Nutritious and Delicious

There's nothing more delicious than breakfast, in my opinion. 

It's my favourite meal the day and is what gets me energised for my day.

I'm also a fan of supporting local businesses, so when I received a package from Kuranda I knew it was going to be good. 

Kuranda started out of a cottage kitchen in the Atherton tablelands of far north Queensland. 

First they began selling their health bars into the local farmers market and they soon became popular with the locals. 

While holidaying in Cairns, Maria Peronace stumbled across the health bars and fell in love - so much so that she acquired Kuranda Fine Foods and the Aussie Snax Brands.

Maria continued making the bars true to their original recipe and launched the bars across the country in 2006. Today, Aussie Health Snax also exports to Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

All of the products are made by hand, just like they originally were!

All of the Kuranda products are;
- Gluten Free
- Wheat Free
- Dairy Free
- Low GI

The Spiced Apple with Quinoa Muesli has no added sugar and high in omega 3.

It's a mix of rice flakes, puffed brown rice and puffed quinoa mixed with flaxseed, diced apple, cinnamon, pepitas and sunflower seeds.

It's the perfect muesli to give you energy for whatever your day has in store for you and is an ideal balance of protein and carbohydrates.

The Banana and Date with Amaranth Muesli is high in protein and fibre and contains no added sugar.

It's a delicious mix of banana, dates, whole almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, puffed rice, rice flakes and amaranth. 

This muesli is a delicious way to easily get more fibre into your diet.

The Berry Blend with Amaranth Muesli is rich in antioxidants and high in fibre.

It's a mix of cranberries, whole almonds, sunflower seeds, pepitas, puffed rice, rice flakes and amaranth.

The Tropical Blend with Quinoa Muesli is rich in Iron and Calcium. 

It's a blend of tropical dried pineapple, coconut, dried apricots, apple, pepitas, sunflower seeds, rice flakes and puffed brown rice and quinoa.

Kuranda Muesli is available at their online store as well as a number of stockists across the country.

So tell me, 

What's your favourite breakfast cereal?

and Do you have a favourite local company/small business?

Kristy received Kuranda Muesli courtesy of www.kingstonfoods.com.au and www.aussiehealthsnax.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Granola Breakfast Muffins and a bunch of breakfast goodies!

Breakfast is by far my favourite meal of the day.

I can't understand how people can say they just don't like breakfast.

If I started without it, I'd probably be a zombie for the rest of the day.

So, as you could imagine, I was super excited to receive the package from realgoodfood,
filled with breakfast goodies as well as a whole bunch of other fantastic products. 
So many products, in fact, they won't fit into the one post!
Plus, I also have a delicious recipe for you at the end of the post!

The Organic Oat Porridge is a Wheat Free Mix of Biodynamic and organic rolled oats, sultanas, apple and cinnamon.
It has no added oil, sugar or salt and is GMO free!


It can be made hot on the stove (or in the microwave) as a porridge, 
but now as the weather is warming up, I love to use it as a base for overnight oats!
Just mix up the oat porridge with milk or yogurt (or a combination of both) and leave it to soften in the fridge overnight.
In the morning, all you have to do is pull your breakfast out of the fridge, add any extra toppings you might like and eat up!
Fast, easy and delicious :)

The Choc Berry Street Mix is a fantastic snack to keep around and it's also Gluten Free!

This organic snack mix is filled with sultanas, almonds, cranberries, blueberries, goji berries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and delicious dark chocolate pieces.

The mix also makes a fantastic topping for oatmeal or overnight oats!

The Organic Street Mix is also gluten free 
 and filled with organic sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and pumpkin seeds.
It's a perfect on the go snack for when the hunger monster attacks!

The Organic Bircher Muesli is a wheat free mix of organic & biodynamic rolled oats, sultanas, dried apple, almonds and sunflower kernels.
Bircher muesli is a lot like overnight oats, some people like to soak theirs in fruit juices or water and top with milk or yogurt the next day, while others prefer to use milk or other combinations.
Ultimately, the decision is yours! Play around with different combinations until you find what you like!

You can get realgoodfood products from a variety of stockists across the country!

 Now, the recipe I promised!
As soon as I opened the Organic Toasted Muesli I was hit with the delicious aroma of honey and new it'd be perfect in baked goods!
It's a mix of organic & biodynamic rolled oats, sultanas, honey, sunflower kernels, almonds, barley malt, pear juice and orange.
It's delicious eaten as a cereal, but I decided I wanted to make a way for busy breakfast-haters to enjoy it too!

Thus, the breakfast muffin was born!
It's a perfect on the go breakfast that's fuss free and delicious!
The recipe is also completely adaptable, so it's easy to whip up with whatever you have at hand.


Muesli Breakfast Muffins 
makes 12 muffins or 6 extra large muffins


2 1/2C Flour (you can use white/whole wheat/GF/spelt)
2/3C Sugar (choose whatever sugar you prefer - white/brown/raw etc)
1C toasted muesli/granola + extra for topping
1 egg
1C fruit* 
1/4C vegetable oil 
1 1/4C milk 

Preheat oven to 180*C. Grease/spray muffin tins with oil or line with paper cases.
Combine flour, sugar and muesli in a bowl. 
Mix together egg, vegetable oil and milk and pour into dry ingredients. 
Stir in fruit and mix until just combined. 
Pour muffin batter into muffin tins and top with a sprinkle of extra muesli. 
Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.


*For the fruit, I used a cup of leftover pie apple from a pie I had made earlier - just cooked apples mixed with a pinch of brown sugar and cinnamon 
You can use any fruit you like canned, fresh or frozen apple/pear/peaches/pineapple/blueberries etc.

So tell me, 
Are you a breakfast lover?
What's your go-to breakfast of choice?

Stay tuned for the other half of my review! It's packed full of delicious gluten free goodies :)

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.realgoodfood.com.au
If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com 
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Tropical dreaming

Sometimes it only takes a single smell to remind you of something.
For me, coconut always reminds me of summer

...... and breakfast.

I'm a little bit of a coconut fiend, you see.

As a child I hated the stuff, my poor little brain was scarred by horrible sweetened dessicated coconut.

Now? You will find the majority of my breakfast sprinkled with toasted unsweetened coconut or coconut butter.

Coconuts are pretty special, life saving even!

Did you know during WWII they would siphon pure coconut water from young coconut to be used as emergency plasma transfusions for wounded soldiers as coconut water is nearly identical to human blood?

There's no questioning why coconut is considered one of the most treasured foods of all time when it boasts both health benefits and tastes divine.

I was really excited to receive a box of Coconut Butter from the lovely people at Cocopure.

Their coconut butters are stone ground from organic raw ingredients of the highest quality.

All of the ingredients included in the coconut butters are superfoods and hand selected by the company. They're also 100% raw, vegan and gluten free.

The Vanilla Coconut Butter instantly reminded me of the beach when I opened the jar.

You could smell the sweet coconut mixed with just the right amount of vanilla.

In the jar, the coconut butter is quite solid but still easy enough to get out with a spoon or knife and it melts beautifully with just a little heat.

You can drizzle it over pancakes, spread it on bread or crackers or simply eat it out of the jar (yes, it's that good).

The extra virgin coconut oil is blended with organic coconut flakes, raw organic Peruvian lucuma powder and organic vanilla pod powder to create a delicious and nutritious spread.

What's my favourite way to use it? 

I love drizzling the melted coconut butter over my cereal bowls to give it an extra flavour and nutritional punch.

Because of the coconut's healthy fats, it also gives the cereal extra staying power to keep you from slumping at your desk before the clock hits 9am.

The Coconut Cashew Butter is a blend of raw cashew nuts, extra virgin coconut oil and wild crafted agave nectar.

The addition of the cashews creates a smooth, creamy texture that is 3, 000 times better than regular nut butter.

It's delicious straight from the jar and has a slightly fudgy texture when cool (especialy if you keep it in the fridge!) 

and it melts really easily with just a little heat, making it a perfect dip for fresh fruit!

What's my favourite way to use it? 

This Coconut Cashew Butter was made for spreading!

Whether it be spread onto dates, bread, crackers or pancakes it takes what you're eating to a whole other level.

The Chocolate Coconut Butter is an indulgent blend of virgin coconut oil, raw cacao powder, wild crafted agave nectar, vanilla bean powder and a touch of himalayan crystal salt.

It's 100% raw and retains more natural ingredients, heat sensitive vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and nutritional benefits because it is never heated above 45*C. 

I love that it contains only natural sugars and unprocessed cacao powder which is chocolate in its pure essential form.

Add the chocolate coconut butter into your favourite desserts, use as frosting for cakes, drizzle over ice cream or spread onto bread.

If you can resist eating it off the spoon, that is ;)

What's my favourite way to use it? 

The chocolate coconut butter is delicious when added to a hot bowl of oatmeal as it melts really well

but I love spreading it onto crackers - almost like nutella for grown ups! (or coconut fiends ;P)

The cacao and cashew butter takes the chocolate coconut butter and amps it up with the addition of raw cashews, creating a caramel tasting chocolate spread.

Straight from the jar it's quite fudgy and easily eaten straight from the spoon, but it gets even better when spread onto cakes, bread, crackers or drizzled over ice cream.

What's my favourite way to use it? 

Grab a piece of fresh bread or some deliciously crunchy crackers and spread it on.

Do it, you'll be thanking me! or should that be worshipping? 

Another thing you can do is dip strawberries (or any other fruit) into some melted coconut cashew butter and refridgerate until it firms up - just like chocolate dipped strawberries, only a billion times better!

So, want to get your hands on some? 
Cocopure Coconut Butter is available at a number of stockists around the country! 

Time to go shoppingggg! :P

So tell me, friends..

What's the one smell that always triggers a memory for you?

and are you a coconut fan? 

I want to know all about it!

Kristy received these products courtesy of www.cocopure.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

Snack attack

I'm definitely not a 3 square meals kind of girl.

It just doesn't work for me. 

Snacks are vital for keeping my energy up and keeping me going throughout the day.

I love healthy snacks, but I'm all about balance - so you can be sure treats make it into my stomach as well. 

But my one main rule of healthy snacks? They need to taste good. 

Because, seriously, who wants to be choking something down that tastes revolting - just because it's "healthy"?

Not me!

Partner Foods seem to be on the same train as me,

Their intention when creating "Chic Nuts" was that: 

- they had to taste good

- they had to be good for you

- they had  to contribute to sustainable agriculture

Anddd you know what?
They get my BIG tick of approval! 

Chic Nuts are chickpeas roasted to perfection - they're crunchy and full of flavour and make a perfect snack!

They come in two flavours: Sicilian Herbs and Garlic and Lightly Salted.

The Sicilian Herbs and Garlic were hands down my favourite of the two. 

Crunchy with so much flavour - there was no way you could tell you were eating chickpeas! 

Now, you might be like my mum or sister who were a bit skeptical on the whole chickpea deal.

But I promise you, after you try Chic Nuts - you'll be thanking me and worshiping chickpeas :P

They do not fit the "healthy snack" stereotype in that they're bland, boring and just plain gross.

Partner Foods have also made it easier for snacking on the run with their convenient snack packs. 

Just pop one or two in your purse or bag and you're equipped for when the hunger monster attacks! 

The snack packs are also available as Fava Nuts - which are much like the Chic Nuts, only they're broadbeans instead of chickpeas. 

Chic Nuts and Fava Nuts have become pantry staples in my house!

They're perfect for when you need a crunchy or a salty snack and they're so much better than a bag of chips!

Chickpeas are full of protein, dietary fibre, zinc and a multitude of B complex vitamins and they're also low GI and gluten free!

If you're in Australia - you're in luck! You can pick up some Chic nuts for yourself at Woolworths, Safeway and IGA stores across the country as well as many Health Food and Specialty Stores.

So tell me,

Are you a 3 square meals kinda person

or do you like to include snacks in your day?

And don't forget! 

Click above to enter to win 14 Blocks of Alter Eco Chocolate!

It's open to all readers, internationally! 

Kristy received Chic and Fava Nuts courtesy of www.chicnuts.com

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com 

The best thing since sliced bread

That would have to be freshly baked sliced bread, no?

It's hard to beat the smell of bread baking away in the oven,

though I know the thought of actually making bread terrifies some people. 

Especially if they're gluten intolerant!

Seeing as Coeliac Awareness week is coming up soon, 

I thought now would be a good time to show you some more gluten free goodies. 

A while ago, I was sent a bunch of Simply Wize products.

All of the Simply Wize products are Gluten Free and provide delicious alternatives for those with Coeliac conditions.

The loaf of bread you see at the beginning of the post was made using the Crusty Bread Mix.

The mix makes it super easy to have a loaf of fresh, gluten free bread without the hassle of going out and buying a whole lot of different flours and stabilisers and whatever else. 

All you have to add is a sachet of instant yeast, water and oil and within an hour you'll have bread baking away!

The end product was a crusty loaf of bread with soft innards.

Unlike some gluten free breads, you couldn't actually tell it was any different

and by that, I mean it didn't taste like cardboard or have an awful gummy texture.

The deli wafers are delicious, and most definitely my favourite product from what I was sent.

They're light and crunchy and perfect for topping with cheese or dips. 

The Cheese wafers have a subtle real cheese flavour.

These were my favourite and I was so glad to find they didn't have that overpowering artificial cheese flavour that you find in other crackers and chips (think: twisties)

The Poppy seed and Sea Salt wafers are divine with cheese so they're the perfect addition to any cheese platter!

Don't worry, these will be a staple in my pantry from now on :)

The Corn Crunch is a deliciously moreish salty snack made from lightly salted corn kernels.

Yep, REAL corn kernels.

They definitely live up to their name with the crunch and are a perfect alternative to regular old potato chips!

Now, away from snacks and onto dinner - 

Simply Wize also make a gluten free Gnocchi that melts in your mouth.

I'm sure you could convince your friends that you'd been slaving away in the kitchen all day like a true Italian Mama when, infact, all you've done is added the gnocchi to some boiling water and topped it with some sauce!

 Now, in the supermarket there are plenty of ready made pizza bases you can pick up and take home to make a quick and easy dinner, however, there aren't that many options for people with Coeliac Disease.

Simply Wize solve that dilemma with their Pizza Crust

Now, I'll be honest, in the packet the pizza crusts don't look all that appealing.

But don't bail on me yet! I promise once they're topped with toppings and baked until crispy, you'll be thanking me!

The pizza crusts are delicious and have a great flavour from the italian herbs. 

They're individual sized and perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner.

Proof they look far better once they're cooked!

To find out where you can get your hands on some Simply Wize products, check out their stockist page :)

and to find out more about Coeliac Disease have a look at my previous post 

(and while you're there - enter my giveaway to win over $100 worth of products!)

But do tell me! 
What's your snack of choice?
and what's your super easy/lazy dinner of choice?

I love crunchy snacks, especially crackers with cheese or dips 
though lately I've been leaning towards homemade bran muffins with peanut butter
or anything with peanut butter, really.  
My favourite lazy dinner is probably a ham and cheese toasted croissant with salad
or a pita pizza with feta :)


Kristy was sent Simply Wize products courtesy of www.momentumfoods.com.au
If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography@gmail.com

COMPETITION: Deliciously Simple and Coeliac Awareness Week

Even the best of chefs have kitchen disasters.

Cakes that fail to rise, muffins with doughy centres, ingredients knocked off the kitchen counter, spoiled milk, misinterpreted recipes,  faulty kitchen equipment - you name it, it happens. 

Gluten free baking can be a bit of a disaster if you're not used to it. 

Unfamiliar ingredients and textures can often lead to lacklustre cakes and gummy brownies. 

For alot of people with Coeliac disease, baking is forgotten about. 

But Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies makes it super easy, you could even say fool proof!

Take the Lemon Curd Delights I made above, all you have to do is melt and mix! 

Plus, no one will ever know it's not homemade unless you tell them ;) 

I got plenty of compliments from my taste testers who couldn't believe they'd come from a packet.

Coeliac Disease effects one in every 100 Australians, however, fewer than one in five have been diagnosed.

That means that up to 200, 000 Australians have coeliac disease and have no idea. 

So what is Coeliac Disease? 

It's the result of an auto-immune response where the body produces antibodies which attack it's own tissues. This response is triggered by eating gluten - a protein which is found in wheat, rye, barley and oats.

Those with coeliac disease may experience: 

- Fatigue

- Unexplained anaemia

- Nutritional deficiencies such as B12, iron or folate

- Gastrointestinal problems

- Nausea and vomiting

- Unintentional weight loss 

- Delayed growth or development in children

- Headaches

- Liver problems

- Unexplained multiple fractures

- Irritability

- Trouble concentrating

You may also have a higher risk of having coeliac disease if you have:

- a family history of coeliac disease

- type one diabetes 

- unexplained osteoporosis

- infertility or multiple miscarriages

So how do you find out if you have Coeliac Disease?

Have a talk to your doctor if you're concerned and a Coeliac Blood Screening test can be ordered and the correct measurements can be taken from there.

What happens to people with Coeliac Disease?

The good news is that Coeliac disease can be treated quite easily, with the removal of gluten from the diet.   

 Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies have just released an app called Gluten Free Entertaining to help you out when it comes to cooking for yourself or others on a Gluten Free diet. 

This should hopefully help you to avoid any kitchen disasters!

But now, lets get to the fun part!

I want you to try Melinda's products too! and so does Melinda herself!

So we're offering you the chance to win over $100 worth of MGFG delivered to your door! 

 

All you have to do is comment, telling me about your worst kitchen disaster

or your ultimate cooking triumph! 

and to gain an extra entry like and post "I want to win MGFG with ksayerphotography" at Melinda's Gluten Free Goodies Facebook page page

The winner will be chosen by Melinda and announced here and on MGFG's Facebook page on April 4th

(Open to AUS residents only - Sorry!)

 

Non-blog readers: Leave a comment to win and send me a copy at ksayerphotography@gmail.com

so that I have your contact details if you win!

Kristy received MGFG courtesy of www.melindas.com.au

If you'd like a review of your products, send an email to ksayerphotography.blogspot.com 

Positive drinking?

Is it just me, or does the sun really need to dust off those cobwebs and come out again?

I'll admit it, I'm the type of person whose day tends to be really affected by the weather.

It's mainly the temperature - I feel the cold really easily, so as soon as its cold, windy or rainy I dread going outside. 

However, lately Spring Valley has inspired me to find the Spring in my every day.

By Spring, I mean that little boost - something that makes you smile or warms your heart.

So, what kind of things put the spring in my day? 

Chanel, my pup - somehow I managed to find the worlds cutest puppy who always manages to make me smile. Whether it be the way she will come up and paw at my leg when I'm working away at the computer or the way she scrunches her face up just so she can play with a toy that is double the size of her head. 

Baking - I love the satisfaction of creating something that works. Lately I've been trying my hand at bread making and experimenting with new recipes. My latest success? Soft pretzels! 

Little kids - Okay, I know that might sound creepy - but I can't be the only one who loves to see little ones running around without a care in the world. The carefree attitude of kids definitely inspires me to be more like that myself! Everyone needs to let loose and enjoy sometimes!

Good Food - Sometimes a delicious meal can give your day that added boost - perhaps its the pancakes you had for breakfast or that sandwich that took your right back to your childhood or the to-die-for cupcake you had for dessert, food has the ability to create memories as well as to take you back to a specific moment in time.

There's a million other things that make me smile, and I'm making it my mission to find at least one thing that adds a little spring to my every day.

It's all about taking note of the little things - maybe it's the smell of rain as you walked out the door this morning (I dislike rain immensley but I love the smell of it) or maybe its the cute old couple who strolled past you on their afternoon walk - I challenge you to find the spring in your every day!

And... DON'T FORGET!

All you have to do is tell me what makes you smile and puts the spring in your day to win a pair of Morrissey Sunglasses! Just click here and comment away! 

Back to Spring Valley, 

I was sent a whole bunch of Banana and Berry Nectar to try as part of the Sunnie Days promotion. 

This juice is super thick with the sweet taste of berries and banana and is a new addition to the Spring Valley Range. 

It's perfect for adding to things like jellies, smoothies or punches or drinking on its own. 

The juice does have a strong banana smell, put don't be put off! the banana flavour definitely isn't overpowering.

It definitely has a Spring Vibe about it and I'm inspired to make some sort of banana berry sorbet! 

But do tell me, 

What has been your latest success in the kitchen?

and What would be your ultimate juice combination? 

and once more - Don't forget to enter the giveaway! 

COMPETITION: The Spring in Your Day!

I told you a little while ago that I was chosen to be apart of Spring Valley's Sunnie Day project.

But what is the project, you ask?

Well - Spring Valley's current promotion is all part of the idea that you can find the spring in your everyday, even if the sun isn't shining. 

No, no.. I'm not talking about a metal spring. I'm talking about something that gives you that little boost! 

It might be witnessing something hilarious or super cute, catching up with an old friend, having the most amazing lunch of your life, noticing the flowers that just popped up in your garden or finally achieving a goal you've set for yourself.

Who knows! But that little spring is there! 

So what have I got for you? hey hey?

Why, I want to give you something, Perhaps it will be the spring in your day?

Thanks to Spring Valley and Soup, I'm giving away one pair of Morrissey sunglasses. 

Spring Valley is currently giving away a pair of sunnies every 30 minutes for the next 11 weeks

and all you have to do is SMS your Spring Valley Juice bottle's barcode from any specially marked bottle

or go online to enter.

And if you win by entering your barcode? You get to choose from 5 limited edition colours

Black, White, Red, Yellow and Blue!

And if you don't win? Second chance draw baby!

But back to my giveaway, especially for you!

To enter, I want you to tell me...

What puts the Spring in your day?!
Leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered into the Morrissey Sunnies Giveaway!

The giveaway is open to Australian residents only 

(sorry international readers, I still love you!)

and you have to make sure I have a way to contact you!
(For non blog users you can send me your email address and a copy of your comment to ksayerphotography@gmail.com - that way no one has to know your email address) 

The winner will be decided randomly, but you still have to answer the question in order to have a valid entry!

Entries close February 28, 2011 11:59 AEST

But until then, 

why don't you grab yourself a specially marked Spring Valley Juice and enter your barcode to win!\

Keep your eyes peeled for some more juice-y posts soon!