Freshen up this Spring with Kiwi Fruit! Plus Kiwi & Pineapple Pina Coladas

 

Kiwi fruit are so gorgeous, and yet can be sometimes an overlooked fruit.
They are so versatile, affordable and easy for kids to eat, my youngest has eaten so many lately, they would have to be up there as one of her all time favourite fruits! Recently I was contacted to try out the New Zealand Zespri GOLD kiwifruit (insert happy 3 year old) - and they are stunning!

 

Of course coming from pristine New Zealand I was expecting a fresh, crisp flavour anyway and I wasn't disappointed, they are beautiful and such high quality and keep well in the fruit bowl as well, which is so great for planning out those fruit breaks at school. The kids love the pretty gold colour and they are perfect for kids fruit breaks for school, kindy or after sports.

They also go beautifully in a fruit salad or platter for the whole family - or maybe just for mum! ;)
 

According to Zespri, these gold kiwifruit are fantastic for digestive health and I don't know about you but anything that makes my digestion, gut and bowels happy makes me happy!
(Especially after 2 babies if you know what I mean ; )

These gold kiwifruit are SO good for you!
Quoted from Zespri Website:
"Fibre in kiwifruit is made up of pectins, hemicelluloses and celluloses, which give it certain properties, such as the ability to retain water and form gels. It can have a significant effect on digestion:

• Reducing the glucose absorption rate, so that the GI is lowered and blood sugar levels remain stable
• Increasing the sense of fullness, since the fibre acts to increase viscosity and slow gastric emptying
• Increasing the frequency of bowel movements
• Reducing the sensation of bloatedness
• Reducing the time of intestinal transit

Actinidin is a protease found in kiwifruit, which breaks down proteins and facilitates gastric digestion. This natural enzyme has the ability to break-down a wide range of food proteins more completely and faster than the digestive enzymes can do on their own. Actinidin was most effective on proteins found in beef and chicken, fish, pulses and cereals (gluten and soya protein isolate), and dairy products such as milk, cottage cheese and yogurt.
The digestive benefits of actinidin:

• Improves the digestion of proteins by reducing the sensation of heaviness associated with protein-rich foods
• Improves the absorption of proteins
• Improves digestive comfort"

Raw kiwifruit is also a great source of folic acid, potassium, vitamin c, e and antioxidents.
For more information on the health benefits of the kiwi head to the Zespri Website.

With their lovely zing, we are enjoying ours mainly fresh, as is, cut in half with a spoon, sliced into fruit salads and platters, baked into a delicious kiwi banana bread (get this recipe next week on the blog too) and my FAVOURITE way

Fresh and Fabulous Mocktail
Kiwi and Pineapple Pina Colada

Ingredients

4 Zespri Gold Kiwifruit

1/2 a large or 1 small fresh pineapple

1/2 cup organic coconut cream

1 can coconut water (I use Jt's Coconut Essence as it is my favourite)

Method

Chop the fresh pineapple into chunks.

Take the skin off the kiwifruit and chop into pieces.

Add all ingredients into a blender and blitz until you have a lovely, runny texture.

Serve over crushed ice.

Enjoy!

 

Notes

My kids absolutely love this and it is a perfect pick me up if you are running from school pick up to an after school activity like sports or dance! ( Can you tell I am a dance mum??) I make some ahead and store in glass bottles with lids in the fridge so I can have them ready to be enjoyed when I pick them up and we are zipping around.

Turn them into icypoles! Simply pour into icy pole moulds and freeze - note do it right away before any separating might occur.

I am in kiwifruit heaven right now and am just SO delighted to have a GIVEAWAY for you!!

Zespri Gold kiwifruit have for 1 lucky reader the chance to win a $30 Woolworths gift card so you can go out and buy some of these gorgeous gold kiwifruit and try the pina coladas yourself and also a beautiful kiwifruit bowl!
How fun is that!
Enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


NOTE:
This is in no way endorsed by or run in conjunction with facebook.
This is an independent giveaway.
Winner will be notified by email and has 2 weeks to claim prize or there may be a redraw.
Competition open to Australian residents only.
Winner must have left a blog post comment to be eligible.
This giveaway is brought to you by Zespri Kiwifruit.
All information in this post is intended for interest only, please always seek advice from a health care professional in regards to your health and diet.

RECIPE - Smoked Trout with Pomegranate, Avocado & Coriander Salad

Smoked Trout with Fresh Avocado and Coriander Salad
This is a stunning salad. It looks impressive and it tastes incredible! I used the beautiful Sunshine Coast Noosa River Smoke House smoked trout, but any good quality smoked trout would be beautiful in this with the fresh greens and a crunch of pomegranate. Perfect for a dinner party, date night, dish for a BBQ, hot Summer's night or just a really healthy and delicious dinner. Serves 4.

Ingredients
• 1 piece Smoked Trout
•  Balsamic Vinaigrette (I used Sunshine Coast made Tomarata Sensual Rosella balsamic)
• 3 stalks Celery, cut on the diagonal
• 1 Red Onion, chopped
• 4 Tomatoes, chopped
• 1  packet Lettuce mix (I used Ironbark here)
• 1 cup Baby Spinach leaves
• ½ cup fresh Coriander leaves
• 2 small Lebanese Cucumbers
• 1 fresh Pomegranate
• ¼ cup Flaked Almonds



Method

Violet eating pomegranate seeds
while mum makes the salad!

• Toast flaked almonds by putting in a moderately hot, dry frying pan until lightly brown, stirring constantly, set aside to cool.
• In a bowl combine lettuce mix, baby spinach leaves, coriander leaves, onion and tomatoes.
• Cut Lebanese cucumbers in half, remove seeds with teaspoon and cut into half moon shapes.
• Cut pomegranate in half, remove seeds (HINT to remove seeds easily hit pomegranate with wooden spoon underneath, this will loosen the seeds, ensure not to include membrane as is bitter.)
• Combine salad mix, cucumber, celery, avocado, onion together.
• Flake trout into salad mix.
• Gently toss together.
• Arrange on serving platter sprinkle pomegranate seeds and the flaked almonds over the top.
• Serve with Tomarata Sensual Rosella Balsamic Vinaigrette.

Notes
• Perfect for a dinner party, very decorative.
• Beautiful light, healthy dinner.

Loving them!

• Pomegranates have many health benefits.



Toddler Tips
• This is tasty salad suitable for all ages, the pomegranate especially is very appealing to toddlers and children.

As you can see >>>

My kids, especially my toddler LOVES fresh pomegranate >>>

Not a peep was heard, as she happily munched away,
during the recipe photo shoot ;)

And then ate an adult sized serving. This salad recipe is one of my kids favourites.

This recipe  was created by me for the Maleny Supa IGA Local Product Local Recipe - card series with Rebecca Mugridge. Free to collect in store and you can see the whole series on their website. 

RECIPE - Gorgeous Pink Sparkle Drink (No Added Sugar & Healthy)

My Beautiful Pink Sprakle Drink!

Delightly simple ~ deliciously refreshing

Makes a large party sized batch - can be halved for smaller quantities

Ingredients

1/4 raw large beetroot, juiced

5 pink lady apples, juiced
1 cup frozen raspberries
1 punnet fresh strawberries, hulled and juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced, without rind
1 fresh pineapple, juiced
1-2 litres soda water (depending on how strong you want it to taste)
Ice to serve
optional - sweeten with stevia or norbu

*Blend raspberries with about 1 cup of the water.
*Combine all ingredients well in a glass jug
*If desired sweeten to taste with some powdered stevia (optional)
*Chill
*Serve with ice
 

NOTES:
Swap water for soda water for a fizzy version.
Can also be dilluted down with more quantity of water for a very light and refreshing drink

Great healthy mixer for cocktails

Enjoy!
Rebecca xx

Prawns with Mango & Carrot lettuce cups salad

AS SEEN in the Sunshine Coast Daily - 2013

Looking for something fresh and tasty to serve for Christmas Day or a great dish to entertain friends and family at your next diner party? Or just a beautiful dinner or lunch idea for the family?

Fresh, light, healthy and looks gorgeous

Try my recipe Festive Prawns with Mango  & Carrot Salad served with either my apple cider cinegar lemon dressing or for Sunshine Coast people who are ok with sugar try the lovely Lime & Ginger Dressing by Pomodora's

Happy cooking!

Ingredients

• 4 large green prawns per person
• 1 whole head lettuce
• wooden skewers
• 2 ripe mangoes, sliced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 large red chilli, deseeded, chopped
• 2 cups Woodford baby spinach leaves
• 2 carrots, cut into matchsticks
• 2 stalks celery cut thinly on the diagonal
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 2 limes
• Pomodora's ginger & lime dressing

Bek's Apple Cider Lemon Dressing

• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup good olive oil
• honey to taste
• chili to taste
• I find this dressing is different for everyone, tweak the quantities until the flavour is just perfect for you - its beautiful!

Method

• Soak skewers for 30 minutes
• Toast coconut by placing in a dry medium heat frying pan, stirring lightly browned, set aside.
• Gently combine carrot, celery, spinach, mango, coconut, chilli and sesame seeds in a bowl, gently toss.
• Lightly salt and then cook skewered prawns in frying pan or on BBQ, 2-3 minutes.
• Wash lettuce and pull of cups for serving salad in, arrange on plates, 1 per person - see notes.
• Fill each cup with carrot and mango salad, garnish with a little extra coconut.
• Place 2 cooked prawn skewers on each plate alongside lettuce cup.
• Serve with a lime wedge and a small side of the Pomodora's dressing for drizzling over the prawns and salad.

Notes

• To remove a lettuce cup - cut 3-4 cm off the bottom of a whole head lettuce. Hold under running water until cups (leaves) come loose, remove an discard outer leaves and use inner leaves (cups), drain.
• Use an iceburg lettuce for a more traditional, crunchier version or any whole head fancy lettuce for a decorative dinner parties, different lettuces for different effects.
• halve quantities for entree`and use small as possible lettuce cups.
• Easy entertaining, perfect for BBQ's, picnics and hot days.

My Lily

Toddler Tips

• Get the kids excited about salad, serve in very small child hand sized lettuce cups for easy, fun eating.
• Leave out chilli from their portion.
• Remove points on skewers.

I am also VERY excited to share that this was my
first recipe printed also in a newspaper, as it appeared in the Sunshine Coast Daily!

This recipe was one of my commercial recipe creation projects for client Maleny Supa IGA.
Maleny Supa IGA have an extensive range of gorgeous local Sunshine Coast products and I created the recipe and all the photography for their collectible Local Products Local Recipes - recipe cards

Rebecca xx

Healthy Food IS Beautiful

BEAUTIFUL FOOD Healthy, natural food is gorgeous.

Appreciate the wonder of nature and its bounty or edibles.

Take the time to have a clean fridge and display your vegetables with care and thought so when you open the door a beautiful collection awaits you - filling you with inspiration for a loving family meal or a great quick bite to eat.
Select your produce with interest, smell the fruit, think of exciting ways to cook the vegetables, new recipes to try.
Look for interesting types you have never tried, heirloom varieties, organics grown with passion. Appreciate all the nutrients these wonderful foods will provide you and your family.

Find local suppliers, farmers markets.
Swap produce with neighbours.

Have fruit out on show in a bowl. Edible art.

Grow vegetables in your flower gardens - they are beautiful plants.

Plant a fruit tree.

Help your local kindergarten grow cherry tomatoes for the kids.

When we start to see healthy food as the delicous world of flavours, nutrients and ingredients it is, when we take the time to discover how interesting it all is we do fall in love with healthy eating and healthy food.

Rebecca x







STAY TUNED for information on my exciting new cookbook
Healthy Mumas loving Healthy Food

PS Hope you like the pictures of some of our families home grown edibles :)

Small Steps to Big Changes

When we want to make changes in our lives.

When we want to get healthy, lose weight or achieve goals it can all to often seem too big a task.
It can be daunting and overwhelming.

Just too hard to start...

BUT..If we approach with small positive steps, one little step at a time we CAN make changes, we can make difference, we can get closer and closer to our goal.
We really can.

With self belief, a positive attitude ( at least most of the time ) and some thinking outside of the square sometimes, we really can take small steps towards bigger changes.

How much of our modern busy lives are now spent inside? Inside buildings, inside houses, inside cars, bus's and shops?

Life just seems to be so fast these days, with always so much to do.
It seems that having some time to relax, take care of our health and active or creative time together as a family is so hard to find. Even finding time to 'just be' and have some personal time out can feel nearly impossible.

BUT...One of the best things we can all do ( and should do ) is make time.

Make it a high priority to find that time each day.
Time to get outside!
Peel our tired, worn out selves away from the TV, computer, sofa and car. Away from the never ending chores and things to be done for a little while and go out of doors..

We need to bring some freshness to our lives.

Get out in that rejuvenating fresh air, smell some garden flowers, walk through a beautiful park, watch a sunset, cook a meal with your children from fresh ingredients picked together from the garden or sourced at a farmers market, plant a garden as a family or through a group, school, church or other organisation and bring some fresh energy into our life.

Be fresh, live fresh, breathe fresh and eat fresh.

It can be so easy to think "I am so busy with everything already-how could I possibly find time to go for a walk? Or start growing some fruit and veggies at home? Or cook a healthy meal Or make that outdoor family time each day??"

But the benefits of bringing this freshness to your life are such an inspiring experience that you can and do find that time...sometimes it may mean saying no to some extra workload, favours or other things you find it hard to say no to, sometimes it might mean creating an organised daily plan or cutting back on things that take up too much of your time or even are just time wasting, sometimes it might mean making a daily 'appointment' with yourself or as a family and making sure its kept!, sometimes it might be structuring family chores so everyone helps more or de cluttering some things in your life like your home to make tasks easier. It could be assessing your priorities and working out what is most important and what really makes you and your family happy. After all being healthy and less stressed brings such a vibrant energy to your life that everyone benefits..

Even a small change makes a huge difference-THINK
Try one new healthy recipe to start with...
Plant and grow one pot plant of something edible to get started...
Go for a short walk on your own as your refreshing 'time out' or as a family as a great healthy way of bonding every other day to get started..
Take up a small creative hobby that really helps you unwind and express your artistic side..

I have learnt myself that once you start bringing some freshness into your life it is just so wonderful and is so inspiring that you never look back.

For me starting a daily walk changed the way I saw exercise and how much moving more made me feel so much more alive and full of energy..
For me starting an edible garden and sourcing and using fresh herbs and ingredients changed the way I ate and saw the food I was putting in to my body and on my families dinner plates..

For me bringing some freshness to my life changed my life and opened my eyes to a whole new and exciting way of living..

Small steps lead to other small steps which all lead to new 'good' habits.

Always look for your self belief and for inspiration....and remind yourself that every step towards a healthier lifetsyle is a step well worth taking.

Rebecca xx