my smoothie recipe

Today I enjoyed the relative freedom of a visit to the supermarket without kids. This is because once a fortnight they usually both go with their dad to visit granny for the day. I also went to the photo shop and had the 400+ photos on my digital camera put onto DVD. Of these I only printed out 5 particularly good ones of my daughter, for her.

I needed rice milk for the smoothies the kids and I enjoy, particularly at breakfast, but any time of day is good for a smoothie. I use:

mainly rice milk
a splash of juice
handful frozen berries
1 banana
1 T spirilina powder
and 1 T flax seed oil
in the blender

This new rice milk has had its protein increased 5x by the addition of chickpeas. However it's only 3.7 grams of protein in a quarter litre serving. It does taste great in the smoothie though.

I think banana is the most important flavour enhancer in a smoothie. I add spirilina for iron: 1 tsp has 2.8 mg of iron which is 23% of the RDI. The flaxseed oil is for Omega 3.

New Product Review: Spring Rolls

Immy and I love spring rolls. My husband surprised me by bringing these home from New World at Eastridge. I've found it difficult to find vegan spring rolls but for once, no-one decided to add fish paste or milk powder in a misguided attempt to enhance the products desirableness.

This is another one of those foods coming under the `only very occasionally' list. I went for a 9km jog this morning, and have registered to run 10.5km or a quarter marathon next week. Next year Immy will be seven and I'll register her for the kids marathon. So maybe I'll treat my daughter and myself to a serving of these tonight. I've not tried them yet, but I've never had a bad spring roll, have you?

New Product Review: Cheesey Sauce

This Cheesey Sauce is very easy to make and it tastes great too. It's different from the white sauces I've tried previously in that it's quite runny, not thick. That doesn't matter, I think it captures the essence of what we all love in a cheese sauce very well.

I added it to my brown rice and steamed cauliflower. Unfortunately I'm out of sauvignon blanc as that would've made a delicious accompaniment. It made enough for 3 - 4 people so I'm freezing half of the meal for later.

I didn't offer any to the kids as Friday night is their Hell pizza night. They're not too keen on new health products anyway and I'm happy to keep this all for myself.

fudge

2 cups raw or white sugar
half cup rice or soy milk
25g olivani or similar
1 heaped T cocoa

mix in saucepan
boil 4 - 5 mins medium heat, stir often
remove from heat, add 1t vanilla essence, place saucepan in sink with cold water and beat with wooden spoon until begins to thicken
pour into greased tin

should begin to set within a few minutes, if not may require a reboil

almost pure sugar so just an occasional treat for parties or get together's

xxx
b