Choc, Nut & Berry Slice

This doesn't take any expertise in the kitchen at all!  It's a basic chop, mix, bake, eat.  Packed full of goodies it's a perfect snack to take with you to work and eat instead of a chocolate bar when the 3.00pm snack attack creeps up.  

Apricot-errific teacake!

There's been a few soups lately so I thought it was time to add some recipes that were a little more on the sweet side.  This teacake is gluten free, dairy free and the only sugar comes from the natural sweetness of agave syrup, the dried apricots and the orange juice.  But as always, deserts are a sometimes food - not an always food!  Road tested on my husband, mum and dad  who all gave it several thumbs up.  So enjoy the indulgence!  

STAB Salad

Smoked Trout and Bean Salad! This salad has become a regular in our house.  It's fresh, crunchy, full of healthy ingredients and a zingy dressing.  You can replace the smoked trout with smoke salmon but make sure it's the best quality you can afford. We are lucky to have an incredible deli (The Gourmet on Main in Blackwood) that stocks delicious smoked trout.  Take this recipe as a base and you can add corn, anchovies, use tuna instead of trout, add some chilli to spice it up.  I'm just providing the base - but it's up to you to get creative!  

What do I do with 8kg of pumpkin?

Yesterday we brought some pumpkin from a stall on the side of the road, $1 a kilo is a pretty good bargain - and well, we ended up with 8kg of pumpkin.  What to do with 8kg of pumpkin?  Easy, two very different soups and some kick ass pumpkin seeds!  

Roasted Pumpkin and Vegetable Soup

It's Winter, it's cold, it's wet - what better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than make some soup!  This is EASY, full of vegetables, dairy free and oh so tasty!  

Wow what have I done! I've signed up for the Melbourne Marathon!

Melbourne Marathon Festival.  I usually associate the word 'festival' with fun, eating bad food, laughing, smiling and all around enjoyment, but I don't think this is going to be that kind of festival!  I'm not sure where to start, 42.198km is a long way - but there are many more kilometres to run before October 14 and lots of training sessions.  Preparing mentally is going to be just as important, training my mind that I can do it, can keep going and can finish.