I can see this may cause me to shed some pounds...

Yum!!

 This was my breakfast this morning. My Sprouted Buckwheat Granola didn't take as long as I thought in the dehydrator. This is the first time I've made it up here in the tropics, so I think the dry, (very) warm winter we are having helped. I found that the mix only needed 12 hours of dehydrating. \o/ 

Let me tell you that it was a *delicious* late breakfast after my 8am Home Ec class. I can't wait to indulge again tomorrow. 

Last night I made Chicken Noodle soup with - 

fresh chicken stock, leftover organic chicken from our roast the other day, scallions, garlic, grated carrots and zucchini, freshly chopped coriander leaves, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sesame oil, and 125g egg noodles.

Gently saute the scallions (spring onions), garlic, zucchini and carrot in 2 teaspoons olive oil for about 10 minutes...you want them to really soften and combine flavours. 

Pour in the stock (2-3 litres), add the chicken, soy sauce and sesame oil. Add the egg noodles. Bring to the boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Scatter in the chopped coriander leaves (cilantro) and serve!

My cold has almost gone as quickly as it arrived - thanks to this soup. :-)

~~~~~

I am going to admit to you that I am *very* tired. Physically, that is.

This is something I had completely forgotten, but throwing oneself into preparing fresh wholesome foods for every meal takes time, and a lot of that time is spent on your feet. I am considering wearing a pedometer to see how many miles I am walking around the kitchen each day. I think I've added an extra exercise session without realising it. Of course, that's good, just tiring.

Anyhow, I am really enjoying life back in the kitchen so I can handle the tiredness. The key is to be sensible. Today for lunch I made simple sandwiches with fruit and leftover Berry Upside Down cake for the family.   

We live on the school grounds (boarding school) so my husband and Blossom come home each day for lunch. My 17yo son works just 2 blocks from our house so he walks home for lunch as well. 

Because everyone has a sweet tooth in our family I need to keep on track with something nice, but healthy, for desserts or afternoon tea. Pineapple Fruit Cake is an old favourite so I baked one those this afternoon...

...then I made the filling for an old fashioned Rustic Meat Pie for dinner,

before getting to work on the pastry. I am the world's worst pastry maker - believe me! However, about 5 years ago I came across this savoury pastry recipe in one of Nigella Lawson's books and it is wonderful! So easy!  

Toss 250g plain (half wholemeal and half white) flour into the bowl of a food processor, add 125g organic butter and whizz till it resembles breadcrumbs. Slowly pour in 60 mls iced water until it starts to come together. Empty onto a lightly floured surface, knead gently and divide into two pieces. Roll them out flat...

Place the cooled meat pie filling onto the centre of one piece of rolled pastry. Lay the other piece of pastry over the top and curl up the edges to seal. Prick the top a few times with a fork, glaze with some beaten egg, and bake in a hot oven (200C) for about 20-25 minutes. 

Serve with steamed veggies. We had fresh snow peas, beans, and corn.

There is still enough left for one lucky family member tomorrow. The rest of us can share the remainder of the Chicken Noodle soup for lunch. I'll just need to bake some bread.

~~~~~

If you'd like to make some almond milk with me, start off by soaking 2 cups of almonds in filtered water overnight. I'll show you the next steps tomorrow. 

Now the end of the day is near so I'm going to enjoy some Pineapple Fruit cake...

...and read my copy of Patchwork & Stitching magazine! There is even an article about me in there this month...

...but the photo is from last year when my hair was long. I like it. Think I'll grow it again...

Healthy hugs

Jenny

xx