Breakfast ideas

Leave a comment Sticky

The most common theme when I speak with customers is that they are time poor. Breakfast is one of those things that is simply missed because people are not prepared and simply don’t know how the thermomix can be used to make breakfast easier. Here are lots of ideas to inspire you to lift your breakfast game.

All of these recipes you will find on Cookidoo.

Here are some ideas to help you make breakfast a breeze.

Eggs

  1. Firstly Egg Boiler mode is so easy for eggs cooked in their shell. Select how hard or soft you would like them and set the mode in action. While your eggs are cooking, prepare toast or your morning cup of coffee.
  2. Another great option is the Green egg white and Ham omelette. find the recipe here

Muesli/Granola

  1. Cada- this is a fresh muesli made with four ingredients, Coconut, almond, dates and apple and is a great snack at any time of day. Find the recipe here
  2. Toasted Muesli. My favourite is the Vanilla and Honey toasted muesli , recipe here I switch out the dried fruit for what I have on my cupboard and often increase the amount of nuts and reduce the sweetener. Adjust the recipes to suit yourself but this is always my go to.
  3. For a gluten free toasted option I love the Rise and shine cereal clusters, recipe here The recipe is quite high in protein and you won’t need too much

Porridge- all the porridge recipes can be used with your milk of choice. the best thing about the TM6 is using pre clean function afterwards to make clean up a breeze.

  1. In winter we love the basic recipe, find it here The recipe makes white a lot and feeds our family of 5. check out the tips for adjusting the quantity.
  2. Apple sultana and Cinnamon Porridge is delicious and sweetened with fruit. This recipe serves 2-3 and is great to use up apples that are not quite as crispy for eating fresh. Find the recipe here
  3. Warming Porridge- is a fabulous gluten free option. Check out the recipe here

Smoothies and Shakes

  1. Protein shake- this is a great easy recipe, find the recipe here
  2. Green Smoothie- I love this for a great veggie hit, recipe here My tip is the cup up all the ingredients the night before while preparing dinner and store in a container ready for the morning.
  3. Rosy glow smoothie, find the recipe here If you have been following my socials for awhile you will know this one is a favourite. Use blood oranges in season for an extra Vit C kick.
  4. Breakfast on the go smoothie, recipe here option to add in some coffee for a breakfast caffeine hit.

Breakfast Bars

  1. These are perfect for when you need to grab something and go, find the recipe here Bake them on the weekend for a quick weekday breakfast

Yoghurt

Make sue of the fermentation mode in your thermomix. If you are dairy free there is also recipes for cashew yoghurt and coconut yoghurt. Making your own yoghurt is a big cost saver

  1. We love the berry coulis and yoghurt jars made in individual serves, find the recipe here
  2. Vanilla yoghurt is another great option, find the recipe here

For something a little more fancy try out

Bacon and Cheese scones with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce

Layered jars with your choice of granola and berries

Frozen breakfast bowls

Basic Green Smoothie
Egg Boiler mode options
Rose and Shine cereal Clusters
Poached eggs on Cheese and Bacon scones with Hollandaise sauce
Frozen breakfast Bowls
Cada

Macadamia Nut Tartlets

Leave a comment Sticky

This recipe has been a favourite of mine for many years. One of those recipes I saved from the weekend papers many years ago. Where it came from I can’t quite remember but I have adapted it to make it super simple in my Thermomix

Ingredients

  • 170g Plain flour
  • 110g Raw Sugar
  • 125g Butter, cubed
  • 15g cold water or 1 tbsp
  • 1 cup macadamias
  • 20g Butter
  • 90g Brown Sugar
  • 20g golden syrup
  • 1 egg

Method

Place sugar in Thermomix, 10 seconds speed 8

Add Flour and cubed butter 5 seconds Speed 6

Add water, Mix 10 seconds speed 6 or until the pastry forms a ball. Clean and dry Thermomix bowl.

Lightly grease a 24 mini muffin pan. Divide dough into 24 equal pieces. Press each piece into the muffin pan and use your finger tips to make tartlet cases. Rest in the fridge for 30 mins.

Divide macadamia nuts between tartlet cases.

Preheat oven 180 degrees.

Add 20g butter to Thermomix and melt 1 minute 60 degrees speed 2 or until melted. Add brown sugar, egg and golden syrup and mix 5 seconds speed 5.

Pour mix over nuts in tart shells and bake for 25mins. Cool 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

Tips

Substitute other nuts as you prefer- pecans would also be a good choice.

Have not got a Thermomix, reach me here to join on of my classes or direct you to the Mix shop

Laundry Soaker

Leave a comment Sticky

Ever wanted to break up with store bought soaker?? I used to buy a product that promised to clean my clothes and had fantastic selling slogans like Oxy-clean and Oxy-action! However I now choose a low tox option for cleaning and personal care where possible. No fillers, no fragrance just all the ingredients that get the job done.

If you don’t know about the dangers of fragrance, I recommend you do some research.

The benefits of making your own means you will know exactly what goes in. Here is my recipe. The ingredients can be found at your local supermarket or as suggested.

I use Essential Oils as they have great cleansing properties, including degreasing and they are purely made from plants. No fillers, just plants! every home should have these and I highly recommend them.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Baking Soda
  • 3 Cups Washing Soda ( Lectric brand from supermarket or purchase from your whole foods store)
  • 1 cup Epsom salts
  • 2 Cups Borax ( I found some at Bunnings)
  • 1-2 cups Sodium per carbonate (Oxygen Bleach- buy from Biome)
  • 20 drops Each of Thieves, Purification and Lemon Essential Oils ( Purchase these from Young Living here)

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and store in a container with a tight fitting lid. Use 1/4-/12 cup per soak with warm water. Soakers work better with time and warm water. be patient and you will be rewarded!

Now this recipe makes quite a lot!!! You can easily halve the recipe to make a smaller quantity but I prefer to make in bulk.

Hope you like it!

Thermomix- try before you buy

Leave a comment

Sometimes I can’t contain my love for this fabulous kitchen appliance which is why I am here sharing it with you. We all cook differently and what I cook may be different to you. The great thing about Thermomix is we can bring the TM6 to you in person or virtually and show you the features.

A Thermomix demo allows you to have a hands on experience and allows me to direct you to recipes that suit your household. Whether you are a 2 or a 6 person household, have dietary requirements or allergies, having an in person experience will often answer all your questions and answer some simply by you using the appliance.

How much time do you need? Well that is up to you. A 3 dish experience takes approximately 90 minutes, however we can also organise an express demo in a lunch break or similar.

What is in it for you? apart from tasting the food when in person, host receive a host reward when you have two friends along to share the experience. these items are often our most popular accessories to use with your TM6.

How do you book? Click here to book in a time.

Thermomix Cooking Experience

Leave a comment

Is there any other appliance out there where you can have a hands on cooking experience that allows you to try the appliance out before purchase?? Well with the Thermomix that is exactly what you can do, in fact we encourage it. We want all our customers to get great value out of their Thermomix and we like to work out what you like to cook and what you don’t like about cooking to make your experience in the kitchen the best it can be.

Are you the time poor cook? How would your life change if I could show you 80, 30 minute meals to choose from for quick mid week dinners (and that is just the ones with meat)

Are you the person who wants to stop going to the supermarket 4 times a week. How would it feel if I could show you how to meal plan and send your shopping list to Woolworths for click and collect or home delivery, having everything you need for the recipes you want to make?

How would it feel to be able to make dishes you only thought were possible to have when you dined at a restaurant?

Would you like to save on basics like grated cheese, almond meal, caster sugar, bread? These things are easily made with your Thermomix saving you money on everyday essentials.

How would you life change if there were step by step instructions for your kids or your partner to start getting dinner ready before you got home from work?

These are just a few of the reasons thousands of people invest in a Thermomix. For me I need to produce copious amounts of food for my hungry teenagers and I love variety. I am never lost for things to make. I also love the search feature on our recipe app where you can type in 2 ingredients and it suggests a list of recipes ( with pictures- I love knowing what the end result would look like and lets face it we eat with our eyes first) to make.

The next questions is are you the next person to try out the new TM6? In person and virtual can be arranged and you can book in a time with me here

Our current promotion for May… or you might be ready to simply order a Thermomix for your household. If you are you can order here

Bath Bombs #dayspaathome

Leave a comment

Most days my daughter asks to make something. It is often food but I thought we needed to make something other than food for at least one day. However while we are all in Quarantine, as the corona virus has changed 2020 in ways we could never have predicted, I now have more time at home with my family.

As we won’t be going to a day Spa any time soon, we often try and recreate one at home. Hence my daughters #dayspaathome hast tag added to our experience of making Bath Bombs.

Bath Bombs can be very frustrating. Not wet enough and the mixture won’t hold together, too wet and the mixture will ‘activate’ and expand like crazy. When you get the mixture just right they are amazing. Making your own is an inexpensive activity that teaches patience and perseverance. When you get the mix just right they are simply rewarding.

fullsizeoutput_2112

Ingredients

You will find most of these ingredients at the supermarket, health food store or Bulk Foods Store.

  1. 1 cup Baking Soda
  2. 1/2 cup Cornflour
  3. 1/2 cup Citric Acid
  4. 1/4 cup Epsom salts
  5. 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ( v6 from Young Living or try fractionated coconut oil)
  6. Spray Bottle with Water
  7. 10-12 drops of Essential Oils of Choice ( Stress away is my favourite pick, however you can customise as you wish. All Citrus are very uplifting, Lavender is relaxing.) If you have not got essential oils in your life get them from Young Living here
  8. Moulds- I use metal moulds or you could also use silicon baking moulds.

Method

  1. Add all dry ingredients too a large Bowl
  2. Mix together using a Whisk
  3. Add vegetable Oil  and essential Oils and mix together
  4. Gradually spray the dry mix with the spray bottle, mixing as you go. You need to consistency of Wet sand. This is the tricky bit so go slow. Test the mix by clumping some together and see if it holds.
  5. When you think you have the right consistency, get your two halves of you moulds and slightly overfill, push the halves together quickly and hold together, twisting the halves on themselves. You will need to give it a light tap before trying to unmould your Bath Bomb. Once you have taken one mould off the Bath Bomb, you will need to dry over night on plate.
  6. If using silicon moulds lightly pack the moulds and leave to dry over night before removing from Moulds
  7. Run a Bath, pop in a bath bomb and relax.

Optional extras

  • add a few rose petals or Lavender flowers for that true #dayspaathome feeling
  • add a few Pink Himalayan salts for contrasting detail.

fullsizeoutput_2117

Raw Chocolate- Turkish Delight

Image Leave a comment

I absolutely love Chocolate. Even more I love the process of making it myself. Knowing what goes into the final product is important for me too. Chocolate can be highly nourishing with lots of naturally occurring minerals.

Making chocolate is super easy if you have a thermomix. You can easily weigh all the ingredients, control the temperature, mix and stir and get an amazing final product that is glossy and just delicious. No thermomix? Don’t worry you simply need a saucepan with a glass bowl and you can make it this way too.

One of my favourite combinations is Turkish delight. As a child I remember eating soft gelatinous pieces of very sweet Turkish delight as a treat from specialty delicatessens. These days I use one of my not so secret ingredients to get the Turkish delight flavour, Geranium essential oil from Young Living that is FSANZ approved. This is exactly what some Chocolate companies use to flavour their chocolate and you can do this in your very own kitchen.

Ingredients

180g Cacao Butter ( buttons)
50-60g Raw cacao powder
80g maple Syrup
Pinch salt
1-2 drops Geranium Essential Oil from Young Living
1/2 – 1 cup chopped dried figs

Stovetop method

Put glass bowl over saucepan of simmering water
add 140g cacao butter buttons and melt.
remove from heat and stir through remaining cacao until melted
add cacao powder and maple syrup
mix until all combined
add essential oil and figs and mix.
Pour onto lined baking sheet or moulds and set in the fridge

Thermomix method

Add cacao butter to Thermomix, speed 8, 10sec
Scrape bowl and melt 15mins 37 degrees speed 2 (scrape bowl down half way)
Add maple syrup, cacao powder and pinch salt
Mix 5 min 37 degrees speed 2
Mix 5sec speed 5 .
Add Geranium essential oil and mix 3 sec speed 3
Finally stir through chopped figs

Pour onto a lined baking sheet or silicon mould and set in fridge

I like to pour onto a sheet and then chop into bite sized pieces

Adding pistachios, rose petals and/or freeze dried raspberries takes this recipe to the next level.

I like to buy my whole ingredients from The Source Bulk Foods. You can buy exactly what you need by weight.

Sometimes we simply want all the flavour without the hassle. You can also use 200g of good quality dark chocolate and get a great result. Simply melt the chocolate before adding the figs and essential oil. My chocolate of choice for this would be Green and Blacks 70% Organic dark chocolate

To get the Geranium Essential Oil, go straight to Young Living To simply get started I recommend  the basic culinary kit (AUD$69- you will find it under specialty kits) that includes food standard oils of lemon and orange in addition to my favourite relaxation perfume blend Stress away. Then you can simply add Geranium to your order! Once you are done send me a quick email or message through the blog and I will email you a copy of my complete chocolate workshop! Then you can start more delicous combinations, think Orange and almond and Rocky road like the picture below. You will be whipping up these amazing treats in no time.

A note on the essential Oils. They are potent and I always recommend using 1 drop initially, 2 might be too strong for you.

Hope you love this recipe!!

Belinda xx

Increasing productivity with essential Oils

Leave a comment

Our workplaces can be hives of productivity or a place of negativity. Let’s face it we all want the former whether you are a business owner or worker or both. Everyone wants to feel good and being in a stuffy workplace is not conducive to an efficient and enjoyable atmosphere.

Australians spend on average 90% of their time indoors. I was recently reading about an article where Japanese company Takasago scented their building to see the effect it has on their workers. They found that those who work with computers made 54% fewer typing errors when the workplace was scented with lemon, 33% fewer errors when they smelled jasmine, and 20% fewer mistakes with lavender in the air.

It is important to note that using artificial fragrance to scent your workplace has health risks due to the use of Phthalates which acts as a binder and makes the smell last for a long period of time. Not the mention the other questionable ingredients used in them. There have been numerous studies showing the link between phthalate exposure and the increased risk of developing wheeze, asthma and allergy.

So let’s keep it simple. Ventilate your space with fresh air when you can. Ditch your synthetic air fresheners as they are increasing your exposure to pollutants.

Improve your indoor air quality by setting up a diffuser and use pure essential Oils. I find it fascinating that there are more and more studies being done and show that they have the ability to reduce air borne fungi with Lemon being one of them.

It is important to use Pure essential oils. Ask questions where you buy them from. Does the company produce them, test them, farm sustainably, provide full transparency to their processes?? The last thing you want to to buy essential oils that are adulterated!

The thing I love about using essential oils is you are bringing the scent off plants inside and they smell amazing and really can make you feel good.

Who knows what will happen hen you try this blend. Maybe you too will have fewer errors at your desk! What you will have is peace of mind and did I mention an amazing smell.. yep I think I covered thatfullsizeoutput_1ad3

Pop 3 drops Lavender Essential Oil , 2 Lemon Essential Oil and 1 of Jasmine Essential oil in your diffuser and enjoy your day.

Don’t have essential oils? order yours here

Lemon and Lavender are included in Young Living’s popular premium starter kit that includes 11 Essential oils and a diffuser. It is a great place to start.

 

Enjoy Belinda X

 

 

 

Misting Sprays

Leave a comment

Over the weekend I was reading the weekend paper and came across Misting sprays that were very expensive! $40 for a single bottle of spray seemed a little ridiculous to me.

This is something that you can very easily make your self and then re-fill your bottle when it runs out. Using a few different combinations you can achieve a spray for different effects. Grab your essential oils and make your own. You can use my suggestions or make your own. You will make beautiful smelling sprays, you won’t add to the throw away culture of more and more products. You won’t fill your indoor airspace with harmful ingredients.

 

 

img_9154.jpg

Morning Glory

This is a great refreshing uplifting aroma perfect for your living space or bathroom. Bergamot has been used for a long time in the perfume industry for it’s feel good effect. You will love it in this combination with the happy sweet scent of tangerine and refreshing spearmint.

  • 100ml spray Bottle
  • 5 drops Tangerine
  • 5 drops of Spearmint
  • 5 drops of Bergamot
  • 1 tsp vodka or fine salt
  • cooled boiled water

Add Vodka or salt to your 100ml spray bottle. Add your essential oils. Swirl to combine and top with water.

Now let’s break down the cost of making this spray

  • Spray bottle $2.30. I buy mine here
  • Tangerine $0.09/drop =$0.45
  • Spearmint $0.18/drop = $0.90
  • Bergamot $0.15/drop =$0.75
  • Vodka 1 tsp $0.28 ( based on a 700ml bottle)

Total cost $5.20!

 

Sweet Dreams

Creating a calming environment can be an effective tool in assisting a good nights sleep. I don’t think anyone would argue with you how good you feel after a good night’s sleep. This combination is great as a pillow mist or room spray before bed for adults and children alike.

  • 100ml Spray Bottle
  • 5 drops Lavender
  • 5 drops Vetiver
  • 5 Drops Cedarwood
  • 1 tsp vodka or fine salt
  • cooled boiled water

Add vodka or salt to your 100ml Bottle. Add your essential oils. Swirl to combine and top with water. Spray down pillows, bedding and curtains before sleeping. Sweet dreams.

lets break down the cost again

  • 100ml Spray Bottle $2.30
  • Lavender $0.13/drop = $0.65
  • Vetiver $0.35/drop = $1.75
  • Cedarwood $0.06/drop = $0.31
  • vodka 1 tsp $0.28

Total cost $5.29

Make these for yourself or as a gift for someone else.

Essential oils are awesome. If you are yet to start your own collection, jump over to my Essential oils page and pick a starter kit to suit your needs.

 

Belinda x

Dishwash Powder

Leave a comment

For quite some time I have been wanting to make Dish wash powder myself but I have never been able to get the results I wanted i.e clean glasses, plates etc. Everything has come out cloudy. So frustrating!

Most dishwasher powders and detergents have artificial fragrances in them which is a big red flag for phthalates- endocrine disruptors. You will notice this when you open the door at the end of the cycle and are greeted with a strong artificial smell, not something I wanted my dishes coated with.

Some powders include Chlorine based bleaches which are not great for your digestive tract, and also kill off organisms in the environment which is why chlorine bleach is used in swimming pools.

Colours in your dishwasher powders are simply artificial, more than likely derived from petroleum with small amounts always left on your dishes. No thank you.

Finally I have come up with a mix that I am happy with

Ingredients

Mix all ingredients in a stainless steel bowl and store in either a glass jar or repurposed container.

Use 1-2 tablespoons per wash.

For best results

  1. don’t overload your dishwasher
  2. rinse dishes of large particles of food before hand
  3. use hot water

Results will vary depending on the hardness of your water. Hot water works better as there are no harsh chemicals used to clean your dishes.

For bulk supplies of salts I like to shop at Blants. Bulk goods come in handy for cleaning, bath bombs, bath salts, scrubs. otherwise try your local health food shop or hardware store.

If making your own is not your thing, because it is not everyone’s I love the Ecostore powder. The best low tox option that I have found from the supermarket.