Weekly Highlights

This week has been super busy, and although some of you may think I'm Super Woman and keep up with everything effortlessly, I'm not, and I don't. In fact, today I feel a bit like my little nephew after a hard day of being Super Man...

(Isn't he just too cute?)

Yep. That's me right there.

This week has been: school holidays and lots of kids coming and going; an exciting project I'm working on (which I'll tell you about soon); lots of cooking (mostly for the exciting project); wrapping up loose ends with my job (I'm scaling down there - can't do everything!); sight seeing tours with a visitor from overseas; a birthday party with a bunch of noisy boys (plus a few girls who don't like to miss out on nerf wars and messy fun, ie. my 16 yr old and her friends); plus everything else. Result: exhausted 'super woman' with saggy muscles. Lol.

So here's a quick update, with the highlights from our discussions on the Quirky Cooking Facebook page...

I bumbled my way through the boys' birthday BBQ on Thursday. I'm not great at organising amazing kids' parties. I'd rather just supply some food and let them entertain themselves by running around outside, so a BBQ at the lake seemed like the easiest option. Sadly, the weather turned bad so we arrived at the lake, took one look at the wet and windy BBQ 'shelter', then turned around and drove back to town. Thankfully my lovely friend Giselle was happy for a party of 14 boys (plus a few girls) to descend upon her home and run around crazy in her yard, so a fun time was had by all despite the rain.

Of course, being a country kids' birthday party, it included things like an 'epic' nerf war (I borrowed that word from Mr I, who seems to say it a lot), bushwalking to a waterfall, throwing rocks into a volcanic crater, and eating sausages and fried onions in bread with plenty of tomato sauce. No lollies at this party, or party games or party bags - but I'm pretty sure they all had a good time. :)

I managed to get a birthday cake made before dashing out the door in the morning - another Zebra cake (Mr I's request), but with a few changes to make it healthier and yummier. The kids loved it. It's a bit messier than my last one as I was in a hurry, but I really don't think the kids noticed.

It's funny how we mums sometimes think that if we don't do everything 'just right' the world will fall apart. I'm always reminding myself that there are more important things to worry about in life than whether a cake is beautifully decorated, or a party is perfectly organised. Sure, if you can do it and enjoy it, that's great! But getting stressed out over things like that just spoils the fun. So we had a slap dash, informal party, and a fun day was had by all. 

Here's what's been happening on my Quirky Cooking Facebook page this past week... 

FOOD

Pear recipes: This 'Whole Poached Pear Cake' was being tested and tweaked this week in my kitchen. I'm working on a dairy free, grain free version, and although it's not quite there yet, it still tasted delicious! What are you favourite pear recipes? Try some of these out.

Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake: the lovely girls from Confetti Mag shared my cake recipe on their blog - check out the recipe here, and make sure you subscribe to their beautiful online magazine!

I'm also working on a recipe for a gluten free, dairy free shortcrust pastry... lots of pies being cooked here lately! (No one's complaining.) No recipe yet, all part of the 'project'.

Weird breakfasts: I explain why I eat weird things for breakfast, like chicken soup and fried rice, here.

How to make soft eggs, poached in the shell: too easy, very quick, and delicious! Photo and recipe here.

Don't have time for a 'proper' breakfast? My quick protein smoothie recipe.

A very interesting version of my Creamy Chicken & Brown Rice Soup: You know that soup that everyone's making? Well, you may not want to make it like this. Then again, maybe you will, just for fun!! :D

15 foods that can be regrown from scraps: great tips from Mrs Happy Homemaker

Favourite thermomix chicken recipes: Got chicken? Try these!

Trout recipes: some tips and recipes for cooking trout here.

Homemade two minute noodle seasoning mix: healthier versions you can make yourself!

Healthier biscuits to replace Tiny Teddies: some great ideas here for little homemade bikkies for kids, without the nasties.

10 reasons to make your own bone broth: check out this article by Alexx Stuart - I call bone broth 'liquid gold'. 

How to dry ripe olives: tips for drying and perserving olives here.

How to make dairy free dulce de leche with honey to sweeten: a reader's tip!

Homemade fruit chutney: readers' favourite recipes here.

Chilli jam recipes: find some recipes and links here.

Fig jam recipes: made with dried figs - ideas here.

Pickles: I also made pickled cucumber slices this week, so if you're wanting to try them yourself, the recipe is here - first half of recipe is in the comment on the photo, second half of recipe in the last comment on the photo. (These are not sweet pickles, they're the salty, vinegarry type.)

HEALTH

Homemade face masks: no need to spend big bucks on fancy schmancy facial treatments! Try these homemade face mask recipes!

10 reasons you should be using coconut oil: here's why I love coconut oil...

Why sugar makes us sleepy and protein wakes us up: ...and this is why I eat protein at breakfast time!

A reader's experience: how a mum got her daughter have more energy by giving her a protein breakfast before school! Her story here.

Sucrase Isomaltase Deficiency: a disorder that affects a persons ability to breakdown sucrose (fruit/table sugar) and maltose (grain sugar). Donna asked for some recipe ideas, in particular snacks & lunch box treats, for her 5 year old with SID - here's the answers and ideas that were shared.

AND OTHER STUFF

French Rules for Feeding Children: the French are known for having children who will eat all sorts of things - fussy eaters are just about unheard of! Here's some tips for developing great little eaters.

Nut milk bags: what do you use to strain your nut milk? Reader's tips and favourite brands.

How do you store recipes you find online? Here's readers' favourite ways to keep track of recipes they want to make.


Have a great week everyone!

Miss C and Shadow have the right idea...

Weekly Highlights

These Corella pears were one of the highlights of my week - gorgeous aren't they! 

So many interesting things come to my notice each week, and I often find myself wanting to sit down and blog about them... but first the dishes, and the washing, and the home schooling, then the cooking, recipe testing, recipe writing, paperwork, phone calls, emails, answering messages and questions... and suddenly it's past bed time again. Oops.

My usual solution is to dash off little notes and mini recipes to share (with quickly snapped iPhone photos) on Instagram and Facebook throughout the day - phone in one hand, spatula or pen in the other. But then all those interesting questions and answers from readers and links to articles and recipes seem to get lost in Facebook cyberspace... And my favourite photos of the week disappear into the backlog of Instagram photos. 

One of our recent discussions was 'where in the world do you live?' 

I'm on the Atherton Tablelands, in the mountains west of Cairns, 

Far North Queensland, Australia. How about you?

I've decided to share the best discussions, photos, and links here with you each week, so that way they're easier to find again. Then next time someone says, 'What can I cook for my friend who is going into hospital and needs some freezable meals for the family?' I can say, 'There's a whole list of ideas right here!' Good idea? I think so. :)

I know Friday isn't really the end of the week, but it's a day we all look forward to because the weekend is nearly here, right? Therefore, my 'Weekly Highlights' will be shared on Fridays! I hope you enjoy the photos and find the discussions and links helpful.

Happy Friday!

Yep, this is where I live. Just around the corner from my house. Blessed.

PS On Saturdays, I'd love for you all to join in by sharing the highlights of your week (favourite blogs and FB pages, interesting articles, great recipes, best pins on Pinterest...) on my Saturday Shout Out post on my Facebook page. I want hear what you've been reading and enjoying too!

FOOD

Dairy free dulce de leche

I think this recipe was one of the biggest highlights of my week, and made quite a few dairy free people very happy! Pictured here as the topping for a chocolate chip coconut flour brownie. Recipe for dulce de leche is here if you missed it. Also includes a recipe for dairy free condensed milk.

By the way, dulce de leche is awesome on strawberries. You're welcome.

Recipes for citrus fruit

So many great ideas here, for those of you who are overloaded with an abundance of citrus fruit at the moment - and the recipes are not just for food. Check out the cleaning spray!

Winter dinner ideas
Need some ideas for warming winter meals? Plenty of inspiration here. (If you want a particular recipe, just ask!)

How to make your own gluten free flour mix

Here is my recipe for GF flour, for biscuits, slices and cakes. I've also tried it in scones with success. (You won't be able to use it cup for cup in regular yeast bread recipes, stick to gluten free bread recipes.) To make this mix into self raising flour, you just add 1 tsp of baking powder per cup of flour. (1 cup of flour = 150g)

Dry to liquid sugar substitution chart

A handy chart if you're wanting to convert recipes from white sugar to honey, rice malt syrup or pure maple syrup. (Use same amounts for honey and maple syrup.)

Bulk, freezable, cook ahead meals

We all need these now and then - when preparing for a new baby arriving, or to help out a friend who's sick. Plenty of great ideas here for cooking in bulk.

Mexican black bean & chorizo soup

Mexican feast over at Confetti Mag's blog

The Confetti Mag team and I had a bit of fun cooking together, and this week they put up some recipes and photos of our mini Mexican feast on their blog. More recipes to come! Check it out here.

(And if you haven't already, make sure you subscribe to their online magazine - it's beautiful, and free!)


HEALTH

One of the most fascinating things I learnt this week was how coconut oil can help to get rid of candida. I knew it was amazing stuff, but wow! See more on this topic here. 

"I am a walking testimonial to the benefits of a low carbohydrate/ high fat diet with regard to Candida and cystitis. I used to purchase Monistat two or three packages at a time. Now I use lots of coconut oil for cooking and eat plenty of coconut products such as fresh coconut, coconut flakes, and coconut milk. Coconut contains capric/caprylic acid and lauric acid both proven to kill Candida while leaving healthy intestinal flora intact. I was taking a long-term, broad-spectrum antibiotic for chronic cystitis for over two years and now its been two years since I stopped refilling the prescription with no recurrence! By far the most remarkable transformation occurred when I started using coconut oil and simultaneously eliminated skim milk and all soy products from my diet. And I lost weight! – Laura (The Coconut Diet Forums.)"

Ketogenic diet to manage epilepsy 
An interesting discussion here about using diet to manage severe epilepsy, and where to find out more about it.

Fructose malabsorption

I seem to get questions about recipes for those with fructose malabsorption a lot lately. In this post readers have shared ideas for high protein snacks/drinks for someone with fructose malabsorption, who is also dairy intolerant and sensitive to high salicylates and amines! She also can't have potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet peppers, chili peppers, paprika and cayenne pepper.

And here you'll find more ideas for lunchbox and party foods for children with fructose malabsorption.

Low FODMAP diet

For those looking for low FODMAP recipes, here's some links and sites to help you in this post.

INSPIRATION

How to live to 116 years old... 

Love it!! (via the Healthy Home Economist)

Last week's Saturday Shout Out!

Reader's favourite blog posts, articles, sites, pins, FB pages...

I especially found this article on 'How Caffeine Short Circuits Creativity' fascinating! Think twice before you drink coffee to stay alert, if you're trying to think creatively!

My little kitchen

I don't know if you'll find this inspiring, exactly... but I thought you might like to see a glimpse of my home and my little kitchen. People who visit are often surprised that I don't have a big fancy kitchen and yet I do so much cooking and food photography. I'd love a big fancy kitchen... but you make do with what you've got, right? You don't need a big kitchen to cook amazing food. :)

My favourite photo from last week

Just had to share this one. My little girl looking for shells, Kurrimine Beach, FNQ. Taken with my iPhone, as usual. Love it.

And one last photo of those lovely Corella pears, before they get eaten...

I had to laugh... I bought these pears to look at (because I'm unpractical like that sometimes), and posted this arty photo on my FB page, and one of the comments was, 'great for constipation'. LOL! I guess not everyone thinks of pears as art. :D So funny.

Have a great weekend, guys! xx