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

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.

popcorn cacao squares

Makes approximately 12 squares

Ingredients

8 pitted medjool dates

1/2 cup finely desiccated coconut

3/4 cup raw organic cacao powder

3/4 cup coconut oil

2 teaspoons honey

2 cups organic popcorn with salt

Method

1. Finely chop dates and then blend into a smooth paste
2. Over a low heat combine dates, desiccated coconut, cacao powder, coconut oil and honey
3. Take mixture off the heat and stir through popcorn
4. Spread into a slice tin and set in the freezer for 20 minutes
5. Remove from freezer and cut into desired squares

Notes
This sweet snack not only tastes good, but is packed full of flavonoids which act as natural antioxidants!

roast pumpkin + cranberries with red quinoa

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Cook
   1 cup red quinoa with
   3 cups of filtered water in a rice cooker or on the cooktop.
   
   
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
   
   
3. On a baking tray, combine
   2.5 cups pumpkin, diced,
   1/2 red onion, finely diced and
   2 cloves garlic, minced,
   olive oil (enough to coat vegetables),
   2 teaspoons manuka honey,
   generous pinch of celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper,1/8 teaspoon ground ginger and
   1/8 teaspoon curry powder.
   
   

   

   
   Preparing ingredients in the roasting tray
   

   
   

4. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin and garlic are golden.
   
   
5. To serve, combine roasted ingredients with the cooked quinoa,
   1/2 cup dried cranberries and
   2 tablespoons parsley, chopped.

coconut water

As the weather is very slowly starting to warm up, I thought it was fitting to talk about coconut water. When I feel like I need an energy pick-me-up in the warmer months, or when I have a beach volleyball training session or match, I drink coconut water. Not only does it taste great, it contains 5 key electrolytes and is very hydrating. Here are some handy facts about 100% pure organic coconut water:

1. Coconut water is a liquid naturally present in the centre of a young coconut
2. It is clear and contains no fat or cholesterol unlike coconut milk and coconut cream which is derived from coconut flesh
3. There are no preservatives, no colouring and no additives
4. It is naturally rich in 5 key electrolytes - potassium, calcium, sodium, magnesium and phosphorous
5. Being rich in potassium (more than four bananas), coconut water can help reduce muscle cramping during exercise
6. It is a natural isotonic beverage with the same level of electrolytic balance present in human blood
7. It is more hydrating than water, being a great natural sports drink
8. It has fewer calories, less sodium, and more potassium than a sports drink
9. It boosts your immune system naturally
10. Contains chemicals that counter fatigue
11. Increases metabolism and weight loss
12. Aids in circulation
13. Detoxifies and fights viruses
14. Fights against stress
15. Balances body pH
16. Clears complexion
17. Is a great hangover cure
18. Is best served cold