Grain Free Chocolate Cake

This cake is lovely and moist and will keep fresh for 2-3 days. I have been playing around with using natural sweeteners and find that this recipe, using apple sauce and honey, good.

Chocolate Cake

1 cup almond meal
I cup coconut
4 eggs
1/2 cup butter
2 tb honey
1/2 cup apple puree/sauce
1/2 cup cocoa
1 ts baking powder

Chocolate Nut Cups

These were a big hit and  way to help the kids learn about healthy seeds and nuts. I cut up some home made trail mix and put it in a mini muffin paper cup along with a spoonful of peanut butter and topped with melted chocolate. They all loved them.
We had them with some of Kylies lemon and lime home made cordial. It was made from left over fruit from her orchard. Lovely.

Tried the new bacon. At $30 a kilo it is not something we can eat lots of but it cooks beautifully and smells unlike any other bacon we've tried. No, corn or wheat or potato, lovely.
We have decided to eat less meat but by grass fed from Boyup Brook. Looking forward to getting started.

Em

Hearty Stew

Today I tried a new recipe from Nourished Kitchen. It is a very basic stew that simmers in beef broth and doesn't need any wine or tomato to flavour. It is very light and leaves you feeling like you have eaten well but not about to fall asleep.

Hearty Stew

Celery
Carrot
Onion
Beef cubed
Sweet Potato
French Beans
Herbs
Beef Broth

Nice over mashed potato for the kids.

Just bought some peanut butter chocolate from a New Zealand company and making a note not to buy it too often as there is not much left!

Whittakers Chocolate

Lemon Myrtle Soap

We bought some Lemon Myrtle and Lavender soap from Levander Grove today.  They have some handmade gloves I'm going to buy for my sisters knitted from Alpaca Fleece. Such  a beautiful set up with Olive Grove and Alpacas. Very inspiring. I'd love some animal pens for some goats or lambs.....
The snacks went ..ok.  
Everyone was still hungry. We bought a large box of apples which helped for the drive home.
Started the ribbing on Georges jumper. Looks good. Shale Grey.
Try to buy local. Have found a local farm we can go to for local winter vegetables.
Tomorrow we are off to a small farm where they are producing pink garlic.
Lovely day

Bye
x

Winter List

I was just looking at last winters list and I'm feeling inspired......
Ideas for this winter

Georges jumper
Tomato pickle
Help Daisy with her blanket
Focus on herb beds
Cut and dry lavender
Finish Liberty Quilt
Make lunch sacks
Find more healthy recipes
Find some special picnic spots

Now to find the time.....

School Holiday Cooking

I really want to test lots of recipes over the holidays so next term I won't be stumped with what to cook. The plan is that we will have a list of go to meals and snacks to inspire the whole family!
I'm also on the look for leftovers that will transfer well to the lunchbox......

Zucchini Fritters
Corned  beef  fritters
New vegetable Frittata
Fishcakes
Tomato Pickle
Fish pie
Almond milk smoothies
Zucchini puttanesca
Roast chicken

Picnic Food

We are going on a picnic tomorrow to the Alpaca Farm. What shall we eat.......

Bacon and egg muffins
Peanut butter and chocolate truffles
Mandarins
Baby carrots

Tonight I'm making some bars which I'm wrapping in waxed paper to make them look store bought!
Excited about making the peanut butter truffles, rolling them with the melon baller and then putting them in their pretty mini patty pans.

Hoping for a sunny day
x