Cleansing and the undrinkable

So this may look like your standard berry squeezed juice or maybe even a slightly over diluted frothy Ribena, but this was so much more for all the wrong reasons. Healthy eating was going well so kept the ball rolling and visited a health cafe called About Life- Very hippy esque and gum bunny clientele. Thinking I was the ultimate health guru I thought I'd try something a little out of the ordinary- The veggie juice. 

And wow believe it or not it tasted of vegetables. In fact it felt like I was chewing on a bundle of nettles. So much so I had to power neck half the glass before ordering an Orange Juice to wash it down and deciding there was no way in hell I would have another mouthful if someone payed me in rupees. 

I opted for The Cleanser: Kale, Carrot, celery, ginger and beetroot with chlorophyll. Yes it tasted as nice as it sounds, although I didn't feel cleansed just very very violated. I could probably tolerate it with a bad cold and served in shot glasses, but unfortunately I prefer my juice of the fruit variety.

Everyone seems to be blogging and raving about quiona so thought I would give it a try, but after having the devil's drink my lack of faith in this healthy grain made me want to run screaming to the nearest McDonalds demanding extra gherkins slapped on to my big mac por favor.

I ordered the Nourishment Bowl and it came with quiona (duh), stir fried broccoli, kale and an unidentified object with a tahini dressing. The quiona had a nutty texture similar to brown rice and had a soy flavour. I was expecting more veggies with it though, which is surprising as I'd just had a cup load of them. 

My verdict. Veggie juice- No. Not ever is this OK to drink. Quiona- Dig in and prepare to be nourished.

A few snaps of the sister's eatings- Omlete with brie and salmon served with sourdough toast. All thumbs up minus the coffee (there was no coffee in the coffee...)

Ladies that brunch

At long last, this Sheila has got her self a job. Time for a celebratory brunch. With it being only 11:15am there's only so wild the celebrating can get, so I settled with fruit toast with ricotta and honey washed down with watermelon juice on my HOUR AND A HALF walk home. 

Not being the fittest of fiddles I rested my trotters at this halfway pit stop and refueled on goodies at Pure Bronte Pistachio.

And checked out the Eastern coastline. Was also a fan of the coloured deckchairs.

Loved the combination of ricotta and honey. Yet more condiments to write on the "Condiments I need" list. Gone are the days of toast and butter.

...And toast. Toast is not the same if it doesn't have raisins or fruit in it.

More watermelon juice. Definitely juicing up some watermelons in the old blender when I get home.

My first Yum Cha

Exploring through Sydney's China town at lunch time was perfectly apt for a spot of Chinese food. A recommended place was Marigold's Yum Cha and being the top tourist on hand quietly obliged to the suggestions. For those of you who like me had never experienced Yum Cha- Imagine this: Cue being greeted by your waiter who seats you and practically throws chopsticks at you and very aggressively gives you one too many bowls- what's wrong with a plate? As you are trying to work out why the missing plates and what miniature bowl is for what, you are interrupted with waiters upon waiters slam dunking plates down on the table of different dishes from trolleys. What?! 

Albeit, I would have preferred to have been asked if I would have liked the lumpy porridge soup with unidentified objects floating around in it, in which case the answer would have been a categorical no (no photographic evidence as it looked that vile.) Nevertheless, the waiters were insistent on giving us the food on their trolleys (must have been on commission) and we ended up with authentic Chinese food that put Mr Wing Lee's up the road takeaway to shame.

The waitress was adamant we had vegetables as they are "very healthy and good for you." As thoughtful as it was, I wasn't too fond of the idea when I could be having spring rolls and dumplings instead but to my surprise it was one of my favorite dishes. 

Another keeper was the duck. A must when your having a Chinese. It had a sticky glaze and the meat was tender from it being slow cooked on the bone. Eating this with chopsticks was like peeling an orange with mittens on. Impossible. No knives and forks meant looking like a wild carnivore eating in the corner.

Not for the squeamish. Calamari and fried squid with salt and pepper. Check out the tentacles.

And of course no Chinese is complete without spring rolls with sweet and sour dipping sauce.

Using my expertise, I conclude that Yum Cha is a one of a kind dining experience- like sushi but without the conveyor belt...and with humans and trolleys. With that technical analogy, it's kind of a hit and go meal not for those who want a relaxing leisurely lunch because be warned, plates will get thrown at you.

The aftermath.

Australia eats

G'day from Australia. What can only be described as the most painful journey of my life is finally over.  Please note British Airways that for people who are not the size of match boxes, more leg room is an absolute must. As for you people in first class with your weird bubble type pod seating arrangements and your complementary champers, you make me feel sick.

I am a closet aeroplane food lover.Correction, was. Either I have turned into a food snob or my child self's taste buds were not quite there. Either way I was famished when I arrived on Australian turf and went to a beach side cafe.

Watermelon juice. Why don't they do this in England? 

Tuna steak with copious amounts of greens and a surprise of feta cheese much to the delight of the cheeseaholic. It was laden with green beans al dente, beetroot, avocado, tomato and an array of leaves. 

Reading my first Australian newspaper like a good little journo. Nice green cup for the h20 a la melon.

Followed by a Mojito to aid the jet lag. Wink wink.

Click click snap

Garden grazing

Finally! After a false call yesterday, the sun arrived. Blogging with a slightly pinker complexion, it is fair to say I am a rather modest lobster colour and got a bit over excited by this sudden heatwave. 

This is probably at fault from lazing in the garden all day from breakfast until I caught a glimpse of my reflection and saw an offensive shade of rouge red. In my breakfast bowl I had rice crispies AND crunchy nut cornflakes with strawberries, goji berries and milk.

Quick and easy to make with more time to pink, but still simply delicious and enjoyed on the garden bench.

Calories: 158

Following the success of the spinach smoothie, I was craving another green juice for lunch and this one was ten times more refreshing for today's summer day. The quenching of thirst in action.

I exchanged the berries for more green veg and even a green apple. I tried to distract myself from the greenness of this beverage by putting it in a tall fancy glass. Needless to say when I had a swig the colour (regardless of it being too green and looking too healthy) didn't matter. 

At least it matched the grass.

Wash spinach, cucumber and celery.

Blitz with sliced green apple and 1/2 frozen banana.

One glass filled to the brim with veggie goodness.

Gulped down with pepper and carrot sticks dipped into sun-dried tomato hummous and sweet onion rivita on the side.

Now to slam dunk my face into a bowl of natural yogurt. Too pink, too much garden grazing.

Calories: 317

There's an orange in my salmon

Salmon round two. This week there was an oriental twist with sweet and savory infusions from a little pre-marinade prep. It took 10 minutes maximum to prepare and most was done without supervision so if one wishes, multi-task away. 

Served with fragrant brown rice (trying to stick to wholemeal) that was perfumed with cinnamon and lemon juice stirred in with raisins and peas. 

For the marinade combine orange juice, soy sauce and minced ginger in a saucepan.

Reduce the marinade until there is 3/4 less liquid and marinade.

Cover brown rice, sultanas and cinnamon with water.

Boil until rice is tender and water is absorbed. Add more water if necessary.

Add peas in at the last couple of minutes.

The salmon was sweet and sticky and the rice was nice enough to eat on its own as a simple rice salad. We'll forget about the steamed spinach. Spinached out through binge eating it and especially not a fan of the steamed soggy variety.

I am now a lover of all things salmon and will never dismiss it as a boring mid week meal. All it needs is a little TLC. Or a simple marinade and rice side.

Calories: 625