19/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Madison: My sensitive boy. I want to wrap him in cotton wool as not to hurt his feelings.

Noah: My accident prone lad. Makes me want to wrap him in cotton wool for an entirely

different set of reasons!

Linking in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

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LONGING FOR SATURDAYS.

 My favourite day of the week without question is Saturday. The day that we make different from the rest. We don't work. We take a day off the stresses. We sleep in. We have an afternoon nap. We go for long walks, and be just us.

There's something about consciously taking a day off from the rest of the week. If something creeps into my head that causes me alarm, I quickly just put it aside and remember to think about it the next day. Dishes? Don't do them either.

It's a relief, and just what our bodies need after a busy week.

It might be Friday, but I'm already dreaming of Saturday.

EAT: POLENTA CAKE WITH CITRUS ZEST + VANILLA CASHEW CREAM

SERVES 12 | PREP 10 MINS COOKING TIME, 1 HOUR FRIDGE TIME | VEGAN, GLUTEN FREE

My mother-in-law was right. This polenta cake is so much better with cream. When I served it up the other night (sans the cream), it looked a little bare on the plate. But the next day after taking her up on the suggestion, I made easy cashew cream, and filled up the plate, and added a new dimension. Twas the bomb.

So, hello polenta cake with vanilla cashew cream: moist and substantial; tasty and delicious! The best bit is that it is healthy and so easy to make. One pot, and around 10 minutes should do it! The only thing I would change is the name. I associate cake as something light and fluffy. This ought to be called a polenta fruit + nut slice. But I'm going with the name that Sanitarium gave it, seeing it's their recipe ;)

INGREDIENTS
2 cups rice milk (fortified with calcium/B12)
1 cup polenta
1/2 cup light coconut milk
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds (I prefer roasted ones)
1/2 cup raisins/sultanas
1/4 cup honey or rice malt syrup
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1/3 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons mixed spice
1 teaspoon vanilla extra

VANILLA CASHEW CREAM
130 grams raw cashews
80 grams honey or rice malt syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
150 grams water

METHOD
1 Bring rice milk to the boil in a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly with a whisk, add polenta gradually in a thin stream. Reduce heat to medium and whisk for 5 minutes or until very thick.
2 Reduce heat to low and add remaining ingredients, stirring well after each addition.
3 Press into a 23 centimetre round cake tin and smooth the top.
4 Cool in the fridge until set and chilled through.
5 To make the cashew cream, place cashews into a food processor until it resembles a paste. Add honey, vanilla and water to the processor and combine until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
6 Garnish the cake with extra chopped nuts, lemon zest, mixed spice, and drizzled honey. Serve with cashew cream.

Original recipe for the polenta cake is found here.

FANCY PANTS [HOW TO LAYER]

Winter is coming; whether we like it or not.

There's something in my head that knows winter can be the season to dread if you're not dressed for it properly. I can choose to embrace winter, or complain miserably about it for the next four months (or so). So, to remain Pollyanna-like, best I quit complaining pronto. Now is the time to practice layering for those beautiful days (and freezing mornings!).

The simplest way to rock a layered look is to have a collection of basics like singlets, long sleeved tops or tunics in white, black or grey, plus a great pair of warm black tights or jeans that fit you like a glove. If you're like me and live on a tight budget, you can find great basics at any op shop. What pops an outfit is how you accessorise those basics. Add a statement piece like a scarf, beanie or jacket (I call this my Offspring jacket because and because). Add some boots (either knee high, or ankle - both are awesome) and you're good to go.

Things I also can't live without during winter are a good pair of leather gloves (in black) and mountain socks (those really, really thick warm ones).

And can you guess by my my face who was my photographer today? "Mum, pull a funny face." It's up there with "CHEESE!" (and slightly better, don't you think?). Gotta love a four year old with a camera!


How do you layer?

Wearing: LEATHER JACKET, Lumier (2012). STRIPED TUNIC, Thrifted. LONG SLEEVED TEE, Thrifted. PONTE PANTS + ORANGE SINGLET, Witchery (2011). BEANIE, Sportsgirl (2012). BOOTS, Wittner (2011). SCARF, Pash (2013). EARRINGS, Port Fairy Markets (2013). LEATHER GLOVES, Aldi (2010).

18/52

A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.

Madison: He and his skateboard = best friends.

Noah: He must climb every flight of stairs, look through every window, stop at every phone box...

 

Linking in with Jodi @ Practising Simplicity

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