Lamb Cutlets Marinated in Oregano and Balsamic

This recipe is thanks to the Cuisine Magazine. 

 Serves:2

Ingredients:

8 Lamb Cutlets
4 gloves garlic, crushed
1 T freshly chopped oregano
1 T dried oregano
about 50ml balsamic vinegar
about 50ml olive oil
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:

Mix the garlic, fresh and dried oregano, balsamic and oil. Coat the lamb cutlets with this mix. Refrigerate overnight.

Heat frying pan, add a dash of oil,
Take the lamb cutlets out of the marinade (reserve the marinade), and season with salt and pepper. Fry for around 3 minutes on one side.
Turn lamb cutlets over, add the marinade to the pan, and cook for another 3 minutes or so. Rest in a warm place for 6-7 minutes.

I served with mashed potato and kale. However other green veg would work well.

Spicy Red Lentil, Tomato and Kale Soup

This soup really is super delicious...... and nutritious.....

Ingredients:
- 1 tsp coconut oil (or other)
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 celery sticks, sliced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 1/4 tsp ground cumin
- 1/4 tsp chilli powder
- 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 to 1/2 tsp smoked sweet paprika
- 3 Tbsp tomato paste
- 1 Tin tomatoes
- 8 cups veg stock
- 1 cup red lentils
- 2 cups finely chopped kale


In a large pot, saute the onion and garlic in the oil for about 3 minutes. Add the celery and saute a few more minutes.

Stir in the bay leaf, spices, tomatoes, stock, and lentils, then bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 25 min.

Add kale and simmer 5 to 10 min or until kale is soft.

Serve with fresh crusty bread.

For an omnivores delight, add chorizo, as we did the second night.....

Spicy Marinated Chicken Wings

Forget those pre-packed marinated chicken wings..... This dish is soooo yummy, and way healthier.

Ingredients
12 wings or 6 drums
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chilli powder
1 t turmeric
1 t ground cumin
12 whole cardamom pods, split to release seeds
1/4 t each ground cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic, crushed
3 T plain yoghurt

Method
mix spices in a large bowl. Add salt, garlic, yoghurt. Mix. Then add chicken and coat with marinade. Leave in fridge at least one hour, pref overnight.

preheat oven to 180. Bring chicken to room temperature, then place in a shallow roasting tin with baking paper.

bake about 45 min, turning during cooking. Remove chicken, and let rest for 30 min if possible.

serving ideas: potato wedges and coleslaw (see recipe below)
http://abalancedkiwilifestyle.blogspot.co.nz/2014/08/coleslaw-ideas.html

Balanced Smoothie

Yesterday I decided I'd put together a few smoothie ingredients, and just see what happened. It actually tasted pretty good!

Fats:
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Proteins:
- 2 teaspoon LSA, soaked in small amount of water for a minute or two
- 1 teaspoon tahini
- Small handful mixed sprouts

Veg/fruit:
- Handful greens (I used spinach, mizuna and parsley from the garden)
- Small handful mixed frozen berries
- Half a banana

Flavours:
- Pinch sea salt
- Half teaspoon cinnamon
- Drop vanilla essence

Water - to a desired consistency

Just whiz it all up.

Natural Deoderant Alternative

Following a lot of mixed media about the effects of using aluminium and other chemicals on the arm pits, I decided to try a natural deoderant alternative, and it works a treat. (I do get chaffing on the odd occasion though).

Ingredients:
- 6 Tablespoons Virgin Coconut Oil
- 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
- 1/4 Cup Corn Flour
- A couple drops of essential Oil of your choice (this is not necessary for the effectiveness)

Mix everything in a bowl, and transfer to a container. Use a pea size amount and spread onto each armpit.

Source:
http://wellnessmama.com/1523/natural-deodorant/

Meditteranean Fish Soup

This is my first attempt at trying to copy a yummy soup we had at Le Cafe Cafe in Picton over Easter.... Definitely not quite as good as the Le Cafe version, but a good start....

Ingredients:
- 150g flakey fish
- 350g firm fish

- 4-5 cups fish stock
- Olive oil 
- 1 cup white wine
- 500 g veggies (carrot, celery, onion, leek, parsnip, fennel bulb)
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- tomato paste / 1/2 tin tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- Pinch saffron
- 1 piece orange peel (optional)
- 1 Star anise
- 1/2 Teaspoon coriander seeds
- handful chopped parsley
- 3 bay leaves

Steps:
Fry spices. Sweat veggies in olive oil. Add diced flakey fish. Deglaze with white wine. Add tomato paste, top up with stock, and simmer 30 min. Add the firm fish, and bring back to a gentle simmer.