More Food

After making two batches of ice cream in 3 days, each requiring 5 egg yolks, I had 10 egg whites sitting in the fridge waiting to be used.

Since Adoring Husband and I are both sugar free, the usual pavlova was out of the question, so I went on the hunt for something else.

This is what I found - Coconut Flour Tortillas.  A batch of 5 tortillas, uses 5 egg whites.  It's gluten free, grain free, sugar free, dairy free and actually delicious!

Ingredients:

5 egg whites
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (my almond milk was out of date, so I used raw milk instead)
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Put all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix for about 30 seconds.  Let it sit for at least 10 minutes so that the coconut flour can hydrate.

This mixture sticks to the pan, so you either need a good non-stick pan or use oil.

Once the pan is hot, pour some batter into the centre and tilt the pan so that the mixture spreads evenly over the bottom - about 7 inches in diameter.

Put the pan back on the hotplate and let it cook until the top is no longer shiny.  Flip the tortilla and let it cook for about another minute.

Take it out and place on paper towel, while you cook the others.  Try not to let them sweat, or they go soggy.

Fill them with whatever you like.  I made this filling:

Tortilla Filling Ingredients

1 cup of finely shredded cabbage
1 medium carrot - grated
1 small onion - cut into fine rings
1 chicken breast - cut into fine strips
2 T GF soy sauce
2 T pure maple syrup
1 teaspoon of chilli paste (I make my own)
Salt and pepper to taste

Fry it all up in a pan with a little butter.  If it gets too dry, add about a 1/4 cup water.

Spoon the mixture into the tortilla, so that it looks like this ...

I had two for lunch yesterday and then 3 for dinner last night (which made me uncomfortably full!).  They are very filling

I also made some banana bread during my cooking frenzy ...

It's quite nice, but if I used this recipe again, I'd add more walnuts and I wouldn't use chocolate chips.  It's very heavy and very filling.

If you're interested in the recipe, leave a comment and I will post it on here for you.

Yesterday morning, Adoring Husband came with me to see the Tawny chicks.  My favourite, who I have named 'Ethel', didn't like his visit and showed her discontent!

Don't you agree, they have the most interesting and amazing mouth?

It seems AH has just arrived home from his SES training, so I'm off to give him a warm welcome.

Nite all.

TGIF

It's Friday.

You know how I struggle with Fridays.

So this is for you, to make it easier on me *insert smiley face here*

Nite all.

Cherry Ripe Delights

One food that I have really missed in the last two years since I went gluten free, is Cherry Ripes.

So, today, I decided to create my own Cherry Ripe.

Here is the recipe for my Cherry Ripe Delights.

For the Chocolate

1 Cup of solid cacao butter
1 Cup of cocoa powder
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup of liquid sweetener, like raw honey, pure maple syrup or coconut nectar

For the Cherry Ripe Filling

250 g Glace Cherries (mine had no sugar and were organic, but not sure what brand because I threw the packet away)
1/2 Cup of raw cashews, soaked in water for 4 hours (then drain the water off)
1/2 Cup of dessicated coconut
1/4 Cup coconut oil
1/4 Cup of water

You will need a high powered blender or food processor.  Mini patty papers.  Tray or plate that will fit in the freezer.

Method

Chocolate

1. Gently melt the cacao butter in a pot or double boiler.
2. Once melted, add the cacao powder and vanilla essence to the pot and stir to combine.
3. Next, add your liquid sweetener of choice.  Stir
4. Set aside.

Cherry filling

1. Put the cashews, coconut oil and water in the blender and blend until creamy (it doesn't matter if there are a few chunky bits - that just adds more texture).
2. Add the cherries and dessicated coconut and 'pulse' a few times until the cherries are well chopped, but still a bit chunky.
3. Put mixture in a bowl.

Take your patty pans and place them on the tray.   Use a spoon to pour chocolate into the patties to about quarter the way up.

Once done, put the tray in the freezer for about 10 minutes, until the chocolate is set.

Remove from the freezer and spoon a small amount of cherry mixture onto the chocolate, then pour more chocolate over the top until the cherry mixture is covered.

Place the tray in the freezer until set.  Store the cherry ripes in the fridge.

This is the healthiest form of chocolate that you can eat, but it melts easily in your hands and also when they are out of the fridge.  That's the price you pay for healthy stuff.

What a shame (she says with a sarcastic tone) that Adoring Husband is on a liquid diet and can't eat any of these delicious little treats!

It's ok, I made him some apple and blueberry ice cream for his liquid treat.

It's been a rainy stormy day today and now it's after midnight!

I climbed into bed last night, 3 hours earlier than usual, and then woke up at 3am, which is 3 hours earlier than usual!  I can't believe that I am still awake now!

Must be the magic Maca Powder that I'm taking.  I'll tell you about that one day soon.

Nite all.

Sneak Peeks

A rare tropical cyclone hits Somalia - the deadliest in it's history.

Somalia experienced one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in its history. Tropical Cyclone 3A made landfall in north-eastern Somali region of Puntland on November 10–11, 2013. Tropical Cyclone 3A hit the Eyl, Beyla, Dangorayo and Hafun districts along the eastern coast and across to Alula at the tip of the Horn of Africa. Strong winds, heavy rains and flash floods caused more than 100 deaths. Hundreds of homes were destroyed and thousands of livestock killed. According to the International Disaster Database, EM-DAT, this is the deadliest tropical cyclone in Somalia's history.

The typhoon in the Philippines, the most catastrophic of them all, seems to have the spotlight and mainstream news hasn't covered this dreadful disaster in Somalia.

I wonder what is causing these 'deadliest/worst/biggest/strongest in history' tornados, typhoons, cyclones and other disasters, if it's not, as our Prime Minister insists, global warming?

but don't get me started ...

... on a happier note  

I'm excited to be able to share some photos from the wedding that I attended with The Nikonian on the first weekend of November.

These are The Nikonian's edited photos.

I LOVE her work.

These are photos that she has already shared on facebook with the bride and groom, and she gave me permission to share them with you too.

One from mine ..

This is my workspace.  It's too cluttered and I'm struggling to stay focussed on my work, so it needs cleaning ... I think it will be my priority tomorrow morning.

The first photo is how my workspace looked when it was shiny and new.  The second photo is taken 6 months later .. I need to make it look shiny and new again!

There are a lot of nasty storms all over Queensland tonight.  None in this area, thankfully, but I am thinking of our friends down south who are in the paths of some of the storms.  There have been some terrible damaging storms lately, containing mini tornados.  Heart breaking for those affected.

Nite all.

Busy Kitchen

I began cooking yesterday at lunch time.

Yesterday, I made Bombay Honey Chicken, Sweet Potato Chips, Jacket Potatoes, Herbed Feta Cheese, and Chilli Feta Cheese.

This morning I made a big batch of Tropical Fruit Smoothie and then I was busy for the first half of today with the girls.

From 2pm I made Tomato Soup, Apple Pie Ice Cream, Chilli Paste (with help from Adoring Husband) and Veggie Soup.

The kitchen is now closed *wipes sweat from brow*.

Adoring Husband is on fluids for the next week or so.

This means fresh juices, fresh fruit smoothies, home made soups and delicious sugar-free ice creams.

The Apple Pie Ice Cream really does taste like apple pie!  (One that you don't have to chew)

Delicious!

The first half of my day was filled with time at the Seat of Knowledge, the usual Tuesday morning tea with the girls and then a lovely lunch at Goody's in Toogoom.

On Friday nights at the Club, the girls and I each contribute $2 and then buy a keno ticket, choosing two numbers each.  A few weeks ago, we won a nice sum of money and decided to use the winnings for a lunch together.

Our original choice of restaurant advised us today, that they are no longer open for lunch, because there aren't enough people around.  We were very disappointed and headed over the road to Goody's, the only other choice in Toogoom.

It was a lovely day and there was a pleasant breeze blowing in the outdoor eating area, so we chose our table and made ourselves comfortable.

The service was warm and friendly too.

The food was average.

Two of us had gluten free Pork Belly with fries and red capsicum chutney.  One of us had Twice Cooked Duck Salad.  One of us had Roast Pumpkin Salad.  One of us had Chicken and Mushroom Pie.

The chicken in the pie was not cooked properly, so it was returned and replaced with Twice Cooked Duck Salad, which apparently was very nice.

My Pork Belly was very dry.

I don't think I will go back in a hurry.

The company was fabulous and I really enjoyed myself.

I dub thee 'Red Velvet' (because she makes the BEST red velvet cupcakes!)

Adoring Husband played golf and then had a busy afternoon helping a friend and then doing a chore for the SES.

So it's been a pretty full day for both of us.

Oh and look what I found this morning!

Warm and fuzzy ... I'm certain that they recognise me!

Nite all.

Tested

I had my eyes tested today.

My distance vision hasn't changed, but my reading vision has deteriorated slightly, so I need new reading glasses.

I also ordered some new prescription sunglasses ... I'm so tired of having my current sunglasses repaired every month!

After we finished with OPSM, we did the tour of the organic and health shops in town and spent quite a lot of money on some more organic health foods that I didn't think were even available in Australia.

In tomorrow's post, I'll share some details of what we bought, why we bought it and some recipes in which to use them.

I would have shared the information tonight, but I am feeling pretty tired, so please accept a rain check :)

We arrived home just before lunch and then after lunch, Adoring Husband had to leave for a Drs appointment.

After he left, I had to pedal to the Post Office to mail a prize to the 104 group's monthly winner (a necklace with a camera charm) and after returning home, I began the long cheese making process - which reminds me - I must turn it before I head off to bed.

I took some scissors out to the garden and picked all the chillies off the plants to make some chilli paste.

After the Drs, AH had to go to the gym to begin a special exercise plan which will hopefully help ease his Parkinson's symptoms.

So I started to prepare dinner and he arrived home to advised me, that he is on a liquid diet for the next week or more.

He had pumpkin, cauliflower and garlic soup, while I enjoyed my Honey Bombay Chicken with home-made sweet potato chips and potato in it's jacket.

By the time I cleaned the kitchen after dinner and finally sat down, my body told me that I had done enough for the day.

I am now too pooped to pop.

Nite all.

Recovery

I think I'm almost back to normal after 2 weeks away from home.

A couple of days of 'down time' has rejuvenated me, along with some freshly squeezed juice and a big meal of veggies, as well as lots of water and some morning sunshine.

I spent a little time on the wedding photos today and really wanted to share this one that I took of the bride as her make up was being applied.

She looks so radiant and her eyes are sparkling and clear.  I really love this photo of her.

I've decided to spend some time clearing my desk so that I can work on the photos without feeling so cramped and cluttered.

I'm not sure how it happened but it's difficult to see the desk for the mess that I have spread all over it .. a before and after shot is in order I think!

I must also endeavour to keep it clear every day.

I forgot to mention that I won the 'Macro' flickr challenge with this photo ...

... bit of a surprise!

I'm having my eyes tested tomorrow, and my appointment is quite early, so I'd best go get some sleep.

Thinking about The Nikonian whose house was very close to a large bushfire raging in the area.  I hope the danger has passed and everybody is safe.

Nite all.