Wooden Boards

I have been looking at some new and interesting board ideas for my new winter collection for 'the garden' shop. Here are a few with gorgeous leather handles that I am getting made.

The BEST Quinoa Recipes

Quinoa is a delicious, extremely healthy, gluten free SEED. 

• It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a complete protein and therefore an amazing addition to any vegan or vegetarian diet. 
• It's a great source of iron, which is key in enabling blood to carry oxygen around the body. 
• It has almost twice as much fibre as other grains, this helps aid digestion, while helping to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol.
• It is full of magnesium and manganese, anti-inflammatory phytonutrients and heart-healthy monounsaturated fats. 

Here are the few of my favorite Quinoa recipes:

Roasted Butternut & pine nut Quinoa

Warming in winter, sweet from the butternut, perfect served with guacamole.

CLICK FOR RECIPE

Quinoa & Kale Patties

Perfect topped with guacamole and lemon. 

CLICK FOR RECIPE

Quinoa Porridge with Blueberries and Pecans

Delicious with almond milk, served hot in winter.

CLICK FOR RECIPE 

Asian Quinoa Salad

A superfood salad including red cabbage, edamame, carrots, red pepper, cucumbers, coriander and a soy(GF obv.) /chili dressing.

CLICK FOR RECIPE

Start cooking with quinoa now! Go to my post on cooking quinoa to learn how to cook it perfectly, and don't forget to have fun and play around. 

A better way to Eat Out.

Always on a healthy mission to find somewhere to eat out without the guilt? Or for those of you, like me, who have a food intolerance, be it gluten, dairy or egg. I have put together a few places in the Durban area that have to be tried... 


Earth Mother cafe and shop: 106 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban. 

This beautiful old house on Bulwer road offers an organic cafe and a local (kzn) fruit and veg market on a Tuesday and Friday from 10am-2pm. As well as their cafe they offer a whole shop loaded with gluten, dairy and sugar free alternatives such as muesli, chocolate and coffee. 

With the huge popularity of the RAW food revolution their delicious RAW cheese cake (all gluten, dairy and sugar free) has to be tried!

They also have shops in Hilcrest and Durban North. 

Although this list is still small, especially with what I was used to in London, I am hoping that the huge demand for healthy alternatives will eventually see this increase. 

Col'Cacchio Pizzeria: Gateway Centre, Umhlanga Ridge, Durban.

Pizza is one of the most difficult things to get right when cooking gluten free. However Col'Cacchio's has made the most delicious alternative that you would never know the difference. Their pizzas are crisp, woodfired and TOTALLY gluten free.

I recommend their Ortigiano Foro Pizza with the salad in the centre, just ask for the 100% gluten free option (extra R16) made from rice, maize flour, tapioca and zanthum gum.

Kauai

Perfect for their wheat free wraps, soya smoothies and egg free mayo. Handy take away option too if you are on the move. 

My favorite is the Go-Goji Berry, packed with goji-berries, pomegranate juice, strawberries and banana (dairy free). Their wheatgrass, apple, carrot and ginger is also the perfect pick me up!

Open Day Tomorrow

Setting up shop in Mount Edgcombe in THE most beautiful home! Please join us tomorrow (30/04/2014) for a unique shopping experience. 



9 Hunningdon wood, off Montgomery drive. Sms 0826528116 for a gate code. 



With amazing organic food and products from: 



The Garden

@alsleepwear, 

CT Organics, 

Harbour bay clothing, 

Ostilly jewelry New York.

New Pottery Range

For the Easter Open Day 'the garden' has designed a new range of handmade pottery. Consisting of single grey rimmed egg cups, egg cups with saucers (perfect space for your dippers!) and white lidded butter dishes. 

Come and get yours at 'the garden' open day on the 13th & 14th of March 2014.

027761777400

thegardendeli@hotmail.com

www.facebook.com/thegardenshop

Natural Beauty Range

The garden's original natural beauty range in white has been complimented with an amber range. Available in a liquid soap, hand & body lotion, room spray, foam bath and natural bath oil.  

Today I got through a fair bit of labeling and pricing of all the new stock. Some new detoxing & revitalizing bath salts, deliciously creamy body butter, and some boxed natural garden candles perfect as a gift or as a special treat. The candles are amazing as the soy wax can be used as a warm massage oil, heavenly... !

All available at the garden's Easter Open Day. Phone or email me for more details: thegardendeli@hotmail.com or 0761777400

Health Bars; Gluten, Dairy & Sugar Free.

I had to re-post these delicious gluten, dairy and SUGAR FREE muesli bars as I am re-making a batch for the open day. Unlike the shop brought sugar loaded kind, these muesli bars are 100% NATURAL, containing only 

oats, 

raisins, 

cranberries, 

cashews, 

macadamias, 

almonds, 

pecans, 

sunflower seeds,

pumpkin seeds,

oat bran,

honey,

prunes,

cinnamon.

Making them the perfect go to snack for all the family! They contain only 100% goodness and are so delicious you wouldn't even know...

...handmade by 'the garden'. 

Dairy Free Almond Biscotti

Open day baking has begun... 

The garden's homemade dairy free almond biscotti are a must have. Without the added butter and the reduced sugar, these biscotti are a perfect snack for the whole family, they are even perfect for a little Easter gift! 

The delicious crunchy almonds add health benefits too. The healthy fats in almonds are known to reduce cholesterol as well as the risk of heart disease. They also contain vitamin E, magnesium and potassium. So there you have it, the excuse to eat as many as you want! So make sure you buy two packets...

Available at the garden open day on the 13th & 14th of March 2014, 19 Little Maritzburg Road, Salt Rock, KZN, South Africa. 

Chili, Garlic and Chive Beer Bread.

I made this delicious beer bread as a mid week dinner treat last week, if you want a healthier version you can use soda water instead of beer. I used wholewheat flour but you can always use rye flour if you prefer. You could also mix up the herbs and spices, add nuts and seeds, or as I did sprinkle feta cheese on top before baking. 

Delicious served plain with butter or dipped in soup. YUM!

Ingredients : 

700ml Wholewheat Flour or Rye flour

15ml Baking Powder

2 Tablespoons Honey or Molases

Pinch Fine Salt

1 can/bottle Beer or Soda

1 Chili, Diced

3 Garlic Cloves, Crushed

1 Tablespoon Chives or Rosemary

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C. Place a bread loaf tin in the oven, before starting to bake the bread to get this nice and hot.

Mix the flour, baking powder, honey, chili, garlic, chives and salt together. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the beer, cut this to incorporate.

Knead this well together. Take the hot tray out the oven, oil and dust it with flour. Scoop the bread out into the hot tray and bake for 30 minutes.

An Array of Grey.

New linen's available at the garden open day, March 2014. 

A beautiful muted palette of greys and whites, designed to suite everyones home. From cushion covers, throws, baby blankets, muslin cloths, place mats and tablecloths.

Come and join us on the 13th and 14th of March 2014, at 19 Little Maritzburg Road, Salt Rock, KZN, South Africa. 

Delicious Brownies: Gluten, Dairy & Sugar Free.

I made these brownies last week using totally natural, totally unrefined, absolutely healthy ingredients!, with a few tweeks on a flourless chocolate cake recipe I came up with the following delicious brownie recipe. These brownies are as healthy as brownies can be, morishly gooey and the nuts add a delicious crunch! 

It is even vegan so you can lick the bowl clean and not even worry about raw eggs. 

Don’t forget that raw cacao is also a superfood as it is such an insanely rich source of antioxidants, one of the best in the world, as well as being packed with a number of other beneficial nutrients: manganese, which helps oxygenate the blood; magnesium, which helps maintain healthy bodily nerves, muscles and bones; and sulphur, which builds strong nails and hair, and promotes beautiful skin.

• INGREDIENTS:
• 2 cups white spelt flour (or almond flour).
• 1 cup raw cacoa powder.
• 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder.
• 1 cup honey or pure maple syrup.
• A pinch of salt.
• 1/2 cup good vegetable oil (or coconut oil).
• 1/2 cup light agave nectar.
• 1/2 cup strong brewed coffee.
• 1/2 cup soya milk or almond milk.
• 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract.
• 1/2 tablespoon almond extract.
• 2 tablespoons unrefined oil.
• 1 cup hazelnuts or almonds, diced roughly
• 
  
• METHOD:
• Heat oven to 180°. Sift flour, cocao powder, baking powder and a pinch of salt into a bowl. 
• Whisk maple syrup, oil, agave nectar, coffee, soya milk and vanilla in another bowl. 
• Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Pour half the batter into a greased 9" x 11" baking dish; top with half the nuts. Pour remaining batter into dish and top with remaining nuts. 
• Bake until knife comes out with crumbs adhering to it but still gooey in centre, 30 minutes. 
• Let cool.

Easter Open Day

Join CT Organics and The Garden for another Open Day on the 13th and 14th March 2014!

The two days will be filled with live music and organic food being served for breakfast and lunch. Products on sale include:

organic meat
organic vegetables
a natural beauty range

interior decor/smalls

furniture

linen, cushions & throws

a bespoke pottery range

glassware

cushions

handmade wooden boards/crates/planters

kitchen goods

organic homemade cakes & biscuits

leather bags

baby bags & linen

clothing

easter eggs & treats

For more info visit ctorganicsonline.co.za & thegardenshop. 

New Lights

Amazing new lights just in! These unique chandelier lights consist of individual loops which hook onto each other. The frame is available in freestanding, sconce, and a 2 or 3 tier ceiling chandelier. (see images) 

Contact me for more info at thegardendeli@hotmail.com or on 0761777400.