Half crazed...I am not there yet but give me a couple of vino's and I shall be well on my way...this is no joke but a rather serious matter where the self imposed wine ban gets enforced rather strictly from time to time...
Hungry Hippos...
Remember that game as a child?!!!!!!!! Vaguely...hmmm...alas...it all seems so long ago...now I have a hangry hippo of my own...this truly is a constant battle let me tell you...boys will be boys...
This is my first post...the title for this blog came to me in a moment of pure brilliance...it doesn't happen often...but yes...sometimes it does...despite the fact that many say I should be blonde...not my colour at all!!!!!!!!!!!...the half crazed is not on a day to day basis (generally speaking) but rather refers to what occurs after four too many Vino's (Okay...lets be honest...sometimes perhaps even two... and the (ish) is referring to my desire to create a healthier life for our now 16 month old Son...sadly at this point I do not have green fingers at all despite having a Mother who has veeeeeeeeery green fingers...who knows...wonders will never cease to amaze me...with all this Cooking perhaps that and Knitting are next on the agenda?!!!!!!!!!!
What have I been doing this week...well...amongst other things...Cooking, Baking, Cleaning...arghhhhh I have turned into rather a bit of a Nana following the surprise arrival of our first born and boy oh boy what a surprise that was...
I found this most wonderful new Cookbook tucked away at the local Library...time to ditch the old faithful (Edmonds) and crack out some new goodies!!!!!!!!!!
Apple - Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins (with Pecans - only on top mind you as no nuts at daycare of course! ...crikey...)
Yesterday we were also busy in the Kitchen...
Dr Libby says... Nutritionally speaking, chia seeds are a great vegetarian source of Omega 3 alpha-linolenic acid — beneficial for the brain and heart. Essential fatty acids build new cells and regulate various processes of the body, but our bodies cannot make them internally so we must get them from our diet. Chia seeds are also a good source of potassium and contain all eight essential amino acids, making them a complete source of protein. This is critical for vegetarians or vegans who have to combine foods to supply missing amino acids. Chia seeds also contain good quantities of many minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and manganese. Phosphorus is a mineral primarily known for its role in bone health. It works with calcium in order to boost the strength of your bones.
Cacao Powder...lots of it...
Body + Soul says...Naturopath Aimee Robbins says raw, powdered cacao is full of flavonoids, which act as natural antioxidants. "Antioxidants protect the body from ageing and disease caused by free radicals. Raw cacao contains up to four times the antioxidants of traditional cacao powder, and has the highest antioxidant value of all the natural foods in the world." Scientists from Cornell University in the US recently discovered that raw cacao contains nearly twice the antioxidant content of red wine, and up to three times the antioxidant content of green tea.
The cacao bean is also rich in magnesium, an energy mineral and vital electrolyte. This super-food is also a good source of sulfur. Sulfur is associated with strong nails, shiny hair and a healthy liver and pancreas. Medical herbalist Dominique Finney says the flavonoids in cacao prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from oxidising and clogging the arteries. "Cacao has also been found to help regulate blood pressure and reduce cholesterol while building the immune system."
And the finished product...also from my beloved new Bible (notice how I say mine but it actually isn't but it shall be mark my words)...Decadent Choc Bundt Cake...and oh my giddy heart it was divine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
For tonight we have...Cheesy Millet-Stuffed Butternut...adapted slightly from The Bojon Gourmet
Millet...rather resembles bird seed don't you think...hmmmmmmmmmm?!!!!!!!!!!
whfoods.org says...Millet is more than just an interesting alternative to the more common grains. Our food ranking system qualified it as a good source of some very important nutrients, including copper, manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium.
Oh cheeeeeeeeeeeese please...Gruyere and Feta
Cheese.com says...Gruyere is named after a Swiss village. It is traditional, creamery, unpasteurized, semi-soft cheese. The natural, rusty brown rind is hard, dry and pitted with tiny holes. The cheese is darker yellow than Emmental but the texture is more dense and compact. Slightly grainy, the cheese has a wonderful complexity of flavors - at first fruity, later becomes more earthy and nutty. To make Gruyere, raw milk is heated to 93 degrees F and liquid rennet is added for curdling. The resulting curd is cut into small pieces which release whey while being stirred. Curd is cooked at 110 degrees F and raised quickly to 130 degrees F. The pieces become shriveled which is the cue to place the curd in molds for pressing. The cheese is salted in brine for 8 days and ripened for two months at room temperature or a quick method: 10 days at 50 degrees F. Curing lasts from 3 to 10 months (the longer the curing period the better the cheese).
- Made from cow's milk
- Country of origin: Switzerland
- Type: hard
- Fat content: 40-46%
I added Spinach, Tomato and Yellow Onion...a healthy and simple dindins for the Whanau (aka band of hangry hippos!)
Delish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And
one lucky last from a couple of days ago...bound to be a repeat...Sweet
Potato Quinoa Cakes with Blackberry Salsa...borrowed from
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/05/sweet-potato-quinoa-cakes-with-blackberry-salsa/
Here is my hangry little hippo himself...he sure is cute...takes after his Father!!!!!!!
