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Nicole

Sun-Dried Tomato Dip

I love when the smell of homemade potato wedges fills my house. Especially with rosemary sprinkled on top. Sometimes I use normal potatoes other days I use sweet potatoes. I love both.

The only problem is that tomato sauces or dips from the shops often have nasties in them such as additives, colours and so forth. Homemade is generally a better choice because you are in control of what goes into your food. It also gives you freedom. Freedom to combine different flavours you might never have tried before. The freedom to add health foods to your food.

In this tomato dip I combined fresh tomatoes and sun-dried tomatoes. I made my own sun-dried tomatoes in my dehydrator but you could also buy them if you don't have that option available to you.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup re-hydrated sun-dried tomatoes
• 3/4 cup fresh chopped tomatoes
• 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
• 1 clove garlic
• 1-2 tsp fresh basil leaves
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

1. To re-hydrate the sun-dried tomatoes cover them with water while you add your other ingredients in your food processor.
2. Add all ingredients apart from the tomatoes into your food processor and pulse together.
3. Discard the water and add the sun-dried tomatoes.
4. Add the fresh tomatoes.
5. Process until it results into a rough dip.
6. If you prefer you can add a little water in order to make a smoothie consistency.
7. Serve with some freshly made wedges out of the oven.
8. Enjoy!

Please share this recipe with your friends and family and let me know how you liked it in the comments below.

 P.S. For the next three days you can purchase my cookbook by paying what you can afford. I have set a minimum price of $3 to cover my costs. Click on store in the header or on the side menu. My hope is to reach as many people as possible and inspire others. Your self respect and self love is reflected in the choices you make. Enjoy!

 

Easy Indian Pumpkin Recipe

I love Indian food. How the spices and love that goes into the food preparation seem to nourish the body on many levels. I find the food balancing and grounding. My favourite spice is cumin, one of the many stars in this easy recipe. This Indian pumpkin is one of the recipes you want to bookmark for the days where you don't have the time to prepare a lengthy meal but still want to nourish your body.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups of pumpkin
• 2 tbsp of coconut oil
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp turmeric
• salt and pepper to taste
• fresh coriander to garnish (optional)

1. Chop the pumpkin into 1cm thick pieces.
2. Melt the coconut oil in a big pan.
3. Add the spices and stir so that the aroma can unfold.
4. Add the pumpkin and stir.
5. Cover and cook until the pumpkin is tender.
6. Serve with fresh coriander and raw sauerkraut if you like.

Please comment below with any challenges you encounter in relation to healthy eating so that I can create posts to support you in becoming the best you can be.

If you are interested in my health coaching program please send me a message and I will get in touch with you.

Baked Apple Quinoa with Protein Crumble

The other morning at my house the smell of cinnamon and apple was filling my house. Coming from a European background these smells take me back into the Christmas period when the weather is cold outside. Nowadays it is a little different living here in Western Australia where we often get to enjoy a really hot Christmas celebration. And by hot I mean really hot. Sometimes even above 40 degrees Celsius.

Lately I have become very hooked on quinoa and it has turned into my new beauty food. For a reason. Quinoa contains all essential amino acids. Amino acids are essential to build muscle and a toned body. It is known to be one of the most nutritious complex carbs.

Here is the recipe for the baked apple quinoa with protein crumble.


Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup water
• 1/4 cup uncooked white quinoa
• 2 tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla 
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon (or more if you love it as much as I do)
• 1 chopped apple
• 2 tbsp seeds or your choice of potein powder
• 1 tbsp rapadura sugar
• 3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1. Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius.
2.  In a casserole dish combine the water, white quinoa, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon.
3. Stir to mix well.
4. Add the chopped apple.
5. Cover the dish and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
6. While the quinoa is baking combine the seeds/protein powder, sugar, hazelnuts, coconut oil and cinnamon to form a crumble like mixture.
7. After the 30 minutes remove the casserole dish from the oven.
8. Sprinkle the crumble mixture on top.
9. Return the casserole dish and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
10. Serve and enjoy.

 Please let me know how you enjoy this recipe and if you would like me to share more recipes like this one.
 

Also please let me know if you are looking for healthier versions of a dish or if you are looking for recipes to incorporate more of a certain ingredient.

The importance of friendships and relationships

I just came back home from a friend's place who I had coffee with. While we were chatting and catching up on what had been going on in our lives she got a phone call. She found out her cousin had just hung himself.

It got me thinking when I got home. She mentioned she had been thinking of calling him but didn't get around to it. As a sales rep she had been flat out trying to make ends meet and provide for her family.

I think most of all get caught up in this trap. Our lives get so busy. Our to do lists are never ending. There is always another goal or target to achieve.  I know I fall into this category.

Lately I have watched a few documentaries on community living on how people help each other to create a better life. Where people only take what they really need and share the remainder. Even about the woman in Germany that lives without money. What is really important in your life? How do you want to live your life?

Maybe perhaps this concept of community living is a way forward where we can all work together to create better lives and lift each other up. I read this beautiful share on Facebook the other day. If we had to grow all our own food we wouldn't waste it. If we had to make our own furniture we wouldn't just exchange it because our colour scheme had changed. We live in a world of abundance yet we act as if we lived in a world of lack.

How to boost your Happiness

How often do we wake up thinking "oh I don't want to go to work" or "I don't feel like doing this". It is sad in a way because we are literally wishing our life away.

I know I often fall into this category even though I might look happy on the outside. But we are actually giving our power away. Let me explain.

Every single day we have a choice. I repeat every single day we have a choice. We can be in charge if we choose to.

Take a blank sheet of paper and draw a line in the middle. On the top of the left hand side write "have to" and on the right hand side write "want to". Now set the timer to 5 minutes and list as many thing as you can in both columns. Just keep writing. Make this commitment to complete this exercise because you desire more happiness in your life.

Now when you look at the "have to" items you wrote down think about them and see if you can turn them into want to. As an example: I have to go to work. Well do you really have to go to work? Not really you could stay at home. But the consequence would be that you wouldn't be able to do call those cool things in your life. I love travelling and learning new things. Without my job I wouldn't have been able to do a lot of those things.

Another example is: I have to clean the house. You don't really have to clean the house. But if you decide not to you will live in a different environment. If you keep your house tidy it will be much more harmonious and enjoyable.

Go through your "have to" items and see if you can turn them around. Life is about perception. Our perceptions change our experiences in life and lead to more happiness.

Another way is to think about all the redundancies that are currently happening in a lot of places around the world. Someone somewhere would love to have your job but you are the lucky one.

I heard this wonderful quote today:

If you want for nothing you will have everything.

Now I am not saying that you shouldn't have goals or aim to become financially independent but material things on their own will not make you happy. Happiness comes from inside. If happiness is made dependent on material things then what will you do once you have that house? It will feel great for a little while but then you will need to find your next item of desire to keep you happy. You might never even reach full happiness.

Life is about being in the moment. Seeing the perfect in imperfection and your perception of your experiences.

I am interested to hear what has helped you boost your happiness? Please comment below.

Refried Beans - High Carb Recipe

Who doesn't love Mexican food? Hot spices, beans, avocado, tomatoes. I find this type of food very comforting and satisfying not only to my taste but to give me energy so I avoid the afternoon slump.

This refried beans recipe can also easily be changed by topping it with your favourite vegetables or even fresh herbs that you love. Parsley or even fresh coriander perhaps?


Here is the recipe for the Thermomix

• 2 cans of kidney beans (drained)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• dash of chili powder OR dash of cayenne pepper
• Tamari to taste (I used 2 tbsp)
• 2 tbsp high quality olive oil
• 1 measuring cup of water

1. Chop garlic on speed 7 for 4 seconds.
2. Add oil and water. 
3. Saute for 1 minute on 100 degrees speed 1.
4. Add all other ingredients into the Thermomix bowl.
5. Blend on speed 6 for 20 seconds.
6. Cook for 7 minutes on 100 degrees speed 3.
7. Serve warm and enjoy.