Jazz it up! Gluten free goodies

 The weather is definitely warming up! 

The skies might be gray, but you can definitely tell summer is here. 

In my last post I shared a bunch of goodies from realgoodfood and I'm back with more!

You may already be aware that I've recently eliminated gluten from my diet in an effort to sort out some health issues.

Because of this, I've definitely been on the look out for delicious GF products and recipes

and I was lucky enough that realgoodfood sent me a bunch of gluten free things along with the wheat free products you saw in my last post!

I was also able to eat the wheat free products too, don't worry! 

Some people who can't tolerate gluten are fine with oats, while others will still have a reaction - it really depends on the individual! 

realgoodfood's Organic Gluten Free Bircher Muesli may just be my staple breakfast for summer!

 It's a mix of brown rice flakes, sultanas, almonds, sunflower kernels and apple. 

Just mix it up the night before (or a little bit before you want to eat it) with some milk or yogurt and leave it to sit and soften.

Top it with some fresh fruit and you have a perfect summer breakfast!   

The High Protein Mix is also a perfect topper for the bircher muesli or any other breakfast!

It's also perfect for mixing into smoothies or using in baked goods!

It's a mix of almonds, sunflower kernels, sesame seeds and linseeds which give your breakfast a protein punch!

Realgoodfood also have a line of baby cereals, including this Organic Apple Baby Rice Cereal.

It's a smooth blend of brown and white rice and dried apple and is 100% biodynamic, organic and gluten free.

It's not just good for babies though! It makes a super creamy porridge that can be mixed with other grains or eaten by itself and it also works really good in baked goods!

The Organic Lemon Polenta Porridge is another creamy breakfast.

It's a gluten free mix of  polenta, wholegrain rice, sultanas, almonds, dried apple and lemon. 

This energy filled breakfast has a delicious tang from the lemon and is delicious!

Salads are made for summer, but they can get a little boring!

This Toasted Seed Mix in Tamari is a perfect salad topper, making a simple salad SO much more appetizing!

It's a gluten free mix of sunflower kernels, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds and organic tamari.

All of the products I was sent from realgoodfood were fantastic and they have so many more!

You can pick up their products from one of their many stockists across the country and internationally!

So tell me, 

Do you have a favourite gluten free product? (even if you're not GF!)

and what's your favourite way to jazz up a salad?

I love to add things to my salads to make them more of a meal. 

Great things to add are different cheeses, nuts, dried or fresh fruit, avocado and my absolute favourite? roasted pumpkin!

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

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

As a child, the best part of baking was always licking the beaters covered in cake batter

or sneaking bits of cookie dough before the cookies went in the oven.

For some reason, it always tasted better than the end product.

Now that my tastes of changed, cake batter and cookie dough don't interest me as much

but my sister is still in love with all things cake batter or cookie dough.

In fact, she'd probably prefer I didn't bake anything.

On New Years day I found myself needing a dessert recipe.

My dilemma? Well, I had two.

The first was that whatever I wanted to make had to be made with the ingredients on hand as the shops were closed.

The second was that it was way too hot to turn the oven on.

I decided that truffles could be a good sweet treat to add to our dessert spread the following day

and a google search led me to Love and Olive Oil  where I found the recipe for these Cookie Dough Truffles. 

As soon as I read the title I knew these would be perfect for Katrina

and even better? I had all the ingredients on hand! 

Before I knew it I was rolling balls of cookie dough and putting them in the freezer to chill. 

These were alot simpler than I thought they'd be, in a few hours I had three trays of truffles.

50 something bite sized truffles in fact! 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

recipe adapted from Love and Olive Oil  

(makes around 4 dozen bite sized truffles) 

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups plain flour 

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

250g butter

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar (I actually used 1/2C brown sugar, 1C granulated sugar as that's all I had) 

1 tsp vanilla  

1/3 cup milk 

1 cup chocolate chips/chopped chocolate (This is a matter of personal choice - I used milk chocolate, though you could use whatever chocolate/add ins you'd like - just like any cookie!)

500g chocolate (again, I used milk - but you could use dark/white/flavoured chocolate/candy coating - as long as it melts well) 

Directions: 

Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, add milk and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

Gradually add in flour, baking soda and salt and mix until incorporated.

Stir in chocolate chips. 

Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for an hour or until firm enough to handle. 

Form dough into small balls and arrange onto baking sheets lined with baking/waxed paper. Place sheets in the freezer and chill for 30 minutes until the balls have hardened.  

Melt chocolate/candy coating in a double boiler or in the microwave. Using forks, dip cookie balls into chocolate to cover, letting any excess drip off before returning to the lined baking sheets.

Chill covered dough balls in fridge until set.  Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week (though, I doubt you'll have to do that!) 

These cookie dough truffles were a huge hit and perfect for a hot summers day! 

I will definitely be trying out different combinations in the future, you could take your favourite cookie and turn it into a fancified treat!

I love ANZAC cookie dough - so I'm wondering whether they would make a good cookie dough truffle innard! 

So tell me!

What's your favourite summer dessert?

and do you like eating cookie dough/cake batter?

Sweet Saturday: Sunshine, lollipops and....

It's Sweet Saturday! 

Did the last week fly by for you?

or did it go slowwwwwwwwwwwly?

My week was a little bit muddled up.

See, On my brain wanted to think that every day since Tuesday was Friday

(wishful thinking?)

and then, all of a sudden

It was Friday!

Lollipops are probably one of the candies I associate with being a kid.

I don't think i've ever had to many lollipops where I haven't eventually given in and chomped on it though.

Have you ever noticed how much your mouth hurts after you suck on a lollipop for hours and hours?

A little while ago, Artisse sent me some products,

the first thing I noticed were these two packets of lollipops. 

I was sent both their Original and Gone Wild varieties that are:

• Certified organic
• Non GMO
• Gluten, wheat, dairy, peanut and soy free
• Vegan
• Free from artificial colours or flavours 

oh, and I forgot to add YUM! 

My sister was my lead taste tester for this review!

and she wanted to make sure you all knew that she was the hand model

(Hi Katrina, here's the five seconds of blog-world fame you asked for) 

My favourite flavour out of all of the lollipops would have to be sour apple

and then mango comes in at a close second!

Artisse also sent me some of their organic food bars to try

I loved the bright packaging

and clear panels are always important, so you know exactly what's inside!

 

These bars are also gluten, wheat and dairy free

as well as being Low GI and Vegan

 

 

The All About Nuts baris filled with almonds, peanuts, brazil nuts, walnuts, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, agave and brown rice syrup

and no funky mystery ingredients!

This was probably my favourite of the three thanks to the crunchy nuts and seeds

and juicy bursts of raisin.

The Cranberry Crunch bar started off on the right note for me thanks to its pink packaging

(my idea is that - if it's pink, it has to be good)

The bar was filled with peanuts, raisins, almonds, sesame seeds, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, brown rice and brown rice and agave syrup to naturally sweeten. 

I'm not usually the biggest fan of cranberries in bars because they're usually filled with way too many, but this bar had the perfect balance!

The Seed Delight bar was very much the same as the Cranberry Crunch bar, 

just without the cranberries - so this is perfect for a not-quite-a-cranberry-lover like me!

and to end the review on a sweet note, I was also sent their almond nougat

which was deliciously soft and chewy and filled with crunchy almonds.

and guess what! It too is gluten, wheat and dairy free :)

This is definitely a sweet treat I would consider again,

the ingredients list secured that consideration too!

Ingredients:  

Organic Corn Syrup, Organic Raw Sugar, Dry Roasted Almonds, Organic Crisp Brown Rice, Organic Egg White

Are you enjoying the sunshine as much as I am?!

or maybe you're just getting the first glimpses of winter?

I know that i'm super psyched for more sunshine, 

as is my wardrobe! 

But hey, do tell me!

What's the number one candy you associate with being a kid?

Kristy was sent Artisse products courtesy of www.artisse.com.au,

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

059.

 

another still life inspired post.

saturday I spent the day at multiple markets,

after a breakfast at Brasserie Bread I left for Eveleigh Farmer's Markets where I actually left empty handed.

to fulfill my farmer's market cravings and to curb my earlier disappointment I decided on a quick visit to EQ markets.

the Farmer's Markets at Moore Park EQ is probably my market of choice - mainly because its the closest to home. 

and the second reason is because there are THE BEST TOMATOES EVER!

yummmmmmmmmmm.

the Tradiro tomatoes from Ricardoes Tomatoes never fail. 

the first time I bought some, my boyfriend had to take them off me.

they are that good. 

i'd say better than candy but candy falls into a different category :P

 So now I want to know, what is your favourite market? 

What do you recommend? :)

 

oh and,

lately I've been thinking...  

yes, I know... ha - ha 

am I boring? or something? 

055.

 

just something a little bit different.

i took a walk today, in the heat (bad idea) and stumbled across this vespa.

so i messed around with cross processing and warm vintage tones. 

for some reason I associate warm rich colours with italy.

and vespas of couse. 

I am loving all the comments on my posts,

you all really do make me smile

so thankyou readers.

:) 

do tell me though, where's your dream vacation spot? 

mines italy, especially due to the food :P 

049.

 

on friday afternoon i made a hundred and something jam drops. 

they are DELICIOUS

hence why theres only about... 80 left :P 

my next post will be my 50th!

so i'm going to make sure its something good.

hopefully the sun will come out.

so i can take some good pictures.

the recipe i used for the jam drops is here :)  

047.

meet bones :) 

we stumbled across him today while taking a little walk.

this little guy was a perfect subject for taking photos.

so if you're bones' owner, and you stumble across this photo

makes sure you give him some extra food tomorrow. 

:P

045.

daisies :) 

039.

a statue in the botanical gardens, 

this poor statue seems to have lost his arm, partially.

or maybe it was intentional.

his eye was also missing.

hmmm....

038.

another photo from the botanical gardens.

i've also decided that I 110% hate being sick.

but I am, thanks to my lovely sister who decided to share her germs.

037.

036.

Dearest Neighbours; 

I would love if you could kindly remove your antenna.

Actually, come to think of it, the removal of your roof may be nice too.

I will happily repay you in cupcakes and cookies, or even a creme brulee!

Yours Sincerely, 

Troubled Photographer.  

035.

the bamboo trees at the botanical gardens were totally graffitied,

engraved with thousands of peoples names.

blogger likes to rotate my photos >.>

so turn your head to the right :P

 

033.

i happen to be intrigued by lotus pods :P

032.

today i spent the day at the botanical gardens

and so did my camera :P

026.

frangipanis are definently the flower of summer :)

025.

the frangipani decided it was time to bloom :)