Afternoon tea treats: Lemon and chocolate

My lemon honey ginger biscuits were ready for consumption Friday, so Gib and I had a lovely afternoon tea before he left for the city. Have a look at these little beauties:

And Saturday night (special dessert night) I put together these chocolate tarts:

Chocolate and vanilla love

How cute:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV95qzOylCY&NR=1

Activated nuts and caramelised walnuts

I just had some walnuts that have been activated and I can tell you that take that "roughness, draughty" taste out of them. 

What is activating nuts all about?

An activated nut is a nut that has been soaked in water to release its enzyme inhibitors. Activated nuts are easily digested and more nutritious than raw or roasted nuts. Raw nuts contain enzyme inhibitors that cause digestive problems and nut intolerances in some individuals. They also reduce our body's ability to uptake other nutrients.

How did I do it?

I soaked half a kilo of walnuts for 7 hours, I rinsed them well (all in water filtered by our Living ZaZen) and then spread them out on my dehydrator trays.

Caramelised Walnuts - UNROASTED !!!

On a regular sunday our family would trot on over to the Flemington Markets in Sydney and we would buy some Vienna and Sugared almonds. Full of sugar and roasted nuts, and very sweet. Well I have just discovered a healthier option to this treat and I think these are tastier too.

I popped some of the soaked walnuts I mentioned above into a bowl and coated them in organic maple syrup, raw honey, cinnamon and a pinch of sea salt. Wow, when I was a wee lass we always use to use to love vienna almonds. This is not completely raw dish as maple syrup is not considered raw.

Vanilla cheezecake with mandarin syrup

I tried out my first vanilla raw cheezecake with a mandarin syrup on saturday night. Recipe will be in an upcoming publication :). Hubby liked it and he doesn't usually like cheesecake.

Raw ice cream challenge

Yay I am going to do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0CZxG1aN5g

Stay tuned, I have two cake ideas !!!

I have purchased the ingredient but won't have time to make cakes till Friday or weekend. Can't wait :)

Pesto with kelp noodles

Gibran and I excitedly received our first packet of kelp noodles today.

I made something close to the following recipe, with a some leftover veggies in the fridge. I added some grated zucchini, finely chopped broccoli and a smidgeon of lettuce:

http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2009/07/31/basil-pesto-with-kelp-noodles/

Plus I made a little one for Rhiana with a satay sauce (tsp each of almond butter, tahini and sesame oil, pinch of sea salt). I think she may have gone for it more if I had made the sauce sweeter. I will keep trying anyway.

I forgot to take a photo we were too keen to try it.

All in all I think you could do a lot with these noodles, maybe even a dessert *LOL*. This dish is pretty light and one pack made enough for us too.

And the best part was the speed of this. Would like to keep a bunch of these in the cupboard for an easy to prepare meal.

Oz-trail-ian Faves

Gidday minties,

Okay I need your help with a little project I am planning. Listed below are my favourite Aussie Sweets and I would really love if you add any that are yours or tell me if any of those listed below are your favourites too.

Chocolates

Cherry ripe

Flake

Crunchies

Snickers

Milky Ways

Milky Bar 

Wagon Wheels - not my fav but were very popular
Caramel buds, freckles and chocolate buds
Chocolate coated nuts

Biscuits

Tim Tams

Iced Vo Vos

Mint Slice

Anzac

Spicy Fruit Rolls

Cakes

Lamingtons

Pavlova

Christmas Fruit Cake

Jam Rolls

Fruit buns

Chocolate crackles

Puddings

Bread and butter pudding

Trifle 
Rice pudding 
Tinned pudding banana, strawberry, vanilla, chocolate

Ice Creams and Ice Blocks

Feet - Banana ice cream with chocolate coated soul

Heart

Cornetto

Paddle Pops

Splice 

Pies

Nanna's Apple or Apricot Pies

Special mention

Ice Magic
Sherbet
Vienna Almonds

And anything with Milo in it. I used to hide tins of Milo under my bed. And mix it in with ice cream, yummmm!!! 

Email me at arlene@mannachi.com or post comments below.

In the beginning

Go confidently
In the direction of your Dreams.
Live the life
you've imagined!


~ Henry David Thoreau ~

For a little while now I have been on a discovery of new foods and flavours. Preparing food without cooking is just so unbelievably tasty, easy and most importantly creative. I have always liked creating new recipes and since trying out raw food recipes I have discovered new things about myself. Perhaps because the food stays close to natural state it is some how truer and allow to shine.

So based on this feeling and new passion I have decided to start a new opportunity to realise all my ideas around creating food that is yummy and healthy.

In the meantime while I am waiting for a website and other promotional material to be created, this blog site is going to be a point of contact and news about my business.

And to finish here is a blessing for Manna-Chi:


May the soul be inspired
May the body be nourished
May the mind be enlivened
And may three be one in purpose


Bliss-zings,
Arlene