smallthingsbynona

lemon pudding - a recipe

2014-08-23T14:48:00.002+10:00

Lemon Pudding
125g butter, softened
250g cream cheese
2/3c xylitol
8 egg yolks
1 1/2c almond meal
zest and juice of 1 lemon

Cream butter, cream cheese and xylitol in bowl.
Add egg yolks, almond meal and zest and juice of 1 lemon.
Stir until well combined.
Pour into a greased baking dish.
Bake at 160degC for 1 hour or until set and golden on top.

Serve with your favorite frosting or whipped cream sweetened with stevia.

For all the Trim Healthy Mamas out there, this recipe is a THM S.
This is a lovely recipe to use the egg yolks up when you make Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal.

What do you make with your extra egg yolks?

apple cinnamon baked oatmeal - a recipe

2014-08-23T14:27:00.001+10:00

This baked oatmeal dish has become a breakfast favorite at my house.
I love it because it can be prepared the night before and then heated as needed. And it's so tasty!
It can also last for up to a week in the fridge, if it doesn't get gobbled up before then!!

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal
4c rolled oats
2tsp baking powder
1/2tsp sea salt
4c diced apples
1c liquid egg whites or 8 egg whites
4c unsweetened almond milk
2tsp vanilla essence
2tsp ground cinnamon
2/3c xylitol

Grease and line a large casserole dish.
Preheat oven 160degC.
In a large bowl, add all ingredients and stir until combined.
Pour into casserole dish and bake for 1 1/2 hours or until set and slightly browned around the edges.

Makes approx 12, 1 cup serves.

For all you Trim Healthy Mamas, this baked oatmeal is a THM E.
Serve with a dollop of 0% Greek yoghurt, sweetened with your favorite plan approved sweetener.
I use pure stevia drops or stevia blend.

This recipe works just as well with carton liquid egg whites as with whole eggs separated. The only thing with using fresh eggs for the whites, is what to do with all the yolks? There is only so much mayonnaise and lemon curd I can make! I have come up with another recipe to use all the yolks left over from this baked oatmeal, Lemon Pudding. Click through and give it a try.

Happy baking!

jaffa choc chip cookies - a recipe

2014-07-20T09:58:00.001+10:00

Jaffa Choc Chip Cookies - S

In a mixing bowl place;
120g softened butter

3 egg yolks

2 tsp vanilla essence

3Tb stevia blend (I use Natvia)

1 Tb flax meal

2 Tb vanilla or unflavoured protein powder

3 Tb coconut flour

5 Tb almond flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp baking powder

Mixed until well combined.

Then stir in:
50g sugar free orange flavoured chocolate bar, chopped
1/4 tsp orange essence

Drop teaspoonfuls onto a lined baking tray and bake at 160degreesC for 12 minutes.

Makes about 15 cookies.

These are an S snack for Trim Healthy Mamas.

almond crackers - a recipe

2014-07-15T12:46:00.001+10:00

1 1/2c almond meal

1 1/2c flax meal

2tsp sea salt

ground black pepper

2tsp baking powder

2Tb nutritional yeast

1 whole egg

1/2c cream cheese

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

Divide dough into 4.

Roll one portion between baking paper until very thin.

Grind extra salt over dough.

Sprinkle paprika over.

Roll to push seasonings into dough.

Remove top paper and place on pizza stone.

Bake 170degC until lightly browned and crisp, about 20 min.

When cool, store in air tight container.

Trim healthy mama S

oat crackers - a recipe

2014-07-14T20:10:00.000+10:00

Into a food processor bowl add,
4 cups rolled oats
1 tsp salt.
Blend until flour.
Add in,
1 cup egg whites
1 whole egg.
Pulse until combined.
Divide mixture into 4.
Roll very thin between baking paper.
Sprinkle with sea salt and dried rosemary.
Score into squares.
Cook on pre heated pizza stone at 170degC.
Check and turn after 10min.
Cook until light golden and crispy.
Cool on wire rack.
Store in airtight container.

Trim Healthy Mama E cracker.

The best cracker to eat with hommus.

Note to self...next time make the crackers before the hommus if I want to have any hommus left to eat with the crackers!

coffee cake for one - a recipe

2014-07-07T20:55:00.001+10:00

Coffee cake is one of my new go-to foods for breakfast. Eaten with fluffy (unsweetened) whipped cream, it is truly scrumptious. I really do love being a Trim Healthy Mama!

I certainly can not take credit for this fabulous tasting treat. Credit goes to the amazing RohndaSue. She shares recipes for delicious, healthy treats and family meals. Subscribe to her blog and follow her on Facebook. Her food photography alone is worth the read!

This image was designed to be a quick reminder of the ingredients, for those who have used the full instructions before. I like to have the recipe stored in picture form, so I can access it on my phone. You might like to do the same.

How do you store the recipes you go to again and again?

*note*
The recipe in the image is written to my taste.
I have made some minor modifications.

turkish delight slushie - a recipe

2013-10-29T21:48:00.001+11:00

This drink seriously tastes like turkish delight confectionery. All you Trim Healthy Mamas out there know that traditional turkish delight is way off-plan, being made from sugar, sugar and sugar!! But this delicious, frosty drink is bang on-plan. Fuel Pull if restraint is used when adding the strawberries or E if you find your handful to be on the generous side.

Rosewater can be found in most supermarkets and is the base for the fragrant, rosy drink. Lemon essence or oil provides the sour contrast to a balance the sweetness. You could also get away without adding the gluc, it would just be more icy. Or try using xanthan gum. No health benefits like gluc but it is more accessible and will produce a comparable result.

This image may be copied onto your mobile device so you can access the recipe where-ever you are.

Enjoy!!

What are your favorite THM drinks?

apple pie sip - a recipe

2013-10-27T09:00:00.000+11:00

Another in the series of all day sips, drinks you can feel good sipping on all day, by the authors of Trim Healthy Mama. These girls know how to make drinks packed with flavour and health benefits.

As with my other THM recipe images, the instructions for this drink can be found on the Trim Healthy Mama Facebook page. Save this image on you mobile device and you will have access to the ingredients where ever you are.

What other THM recipe images would you find useful?

lemon ginger ggms - a recipe

2013-10-26T21:08:00.001+11:00

Lemon Ginger Good Girl Moonshine is my take on the basic GGMS recipe devised by Pearl and Serene, the authors of Trim Healthy Mama. It is a refreshing drink that can be sipped on all day. And it's good for you too!

I have never before been able to stomach the taste of ACV (it always reminded me of being sick as a kid), but this recipe adds flavour over the top which makes it perfectly palatable. The other trick I've found, is to make it sweeeeet. Then the ACV is not so overpowering. Also, if you really can't do the 1Tb ACV then just put in 1tsp and add more after your taste buds adjust. But whatever you do, do not leave the ACV out. You loose a really beneficial ingredient and the drink has no real flavour without it.

I make this by the litre jar for me and by the jug for my kids. It's our bottled fizzy drink replacement

There are all sorts of variations on the Ginger GGMS. Keep a look out for my pink berry variation!! Search Pinterest for others too.

The directions, along with the original ingredients list can be found on the Trim Healthy Mama Facebook page. Be sure to join the page as I don't think the link will work without joining.

If you save the image to your mobile device, you will have easy access to the recipe where ever you are. Be sure to create a THM folder in your Gallery to keep them all together.

Do you have any THM recipe images to share? Leave us a link in the comments.

singing canary - a recipe

2013-10-26T16:30:00.002+11:00

The Singing Canary is one of the wonderful drinks developed by the authors of Trim Healthy Mama. You will find the detailed instructions and health benefits of the drink on the Trim Healthy Mama Facebook page. This image was designed to be a quick reminder of the ingredients, for those who have used the full instructions before.
Do make it if you have not already. It is surprisingly delicious!! I'm a little addicted!

Do you have any THM basic recipe images that you could share?

lemon sorbet slushie - a recipe

2013-10-23T22:51:00.000+11:00

Just the most perfectly refreshing summer drink.

Lemon Sorbet Slushie - FP
ice to the 2cup line in the blender
1/4 c lemon juice
1/4c unsweetened almond milk
3 strips lemon rind
splash of lemon essence/oil
stevia to taste
water to cover ice
1/2tsp glucomannan

Blend, blend, blend!
Pour and enjoy.
Makes a generous 500mls.

Notes::
Heaps of sweetener is needed to balance the sour lemon.
Don't miss the lemon peel, it adds a lovely depth of flavour to the drink.
I use my home grown Myer lemons. Peel the rind and keep it in the freezer.
The lemon essence/oil is optional but it does ramp up the lemonyness.
This is a FP Trim Healthy Mama compatible drink.

Enjoy!

What's your favourite THM drink?

Edit to add recipe image for my THM FB friends.
Save image to your mobile device and you will have the recipe where ever you are!!

super food green smoothie - a recipe

2013-09-02T21:35:00.000+10:00

Super Food Green Smoothie (FP)

150g spinach leaves
150g mixed lettuce leaves
2 sticks celery
1 bunch mint leaves
2 cups water

Blend together until very smooth.
Pour this into 6 large silicone muffin holes and freeze overnight.
To make up one serve, blend together

1 frozen green block
1 cup water
1 tsp glucomannan
stevia drops to taste
1 tsp spirulina, chlorella, barley grass and wheat grass powder mix

Drink immediately with a straw.
I don't know what it is, but drinking this with a straw makes it taste so different, to me anyway!!?

This is a variation on the THM Earth Milk. I love Earth Milk but sometimes I don't feel like anything creamy.

Let me know what you think.

chai shrinker - a recipe

2013-08-27T22:11:00.000+10:00

This is my tweek on the Trim Healthy Mama 'Shrinker' drink.

Chai Shrinker (FP)

1 Tb chai spice mix

1 oolong tea bag

pinch sea salt

pinch cayenne pepper

stevia to taste

Brew chai spice mix and tea bag in recently boiled water.

Strain into mugs and add the remaining ingredients.

Serve hot or chilled.

Sharing at Trim Healthy Tuesday

chai spice mix - a recipe

2013-08-27T20:01:00.002+10:00

This spice mix is the one I made up for my Chai Masala Tea.

Ingredients
20g cardamom pods
15g whole cloves
12g whole star anise
15g cinnamon quils
2tsp ground cinnamon
1tsp whole black pepper

Combine all spices and crush roughly with a mortar and pestle.
Store in an air tight jar.

Chai Masala (FP)
In a teapot add your teabag of choice, I like Orange Peeko or even regular tea.
Add 1 Tb spice mix.
Cover with freshly boiled water and steep for 10min.
Pour through a tea strainer.
Serve hot with (almond) milk and (stevia) sweetener to taste.

It is also a great spice mix to use in my version of the Trim Healthy Mama drink, the Shrinker. The Shrinker is a weight-loss promoting spiced drink that is great to drink hot or chilled throughout the day.
Check out my Chai Shrinker (FP) recipe too.

peppermint toothpaste

2013-08-27T19:38:00.000+10:00

Cleansing, protective, healing.

This toothpaste is fabulous.
It is so easy to make, tastes good and is really good for teeth!

I have been researching for a while, alternatives to conventional supermarket toothpastes for a couple of reasons.
My kids are not good at spitting toothpaste and will often eat the tube toothpaste. This concerns me because of all the potentially harmful chemicals in conventional toothpaste. Even when used as recommended, the bad stuff has to be taken up into the body. And I don't want that.
We also have a tendancy to waste so much toothpaste around the sink, sqirted into the tub, spread over the bath toys...!!! I have very creative and curious kids! When I can make the same quantity of toothpaste for a fraction of the price of a supermarket tube, if some gets wasted, I don't mind so much.

There is a better, healthier and cheaper alternative to supermarket toothpastes.
I thought it was silly not to give it a try!

Coconut oil is healing and will help the remineralisation of tooth enamel. It is also said to be antibacterial and will reduce the number of bacteria that causes tooth decay.
Bicarbonate of soda will gently scrub the tooth, cleaning and polishing the tooth surface. The bicarbonate of soda is quite salty so if it is too salty for you, just cut the quantity back some.
Peppermint oil leaves pleasant fresh breath and is reminiscent of regular tube toothpaste. Try other essential oils for different flavours if you like.
The xylitol has many positive health benefits. It is a natural sweetener with none of the scary health effects of artificial sweeteners. Xylitol actively reduces tooth decay, with regular use as the sugar is in a non fermentable form. It is even said that xyltiol promotes remineralisation of tooth enamel.

Homemade Peppermint Toothpaste
¼c coconut oil
2Tb bicarbonate of soda
10 drops peppermint essential oil (or to taste)
1Tb xylitol (or to taste)

Mash all ingredients together.
Store in a lidded jar.
Use as for conventional toothpaste.

Do you make your own toothpaste? What special ingredients do you include?

lemon curd tart with almond crust - a recipe

2013-07-27T22:23:00.000+10:00

I love lemon curd. I love the tang and bite of fresh squeezed lemony goodness. All served up in a flaky tender tart shell. Yum!

This is my new low carb version of an old favorite, lemon curd tart with almond crust.
(If you are interested, this dessert is also gluten free, sugar free and grain free.)

Lemon Curd Tart with Almond Crust (S)
1 qty almond cookie dough
4 egg yolks
1/4c xylitol
1/2c lemon juice
125g chilled butter

Make up dough as per instructions.
Press into 1 greased family sized pie dish or several individual dishes.
Bake tart shells at 160 degC for 20min or until lightly golden brown.
Cool and then chill in fridge.

While the base is chilling, prepare the lemon curd.
Mix egg yolks, xylitol, lemon juice and chopped butter in a heat proof dish.
Set dish over a pot of water and bring the water to the boil, whisking constantly.
Keep whisking until the curd thickens.
Take off the heat immediately.
Cool and chill in fridge. It will thicken further when cool.

To make up tarts, spoon curd into the baked and cooled tart shells.
Serve with a handful of raspberries and whipped cream.

This lemon curd can also be used as a spread or sauce for other desserts.
Store in the fridge in a glass jar for up to 2 weeks.

Enjoy.

If you were wondering what the S in the recipe title was for, it indicates a Satisfying food type. This classification is used in the Trim Healthy Mama food plan. THM encourages eating nutrient rich, whole foods in a way which supports good health and weight management for the whole family.
Check out their web site for further info.

Are you a Trim Healthy Mama? Or are you low carb?
What are your favorite desserts?

almond cookies - a recipe

2013-07-27T22:08:00.000+10:00

Tender, light and flaky.
These cookies are deliciously low carb, and very versatile. Not only do they make yummy cookies, the dough can be used to make a tart or pie shell. I like it as the base of my lemon curd tart.

Almond Cookies (S)
200g soft butter
2c almond meal
1/2c whey protein powder
1/4-1/3c xylitol (depending on taste)
1/2tsp lemon essence

Stir all ingredients together until well combined and smooth.
Form dough into a log and wrap with cling film.
Chill in freezer for 30min.
Remove from cling film and slice into 1cm thick rounds.
Place on baking paper and cook for 15min at 180 degC (check after 10min)
Cookies should be lightly golden.
Cool on baking tray.

peanut butter energy bites - a recipe

2013-06-12T23:15:00.000+10:00

Just sharing a little something I put together.
I wanted an easy snack which had little sugar, loads of good fats and protein and great taste of course!! So many energy ball recipes were bound together with honey or heaps of dried fruit and I wanted to sweeten with stevia. The whole aim was to make a low carb, good fat snack and that is what I have.
And it tastes sooo good!!

Peanut Butter Energy Bites (S)

1c shreaded coconut

2/3c whole cashews

2/3c whole almonds
45g sugar free dark chocolate (sweetened with stevia)

2/3c smooth peanut butter (no added sugar or salt)

Pulse coconut, whole nuts and chocolate in blender until finely chopped.
Tip into large bowl.
Stir through peanut butter.
Form into 1 tsp balls.
Chill and enjoy.

Makes 48 bites

Let me know what you think.
Do you have a favorite low carb snack food?

**edited to remove sultanas - becomes an S snack**

pallet wood wall art

2013-05-27T20:33:00.000+10:00

Today I'd like to share with you a project I completed recently, with my new favorite material, pallet wood.

Through Pinterest I found a heap of designs for furniture made using reclaimed timber and pallet wood. I just love the junky chic of well worn timber. So I bought myself a reciprocating saw, loaded up a trailer full of free pallets and got to experimenting. If you don't yet own a power tool, I so recommend it. Heaps of fun and so easy to create something great.

This project cost me nothing in materials. I used free pallets and leftover screws, nails and paint from our ongoing house renovation.
I didn't take any progress photos, sorry! But the instructions will be really simple. Promise!

1. Break down a pallet. Cut through the nails with a reciprocating saw or pry the timber apart with a crow bar and hammer. Remove all protruding nails.
2. Choose a few pieces of timber which look good to you. Lightly sand and arrange.
3. Flip timber over. Nail two bracing pieces across the back to join all pieces together.
4. With a large dry brush, lightly paint the front. Make it messy. I used leftover house paint.
5. When dry, sand painted areas and all over front.
6. Make a stencil with stiff cardboard. I hand wrote the word love and cut it with a Stanley knife.
7. Paint your word on the front using the stencil. I used poster paint.
8. Screw some eyelets into the back for hanging.
9. Find a great place to hang your masterpiece.
10. Wait for the compliments.

Hopefully the compliments you get are better than mine. My 6 year old asked me why we had a lump of wood hanging on our wall. And I have still to convince my husband. Oh well!! I like it and I hope you do too!!

Have fun creating!

back to school check list - a free printable

2013-01-10T19:26:00.001+11:00

image source

Well it is almost that time of year again, back to school.

If you are anything like me, you have reminders and to do points scribbled on bits of paper everywhere!
To make it easier on myself and you too, I have put together a check list of all the most common things to do at this time of year.

I looked at several on line offerings but none that I found suited the differing needs of several kids. This document is customisable for 5 children. Just write their names at the top of the columns and tick as you get stuff done! To make it truely customisable I have included a blank form too!

Back to School List Share

Back to School List Share Blank

Hope this helps your back to school preparations.

Enjoy what remains of your school holidays!!

raspberry sorbet - a recipe

2012-12-26T20:09:00.000+11:00

A dear friend dropped off a huge bucket of freshly picked raspberries today

and my mind went straight to sorbet.

Well straight after eating several bowls full

and then realising that we could not possibly eat them all while they were still fresh!!

What a problem to have!!

My recipe is a very easy one, no cooking involved.

The sorbet is not overly sweet and lets the flavour of the raspberries shine through.

Raspberry Sorbet (makes 1 litre)

500g raspberries

juice of one lemon

50ml orange juice

1 cup white sugar

1. Blend all ingredients together to form a smooth puree.

2. Sieve to remove seeds.

3. Pour into an ice cream machine and process until done.
Or, pour into a shallow tray and freeze, stirring several times to break up the ice crystals.

What fresh produce do you have in excess at the moment?
What are you doing to preserve it?

diy christmas ornaments - part one

2012-11-21T18:38:00.001+11:00

Tonight the big boys and I used air dry clay to make Christmas ornaments. It is a very easy craft and with the purchase of the clay, you will most likely have everything else in your cupboards.

What you will need:
air dry clay
cookie cutters
butter knife
skewer
rolling pin
baking paper

What to do:
Knead the clay until soft.
Roll out until 4mm thick.
Press cookie cutter into clay.
Remove excess clay. (Keep to reuse)
Make a hole for hanging with skewer.
Place on baking paper.
Repeat until clay is all used up.
Allow to dry according to instructions on pack.

Next time I will share the decorating ideas we used.

Hope you are enjoying the lead up to the Christmas season.

my garden today

2012-11-16T14:10:00.001+11:00

We have all been rather busy in the back yard of late. Lots of major landscaping and planting for the growing season. So I thought I'd show you around. It should go with out saying that nothing is finished, but when are things truly finished in a growing garden??
The chicken house has a built in nesting box and we have two new girls in the flock.
The seedlings are planted out; sweet corn, beans, peas, tomatoes and squash.
I've moved two garden beds and they are ready for more tomatoes and squash. Mum and I with the two little kids, went to the local horse track and collected a trailer load of horse muck. Hope to see some happy veggies soon!
The ornamental bed is looking good. The weeds are just as happy as the roses, dahlias and camellias!!
We still have a lot of dirt too. The dirt pit is soon to be our patio. It will be ready for the summer holidays?!!
I do enjoy getting outside and getting dirty. The evening ritual of watering is one of my most relaxing times of the day and I do look forward to it.

Hope you gardens are growing too.

the one hour reversible wrap skirt

2012-09-24T12:44:00.000+10:00

You will need:

about 50cm each of two co-ordinating fabrics (for an average adult, knee length skirt)

2m pre-made cotton tape (or make your own, I show you how)

sewing machine, scissors, thread, tape measure, iron and board

and about 1 hour

To wear, you just step inside the skirt and pull the tape around in front and tie where comfortable.
Open up, twist skirt around and re-tie. There you have a different skirt!!
This works for a ladies skirt as well as for a little girl.
Got an hour and some fabric in your stash? Make a skirt! It is that easy.

apple tarts - a recipe

2012-09-16T22:38:00.000+10:00

When you promise your kids apple tarts, there is an expectation that you will deliver on the promise. This is what I came up with. They are quick, they are simple and they come together in under an hour. The pretty cases are just for show. The tarts are just as easily made in a muffin tin.

Ingredients

apples, cored and sliced

rose petal jam or sugar

frozen pastry sheets

corn flour

Method

Preheat oven 200 degrees C.

Take pastry from the freezer and let come to room temperature. Each square makes four tarts.
Core and slice, leaving the peel on, about one apple per tart. Gently stew apples in a little water, over medium heat, with sugar or rose petal jam to taste. If you don't have a mum who makes the best rose petal jam there is, then sugar will do. The jam gives the apples a heady, floral overtone which makes a lovely change to cinnamon and cloves. Only heat the apples until just starting to break down.
While the apples are cooking, mould pastry into greased muffin holes or paper cases.
Thicken apples with a little corn flour.
Fill pastry with apple.
Bake until golden brown.
Enjoy with ice cream or custard! Yum!