Sticky ribs

Poppy cooks...

Serves 2

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.
   
   
2. Cut
   rack of pork ribs into individual ribs and place in a roasting dish (with a lid) lined with foil.
   
   
3. To make the marinade, place in a small pot
   1 teaspoon ginger, grated,
   clove of garlic, minced,
   75ml apple juice,
   50ml white wine vinegar,
   1.25 tablespoons tomato paste,
   2 teaspoons dijon mustard,
   50ml soy sauce and
   4 tablespoons manuka honey, whisking together over medium heat until sauce thickens (approximately 10-15 minutes).
   
   
4. Coat the ribs with marinade, put lid on and place in oven for 10 minutes.
   
   
5. Flip ribs over, place lid back on and in oven for another 10 minutes.
   
   
6. Remove from oven, turn ribs around, and place back in oven without lid for a further 5 minutes.
   
   
7. Flip ribs over, still without lid on and in oven for a final 5 minutes.
   
   
8. We serve these with rice and stir fried greens to make a whole meal.

kedgeree

Serves 6

Poppy cooks...

1. Soak
   1 cup puy lentils for at least an hour, then drain.
   
   
2. In a saucepan, boil
   4 eggs with
   2 fillets salmon in a steamer insert above. Once the salmon is cooked through, flake; and once the eggs are cooked, cut into quarters; then set all aside.
   
   
3. Saute
   2 onions, sliced to your desired level of caramelisation, then set aside.
   
   
4. Melt
   2 tablespoons coconut oil in a large pan, then add
   1.5 cups basmati rice, lentils,
   2 bay leaves,
   4 garlic cloves, minced,
   knob of ginger, grated,
   sprinkle of chilli powder to your liking,
   1 teaspoon ground turmeric,
   2 teaspoons ground cumin,
   2 teaspoons ground coriander and stir until fragrant.
   
   
5. Add
   3 cups filtered water and bring to the boil then reduce heat to low and cover, cooking until the rice and lentils are done.
   
   
6. Stir through
   bag spinach, then add fish, eggs, onions and
   bunch parsley, chopped.
   
   
7. Serve with a
   wedge of lemon.

paleo macaroni and cheese

Serves 4

For a non-paleo version that the kids will love, substitute the cauliflower (so, substitute the whole of step 1) for some brown rice pasta.

Poppy cooks…

1. Saute
   1.5 cauliflower, cut into florets in
   2 tablespoons nuttelex,
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   1/4 cup filtered hot water until cauliflower is cooked and lightly caramelised, then set aside and keep warm.
   
   
2. Saute
   2 tablespoons nuttelex,
   3 squash, diced,
   carrot, diced,
   onion, diced,
   3 garlic cloves, minced,
   3/4 teaspoon ground mustard and
   1 teaspoon celtic sea salt.
   
   
3. Add
   165ml tin coconut cream and simmer until the coconut cream is slightly reduced.
   
   
4. Place in a blender and puree until smooth.
   
   
5. Add an
   egg yolk and blend well.
   
   
6. Return sauce to the pan, then add a
   bag of spinach and stir through until spinach is slightly wilted.
   
   
7. Add
   cracked black pepper to taste.
   
   
8. Serve cauliflower florets topped with sauce.

apple coleslaw

Serves 6

Poppy cooks…

1. In a mixing bowl, combine
   2 cups green cabbage, finely sliced,
   1.5 cups red cabbage, finely sliced,
   carrot, julienned and
   granny smith apple, julienned.
   
   
2. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together
   3 tablespoons mayonnaise,
   2 tablespoons olive oil,
   1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar,
   1 tablespoon lemon juice,
   2 teaspoons poppy seeds,
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
   
   
3. Pour dressing over coleslaw and serve.

home-made potato nuggets

Serves 2

A great side for adults, or for kid's meals! Just allow one potato per serve.

Poppy cooks…

1. Wash and peel
   2 potatoes and boil in
   filtered water until cooked, then drain.
   
   
2. Grate potatoes, drain excess moisture, add
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper then form into nuggets shapes.
   
   
3. Place in a frying pan with a little
   olive oil, continually turning until golden all around.

You can also use sweet potato and/or oven bake the nuggets instead of pan-frying.

apple + maple syrup cake

Serves 10

Poppy bakes…

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC and line a cake tin.
   
   
2. In a mixing bowl combine
   5 tablespoons nuttelex, melted,1/2 cup coconut sugar,
   1/2 cup maple syrup,
   1 egg, lightly beaten and
   1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
   
   
3. Stir through
   1 cup gluten-free plain flour,
   1 teaspoon baking powder,
   1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   1.5 cups granny smith apples, chopped.
   
   
4. Pour mixture into cake tin, bake for 30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean and allow to cool before serving.

asian fusion salad

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. In a small pot bring to the boil
   3/4 cup quinoa in
   1.5 cups hot filtered water and simmer until liquid is absorbed.
   
   
2. In a salad bowl, place the quinoa with
   3/4 cup shelled edamame beans,
   red capsicum, diced,
   carrot, peeled into ribbons or grated,
   1 cup pineapple, cut into bite size pieces,
   1.5 cups purple cabbage, finely shredded and mix together.
   
   
3. In a small bowl, whisk together
   juice of 1/4 lime,
   1.5 tablespoons tamari sauce,
   tablespoon agave syrup and
   2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar.
   
   
4. Add dressing to salad and mix together.
   
   
5. Garnish with
   teaspoon sesame seeds.

beetroot + apple salad

Serves 2

Poppy cooks…

1. In a bowl combine
   250g beetroot, cooked, peeled and diced,
   granny smith apple, cored and diced,
   1/2 bunch chives, chopped and
   4 tablespoons mayonnaise (such as Norganic).
   
   
2. Garnish with additional chopped chives.

cacao crackles

Serves 12

A great snack for the adults as well as the kids, that tastes even better than the Kellog's version I remember from my childhood.

Poppy makes…

1. Bring a pot of water to the boil.
   
   
2. Place a mixing bowl on top of the pot with
   6 tablespoons coconut oil,
   3 tablespoons coconut butter,
   1/3 cup coconut sugar,
   3.5 tablespoons cacao powder and
   1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and stir until melted together.
   
   
3. Remove mixing bowl from the heat and stir through
   1/2 cup fine desiccated coconut and
   2 cups brown rice puffs.
   
   
4. Spoon into paper patty cases or silicone moulds.
   
   
5. Place in the refrigerator to set.
   

For a more chocolatey indulgent version, increase the proportion of coconut oil and cacao to brown rice puffs. Or for a bit of variety, you can try any puffed grain, such as puffed buckwheat, puffed quinoa or puffed amaranth.

raw coconut treats

Serves 12

Poppy makes…

1. Soak
   10 medjool dates in warm water for at least half an hour.
   
   
2. Pit the dates, then blend with
   2 cups fine desiccated coconut,
   1.5 tablespoons cacao powder and
   2 tablespoons coconut cream until well combined.
   
   
3. You can press the mixture into a lined slice tin or roll into balls before placing in the freezer to set - easy!

roast sweet potato topped with quinoa, kale + cranberries

Serves 6

Poppy cooks…

1. Cut 
   3 sweet potatoes in half lengthways, lay on a baking tray, drizzle with 
   olive oil, season with 
   celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper and roast in a 180˚ oven for 1 hour
   
   
2. In a medium pot, cook 
   1 cup quinoa (you can use white quinoa, red quinoa, or a mixture of both) in 
   2 cups vegetable stock and set aside
   
   
3. Saute 
   diced onion in 
   olive oil
   
   
4. Add 
   4 cups chopped kale (about half a bunch) and 
   1/4 cup dried cranberries and sauté until kale is soft
   
   
5. Stir through cooked quinoa and scoop mixture onto cooked sweet potato halves

strawberry cake

Serves 10

Ingredients

250g fresh strawberries

1/2 cup coconut sugar

1/2 cup EVOO

1 egg

1.5 cups gluten-free self raising flour

1/2 cup rice milk

Method

1. Line a medium loaf tin or cake tin with baking paper
2. Halve enough strawberries to cover tin and set aside. Chop remaining strawberries
3. Beat together sugar, oil and egg on high for 5-8 minutes until thick and creamy
4. Fold in flour and milk
5. Fold in chopped strawberries
6. Pour mixture into tin and top with halved strawberries
7. Bake in a 170˚C oven for 70 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean
8. Stand to cool before serving

Notes
For added texture to this light and fluffy cake, try adding quinoa flakes!

beetroot + potato salad

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Boil
   500g (approximately 3) royal blue potatoes, peeled and chopped in a pot of filtered water with a pinch of
   celtic sea salt until tender, then allow to cool.
   
   
2. To make dressing, whisk together
   2.5 tablespoons mayonnaise,
   3 sprigs tarragon, finely chopped,
   1 garlic clove, crushed,
   2 teaspoons capers (approximately 9), finely chopped,
   1.5 tablespoons white wine vinegar,
   1.5 tablespoons oil and a pinch of
   celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper; and keep in the fridge until you are ready to serve.
   
   
3. Prepare
   150g radish (approximately 3), finely sliced and
   250g beetroot, cooked, peeled and diced.
   
   
4. To serve, add dressing to potatoes and toss, place in serving bowl, top with radishes and beetroot in layers and garnish with some extra
   tarragon.

Notes
As I have mentioned in previous posts, Love Beets produce pre-cooked and pre-peeled beetroots with no preservatives or added nasties - a great time saver! They are available at most IGAs in the fresh vegetable section.

avocado + egg crispibreads

Per serve

Ingredients

Orgran Multigrain Crispibread with Quinoa

egg, boiled and chopped

1/4 avocado, diced

cracked black pepper

Method

The method is, there is no real method! Just pile the ingredients on the Crispibread for a quick snack. Obviously, this is more a concept than a recipe - so feel free to use toasted gluten-free bread, corn crackers, rice crackers or any other type of base. You can smash the avocado instead of dicing it, and add any ingredients you have to hand. I quite like adding dried cranberries for a sweeter version.

blueberry muffin top cookies

Makes approximately 30 cookies

My husband was very accurate in describing these cookies as tasting like muffin tops! They aren't your usual crunchy cookie but soft just like the best part of any blueberry muffin. The brand of coconut yoghurt and gluten free flour you use will impact on the texture of the cookies, but regardless, they are yum.

Poppy bakes...

1. Preheat oven to 190°C and line baking tray with baking paper
   
   
2. Using a spatula, mix together
   1 cup coconut sugar and 
   1.5 cups coconut yoghurt.
   
   
3. Add
   1 egg and
   1 teaspoon vanilla essence and mix together, then set aside.
   
   
4. Stir together
   2 cups gluten free plain flour,
   2 teaspoons baking powder and
   1/2 teaspoon celtic sea salt.
   
   
5. Add wet ingredients to dry and fold together.
   
   
6. Gently fold in
   1 punnet / 1 cup blueberries.
   
   
7. Spoon desired sized mounds on to baking paper with adequate space in between and bake for 10-20 minutes or until golden.
   
   
8. Cool cookies on a wire rack before eating.

For an energy boosting snack, team these cookies with a glass of coconut water

Notes
These cookies are beautifully soft with a slightly chewy texture, so be sure to carefully lift them off the baking tray using a flat spatula when placing them on a wire rack to cool.

salmon with a summer salsa

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/4 red onion, finely diced

green chilli, seeds removed and finely diced

red capsicum, finely diced

mango, cubed

avocado, cubed

lemon juice

4 potatoes, cubed

hot filtered water

celtic sea salt

nuttelex

4 salmon fillets

Method

1. Toss red onion, chilli, capsicum, mango, avocado and a squeeze of lemon juice together in a salad bowl and set aside
2. In a pot, add potato with enough water to immerse potato. Cook until tender, drain and mash
3. Add nuttelex and salt to mashed potatoes to taste
4. Cook salmon skin side down first until crispy, then turn over until cooked through
5. Divide mashed potato amongst serving plates, place salmon fillets on top followed by salsa. Garnish with micro herbs

Notes
This is a perfect dish for the warmer months. For a lighter meal, you can omit the mashed potato. Another alternative is to swap the mashed potato for mashed cauliflower.

tropical crumble

Serves 8

Ingredients: fruit mixture

1 mango, cubed

1 pineapple, cubed

3 tablespoons coconut sugar

1 vanilla pod, de-seeded

Ingredients: crumble 

1 cup gluten-free flour

1/4 cup coconut sugar

5 tablespoons nuttelex

1/2 cup fine desiccated coconut - toasted

Method

1. Combine mango, pineapple, coconut sugar and vanilla pod in a baking tray and bake for 20 minutes
2. Combine flour and nuttelex using a fork
3. Add coconut sugar and coconut and combine
4. Freeze crumble mixture for 10 minutes
5. Top fruit with crumble mixture and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown

Notes

If you want to make individual serves, simply spoon the fruit into ramekins before topping with crumble mixture and baking in the oven. You can also halve the amount of desiccated coconut and substitute with quinoa flakes.

beef sausage cassoulet

Serves 4

Ingredients

packet of Peppercorn Food Company Extra Lean Beef Sausages

onion, diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 potatoes, diced

410g tin of crushed tomatoes

1 tablespoon organic tomato paste

500ml organic chicken stock

400g tin of cannellini beans

1/2 bunch thyme sprigs

2 bay leaves

Fresh thyme

Method

1. Cook sausages and set aside
2. In a large pot, saute onion and garlic
3. Add potatoes, tomatoes, tomato paste, stock, cannellini beans, thyme and bay leaves. Cover with a lid and bring to the boil then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes
4. Remove lid, add sausages and simmer for a further 30 minutes until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is reduced

Notes
Depending on the type of sausages you use, season with celtic sea salt and pepper to taste before serving.

dog food

As all my followers will know, Poppy is our gorgeous West Highland Terrier. When it comes to food, Poppy is a typical female and can be very picky. A few years ago, in addressing a common West Highland Terrier skin condition, we put her on a veterinarian Hypoallergenic dog food, which helped to regulate her eating habits whilst also addressing her skin condition. We found that each meal time, we had to entice her to eat her food by adding a few nibbles of either meat or raw vegetables, and you would never dare to add the same thing for more than one meal in a row - how dare you!

Anyway, we take Poppy to a special Westie groomer half an hour away from her home - we figure it is worth the extra travel for a groomer that treats the dogs well and doesn't stress them out. This particular groomer also grooms show Westie's, so we have full confidence that he knows what he is doing when it comes to the haircare of Poppy. On our last visit, he introduced us to a New Zealand brand of dog food he was importing that is so good, I just had to tell you all about it!

It is called Ziwi Peak, and it is the perfect gluten free, dairy free and sugar free food FOR YOUR DOG! We buy the air-dried dog food which comes in three flavours: lamb, venison and venison + fish. As I mentioned before, Poppy has always been a picky eater, but since feeding her Ziwi Peak, she has become a real foodie! As soon as she hears the jar which we store her food in being opened, she comes racing in. We no longer have to add anything to her dog food to entice her to eat, just give her the Ziwi Peak and she is a happy Westie.

The only way I was able to take this picture of Poppy looking up at me was to dangle some Ziwi Peak in front of her, hehe

So what is so special about Ziwi Peak?

1. 1=3...Gently air dried to lock in great nutrition. Their unique, gentle air-drying process preserves the goodness of raw meat, organs and fish. 1 portion of air-dried ZiwiPeak = 3 of raw meat.
2. No preservatives, fillers or carbohydrates from grains. Only natural ingredients go into ZiwiPeak. It's totally free of any nasties, added sugars, salt, glycerines, antibiotics, hormones or preservatives.
3. Over 90% meat content. With over 95% digestibility rating, ZiwiPeak ensures your pet gets almost all the nutritional benefit or raw feeding.
4. 100% of all ingredients from New Zealand. From trusted pastures and clean oceans, safely and conveniently, to your pet's food bowl.
5. Wild-prey diet...A completely  balanced, natural, wild-prey, meat diet.  Exactly what your pet's digestive system has evolved to thrive on.

Some of my friends have complained that ZiwiPeak is more expensive than other brands of dog kibble. And it is, but it is still affordable at around $150 for a 5kg bag. You also no longer need to add anything else to their food to either entice them to eat or in an effort to give them a more rounded diet; just feed them ZiwiPeak alone - they never get sick of it and it provides them with all the nutrition they need! Plus, can you honestly put a price on your dog's health and well-being?

For more information and stockists, go to http://www.ziwipeak.com

broccoli + zucchini bake

Serves 4

Ingredients

red onion, diced

broccoli, cut into small florets

2 zucchini, sliced

celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper

crushed chilli flakes

hot filtered water

1/2 cup rice milk

4 free-range organic eggs

ground nutmeg

handful basil, chopped

Method

1. Saute onions in a frying pan with olive oil until softened
2. Add broccoli and zucchini, season lightly and add a pinch of crushed chilli flakes to taste. Add a dash of hot filtered water to the pan to soften the vegetables, and add more as necessary
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, pinch of celtic sea salt and a pinch of ground nutmeg until fluffy
4. Stir basil through egg mixture
5. When vegetables are softened and slightly browned, place in a baking dish and pour egg mixture over the top
6. Bake in a 180°C oven for about 30 minutes

Notes
If you are not following a dairy or lactose free diet, then sprinkle with cheese before placing in the oven.