ksayerphotography

Naturally delicious breakfasts!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 03:54:00 +0000

If you've read my blog before, chances are, you know breakfast is my favourite meal of the day

and if you haven't - well, now you do!

If I could have it for every meal I probably would and if I ever had to choose my final meal, you can be sure it'd be breakfast related.

When the weather is warmer, I love cold cereal - so this package from Nature's Path arrived just at the right time.

Nature's Path cereals are all USDA certified organic, meaning they don't contain any artificial preservatives, additives, GMOs or synthetic pesticides - so you know exactly what's going into your breakfast bowl.

Not only that, they taste delicious!

The Heritage Flakes are a blend of wheat, barley, quinoa and spelt which is lightly sweetened with honey and evaporated cane juice.
While this GF-er couldn't try the cereal, my taste testers would impressed with it's crunch and delicious flavour - it's a perfect multigrain cereal for eating alone or topping with whatever takes your fancy!

The Millet Rice flakes are wheat free and made from whole oat, brown rice, and millet flours and naturally sweetened with fruit juice.
According to my taste testers, this cereal has just the right amount of sweetness and got extra points for not going soggy in your milk - because who likes soggy cereal?!

Corn Flakes always remind me of being a kid and these Corn Flakes from Nature's Path didn't disappoint on the flavour front!
They're both wheat free and contain only traces of gluten - however they didn't cause any problems for me, and later in the year they will both be gluten free!

The Fruit Juice Sweetened Corn Flakes are made of pure cornmeal, lightly sweetened with concentrated fruit juice while the Honey'd Corn Flakes are sweetened with organic honey and evaporated cane juice.
Both are delicious on their own, used in baking or cooking or topped with whatever your heart desires! For me, it's got to be sliced banana!

The Spelt Flakes are naturally sweetened with fruit juice and are made of Spelt - an ancient whole grain related to wheat.
My taste testers were impressed with it's delicately sweet flavour and superb crunch.

Crispy Rice are crunchy nuggets made of brown rice flour, delicately sweetened with molasses and evaporated cane juice.
This cereal was one of my favourite, thanks to it's crunch and delicious flavour.

The Mesa Sunrise Flakes are a wheat free mix of corn, flaxseed and amaranth which is blended into golden cereal flakes and sweetened with evaporated cane juice.
They're crunchy and delicious and definitely one of my favourites!

Crispy Rice and the Mesa Sunrise Flakes currently not certified gluten free, but they caused no problems for me and will be certified GF by the end of the year!

Nature's Path also have an awesome range for kids (and kids at heart!)
Koala Crisp are chocolate flavoured puffed rice (100x better than Coco Pops!) and contain nothing artificial.
This was a delicious cereal, perfect for anyone and great for using in recipes!

Gorilla Munch is another one of my favourites, if you loved Corn Pops - this cereal is for you!
They're crunchy cornmeal spheres lightly sweetened with evaporated cane juice which are not only fun to eat, but delicious too!

Both cereals are free from wheat, egg, milk, corn and soy - and like the other cereals, will be certified GF by the end of the year!

Nature's Path Cereals are available at selected Health Food shops around the country, so keep your eye out for them!
You won't be disappointed! :)

So tell me,
are you a cereal fan?
or do you have another breakfast favourite?

Kristy received Nature's Path products courtesy of Kadac Health Foods (www.kadac.com.au)
If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

A super speed dinner solution!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:53:00 +0000

I think everyone regularly has the problem where you're stuck for what you are going to have for dinner.

You don't have much time or your fridge and pantry are looking pretty bare..

I thought I'd share a delicious recipe with you that might fix that problem for you,

or maybe even inspire your dinner one night this week!

This pasta dish is quick, easy and can use up whatever you have in your fridge.

This dish was inspired by some products sent to me from Global Organics

Global Organics products are sourced worldwide to give you quality organic food in your kitchen for your every day use.

Their tomato range includes;

tomato paste - perfect for adding a rich tomato flavour to dishes

pesto rosso - a delicious addition to sandwiches, pasta dishes, vegetables or whatever you fancy

tomato passata - a super easy base for pasta dishes or use in casseroles, as a pizza sauce etcetc.

Global organics also have the only Organic Black Beans on the market.

They're perfect for adding to mexican or latino style dishes and are packed full of fibre and antioxidants.

Global Organics traditional Italian style pestos are incredible - the basil pesto comes in two varieties, vegan pesto verde and basil pesto siciliano with the addition of delicious italian cheeses.

They're perfect for stirring through freshly cooked pasta for a simple meal.

The pesto siciliano is most definitely my favourite and something I'll be sure to keep in my pantry.

Global Organics mustards come in both a wholegrain mustard and a strong dijon mustard

which make the perfect addition to sandwiches or served alongside roasted meat or vegetables.

Olive paste or tapenade, as it's also known, is perfect for serving as a tangy spread for fresh bread and vegetables or used as an addition to cheese plates or to give your meals a burst of flavour

Global Organics Maple Syrup is delicious.

It's pure maple syrup, unlike the artificial Maple "flavoured" syrup you can find, so it has a delicious full flavour that's perfect for topping pancakes, ice cream or using in desserts.

It's even great with savoury dishes, try roasting carrots or vegetables in some maple syrup for a change!

But back to the pasta, you want the recipe - right?!

Well here it is! Remember, you can easily adapt it to suit whatever you have on hand at the time!

Super Simple Southwestern Black Bean Pasta

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 1/2 - 2C tomato passata

1 tbsp olive oil

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 small onion, finely diced

Optional: any vegetables you might have in your fridge - carrots, celery, capsicum etc.

1 1/2 tsp cumin

1 tsp dried oregano
Mexican chili powder, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
250g pasta, cooked al dente and drained (this can be increased/decreased to suit how many you're serving)
Grated cheese/coriander/shallots to top

In a medium saucepan, saute onion over a medium high heat until soft.

Add garlic and spices and saute for a further minute.

Stir in the tomato passata, gently stir through black beans.

Add pasta to the pan and toss through the sauce.

Add your desired toppings and enjoy! Simple as that.

Now, can you get any easier than that?!

The Global Organics range is available at a number of stockists around the country, to find the closest to you check here!

So tell me,

on rushed nights what's your go-to meal?

Kristy received Global Organics products courtesy of www.globalorganics.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Back, with breakfast!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 03:41:00 +0000

Why hello there!

I've been missing from here for a while now and I'm sorry!

Don't worry though, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth and I'm not dead - I've just been veeery busy.

I was recently reminded that I need to spend more time with my loved ones as well as helping them out wherever possible.

My sister had an almost one month stint in the hospital (and was even interviewed by Kyle and Jackie O)

and I became the stand-in mum - washing/cooking/cleaning/you name it - as well as trying to be at the hospital as much as I possibly could.

Because of that (and my incredible boyfriend coming for Christmas) I decided to take December off completely.

No work, no blogging, no plans.

It's been incredible to relax and spend some serious quality time with my family

but I've been getting a little restless (and it wasn't ants in my pants!) and feeling the need to be productive once again - SO I'M BACK!

So for my first blog post of 2012, I wanted to share my favourite breakfast with you.

It's gluten free, DELICIOUS!, super easy and perfect for weekends or that special treat.

It can also be made in advance and frozen so you can have a yummy baked breakfast any day of the week!

Banana Buckwheat Bake

gluten free, can be vegan, can be eggless and totally personalisable.

Adapted from Ashley @ The Edible Perspective

1/4C buckwheat flour

1 tbsp Buckwheat groats (see notes)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tbsp Milk (whatever you like)

1 medium banana

1 egg/1 chia/flax egg/egg replacer (see notes)

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

Optional: spices/chocolate chips/cocoa powder/fresh fruit/dried fruit/nuts/whatever you fancy

Preheat oven to 190*C.

Mash 3/4 of the banana, leaving 1/4 aside to slice and add to the top - Mix in milk and vanilla.

Add buckwheat flour, groats, baking powder, baking soda and salt to wet ingredients and mix until combined.

Pour mix into a non-stick baking pan (single serve), slightly greased ramekin or muffin cups.

Top bake with banana slices and bake for 30-40 minutes until cooked through.

Then add whatever toppings you desire - I love adding nut butter, cream cheese, yogurt or fresh fruit - it's up to you!

Notes:

Buckwheat flour is readily available at supermarkets as well as health food stores, or you can grind your own from raw buckwheat groats/kernels

Raw buckwheat groats are also readily available at supermarkets/health food stores. Sometimes you'll find them labelled as "buckwheat kernels" or "buckwheat grain" - just make sure you get the RAW version not the toasted kind.

Chia/flax egg - Whisk 1 tablespoon chia seed/bran or ground flaxseed and 2 tbsp warm water until it "gels" and has an egg-like consistency.

If you like things sweet add in some maple syrup/honey/sugar to your tastes

If you don't have buckwheat it works fine with oats - just use oat flour (ground from oats) and whole rolled oats instead of the buckwheat flour/groats.

So there you have it! The best breakfast you will ever make!

But do tell me,

How was your holidays?

and What's your ultimate breakfast?

Comfort Food Recipe: Quick Stove top Rice Pudding

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 03:22:00 +0000

Cold, dreary weather always leaves me wanting warm food to warm me from the inside out.

Rice pudding is one of these foods that leave you feeling all cozy and snug,

however, the baked version can leave you waiting for hours!

Lately, Sydney has been having unseasonably cold, wet and dreary days.

This called for a steaming hot batch of rice pudding to warm up my family.
Plus, it gave me an excuse to stand close to the hot stove and warm up.

This recipe is super easy and is perfect for any time.

It uses ingredients that you most likely have lying around your kitchen, so it's fantastic for a last minute dessert or a lazy day.

Stove top Rice Pudding

Serves 4

100g long grain rice

2C milk (you can use whole/light/skim/whatever)

1-2 tbsp sugar (depending on tastes)

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp Cinnamon (or more/less/different spices - depending on tastes)

1C milk

Optional: a touch of cream

In a medium saucepan, add the rice, 2 cups of milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract and bring to the boil.

Cover and reduce to a low heat, leaving the rice to simmer for 15 minutes - stirring every now and again.

Add in the 1 cup of milk and bring the heat up to high.

Stir the rice constantly for around 7 minutes, until your desired consistency is reached - let the milk absorb fully for a thicker pudding or leave some milk for a creamier pudding.

If using, stir in the cream . Transfer the pudding to bowls or a serving dish and leave to cool slightly before serving.

Tell me,

What's your comfort food of choice?

or go-to cold weather dish?

Jazz it up! Gluten free goodies

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:53:00 +0000

The weather is definitely warming up!

The skies might be gray, but you can definitely tell summer is here.

In my last post I shared a bunch of goodies from realgoodfood and I'm back with more!

You may already be aware that I've recently eliminated gluten from my diet in an effort to sort out some health issues.

Because of this, I've definitely been on the look out for delicious GF products and recipes

and I was lucky enough that realgoodfood sent me a bunch of gluten free things along with the wheat free products you saw in my last post!

I was also able to eat the wheat free products too, don't worry!

Some people who can't tolerate gluten are fine with oats, while others will still have a reaction - it really depends on the individual!

realgoodfood's Organic Gluten Free Bircher Muesli may just be my staple breakfast for summer!

It's a mix of brown rice flakes, sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and apple.

Just mix it up the night before (or a little bit before you want to eat it) with some milk or yogurt and leave it to sit and soften.

Top it with some fresh fruit and you have a perfect summer breakfast!

The High Protein Mix is also a perfect topper for the bircher muesli or any other breakfast!

It's also perfect for mixing into smoothies or using in baked goods!

It's a mix of almonds, sunflower kernels, sesame seeds and linseeds which give your breakfast a protein punch!

Realgoodfood also have a line of baby cereals, including this Organic Apple Baby Rice Cereal.

It's a smooth blend of brown and white rice and dried apple and is 100% biodynamic, organic and gluten free.

It's not just good for babies though! It makes a super creamy porridge that can be mixed with other grains or eaten by itself and it also works really good in baked goods!

The Organic Lemon Polenta Porridge is another creamy breakfast.

It's a gluten free mix of polenta, wholegrain rice, sultanas, almonds, dried apple and lemon.

This energy filled breakfast has a delicious tang from the lemon and is delicious!

Salads are made for summer, but they can get a little boring!

This Toasted Seed Mix in Tamari is a perfect salad topper, making a simple salad SO much more appetizing!

It's a gluten free mix of sunflower kernels, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and organic tamari.

All of the products I was sent from realgoodfood were fantastic and they have so many more!

You can pick up their products from one of their many stockists across the country and internationally!

So tell me,

Do you have a favourite gluten free product? (even if you're not GF!)

and what's your favourite way to jazz up a salad?

I love to add things to my salads to make them more of a meal.

Great things to add are different cheeses, nuts, dried or fresh fruit, avocado and my absolute favourite? roasted pumpkin!

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.realgoodfood.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Granola Breakfast Muffins and a bunch of breakfast goodies!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:48:00 +0000

Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day.

I can't understand how people can say they just don't like breakfast.

If I started without it, I'd probably be a zombie for the rest of the day.

So, as you could imagine, I was super excited to receive the package from realgoodfood,
filled with breakfast goodies as well as a whole bunch of other fantastic products.
So many products, in fact, they won't fit into the one post!
Plus, I also have a delicious recipe for you at the end of the post!

The Organic Oat Porridge is a Wheat Free Mix of Biodynamic and organic rolled oats, sultanas, apple and cinnamon.
It has no added oil, sugar or salt and is GMO free!

It can be made hot on the stove (or in the microwave) as a porridge,
but now as the weather is warming up, I love to use it as a base for overnight oats!
Just mix up the oat porridge with milk or yogurt (or a combination of both) and leave it to soften in the fridge overnight.
In the morning, all you have to do is pull your breakfast out of the fridge, add any extra toppings you might like and eat up!
Fast, easy and delicious :)

The Choc Berry Street Mix is a fantastic snack to keep around and it's also Gluten Free!

This organic snack mix is filled with sultanas, almonds, cranberries, blueberries, goji berries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and delicious dark chocolate pieces.

The mix also makes a fantastic topping for oatmeal or overnight oats!

The Organic Street Mix is also gluten free
and filled with organic sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and pumpkin seeds.
It's a perfect on the go snack for when the hunger monster attacks!

The Organic Bircher Muesli is a wheat free mix of organic & biodynamic rolled oats, sultanas, dried apple, almonds and sunflower kernels.
Bircher muesli is a lot like overnight oats, some people like to soak theirs in fruit juices or water and top with milk or yogurt the next day, while others prefer to use milk or other combinations.
Ultimately, the decision is yours! Play around with different combinations until you find what you like!

You can get realgoodfood products from a variety of stockists across the country!

Now, the recipe I promised!
As soon as I opened the Organic Toasted Muesli I was hit with the delicious aroma of honey and new it'd be perfect in baked goods!
It's a mix of organic & biodynamic rolled oats, sultanas, honey, sunflower kernels, almonds, barley malt, pear juice and orange.
It's delicious eaten as a cereal, but I decided I wanted to make a way for busy breakfast-haters to enjoy it too!

Thus, the breakfast muffin was born!
It's a perfect on the go breakfast that's fuss free and delicious!
The recipe is also completely adaptable, so it's easy to whip up with whatever you have at hand.

Muesli Breakfast Muffins
makes 12 muffins or 6 extra large muffins

2 1/2C Flour (you can use white/whole wheat/GF/spelt)
2/3C Sugar (choose whatever sugar you prefer - white/brown/raw etc)
1C toasted muesli/granola + extra for topping
1 egg
1C fruit*
1/4C vegetable oil
1 1/4C milk

Preheat oven to 180*C. Grease/spray muffin tins with oil or line with paper cases.
Combine flour, sugar and muesli in a bowl.
Mix together egg, vegetable oil and milk and pour into dry ingredients.
Stir in fruit and mix until just combined.
Pour muffin batter into muffin tins and top with a sprinkle of extra muesli.
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.

*For the fruit, I used a cup of leftover pie apple from a pie I had made earlier - just cooked apples mixed with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon
You can use any fruit you like canned, fresh or frozen apple/pear/peaches/pineapple/blueberries etc.

So tell me,
Are you a breakfast lover?
What's your go-to breakfast of choice?

Stay tuned for the other half of my review! It's packed full of delicious gluten free goodies :)

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.realgoodfood.com.au
If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Looking for a last minute Halloween treat?: Swirled Bundt Cake

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:23:00 +0000

Halloween is this coming Monday - are you ready?!

In recent years, Halloween has become more popular in Australia, with carving pumpkins stacked in big crates at the supermarket and costumes selling like hot cakes.

I decided to make a Halloween themed Bundt cake to kick off the holiday early.

This cake is perfect for Halloween parties and is super simple!

I mean, really, eating brains just isn't my thing - nor is spending the entire weekend slaving away in the kitchen over halloween themed treats.

Plus if you get an invitation last minute, this cake is your best friend!

Vanilla Bundt Cake Recipe

makes 1 large bundt cake

250g butter, softened

1 3/4C sugar

2 tsp vanilla

4 eggs

3C plain flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1C buttermilk*

Preheat oven to 180*C (350*F)
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in vanilla and eggs one at a time until combined.

Add in flour and milk alternatively, with mixer on a low speed, until just combined.

Separate half of mixture into a clean mixing bowl.

Colour one batter bowl with purple food dye (or a combination of blue and red dyes) and the other with orange dye (or yellow and red) - the colours should be really bright as they will fade during cooking.

Pour in 3/4 of the purple batter into the bundt tin, being sure to cover the entire base.

Gently pour the orange batter on top of the purple batter, towards the center, leaving about 1 cm of the purple batter on the edge.

Pour in the remaining purple batter, trying to cover as much of the orange as possible.

Place the filled bundt tin into the oven and bake for ~ 1 hour, until the tip of a knife or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean.

Leave cake to cool before turning out and leaving to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

*If you don't have buttermilk, you can use milk soured with 1 tsp white vinegar or lemon juice

Drippy Milk Chocolate Glaze

200g Milk Chocolate

2-3 tsp Vegetable Oil

(the oil will depend on the chocolate, add as much as needed to get a slightly runny consistency)

Melt chocolate and oil on a low heat until completely melted.

You can do this on the stove (bain marie technique) or in the microwave - just be sure not to burn the chocolate!

Place the cooling rack with the cooled cake ontop of a lined cookie sheet and pour the chocolate glaze on the top of the bundt cake, allowing the glaze to drip down the sides.

Leave cake to set at room temperature or in the fridge (if you're impatient!)

and there you have it! ~~easy as~~ easier than pie!

So tell me!

Do you celebrate Halloween?!

What are your plans this year?

Sunshine and Super foods

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 21:32:00 +0000

I'm actually wary of posting about sunshine because it seems every time I do, it disappears.

But let's keep our fingers crossed it stays around!

As I first mentioned in this post, I'm still not eating gluten, so lately I've been trying lots and lots of new fun foods to make sure I still have plenty of variety.

I love trying new foods - especially ones other people mightn't have ever heard of or tried themselves.

So, naturally, I was super excited to receive a package from Power Superfoods

Golden Berries, also known as Incan Berries or Cape Gooseberries, are native to South America

and were one of the first non-native fruits available to early Australian settlers.

Global explorers would carry Goldenberry seeds on their travels to ensure a rapid growing and nutrient rich fresh fruit source upon finding land.

The fresh berries are yellow in colour and encased in a papery latern-like husk.

The dried berries have the texture of a raisin and a sweet flavour with a citrussy tang.

Goldenberries are an excellent source of vitamins C, A and P and are also an excellent source of anti-oxidants, calcium, phosphorus, fibre, B vitamins and protein (yes, you read that right!)

The berries are delicious on their own and mixed into cereal, baked goods or trail mixes.

They taste especially good with chocolate!

Now, speaking of chocolate, Cacao Crunch is a blend of crushed chocolate beans coated in a paste of roasted chocolate liquefied nibs and rolled in panela.

It tastes very much like dark chocolate with a delicious smokey and slightly bitter flavour - it even tastes somewhat nutty.

Cacao Crunch is perfect for adding to baked goods, sprinkling on top of desserts or yogurt and they're a fantastic source of anti oxidants.

It's perfect for any chocolate lover and an amazing addition to granola,

It's definitely one of my new favourite products!

You can get your hands on some Power Superfoods products by checking out their stockists, buying online

or heading to your closest Go Vita store!

But tell me,

Do you like trying new foods?

What's your latest food find?!

Kristy received Power Superfoods products courtesy of www.powersuperfoods.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Recipe: Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:13:00 +0000

When your Mum comes home from a trip to your Grandmother's house with a big bag of fresh limes,

What do you do?

You switch on your brain and start figuring out what you're going to bake with them, of course!

While I may have given up gluten for now, you don't think I'd stop baking - did you?

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the limes was key lime pie,

but lately I've made quite a few pies so I felt like making something different.

I remembered I hadn't made cupcakes for a while and then the idea hit me...

Why not take a Key Lime Pie and turn it into cupcakes?

Then I set off to create Key Lime Pie Cupcakes or Lime Meringue Pie Cupcakes - whichever name you fancy.

I took my favourite, tried and tested Vanila Cupcake recipe,

made a simple lime filling and topped it off with a soft meringue.

For something that looks a little fancier than your average cupcake and will wow your guests,

it's delightfully simple - just how I like it!

Key Lime Pie Cupcakes

recipe by ksayerphotography

Makes 12 cupcakes

Vanilla Cupcakes:

125g Butter, softened

2/3C + 2 tbsp Sugar

2 Eggs

1/2C Milk

1/2 tbsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/3C Plain Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Powder

1/4 tsp Salt

Preheat oven to 160*C (320*F).

Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add in eggs one at a time, beating for a minute after each egg.

In a bowl combine milk and vanilla.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.

With a mixer on low speed, alternatively add the flour and milk mixtures until all is combined.

Beat for a further 3 minutes on high.

Divide into lined cupcake pans and bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Using piping nozzle, skewer or small knife make a hole in the top of the cupcakes for the filling.

Allow to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on wire racks.

Key Lime Filling:

100g Condensed Milk

1.5-2 Tbsp Fresh Lime Juice

(this depends on your taste preference and the strength of your limes)

Mix condensed milk and lime juice together until combined and desired flavour is reached.

Fill/pipe filling into cooled cupcakes.

Meringue Topping:

2 Egg Whites

50g Caster Sugar

Pinch of Salt

Preheat oven to 230*C (450*F)

Beat the eggs and salt until soft peaks form.

Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks.

The mix should be thick and glossy and the sugar should be completely dissolved.

Pipe onto cooled and filled cupcakes and bake for 5 minutes until meringue is golden.

...

And there you have it!

It seems a bit more complicated than it actually is, but trust me, it's as easy as... well, pie!

Tips:

- Add the lime juice gradually and taste as you go so you don't add too much!

- It's easier to cook the meringue topping if you place the cupcakes back into the cleaned cupcake tins

- This recipe can be easily adapted! Switch the lime juice for lemon, fill them with chocolate or caramel instead - the possibilities are endless!

So tell me -

Do you have any favourite recipes using lime?

Hello? Are you out there?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 03:39:00 +0000

Springgggggggggg?

You appear briefly, tease us with your warmth and bright blue skies and wham you disappear!

Sydney is back to cold weather and dreary skies, for now.

So what do you do when you're craving Spring sunshine but mother nature isn't giving you any?

You bring out the spring-ish food and pretend the weather is how it's supposed to be.

For me, warmer weather means hot bowls of oatmeal disappear in favour of cool cereal bowls,

lunches become more snack like and salads and fresh produce are always on the menu.

Granola is one of my favourite summer breakfasts and since eliminating gluten I've fallen in love with all things buckwheat, so this Buckwheat Granola from Nushie's Natural was something I was itching to try as soon as I opened the box!

This Granola is;

-Gluten Free

- Vegan

- All Natural (no icky preservatives!)

- Sucrose Free

- High in Fibre

It's also packed full of flavour, containing apples, dates, almonds, sunflower seeds, currants, coconut, cinnamon, orange rind and maple syrup.

It has a strong toasted coconut flavour, making it feel even more summery!

The best thing for me about this granola was the chunks and the crunch! Even after sitting in milk for a while it was still crunchy and delicious.

If you're not a fan of chunks, they're easily broken apart into smaller pieces - but who doesn't love granola chunks?

Speaking of crunch, Nushie didn't disappoint with these chia crackers!

These crackers are dehydrated to maintain all the natural nutrients of the ingredients, while still giving you a super crunchy cracker with a hint of lemon.

They're;

- Gluten Free

- Omega 3 Rich

- Vegan

- All Natural

- Sucrose Free

They're a healthy snack on they're own or topped with whatever you fancy!

They're a tasty and unique cracker option and perfect for sharing with friends at a summer BBQ.

Nushie's Flaxseed Crackers are just as crunchy as the chia ones.

They are full of flavour, thanks to the addition of tamari soy and maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper.

These crackers are also;

- Gluten Free

- Omega 3 Rich

- Vegan

- All Natural

- Sucrose Free

and you get the full benefit of the Flaxseeds as they're rolled, allowing them to be easily digested.

Nushie's crackers are available from a number of stockists across Australia,

check out their site to find the closest to you!

So tell me,

Does your menu change with the change of seasons?

What's your ultimate warm weather breakfast?

I can't go past a cold bowl of cereal topped with fresh fruit, nut butter and shredded coconut - yum!

Kristy received Nushie's natural products courtesy of www.nushiesnatural.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Spring has Sprung.

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:53:00 +0000

If you're in Australia, that is.

The sun is shining and the sky is (mostly) blue!

For me, warmer weather always brightens my mood

and my wardrobe!

I received a package from The Brittle Co and as soon as I opened the box, their bright vibrant packaging made me instantly think of Spring!

The Brittle Co's Brittle is:

- 100% Australian owned

- Made from the highest quality ingredients

- Gluten and wheat free

- Soy free

- Made without any artificial additives or preservatives

The brittle is made from a recipe based on a style of sweet made by convent nuns in the mountains of the Phillippines - homeland of The Brittle Co's owner, Justine.

So now I bet you're wondering.. Did the nuns get it right?

Oh yes they did.

The Cashew Brittle is rich and buttery with generous chunks of raw cashews

and the Almond Brittle balances out the sweetness with diced natural almonds.

The brittle is wafer thin so you still get the crunch without having to make an appointment with your dentist!

It literally melts in your mouth and tastes just like old fashioned homemade brittle.

The Peanut Brittle was my favourite with the tonne of peanuts scattered through the rich caramel base

and the Macadamia Brittle was a hit with macadamia fans with its generous chunks of raw Queensland Macadamias.

The Brittles would be a perfect Christmas gift

and they're delicious as an anytime treat or crumbled over ice cream and added to desserts.

The Brittle Co brittle is available at a number of local Supermarkets, Delis and other stockists as well as on their website.

If you want to find your closest stockist, send an email to: crunchy@thebrittleco.com

So tell me,

What's your go-to present when you haven't a clue what to buy someone?Chocolate? Flowers? Something funny?

Kristy received Brittle Co brittle courtesy of www.thebrittleco.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

In the Raw

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:41:00 +0000

Since I've eliminated gluten for a while,

I've been on a hunt to find the tastiest gluten free options.

This means avoiding gluten free ~~bread~~ dish sponges like the plague (unless it's homemade!)

stocking up on GF Puffins, rice crackers, Food for Health GF muesli, buckwheat groats, rice flakes, dried fruits and nuts and anything else that taste's like real food :P

Oh - and drowning anything in nut butter.

I was super excited when I received a package from Kitz Living Foods,

their products are raw and all natural - with all ingredients being organic where possible.

They're free of artificial colours, flavours, preservatives and thickeners and high in Omega 3 and 6, fibre, antioxidants, lignans and nutritionally loaded!

I received two flavours of their chunks -

Fig and Macadamia and Banana Date and Walnut.

The chunks are a fantastic on the go snack and have the right amount of chew and crunch thanks to the mix of dried fruit and nuts.

The Fig and Macadamia Chunks are perfect for fig lovers.

The chewy figs and crunchy macadamia nuts are combined with organic sultanas, sunflower seeds, organic cinnamon and vanilla bean powder.

Of course, being the banana, date and walnut fan, the Banana Date and Walnut chunks had to be my favourite.

They're a mix of orgranic bananas, dates, insecticide free sunflower seeds, walnuts, organic cinnamon and vanilla powder.

All of the flavours worked really well together and I was surprised to find the flavour of the sunflower seeds still managed to come through.

If you pop them into the fridge (or freezer, if you just can't wait) for a while, they're 100x better as the dates make the chunks super chewy.

Kitz products are available for sale on their website

where they also have a number of other great products like raw granola, crackers, flavoured nuts and buckwheat crispies.

All of their products are:

Free from artificial additives
Wheat and Gluten free
Dairy Free
Egg Free
100% Vegan
Raw

So tell me,

Are you a dried fruit fan? - what's your favourite?!

and do you have a favourite GF product?

Kristy received Kitz chunks courtesy of www.kitzlivingfoods.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

An update of sorts!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:36:00 +0000

Hey! Is anyone still there?!

I thought I'd write a quick post, updating you on everything that's been going on.

For a while I wasn't posting much at all as there was alot going on,

but alas - I am back!

....

(source)

Lately I've cut gluten from my diet in an effort to solve some health issues so I've been experimenting with new Gluten Free foods.

Soon I'm hoping to reintroduce gluten, with the exception of wheat, so I can widen my options a little more.

But some of my gluten free discoveries will definitely be sticking around! (see below :P)

I-herb has become my latest love as it means I can have so much more choice when it comes to gluten free foods.

I am so glad I stumbled across I-herb while googling because not only do they have great products, their prices are incredibly reasonable - and that includes shipping!

Let me give you an idea... I was going to buy 3 GF cereals from an Australian online store (which was the cheapest I could find) but then when I looked at i-herb, I could get SIX items (including those cereals) for the exact same price including shipping!

~~puppy~~ puffin love

My latest purchase include something spectacular.... PUFFINS!

and because I think everyone needs Puffins in their life, I want to share an iherb coupon for $5 off your first purchase!

When you've chosen all that you want, just type in OTO868 at the checkout

and $5 will be taken off your total! :)

That gives you more money to spend on other fun things, right?!

.....

I've got some pretty exciting news, too!

A while ago I did a shoot for Pepe's Pastizzi for their new packaging

and it's about to hit Woolworths shelves nationwide!

As you can probably guess, I'm quite excited.

It's not everyday you get to see your photos on a real package in a real store, right?

So you can be sure I've been keeping an eagle eye on the freezer section of every Woolworths store I walk into!

But I want to know about YOU!

What's the best thing that happened to you in August?

and by the way,

I wasn't asked to review I-herb, or puffins.. I'm just a serious fan :P

and I had to share!

Tropical dreaming

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 23:53:00 +0000

Sometimes it only takes a single smell to remind you of something.
For me, coconut always reminds me of summer

...... and breakfast.

I'm a little bit of a coconut fiend, you see.

As a child I hated the stuff, my poor little brain was scarred by horrible sweetened dessicated coconut.

Now? You will find the majority of my breakfast sprinkled with toasted unsweetened coconut or coconut butter.

Coconuts are pretty special, life saving even!

Did you know during WWII they would siphon pure coconut water from young coconut to be used as emergency plasma transfusions for wounded soldiers as coconut water is nearly identical to human blood?

There's no questioning why coconut is considered one of the most treasured foods of all time when it boasts both health benefits and tastes divine.

I was really excited to receive a box of Coconut Butter from the lovely people at Cocopure.

Their coconut butters are stone ground from organic raw ingredients of the highest quality.

All of the ingredients included in the coconut butters are superfoods and hand selected by the company. They're also 100% raw, vegan and gluten free.

The Vanilla Coconut Butter instantly reminded me of the beach when I opened the jar.

You could smell the sweet coconut mixed with just the right amount of vanilla.

In the jar, the coconut butter is quite solid but still easy enough to get out with a spoon or knife and it melts beautifully with just a little heat.

You can drizzle it over pancakes, spread it on bread or crackers or simply eat it out of the jar (yes, it's that good).

The extra virgin coconut oil is blended with organic coconut flakes, raw organic Peruvian lucuma powder and organic vanilla pod powder to create a delicious and nutritious spread.

What's my favourite way to use it?

I love drizzling the melted coconut butter over my cereal bowls to give it an extra flavour and nutritional punch.

Because of the coconut's healthy fats, it also gives the cereal extra staying power to keep you from slumping at your desk before the clock hits 9am.

The Coconut Cashew Butter is a blend of raw cashew nuts, extra virgin coconut oil and wild crafted agave nectar.

The addition of the cashews creates a smooth, creamy texture that is 3, 000 times better than regular nut butter.

It's delicious straight from the jar and has a slightly fudgy texture when cool (especialy if you keep it in the fridge!)

and it melts really easily with just a little heat, making it a perfect dip for fresh fruit!

What's my favourite way to use it?

This Coconut Cashew Butter was made for spreading!

Whether it be spread onto dates, bread, crackers or pancakes it takes what you're eating to a whole other level.

The Chocolate Coconut Butter is an indulgent blend of virgin coconut oil, raw cacao powder, wild crafted agave nectar, vanilla bean powder and a touch of himalayan crystal salt.

It's 100% raw and retains more natural ingredients, heat sensitive vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and nutritional benefits because it is never heated above 45*C.

I love that it contains only natural sugars and unprocessed cacao powder which is chocolate in its pure essential form.

Add the chocolate coconut butter into your favourite desserts, use as frosting for cakes, drizzle over ice cream or spread onto bread.

If you can resist eating it off the spoon, that is ;)

What's my favourite way to use it?

The chocolate coconut butter is delicious when added to a hot bowl of oatmeal as it melts really well

but I love spreading it onto crackers - almost like nutella for grown ups! (or coconut fiends ;P)

The cacao and cashew butter takes the chocolate coconut butter and amps it up with the addition of raw cashews, creating a caramel tasting chocolate spread.

Straight from the jar it's quite fudgy and easily eaten straight from the spoon, but it gets even better when spread onto cakes, bread, crackers or drizzled over ice cream.

What's my favourite way to use it?

Grab a piece of fresh bread or some deliciously crunchy crackers and spread it on.

Do it, you'll be thanking me! or should that be worshipping?

Another thing you can do is dip strawberries (or any other fruit) into some melted coconut cashew butter and refridgerate until it firms up - just like chocolate dipped strawberries, only a billion times better!

So, want to get your hands on some?
Cocopure Coconut Butter is available at a number of stockists around the country!

Time to go shoppingggg! :P

So tell me, friends..

What's the one smell that always triggers a memory for you?

and are you a coconut fan?

I want to know all about it!

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.cocopure.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

(Almost) Spring Blossoms

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:29:00 +0000

It would come as no suprise to anyone who knew me to disscover that adore cherry blossom trees.

They're pink, dainty, feminine and did I mention pink?!

But their appearance isn't the only thing I'm fond of.

Cherry blossoms are the symbol of Spring and each year when the trees bloom around my house, I know Spring is coming.

The dread of Winter is finally easing, while the temperatures may not be as high as I'd like and rain still streams from the sky every now and again, most days are filled with bright blue skies and sunshine.

But until that warmer weather hits and Winter is over, I'll just enjoy the pretty pink Cherry Blossoms.

What about you?

Are there any particular flowers that you connect with a particular season/time?

What's your favourite?!

Giving it a crack

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 04:19:00 +0000

Or should that be crack-er?

But first - is there anybody out there?!

I've been ~~really busy~~ slack lately and haven't gotten around to posting

so hopefully there's at least one or two of you reading still!

But alas, I am back!

and I want to know all about what you've been doing

and what you want to see on my little blog :)

But first, I just have to share something(s) with you!

I've mentioned before that I'm all about the crunch factor when it comes to food.

Toast > Bread
Crackers > Toast

I love crackers - but they have to be proper crunchy crackers, the crunchier the better!

Whether they be covered in some form of nut butter, topped with cheese or eaten on their own

you can almost guarantee I'll be happy :P

So can you imagine how I felt when I received a giant box of Tucker's Natural Crackers?!

The Tucker's family have been making crackers for over 30 years.

All of their crackers are made with the freshest, premium quality, natural, raw ingredients and are yeast and preservative free.

As some one with an uber sensitive stomach, this is 110% important.

Their savoury cracker range comes in six flavours which each compliment different toppings perfectly (and they are just as good on their own!)

The Four Cheese and Chive crackers are made from cheddar, parmesan, pecorino and romano cheeses and are incredibly moreish.

They're so full of flavour that they're great on their own or with different toppings.

The Rosemary and Rock Salt crackers, just like the Four Cheese and Chive crackers are perfect on their own and are a perfect addition to a cheese platter!

The Coriander and Cracker Pepper crackers are a favourite of Coriander lovers.

The coriander gives the crackers a fresh natural flavour that means they match perfectly with a variety of dips or toppings - especially fresh dips like guacamole!

The Caramelised Onion crackers are the perfect balance of sweet and savoury flavours.

They are delicious when topped with a sharp full flavoured cheese and are incredibly moreish on their own.

The next two in the savoury crackers range are the perfect base crackers.

The oatmeal crackers lend themselves perfectly to both sweet and savoury toppings with the delicate flavour of rolled oats, while the poppy seed crackers are perfect when paired with cheese or dips.

These two were actually my favourites of the savoury range because they're so versatile!

Tuckers also have a range of snack style crackers, Multifibre snacks

that are perfect for adding to lunchboxes or as a nibbly at a barbeque, picnic or just chilling with friends.

They're packed with both soluble and insoluble fibres, making them a deliciously tasty way to get the much needed fibre in your diet while still being a healthier natural snack.

The multifibre range comes in three flavours.

The Capsicum and Feta snacks have an almost Mediterranean feel and are happily devoured by both kids and adults. The Tomato and Basil snacks have a milder, more kid friendly taste which are perfect for little palates, these are perfect with cheese - but flavourful enough to eat on their own! The Caramelised Onion and Cheddar snacks are another kid favourite, while still being a favourite of the adults!

And fear not, while you might be thinking they fall under the "healthy snack" category of bland and boring, they most certainly DO NOT!

So much so that you won't even have to worry about finding a place to store them, they'll vanish before your eyes!

You can bet I saved the best for last.

The Tuckers Dessert Biscuit range are among my favourite crackers ever made (so much so that when I received the box of crackers, I already had three boxes of these in my pantry :P) the Vanilla and Honey crackers are my sweet snack of choice.

They're sweet but not too sweet and they are full of flavour.

I love them topped with different nut butters, cream cheese, cottage cheese or just eaten on their own.

They also make a perfect crunchy addition to dessert plates and would be the perfect pair to mousses or just to jazz up a dessert plate.

I wasn't sure if I'd like the coffee biscuits as I'm not a coffee fan, at all.

But boyyyyyyyyyyy was I wrong, these crackers are delicious.

If you are a coffee fan, do yourself a favour and go out and grab a box (or two... or seven)

The dessert range also comes in Chocolate crackers which, while I didn't get sent any, I can assure you they are DEEEEEELICIOUS (and there is one packet currently chilling in my pantry :P).

Don't be put off by the fact they are sweet crackers, when you're used to savoury ones - I promise you they're incredible :)

So what are you still doing here?! (actually wait, I have a question!)

Once you're done reading this post - RUN! (not walk) to a Coles or Woolworths store near you and grab a packet!

But back to my questions...

How are you?! What has been happening in your world?!

Also, what would you like to see pop up here?

New recipes? Photos of something particular? - I'm all ears!

And one more thing!

What are some of your favourite crunchy snacks?!

Kristy received Tucker's crackers courtesy of www.tuckersnatural.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Feeling Saucy?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 22:51:00 +0000

As a child, I always remember going to restaurants and getting to choose the topping on my ice cream after odering off the kids menu.

Strawberry?

Chocolate?

Caramel?

I rarely ever actually ate the ice cream, but it was a novelty.

Now i'm older, I'm always the one who organises desserts for dinner parties or get togethers.

It's usually something much more complicated than ice cream with sauces - but who says dessert sauces can't have a makeover?

Designer Foods have a delicious range of premium dessert sauces which are far superior to your standard kid's menu fare :P

and they're gluten free!

Let's start with something light, no?

These fruity sauces are perfect for drizzling over pavlovas, swirling into yogurt or using as a garnish.

They're both made with real fruit and contain no added colours or flavours.

The Red Raspberry sauce is a rich red colour and full of flavour.

It would compliment chocolatey desserts perfectly and is great simply drizzled over ice cream.

The Passionfruit, Mango and Pineapple sauce is really summery and fresh.

For a quick and easy dessert why not grab some pavlova nests, add whipped cream and fresh fruit and drizzle over the sauce.

Next up is the more caramel style sauces.

The Maple Syrup is a divider!

You see, I'm a fan of real maple syrup, as in what you get straight from the tree.

However, I know alot of people who can't stand real maple syrup and prefer maple flavoured syrup (such as my sister)

This sauce isn't real maple syrup, but maple flavoured.

For me it was a little too sweet (but I'm the girl who's sweet tooth seemed to have packed up and left) but everyone else really liked it.

The verdict was that this sauce would be perfect for pancakes and waffles.

Maple flavours also work really well in savoury dishes so this would make a perfect glaze for meat or roasted vegetables.

The Caramel Creme is a rich, creamy sauce which would fit perfectly on a country table.

It's a delicious dip for fresh fruit, especially mixed with cream cheese and it is delicious when poured over ice cream, puddings, waffles or cakes.

This sauce works really well warmed or cold - it's up to you!

Now the chocolate sauces!
Designer foods have catered to both kinds of chocolate lovers with these sauces.

The Premium Chocolate is dairy free and still sweet while having a rich chocolate flavour.

You can use it warm or cold and it works really well as a sauce for cakes or puddings, drizzled on as a garnish or icecream topping or used as a flavouring in milkshakes

The Premium Chocolate was the winner for me.

Intense chocolate flavour without the sweetness, this is one for the more dark chocolate lover.

It's also dairy free and great warmed or cold.

This sauce is great in drinks like hot chocolates, iced chocolates and mochas.

All of the sauces can be ordered from Designer Food's website,

they have some fantastic gift packs

So tell me, what do you like best in a dessert:

Fruity, Caramel or Chocolate flavours?

and what food reminds you of your childhood?

Kinder surprises always remind me of being a kid, however, now I eat the kinder minis - they're one of the few things I liked as a child and still like now!

Kristy received these sauces courtesy of www.designerfoods.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Cookie Mad: Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (Chocolate White Choc Chip)

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:01:00 +0000

So you might have guessed that lately I've been on a bit of a cookie kick.

Be it The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie, Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies or even Soft Sugar Cookies.

They're portable, adaptable, easy to make andddd I have a family of cookie fiends.

I had a request for Double Chocolate Cookies (inspired by Subway's Double Choc Chip Cookies)

so I got to work in the kitchen.

But that's where the trouble started.

The recipe I had was all sorts of wrong.

As I looked down the ingredients list, I realised that it just wasn't going to work.

No eggs. No wet ingredients. No raising agents.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

So what did I do? Improvise!

I figured in the last couple of months I've made enough cookies to at least try to bake completely on instinct.

So I crossed my fingers and went to work.

Once the cookies were in the oven I spent the next fifteen minutes looking from my computer screen to the oven - hoping and praying they didn't turn into a tray of cookie lava or be a complete fail.

Thankfully they didn't do either - I had soft and chewy Double Chocolate Chip cookies that smelt amazing.

Yes, I most definitely was proud of my baking skills - fluke or no fluke :P

Being the smart cookie I am (heh)
I also wrote down what I did so I could share the recipe with you if it was a success!

These cookies have soft centres with chewy edges and are probably the love child of a cookie and a brownie.

If you love the chocolatey flavour of brownies but just can't go past the old faithful cookie - these are for you.

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

(Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies)

recipe by ksayerphotography

Makes about 2 dozen cookies

125g Butter

1/2C White Sugar

1/2C Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla

1 Egg

Pinch of Salt

1 1/4C Flour

1 tsp Baking Powder

1 tsp Baking Soda

2/3C Cocoa Powder

1/3C Milk

1 1/2C White Chocolate Chips (or as much as you prefer)

Preheat oven to 165*C/330*F

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, add egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

Add flour, raising agents, cocoa and salt and mix until combined.

Slowly add in milk (while mixing) until a soft dough forms.

Mix in chocolate chips until evenly dispersed throughout the dough.

Cover bowl and leave to chill in the fridge for at least fifteen minutes - or until firm and workable.

Roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on lined cookie sheets 2-3" apart.

Bake for 15-20 minutes until edges are cooked.

Leave to cool completely on trays.

Tips!
- If you want a really chocolatey cookie, switch the white chocolate chips for milk or dark.

- For a crispier, crunchier cookie, bake for 20-25 minutes.

- The cookies will firm up once they cool, so don't worry if the middles seem soft.

- Try adding dried fruit/nuts/more chocolate chips to make your ultimate cookie.

- Don't try working with the dough before you chill it, you'll end up with a huge mess.

- The dough freezes extremely well, so why not make extras and pop them in the freezer for when the cookie monster hits!

So tell me,

Are you a chocolate or a vanilla kind of person?!

I love chocolate straight up, on it's own.

If you offered me a cake or a piece of chocolate - I'd choose chocolate :P

Or anything sweet or a piece of chocolate, really.

Wake me up..

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:59:00 +0000

....before you ~~go go~~ cocoa.

I'm probably a marketer's dream consumer.

I'm a highly visual person so of course I'm going to be influenced by what something looks like.

I'm kind of ashamed to admit that if there were two identical products on a shelf, but one was pink - I'd pick the pink one every time.

So what do you think my reaction was went I was sent two mueslis from Therapeutic Gourmet?

Wake Me Up B4 U Cocoa and Get Up and Goji

I think my first reaction was cuteeeeeeeeeee followed closely by this song running through my head on repeat.

In fact, everytime I see the muesli, the song gets stuck in my head - but it's a good song to be stuck with!

Wake Me Up B4 U Cocoa is a mix of raw organic cocoa, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, pepitas, almonds, flaxseeds, buckwheat kernels, puffed sorghum, puffed corn, rice bran flakes, cinnamon, vanilla and bush honey.

It's a high protein, nutritionally balanced muesli that will give you the energy to go-go :P

At first I thought I was going to find this too sweet, but I was pleased to find that wasn't the case.

The sweet bush honey was the perfect balance to the dark roasted cocoa, leaving only a hint of bitter cocoa flavour.

I loved that it stayed crunchy to the last spoonful thanks to all the delicious honey roasted nuts and seeds.

And it's fun too! I guess you could say it's like cocoa pops for a more mature palate?

Get Up and Goji is a mix of organic Tibetan goji berries, honey roasted almonds, pepitas, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, buckwheat kernels, puffed corn, puffed brown rice, puffed sorghum, coconut flakes and spices.

Again, this muesli is protein packed and full of flavour.

Get Up and Goji is a little sweeter than Wake Me Up B4 U Cocoa due to the absence of cocoa and the addition of goji berries.

It tastes great eaten with milk or yogurt and also makes a perfect trail mix style snack!

Therapeutic Gourmet's Muesli's are available from a number of online stores, but if you're interested - send off a quick email to info@therapeuticgourmet.com.au for more info!

So tell me,

Are you influenced by the marketing of products?

and what's the one song that always gets stuck in your head?!

While I am influenced by the look of products, I'm rarely influenced by their claims.

I'll also not buy something specifically because it's covered in claims that it will help you lose weight,

yaddaaayaddaaa

One song that always gets stuck in my head when someone mentions it is...

Copacabana by Barry Manilow (and if my mum reads this, she'll be cursing at me :P)

So now you know what song will be stuck in my head all day!

Kristy received Therapeutic Gourmet Mueslis courtesy of www.therapeuticgourmet.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Perfectionism pays off - The ultimate Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:03:00 +0000

So, I'm ~~a bit of~~ a perfectionist.

There, I said it!

I'm not happy until a recipe is perfect

and I will never ever serve something to someone I'm not happy with.

I think being a recipe tester would probably be a dream job for me.

Testing recipes day in and day out, being paid to bake or cook and tweak recipes until they're perfect time and time again - aah!

Anyone need a recipe tester? ;)

My sister is a perfectionist's nightmare.

She will always find a little something she doesn't like or something you could've done differently.

So, being the perfectionist I am, I have been searching for her ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Sounds easy, no? Heh.. right..

First issue?

My sister tends to like the cookie dough more than baked cookies.

Sure, I could just give her bowl after bowl of cookie dough, but that's not a challenge.

[Begin weeks of recipe tweaking and testing here]

Soft cookies were the answer.

The type of cookies that stay soft even after they've cooled completely and have been sitting in a container.

But, my dear sister, also likes chewy cookies - so I had to find a cookie that had chewy edges and a ever-soft centre.

I changed flour ratios, butter ratios, chilled dough, used only egg yolks, changed baking temperatures, altered baking times and tried a million different techniques.

And then, I came up with a brilliant recipe on a whim

(I think I need to thank the baking gods for this victory, however)

I had found THE ULTIMATE Soft Choc Chip Cookie.

Soft centres.

Slightly doughy.

Chewy edges.

Just the right amount of chocolate chips.

and best of all?

It can be made into crunchy cookies with the perfect amount of chew just by increasing the cooking time.

Perfect for my family who is split down the middle with soft cookie and crispy cookie lovers :P

The Ultimate Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

recipe by ksayerphotography

makes about 2 dozen medium cookies

150g Butter, softened slightly

2/3C Brown Sugar

1/2C White Sugar

1 Egg

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/2C Flour

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/4 tsp Salt
~1C Chocolate Chips

(This is really a personal preference - so add however much you feel is right!)

Preheat oven to 165*C

With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated.

Add in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt and mix until incorporated.

Mix in chocolate chips until they are dispersed evenly throughout the dough.

Cover the mixing bowl with cling wrap and refridgerate for 15-30 minutes until dough is quite firm.

(Note: on my second batch I actually left the dough for 2+ hours and it worked perfectly - just took a little bit of effort to work into balls)

Once the dough has chilled, roll heaping tablespoons of dough into balls and place on a lined baking tray about 4cm/1.5 inches apart.

Bake for 10-15 minutes or until edges are cooked and golden (the centres will still be soft).

For crispy cookies: Leave for 15-20 minutes depending on your desired amount of crispiness.

Leave cookies to cool completely on trays before transferring to a container/serving tray.

Now, I'd like to tell you how long they last.

But, errr, I can't - because they don't last.

They'll be gobbled up in the blink of an eye!

So tell me,

Are you a perfectionist in the kitchen? (or in general)

and What's one recipe you just. can't. get.

I once spent a week having the exact same baked oatmeal breakfast every single day because I was trying to perfect my recipe.

(This is really unusual for me - I never have the same breakfast two days in a row,

I at least change my topping combinations :P)

But now, I have perfected it! Worth the repeat breakfasting :P

Can't mess with the classics!

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:25:00 +0000

I love experimenting with food.

Some of my favourite meals have been created by me adding a little bit of this and a dash of that and mixing flavours that you wouldn't think would go together.

But you can't always mess around with recipes.

Some dishes are classics and need to be just right.

My family is really into authentic asian style dishes and curries,

I've looked up recipes on the internet only to find hugeeeeeeeeeeeee long ingredient lists of ingredients I wouldn't ever have in my pantry.

Not. my. style.

Ex MasterChef contestant Marion Grasby has come out with a food range of packs which contain all of the essentials you need to create classic Thai dishes.

That means you can create delicious meals with ease, saving you the hassle of buying a tonne of ingredients from the Asian grocer that will probably sit idle in your pantry for months - if not years.

The Thai Satay Stick pack contains a satay marinade that is full of garlic, pepper and tumeric as well as a satay sauce packed with roasted peanuts and a delicious blend of cumin, coriander seeds and a touch of tumeric.

All you need to add is 600g diced chicken or pork and the skewers (or you could make it even easier by just marinade chicken fillets in the marinade and grilling as is) and you have a delicious authentic Thai style meal on your table!

All of the pastes, sauces and marinades in Marion's packs are based on her own recipes which she's learned and developed from a lifetime of eating and cooking.

Satay flavours can be a very personal thing.

My family decided Marion's sauce was missing that little something - the oomph factor.

But that's where experimenting comes into play - a dash of this, a drizzle of that.

The Marion's Kitchen Range is available at Woolworths, IGA and other independent stores across Australia. The Thai Satay Sticks pack has a RRP of $6.99

But do tell me,

Is there a classic dish you just can't mess with?

or maybe it's just a favourite recipe you never stray from?

I used have certain dishes which could not be altered in any way or I just wouldn't eat them

but now I'm more open to trying new things.

As i've started cooking the majority of my meals I've become more flexible - missing an ingredient? just replace it with something similar!

But there are those dishes that just don't taste right unless they're what I remember :P

Kristy received the Marion Kitchen packs courtesy of www.360focus.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Tea and biscuits, anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Tue, 31 May 2011 03:27:00 +0000

There's nothing better than sharing good food with friends.

A cup of tea and a biscuit? Of course!

Springhill Farm were kind enough to send me a box filled with their delicious slices and biscuits so I did what any normal person would do - turn on the kettle and round up some taste testers!

The Wildberry and Nougat Slice is a combination of Italian Nougat, dried cranberries, blueberries and raspberries and topped with white chocolate and a berry swirl.

The soft base had a rich coconut flavour and I loved the chunks of berries, while the smooth chocolate topping melted in your mouth.

I was actually surprised to find this was one of my favourites as I first thought it would be way too sweet, but thankfully it was jussssssssssssssssssssssst right!

The Summer Fruit slice was courteously passed over to my taste testers as I'm actually allergic to pineapple and pear, which the bar contained.

The slice is a combination of Australian dried fruits, amaranth and rice pops and topped with milk chocolate and a white chocolate swirl.

My taste testers liked the citrus and coconut flavours and, like the nougat slice, all agreed it melted in your mouth.

It's also Gluten Free! so it's a perfect treat for someone with a gluten intolerance.

The Lemon Lime and White Chocolate Biscuits are gluten free so they're perfect for sharing, even with your coeliac pals!

We all agreed that they definitely don't taste gluten free.

In fact, if I didn't know otherwise, I'd have guessed it was just a regular shortbread style recipe.

It was crumbly and melted in your mouth with a delicate lemon and lime flavour.

The Lemon and Yogurt slice combined the smooth creaminess of yogurt with the freshness of lemon that was balanced perfectly.

Springhill Farm have been using this recipe for 20 years and I can see why!

The Springhill Farm journey began when Ray and Jo Barber hosted kindergarten and primary school children for a sensory filled farm visit experience in 1983.

At the end of a day filled with horse and tractor rides, milking and collecting eggs, the children got to experience farm style cooking whilst sampling Jo's homemade muesli slice.

The slice was so popular that Jo began producing it to sell and the Muesli and Honey slice is the original recipe enjoyed by the children on the farm visits.

It's obvious why it was a hit! It's filled with whole grains, honey and Australian dried fruits and it topped with a creamy yogurt swirl.

I loved the crispiness of the oats against the soft bursts of raisins and dried fruit.

It's safe to say that the Toasted Muesli biscuit is delicious and most definitely one of my clear favourites.

The moist biscuit is filled with chewy fruit pieces and crunchy rice bran flakes.

The crunch of the rice bran flakes is definitely what made the biscuit for me - it took it from a boring old cookie to something you could enjoy time and time again.

We decided if you gave us a lifetime supply of these biscuits, we'd be as happy as a pig in mud on the Springhill Farm!

Springhill Farm has chocoholics covered too with their Chocolate and Oat slice and Macadamia and Chocolate Chunk biscuit.

The Chocolate and Oat slice was also one of my favourites, so much so, that if you had me choose between the slice and the Muesli biscuit I don't think I'd be able to make up my mind!

The soft oat base has a delicious coconut flavour and is filled with chocolate chips and delicious Australian Sultanas. It melts in your mouth, especially with the generous layer of chocolate sitting on top!

This is Springhill Farm's best seller and there's no doubting why!

The Macadamia and Chocolate Chunk biscuit is for the serious chocolate lover!

The chocolate biscuit base is filled with chunks of dark chocolate and Australian macadamias.

It is the perfect accompaniment to a hot cup of tea or coffee!

The Cranberry Pistachio and White Chocolate biscuit was generously filled with chewy dried cranberries and crunchy pistachios and drizzled with a white chocolate swirl.

All of the ingredients match perfectly, creating a delicious biscuit!

The Vanilla Chocolate Chunk biscuit isn't just your average chocolate chip cookie!

The delicious vanilla biscuit is filled with generous chunks of creamy milk chocolate and topped with an extra chocolate drizzle.

I was actually surprised when I realised the biscuit was gluten free because you could never tell!

It melted in your mouth with a shortbread like texture and we all agreed it was an extremely high quality treat!

All of these biscuits and slices were fantastic and I would happily serve them to my friends again!

(and I'm sure they would be equally as pleased :P)

You can have Springhill Farm products delivered straight to your door by ordering online!

So tell me,

Are you a city person or a country person?

and what's your favourite food to share with friends?

Kristy received Springhill Farm products courtesy of www.springhillfarm.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Lunchbox Lunacy

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Mon, 23 May 2011 23:32:00 +0000

On this post, I found that quite a few of you swear by snacks to get you through your day, just like me!

Sooo, I have another delicious snacking solution for you!

You may already know that I love Food for Health (proof :P)

Their Gluten Free Muesli is one of my favourite cereals and I can't get enough of their Gluten Free, Fruit Free Bars (so much so that they're currently on my shopping list because I'm all out!)
So when I heard that they had new products coming out, I was more than excited!

The new "Food for Kids" range is Nut Free, Gluten Free and Sulphur Free.

They're also extreeeeeeeeemely yum!

So much so that I'm ignoring the "kids" part and imagining the packet instead says

Food for ~~Kids~~ smart people who like really delicious snacks.

For me, these bars are the perfect size for a quick snack!

Not too big and not too small.

The Banana Custard filled bars are most definitely my favourite!

They're soft with a delicious banana flavour - and not too sweet as you might think!

I love Chia Seeds, so the addition of Chia in these bars was perfect, plus fussy little kids aren't going to have any idea they're filling their tums with all those omega packed little specks!

These are stashed away in both my handbag and my pantry for when the hunger monster attacks

and I will surely be adding to them to my shopping list as soon as I run out!

The Banana Custard bars might have been my favourite, but I'm not overlooking the Apple Filled bars!

These bars taste almost like an apple pie, the soft apple filling is enclosed in the almost cakey bar.

For a ~~kid at heart~~ grown up, these are a perfect snack with a cup of tea!

These bars have me wishing they were around when I was younger and at school!

But that's okay, it just means I'll have to make up for it now - no?

But, if you're a Mum or a Dad - buy these for your little (or big - HI MUM!) ones

they would be perfect for a school time snack!

Both of these bars are available in stores across Australia

- Coles, Woolworths, selected IGA's, Costco, Health Food Stores etc.

Though it may take a little time for some of the smaller retailers to start stocking them as they're brand new - but keep your eyes peeled! I promise you won't regret it!

So tell me,

When you were at school -

What was in YOUR lunch box?

I was always a fussy eater as a child and I hated school lunches.

I know my poor Mum had a tough time figuring out what to send me.

I didn't like sandwiches, most muesli bars and the idea of sending things like cheese sticks or yogurt in a warm lunch box didn't appeal to me in the slightest (smart kid, no?) and leftovers? don't even think about packing them!

Kristy received Food for Health products courtesy of www.foodforhealth.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Fri, 20 May 2011 00:40:00 +0000

I think it's safe to say I'll take any excuse that comes my way to bake.

What, someone's coming over? Oh hold on - let me whip up a cake!

Dinner party? Oh what flavour cupcakes do you want?

New job? Let's celebrate!

What? You've never had red velvet cake? Let me change that!

Chocolate or Vanilla?

Cravings? Give me 20 minutes!

These cookies were made specifically with my Mum in mind!

She's always been a fan of the chocolate/nut combination - so why not turn it into a cookie?

These cookies are the ultimate cookie for a peanut fiend.

Peanut butter cookie filled with chunks of peanutty snickers? Why of course!

Peanut Butter Snickers Cookies

recipe by ksayerphotography

makes 24 large cookies

125g Butter, chopped

1C Peanut Butter

(smooth or crunchy works - it's up to you!)

3/4C Granulated Sugar

1/2C Brown Sugar

1 Egg

1 tbsp Milk

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 1/4C Plain Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Baking Powder

Pinch of Salt
(the salt depends on whether you use salted/unsalted PB as well as your salty/sweet preference)

2-3 Chopped Full Size Snickers Bars

(or more, or less - depending on how many chunks you want!)

Preheat oven to 180*C (350*F)

In a mixer, cream butter and peanut butter until fluffy. Add sugars and beat until smooth.

Add the egg, milk and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt and beat until the flour mixes through completely and a dough forms.

Stir in chopped snickers bits until evenly incorporated.

Form dough into balls (about a heaping tbsp per ball) and place onto a lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

(Don't worry about flattening them! Leaving them in a ball makes a thicker cookie as they spread themselves)

Bake for 10 - 15 minutes - depending on your cookie preference.

For a soft cookie:

Bake for 10 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are slightly brown - they will firm up once cooled!

For a crunchy cookie:

Bake for ~15 minutes or until cookies are more golden brown on the edges.

Leave cookies to cool completely before trying to move them around.

Store at room temperature in an airtight container

(if they get to make it to the container, that is)

I think you could definitely use other candy bars in this recipe,

even switching the peanut butter for almond/walnut/cashew butter to match!

I can't tell you how long they'll last in a container, however, because mine were eaten IN A FLASH and proclaimed as the "best cookies you (I) have ever made"

Repeat batches have already been requested - good sign, no?

If you're a reaaaaal chocolate fiend you could also add a handful (or several) of chocolate chips for that extra chocolate hit!

So tell me,

How do you like your cookies?

Soft or crunchy?

Snack attack

noreply@blogger.com (Kristy Sayer) — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:41:00 +0000

I'm definitely not a 3 square meals kind of girl.

It just doesn't work for me.

Snacks are vital for keeping my energy up and keeping me going throughout the day.

I love healthy snacks, but I'm all about balance - so you can be sure treats make it into my stomach as well.

But my one main rule of healthy snacks? They need to taste good.

Because, seriously, who wants to be choking something down that tastes revolting - just because it's "healthy"?

Not me!

Partner Foods seem to be on the same train as me,

Their intention when creating "Chic Nuts" was that:

- they had to taste good

- they had to be good for you

- they had to contribute to sustainable agriculture

Anddd you know what?
They get my BIG tick of approval!

Chic Nuts are chickpeas roasted to perfection - they're crunchy and full of flavour and make a perfect snack!

They come in two flavours: Sicilian Herbs and Garlic and Lightly Salted.

The Sicilian Herbs and Garlic were hands down my favourite of the two.

Crunchy with so much flavour - there was no way you could tell you were eating chickpeas!

Now, you might be like my mum or sister who were a bit skeptical on the whole chickpea deal.

But I promise you, after you try Chic Nuts - you'll be thanking me and worshiping chickpeas :P

They do not fit the "healthy snack" stereotype in that they're bland, boring and just plain gross.

Partner Foods have also made it easier for snacking on the run with their convenient snack packs.

Just pop one or two in your purse or bag and you're equipped for when the hunger monster attacks!

The snack packs are also available as Fava Nuts - which are much like the Chic Nuts, only they're broadbeans instead of chickpeas.

Chic Nuts and Fava Nuts have become pantry staples in my house!

They're perfect for when you need a crunchy or a salty snack and they're so much better than a bag of chips!

Chickpeas are full of protein, dietary fibre, zinc and a multitude of B complex vitamins and they're also low GI and gluten free!

If you're in Australia - you're in luck! You can pick up some Chic nuts for yourself at Woolworths, Safeway and IGA stores across the country as well as many Health Food and Specialty Stores.

So tell me,

Are you a 3 square meals kinda person

or do you like to include snacks in your day?

And don't forget!

Click above to enter to win 14 Blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate!

It's open to all readers, internationally!

Kristy received Chic and Fava Nuts courtesy of www.chicnuts.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com