freezer for emergencies. Dinner was red quinoa with lemon zest and extra virgin olive oil with broccoli, zucchini and tuna.

Today's photo is of Kale - my absolute favorite detox food. I have just met the farmer who grows the most amazing varieties of kale - 15 in fact! I will blog about it soon but in the meantime, buy some and know that as you eat it your liver is kicking up it's heels and dancing for joy!

Day 23 of Detox

2010-02-24T21:33:00.003+11:00

Well, at least I woke up nice and early due to going to bed at a reasonable time for a change. The gym was not as busy and I felt great by the time I was stretching an hour later. Today’s breakfast was muesli, sheep’s milk yoghurt and half a dozen lychees. I love this fruit and just devour them when they are in season.

I then went for “coffee” and made the radical decision to have a soy chai latte. Well, never again! It was just like drinking hot milk and did not appeal to me at all. One thing that you need to ask if you are ordering chai is “do you use syrup or do you brew the herbs to order?” I kept having women complain to me that they couldn’t lose weight even though they were taking their herbs and supplements, exercising and eating well. After some investigation work it turned out that this subset of patients were all drinking soy chai lattes! If the syrup is used then this drink is high in calories, about 250 per cup, which takes quite a while to burn off at the gym. So, now I ask them to avoid this drink completely and stick to my herbal tea instead as it contains a little ginger which supports a healthy metabolism.

IKU provided a lovely lunch – I adore their cabbage and beetroot salad as just looking at it makes me feel healthy. I then had ocean trout and yellow fin tuna with salad for dinner. Now, a little about yellow fin tuna – this is a smaller, faster growing species than the blue fin tuna. Hence it is a far more sustainable choice to make as you:

1. Will not be ingesting heavy metals such as methyl mercury
2. Will not be adding to an overfished situation of blue fin tuna

Day 22 of Detox

2010-02-24T08:06:00.002+11:00

I woke early to fit in a 20 minutes spa and a 20 minutes steam session. In the spa I aim the jets at any wobbly bits and make my plans for the week. In the steam room I do my meditation – that is called multi tasking! I am not too sore after my big cardio session yesterday but I think that is due to the Epsom salt bath last night. Being high in magnesium Epsom salts relax muscles as well as reducing lactic acid build up.

I had fruit, sheep’s milk yoghurt and LSA for breakfast followed by a mid morning smoothie of berries, banana and soy milk. Lunch consisted of a beautiful quiche with fetta, spinach, cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs. As this dish is so high in protein it keeps me feeling full for ages which is unusual for me. At 6pm when I finished I jumped in the car and drove home from the Hunter, spending the driving time to return phone calls.

I am rather excited as I need to book plane tickets to Thailand for August – I haven’t had a holiday for over 2 years so I am dying for some sun and relaxation. I can imagine now, afternoon cocktails by the pool, massage on the beach, oh I am there already!

Dinner was light - miso, almonds, black sesame crackers, white nectarines and an apple. More like a picnic than dinner but occasionally I like to graze and have a few different flavours. Do you know how shiny my hair is - incredible the sutble changes that detox makes.

Day 21 of Detox

2010-02-23T12:51:00.002+11:00

As it was the weekend I made my weekly early morning run to Bondi beach and although the water was icy it was incredibly refreshing. I usually take the Sunday magazine to read between swims but I forgot. The nippers provided plenty of entertainment instead, they look so tiny with those big yellow boards almost as big as they are! I had a decaf soy flat white on the way home – I figure 3 weeks in that I can have a treat!

I was starving by the time I got home as I only had a white peach and some hot water with lemon when I woke up. As I wanted to head to the gym I made a smoothie with 2 bananas and 1 cup of berries with all my other usual ingredients. I added extra banana for the energy and bananas are also high in potassium which is great when you sweat it out at the gym.

Now, get ready to cheer – my time on the rower today was an incredibly 10 minutes and 4 seconds! I use music and my HypnoBirthing training to get through the pain threshold but I have to admit that I felt like vomiting when I finished – my heart rate was up at 171 so no wonder! I then used the cross trainer and did a hill session which almost had me crying. I missed the yoga class this morning so I did some stretching instead.

I had a fresh juice of pineapple, apple and mint which is one of my all time favourites – it’s perfect on a hot day if you blend it with ice and make a frappe. Lunch was once again from a freezer cook up – a casserole of vegetables and beans.

I have made a really concerted effort to detoxify my home – I only use natural cleaning products as well as make up and body care. I noticed a few months ago that whenever I hoped in the shower I would be able to smell chlorine for the first few minutes. I looked into this and found an innovative Australian company that has patented a shower filter to remove all chemicals from the water. It makes sense right – why spend so much effort and time to detox then hop into a chemical laden shower? We absorb chemicals though our skin and the issue with chlorine is that its chemical structure is similar to iodine (as is fluorine). So both chlorine and fluorine block absorption of iodine.

In case you weren’t aware, iodine deficiency is at epidemic levels in Australia and I routinely test all my patients for this. I have only had 2 patients return normal levels. Iodine is vital for the thyroid hormones that regulate our metabolism, body temperature, reproduction, growth, blood cell production as well as nerve and muscle function. Low thyroid hormones can cause a person to become sluggish and gain weight, affecting their general health, their fertility and ability to carry a pregnancy.

It is important to ensure adequate iodine intake during preconception, pregnancy and breast feeding. During pregnancy, the fetus is entirely dependent upon maternal iodine, which plays a significant role in normal central nervous system formation and maturation. Iodine deficiency during pregnancy is the commonest worldwide cause of preventable intellectual impairment and can be associated with losses of up to 10 -15 IQ points. A recent study involving 1,709 schoolchildren across the eastern seaboard of Australia demonstrated that 40% of children were iodine deficient. So, ask me to check your iodine levels at your next consultation if you have not already been tested.

Dinner is light as I am at Golden Door – I had an abbas apple, a mango and a big bowl of miso. I then did a beautiful thing for myself – an Epsom salt bath, a mask followed by a scrub, all done by candle light whilst relaxing. I felt like a prune by the time I hopped out but I slept like a baby!

Day 20 of Detox

2010-02-22T09:20:00.002+11:00

So, this morning I weighed myself at the gym and it seems that my weight is the same as when I started. I haven’t used these scales before so it will be interesting to see what Jess has to say at my reassessment in 10 days. I know my body is much more toned and my muscle mass has increased. My wobbly bits are less wobbly and in fact I feel good at the beach now. I wouldn’t like to do a Pamela run across the soft sand but none the less I could do a stroll comfortably!

I went to the gym and hit 10 minutes 43 seconds on the rower so a little behind my best time. My technique with all the exercises is much better and I really concentrate to get that right before I go for repetitions. Once I finish this detox I may ask jess to split my program so I can do upper body one day then lower body the next. This makes for a very efficient workout as it is quicker but harder.

I had a breakfast of gluten free muesli with a heap of summer fruit (love passionfruit right now), sheep’s milk yoghurt and apple juice. I then went to the organic markets and picked up some fresh produce for the next week. I found those little Abbas apples again and they are just gorgeous. I also bought two big bunches of flowers for myself – I have a tradition to make sure I do this regularly. I am a herbalist after all and flowers make me smile – both visually and olfactory.

Lunch was on the run – a shop bought salad of spinach and pumpkin – I am definitely a better chef so I need to be more organised! Clinic was flat out which I love and then I came home to BBQ some fish and make a salad for dinner.

Did I mention the importance of eating organic whilst detoxing? It is fundamental that you do not add to your toxin load at this time as you will not release any stored toxins. This is the core point of a detox. Have a read of my book for more information on this as it will make or break your experience.

Day 19 of Detox

2010-02-21T21:13:00.002+11:00

Ok, so my aim for this detox was to get back on track with my exercise after a very lazy Christmas period. I also aim to include a complete gut repair program which includes a parasite cleanse. Then I will do a heavy metal chelation program towards the end. So for the first week or so I focused on making sure my bowels were working really well and taking anti parasite herbs with probiotics as well as liver herbs ( and a few dozen peripheral things as well!). Then Imoved the focus onto gut repair and a liver cleanse.

I also journal my dreams as often I receive intuitive messages via them. Once I was told to take a B vitamin in my dreams, I had pathology done and lo and behold I was deficient! I definitely do an emotional cleanse – I think about the last 6 months and what has negatively affected me. This detox I wrote a letter, posted it and immediately felt lighter and that the issue was resolved.

So here is a list of what I take (you will never again ask me why you need the 5 different things I give you!):
Liquid detox herbs, individually formulated amino acids that upregulate detoxification pathways in the liver, probiotics, aloe vera juice, anti parasite tablets, high potency antioxidant, zinc, magnesium, a multi, CoQ10, fish oils, a powder for gut repair ( glutamine, slippery elm etc), powdered greens for alkalising and of course chlorophyll. I am sure I have forgotten something but I guess you get the idea.

Detoxing must be individually formulated in order to get the best results. A 23 year old girl is going to have completely different requirements to a 55 year old man. I utilise Live Blood Analysis in clinic to help me do this. It is a wonderful tool and I can see exactly what needs focusing on, whether that is liver, digestion etc. I also test all my patients for zinc deficiency, do a tongue analysis and then iris analysis if I need to clarify a point.

So, since day 8 of my detox people have been commenting on how good I look. By now I feel positively fantastic – my eyes are very white, my irises become more hazel than brown, my skin is glowing and energy levels are 10/10.

Day 18 of Detox

2010-02-19T20:51:00.001+11:00

This morning I did Pilates from a DVD at home. I stayed up till midnight working so am feeling a little jaded and not up to an intense cardio workout. Breakfast was my gluten free cereal, oh wait a minute. I forgot to tell you what I add to this. So, into the big jar with the cereal go goji berries and nuts and seeds that I toast with shoyu, a Japanese soy sauce. It is similar to tamari but milder in flavour. By doing this I am increasing the antioxidant properties and protein levels of my breakfast. Then on top I added fresh blueberries, nectarines, sheep’s milk yoghurt and apple juice.

I felt like a coffee today – perhaps because I was up late but I haven’t even thought about coffee for at least 4 days. I often hit a mental slump 2 weeks in and I think I may be suffering from that now. I start to feel that I need to look outside or elsewhere for food. Perhaps it is because I am not eating any starchy carbs except for the occasional bowl of cereal.

I will make sure I eat quinoa (keen-wah) tonight and focus on that for the next few days. I adore this ancient grain and give out thanks to whoever decided to commercialise it. Quinoa has been grown in the Andes for 5,000 years and it reputedly kept the Incan armies strong and robust. It comes from Bolivia and is a Fair Trade product which means that there is no middle man and the people who grow and tend to the crops actually receive a fair amount for their work. This alone will give you warm fuzzies when you eat it! But, it is also one of the highest protein containing grains, does not contain wheat or gluten and is high in minerals. I try to buy the red one (there is white, red and black) as it is higher in iron which I need.

I use quinoa in many ways – add lemon zest and parsley and serve grilled fish on top, throw into your soups and casseroles to increase protein levels or simply throw though a salad. Check out the quinoa risotto recipe on my blog from Chef Andy. To cook quinoa, use 2 parts water to 1 part quinoa, simmer it gently in water for approximately 8 minutes then strain and let rest for a few minutes.

Ok, lunch today was a casserole from my freezer – cannellini beans, lentils, red cabbage, vegetables etc. I have snacked on nectarines and peaches for the afternoon while thinking about dinner. We are having a dinner party and I am cooking so it needs to be fresh, beautiful and detoxifying!

I went and saw Niko from the fish shop and he suggested some local mirror dory fillets. I immediately thought how great they would be with some quinoa, lemon zest and parsley. I was planning on making a large salad with enough left over for me to take for lunch tomorrow. So, as I didn’t have anything at home I went to the Asian grocer’s. This place is incredible as it is always packed and it’s relatively cheap. If I can’t source organic ingredients or I get stuck for options then I always recommend to patients to find a local store that has a very high turnover and the produce is fresh.

A couple of points here – often these smaller shops will be buying produce that there is a glut of so hence they can on sell it cheaply. Also, I prefer to spend my consumer dollars supporting small local businesses than multinationals like Coles or Woolworths. I often do a price comparison just for fun – today I bought a pineapple from the local shop for $1.99, in Coles it was $3.99!

So dinner was perfect – grilled mirror dory, quinoa with lemon zest and parsley and then a super salad of: rocket, spinach, cucumber, carrot, broccoli sprouts, avocado, sheep’s milk fetta, and blanched asparagus. I was going to add toasted pumpkin seeds for the zinc as well as crunch factor but I ran out of time.

Tomorrow I am going to let you know what herbal and supplemental support I take during a detox and why. Many patients ask me this and I think it is important that you realise I do a much stricter detox than I ask you to do. I know what it feels like to be grumpy, bored, feel like you are missing the fun etc etc.

Day 17 of Detox

2010-02-18T16:54:00.003+11:00

I had my usual hot water with lemon when I woke up and I tend to sip it as I check emails. I had an achacha and a white nectarine to start and then my breakfast smoothie which was just amazing – wait for it! The ingredients were oat milk, probiotic, passionfruit, banana, berries, pureed apple with cinnamon and flaxseed oil. I love this start to the day as it provides energy as well as protein.

I have noticed in the last few days that I am starting to get bruises again. My ferritin levels are always low (max 33!) so it is something I keep an eye on. I need to take iron supplements with digestive enzymes during my period and I forgot this month. As I am not eating meat either, my levels must have dropped and the symptoms are returning. Mainly I have easy bruising and dizziness. My energy levels are still great but I am putting so many incredible things into my body I am not surprised! I will focus on more iron foods such as parsley, figs and prunes.

I took some more fruit to work to snack on as I love lychees and white nectarines at the moment. Lunch was at the ever faithful IKU and I always enjoy their food. You can feel the goodness making its way into your cells. I become very sensitive during a detox, both physically and energetically. It feels like my body isn’t clouded with excess “stuff” and is operating the way it did 2,000 years ago when we were running from dinosaurs! I think with caffeine, as much as I adore it, my adrenals run overtime and I tend to thrive on nervous energy. That can be a positive thing i.e. a great motivator but it can also be negative thing as I can tend to feel ungrounded and scattered.

Dinner was wild salmon fillets on the BBQ with my yummy finger lime salsa. To accompany it I made a salad of rocket, cucumber, parsley and sheep’s milk fetta. I love my dinners and am thriving on all the fish I eat. I think it is the omega 3 essential fatty acids but also the higher protein levels seem to suit me as well.

Power of Raw Juices

2010-02-18T13:27:00.006+11:00

Running a google search on my laptop for "Benefits of raw juices" over 2,710,000 results appeared. Heading to my local health food section of the library and general book store the shelves are over flowing with published books about health benefits of juicing. Juice bars have become our corner store and are popping up everywhere.

So, Why is juicing so good for us? What is it about a juiced piece of fruit or vegetable that is so amazing? After doing some personal research i really like this article that Scott Malin wrote because it is very easy to read and answers my questions - i wanted to share it with you for interest;

"Fruits and vegetables are being studied in the medical community, because of compounds known as phytochemicals, which have a wide range of disease-fighting properties. Coincidentally, many of the phytochemicals that nutritional researchers are focusing their attention on are the enzymes that play essential roles in protecting cells from damage. The problem lies in the medical community's propensity to attempt to isolate which compounds actually aid in disease control. For example: A tomato, along with vitamins C and A, also has 10,000 other chemicals in it, most which researchers are trying to isolate, identify and study. Science has begun to find that using an isolated nutrient has a much lower ability to heal and protect the body than the whole symphony of nutrients found naturally in the whole food. Therefore, we strongly recommend eating the fruits or vegetables instead of a pill that isolates out a few nutrients. And one of the best ways to distill out these nutrients is by juicing.
Juicing is also a tremendous aid in detoxifying and cleansing the body. Fresh juice naturally detoxifies and heals the body by stimulating and healing the elimination and detoxification organs such as the gall bladder, liver, intestines and kidneys. It is also one of the best ways to build healthy and powerful blood. Fresh juice helps to concentrate large quantities of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other life giving nutrients that can be easily assimilated. Fresh fruit and vegetable juice is also highly alkalinizing which facilitates the white blood cells to clean the blood and tissue of harmful bacteria, virus, and cancer cells.
Most people don't eat enough fruits and vegetables to reap the benefits they offer. For example, The National Cancer Institute recommends eating five servings of vegetables and three of fruits each day. However, the average American eats only 1 1/2 servings of vegetables and less than one serving of fruit per day. Juicing is an excellent way to incorporate more raw fruit and vegetables into the diet easily and quickly. This is not meant as a substitute for eating raw fruits and vegetables, but it is helpful as a way to incorporate more of these incredible foods into your diet.
In addition to it's many other benefits, fresh raw juice is a tremendous source of enzymes. Enzymes are important because they are the main catalyst for chemical reactions which run your body. Raw juice by definition has not been processed in any way, nor has it been heated or pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of heating the juice to kill bacteria, but it also kills all of the beneficial enzymes in the juice. A strong push for the pasteurization of fruit and vegetable juices comes from the fact that once the juices are pasteurized they retain a much longer shelf life. A juice that is 100% juice that can sit on the shelf for an extended period of time means one thing- that juice is now dead! All the beneficial living components of the juice have been destroyed.
In my opinion, the best way to consume fresh, raw juice is go to a restaurant or shop that juices the vegetables and fruit in front of you or better yet, do it yourself! Consuming raw juice is one of the healthiest things that any person can do. Try to buy organic fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets and wash them well. Then, include a diet of eating them whole as well as juicing them for maximum health benefits. You will love the results!
We strongly suggest learning more about nutrition so you can get improve the quality of your life. Click Here to learn more at http://www.dynamicsofmotion.com/
Scott Malin is a widely respected expert on the subject of fitness, strength, and nutrition. To learn more, please visit: http://www.dynamicsofmotion.com/
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Scott_Malin

Also, I was lucky enough to recently meet Joe Cross and watch his documentary about himself and his journey with health issues and coming to terms with the fact that if he didn't start to look after himself he was going to die at a very early age. Joe used the power of raw juice to get him back on track. Here is a synopsis about Joe's film;

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead
Overweight, on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope. With doctors unable to help long-term, Joe turns to the only option left, the body’s ability to heal itself. He trades in the junk food and hits the road with juicer and generator in tow, vowing only to drink fresh fruit and vegetable juice for the next 60 days. Across 3,000 miles Joe has one goal in mind: To get off his pills and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
At a truck stop in Arizona, Joe meets Phil, a morbidly obese truck driver who suffers from the same rare condition. As Joe is recovering his health, Phil begins his own epic journey to get well. What emerges is nothing short of amazing – an inspiring tale of healing and human connection.
Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fat-Sick-Nearly-Dead/215671830451?ref=ts
Website link: http://fatsickandnearlydead.com/

So, ladies and gents a fresh raw juice is waiting to be drunk today!

Mich xx

Image by http://www.foodmag.com.au/

Day 16 of Detox

2010-02-17T20:12:00.002+11:00

I can’t believe it but I am officially on fire! My did my usual weekly power walk around the bay with a friend, sorting out many business and personal focus points along the way. Then I stopped in at the gym to do a cardio session and nailed the rower – 10minutes and 24seconds! I asked Jessie what I should be aiming for and she burst my bubble and said less than 10 minutes. Oh well, there is definite improvement.

There was very little in the fridge for breakfast so I managed some gluten free cereal with fruit and I love apple juice on it instead of any type of milk. I have limited my dairy and wheat since I was about 11. I had intolerance testing done then and came up strongly for these. I am fine if I only eat a little but if I overindulge I become horribly bloated and sluggish. So I grew up with rice and oat milk and rarely had wheat. It was much harder back then as we didn’t have all the wonderful alternatives that are available now. I love spelt pasta and being such a foodie I am fussy when it comes to these things!

Lunch was on the run and consisted of fruit, tamari almonds, rice cakes with avocado and herbal tea. I have been looking at dragon fruit a lot lately so I must try some. I just had an achacha and it would make a wonderful sorbet – very tangy, slightly sour and full of bite. I will leave a couple on the window sill and see if they become sweeter. My tomatoes are growing at a dismal pace but I check them daily and talk to them quite often. I will give them some rescue remedy as it is a new moon and the perfect time to encourage growth.

I then worked on business plans and did some shopping for supplies. Tonight it is kingfish with a salad of snow peas, rocket and avocado. All the visitors have left so my food will be easier now – I only need to organise for myself which seems so simple!

Thought for the day “All that you are is the result of all you have thought” spoken by Buddha. Basically thought results in action and that reflects who you are. I love this and feel much aligned to it.

The dandelion root has my bowels back to normal so I won’t need to have a colonic. I am also ovulating so hence feel great and full of beans. I had a salt scrub and massage today to celebrate the half way point of my detox. I thoroughly recommend having small rewards along the way to encourage and motivate you. It is about self care once again and believing in optimum health, not average health. And it is important to invest in yourself and be the best person you can be. It will enhance all your relationships and also influence the opportunities that come your way. You become more attractive on all levels and begin attracting what you need

Day 15 of Detox

2010-02-16T13:06:00.002+11:00

Last night I had a detox bath. That involves 10 minutes of dry body brushing followed by ½ soak in an Epsom salt bath with lavender essential oil. I always sleep like an angel afterwards but also wake feeling alert and refreshed. I took the opportunity while I am at Golden Door to utilise the spa and steam room – 20 minutes in both. I do the spa first and put a jet on my thighs and butt, taking it in turns to do both sides. The steam room is where I meditate as I can maximise my diaphragmatic breathing in there. One day I will have a therapeutic steam room where I can steam herbs for their health benefits as well. I love this therapy and believe that the effects can prolong and enhance quality of life.

In my shower I turned the setting to jet and gave my thighs and butt another massage then a blast of cold to make me really feel alive! My skin is so smooth today I can’t believe it. It must be the combination of all the omega 3 fish oils I take and the spa like treatments I have been doing over the last 24 hours. I have only ever felt like this once before and that was after a whole day at the Ginseng Bath House in Sydney where I was scrubbed and pummelled within an inch of my life!

I have been taking shots of the herb dandelion root to help my bowels and the huge breakfast serving of fruit with lots of figs will also help. I was at Golden Door today so I had to resort to my frozen casserole for lunch. I still love the lentils and vegetables but I need to do another batch of soup this week to stock up again. I can’t wait until my detox program is delivered to my door – no need for shopping or too much cooking!

The therapeutic benefits of eating organic whole foods cannot be underestimated. I had a patient today who had been through chemotherapy and was incredibly deficient in nutrients. He had not been given any dietary advice pre chemo and I explained to him the need for his body to be alkaline and well oxygenated. Cancer thrives in a cellular environment that is acidic and poorly oxygenated. One of the best ways to alkalise your body is to practise diaphragmatic breathing. I do seminars on this subject and believe passionately about the benefits involved. It is also beneficial for stress management and prevention of anxiety and insomnia.

Dinner consisted of three apples whilst driving home. Not ideal but I always feel a little bloated when away from home so a light dinner is a must. Two of the apples were a new variety called Abbas. They are small, just perfect for a child’s lunchbox and quite sweet.

Day 14 of Detox

2010-02-15T15:05:00.002+11:00

Thanks goodness for the cool change as I was beginning to have difficulties sleeping. I went to Bondi again early morning but it was really rough and I had to skip the swim. Instead I walked the beach twice, had a laugh at all the boys working out and marvelled once again at how individual the human body is – so many shapes and sizes!

I then went to the gym and again beat my record on the rower – it now stands at 10minutes and 24 seconds. Rachel came with me and it really helps to have a “row off” as it does make me competitive. My thighs and butt were aching but I need to focus on them as I think they have dropped a bit – oh dear, must have been when I wasn’t looking!

I am really starting to feel my fitness get to the next level and that makes me happy. One of my goals this year is to be as physically healthy as possible and I have made a fantastic start to the year so far.

Lunch was on the run and consisted of a tuna salad and fresh juice of lemon, pineapple and mint. I haven’t felt like much juice on this detox but that may kick in during week 3 as I get sick of the taste of water. There are so many options for fluids though – I love my tea as it makes me feel so relaxed and refreshed. Then there is dandelion leaf tea which is wonderful for fluid retention and also a liver tonic. Chlorophyll adds a nice minty flavour to water and I love it really chilled for a workout.

Question for the day – what would you do with your time if you didn’t have to work for money? The answer will be indicative of your passions and I believe these are vital to include in your life as they will feed your soul. I have written on my mirror: “self care = self love” and that is essential to look at. We watched “The Bucket List” last night and it is a touching movie. Basically, it is a list of things you want to achieve before you die. Try doing one – be as imaginative as possible and stick it on your fridge. On mine is: spend time in a small village overseas, foster animals, do a yoga retreat by the sea etc.

Day 13 of Detox

2010-02-14T18:28:00.003+11:00

What a way to start the day – I was at Bondi by 8am and it was already 30C! The water was bracing and so refreshing. We stayed in until I started feeling cold and I just kept thinking –this is cooling my blood down! Olivia was hysterical and every time the water touched her, she would suck in her tummy, pant and wriggle every limb. The humidity is getting to everyone and lack of sleep is starting to show. We all went for coffee afterwards and I played with Olivia while everyone sipped on their caffeine.

Then off to the gym and despite the soaring temperatures I beat my rowing record – best time is now 11 minutes 8seconds. I think if there was someone rowing on the machine next to me my competitive side would come into the fore and I am sure I could get the time under 10 minutes. My brother and I have organised a staff competition involving the bike, treadmill and rower so hopefully my training will pay off.

The breakfast smoothie for everyone: berries, banana, flaxseed oil, aloe vera juice, oat milk and probiotic. I topped it off with an apple then made tracks to clinic. My appetite has decreased and I am not sure if it is because of the heat or because I am feeling bloated and sluggish today. It is very unusual for me to feel constipated and not a good thing on a detox as you tend to reabsorb the toxins from the large intestines instead of excrete them. If things don’t improve I will go for a colonic.

I have some watercress soup for lunch and I had forgotten how beautiful it is. Dinner was again salmon with salad – you can see what has happened. Everyone is here visiting me and having BBQs, socialising and drinking. I am still busy working and making sure everyone has what they need and my food has gone a little out the window. It is still organic, wonderful and healthy but I am repeating meals more than I would like. I am rather happy that things have gone this well but still it’s not ideal.

Today I found another wonder ingredient – achacha. It is a fruit that has only recently made its way into Australia. Traditionally it is grown in Bolivia and its name literally means “honey kiss”. I will eat it in the morning so will give you my low down. The University of Sydney are currently doing a nutritional analysis of it but so far it is definitely high in vitamin C, B2 and B9. It comes from the same family as mangosteen which has serious antioxidant properties.

Over the last few days I have been making constant rounds of fresh ginger tea, adding spearmint and lemon and allowing it to cool and then refrigerating it. I took a bottle of this to dinner tonight and asked for some feedback and it was loved! The general consensus was – in a pitcher, lots of ice, fresh lime/lemon slices and either plain or added to mineral water. As I have drunk 4 litres of water today it is so great to drink something with flavour!

Day 12 of Detox

2010-02-14T09:24:00.002+11:00

Well, silly me had a cup of freshly grated ginger tea at 6.30 and then went to the gym. The humidity felt up around 75% and then the ginger kicked in and it felt 100%. I can’t believe I would do that – I was just dripping with sweat and usually I am not the sweaty type. So perhaps it is a great detox tip – why don’t you try and then let me know how you found it. BTW – my time this morning on the rowing machine was 11minutes and 32 seconds so not my best performance!

I made an antioxidant packed smoothie for everyone this morning which included double the usual amount of berries, oat milk for a change, flaxseed oil and sheep’s yoghurt. Alana, who is 14 months, just couldn’t get enough as it was quite sweet with all the berries.

I went off to clinic and snacked on apples and detox tea then had my frozen lunch back up of red cabbage, cannellini beans and vegetables. Despite the heat, my appetite certainly doesn’t suffer so I need to ensure I have food available all the time. My favourite right now is Tamari almonds – I tend to eat so many that I can’t face them for a few weeks and then I repeat the process.

For dinner I was inspired by produce. Often when I am looking for ideas of what to make I simply go to the organic shop, look at what jumps out at me and screams “eat me!” and off I go. There was white asparagus, baby endives, mini water cress and a whole heap of beautiful things.

So I settled for grape tomatoes, snow peas, fresh peas, goat’s fetta and spearmint with a simple dressing of lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil and seasoning. It was wonderful – the spearmint was a mouth explosion in amongst the other flavours and I promptly put this salad into the memory bank. I also made a salad of rocket, butter lettuce, avocado, parsley and my all time favourite, fennel. Fennel is just so versatile – roast it in winter, salads for summer. So I teamed these colourful salads with BBQ wild salmon fillets and used the last finger lime to make a salsa (see day 10).

So now I am sipping spearmint, fresh ginger and lemon tea. I think I may make an iced version as it would be beautiful with some mineral water when everyone else is swilling their wine. The family are here and we have organised an early morning swim followed by a gym visit for me and then clinic. I have never been to the beach with Olivia, my adored niece, so I can’t wait to watch her face!

My detox program is going well and I have all the supplements down pat now – I stagger them throughout the morning as I can’t fit them all in at once! I don’t think that any patient has taken as many herbs and supplements as I do. I honestly believe that if I can’t do something myself then I would never ask a patient to do it. So, trust me when I say that I have experienced all the things that I prescribe and advise!

Day 11 of Detox

2010-02-12T21:32:00.003+11:00

Another very hot day – I am going to try taking a smoothie to work in my SIGG mug. SIGG bottles are stainless steel and are the only bottles that are proven to not leach phthalates, Bisphenyl A, lead, Bisphenol B and other harmful chemicals.

It was flat out all day today and I stopped for a Pitango soup at 2 (this is my back up option i.e. plan Z!) and raced across the road to my favourite fishmonger. Nikos, the Greek, is fantastic and he causes me to miss Ithaca terribly. We speak in Greek, mine albeit very rusty, and he at 1,000 words per minute accompanied with heroic arm gestures! I’ll never forget the first time I went to Athens at the age of 16 – I thought everyone was about to brawl as they all looked like they were screaming angrily at each other. In fact, it is their version of passion and they are simply commenting on the weather. Niko knows exactly what my criteria are for fish.

a) No deep sea large fish ( due to heavy metal contamination, specifically methyl mercury)
b) Australian
c) Sustainably farmed or wild line caught
d) Not over fished

I agree that I am fortunate enough to have such wonderful produce available but get a copy of the Sustainable Seafood Guide and become a more aware consumer. We all know that we need to eat more fish for the beautiful omega 3 essential fatty acids but make sure you are informed about the quality of the fish you are eating.

So, I ended up buying some local red snapper fillets and they were stunning on the BBQ with a little of the finger lime salsa from last night. I had a salad to accompany it which was what we called a “mosh pit salad” or you could also term a “fridge” salad. Anything that needs to be used up gets thrown in and it always tastes yummy. The clincher in this one was the eggplant I roasted last night – it was so smoky and silky and combined perfectly with the rocket and avocado.

I have now made a fresh ginger tea – I made it strong as it is still very humid and it does cool me down after the initial heat rush. Now, the next 3 days will be a test to my detox skills – I have friends here from Tasmania as well as my family from Melbourne. Now usually this would always involve lengthy dinners savouring wonderful wines – we all love fine wines and no one more than me! My dad called this week to ask which of his prized wines he should bring up to imbibe in.

After discussing all the vintages and regions we came to a conclusion and I unfortunately had to let him know that I was detoxing and hence unable to partake! Oh, let’s see how I go, am sure this will be the most difficult time. After the first 4 days of detox I felt ok and now I don’t miss coffee, alcohol, meat etc. at all. I am positive the exercise helps. Today is the first day I haven’t actively exercised and I feel it. Never mind, off to the gym in the morning to face that dreaded rowing machine – we are having a dual. I compete against the machine for time and so far my best for 2,000metres is 11minutes and 8 seconds. Wish me luck.........

Day 10 of Detox

2010-02-10T20:39:00.003+11:00

Wow, today is so hot that I barely feel like eating anything but salad. I adore hot weather but not when I am working! There is nothing like the feel of those long summer nights, it reminds me of being a kid and eating sorbet. I had a “coffee” date with a girlfriend this morning but she forgot – I happily sipped my peppermint tea and read the paper. My brother and adored niece popped in so I managed to grab some express cuddles before I began my working day. Breakfast was some stone fruit and then I made a smoothie (same as yesterday).

I took an apple and some salad to snack on as I usually have lunch late. Again I went to IKU for lunch and had a cannellini bean pie with salad and their delicious tahini based dressing. A patient called me and told me she is pregnant – our treatment plan had her aiming for later in the year but her health has improved so much that she fell now!

I really feel water logged today – over 4 litres in total! I think I sweated at least half of it out though so I hope my organic deodorant is working hard – we do excrete toxins though sweat so you may be a little smellier during a detox.

Dinner was amazing – BBQ wild salmon with blanched flat beans, zucchini and corn. I found the most incredible ingredient today – finger limes. I had eaten them at The Golden Door but have not seen them in shops in Sydney. Anyway, they are about 2 inches long, dark green and very expensive. But cut them in half lengthways and scoop out the hundreds of pearl like orbs. Pop one in your mouth and be prepared for a burst of sunshine! So, for the dressing on the salmon I combined half a finger lime, lemon zest, parsley, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil. Talk about an antioxidant rich dinner!

I am now sipping on my dandelion leaf tea and about to book into a Reiki course – I need to unblock my sacral chakra and I think that will help!

Day 9 of Detox

2010-02-10T07:19:00.002+11:00

I watched Slumdog Millionaire last night – it is rather disturbing, very touching and just incredible. I have been to Mumbai and lived in Juhu when I was doing my post grad homeopathy training. As we passed the slums in our little tuk tuk, I used to have to hold my handkerchief against my nose. Oh, it is absolutely terrible the poverty and despair. But I have never seen people so neatly dressed and smile so much. I would walk the streets at night exploring and never once did I feel uncomfortable or unsafe. It is an enchanting country and I will get back there one day to explore more. The Taj Mahal features in the film and it reminds me how our tour guide won his job after assuring me that we would see 100 visual illusions! He really did show us close to 100, by which time we were over the novelty.

Breakfast this morning was a rather sad affair as I am due to shop. It consisted of a kiwi fruit then a smoothie with oat milk, berries, probiotic, flaxseed oil and apple puree. I made the apple puree in winter when apples were abundant and when I stewed them I added cinnamon which is wonderful for stabilising blood glucose levels as well.

I have a salad prepared to eat mid morning – rocket, carrot, cucumber, avocado with a dressing of extra virgin olive oil, tahini, balsamic vinegar and lemon juice. That should keep me going until lunch – I have found over the last day or two that my appetite has decreased. I feel like eating really light foods and often, say every 2-3 hours i need to ingest something. My mood is good as well.

Dinner was one of my pre cooked frozen casseroles of red cabbage, vegetables and cannellini beans. One day I will get sick of them!

Emma's Detox Salad

2010-02-09T13:36:00.008+11:00

This is one of my fav lunches during detox and I just had to share it with you! All the ingredients are organic and sourced from my local markets - I am especially excited to see the finger limes back in season. These beautiful little things will delight you - they are like an explosion of citrus and a burst of freshness! This salad is packed with goodness - anti cancer, upregulates detoxification and loaded with nutrients!

Detox Salad Ingredients
1 cucumber
1 carrot
1 small beetroot
½ red cabbage
40gr broccoli sprouts
½ bunch flat leaf parsley
1 large finger lime
100gr organic firm tofu, cut into slices
Sesame seeds

Method
Marinate tofu in tamari and extra virgin olive oil for 4 hours. Grill for 3 minutes on each side. Grate carrot and beetroot into a stainless steel bowl. Slice the cucumber and red cabbage finely (I use a Moulis for this). Add to bowl along with broccoli sprouts and pearls from the finger lime. These are just sublime and pop in your mouth just like caviar! Slice the tofu into small bite sized pieces and add to salad. Finely chop parsley and add. Make your favourite dressing. I use a teaspoon of my home made pesto with some additional extra virgin olive oil. To finish, lightly toast sesame seeds for 30 seconds and sprinkle over the top. Voila, eat, feel the love and smile!

Recipe and image © Health Equals Vitality 2010

Day 8 of Detox

2010-02-09T10:45:00.002+11:00

Wow, stayed up very late watching Lipstick Jungle – it really is so addictive, all those amazing clothes & accessories! This morning involved the weekly Bay walk with a friend which I always love. I munch on an apple and tamari almonds while I power walk as I need something light otherwise my energy fades. We fix all our problems, nut out business ideas and check out the eye candy all at the same time – love being a multi tasking female! Then a gym session which is always so much harder after a Bay walk. My legs were shattered and I am sure Jessie, who put my program together, is trying to make my booty resemble hers (she is from Jamaica so you can guess what her booty looks like). So I booked in a review of my measurements for the end of my detox to make sure I am focused and accountable.

Breakfast involved a smoothie of mixed berries, bonsoy, probiotic, aloe vera juice and flaxseed oil followed by a shot of herbs, a concoction of gut repair powders & vital greens with all my tablets as a final touch. Must admit, my brain is on fire and I feel really well. Usually I need a solid 8 hours sleep or I am rather irritable the next day. Last night I had 6 and I feel great. Mind you, a patient just called to tell me she was pregnant, we both screamed and laughed and cried. What a fantastic start to the day!

Lunch today was a beautiful IKU salad and white miso & cannellini tart. I think of IKU as my fast food on the run and 100% solid back up plan for any time. After a few business meetings today, I am starting to feel so much clarity with my plans. This must be the detox removing all those cobwebs from my brain and stimulating the neurotransmitters to fire more effectively! Dinner is a salad of rocket, cucumber, carrot, avocado and parsley with a small bowl of slow cooked vegetables.

Tip for the day: when lemons are in season and abundant, juice them into ice cube trays, freeze and put into plastic containers. Then, when you are detoxing, you can boil the kettle on rising, add your lemon ice cube and voila! Saves time, mess and energy – just what we like!

Fabulous Food, Minus the Boombah

2010-02-08T17:30:00.004+11:00

Jane Kennedy (born 9 June 1964) is an Australian actress, comedian, radio presenter, and television producer best known for her work with the Working Dog Productions - a tight-knit group of performers responsible for a variety of television and films - Quote from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Jane's first cook book was launched last year and it is fantastic, it has become my new besty! My favourite recipe is the watermelon, olive and feta salad - i have really been enjoying cooking from Jane's book, her recipes are quick and easy and very inspirational.

Check out http://recipefinder.ninemsn.com.au/newsandfeatures/921940/jane-kennedy-says-no-to-takeaway-and-boombah for the complete overhaul about the book.

Mich xx

Photography from ninemsn recipe finder
Text by Wikipedia and Michelle Thrift 2010

Day 7 of Detox

2010-02-08T10:23:00.002+11:00

Today I feel the changes of detox beginning – I feel less bloated, more energetic, and definitely calmer. I tend to go at a caffeine induced frenetic pace and detox forces me to slow down, concentrate on self care and really nourish myself on all levels. It allows me to stop and assess everything that has occurred in the last 6 months, whether I am aligned with my goals and if I need to adjust anything. I believe that simply connecting with yourself allows change to happen. Often patients will echo this belief, saying that they noticed many shifts occur during detox. Perhaps it is an ongoing problem that gets resolved, perhaps it is a negative self belief that lifts – everyone is different but everyone feels the shift in some way or another!

Today, I tackled the gym first thing. Research shows that if you exercise early morning you actually burn more calories than exercising in the evening – even if you do exactly the same thing! I love morning exercise as it pumps me full of endorphins and I feel good all day long. I know it definitely improves my mood; there is no doubt about that.

Breakfast was a smoothie on the run – apple juice, sheep’s milk yoghurt, frozen berries, probiotic and flax seed oil. Lunch was left over miso soup from last night. I strongly encourage you to do this as it makes life so easy. Make a little extra at dinner and voila - instant lunch! I went to the fish markets on the way home and picked up some flathead tails – this fish is perfect for kids as it has a very mild flavour and soft texture. I coated it in chermoula paste which comes from my favourite organic cafe. Chermoula is a marinade which comes from Morocco and was traditionally used on seafood. It contains a stunning mix of herbs such as garlic, coriander, chilli and cumin. I always have a container of it in the fridge and use it extensively.

Herbs have many therapeutic properties so chermoula is an easy way to increase the amount of herbs in your diet. I grilled the flathead and made a salad of grated beetroot, carrot, pumpkin seeds with a tahini dressing.

No wonder I am starting to feel great! I aim to eat fish 5 times a week during detox as we really need the essential omega 3 fatty acids. If you don’t have enough of these healthy fats, it can affect the exchange of nutrients on a cellular level. Our cell walls are made of healthy fats and you want your cell walls to be fluid and elastic in order to nutrients to get in and toxins to get out. During detox this is at the core of improving cellular health.

Day 6 of Detox

2010-02-06T11:09:00.002+11:00

Today I went to the Orange Grove organic markets early in the morning which I just love with a passion. I have been eating organic food for years and I never fail to feel inspired by fresh produce. This morning I visited the mushroom man – he grows incredible wild mushrooms in a cave near Moss Vale. I bought some enoki (my favourite) and some Swiss browns.

Then I chatted to the Sprout woman – she grows lots of different sprouts and I just love the broccoli sprouts. These are packed full of sulphoraphane which induce phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver. Recent research from John Hopkins University has shown that broccoli sprouts are cancer preventative. I throw them into all my salads for an extra detox hit. You can grow them at home, just plant organic broccoli seeds, wait to them to sprout them eat them when they are 3 days old!

I then spotted Johnny, my favourite farmer. His farm is at Peat’s Ridge, 1 ½ hours out of Sydney and he brings down a collective of produce from the local area. He is a wealth of knowledge and as I am setting up my veggie garden I wanted to pick his brains about a few things. As usual, Johnny was full of great advice and I left feeling excited about the prospect of picking my own lettuce in a few weeks.

I always buy a bunch of flowers at the market and love coming home and unpacking all my goodies. I usually cook in the same day as I shop as I tend to get into a foodie zone. First of all I cooked split pea soup for emergency lunch/dinners which I put in the freezer.

For dinner I made fish balls poached in miso soup. This is so easy it is ridiculous. Simply blend some white fish (I used snapper), coriander, chilli, lime zest and garlic. Then make some miso soup (I love to use Spiral red miso paste). Tablespoon the fish into balls, add to soup with some finely chopped vegetables and I topped with the enoki mushrooms. This is an incredibly good detox recipe and it will leave you feeling so clean, light and healthy. Miso supports the good bacteria that live in your digestive system so it is perfect for detox.

Day 5 of Detox

2010-02-05T20:19:00.002+11:00

I had a huge day at work today and thankfully I was well prepared with my food. I had a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs with parsley and zucchini. I use oat milk for this as it has a lovely flavour. I have plenty of dried apricots, tamari almonds and Brazil nuts to snack on so that kept me going between patients. Lunch comprised of some split pea soup that I made on the weekend – love those easy options!

I want you to also be doing an environmental detox – assess your home, the products that are used with in it and check exactly what is in the products you are putting on your skin. Your skin is not water proof – it is a soluble surface and chemicals will be absorbed through the pores.

I also bought a combined ioniser/oil burner today which I have been wanting for ages. It is firstly an essential oil diffuser but it uses ultrasonic waves at a high frequency to disperse water and oils into the air. This technique means that you don’t have to use much essential oil and the smell lasts a long time. It is, secondly, an ioniser which improves air quality through the release of negative ions in the air (which we also receive from the ocean and rainforests). This is health promoting and helps to reduce airborne toxin exposure. Thirdly it is a humidifier which combats the drying effect of heating and air conditioning. Lastly, I turn it on in the morning when I get up and it goes for 16 hours straight – no changing of candles, adding more essential oils or burning dry.

Day 4 of Detox

2010-02-04T19:10:00.003+11:00

I made quinoa porridge with raspberries for breakfast today. What I love about this meal is that it takes literally 4 minutes to make. I boil the kettle, pour 1 cup of water into a saucepan, add ½ cup quinoa flakes and ½ cup frozen raspberries then simmer for 2 minutes. This is a nice high protein breakfast with a boost of antioxidants!

I then had IKU for lunch as this is the most wonderful organic fast food! I rely on it quite a lot when I am working and busy. IKU is vegetarian, organic food with a focus on macrobiotic philosophies.

I spent ½ hour in the steam room today and then had a cold shower directly afterwards. This is a wonderful way to open your pores to facilitate toxin release and then stimulate lymphatic flow around the body. We carry toxins in the lymph tissue and it needs to be manually moved in order to be shifted around the body. As we move, our muscles contract and this has the effect of pushing lymph. This greatly facilitates toxin removal and I can’t emphasise enough the importance of this during detox.

Day 3 of Detox

2010-02-03T22:49:00.001+11:00

I am not sure if you have realised by now but organisation is the key to a successful detox. Do a pantry check – put everything you can’t eat into a box and hide it in the garage. Check the fridge/freezer and donate all “off the list” items to your friends – they will be appreciative and you won’t be tempted! Plan your weekly menu on a Saturday and then go to the market and buy everything you need for the week.

Go home and spend a few hours over the weekend cooking meals for the freezer. These will prove invaluable for those nights that you are home late or for that easy lunch option. I also recommend cooking a little extra for dinner and before you dish up your plate, put some in a take away container ready for lunch the next day. So think ahead, outside the square if you need to, and use the Girl Guide motto “be prepared”!

BTW, I have been taking vitamin C hourly and Andrographis compound and I feel so much better in 24 hours I can’t believe it. I also took my homeopathic acute remedy as soon as I felt congested and I think that made a world of difference. Ahh, thank goodness for natural medicine.

Day 2 of Detox

2010-02-03T22:48:00.002+11:00

I can’t believe it! I woke up this morning to a cold – head pounding, razor blade throat and aching muscles. I had to cancel my 6am walk and also business lunch to stay in my pyjamas on the couch reading. I am reading “Blink” by Malcolm Gladwell which is just phenomenal – I highly recommend it. Oh I don’t often fall ill but when I have been overdoing it my body lets me know. Being sick is also an effective way that your body releases toxins – often people fall ill on their detox and as long as it is just a cold or a few days of upset tummy it is fine.

Just eat lightly and rest – if you can get to a steam room then go for it. Otherwise do a steam inhalation at home with a bowl of hot water, some eucalyptus oil and a towel. Just immerse your head under the towel, take nice deep belly breathes for 2 minutes, then stop and go back for another inhalation every 5 minutes for a total of 30 minutes. Make some freshly grated ginger tea but it needs to be very strong. I find using a wooden ginger grater just fabulous for this.

I took the opportunity to do some cooking today – some split pea soup and stewed fruits. So the freezer has even more meals in it for those days when I am busy at work or simply have unexpected guests.

Hopefully I will feel a little better tomorrow but I am using today as an opportunity to write down my detox goals ( I want to work on my fitness and also obtain incredible mental clarity as I have a lot of business planning to do) and do some meditation. Detoxification is also a mental and emotional process so don’t forget that you need to work on those levels as well!

Day 1 of Detox

2010-02-03T22:45:00.002+11:00

Oh dear – day 1 can be so challenging! I must admit that I went out for dinner last night with some beautiful friends who love food as much as I do. Well, we ate and drank some amazing tastes and I farewelled all the lovely things that I was about to cease – meat, wheat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine and sugar to name the main culprits. I am used to this feeling of initial loss – it happens three times a year! I have been detoxing twice a year for a month as well as a mid winter 7 day detox for many years now.

The reason I am passionate about detoxing is because of how I feel at the end – incredible energy, crystal clear mental clarity and very connected mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically. You can’t buy that in a jar! It takes commitment and organisation to make it work but I have never yet had a patient say they didn’t feel much better at the end.

I advise you to tell all and sundry that you are about to embark on your detox. This way, your friends and family will be less likely to sabotage your efforts. They will know that instead of going to the pub on Sunday, you will meet them for a yoga class. Keep your social duties light while detoxing – there will always be something on but don’t despair. You won’t be living in a bubble but you can socialise in different ways that are more aligned with your detoxification goals.

So, today is a day to drink lots of water, maybe experience a headache that is dull and annoying ( caffeine withdrawal!) and take it easy. Over the next 4 weeks you will be walking through my detox and hopefully it will make your easier as you pick up tips along the way.

Emma's Detox

2010-02-03T22:37:00.004+11:00

Over the next 4 weeks you will be walking with me while I complete my detox program and hopefully it will make detoxing easier for you. There will be plenty of meal ideas, exercise tips and lifestyle hints that only come with years of regular detoxing. I have learnt the easy way to do things and all the practical hints you need will be in my blog. So good luck! I would love to hear how you went on your detox so drop me a line. I challenge you to get inspired, creative and nurturing during the next 28 days!

About Michelle

2010-02-01T12:12:00.007+11:00

I know that we all need food to live but i have lived for food. Since my childhood i have had a love affair with food and eaten just about everything. My family are good eaters and we were taught never to leave anything on our plates. As i am getting older my food passion is only becoming stronger and like all, i need to now be more careful than ever before that i choose the right foods for me because otherwise i get fat and my body starts to develop all sorts of health issues.

I am enjoying writing this book with Emma as she has taught me about the health benefits in food and the body, and i have been able to create some really delicious recipes that i know will be good for me and you. Michelle

Photo by Photographix

Australia Day

2010-01-27T15:02:00.004+11:00

How good does it feel to be an Australian, I am proud of our nation and yesterday, i joined thousands of people at 6am with 18 colourful hot air balloons ascending into the dawn skies, a landmark Australia Day tradition in Parramatta park since 1985. Happy Australia Day everyone! Enjoy life. Mich xx

Picture and Text copyright Michelle Thrift 2010

True Religion Espresso Bar – these girls ROCK!

2010-01-24T16:40:00.007+11:00

There is nothing like being in the company of people who are genuinely passionate about their craft and I was delighted to have the chance to interview Mariella Traina and Natalie Mandel. Their espresso bar, True Religion, is located on bustling Darling Street, Balmain. It is a pocket of a place and thanks to an edgy Melbourne meets Sydney fit out, looks brilliant. Mariella, a trained chef, owned Froth cafe in Leichhardt for 5 years before embarking on True Religion with Natalie.

The first thing that I noticed when they opened was their funky logo – it’s a coffee bean with devil’s horns and tail. As Natalie explained, coffee was originally considered the Devil’s drink so this is a cheeky twist on that. As for the name of their venture, they are both devoted to coffee and it’s a type of daily worship that we all partake in.

The main vibe definitely has an organic emphasis and of being true to the clean, simple flavours that great produce lends itself to. Both girls love eating out at Billy Kwong for the same reason. Their coffee is independently roasted and custom blended to meet their high standards. Their single origin is used for short blacks/macchiato and changes every 2 weeks. Even their decaf is Fair-trade, rainforest alliance and mountain water filtered from Mexico – and for decaf it tastes like the real thing. Luckily you can buy their coffee as well!

True Religion has gorgeous food – the things they do best are made on site while they outsource tasty treats from Adriano Zumbo. Staying true to traditional recipes and allowing ingredients to shine is evident in all their dishes. For example, Bircher muesli is left unadulterated and made according to the original recipe.

I must say, I have changed my daily routine to swing by True Religion and get my coffee – I am so fussy with my coffee and very few places actually get it right. These girls have won me over with their consistency and incredible skill in making my daily caffeine hit. They are a tribute to the Holy Grail of Caffeine and I congratulate them on their passion.

True Religion are open from 6 –4 Tuesday to Saturday and then 7-3 Sundays. Mondays are spent dreaming of coffee and refuelling for another week!

Emm
xxx

Organic + Love = Sublime

2010-01-23T21:14:00.008+11:00

Today was 43 degrees and felt just like standing on a street in Dubai – or sucking in the exhaust of a jet plane! Either way, the result was floppy hair, a red face and a painfully slow pace. I headed out on my usual Saturday - the Orange Grove Organic Markets. By 9am, I was perusing the produce at Johnny Bucknall’s stand. He is the only person I buy from as he brings produce down from Mangrove Mountain, which is an area that has a lot of organic farms. The water I drink also comes from an organic farm at Mangrove Mountain, Alpha Water. That’s another blog altogether!

So, Johnny is watching all of his produce rapidly wilt in the blistering heat and begins to inform us the greens are now two for one. Well, even though I get carried away without any persuasion, this had me spinning in circles! Instantly my eyes did a “Matrix” like configuration, my brain almost imploded with recipes and I began dashing all over the place with my large basket.

As I was racing to clinic I threw all my purchases in the fridge and got to work. 7 hours later as I picked up my numerous bags, I began to think of the best strategy for all of my spontaneous greens. Kale, which is my all time fav vegetable, could be used in my smoothies. The rocket would be perfect for lunch tomorrow with some shaved fennel, parsley and grilled tuna. But, what I didn’t realise was that I purchased a heap of stunning basil.

Of course, I had to make pesto and it needed to be done ASAP. So, I arrived home, poured a lovely glass of wine, put my feel good music on and got to work! First, can I say that one of my all time loves is to find amazing produce and then cook it. I prefer to keep it simple, let the ingredient shine, and always add a lot of love. I can’t cook when I am grumpy or angry – it just ends up tasting bitter and horrible. So, when I am feeling so happy and positive like today, my food always tastes amazing.

So, here is my recipe but promise me that you will only make this when you have plenty of free time, some gorgeous organic ingredients and a smile in your heart.

Emma’s Pesto Ingredients – they are all organic of course, that’s another reason this taste incredible

3 cloves of garlic

100gr parmesan – luckily I live in Haberfield and am spoilt with choice but I love one from Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy, ask the deli to grate it for you

50gr pistachios – lightly toasted

2 large bunches basil

1 cup extra virgin olive oil (I use my mum’s cold pressed organic extra virgin)

Rind of 1 lemon

Pepper to taste

Method

Blend the parmesan, garlic and pistachio nuts. Take a minute to smell this – so gorgeously aromatic, nutty, sharp and tangy all at once! Slowly add the basil and ½ cup EVOO. Then pop in the lemon rind, pepper and ¼ cup EVOO. Blend until you are happy with the consistency. Store in a glass jar, use the remaining EVOO to pour over the top of the pesto and create a seal to prevent oxidation of your masterpiece.

Text, recipe and photo © Health Equals Vitality 2010

Emma’s Interview on Bondi FM

2010-01-21T21:10:00.003+11:00

Last week I was interviewed by the gorgeous Corby Sue all about detox. Bondi FM is Australia’s only private radio station and it is set in an eclectic space on Curlewis Street. A little doorway, some painted footsteps and the smell of coffee will lure you in from the sidewalk. As their website says BondiFM is “international, multi-cultural with a strong community focus and a soft spot in our heart for all things funky and experimental BONDI 88 FM is the not-so-secret lovechild of millions of diverse music lovers who transport the beach into their living rooms to top up their tans.” Sounds like my kind of fun! According to stats, more overseas visitors tour their website than the number of tourists who actually visit the world famous beach!

Corby Sue is a very talented woman – she is a personal chef, runs cooking classes, designs menus and is a radio presenter amongst other nifty things. Our interview focused on Detox and we had a ball chatting about all things healthy – detox does not have to mean colonics and juice fasting! The radio studio at BondiFM is in the cafe so go and watch the action over a bite to eat. As soon as I have the podcast i will put it on the website and let you know.Corby, I want to thank you for a fantastic afternoon and I look forward to sharing your table again soon, xxx.

On another note, I really want to inspire you to make some changes and become the best you can be. It’s a new decade and a beautiful time to cleanse any negative habits. I did an interview with the men’s mag FHM about Detox and my main point was that detox can be easy if you are shown how! As you well know, I detox every Feb and Sept and this time I have decided to blog my daily progress. This will be a valuable source of information for you as I will cover my food as well as all those little tricks I have discovered over the years of detoxing. So, send the link out to friends, become a follower and get ready to detox!

Emm
xxx

Wild Edible Greens

2010-01-20T17:14:00.005+11:00

On a recent hunt to find "Wild Edible Greens" for juicing i found it extremely difficult to find any in Sydney. When i phoned various health food stores and produce centres people questioned my asking for such things as Kale and Dandelion leaves ??? i was beginning to wonder what i had gotten myself into, surely it can't be that hard to find locally farmed wild edible greens ?

After a few days of Internet surfing and phone calling, i found a local supplier called "Alfalfa House", at last i found a store that spoke my language.

As stated on their website; www.alfalfahouse.org

"Alfalfa House is a not-for-profit cooperative that aims to provide, where possible, minimally packaged and minimally processed, affordable, wholesome, organic food to its members."

What a wonderful store to have so close and to know that it exists. If you have some free time it is worth checking out the website and visting the store.

So, Thank you Alfalfa House for having a place for like minded people to go and shop!

I am so happy to know you are here!

Can anyone share with me a time that they have tried to look everywhere for a particular ingredient and have not been able to find it ???

Happy Juicing and Eat Well !

Mich x

Text Copyright Michelle Thrift 2010

Luscious Wines - Guilt Free and What Tasty Little Numbers!

2010-01-19T21:33:00.004+11:00

I recently spent a few days at the Golden Door Health Retreat as a guest presenter and what a wonderful few days it was! As I drove through the countryside at dusk, I was reminded of just how glorious the Hunter is. An unusually high summer rainfall had left in its wake fertile, green, rolling hills covered in vineyards. It took all my willpower to keep on driving and focus on the weight loss seminars and superfood cooking workshops that was about to keep me busy – damn that work business!

So, after I had completed my days of inspiration and motivation, I set off down the road to visit Lou Davidson at Tamburlaine Winery. You may remember my pre Christmas post about organic wines where they featured as one of my favourites. I love so many things about this place it’s hard to keep it to a short blog but I will try my best!

First of all it is their commitment to organic that impresses me the most. They started making their way organic in 1998 and were certified in 2001. Becoming a certified producer is no mean feat and it takes time, money, passion and a strong belief to get that little logo! All the kitchen waste and water is recycled, seaweed fertiliser is used on the grounds, extreme heat in the warehouse is combated by straw bale insulating, high pressure steam is used to kill weeds, and even the tractors are run on soybean oil! Now for this Eco Girl, that’s a lot of ticked boxes!

Secondly, Lou has the absolute perfect venue for a dream event – as she showed me around I already had my next birthday planned out. Casuarina Catering organise all the food – ingredients are sourced locally and the menu sounds delicious. There is the most gorgeous lake with a perfect balcony for pre dinner cocktails. Add a live band, romantic candles, some organic wines and it sounds like an exceptional night out!

Tamburlaine has an export market that is increasing as we speak – those clever folk in Sweden and China know just how terrible chemicals are. So, take advantage of the member’s discounts and join up, order your next dozen bottles and know that when you sip that gorgeous drop, you are participating in a clean, green product that tastes stunning. Thanks again Lou, for your wonderful tour.

Emm
Xxx

PS My personal fav is the 2008 Verdelho at the moment

PPS Mich, I couldn’t help but have a little taste

PPPS BUT I bought lots more for us to share!

Cup of Tea Anyone?

2010-01-18T19:56:00.002+11:00

Everyone knows how much I love a cup of therapeutic herbal tea and now I have found the absolute answer to my busy days! T-Sac Disposable Tea Filters.

Enjoy loose leaf tea in these convenient, simple to use, and ecologically friendly tea infusers! The T-Sac filters are ideal for those who dislike the mess commonly associated with loose-leaf tea - that's most of us! Uniquely designed with a gusseted bottom which allows the tea leaves to completely unfurl, thus increasing the flavour and strength of the tea. T-sac tea filters also have a paper flap which is perfect for tucking under the lid of a tea pot or a travel mug.

Best of all, they are made from 100% natural, unbleached, and chlorine free paper. As I make my own Rejuvenation Tea, which is a loose leaf organic blend, these tea filters are the perfect accompaniment to make a quick cup. I used to have to brew up a pot, which often meant that I would be wasting tea – a thing of the past now. Whoever invented these little beauties gets my thumbs up for practicality and sustainability! I usually find them in a Japanese tea shop or order them online.

Emm
xxx

A Country Life.....

2010-01-18T19:47:00.003+11:00

I have the very good fortune to have one of my best friends living in Wingello, right in the middle of the Southern Highlands. Every month I take a few days off to meander down the Hume and stay overnight. Simona is from Abruzzo in Italy and I love the hospitality that greets me – a bed so cosy that it reminds me of staying at my Grandmas, beautiful food and the most relaxing atmosphere. I can’t get mobile phone reception (bliss!!!) and I fall asleep to the sound of wind in the trees.

Today I awoke to the most gorgeous sunny morning and happily sipped my coffee on the back porch soaking up the warmth. Much to my delight a neighbour came over with the two dozen eggs we ordered. They got my stamp of approval when I opened the tray to find they were still covered in dirt and the odd feather. This is what real eggs are and I grew up eating these at my Grandma’s farm. The yolks are so yellow it’s amazing and the taste so much more intense.

We then traipsed off to “Arcadia”, the local fruit and vegetable shop. I had commented to Simona that the rocket salad at dinner last night was like the true wild rocket that I rarely see in Sydney. So we went in search of this prized rocket at Arkadia. I only had $10 on me and I mentioned to Simona that I needed an ATM – she burst out laughing and said “Emm, you can’t possibly spend more than $10 at Arcadia!”

Vi, who runs this wonderful little shop, is there every day of the year except Christmas day. We pulled up to the shop, which is more like an open shed, to find a treasure trove of produce. Most of it is local and people either sell it to Vi or swap it for something else. I bought 2kg juicy carrots, a whole head of celery, a cos lettuce and a big bag of the gorgeous rocket – all for $5! Now, I know the produce is not organic but it is home grown, local and most people use seaweed fertiliser, not chemicals. I can’t even buy a bag of rocket that big for under $5 in Sydney!

So, a country life may be just the thing I need – it is certainly on the long term drawing board! Simona and I have visions of sharing vegetable harvests, making jams and enjoying nice long nights around the dinner table. Thanks again Vi!

Emm

xxx