This has been one crazy week, to say the least! I left New Zealand on Tuesday to return to New York City and I was feeling a range of different emotions. Even though my Mum has made an amazing recovery in the past 7 months, I still worry about her a lot and it was very hard to leave her. For now, we will have to make do with phone calls and video chats. It eases my mind somewhat to know she has a great support system around her. We really made the most of our last few weeks together, including a trip down to Tauranga and Mount Maunganui. The beaches down there are among my favourites, and we took her dog Jessie with us, and she was loving all the bush and beach walks.
Recipes
Coconut & Mango Chia Pudding
We’re almost at the end of 2017! It’s been a very dramatic year for me, I can only hope 2018 will be a lot calmer. Still, I am very thankful to be ending the year on a high, and with my beautiful Mum by my side. The past week has been super indulgent for me,…
Matcha Coconut Energy Balls
Matcha and Coconut are two of my favorite things. It was only a matter of time before I put the two together to create a satisfying treat. These energy balls are raw vegan, and come together in a matter of minutes. Matcha ( a special form of green tea from Japan) has many health benefits and also gives you a boost thanks to the caffeine. Matcha is made from high quality tea and the leaves are ground down into a fine powder. Because whole leaves are injected, this makes Matcha a more potent source of nutrients than green tea. It is rich in antioxidants that can help prevent cancer and heart disease, and can help to regulate sugar levels in the body.
Black Sesame & Chia Seed Granola
I grew up in New Zealand eating toasted muesli with milk for breakfast. I never liked the untoasted kind, it just didn’t taste as good to me. As far as I know, we didn’t have granola, that was more of an American thing (which I didn’t discover until adulthood). Both muesli and granola are made with nuts,…
Mixed Berry Bran Muffins
I’ve always been a huge fan of bran muffins, but sometimes it can be hard to find a truly decent one. Some are overly dry or lacking in flavour. In my early twenties I lived in Canada for 6 months, and I made a habit out of eating a freshly baked bran muffin every other…
Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Bars
I have always loved rhubarb (well as an adult! My mum reminded me I hated it as a kid), but I had never baked anything with it, until now. I saw it at the farmers market so I got some, along with some strawberries and came across this recipe on The Iron You. These bars…