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Cheese Puffs

January 22, 2013 · 79 Comments

vegiesmugglers-cheesepuffs

Today the gorgeous Wendy from Vegie Smugglers is kindly sharing one of her most popular recipes with us.

Cheese Puffs are perfect for the lunchbox and of course, involve a bit of vegie-smuggling! If you have a thermomix, it easily converts too!

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Cheese Puffs

Okay, so this is what you need:

½ cup milk of your choice
1 organic egg
½ tsp smoked paprika
1 organic zucchini, grated
2 spring onions, finely chopped
2 cups grated cheese (cheddar is best)
1 cup self-raising flour or gluten-free flour

Okay, so this is how you do it:

Preheat the oven to 190C. Line a baking tray.

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Add the paprika, zucchini, spring onions and cheese.

Sift over the flour. Mix well (it becomes a thick paste). Dollop out large tablespoon size portions onto the tray. The mix makes about 16.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until deep golden brown and cooked through.

Store in the fridge in an airtight container for several days or you can freeze them.

Let me know how you go with this recipe and what the kids think!

 

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: Cheese puffs, lunchbox, vegie smugglers

Five Favourite Things – November

November 30, 2012 · 60 Comments

November was a month of spiritual growth and change for me.

How was it for you? 

Here are some things that floated my boat this month.

Rose-Hip Plus’s new rosehip oil. I love rose-hip oil – it’s mother nature’s best kept anti-wrinkle secret! I was lucky enough to receive some of this new oil to try out. What I am loving the most is that it is not only affordable, Australian and certified organic, but it’s cold pressed. That means the oil is extracted from the seeds of the rosehip plant, without using heat, solvent and chemicals. You only need 3 or 4 drops, massaged into your skin, twice daily to see benefits. It is amazing for healing scars, keeping your skin nice and soft and minimizing the wrinkles! Unlike other rosehip oil I have tried, this one has a very light, pleasant fragrance. Have a read here for some more information about rose-hip oil. You can get it online straight from the company or find a local stockist. Throw away those expensive, chemical-laden wrinkle serums and embrace the rose-hip!

Would you like to try it? You can win a bottle for yourself! Simply make sure you are a blog SUBSCRIBER (add email to the top right hand side), go and LIKE the Rose-Hip Plus Facebook page (go here) and leave me a COMMENT on this blog post telling me what BENEFIT of Rose-Hip Plus appeals to you the most. Please read the terms and conditions at the bottom of the post too.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNER WAS CLARE!

Soul awakening program. I have spent the last month on the phone with Megan from Your Intuitive Family every Wednesday night, learning more about myself! It has been a life-changing experience.  Starting with a soul-guidance blueprint, I learnt who I was at soul level and what I was here on this earth to do. Megan identifies any blockages and obstacles that are holding you back and how to eliminate those. I had several beautiful guided meditations where I met one of my angel guides (this blew me away) and my animal spirit guides. If you are feeling lost or confused, I really recommend thinking about doing this with Megan. I feel so much more confident in my abilities and the direction my life is taking. I know that I have a team of angels and guides helping me and I can call on them for assistance at any time. I am more at peace with myself and life. Megan is truly a special soul with an extraordinary talent (look at the cheeky grin too!) Check her out on Facebook here. Guess what the Natural New Age Dad is getting for Christmas!!

Vegie Smugglers new e-book. Wendy makes healthy eating ridiculously easy with her 6 week meal plans. Eat well with 38 recipes and shopping lists. Get the family involved on the Ipad or Kindle and pick your dinners together for a bit of fun. Great price too! I love a bit of vegie-smuggling, especially now my daughter is being fussy again at age 11. Go here to check it out.

Rawganic’s Hibiscus Raw Chocolate. What, you think I could go a month without chocolate appearing on these posts??? Raw chocolate is sooooo good! This one from Rawganic is no exception. I found it at my local health food store, but you can buy it online. Smooth and fudgy with a hint of tangy dried hibiscus flowers – very exotic! This is chocolate that you feel virtuous eating – raw, organic and vegan. Bring it on! Check them out on Facebook or on the web.

Chi Coconut Water. Scott from Chi Coconut Water contacted me this month and asked if I would like to try their coconut water. To be honest, I was less than enthusiastic! I have tried coconut water before and I wasn’t a fan – sure I could see the benefits and it’s okay in a smoothie, but it tasted pretty feral to me. Anyway, the Natural New Age Dad likes it, so I said, yeah, send me some and we will check it out. Well, it turns out I do like coconut water. But I like Chi Coconut Water! It’s really yummy and very different to that other brand (who shall remain nameless) that I tried. Chi is 100% Pure Coconut Water with no added sugar or preservatives. It’s high potassium and packed with electrolytes which keep your body rehydrated, especially if you have been exercising. It’s nature’s original sports drink. You can get in online or find a stockist.

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS WERE JADE, ADRIENNE AND KIRA!

Would you like to try it to? Scott is giving away 3 prizes of a case of 12, 330ml Chi Coconut water!  Simply make sure you are a blog SUBSCRIBER (add email to the top right hand side), go and LIKE the Chi Coconut Water-Australia Facebook page (go here) and COMMENT on this blog post – tell me, after doing WHAT activity you would most need to drink Chi Coconut Water (keep it clean people! 😉 ) Please read the terms and conditions at the bottom of the post too.

So, those are my five most favourite things this month, before we head into the silly season. What were your favourites this month? 

Please note: This post contains affiliate links.
Terms and conditions of giveaways: Only open to Australian residents. Closes on Friday the 7th of December at midnite. Winners will be chosen from those meeting the entry requirements using random.org. Please make a note on your calender to check your emails on this date to see if the winner was you! Winners are announced on this blog post and also emailed. Good luck!

Filed In: SELF / Tagged: coconut water, favourite things, healthy menu plans, raw chocolate, rosehip oil, soul awakening, soul blueprint, vegie smugglers

A ‘Vegie Smugglers’ Giveaway !!

July 12, 2012 · 53 Comments

A new school term is upon us – that means it’s back to making school lunches!!!

I have so enjoyed the break, but I have also started restocking the freezer in preparation. Click here to see my blog post on how I make healthy lunches.

My lovely friend, Wendy at Vegie Smugglers is also a dab hand at healthy lunches. Wendy’s healthy ‘vegie-smuggling’ cookbooks are quite famous and very popular with families around Australia!  She has been featured in Australian Healthy Living magazine and many other publications.

I was so thrilled to be one of the recipe testers on her second Vegie Smugglers cookbook.  I can tell you from first hand experience how yummy the recipes are! Just simple, family-friendly meals that are healthy and contain vegetables – isn’t that what we want to cook every night??

When Wendy asked me if I was interested in becoming her first affiliate blog for Vegie Smugglers, I did not hesitate! I am more than happy to spread the word about healthy eating made simple and tasty. So, I have a little box on the side of my page now linking you up with Vegie Smugglers. Very exciting! Thank you for your support – it means I can try to cover my blogging costs and keep doing what I love!

As well as two fabulous cookbooks, Wendy also has a couple of fabulous ebooks including Craft for Non-crafty Parents (great activities for the kids you can just print off as you need) and….

The Complete Vegie Smugglers Lunchbox Planner.

It contains 40 weeks of lunchbox plans! You will find within, heaps of great recipes and tips for healthy school lunches.

This giveaway has now closed. Thank you for entering!

Wendy has kindly offered to give away THREE copies of her luncbox planner book to THREE of you! You have to be in it to win it, so here’s how to enter!

* Be a LIKER of the Vegie Smugglers Facebook page. Go here.

* Be a FOLLOWER of my blog page. Go to the top right hand side of the page and add your email address.

* COMMENT on this post what healthy food you or your kids like in their lunchboxes.

This giveaway is open to Australian residents only. Three winners will be chosen using random.org and notified by email and also on the comment section of this blog post. This giveaway runs from now until Tuesday the 17th of July at midnight.

Good luck everyone and happy lunch-making!

Aussie Giveaway Linky
Hosted by Three Lil Princesses

Filed In: HOME / Tagged: cookbooks, giveaway, healthy lunchbox, healthy recipes, lunch, lunchbox, lunchbox planner, school lunch, vegie smugglers

The BEST home-made chicken ‘nugget’ recipes from bloggers!

July 6, 2012 · 14 Comments

As part of my campaign – Just say NO to nuggets! – I wanted to share with you some of my favourite ‘nugget’ recipes from some of my favourite blogs!

Vegie Smugglers – Baked Chicken Nuggets

Wendy from Vegie Smugglers makes these yummy nuggets by marinating them first and then tossing in the crumb mixture and baking in a hot oven. She serves them up with a pumpkin dip and spinach to make a wrap!

Help! Mom’s on a Health Kick – Oat and Basil Chicken Nuggets

Yani from Help! Mom’s on a Health Kick has some fantastic recipes to share. This chicken nugget recipe is oven baked and uses oats as a crumb with loads of flavour from basil and garlic.

Queen of Quinoa – Gluten-free Popcorn Fried Chicken

Alyssa from Queen of Quinoa makes a home-made version of ‘popcorn’ chicken. This oven-baked recipe uses cornflakes and coconut as a crumb and paprika and chilli for flavour.

Quirky Cooking – Healthy Fried Chicken Strips

Jo from Quirky Cooking is well-known for her super-healthy recipes! This healthy southern fried chicken recipe is dairy free and gluten-free!

Health Food Lover – Buckwheat Crusted Cajun Style Chicken

I couldn’t resist adding this one in from Michelle at Health Food Lover. It’s grown up chicken nuggets for mums! Crusted in buckwheat flour and using spicy cajun flavours, this is a great recipe for when you feel like something a little more exotic!

I hope you enjoy these recipes. Thank you to all the wonderful foodie bloggers for sharing their amazing recipes with us!

Remember – Just say NO to nuggets!

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: chicken, chicken nuggets, just say NO to nuggets, kid's food, kid's meals, vegie smugglers

Your guide to a happy, healthy Easter

March 29, 2012 · 17 Comments

Your guide to a happy, healthy Easter

Your guide to a happy, healthy Easter

Easter is just around the corner !!

Special occasions seem to go hand in hand with overindulgence, don’t they? Chocolate, hot cross buns, chocolate, huge family dinners and more chocolate!

I have the best ideas from around the web to make your Easter a whole lot healthier. Enjoy.

 

 

Hot cross buns, hot cross buns…….  Make your own hot cross buns this Easter and you avoid loads of sugar and additives. It’s really not that hard! Perfect for Easter Sunday brekky with some organic butter. Try these ‘Hot, Happy Buns’ from the clever Wendy at Vegie Smugglers.

You might also like this version from the amazing Teresa Cutter if you want something that is wheat free, gluten-free and paleo friendly!

Another cute idea for breakfast are these ‘chick eggs’ that I found on Pinterest. You can see how to make them here.

 

I know, I know, you are thinking “When is she getting to the chocolate?”

Okay, chocolate time is here. Yes, I realize that Facebook is going viral with news that chocolate is good for you and you can lose weight eating chocolate. I am pretty sure they mean two squares of good quality dark chocolate per day, not a bucket of Smarties! Personally, I would rather quality over quantity when it comes to chocolate. Choose the best quality, organic chocolate you can find, eat a small amount and enjoy it, guilt free!

What a cheeky organic chocolate bunny from Organic Times.

 

This one from moo free might interest you too. It’s vegan and dairy free.

Now if you want to get really fancy, you can have a go at making your own chocolate, from scratch (and I’m not talking about melting some cooking chocolate into moulds here!).

You can get a raw chocolate kit from Loving Earth. Very cool.

You can try Quirky Cooking’s thermomix recipe for Almost Raw Chocolate.

Now, Easter doesn’t have to be all about loading the kids up with chocolate. You can put non-edible things in the Easter baskets too! For a bit of fun, you can print off these cute Easter activities.

If you have any other ideas for making Easter healthy, please leave a comment below! It would be lovely to get some more thoughts!

 

Whatever you do for Easter, have a lovely time with your family. Stay safe, happy and healthy!

 

Filed In: FOOD / Tagged: chick eggs, chocolate, chocolate egg, craft, easter, easter eggs, hot cross buns, loving earth, moo free, organic times, quirky cooking, sarah wilson, sweet william, teresa cutter, vegetarian, vegie smugglers

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