EASTER BUNNY TIME!

The year seems to be flying by and it's Easter already (although the four-day weekend has not come soon enough for most of us!). It's a tricky time for those of us who usually avoid the naughty sweet treats, chocolate after chocolate after chocolate... We have put together a couple of "just-as-good" recipes to satisfy even the sweetest of tooth's and make you feel like your indulging without the guilt!

Simple Raw Chocolate Slab


Ingredients:

1/2 cup of raw cocoa
3/4 cup raw coconut oil
1/2 cup cashew nuts
1/2 almonds
1 tbsp. honey

Place cashew nuts and almonds into your Bio Chef Blender and set to high for 30 seconds until powder like consistency.

Add all remaining ingredients and blend for a further 30 seconds until mixed through. Pour mixture into molds and freeze for 4 hours. Keep refrigerated.

Cacao Truffles 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cacao (preferably powdered)
6 Dried Apricots
1/2 cup of dried strawberries
2 tbsp. melted coconut oil
2 tsp. agave nectar
1/2 fresh vanilla bean

Add ingredients to your Bio Chef Blender, except reserve half of the coconut oil. Turn on your Bio Chef Blender on low setting and slowly add remaining coconut oil. Blend until smooth and fairly pliable texture.

Simply roll into small balls and refrigerate.

TIP: Add what ever dried fruit you prefer e.g raspberries, banana etc.

Also, add nuts for chunkier texture e.g. cashew nuts or macadamia.

Also, roll in coconut or extra cacao for extra texture and decoration.


Source: someecards.com, 

AN APPLE A DAY...

Does it keep the doctor away??? Whilst juicing an apple this morning, this little rhyme popped into my head, and it got me thinking... So I thought - it was time to investigate!

And here is what you will find in your next humble apple:

• Boron - This nutrient supports strong bones and a healthy brain.
• Pectin - Pectin is a form of soluble fiber than lowers both blood pressure and glucose levels. It can also lower the levels of the "bad" cholesterol in the body, referred to as LDL. As a source of fibre, Pectin helps maintain the health of the digestive system. 
• Ursolic Acid - Found in the apple peel, this acid helps to keep a toned and slender body by increasing muscle growth by up to 15% and reducing body fat by half.
• Quercetin - A flavonoid, this nutrient shows promise for reducing the risk of various cancers, including cancers in the lungs and breast. Quercetin may also reduce free radical damage. Free radicals develop when atoms in the body's cells have unpaired electrons, which can lead to damage to different parts of the cell, including DNA. Quercetin may neutralize free radical damage, which has been implicated in a variety of age-related health problems, including Alzheimer's disease.
• Vitamin C - Found in lots of common fruit, Vitamin C maintain overall good health in the body by increasing immunity.
• Phytonutrients - Apples are rich in a number of types of Phytonutrients, including vitamins A and E and Beta Carotene. These compounds fight damage from free radicals and can have a incredible affect on overall health and in fighting disease such as heart disease and Asthma.

So the next time you much into a juicy apple, remember the helping hand you are giving your body! As one of the most commonly found, easily accessible and affordable fruits in the world, its time the apple had a little credit!

WINTER WARMER

It seems sunny Byron Bay is turning cold and rainy. Which means one thing....SOUP TIME! There is nothing better that being cuddled up on the couch on a cold and rainy winters day, with a cup of steaming soup. In that mug of soup is pure comfort and nourishment. So we have complied a couple of perfect winter soup recipes with inspiration from the pouring rain outside the window...

Of course, there is the conventional stove top method of cooking soup, but we find it much easier to simply blend all our ingredients in our Bio Chef Blender, the perfect Food Processor and hot soup maker! Simply blend on high for about 4 minutes, and voilaaa - STEAMING HOT SOUP! Could not be easier...

Look at this tasty recipe from Scandie Food, for the most delicious Potato & Leek Soup:

(serves 4)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 brown onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1 big leek, finely chopped 

5-6 medium sized potatoes, peeled and chopped

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

water or vegetables stock

pinch of good quality salt

freshly ground black pepper

 Conventional Method: 

1. Heat the oil in a large pot and add the onions and leeks. Sauté for a few minutes, then add the herbs, potatoes and enough water or vegetable stock to cover all the vegetables. 

2. Bring the mixture to boil, then leave to simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the vegetables are really tender. Finally add nutritional yeast and season the soup with a pinch of salt and pepper. Puree the soup in a blender until creamy. Serve with sourdough croutons pan-fried in olive oil until golden brown. 

Blender Method:

1. Half quantities of both leek and onion, as the Bio Chef Blender will accentuate the flavours of both quite a lot. 

2. Combine all ingredients in the Bio Chef Professional Food Blender and blender on high for 4 minutes. The blades will create friction heat which will heat your ingredients until the soup is steaming hot! 

 Images from Scandie Food

MEXICANAAAA...

Mexican food seems to be unfortunately stereotyped as greasy, meaty and cheesy cuisine, laden with all the bad things!

At the heart of authentic Mexican Food is bright colours, fresh crisp veggies and powerful flavours such a jalapenos and lime. It's time we took a step back and begun to cook Mexican food the way it was intended - FRESH & HEALTHY! With a powerfully rich culture it is time to embrace the unique flavours of MEXICO! And why can't it be fresh and healthy...?



RAW GUACAMOLE

Ingredients:

2 avocados
Pinch of salt & pepper
1 tomato

Place all ingredients into your Bio Chef Blender and pulse for 30 seconds for chunky texture.

RAW AVOCADO & CORN SALAD

2 firm large ripe avocados, halved, stones removed, peeled, finely chopped
1 x 410g can corn kernels, drained
3 shallots, ends trimmed, thinly sliced
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander
2 tbs fresh lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in bowl and mix well to serve.

CHIHUAHUA RICE

1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 tablespoons finely chopped pickled jalapeno chillies
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1 carrot, finely chopped
1 yellow capsicum, finely chopped
200g green beans, cut into 3cm lengths
400g can lentils, drained, rinsed
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

1. Cook rice following packet directions. Cool. Stir with a fork to separate grains.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add garlic, chillies, onion, carrot and capsicum. Cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until vegetables are just tender.
3. Add beans and lentils. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until beans are tender and lentils heated through. Stir in parsley. Season with salt and pepper
4. Add vegetable mixture to rice. Stir gently to combine. Serve. 

New Year - Fresh Start

It's that time of the year again, time to welcome a new one. Time to continue with all that's good or start a clean slate. Wherever you are in the world, we hope you the very best for the year to come and may it be full of health and happiness!

Source: sannieblogger, amsterdameventguide, luxuo, bwitch, tigermag, beachesandpeaches,

Silly Season

T'is the season to be jolly! The big day seems to be approaching much quicker than most of us would like, and panic mode is kicking in! And as it seems Christmas tends to revolve around food, food and more food so it is only appropriate that we have a very special Christmas recipe...  

Raw Orange & Ginger Bread Man

Ingredients:

• 100g cashew nuts or nut of choice
• 100g almonds
• 100g dates
• 100g prunes or figs
• About 3-4 tablespoons of honey/agave
• 2 tsp. ground or grated ginger
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• Zest of one orange

Process the cashew nuts and almonds in a food processors or a blender, such as the Bio Chef Blender, and process until fine crumb or meal.

Slowly add remaining ingredients whilst processing, drizzle the honey or agave towards the end to turn mixture into a dough ball.

Refrigerate mixture in plastic wrap overnight to firm and set miture.

Roll out mixture with a rolling pin until approx 5mm thick. Use gingerbread man shape to cut out shape of Gingerbread Man.

Place onto Bio Chef Dehydrator Trays and dehydrate for 12 hours, you will need to turn half way to make sure the are chewy and crispy.

Decorate and enjoy... yum yum!

How about pack a few into a little goodie bag with cute wrapping for an easy, cheap and thoughtful pressie!

Source: cutestfood, amanda595, magazineznews

Summer Feeling

The sweet smell of summer is finally in the air! With seemingly endless days and balmy nights, it seems only natural that we begin to eat and live healthier in the warmer months. With an endless supply of fresh and sweet fruit like mangoes, lychees and nectarines, it's time to be inspired!

And what better way to enjoy these delicious summer fruits than frozen... The quick and easiest little treats are so easy to make - simply blend your summer fruit of choice in a blender with either water or yoghurt, pour into icecube molds, and pop into the freezer. The hardest part is waiting for them to set! ENJOY!!!

Source: somewheresplendid, oraclefox, the-tanner-the-better, one-epic-summer-blog

Bio Chef in Bali

Recently, two members of our Bio Chef Australia team headed over to Bali to immerse themselves in the wonderful and unique culture that is Bali! Anna and Mahli set about to absorb and learn as much as possible from our Vitality 4 Life Balinese Family, to better understand how we can make a difference in the lives of these communities.  

Little did they know how much the Balinese people would in fact impact upon them…

They stayed at Ubud Sari Health Retreat, a tropical oasis set in the rainforest in Ubud. At Ubud Sari, Anna and Mahli were able to gain a deeper understanding of the healing powers of Living Juice, Pure Air, Fresh Water and Hollistic Exercise. They were lucky enough to experience some of the many wonderful programs they have to offer. The Raw Food Cooking Class was by far the favourite of the trip! The girls were blown away by the amazing raw food options at the Ubud Sari Restaurant, and better still can now re-create them at home and for everyone at the office!

Anna and Mahli were invited as guests to the home of Gusti Putu Udayani, a beautiful friend of Vitality 4 Life (and aptly named Balinese surrogate mother). It was a special occasion for their family, their Odalan Ceremony. This is a special ceremony for the Family, and occurs once every 210 days. The family welcomed them with open arms and the usual generous Balinese hospitality.

They visited the breath-taking Rice Paddies around Ubud, ate the most delicious traditional Balinese food, and even experienced an Earthquake (lucky them!). It will be a trip they will never forget, and has helped them to understand how Vitality 4 Life is making a significant impact for our Balinese Family, which will continue more and more in the years to come.