Announcing the Winners of the Mother's Day Giveaway!

It's Mother's Day, here in Australia, so Happy Mother's Day to all the mums! What special treats do you have planned for your mums today? Yesterday I shared lots of idea on my Facebook page for special treats you can make - if you need some inspiration, check them out here!

Thanks to all of you who entered my Mother's Day Giveaway and shared stories of your mothers, grandmothers and other inspiring women in your lives - they were so special.

I decided to post the winners names in a separate blog post for Mother's Day, so that I could also share their stories, with a photo of the women who they wrote about where possible. Congratulations to the winners - your prizes will be with you soon! Thanks so much for sharing, I loved reading your stories.

[Note: Winners were drawn randomly via Random.org on Wednesday 8th of May. I'm still waiting to hear back from Ellen H, and Sue Rutter. If that is you, please contact me asap so I can send you your prize!]


Gemma & Jess won a copy each of Jude Blereau's cookbook, 'Wholefood Baking'...

Gemma & her mum

"My Mum is everything to me - friend, confidant, teacher, support, advisor, etc. She is the reason I'm the woman and mum I am today, having taught me to trust myself and know that I can be anything I want to be. And she has always been there for me - from those hideous teenage years (sorry mum!) to when I went into premature labour with my daughter at 32 weeks. She is my rock. I never truly appreciate all she did for me until I became a mum myself.our bond is now so much deeper." - Gemma

Jess as a baby, with her mum, Helen

"My Mum is my inspiration. She homeschooled me and my brother and sister. Now that I have three children of my own I am in awe! There is no way I could do what she did. She basically devoted her life to us, all day every day for our formative years. Amazing! Love you mum xxx"  - Jess

Deb & Andrea won a copy each of Jenny Tschiesche's book, 'Not Just Sandwiches'...

"My children inspire me. 5 out of 6 of them are on a gluten free diet due to coeliac and they NEVER complain about missing out when we are out or at parties. They simply accept it will make them sick and more on. They are amazing and I love them to bits."  - Deb

"I admire my Mum for the way she continually blesses others in our family, her work and the community."      

- Andrea

Nancy won the Vegie Smugglers' E-book Bundle...

Nancy with her best friend, Karmen, at the birth of Karmen's baby

"My best friend [inspires me]. She always brings out the best in me and knows exactly if and when I need a pick-me-up hug and chat or a well deserved talking to :) She has recently become a mother and I am just learning so much from her devotion and strength to her new role, she inspires me daily."  - Nancy


Karen won the Deluxe BaoBag...

Karen & her daughters

"I would have to say my daughters are my blessings and my inspiration. It is for them, that I research, follow blogs and facebook pages, cut out nasties, cook from scratch and have a holistic approach to health. I wish the internet and all this knowledge had been around when my boys were little, but they also now benefit.
Many thanks to all the wonderful women that share their knowledge online, and for the wonderful generous donors of these gift packs."  - Karen

Penny won the Biome Eco Stores Lunchbox Kit...

Penny with her mum, at a fundraising event for the Cancer Council that Penny hosts each year

"Teacher, counsellor, life coach and best friend, my mum is the most inspirational woman in my life. She always puts others before herself, is kind, generous,thoughtful and caring. She has been there every step of my life, dropping everything to be by my side when I was diagnosed with cancer at 28. This journey has brought us even closer together and although we may be separated by distance, not a day goes by that we don't share even life's smallest joys knowing each day is a gift to be cherished."  - Penny

Kaity, Amanda, Nikki, Ellen, Penny, Sarah, Sarah, Tahlia, Shona & Annie each won a Living Synergy Nut Milk Bag...

Kaity & her mum

"My MUM is a cancer surviver and has quit smoking after 40 years of smoking. She survived a head on collision at 100km/h she owned a pub and worked 18hrs a day, she taught me repect and compassion, she taught me if I want something to work hard and earn it. My mum is my hero she definately has super powers andbif I am 1/2 the woman she is I will be a happy mummy :) xo"  

- Kaity

Amanda's Grandmother with Amanda's two oldest girls

"My grandmother, Pheobe Leeder, is an inspiration to me. She raised 10 children whilst my Grandfather was on a disability pension, probably not much back then. She was very creative with her cooking, managing to make the most of simple cheap ingredients. No-one ever went hungry. Her hospitality was warm, children's friends often sitting at the table, her sisters regularly visited for afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon. She entertained simply, with basic but tasty cakes and slices.

"She sewed on a treadle machine. She would make 'a silk purse out of a sow's ear', clothing her children, and later grandchildren with re-fashioned garments made from old men's trousers and other such fabric.

"I learned lots from my Ma during the 5 years of high school that I lived with her and Pa. I learned from her to see the good in others and speak positively, to value family and friends, to serve others and to allow others to serve me, to be content with what I have."  - Amanda

Nikki & her mum

"My mum will always be the most inspiring woman in my life, no question. She raised 5 of us on a very small budget while my equally inspiring dad worked 6 days every wk. She always has and still does, drop everything if i call with the smallest request for her. Her life revolved around us kids and keeping us happy and active, heading off every Saturday and Sunday while we were growing up to many different sporting venues. 

I have always appreciated her but becoming a mum made me realise just how much she gave up for us. She also loves helping and has volunteered for over 20 years to the different organisations she works for. When her regular Meals on Wheels clients celebrate their birthdays, she bakes them a birthday cake and drives around to see them and celebrate with them if they have no family around. I have been living on the opposite side of the country to her for the last 5 years and miss her lots....and we are all counting down until her and my dad arrive next month!!!"  

- Nikki

"My mother was a very stoic woman who never showed us any emotion, but was a marvellous cook and dressmaker. I was so lucky when at 18 I met a lovely warmhearted woman who became my "second mum"- she showed me that being a Mum could be warm and loving. She always made me feel welcome and very special. She was also a good country cook. It has been the combination of these two women who have largely shaped me. My "second Mum" for showing me it was okay to show love and warmth to those around me, and my "real" Mum for passing on her wonderful skills in the kitchen and at the sewing machine." - Ellen

Penny & her neice

"My niece is my inspiration! Simply because she is so full of life, always up for a challenge, like to be competitive, likes to succeed, and so loving!"  - Penny

Sarah & her mum

"My mother has to be my upmost inspiration. She is a selfless women who always sheds a positive light to everything. She raised my brother and I with such love and compassion and showed us that there is always good to be found everywhere. She shares my love of food and health and loves to try out new recipes and delights I hand over to her. Shes extremely supportive and the love of my kids lives! Shes a hoot always up for a light hearted laugh and also there for the heavy times.. What would I do without my mumma?? Shes magic."  - Sarah MB

Sarah & her Grandma a few years ago

"My Grandma continues to inspire me even though she is no longer here. She was amazing, always doing something for the community whether it be helping Legacy, Red Cross, the Netball Association or anything else. She cooked amazing food and could come up with anything from what seemed like nothing. The thing I remember most was that she always provided the best hospitality in her home. She would always have a cuppa and something freshly baked for anyone who visited and loved cooking for everyone. She is my inspiration because she always put others before herself and would do anything for her family. I hope I can be even half as wonderful as her!"  - Sarah M

"My Mum - at 62 she was diagnosed with Diabetes last December and since then has turned her life around to a more healthier lifestyle. She bought a thermomix and has regained her passion for cooking, losing weight in the process. Watching her change her ways inspired me to do so too. Six months ago I would never have thought I would be making so many foods from scratch, ordering bulk through a co-op, ordering organic produce delivered to our door and getting so much satisfaction from it. I look forward to passing on the knowledge and health to my family." 

 - Tahlia

Shona's family - her mum is wearing the blue & white top, & Shona is holding the baby.

"My mum is my inspiration! Becoming a mother myself has given me a whole new respect for how my mum managed to raise four kids while helping dad out on the dairy farm. Raising three small kids myself I don't think I could do it without her support and encouragement. Especially when she had to deliver my third child at home! I love you mum :)"  - Shona

"My mum has already inspired me - having 3 kids under 3 and doing it tough on her own when my dad left us, she then found the most precious man as my step dad who taught me what a real man is. My mum has never had any books skills but would do any job to help bring money in to raise us. She is the strongest woman I know and so glad she is a still here to inspire my kids."  

- Annie

Mel won two Pana Chocolate "I Love You Mum" gift boxes - one for her and one for her daughter...

"One of the most inspirational people in my life would have to be my daughter. We are so proud of her and all that she has accomplished. Although being bullied through her last yrs of high school and than spiraling into depression, she has come out on the other side a very strong and determined young women."  - Mel

Sue won the Naughty Naturopath Mum’s "Mother’s Day Pack"...

"My Mum is the most intelligent woman I know. She is not maternal and lost my father when my brother and I were very young. She sold the farm and brought a car, a caravan full of furniture, a cat, a dog and us 2 screaming kids across the Nullarbor Plain eventually to Queensland.

"When she arrived she rented a house and did not have enough money to put down a deposit on a fridge.

"We didn't have much, but then again we had everything. We had a happy childhood and went to school. I had to give up my horse at an Auction with the Auctioneer using my crying on the horse to up the bids. Mum still took us to riding lessons.

"Until the day that she had enough to buy an Agistment Property and we had horses again. We still have that property as the family home.

"Mum had me at 40 years old and has now retired. She has moved into an over 50's Resort and is loving life to the maximum.

"My brother has moved into the family home and is loving it there and with the 'rules' she taught me, which I based what I did on and went a bit further. I now have my own property and this meant that my Husband and I were able to buy a 100 acre farm and I have been loving life here and it is all because of my Mum.

"Thank you Mum.

"So yes we still live in poverty. LOL, but I am the richest person I know."

- Sue Rutter 

(We're still looking for Sue to let her know she's won, so if you know her, tell her to get in touch!)

Kylie won the 4MyEarth Food Covers...

Kylie's nan with Kylie's eldest daughter

"I'm so proud of my nan. During WW2 she was only a teenager, but she ran between military posts during air raids in her native Manchester, relaying coordinates of bombers spotted on the skyline.
She dodged bombs, clambered over wreckage and saw people obliterated by the enemy.
But she didn't say a word about her contribution until she was well into her eighties - we always knew she was strong and determined, but we never knew how much.
She deserves a medal as much as any person who went to the front.
Her quiet strength and bravery inspire me to meet any challenge with the same attitude as nan."

- Kylie

You can read more of Kylie's nan's story in this blog that Kylie wrote called 'The Invisible War Heroes' - it's an amazing story and will bring tears to your eyes.


Cate won the Love Moon Anion Sanitary Pads from Overcoming Overwhelm...

Cate's Nana (who turns 97 this year!), mum, and her with her three daughters

"My Mum is inspiring. I have never her seen anything go to waste in her kitchen. She uses everything - nothing goes in the bin until it has been exhausted, from making stock to compost, everything has a purpose done to the very end."  - Cate


Danielle won the MiEssence Vitality Challenge Kit...

Danielle with her mum

"I have some pretty amazing women in my life whom I admire, love and have endless gratitude for. My beautiful Mum who has given birth to 5 girls and who has dealt with so much in one life time and remains truthful and generous of spirit... My mother- in -law Wendy who too has endured so much in her life time including caring full time for her late son who developed a severe disability at age 11 and who offers so much as a grandparent to my two girls whom we all love dearly. And to my beautiful half sister whom I have recently connected with - what a delight she is and I am eternally grateful that we are now getting to know each other!"

Erin won the MiEssence ‘Delicious’ chocolate perfume sample + other MiEssence samples...

Erin & her best friend, Sari

"One of the most inspirational women in my life is my best friend Sari. What a beautiful soul. She restored my faith in having a girlfriend to call a best friend again. She has foregone many turmoils in her life from a very young age, yet time and time again, she gets back up and moves on. She always has the time to tell others how wonderful they are, she does nothing but spread the love and make others feel needed and worthy. To my children she is an Aunty and they love her just the same. She shows them guidance when I'm not there and teaches them to laugh like children should. My life wouldn't be the same if she were not in it."  - Sari

Thanks again to all of you who shared your stories - I hope all of you that are mums have a wonderful Mother's Day!

My mum & me :)

It's Mother's Day, here in Australia, so Happy Mother's Day to all the mums! What special treats do you have planned for your mums today? Yesterday I shared lots of idea on my Facebook page for special treats you can make - if you need some inspiration, check them out here!

Thanks to all of you who entered my Mother's Day Giveaway and shared stories of your mothers, grandmothers and other inspiring women in your lives - they were so special.

I decided to post the winners names in a separate blog post for Mother's Day, so that I could also share their stories, with a photo of the women who they wrote about where possible. Congratulations to the winners - your prizes will be with you soon! Thanks so much for sharing, I loved reading your stories.

[Note: Winners were drawn randomly via Random.org on Wednesday 8th of May. I'm still waiting to hear back from Ellen H, and Sue Rutter. If that is you, please contact me asap so I can send you your prize!]


Gemma & Jess won a copy each of Jude Blereau's cookbook, 'Wholefood Baking'...

Gemma & her mum

"My Mum is everything to me - friend, confidant, teacher, support, advisor, etc. She is the reason I'm the woman and mum I am today, having taught me to trust myself and know that I can be anything I want to be. And she has always been there for me - from those hideous teenage years (sorry mum!) to when I went into premature labour with my daughter at 32 weeks. She is my rock. I never truly appreciate all she did for me until I became a mum myself.our bond is now so much deeper." - Gemma

Jess as a baby, with her mum, Helen

"My Mum is my inspiration. She homeschooled me and my brother and sister. Now that I have three children of my own I am in awe! There is no way I could do what she did. She basically devoted her life to us, all day every day for our formative years. Amazing! Love you mum xxx"  - Jess

Deb & Andrea won a copy each of Jenny Tschiesche's book, 'Not Just Sandwiches'...

"My children inspire me. 5 out of 6 of them are on a gluten free diet due to coeliac and they NEVER complain about missing out when we are out or at parties. They simply accept it will make them sick and more on. They are amazing and I love them to bits."  - Deb

"I admire my Mum for the way she continually blesses others in our family, her work and the community."      

- Andrea

Nancy won the Vegie Smugglers' E-book Bundle...

Nancy with her best friend, Karmen, at the birth of Karmen's baby

"My best friend [inspires me]. She always brings out the best in me and knows exactly if and when I need a pick-me-up hug and chat or a well deserved talking to :) She has recently become a mother and I am just learning so much from her devotion and strength to her new role, she inspires me daily."  - Nancy


Karen won the Deluxe BaoBag...

Karen & her daughters

"I would have to say my daughters are my blessings and my inspiration. It is for them, that I research, follow blogs and facebook pages, cut out nasties, cook from scratch and have a holistic approach to health. I wish the internet and all this knowledge had been around when my boys were little, but they also now benefit.
Many thanks to all the wonderful women that share their knowledge online, and for the wonderful generous donors of these gift packs."  - Karen

Penny won the Biome Eco Stores Lunchbox Kit...

Penny with her mum, at a fundraising event for the Cancer Council that Penny hosts each year

"Teacher, counsellor, life coach and best friend, my mum is the most inspirational woman in my life. She always puts others before herself, is kind, generous,thoughtful and caring. She has been there every step of my life, dropping everything to be by my side when I was diagnosed with cancer at 28. This journey has brought us even closer together and although we may be separated by distance, not a day goes by that we don't share even life's smallest joys knowing each day is a gift to be cherished."  - Penny

Kaity, Amanda, Nikki, Ellen, Penny, Sarah, Sarah, Tahlia, Shona & Annie each won a Living Synergy Nut Milk Bag...

Kaity & her mum

"My MUM is a cancer surviver and has quit smoking after 40 years of smoking. She survived a head on collision at 100km/h she owned a pub and worked 18hrs a day, she taught me repect and compassion, she taught me if I want something to work hard and earn it. My mum is my hero she definately has super powers andbif I am 1/2 the woman she is I will be a happy mummy :) xo"  

- Kaity

Amanda's Grandmother with Amanda's two oldest girls

"My grandmother, Pheobe Leeder, is an inspiration to me. She raised 10 children whilst my Grandfather was on a disability pension, probably not much back then. She was very creative with her cooking, managing to make the most of simple cheap ingredients. No-one ever went hungry. Her hospitality was warm, children's friends often sitting at the table, her sisters regularly visited for afternoon tea on Sunday afternoon. She entertained simply, with basic but tasty cakes and slices.

"She sewed on a treadle machine. She would make 'a silk purse out of a sow's ear', clothing her children, and later grandchildren with re-fashioned garments made from old men's trousers and other such fabric.

"I learned lots from my Ma during the 5 years of high school that I lived with her and Pa. I learned from her to see the good in others and speak positively, to value family and friends, to serve others and to allow others to serve me, to be content with what I have."  - Amanda

Nikki & her mum

"My mum will always be the most inspiring woman in my life, no question. She raised 5 of us on a very small budget while my equally inspiring dad worked 6 days every wk. She always has and still does, drop everything if i call with the smallest request for her. Her life revolved around us kids and keeping us happy and active, heading off every Saturday and Sunday while we were growing up to many different sporting venues. 

I have always appreciated her but becoming a mum made me realise just how much she gave up for us. She also loves helping and has volunteered for over 20 years to the different organisations she works for. When her regular Meals on Wheels clients celebrate their birthdays, she bakes them a birthday cake and drives around to see them and celebrate with them if they have no family around. I have been living on the opposite side of the country to her for the last 5 years and miss her lots....and we are all counting down until her and my dad arrive next month!!!"  

- Nikki

"My mother was a very stoic woman who never showed us any emotion, but was a marvellous cook and dressmaker. I was so lucky when at 18 I met a lovely warmhearted woman who became my "second mum"- she showed me that being a Mum could be warm and loving. She always made me feel welcome and very special. She was also a good country cook. It has been the combination of these two women who have largely shaped me. My "second Mum" for showing me it was okay to show love and warmth to those around me, and my "real" Mum for passing on her wonderful skills in the kitchen and at the sewing machine." - Ellen

Penny & her neice

"My niece is my inspiration! Simply because she is so full of life, always up for a challenge, like to be competitive, likes to succeed, and so loving!"  - Penny

Sarah & her mum

"My mother has to be my upmost inspiration. She is a selfless women who always sheds a positive light to everything. She raised my brother and I with such love and compassion and showed us that there is always good to be found everywhere. She shares my love of food and health and loves to try out new recipes and delights I hand over to her. Shes extremely supportive and the love of my kids lives! Shes a hoot always up for a light hearted laugh and also there for the heavy times.. What would I do without my mumma?? Shes magic."  - Sarah MB

Sarah & her Grandma a few years ago

"My Grandma continues to inspire me even though she is no longer here. She was amazing, always doing something for the community whether it be helping Legacy, Red Cross, the Netball Association or anything else. She cooked amazing food and could come up with anything from what seemed like nothing. The thing I remember most was that she always provided the best hospitality in her home. She would always have a cuppa and something freshly baked for anyone who visited and loved cooking for everyone. She is my inspiration because she always put others before herself and would do anything for her family. I hope I can be even half as wonderful as her!"  - Sarah M

"My Mum - at 62 she was diagnosed with Diabetes last December and since then has turned her life around to a more healthier lifestyle. She bought a thermomix and has regained her passion for cooking, losing weight in the process. Watching her change her ways inspired me to do so too. Six months ago I would never have thought I would be making so many foods from scratch, ordering bulk through a co-op, ordering organic produce delivered to our door and getting so much satisfaction from it. I look forward to passing on the knowledge and health to my family." 

 - Tahlia

Shona's family - her mum is wearing the blue & white top, & Shona is holding the baby.

"My mum is my inspiration! Becoming a mother myself has given me a whole new respect for how my mum managed to raise four kids while helping dad out on the dairy farm. Raising three small kids myself I don't think I could do it without her support and encouragement. Especially when she had to deliver my third child at home! I love you mum :)"  - Shona

"My mum has already inspired me - having 3 kids under 3 and doing it tough on her own when my dad left us, she then found the most precious man as my step dad who taught me what a real man is. My mum has never had any books skills but would do any job to help bring money in to raise us. She is the strongest woman I know and so glad she is a still here to inspire my kids."  

- Annie

Mel won two Pana Chocolate "I Love You Mum" gift boxes - one for her and one for her daughter...

"One of the most inspirational people in my life would have to be my daughter. We are so proud of her and all that she has accomplished. Although being bullied through her last yrs of high school and than spiraling into depression, she has come out on the other side a very strong and determined young women."  - Mel

Sue won the Naughty Naturopath Mum’s "Mother’s Day Pack"...

"My Mum is the most intelligent woman I know. She is not maternal and lost my father when my brother and I were very young. She sold the farm and brought a car, a caravan full of furniture, a cat, a dog and us 2 screaming kids across the Nullarbor Plain eventually to Queensland.

"When she arrived she rented a house and did not have enough money to put down a deposit on a fridge.

"We didn't have much, but then again we had everything. We had a happy childhood and went to school. I had to give up my horse at an Auction with the Auctioneer using my crying on the horse to up the bids. Mum still took us to riding lessons.

"Until the day that she had enough to buy an Agistment Property and we had horses again. We still have that property as the family home.

"Mum had me at 40 years old and has now retired. She has moved into an over 50's Resort and is loving life to the maximum.

"My brother has moved into the family home and is loving it there and with the 'rules' she taught me, which I based what I did on and went a bit further. I now have my own property and this meant that my Husband and I were able to buy a 100 acre farm and I have been loving life here and it is all because of my Mum.

"Thank you Mum.

"So yes we still live in poverty. LOL, but I am the richest person I know."

- Sue Rutter 

(We're still looking for Sue to let her know she's won, so if you know her, tell her to get in touch!)

Kylie won the 4MyEarth Food Covers...

Kylie's nan with Kylie's eldest daughter

"I'm so proud of my nan. During WW2 she was only a teenager, but she ran between military posts during air raids in her native Manchester, relaying coordinates of bombers spotted on the skyline.
She dodged bombs, clambered over wreckage and saw people obliterated by the enemy.
But she didn't say a word about her contribution until she was well into her eighties - we always knew she was strong and determined, but we never knew how much.
She deserves a medal as much as any person who went to the front.
Her quiet strength and bravery inspire me to meet any challenge with the same attitude as nan."

- Kylie

You can read more of Kylie's nan's story in this blog that Kylie wrote called 'The Invisible War Heroes' - it's an amazing story and will bring tears to your eyes.


Cate won the Love Moon Anion Sanitary Pads from Overcoming Overwhelm...

Cate's Nana (who turns 97 this year!), mum, and her with her three daughters

"My Mum is inspiring. I have never her seen anything go to waste in her kitchen. She uses everything - nothing goes in the bin until it has been exhausted, from making stock to compost, everything has a purpose done to the very end."  - Cate


Danielle won the MiEssence Vitality Challenge Kit...

Danielle with her mum

"I have some pretty amazing women in my life whom I admire, love and have endless gratitude for. My beautiful Mum who has given birth to 5 girls and who has dealt with so much in one life time and remains truthful and generous of spirit... My mother- in -law Wendy who too has endured so much in her life time including caring full time for her late son who developed a severe disability at age 11 and who offers so much as a grandparent to my two girls whom we all love dearly. And to my beautiful half sister whom I have recently connected with - what a delight she is and I am eternally grateful that we are now getting to know each other!"

Erin won the MiEssence ‘Delicious’ chocolate perfume sample + other MiEssence samples...

Erin & her best friend, Sari

"One of the most inspirational women in my life is my best friend Sari. What a beautiful soul. She restored my faith in having a girlfriend to call a best friend again. She has foregone many turmoils in her life from a very young age, yet time and time again, she gets back up and moves on. She always has the time to tell others how wonderful they are, she does nothing but spread the love and make others feel needed and worthy. To my children she is an Aunty and they love her just the same. She shows them guidance when I'm not there and teaches them to laugh like children should. My life wouldn't be the same if she were not in it."  - Sari

Thanks again to all of you who shared your stories - I hope all of you that are mums have a wonderful Mother's Day!

My mum & me :)

A Special Mother's Day Giveaway!

Me & my mum

Who is the most inspiring woman in your life? Mine would have to be my mother, with my grandmother coming very close behind. My childhood was a very happy one, with such a wonderful mother. She was always there for us, and she still is. (In fact, she only lives two doors up, and so my children are very blessed to have Grandma close by.)

This is where we all hung out after school - with mum in the kitchen. 

(That's me holding my little brother)

Some of my favourite childhood memories are of cooking with mum in our little kitchen. It was always a noisy, happy place - kids, visitors, cups of tea, bread fresh out of the oven, apricot fried pies, chocolate cake, laughter, old cookbooks spattered with milk and cocoa and flour, beans bubbling on the stove, a roast cooking in the oven, the screen door slamming, neighbour kids running in to ask for a homemade bikkie and iced tea... and above all, mum. Always there, always welcoming anyone and everyone who happened to turn up.

Mum and her famous homemade bread

When mum's delicious homemade bread came out of the oven, we'd run out the back door and yell at the top of our voices, 'HOT BREAD!!' and kids would come running from everywhere... We'd cut off all the crusts, slather them with butter, and run out the door to play. What a way to grow up.

Thanks for all the hard work you did to keep us well fed and happy, mum. I hope you know how much we appreciate you. Because it still continues... now it's the grandkids and all their friends!

Cookie decorating at Grandma's house

Some of you may not be so privileged to have your mum close by, but I'm sure you all have women who inspire you and encourage you to be all that you can be. In the past year I have met many gorgeous ladies who inspire me. Many of them I've only met 'online' or over the phone or skype, but I know that if I turned up at their door they'd invite me in for a cuppa and we'd be laughing and chatting all afternoon as if we'd known each other all our lives.

There are also some ladies who I don't know personally, but I'm just really impressed with the products they make and sell. A lot of thought and creativity has gone into their work, and I think they deserve to be recognized. Some of these lovely women have donated gifts for me to share with you as a special Mother's Day treat! To win one of these prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling us about a woman in your life who inspires you - it may be your mother, your daughter, your grandmother, an aunty, neighbour or friend. Let's celebrate the beautiful women in our lives, their creativity and caring, and the world they've opened up for us all. Enjoy.

{This giveaway is now closed, as of 12pm, May 8th, 2013. Thanks to all of you who participated, and for all your inspiring stories! I've loved reading them. Winners have been drawn via Random.org and will be announced shortly in a separate blog post. Stay tuned!}

I really have to start with Jude Blereau. Jude is one of the most inspiring and beautiful women I've ever met, and I'm so excited to be able to offer you the chance to win a copy of her NEW cookbook, Wholefood Baking.

Me & Jude

Jude is a wholefood chef - I call her 'the wholefood guru.' Her knowledge of healthy, wholefood cooking is amazing, and she is always happy to share it. From her books, classes, seminars and blog you will learn not only what foods are good for you and how to prepare them, but how to bring deliciousness back into healthy eating. Because without deliciousness, eating well is just another task on our to-do list.

This book is chock-a-block full of useful information and scrumptious recipes. I know it's going to become a favourite in our house, and I expect it won't be long before it looks a little food-spattered, like all good cookbooks are when they're well-loved. I've made a couple of recipes from it already, including this gorgeous Carrot, Pistachio and Amaranth Cake with orange and cardamom and a delicious orange glaze... so good! There are lots of allergy friendly recipes and variations and tips in this book, so I know my readers will love it.

I have two copies of Jude's new book, valued at $38.99 to give away, but if you can't wait any longer and want to buy Jude's book for yourself, click on the photo below and order online! You can connect with Jude via her blog & Facebook page.

Wholefood Baking

Jenny Tschiesche, The Lunchbox Doctor, is another lady who I find very inspiring. She is doing a great job of spreading the word about healthy eating for kids. Jenny is a nutritionist in the UK, and her award winning book, Not Just Sandwiches, is a great help to many parents who want to send their kids to school with a nutritious, balanced lunch.

I've enjoyed getting to know Jenny this past year, and have learnt so much from her. She has recipes and tips for every kind of 'eater' - from the fussy eater to the adventurous eater, and everything in between. Jenny also knows about food allergies and the healing power of food, so she has lots of ideas to help if you're feeling overwhelmed and needing ideas for children with diet restrictions. I have two copies of Jenny's book valued at $15.86 each, to give away. You can order her book online here. Jenny's blog has lots of recipes to try and short videos to watch, and you can get in touch with her via her Facebook page &Twitter.

Wendy of The Vegie Smugglers is another lovely lady who is working hard to help parents get more vegies into their kids. She has donated an e-book bundle valued at $29.95, which includes four digital titles:

• 10 Quickbakes plus 10 Sandwich spreads
• The Complete Vegie Smugglers lunchbox planner
• Six Weekly meal plans
• Craft for non-crafty parents

These fantastic e-books will help you revive your lunchboxes, plan your life AND be the creative parent of your dreams! Includes over 90 recipes that focus on seasonal ingredients and sneaking healthy ingredients into your family. All files can be viewed on your PC, your iPad or iPhone. The Meal Planner comes complete with three formats - one for easy printing, one for your ipad and one for your kindle. Keep up with Wendy's great ideas via Facebook & Pinterest!

I'm so excited about these natural 'mother and baby' bags! Pamela from BaoBag contacted me a while ago to tell me about them, and sent me a couple to look at, and WOW, I was so impressed!! What a great service these ladies are offering. BaoBag is a free gift to new Mums through private hospitals when they give birth, and through obstetricians and other practitioners specialising in pre and post natal care. You can also buy a bag for a new mum you love right here on their website. They contain samples of only the finest natural & organic products. Around 70,000 new mums receive a BaoBag each year.

I really wish I'd gotten one of these when I had my first baby. I received one of the usual mother and baby packs that are given out in hospitals, and the information inside confused me, more than anything. Without mentioning any product names, I learnt that eating lots of sugar is good for new mums because it gives you energy; sugar filled, coloured, over-processed juices are the perfect drink for weaning your baby; and chemical filled baby products will make your baby smell so lovely and feel so good. Ugh. I wish I'd known better.

BaoBags are more than just a "mum & baby" bag. BaoBag's aim is to capture people at a time when they are likely to be re-evaluating many things in their lives now that they've got this new little person to look after. Pamela says, "Everyone wants the best for their families, homes and themselves, and we aim to provide samples of many things that are better - for them and the planet. So our bag is something for the whole household, and we hope via our blog and Facebook to maintain the dialogue with recipients on making better choices beyond just receiving the bag."

I have one Deluxe BaoBag to give away - photo of contents above! Help spread the word about BaoBags, and connect with them on their blog, Facebook page and Twitter.

Here's an exciting prize for those of you with kids at school... Shionagh of Biome Eco Stores is offering a great eco-friendly lunchbox kit valued at $130!

It includes:
A Built roll-top lunch bag
An Ecococoon 500ml insulated drink bottle
A Black & Blum Box Appetite bento box

If you haven't checked out this store, you really should - they have an amazing array of products! Connect with Biome on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Jen of Living Synergy has developed her own nut milk bags, and they're the best I've found. Very easy to use, easy to wash, high quality and long lasting. I highly recommend them for squeezing the pulp out of nut and coconut milks, rice milk, oat milk, chia milk, and even for taking the pulp out of juices if you prefer your juice without all the fibre. I have 10 of these bags, valued at $17.95 each to give away. You can buy them at many health food shops, and also online here. Check out Jen's facebook page here.

Now something every mum gets excited about - CHOCOLATE!! Pana Chocolate is offering 2 of their "I love you Mum" 4 pack Gift Boxes valued at $28.95 each - one for you and one for your mum! This is the perfect present for a loving mum, with four 45g bars (Mint, Rose, Coconut & Goji and Raw Cacao) and a cute gift card to write your own personal message. (Not exclusive to Mother’s Day, a perfect gift for Mum on any occasion!)

Pana Chocolate is a raw, organic chocolate that is handmade in Melbourne, Australia. It contains only natural ingredients such as raw organic nuts, organic goji berries, organic coconut flakes and pure 100% essential oils. This lovely chocolate is crafted with the vision that the chocolate should be good for everyone. (I totally agree!) Connect with Pana Chocolate via Facebook & Twitter.

Alisha of Naughty Naturopath Mum's Blog has offered a Mother's Day Pack of her Bush Flower Essences - the Woman Essence and the Calm and Clear Essence. Calm & Clear Essence is great for hyperactivity in kids and especially good for all mothers! Can help turn off those racing and worried thoughts that cycle around the brain. Used very effectively in ADD/ADHD behavioural conditions. The Woman Essence is excellent if hormones are still a bit all over the place from pregnancy or for pre-mentural and menopausal symptoms. For more information on Bush Flower Essences, see her blog post here. Alisha has a lively Facebook page, and will bring a smile to your day!

Rebecca of 4MyEarth makes eco-friendly food covers which you can use to cover meals and leftovers in the fridge, instead of using plastic wrap. She is giving away a set of two medium food covers in flowered print. Check out her site and Facebook page to see her whole range of eco-friendly food wraps and food pockets (perfect for school lunchboxes).

Robyn of Overcoming Overwhelm is giving away a pack each of daytime, nightime and panty liner "Love-Moon Anion Sanitary Pads". Did you know that: Most brands of sanitary napkins are made from bleached and recycled papers which are not properly sterilised and do not meet Quality Assurance standards? Did you know that: Asbestos is added to many tampons?  

Each Anion pad contains a negative ion strip in each pad that releases a large amount of oxygen. It is the oxygen in Anions (or negative ions) that kills 99.9% of bacteria. Many women find that these are very helpful with thrush, menstrual cramps, headaches, urinary tract infections, fibroids and other symptoms associated with bacteria and menstruation and the reproductive system. Anion napkins have a breathable bottom layer which allows free-flowing of air instead of a plastic bottom layer found in other brands which does not “breathe”. These napkins are fully bio-degradable and entirely environmentally friendly. Each pad is machine packed and sealed on the production line (and does not come into contact with human hands), thus ensuring a high standard of Sterility which meet GMP standards. The vegetable glue used on Anion Sanitary Napkins is non-toxic as compared to most sanitary pads which tend to use industrial glue, which is harmful to the body.



*     *     *     *     *

I have one more gift pack to offer, from my MiEssence shop. I love MiEssence products - they are very gentle and organic body, health and home products. I've been using them for years. MiEssence is putting out a 10 day Superfood Vitality Challenge, and one of you can win
a Vitality Challenge Kit worth $75, as well as a sample size of Delicious Perfume (my favourite perfume).

The Superfood Vitality Challenge leads you through a 10 day journey to better health. The Vitality Challenge kit contains:

• 10 day supply of BerryRadical Antioxidant Superfood
• 10 day supply of DeepGreen Alkalising Superfood
• 10 day supply of InLiven Probiotic Superfood
• 20 page Vitality Challenge book including self-assessment guide, detox guide and bonus Smoothie recipes

The MiEssence Delicious Perfume is just a little added bonus, because I LOVE it, and I think you will too! It's the perfect perfume for a cooking addict like me, because it's made of chocolate, honey and vanilla, with a hint of sweet jasmine. Just gorgeous. Perfumes usually make me sneeze and give me a headache, but this perfume is made with essential oils, and I don't react to it. I hope you'll love it too. You can buy the 10ml bottle of Delicious perfume pictured above (valued at $148.50) at 40% off at the moment ($89.10) - here's where to buy it.

*     *     *     *     *

So there you are, a whole bunch of exciting gifts to celebrate Mother's Day, and the wonderful women in our lives who inspire and encourage us. Don't forget to comment below, sharing with us something about the woman in your life who most inspires you. And I'll be back in a week's time to draw the prize winners!

[Note: You will need to click on the title to this post to open the comments. If you're on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 'view web version' so that you can see the comments.]

{This giveaway is now closed, as of 12pm, May 8th, 2013. Thanks to all of you who participated, and for all your inspiring stories! I've loved reading them. Winners have been drawn via Random.org and will be announced shortly in a separate blog post. Stay tuned!}

Happy Mother's Day, mums -
I hope you have a relaxing day, and are loved, appreciated, and celebrated!

A younger me with my first baby



Me & my mum

Who is the most inspiring woman in your life? Mine would have to be my mother, with my grandmother coming very close behind. My childhood was a very happy one, with such a wonderful mother. She was always there for us, and she still is. (In fact, she only lives two doors up, and so my children are very blessed to have Grandma close by.)

This is where we all hung out after school - with mum in the kitchen. 

(That's me holding my little brother)

Some of my favourite childhood memories are of cooking with mum in our little kitchen. It was always a noisy, happy place - kids, visitors, cups of tea, bread fresh out of the oven, apricot fried pies, chocolate cake, laughter, old cookbooks spattered with milk and cocoa and flour, beans bubbling on the stove, a roast cooking in the oven, the screen door slamming, neighbour kids running in to ask for a homemade bikkie and iced tea... and above all, mum. Always there, always welcoming anyone and everyone who happened to turn up.

Mum and her famous homemade bread

When mum's delicious homemade bread came out of the oven, we'd run out the back door and yell at the top of our voices, 'HOT BREAD!!' and kids would come running from everywhere... We'd cut off all the crusts, slather them with butter, and run out the door to play. What a way to grow up.

Thanks for all the hard work you did to keep us well fed and happy, mum. I hope you know how much we appreciate you. Because it still continues... now it's the grandkids and all their friends!

Cookie decorating at Grandma's house

Some of you may not be so privileged to have your mum close by, but I'm sure you all have women who inspire you and encourage you to be all that you can be. In the past year I have met many gorgeous ladies who inspire me. Many of them I've only met 'online' or over the phone or skype, but I know that if I turned up at their door they'd invite me in for a cuppa and we'd be laughing and chatting all afternoon as if we'd known each other all our lives.

There are also some ladies who I don't know personally, but I'm just really impressed with the products they make and sell. A lot of thought and creativity has gone into their work, and I think they deserve to be recognized. Some of these lovely women have donated gifts for me to share with you as a special Mother's Day treat! To win one of these prizes, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post telling us about a woman in your life who inspires you - it may be your mother, your daughter, your grandmother, an aunty, neighbour or friend. Let's celebrate the beautiful women in our lives, their creativity and caring, and the world they've opened up for us all. Enjoy.

{This giveaway is now closed, as of 12pm, May 8th, 2013. Thanks to all of you who participated, and for all your inspiring stories! I've loved reading them. Winners have been drawn via Random.org and will be announced shortly in a separate blog post. Stay tuned!}

I really have to start with Jude Blereau. Jude is one of the most inspiring and beautiful women I've ever met, and I'm so excited to be able to offer you the chance to win a copy of her NEW cookbook, Wholefood Baking.

Me & Jude

Jude is a wholefood chef - I call her 'the wholefood guru.' Her knowledge of healthy, wholefood cooking is amazing, and she is always happy to share it. From her books, classes, seminars and blog you will learn not only what foods are good for you and how to prepare them, but how to bring deliciousness back into healthy eating. Because without deliciousness, eating well is just another task on our to-do list.

This book is chock-a-block full of useful information and scrumptious recipes. I know it's going to become a favourite in our house, and I expect it won't be long before it looks a little food-spattered, like all good cookbooks are when they're well-loved. I've made a couple of recipes from it already, including this gorgeous Carrot, Pistachio and Amaranth Cake with orange and cardamom and a delicious orange glaze... so good! There are lots of allergy friendly recipes and variations and tips in this book, so I know my readers will love it.

I have two copies of Jude's new book, valued at $38.99 to give away, but if you can't wait any longer and want to buy Jude's book for yourself, click on the photo below and order online! You can connect with Jude via her blog & Facebook page.

Wholefood Baking

Jenny Tschiesche, The Lunchbox Doctor, is another lady who I find very inspiring. She is doing a great job of spreading the word about healthy eating for kids. Jenny is a nutritionist in the UK, and her award winning book, Not Just Sandwiches, is a great help to many parents who want to send their kids to school with a nutritious, balanced lunch.

I've enjoyed getting to know Jenny this past year, and have learnt so much from her. She has recipes and tips for every kind of 'eater' - from the fussy eater to the adventurous eater, and everything in between. Jenny also knows about food allergies and the healing power of food, so she has lots of ideas to help if you're feeling overwhelmed and needing ideas for children with diet restrictions. I have two copies of Jenny's book valued at $15.86 each, to give away. You can order her book online here. Jenny's blog has lots of recipes to try and short videos to watch, and you can get in touch with her via her Facebook page &Twitter.

Wendy of The Vegie Smugglers is another lovely lady who is working hard to help parents get more vegies into their kids. She has donated an e-book bundle valued at $29.95, which includes four digital titles:

• 10 Quickbakes plus 10 Sandwich spreads
• The Complete Vegie Smugglers lunchbox planner
• Six Weekly meal plans
• Craft for non-crafty parents

These fantastic e-books will help you revive your lunchboxes, plan your life AND be the creative parent of your dreams! Includes over 90 recipes that focus on seasonal ingredients and sneaking healthy ingredients into your family. All files can be viewed on your PC, your iPad or iPhone. The Meal Planner comes complete with three formats - one for easy printing, one for your ipad and one for your kindle. Keep up with Wendy's great ideas via Facebook & Pinterest!

I'm so excited about these natural 'mother and baby' bags! Pamela from BaoBag contacted me a while ago to tell me about them, and sent me a couple to look at, and WOW, I was so impressed!! What a great service these ladies are offering. BaoBag is a free gift to new Mums through private hospitals when they give birth, and through obstetricians and other practitioners specialising in pre and post natal care. You can also buy a bag for a new mum you love right here on their website. They contain samples of only the finest natural & organic products. Around 70,000 new mums receive a BaoBag each year.

I really wish I'd gotten one of these when I had my first baby. I received one of the usual mother and baby packs that are given out in hospitals, and the information inside confused me, more than anything. Without mentioning any product names, I learnt that eating lots of sugar is good for new mums because it gives you energy; sugar filled, coloured, over-processed juices are the perfect drink for weaning your baby; and chemical filled baby products will make your baby smell so lovely and feel so good. Ugh. I wish I'd known better.

BaoBags are more than just a "mum & baby" bag. BaoBag's aim is to capture people at a time when they are likely to be re-evaluating many things in their lives now that they've got this new little person to look after. Pamela says, "Everyone wants the best for their families, homes and themselves, and we aim to provide samples of many things that are better - for them and the planet. So our bag is something for the whole household, and we hope via our blog and Facebook to maintain the dialogue with recipients on making better choices beyond just receiving the bag."

I have one Deluxe BaoBag to give away - photo of contents above! Help spread the word about BaoBags, and connect with them on their blog, Facebook page and Twitter.

Here's an exciting prize for those of you with kids at school... Shionagh of Biome Eco Stores is offering a great eco-friendly lunchbox kit valued at $130!

It includes:
A Built roll-top lunch bag
An Ecococoon 500ml insulated drink bottle
A Black & Blum Box Appetite bento box

If you haven't checked out this store, you really should - they have an amazing array of products! Connect with Biome on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!

Jen of Living Synergy has developed her own nut milk bags, and they're the best I've found. Very easy to use, easy to wash, high quality and long lasting. I highly recommend them for squeezing the pulp out of nut and coconut milks, rice milk, oat milk, chia milk, and even for taking the pulp out of juices if you prefer your juice without all the fibre. I have 10 of these bags, valued at $17.95 each to give away. You can buy them at many health food shops, and also online here. Check out Jen's facebook page here.

Now something every mum gets excited about - CHOCOLATE!! Pana Chocolate is offering 2 of their "I love you Mum" 4 pack Gift Boxes valued at $28.95 each - one for you and one for your mum! This is the perfect present for a loving mum, with four 45g bars (Mint, Rose, Coconut & Goji and Raw Cacao) and a cute gift card to write your own personal message. (Not exclusive to Mother’s Day, a perfect gift for Mum on any occasion!)

Pana Chocolate is a raw, organic chocolate that is handmade in Melbourne, Australia. It contains only natural ingredients such as raw organic nuts, organic goji berries, organic coconut flakes and pure 100% essential oils. This lovely chocolate is crafted with the vision that the chocolate should be good for everyone. (I totally agree!) Connect with Pana Chocolate via Facebook & Twitter.

Alisha of Naughty Naturopath Mum's Blog has offered a Mother's Day Pack of her Bush Flower Essences - the Woman Essence and the Calm and Clear Essence. Calm & Clear Essence is great for hyperactivity in kids and especially good for all mothers! Can help turn off those racing and worried thoughts that cycle around the brain. Used very effectively in ADD/ADHD behavioural conditions. The Woman Essence is excellent if hormones are still a bit all over the place from pregnancy or for pre-mentural and menopausal symptoms. For more information on Bush Flower Essences, see her blog post here. Alisha has a lively Facebook page, and will bring a smile to your day!

Rebecca of 4MyEarth makes eco-friendly food covers which you can use to cover meals and leftovers in the fridge, instead of using plastic wrap. She is giving away a set of two medium food covers in flowered print. Check out her site and Facebook page to see her whole range of eco-friendly food wraps and food pockets (perfect for school lunchboxes).

Robyn of Overcoming Overwhelm is giving away a pack each of daytime, nightime and panty liner "Love-Moon Anion Sanitary Pads". Did you know that: Most brands of sanitary napkins are made from bleached and recycled papers which are not properly sterilised and do not meet Quality Assurance standards? Did you know that: Asbestos is added to many tampons?  

Each Anion pad contains a negative ion strip in each pad that releases a large amount of oxygen. It is the oxygen in Anions (or negative ions) that kills 99.9% of bacteria. Many women find that these are very helpful with thrush, menstrual cramps, headaches, urinary tract infections, fibroids and other symptoms associated with bacteria and menstruation and the reproductive system. Anion napkins have a breathable bottom layer which allows free-flowing of air instead of a plastic bottom layer found in other brands which does not “breathe”. These napkins are fully bio-degradable and entirely environmentally friendly. Each pad is machine packed and sealed on the production line (and does not come into contact with human hands), thus ensuring a high standard of Sterility which meet GMP standards. The vegetable glue used on Anion Sanitary Napkins is non-toxic as compared to most sanitary pads which tend to use industrial glue, which is harmful to the body.



*     *     *     *     *

I have one more gift pack to offer, from my MiEssence shop. I love MiEssence products - they are very gentle and organic body, health and home products. I've been using them for years. MiEssence is putting out a 10 day Superfood Vitality Challenge, and one of you can win
a Vitality Challenge Kit worth $75, as well as a sample size of Delicious Perfume (my favourite perfume).

The Superfood Vitality Challenge leads you through a 10 day journey to better health. The Vitality Challenge kit contains:

• 10 day supply of BerryRadical Antioxidant Superfood
• 10 day supply of DeepGreen Alkalising Superfood
• 10 day supply of InLiven Probiotic Superfood
• 20 page Vitality Challenge book including self-assessment guide, detox guide and bonus Smoothie recipes

The MiEssence Delicious Perfume is just a little added bonus, because I LOVE it, and I think you will too! It's the perfect perfume for a cooking addict like me, because it's made of chocolate, honey and vanilla, with a hint of sweet jasmine. Just gorgeous. Perfumes usually make me sneeze and give me a headache, but this perfume is made with essential oils, and I don't react to it. I hope you'll love it too. You can buy the 10ml bottle of Delicious perfume pictured above (valued at $148.50) at 40% off at the moment ($89.10) - here's where to buy it.

*     *     *     *     *

So there you are, a whole bunch of exciting gifts to celebrate Mother's Day, and the wonderful women in our lives who inspire and encourage us. Don't forget to comment below, sharing with us something about the woman in your life who most inspires you. And I'll be back in a week's time to draw the prize winners!

[Note: You will need to click on the title to this post to open the comments. If you're on a mobile device, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on 'view web version' so that you can see the comments.]

{This giveaway is now closed, as of 12pm, May 8th, 2013. Thanks to all of you who participated, and for all your inspiring stories! I've loved reading them. Winners have been drawn via Random.org and will be announced shortly in a separate blog post. Stay tuned!}

Happy Mother's Day, mums -
I hope you have a relaxing day, and are loved, appreciated, and celebrated!

A younger me with my first baby



Creamy Quinoa & Chia Porridge

Autumn is here, and it's getting too cool for cold breakfasts of raw chia pudding and green smoothies. The other morning I was trying to think of something warm and comforting for breakfast while browsing through food photos on Instagram (as you do), and I noticed a photo of banana chia quinoa porridge that was posted by Jessica Cox (a nutritionist with lots of great recipes), and I was inspired! I couldn't find a recipe, so I just made up my own. (Thanks for the idea, Jessica!)

I love quinoa, but whenever I've tried to make quinoa flakes into porridge it's usually ended up kind of sludgey, and I didn't really enjoy it. Until now. Adding chia made all the difference for me, as well as cooking it very lightly, not overcooking it. And I'm sure all the coconut cream, banana, cinnamon and nuts helped as well!

You could cook it in the Thermomix like I do, or in a pan on the stovetop if you keep the heat really low and stir until done. Or use the soak overnight method (below the recipe).

Note: The addition of mesquite powder is optional. I love to use it in my breakfast porridge as it's low GI and great for stablising blood sugar levels, plus it's high in minerals and protein. So when you combine that with chia and quinoa, you have a breakfast that keeps you from getting the blood sugar 'lows' all morning. (It's also slightly sweet, and has a caramelly flavour that goes well with the bananas and cinnamon.) Mesquite flour and chia are both traditional foods of native Americans, and it's really interesting to see these ancient 'health foods' making a comeback! My Cherokee great great grandma would be pleased to know I'm using them. :)

Quinoa & Chia Porridge

Serves 4

Weigh almonds into Thermomix bowl, and grind for 10 seconds on speed 9.
- 100g raw almonds

Add water and blend on speed 9 for 1 minute.
- 500g water

[Note: if you can't have nuts, you could use 600g of your preferred milk in place of the almond milk. Coconut milk is nice, and since it's so creamy you can reduce it to 300g milk plus 300g water.]

Add the quinoa flakes, chia seeds, honey, spices, vanilla, mesquite powder & salt, and cook at 50C for 5 minutes, reverse speed 2. (Gently blend it up for a few seconds first on speed 3 to mix together.)
- 50g quinoa flakes
- 50g chia seeds
- 2 Tbspns raw honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 2 tps ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 3 Tbspns mesquite powder (opt)
- a pinch of Himalayan salt

Spoon into bowls and serve topped with:
- coconut milk or yoghurt
- sliced bananas (or whatever fruit you like)
- chopped walnuts (opt)
- a drizzle of pure maple syrup
- a sprinkle of cinnamon


Overnight soak method:

Make almond milk, mix with other ingredients apart from toppings, and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, warm gently then serve topped with fruit, nuts, etc.

Autumn is here, and it's getting too cool for cold breakfasts of raw chia pudding and green smoothies. The other morning I was trying to think of something warm and comforting for breakfast while browsing through food photos on Instagram (as you do), and I noticed a photo of banana chia quinoa porridge that was posted by Jessica Cox (a nutritionist with lots of great recipes), and I was inspired! I couldn't find a recipe, so I just made up my own. (Thanks for the idea, Jessica!)

I love quinoa, but whenever I've tried to make quinoa flakes into porridge it's usually ended up kind of sludgey, and I didn't really enjoy it. Until now. Adding chia made all the difference for me, as well as cooking it very lightly, not overcooking it. And I'm sure all the coconut cream, banana, cinnamon and nuts helped as well!

You could cook it in the Thermomix like I do, or in a pan on the stovetop if you keep the heat really low and stir until done. Or use the soak overnight method (below the recipe).

Note: The addition of mesquite powder is optional. I love to use it in my breakfast porridge as it's low GI and great for stablising blood sugar levels, plus it's high in minerals and protein. So when you combine that with chia and quinoa, you have a breakfast that keeps you from getting the blood sugar 'lows' all morning. (It's also slightly sweet, and has a caramelly flavour that goes well with the bananas and cinnamon.) Mesquite flour and chia are both traditional foods of native Americans, and it's really interesting to see these ancient 'health foods' making a comeback! My Cherokee great great grandma would be pleased to know I'm using them. :)

Quinoa & Chia Porridge

Serves 4

Weigh almonds into Thermomix bowl, and grind for 10 seconds on speed 9.
- 100g raw almonds

Add water and blend on speed 9 for 1 minute.
- 500g water

[Note: if you can't have nuts, you could use 600g of your preferred milk in place of the almond milk. Coconut milk is nice, and since it's so creamy you can reduce it to 300g milk plus 300g water.]

Add the quinoa flakes, chia seeds, honey, spices, vanilla, mesquite powder & salt, and cook at 50C for 5 minutes, reverse speed 2. (Gently blend it up for a few seconds first on speed 3 to mix together.)
- 50g quinoa flakes
- 50g chia seeds
- 2 Tbspns raw honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 2 tps ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 3 Tbspns mesquite powder (opt)
- a pinch of Himalayan salt

Spoon into bowls and serve topped with:
- coconut milk or yoghurt
- sliced bananas (or whatever fruit you like)
- chopped walnuts (opt)
- a drizzle of pure maple syrup
- a sprinkle of cinnamon


Overnight soak method:

Make almond milk, mix with other ingredients apart from toppings, and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, warm gently then serve topped with fruit, nuts, etc.

Raw Macadamia Lime 'Cheesecake' (dairy free)

One thing I love about living in tropical Far North Queensland is the abundance of delicious produce grown here. I love that I can go to the local markets and buy locally grown coconuts (and coconut oil), locally grown vanilla beans and cacao nibs and cacaco beans, luscious limes, macadamias, avocadoes, pineapples, lychees, passionfruit, mangoes, and I've even bought sugar cane juice that's juiced while you wait! Even better, lots of these yummy things are given to you by friends, family and acquaintances who just have too much and need to share. Love that.

Last week I did a Thermomix demo for a lady who sent me home with a big bag full of limes and bunches of fresh herbs and rocket from her garden. At other times I've come home with a box of vine ripened tomatoes, pumpkin, avocadoes, lychees and mangoes. I get given bags of passionfruit, boxes of black sapotes, chokos and lettuces. I always say to my husband, 'There's really no way you could starve living here. Why would anyone want to live in the city??' Besides, where in the city can you walk around the corner from your house and see views like this...



But I digress... back to the cheesecake.

So the other day I thought I should make something with some of the limes filling my fruit basket, and the avocados from mum's tree. I really wanted something a bit special, as I had a photo shoot with an online magazine on Friday (Confetti Mag - 1st issue, coming out in May, stay tuned!), and I thought something made with local ingredients would be a good thing to photograph. (We ended up choosing something else to make, and we had lots of fun cooking and taking photos! Two of my favourite things to do.)

{Photo taken by Karen of Confetti Mag}

I remembered a lime and avocado tart I'd made last year and really enjoyed, but I felt it needed to be creamier and less... well... tart! Okay, I know 'raw lime cheesecakes' are all over the internet and I didn't really need to make up another recipe, but I just like to play. I did get some inspiration from this lovely raw lime tart from Fragrant Vanilla Cake (a blog you really should visit if you're into raw food, vegan food, or just delicious desserts) - but I ended up changing it to make the most of some of our lovely local produce, plus whatever I had on hand.

It turned out amaaaaazing!!

My husband is very partial to a good cheesecake, and was very sceptical that my dairy free version would be something he'd want to eat... But after one bite he changed his tune and begged for more. :)

I had a lot of 'drop-ins' that day, and each one had to taste my cheesecake. I made them. (They didn't argue.) They all agreed it was a gem of a recipe, and they all told me I should save it for my book. But being the kind and generous blogger that I am, I dedided to go ahead and share it. And besides, I was a bit worried that after getting 235 comments on the photo I posted on Facebook, plus many private messages, asking for the recipe, I might have a riot if I didn't share!! (But I will have to start being a bit more secretive with new recipes I think, or there won't be any surprises left for the book!)

Consider this your Easter present from me. I think it would make a great Easter Sunday treat... because as much as I love chocolate, it can get a little 'overdone' at Easter time. I'm thinking lime will be a good change.

So here it is, the long-awaited recipe...

Oh, and just a couple of tips: buy the macadamia pieces, they're heaps cheaper than whole nuts and you don't need whole nuts for this recipe. And use organic or homegrown limes if possible, as you don't really want to be eating the zest from limes sprayed with pesticides. Just my opinion.

Raw Macadamia Lime 'Cheesecake'

(Makes one 20cm cheesecake)

Base:

Grind all the base ingredients up together in the Thermomix on speed 9 for 20 seconds, or until finely ground.

- 130g raw macadamia nuts (either unsoaked, or soaked and dehydrated)

- 70g organic shredded or flaked coconut (additive free)

- 8 fresh dates (eg. Medjool), pitted

- a pinch of fine Himalayan salt

   Grease the inside of a 20cm springform cake tin with coconut oil. Press the base mixture firmly into the base of the tin, and up the sides if you like. Set aside.

Filling:

Blitz vanilla beans and lime zest on speed 10 for 10 seconds.

- 2 vanilla beans, snipped into 4 pieces (can use 1 bean in a pinch)

- zest from 2 limes (just peel off with a sharp potato peeler)

Add cashews and grind on speed 10 for 8 seconds.

- 150g raw cashews*

Add remaining ingredients and blend on speed 9 for 1 minute, scraping down as needed, until lovely and smooth.

- flesh of 1 lime

- 320g fresh avocados (or frozen, cut in 1-2cm cubes)

- 100g pure maple syrup

- 55g coconut oil

- a pinch of fine Himalayan salt

Pour filling into springform tin, spreading over the base. Place in freezer for at least half an hour.

* If using soaked raw cashews, only soak for up to 6 hours, drain well and pat dry with tea towel, then mix with the other ingredients (lime, avocado, etc) all at once, blending until smooth.

Just look at those lovely little vanilla bean seeds in the filling.... Mmmm!

Topping:

Mix together until smooth on speed 9:

- 150g raw macadamias (soaked for a few hours, then drained and dried off a bit)

- 150g Ayam coconut cream (or other thick coconut cream)

- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

- juice of 1 lime

- 30g pure maple syrup

Pour over filling and smooth with spatula.

Decoration:

While topping is still soft, before freezing, add extra macadamia nuts and lime zest for decoration, sprinkling first the nuts, then the zest, around the edge of the cheesecake. (See photos)

- a good sized handful of macadamia nuts, roughly chopped (if you haven't bought them already in pieces)

- zest of one lime, grated with a zester

Place the finished cheesecake, covered with a plastic bag, in the freezer and leave it alone for at least 2 hours, preferably more. It's best eaten semi-frozen. It will last for weeks in the freezer... but we all know that's not going to happen. ;)

Enjoy!

One thing I love about living in tropical Far North Queensland is the abundance of delicious produce grown here. I love that I can go to the local markets and buy locally grown coconuts (and coconut oil), locally grown vanilla beans and cacao nibs and cacaco beans, luscious limes, macadamias, avocadoes, pineapples, lychees, passionfruit, mangoes, and I've even bought sugar cane juice that's juiced while you wait! Even better, lots of these yummy things are given to you by friends, family and acquaintances who just have too much and need to share. Love that.

Last week I did a Thermomix demo for a lady who sent me home with a big bag full of limes and bunches of fresh herbs and rocket from her garden. At other times I've come home with a box of vine ripened tomatoes, pumpkin, avocadoes, lychees and mangoes. I get given bags of passionfruit, boxes of black sapotes, chokos and lettuces. I always say to my husband, 'There's really no way you could starve living here. Why would anyone want to live in the city??' Besides, where in the city can you walk around the corner from your house and see views like this...



But I digress... back to the cheesecake.

So the other day I thought I should make something with some of the limes filling my fruit basket, and the avocados from mum's tree. I really wanted something a bit special, as I had a photo shoot with an online magazine on Friday (Confetti Mag - 1st issue, coming out in May, stay tuned!), and I thought something made with local ingredients would be a good thing to photograph. (We ended up choosing something else to make, and we had lots of fun cooking and taking photos! Two of my favourite things to do.)

{Photo taken by Karen of Confetti Mag}

I remembered a lime and avocado tart I'd made last year and really enjoyed, but I felt it needed to be creamier and less... well... tart! Okay, I know 'raw lime cheesecakes' are all over the internet and I didn't really need to make up another recipe, but I just like to play. I did get some inspiration from this lovely raw lime tart from Fragrant Vanilla Cake (a blog you really should visit if you're into raw food, vegan food, or just delicious desserts) - but I ended up changing it to make the most of some of our lovely local produce, plus whatever I had on hand.

It turned out amaaaaazing!!

My husband is very partial to a good cheesecake, and was very sceptical that my dairy free version would be something he'd want to eat... But after one bite he changed his tune and begged for more. :)

I had a lot of 'drop-ins' that day, and each one had to taste my cheesecake. I made them. (They didn't argue.) They all agreed it was a gem of a recipe, and they all told me I should save it for my book. But being the kind and generous blogger that I am, I dedided to go ahead and share it. And besides, I was a bit worried that after getting 235 comments on the photo I posted on Facebook, plus many private messages, asking for the recipe, I might have a riot if I didn't share!! (But I will have to start being a bit more secretive with new recipes I think, or there won't be any surprises left for the book!)

Consider this your Easter present from me. I think it would make a great Easter Sunday treat... because as much as I love chocolate, it can get a little 'overdone' at Easter time. I'm thinking lime will be a good change.

So here it is, the long-awaited recipe...

Oh, and just a couple of tips: buy the macadamia pieces, they're heaps cheaper than whole nuts and you don't need whole nuts for this recipe. And use organic or homegrown limes if possible, as you don't really want to be eating the zest from limes sprayed with pesticides. Just my opinion.

Raw Macadamia Lime 'Cheesecake'

(Makes one 20cm cheesecake)

Base:

Grind all the base ingredients up together in the Thermomix on speed 9 for 20 seconds, or until finely ground.

- 130g raw macadamia nuts (either unsoaked, or soaked and dehydrated)

- 70g organic shredded or flaked coconut (additive free)

- 8 fresh dates (eg. Medjool), pitted

- a pinch of fine Himalayan salt

   Grease the inside of a 20cm springform cake tin with coconut oil. Press the base mixture firmly into the base of the tin, and up the sides if you like. Set aside.

Filling:

Blitz vanilla beans and lime zest on speed 10 for 10 seconds.

- 2 vanilla beans, snipped into 4 pieces (can use 1 bean in a pinch)

- zest from 2 limes (just peel off with a sharp potato peeler)

Add cashews and grind on speed 10 for 8 seconds.

- 150g raw cashews*

Add remaining ingredients and blend on speed 9 for 1 minute, scraping down as needed, until lovely and smooth.

- flesh of 1 lime

- 320g fresh avocados (or frozen, cut in 1-2cm cubes)

- 100g pure maple syrup

- 55g coconut oil

- a pinch of fine Himalayan salt

Pour filling into springform tin, spreading over the base. Place in freezer for at least half an hour.

* If using soaked raw cashews, only soak for up to 6 hours, drain well and pat dry with tea towel, then mix with the other ingredients (lime, avocado, etc) all at once, blending until smooth.

Just look at those lovely little vanilla bean seeds in the filling.... Mmmm!

Topping:

Mix together until smooth on speed 9:

- 150g raw macadamias (soaked for a few hours, then drained and dried off a bit)

- 150g Ayam coconut cream (or other thick coconut cream)

- 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste

- juice of 1 lime

- 30g pure maple syrup

Pour over filling and smooth with spatula.

Decoration:

While topping is still soft, before freezing, add extra macadamia nuts and lime zest for decoration, sprinkling first the nuts, then the zest, around the edge of the cheesecake. (See photos)

- a good sized handful of macadamia nuts, roughly chopped (if you haven't bought them already in pieces)

- zest of one lime, grated with a zester

Place the finished cheesecake, covered with a plastic bag, in the freezer and leave it alone for at least 2 hours, preferably more. It's best eaten semi-frozen. It will last for weeks in the freezer... but we all know that's not going to happen. ;)

Enjoy!