Weekly Highlights & a Coconut Water Giveaway!

Don't you love my new bowl? 

My friend just brought it back from Venice for me - it's hand blown Murano glass! Gorgeous, huh. (And the gooey fudge brownies are pretty amazing too, but more on that another day.)

Okay, it's time for an update on what's been happening over on the 

Quirky Cooking Facebook Page!

Yeah, I know, I missed a week... my bad. Been hiding in my recipe testing cave.

But at least there's chocolate in there. 

And pizza. And pie. And pancakes. So no need to feel sorry for me. :)

Now if only I can focus long enough to get this blog post done... :D

Now, where was I? Oh yes, blogging...

Ok, the Weekly Highlights. 

But wait, there's a giveaway!! Want to hear about that first? Of course you do. So here it is:

I have 2 cases of 12 x 330ml cartons of Raw C Coconut Water to give away!

Want some?

I love coconut water in my smoothies and juices, or just on it's own, cold from the fridge. It's a great way to stay hydrated! Known as 'Nature's Gatorade', Raw C is popular sports drink alternative because it naturally contains electrolytes, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium. 

Raw C is 100% Pure Coconut Water - no sugar, preservatives or concentrates, and no funny stuff.

Check it out here!

[Updated, due to such a great response!!]

To WIN some Natural Raw C Coconut Water, all you have to do is comment on this post, 

mentioning Raw C coconut water in your comment. The prize winner will be drawn on Wednesday 7th August at 5pm, via Random.org, and the winner notified. 

Winner's name will be posted on this page. 

(Competition open to Australian residents only)

And the winners are...

Kym - 1st Prize: 2 cases of 12 x 330ml Raw C Coconut Water

Healthy SA - 2nd Prize: 1 case of 12 x 330ml Raw C Coconut Water
Shaarn - 3rd Prize: 1 case of 12 x 330ml Raw C Coconut Water

How about you pop by the Natural Raw C Coconut Water Facebook page and say Hi? 

They'd love to hear from you!

[Note: If you are reading this on a mobile device, you will need to swap over to the web version to be able to comment. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click 'view web version'.]

I do have another giveaway to share with you, but will let you know about that one in another day or two. Now onto the Weekly Highlights - there's lots to share!

FOOD...

Local produce... do you know what all this is?

Cooking to impress! Need to cook for a dinner party? Here's some quick and easy dishes that will knock the socks off your guests...

What's in your green smoothie today? I love coconut water in mine, plus lots of other goodies... Readers share their favourites here.

Quick snacks: What snacks do you make to take with you when you only have 20 minutes before you need to dash out the door? Here's some of mine, and lots of reader's ideas.

Bake & freeze snacks: What about snacks you can freeze for when you need them?

New Thermomix? How to stock your pantry: Readers share their tips for what to stock up on when expecting your new Thermie to arrive! (Excitement!!) :D

Vegetable spiralizers: Wondering if you should get one, what to use it for, what brand to buy? Answers here.

How to get turmeric stains out: Does your Thermomix lid, seal and butterfly look kind of odd from cooking with turmeric? Try these handy tips to remove the stain!

Quick & easy lunches: A reader who was 'falling back into bad habits' asks for ideas for quick, healthy lunches, and wow, so many great suggestions!

Grain free & dairy free lunchbox ideas: It's not always easy to think outside the box ;) but here's some tips.

Egg free breakfast ideas for little ones: Karen's 10 mth old has been diagnosed with an egg allergy, and she's stuck for new breakfast ideas. Here's lots of suggestions, including my egg-free pancake/waffle recipe.

Leftover pulp from making almond milk: Every wondered what to do with it? Here's some ideas.
And here's another one I spotted on Instagram - Superfood Nut Sprinkle.

Leftover ganache: What do you do with your leftover ganache? (Is there even such a thing??)

Matt Stone & Thermomix: Love the look of this raw cauliflower 'cous cous' salad Matt whipped up on the Morning Show - did you see it?

Friday night pizza: What's your favourite toppings?

Mandarine recipes: Are they dropping off your trees? Here's some ideas so they won't go to waste.

Naturally sweetened icings: Some ideas for icing cakes without refined icing sugar.

Pink party! What to feed a bunch of 6 yr old girls for a healthy pink party? Yummy ideas!

Diabetic friendly recipes: Thermomix friendly suggestions for diabetic recipes.

Breakfast ideas for a toddler with excema: Dairy & wheat free suggestions for an 8 month old.

What to make with egg whites? If you had 5 egg whites in the fridge, what would you make?


HEALTH & OTHER GOOD ADVICE...

What is the one small change you could make that would have the biggest impact on your health? Clare of Checks & Spots asks this question of 13 'bright sparks' who have a unique perspective on health, wellness and nutrition. (Including me!) :D

How to fatten pigs, and people: I found this article VERY interesting!!

Join a bulk food buying co-op! How? and Where?

How to boost iron levels naturally: A mum who is 30 weeks pregnant with low iron levels asks for advice - lots of great suggestions!

How to search on my page: I quite often have people puzzled about this, so if this is you, here's how... Just type into the search box the ingredient or subject you're looking for, and lots of links will come up that you can click on. Or you can go to the Recipe Index on the left of the 'Quirky Cooking' logo and click on that to get a drop down list of the labels you can search through. :)

What would you do? A reader asks for advice for how to get her family and friends to stop bringing junk food over as it's affecting her child's behaviour. Lots of discussion on this one!!!

How to get lots of housework done! Set a timer and FOCUS! Do you do this?

Do you love kitchen shops? What would you spend a $40 gift voucher on?


NEWS...

For those of you up here in FNQ (or visiting FNQ in August!), we'd love for you to join us for The Organic Experience food tour! Paddock to plate, meet the growers, tour the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, and gain a deeper appreciation for the way food connects our community, wellbeing and environment. I'll be cooking lunch with local produce on the 24th, it'll be heaps of fun and I hope to see you there! 

And that's about it for now... have a great week, and may it include homemade bread and lots of books. And chocolate. 

Jo xx

Miss C in her happy place - bread and books. :)

What could be better?

Weekly Highlights & some NEWS!

(Ummm, no, this isn't the recipe for my Cherry Delight 'Cheese'cake, so sorry. I just thought the photo might get your attention.) :D

Hello everyone. I know, my Weekly Highlights are very late, but I have an excuse!

I'm not sure if you've noticed that I've been a little bit absent from my blog and Facebook page lately. Well, there's a good reason for that. I promise it's not because I've been lazing around the house in my PJ's all day eating dulce de leche on fresh strawberries (as much as I've wanted to). It's just that I've been madly recipe testing and writing out recipes for the last couple of weeks because ... I have a publisher for my COOKBOOK!!!! EEEEK!!! (A bit exciting!!) Yes, a really real printed book, complete with really real photographers and stylists and all that fun stuff!

And along with a publisher comes DEADLINES and SECRETS and eating, sleeping and breathing RECIPES! And as much as I'd love to, I'm afraid I can't share the recipe for my cherry 'cheese'cake yet, because I need it for my book. You do understand, don't you? I'll try not to tease you with any more photos that do not have recipes attached, okay? (Although now and then I might post a sneaky one on Instagram, so if you want to see some sneak previews that's the place to look.) :)

So although I haven't had as much time to chat, there were still quite a few subjects discussed on my Facebook page this past week. Here's the main ones, to keep you all up to date.


FOOD

My big girl turned 16 last week (yes, I'm feeling old!). She wasn't interested in going out for dinner or having a party, she just wanted a big, family, Mexican fajita feast with a cherry cheesecake to finish it off. So that's what we did...

Fajitas with the lot!

Spelt tortillas, Mexican rice (mum's recipe - another option is my Mexican Quinoa), marinated fajita beef & chicken, sauteed red peppers (capsicums) and onions, guacamole, and my dairy free sour cream. So good.

Oh, and some smoky chipotle chilli sauce to top it off. Woweee, love that stuff!

(Do you like my cow apron? Lol!)

Mmmmm... fajitas!

What healthy treats would you cook for a 16th birthday party? Here's some reader's ideas.

Coconut Caramel Custard: In case you missed this, I posted this quick and easy recipe on the blog last week. Warning: dangerously addictive!

Pandan leaves: Ever see 'pandan leaves' in an Asian recipe and wonder where to get them, how to use them, whether you can grow them yourself, and what to substitute for them if they're nowhere to be found? Wonder no more, answers here!

Date loaf/cake recipes: Do you have a favourite date loaf or cake you like to make? Here's some readers' favourites.

Grapefruit recipes: It's grapefruit season, our fruit basket is overflowing with them! Need some ideas?

Travelling with Thermomix: A reader asked for simple Thermomix meal ideas that don't need heaps of pantry stuff, as she wanted to take her Thermomix with them on holiday. With a 2 year old and a 7 month old, it's a lot easier to 'eat in' than 'out', and the room they were to stay in only had coffee/tea making facilities. Here's some ideas readers suggested for travel meals.

7 Ingredient challenge: A desperate plea for a quick dessert idea using the 7 ingredients available brought out some very creative suggestions!

Vegan dinners: Recipes and ideas for a meat free meal.

Traditional afternoon tea ideas: Except they need to be gluten, dairy, sugar, and soy free! No problem.

Free-from birthday cake! A reader needs a recipe for a birthday cake that's gluten, dairy and soy free - preferably something rich and decadent.

Passionfruit recipes: Ideas for using up all those passionfruits that are falling off the vine! (At least here in FNQ, anyway!)

Paleo and nightshade-free food: A reader needs some ideas for paleo meals/food that are also free from potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, eggplants, capsicum and most legumes. Some great ideas here.

Lactation biscuit recipe: Have you heard of these? I hadn't! Basically it's a biscuit containing ingredients that help with lactation. Lots of other ideas for helping to increase breastmilk production here too.

Soup weather: What soups are you making on these wintery evenings?

And just a quick tip for when you make your tortillas or wraps - this is how thin you want to roll them, then cook them quickly in a really hot, dry frypan so they don't dry out. Make sure you keep them wrapped up in a clean tea towel while you cook them, so they stay warm and soft. Enjoy!

AND MORE...

Boosting your immune system: A reader asked for help for immune boosting ideas, as her husband has Ross River Fever.

Making soaps in your Thermomix - yes or no? Some great ideas and discussions here.

New Thermomix Blog & FB Page! If you need some help meal planning with your new Thermomix, Thermonerd may be the blog for you. Being a work-at-home mum of a little boy and twin baby girls means this busy lady HAS to plan ahead to keep up! Meal planning is definitely the way to go for helping with time management and budgeting... if you haven't tried it, you should.

By the way, there's lots of menu plans on my blog, as well as some here on my Facebook page!

Favourite Thermomix recipe books: What's your fave?

What the rural life is really like. I loved reading this blog post by Rural Miss and seeing her beautiful photos. Have you thanked a farmer today?

So now I'd better get back to my recipe writing...

I might have to get Mr I to do a guest post for me this week, so my blog doesn't look so neglected. :D

Have a great week!

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