This Steak and Vegetable Pie is a really quick to prepare and makes for an easy, super delicious meal. The pie filling slow cooks in one pot. Try to make this ahead of dinner time to allow the pie filling to cool off. If you’re ever missing any of the vegetables on the ingredient list,…
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Garlic Ginger Soy Caramelised Steak
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Lemon Crumble Tea Cake
This zesty Lemon Crumble Tea Cake is so quick and easy to make and even quicker to eat. It is very tart so if you prefer a sweeter tart, add an extra couple of tablespoons of rapadura to the curd. I know the next time you are offered lemons from a friendly neighbour, you’ll be…
Passionfruit Coconut Tea Cake
This Passionfruit Coconut Tea Cake is beautifully moist and bursting with flavour. I love the combination of passionfruit and coconut in a cake. This is one cake that will leave you feeling very satisfied. Naturally dairy and gluten free, this is a great choice to make when there are a number of dietary requirements for…
Lemon Blueberry Yoghurt Tea Cake
This Lemon Blueberry Yoghurt Tea Cake is a classic combination of blueberry and lemon is so perfect in this moist yoghurt cake. It’s super easy to make and delicious with a cuppa.
It can be made simply by hand or with a regular food processor and I’ve also included the Thermomix method.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit many specific dietary requirements.
Lemon Blueberry Yoghurt Tea Cake
Ingredients
- 2 free-range or organic egg/s
- 120 g full-fat natural yoghurt – or Greek yoghurt (½ cup)
- 80 ml macadamia nut oil – or melted butter or olive oil (¼ cup)
- 170 g rice malt syrup, honey or maple syrup – (½ cup)
- 1 lemon/s – zest and 3 tbsp juice
- 1 tsp vanilla – extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 200 g white spelt flour – (1 ¾ cups)
- 1 cup blueberries – fresh (can also use frozen but do not defrost)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 170°C/340°F (fan forced). Line a 23cm x 13cm loaf tin with baking paper.
- In a food processor or mixing bowl beat the eggs, yoghurt, oil, sweetener, vanilla, lemon juice and zest and vanilla until well combined. If using a Thermomix, 30 seconds speed 3.
- Add the baking powder and soda and sea salt and mix for 5 seconds to just combine. For the Thermomix 5 seconds, speed 4.
- Fold in the flour until just combined. Don't over mix it, just combine gently. For the Thermomix lid locked flour symbol for 2 rotations. Then gently fold in three quarters of the blueberries.
- Pour into your lined baking tin, top with the remaining berries and bake for 45 minutes or until firm in the centre.
Serve
- As is or with fresh double cream.
Notes
Gluten-free
Replace the spelt with a gluten-free premix. You can also sub with the same volume of almond meal plus 2 tbsp or arrowroot or tapioca starch.Dairy-free
Replace the yoghurt with coconut yoghurt.Wholemeal cake
You can certainly make this with wholemeal spelt (when I was testing it, only white spelt flour was available for some strange reason).Loved this tea cake recipe, let me know in the comments below…
Apple Tea Cake
This is my low sugar, wholegrain version of my nan’s Apple Tea Cake. It’s very reminiscent of the mouthwatering cake my nan used to make me as a kid, only a bit nuttier being made with wholemeal spelt. It’s really quick and easy to make too. Perfect for having with a cup of tea, as the…
Peppermint Lime Iced Tea
This refreshing Peppermint Lime Iced Tea was created by my 12 year old son. It’s quick and easy to make and the perfect drink for a hot day. If you want to make it ahead, assemble it and add the ice at the last minute. This is a great standard recipe for any iced tea,…
Immune Supportive Chai Tea Latte
I think it’s wonderful how food memories are formed – I have many but one of my most vivid is for Chai Tea Latte (the fancy ‘cafe’ name) given to India’s national beverage – Masala Chai, or just Chai.
My husband and I spent over 6 months living in our most favourite country (besides Australia of course) and definitely sampled our fair share of Chai. Almost every town we visited claimed ‘the best chai in India’ – though some of the best we had were from the chai wallah pacing the length of the trains (at all hours) with an urn on his head crying ‘chaiiiiyyyy, chaiiiyyyy….’ over and over. It was almost always sold in a small terracotta cup which when done, you threw out of the train window or smashed on the pathway (not a takeaway or foam cup in sight).
Like coffee, there was good and the not so good. Some chai brews were SO sweet that my husband called them ‘hot soft drink’.
The origins of Chai tea is steeped in Indian history and the ancient medicinal philosophy of Ayurveda. So traditionally, each family would have their own recipe based on the constitutions of family members. The blend of spices contains medicinal and healing properties such as relaxing the digestive tract, elevating the metabolism, and increasing waste and toxin excretion.
So on my stove top, far removed from the most fascinating and diverse country I have ever visited, I thought I’d introduce you to my recipe for a delicious, healing chai – and one of my most favourite hot drinks. This is a far cry from a chai tea bag or the flavoured syrups used in coffee shops in Australia – way more delicious and actually healing. It is also something my kids really love and something I believe helps to keep us well through winter.
Why is it healthy?
The spices are all wonderfully supportive to digestion and the respiratory tract so perfect for winter sickness:
Cloves – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, calming and soothing to the gut and lungs
Cinnamon – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves circulation, balances blood-sugar levels
Cardamon – anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, improves circulation, calming and soothing to the gut
Ginger – improves circulation, anti-inflammatory especially to the gut, respiratory and muscular-skeletal systems
Turmeric – powerful anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and supports liver function (and, therefore, digestion)
Coconut oil – anti-microbial and offers immune support. It also helps to support the assimilation of the fat-soluble nutrients in the spices.
Vanilla – anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.
Immune Supportive Chai Tea Latte
Ingredients
- 250 ml milk (1 cup) of your choice (half milk half coconut water is yum too)
- 2 clove/s
- ½ cinnamon quill
- 3 cardamom pods -bruised by pressing with a knife or fork handle
- 2 slices ginger root
- 1 tea bag -fair-trade black, white or green tea or rooibos tea for caffeine-free*
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric (or a slice of fresh root if you have it, optional but strongly recommended
- 1 tsp coconut oil - or ghee (optional)
- ½ tsp vanilla - powder, extract or essence (optional)
- 1 tsp rice malt syrup or honey - to taste
- *Rooibos tea is available from the tea aisle of supermarkets or health food stores. It is what I chose mostly (I'm a bit caffeine sensitive), always my choice for my kids.
Instructions
- In a small pot, place your milk, cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom pods and ginger and bring to a very low simmer for 5 minutes. If you are using the fresh root of turmeric, add this now too.
- Add the tea bag and continue to simmer very gently for a few more minutes.
- I just use a spoon to hold the solids aside as I pour the delicious liquid into a cup to enjoy.
- Sweeten to taste and mix in the optional turmeric powder, coconut oil, ghee and vanilla powder.
Notes
Dairy-free and vegan
Substitute the milk for either almond milk (home made is best, otherwise choose a vegetable oil and sugar-free brand). You could also use a mix of almond milk and coconut milk for a creamier chai.Fructose-friendly
Sweeten with rice malt syrup.Coconut-free
Replace the coconut oil with ghee or just leave it out.How do you like my real chai? Post a comment or rate this recipe.
Immune Tea – a Simple Remedy to Prevent and Treat Colds and Flu
There’s something soothing about a warm cup of tea when you’re feeling run down. But not any old tea will do. With people dropping left right and centre at the moment with colds, flu, and all manner of dreaded bugs, I thought I’d share this immune supportive tea recipe – a remedy I rely on to keep myself and my family well.
I also use this remedy to treat a respiratory infection. It really helps relieve symptoms and shorten the duration and severity of the infection. This immune tea is my take on the infamous hot lemon and honey drink my mum used to make me as a child, only packing much more of a medicinal punch.
Health benefits
- The turmeric is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral. This, combined with the anti-inflammatory effects of ginger, means that both are wonderful for treating the congestion associated with respiratory infections.
- Honey has been used for centuries to reduce inflammation, promote healing and reduce infection. But not all honey is created equal. Processed honey has no medicinal qualities. Real, raw honey possesses these properties, with some types of honey more potent than others. Manuka honey is a type of honey which is potently antibiotic and is receiving much attention in the medical community for its medicinal qualities. It or another raw medicinal honey would be your best choice here.
- Lemon obviously donates a little hit of vitamin C. But it is the zest that impresses the most. Lemon zest is very nutrient dense, an amazing antioxidant and is very anti-bacterial too. It is also very good for stimulating digestion and breaking down mucous. Where ever a recipe calls for lemon juice, always incorporate the zest too.
So now for my immune tea…
Immune Tea
Ingredients
- 500 ml boiling hot water (2 cups)
- 1 organic ginger tea bag (or a 1 cm slice of fresh ginger root, diced or grated)
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric (or a 1 cm fresh piece of root, diced or grated)
- 1 tbsp manuka or raw honey -more or less to taste
- 1 lemon/s -juice and zest
Instructions
- Pour the boiling water over the ginger, turmeric, and optional coconut oil.
- Let it sit for a few minutes before adding the zest and juice.
- Add the honey then simply sip yourself well.
Notes
Supercharge it
Simmering the ginger and turmeric root in the water for 5-10 minutes will make a more potent brew.Boost it
Add a tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil to the tea.Vegan
To make it vegan, replace the honey with maple syrup or rice malt syrup.Do you have any homemade remedies you swear by to prevent or treat colds and flu? I'd love you to share by commenting below.
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Baked Lemon Butter Fish
This Baked Lemon Butter Fish is a super simple tray bake. Paired with a simple side salad or steamed veggies it’s a nourishing prep to plate meal in under 30 minutes. Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements….
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