Watercress, Spinach & Pea Soup

I don’t usually have a diatribe before the recipe, but feel this is relevant today as it was when this recipe came into being in March 2014 … (written in April 2014) Twenty two days ago I had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy – my uterus, ovaries and cervix were all removed with key hole surgery. After a four hour operation and three days in hospital, I am on a very steady and beautiful recovery and recuperation. Over the last four weeks, my food has been as much a part of the healing as the preparation, operation and rest. I now truly see … Continue reading Watercress, Spinach & Pea Soup

Gluten Free Orange & Almond Cake

In honour of my birthday today, I felt to share the most light and lovely gluten free orange & almond cake that was dreamt up by my dear friend Michelle. She is a baker extraordinaire and her gluten and dairy free recipes are simple, easy and scrumptious. I’ve slightly tweaked it by adding coconut, but you can leave that out if you want to 🙂 Ingredients: 3 eggs Zest and juice of two oranges 160 grams dairy free margarine 1/3 cup coconut sugar 250 grams almond meal 2 teaspoons vanilla powder 2/3 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 cup shredded coconut 100g flaked … Continue reading Gluten Free Orange & Almond Cake

Chocolate Flan

Classic Sarah recipe that was almost all eaten before I managed to snap a quick picture!!! These are vegan, raw and scrumptious! I made individual sized mini-flans based on the Key Lime Pie recipe and adapted it for some chocolate lover friends for dessert for a wonderful dinner party last weekend. The base is the same as the Key Lime Pie … but I tweaked it for this recipe and this is enough for four small, 10cm diameter flan dishes: 1/2 cup macadamia nuts 1/2 cup almonds 1/2 cup dessicated coconut 1/2 cup coconut butter 1/2 cup coconut oil I … Continue reading Chocolate Flan

Lime & Coconut Dairy Free ‘Cheesecake’

I don’t have a photo but felt to share this with you because Dante Holmes has asked about it on the Facebook page … This recipe is for a small dish I have that is 20cmx20cmx6cm – if you need it for a bigger dish, double or triple the amounts … 2 cups of blended nuts – I use almond and macadamia but you can use whatever you want 2 tablespoons of coconut oil 2 tablespoons of coconut manna (or coconut butter) Melt the oil and manna then mix with the blended nuts. Press this mixture into the bottom of … Continue reading Lime & Coconut Dairy Free ‘Cheesecake’

Sarah’s Asian Chicken & Seaweed Soup

Hello everyone! I just found this in some notes … a creation from a while ago that is going on the menu for sure! Pop some skinless chicken thighs (with the bone) into a deep saucepan and barely cover with water. Simmer with sesame oil, star anise, cinnamon bark, shallots, lemongrass, peppercorns. chilli and garlic … when the chicken is almost falling from the bone … strain the liquid and save it. Remove the chicken bones then return the liquid to the pot, discarding the cinnamon, star anise, lemongrass, peppercorns etc. to the pot with the chicken minus the bones … Continue reading Sarah’s Asian Chicken & Seaweed Soup

Is it really a treat?

My previous food experiences were usually to override my body’s resistance by shoving more of what was harming me into my mouth so I couldn’t feel. Ouch. You may have different experiences and I would love to hear them. We are all so different and yet so alike! I used to totally justify my overeating because it tasted so good, or it was Christmas, or it was such-and-such birthday dinner or whatever it was, I made excuses to eat food that I absolutely knew harmed my body. Not to mention the drinking binges that meant that the following day I … Continue reading Is it really a treat?

Divine Herb Soup

My intention was to make a batch of the Herby Fish Chowder – because it is so nourishing. After all, we eat to nourish ourselves right? But there is a twist in the tale … I doubled the herb content and added fresh spinach instead of fish … here’s how the inspired Divine Herb Soup evolved to be the smooth, multi-layered, simply loving harmony of scent, taste, picture perfect green-ness I have ever had. Wash and dry 1 cup each of fresh: Sweet basil Tarragon Flat leaf parsley Dill Place in a blender with two garlic cloves and a small … Continue reading Divine Herb Soup

Fennel, Coconut & Mint Salad

The sun has been shining in London and we had a barbecue to celebrate! Here is my contribution … In a large bowl toss together finely sliced fennel, baby gem or cos lettuce leaves with lots of shredded coconut and fresh mint leaves. The dressing is lemon juice, olive oil, pepper and vanilla powder. Simple recipe with so much flavour! Continue reading Fennel, Coconut & Mint Salad

Coconut & Almond Truffles

I had a lovely lunch last weekend with Alex and we were discussing how much sugar impacts on how much we eat. We’ve both had a similar experience – by reducing sugar we have reduced the craving for more food. It’s like sugar runs another program in my brain that overrides my ‘satisfied’ belly. We have both found that by cutting down on sugar of any kind, the feeling of ‘enough’ could truly be felt and over-eating is no longer a driving force at meal time. Inspired by this conversation, I’ve created a ‘sweet treat’ that is lovely to offer … Continue reading Coconut & Almond Truffles

Simple Vegetable Supper

This week was really busy at work. I have started to integrate into a new department to take over from a lady who will be going on maternity leave in three months. So in addition to my usual work, I am picking up more tasks and spent Friday focussed and busy. I love being busy so it wasn’t exhausting or stressful. When I got home at 7.30pm, I was hungry and tired, so I wanted to have something super nutritious and light that would send me to sleep in harmony. In a large fry pan I melted some coconut oil. … Continue reading Simple Vegetable Supper