Swapping Coffee for Champagne - all in name of Spring Carnival

This week I am giving up my daily drink of coffee for Champagne....( or in my case Australian Sparkling)  for some fun and frolicking at the 2011 Melbourne Spring Carnival. If I pick enough winners Ill upgrade to that $140 bottle of Mumm.... but I'm thinking ill be drinking the run of the mill Yellow!

Over the past 11 years I have been attending at least one of the big days in the first week of November and in that time I have been to  around 15 days only missing one year -  2007 as I was concentrating on my own Derby.. er I mean Darby as he was only 2 months old at the time.

I missed a few Derby and Stakes days over the years  due to friends wedding (this never pleased Dave!) and bad weather - no matter how hard you try and pray you can never rely on mother nature, but I  have still managed to purchase enough dresses and fascinators over this time... although I must say I am not afraid  to  recycle and reinvent an old outfit or headpiece  over the years.

In my younger days I loved the vibrance and frivolity of the Cup and turning up to work the next day sun burnt and terribly hungover ... as I got a little older, the classic and sophisticated Derby Day was more my thing... and then I discovered the Nursery and Oaks day and I have never looked back! This is when I was more sensible and took the week off as annual leave, rather than working on my excuse not to go to work.. smart girl.  I'm still waiting however for my big ticket into  the birdcage... but Ill keep dreaming (and waiting patiently for that one!) 

This year thanks to a very obliging former colleague I got tickets into the members for Derby day.. I took along my friend Rachel and I bucked the trend of black and white and wore red and black. The weather forecast was looking quite miserable, but it turned out to be magnificent with no sight of rain and gorgeous  warm sun peeking through all day... with most people leaving looking a little more than sun kissed! 

So this week my coffee consumption is a little down, I tend not to drink it the on the day or the "morning after" - dependant on how good or bad I'm feeling!  So that could only leave 3 days this week to have a decent drop! I'm hoping tomorrow is sunny enough to walk to Newport to the Pint of Milk for a coffee or Spotswood to the Duchess.. If I am not drinking much coffee, it needs to be delightful (and I need the exercise, good practice when standing up all day at the races in heels! )

Then I am off to Oaks on Thursday... Wish me luck ... and send me any winners! I need all the help I can get, and then that glass of Mumm beckons

Until next time

Life is too short to drink crappy coffee
Ps  - I hope you like the new look of my blog!

Stakes Day 2006

After Oaks 2006

Oaks Day 2009

Oaks Day 2008

Derby Day 2011

Derby Day 2010

Stakes Day 2009

Sunscreen, Tears and Halloween....

As the weather warms  up,  or at least tries to, I realise there is a bit of pressure now to  finish the list of coffee places that I set out to do at the start of the year.. I have 27 places to go to... it seems like quite a challenge with everything happening in my life at the moment when there is only bout 10 weeks to do it in.. ouch that is nearly 3 places a week! Well I will keep persevering as always , I am certainly not one to give up in the face of adversity, so here goes!

So my updates on coffee places for the week goes a little something like this: 

Thursday: Job Interview (Urrghhh these are not fun, but I better get used to them!) ... then a much needed coffee at Milkwood in Brunswick East.. just the name left me all nostalgic  reminding  me of my Year 10 English Literature crush on Dylan and Peter whilst studying Under Milkwood.. nothing better than a high school love triangle.. Back to the coffee, it snapped me out of my trip down memory lane and was a lovely surprise, creamy and strong using quality Coffee Supreme beans. I would love to come back here for a sweet treat too.. The Caramel Slice looked like it was on steroids! 

Thursday also brought about a trip to Coles, not to buy bread or milk, but to buy Halloween masks! Darby is obsessed with Halloween and these $4 masks are great although a tad creepy!! I am the Tassie Devil and Darbs alternates between the Happy Witch and the Scary pumpkin... We plan to do a bit of trick or treating on Monday night.... although not sure how many people will be ready for that with lollies in hand! 

Friday: Always happy when Friday rolls around and the day always needs to begin with coffee ... Fridays coffee of the day was at Cafenatics in the Docklands.  The coffee tends to be hit or miss for me and no where near as consistent as Elevenses was. (How I miss them!)  The coffee though that day was so impressive that I returned in the afternoon to get another  hot chocolate. (I can't do 2 coffees in a day anymore!! damn!) 

Saturday: 

So the day started with a bit of exercise and then lunch with Darby at Le Chien for some coffee and eggs.. my favourite combination. Although I have given up meat, there is no way I am ready to give up Eggs.. I know I probably should give them up, but they are my vice along with my addiction to coffee! Anyway, the coffee as always was great and thats really all there is to say! 

Sunday: 

On Sunday Darby and I were talked into doing the JDRF walk for Diabetes around Albert Park Lake... I knew this was going to be a long day... so  I started the it with a takeaway coffee from Truman  a new place in Albert Park... Its worth checking out and the coffee was tasty.. It was the highlight of the day.. I didn't know the pain that lay ahead.. The walk was way too long for Darby's little legs (and mine too!).  There were plenty of stops and disagreements about sunscreen, Darby has a real affliction for it now so it was hard work to even get a drop on his skin.. I also had to carry his little bike for half of the walk...It was 30 degrees and the worst part was getting back to the car, a 20 minute walk took an hour and a half, and it was the most painful of walks, filled with plenty of tears, whining and tantrums (some of those were mine). A lot of negotiating finally got us to our car, the most painful walk I have ever done with Darby.. He was exhausted, I was exhausted ... so no more long walks on the agenda for quite awhile!
Almost makes me feel like a coffee again now just thinking about it.....

Until next time

Life is too short to drink crappy coffee

Recipe : Crunchy Granola Suite!

Ok so I'm not referring to the classic Neil Diamond tune... although I don't mind a bit of Neil from time to time. My dad's love of Neil has certainly been passed down in the genes to me!
So what is this new found obsession with, Well  I have developed a love affair with Granola... (along with my recent  date ball obsession!) This has gone hand in hand in my new lifestyle as a ' vegetarian' and cutting sugar out - the processed white nasty kind of course! 

So Granola has become my favourite breakfast cereal as well as my snack of choice,  literally I could eat it at every meal as it is soo yummy and pretty darn healthy too! So you are entitled to eat  as much as you like right??? I give you permission..  Well not really,  although it is hard to stop at one, two or three handfuls!

I have tried a few recipes and have made changes here and there to suit my likes and dislikes, each time it seems to taste different but no less delicious. This one is a modified version of  the Alicia Silverstone Granola from her Kind Life Diet (Thanks Laura) 

Crunchy Granola
These are estimate amounts, I tend to throw things in and not measure very accurately. It also depends what ingredients I have on hand, it is very easy to improvise and use whatever  nuts take your fancy. 

2 Cups of Rolled Oats (organic if available)

1/2 cup of Rolled Quinoa (if desired)

1/4 cup of Sunflower Seeds

1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds

1/8 cup of Sesame seeds

1/8 cup of Chia Seeds

3/4 cup of whole almonds

1/2- 1 cup of shredded coconut 

1 teaspoon cinnamon (to desired taste)

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/2 cup of Maple Syrup

1/4 cup of almond butter

1/2 cup of Coconut Oil  and a little Flaxseed Oil - Or Sunflower oil

1/2 teaspoon of Sea Salt (I use Himalayan as it is really tasty)

Sultanas, Cranberries and Apricots optionals at the end , even a few Dark Choc Chips!

OK so here are the steps to creating the perfect crunchy Granola!! 

- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees , Spray an oven tray with an Olive Oil spray and line the tray with baking paper . Mix together all of the dry ingredients except for the fruit. Melt the Coconut oil in the microwave until it forms a liquid. Mix with Maple Syrup, Vanilla Essence and the almond butter.  Add the wet ingredients to the rolled oats/nuts and mix together. Make sure everything is coated in the liquid, not saturated in it, but well covered.  Place on the baking tray evenly (you may need two trays if you have been over generous with the ingredients!) Put it in the oven  and  cook for for 30 -40 mins, giving it a flip over every 10 mins so the granola cooks evenly! It should be a gorgeous golden brown colour all over  when it is done. Sometimes it may need a few more minutes. I make sure it is really well cooked , the nuts should taste toasted when you eat them.. yum yum!!!  Once cooked, add the fruit/choc chips if thats your thing. 

Let it cool and then put it in an airtight container and watch it disappear. I am generally making a batch of this once a week! 

So sit back, relax, maybe  put a little Neil Diamond on and enjoy......


Until Next time ..... (and Ill talk coffee once more! ) 

Cooked to perfection (photo is not great!) 

Recipe: Good for the heart, good for the soul

Over the last 3 weeks I have flirted with becoming a vegetarian, and am proud to say I have managed to get through without a morsel of meat passing through my lips in that time.  Oh oops, memory lapse, I did slip up last week and had a burger - with meat eek- although I did make the conscience choice  to ask for no bacon!!!  

But that's 25 days or so of no meat! Laura is having a positive influence on me, or really the book she loaned me (while she was travelling the world) - The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone!

As part of these  lifestyle changes  I have also made an effort to cut down on sugar as well and have replaced it with natural alternatives. My cupboard is now filled with an array of products I didn't know existed a few short months ago. My favourite weekend activity is now visiting Health Food Stores/Organic grocers to look out for new products... How my life has changed in 3 weeks. I am laying low on the coffee too (ho hum) but only as a temporary measure until I'm feeling a little better. 

I have been struggling to find inspirational vegetarian savoury meals to cook, but of course I was keen to try anything that was in the desserts section ...There were plenty of tempting healthy (and sugar free ) options, better try them before I judge.. and I am happy to report I found a recipe that is simple, easy, delicious and Darby and I both love them..... Plus as an added bonus, I have replaced these for chocolate, so that's got to be doing my heart and cholesterol a favour!

I was introduced to "Date balls"  at a cooking demo I ran at work,  The recipe is  really adaptable so I have altered the recipe to what I have at home and what I like (as there are a number of  versions around)  Each time it seems to be bit different depending on what ingredients I have on hand.... Sometimes they have heaps of ingredients and other times it is a lot more simple! All I know is they have been fantastic for my sweet cravings and afternoon crashes and have done wonders to my skin and hair, not too mention fibre and adding good fat in my diet - its just hard to stop at 1 or 2 balls. 

Date Balls: 
(Apologies in advance for my more than average pictures - when I have my new iPhone4S I hope to be able to take much better ones!!) This recipes makes about 15 medium size balls!!! 
8-12 Fresh Dates (from the fresh fruit and veg section in the supermarket) 
1/4 cup of Sunflower Seeds
1/4 cup of Pumpkin Seeds
1/2 cup of Raw Almonds
2 Tablespoons of Raw Cacao
Handful of Dark chocolate chips (depending on like) 
2- 3 Tablespoons of Maple Syrup
1-2 Tablespoons of Almond/Cashew butter (Peanut butter if you don't have either)
2 Teaspoons of Chia Seeds
2 Teaspoons of Sesame seeds
1 Teaspoon of Flaxseed oil 
1 Cup of Shredded or dessicated  coconut (depending on what texture you would like)
Sea Salt/Vanilla Extract Optional depending on taste.

Ok so you will need one of those little bullet, mini food processor things.. I picked mine up from Kmart for $15 - already money well spent!!! 

Firstly put in the sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds and blitz for 5 seconds, then add dates (make sure you remove the big pips in the middle!) cacao powder, choc chips, maple syrup, Chia, Sesame Seeds, Flaxseed Oil, Almond Butter and almonds - I add salt here as I am addicted to the sweet salty taste (and I have low sodium levels, so any excuse!) The mixture should take on a pasty, thick  consistency. Roll into small, medium or large balls and roll in the coconut. Stick into some zip lock bags and into the freezer! 
Wait until they are chilled and Enjoy!!! 
These babies don't last long in our house!!!!

Date Balls -  The finished product 

Ready for the freezer!

 

Just what I needed to hear...

This week the world lost a visionary like no other (no other in my time anyway!) Steve Jobs.. 

When reading of the sad news (on my iPhone!!)  I was inspired to read about his life and couldn't help but get swept away by some of his uplifting quotes.. After having such a crappy, horrible day at work, I needed to hear these words so desperately.... They brought me comfort, tears and a good old rev up! I'm not saying I will make life decisions based on what Steve had to say, but I can't say that his words won't be ringing in the back of my head when I do... 

Here are my favourite 2! What are yours???

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."