Sweet Potatoes aka Kumara

Why do I keep adding weird recipes with vegetables in them? Simply because they are so much healthier than recipes without! Which means we can eat more treats right?
And kids can eat yummy snacks, so Moms/Mums dont have to worry about their nutrition so much, win!
Not to mention the fact that they will sustain us for longer.

So todays lesson is about sweet potatoes, grab a drink & have a read:

Chocolate Sludge (recipe on baking page)

Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition.

They’re rich in beta carotene, Vitamin A and C, and act as an anti-inflammatory in the body. One large potato provides 4 grams protein, 6 grams of fiber, and just 162 calories. 

And if you'd like to read more of the nutrition info, go here:

Sweet Potato info

Now go ahead & indulge yourself 

Go check out the Facebook page

Here: Feeding You Well

The Cooking Angel doesnt always cook healthy either ;)

Cooking with kids...Fun!

Especially when there is recipe testing involved!

Which Diet? Low Fodmap, GaPs, Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers...

I've been doing some more thinking & research on diets.

My gut is pretty unhappy right now, because Ive been eating Way Too Many carbs lately!

Why do I do it? Its the only leverage I have in my budget, like many of you I"m sure. Also post menopause I crave them, bad I know.

One of the common patterns Im seeing in all of these diets, is to eat more veges & protein. For me that means eggs, nuts, meat, fish & chicken, as I"m dairy & gluten intolerant.

So how do we incorporate more veges & proteins into our food?

Here are some suggestions:

Roast Vege Salad - goes with everything, eat hot or cold, travels well & keeps for a week in the fridge.

Scrambled Eggs on Toast - Different versions include: with rocket, chilli, parsley (is a green vegetable), other herbs & spices you like. Get creative with it!

Quiche- A great way to hide veges, with cheese & milks, lots of eggs

Fish Pie- Made with veges in a white sauce as the second layer, under the fish. I always eat fresh fish 99% of the time now, to avoid the Massive amounts of salt used in tinned fish. 

Desserts- with eggs, seeds, veges & nuts: You can eat these at lunchtime too you know.

• Pumpkin custards, it really is delicious, give it a try
• Chia pudding w berry coulis (made with cashew milk)
• Rice pudding, made with eggs & milks
• Egg custard pies & tarts
• Avocado chocolate mousse & ice cream
• Pumpkin spice ice cream- by Minimalist Baker

Just some ideas for you to start with, even a meat & salad lunch or sandwich. Make sure you add some seeds for extra nutrition

And Snacks, mustnt forget them!

• Chopped up raw veges in containers in the fridge
• Pumpkin custards are great for that
• Chocolate sludge too
• Sunflower crackers, or thyme & garlic, cinnamon
• Hummus & dips with raw veges or crackers
• Cheese for those who can eat it
• Yoghurt, not dairy food though
• Dates, but only a few (sugar)
• Protein bar, but don't go crazy (sugar) 

Tightening Your Belt to use funds more efficiently?

In my opinion, the recession is still very much ON. I'm sure a lot of you would agree with me. When the  number 1 Shoes are closing their doors, thats enough proof for me!
I forget which store, but saw it on the news, 4000 jobs will be lost, dislike. 

Sad day, I walked to my mall today & saw that #1 Shoes is gone!

So how can we make our money go further?

Here's a couple of ways to have healthy inexpensive snacks that almost everyone will eat:

Kumara chips

• Peel kumara (sweet potato) if not organic, Slice finely & toss in a bowl with a little olive oil. 
• Bake until crisp, approx 30-45 mins on 375ºF (180ºC)

Organic Air Popped Popcorn (Bin Inn)

An Excellent Article to read over & over until we Get It. Take some time out to read this, its worth it I promise

Chef Pete Evans added 2 new photos.

8 hrs · Edited · 

I know it is a big read, but yesterdays post by Dietitian Caryn Zinn with her link to her teams 55 page document to have NZ dietary guidelines looked at is really compelling and if you get a chance to read it, please do. This mornings post is also an interesting one, and of course these are observations, they don't equal causation, but are pretty difficult to ignore. I'm sure the experts will agree. This article appeared inwww.preventdisease.com
Renown Heart Surgeon Speaks Out On What Really Causes Heart Disease.

We physicians with all our training, knowledge and authority often acquire a rather large ego that tends to make it difficult to admit we are wrong. So, here it is. I freely admit to being wrong.. As a heart surgeon with 25 years experience, having performed over 5,000 open-heart surgeries,today is my day to right the wrong with medical and scientific fact.

Its a Dogs Life

And this is how I did it...

Today is grooming day! And that means a fight in this house. Lexi HATES being groomed. I have no idea why, I've never cut her or hurt her, but she did used to come home from a groomer exhausted & shaking when she was a puppy...so perhaps that experience has traumatised her?

Wow

What a day! That moment when after weeks & months of cold, wet, stormy weather, you wake up & open the curtains & its a blue sky day!

Today I'm making an American recipe, called gluten free orange raisin drop scones.
When I"ve made them I'll post the recipe & pic.

Have a great day, because you woke up