All Good Things Issue 15
Bala Bangles + Feel Good Supplements + King Parrots + Japanese Miso Roasted Veggies + Sparkling Iced Lemon Tea
ISSUE 15 / AUG 29, 2021Â Â
Good Morning ...
This last week was a blur for me, trying to juggle work and home with a very sick little boy that needed blood tests, ultrasounds and multiple visits to the doctor while in lockdown. We don't know everything yet but bacterial poisoning via our backyard chickens is a working theory. Things are slowly settling for him since yesterday after his really rough run all week and I hope he continues to feel better with the medication he has been put on.
Needless to say, not only did I not manage to go for all my walks last week but work has fallen behind terribly as has my ability to read, discover, explore new things. Thankfully, our overgrown, weedy gardens still manage to be a source of surprise and draw all kinds of birds to them. This week, unable to sleep I woke up early several times just in time to catch the sun set the sky on fire and the massive gum trees awash in a golden light.
I have been starting most mornings by doing arm/lifting routines with my Bala Power Ring. Slowly but surely, I feel it strengthening my arms and shoulders. I am also donning my Bala bangles on some walks to add a bit of resistance. In recent weeks, I have introduced this Fish Oil, this Liver supplement and these magnesium/lavender tablets to my daily routine. They are all by JS Health by Jessica Sepel, natural, sustainably sourced with no additives. I have been taking these for almost two months now and I have noticed several things - I feel more energized on a daily basis, my joints are no longer achy or feel like a rusty car, my muscles feel relaxed yet strong, I have started sleeping deeply (I still wake up 2-3 times every night but fall back to sleep very easily and it feels deep and heavy) and I feel light in my belly.
We have spotted many King Parrots on our property over the years. They are super friendly and fly down to you and often sit on your open palm and just whistle and croon. I always thought they had a red head and chest until last week when Nick spotted the most beautiful parrot I have ever seen. This one was accompanied by a King Parrot but it had a green head and chest and a gorgeous chevron patterning on the red undercarriage. A Google search informed me that this was a female King Parrot with the green head whereas the one we have always seen with the red head is a male King Parrot. Anyways, Nick kept a steady soft whistle song going and it drew them down to our Meyer Lemon Tree where they perched for a long time, swaying their heads side to side, posing perfectly for all the glorious pictures I took. It was a special experience!
A New Thing ..
It is amazing how we need to be reminded of small things to do for our physical and mental health. There aren't hard to do, but because we are bogged down by so much stuff (both tangible and conceptual) that we often forget to do them. This is something new I have started doing and it has added immense value to my life, so I thought I will share. When I find a piece of information that is profound and valuable, I file it in one place so I can access it whenever I need to. I also have a daily Manifesto, a mantra that I repeat to myself. It could be as simple as remembering to drink water throughout the day or to have a hot shower. But by telling myself that and being mindful of it, I remember to do it and it becomes a slow, steady, daily habit. This in turn has started making really positive changes in my physical and mental health. Here is today's thought and manifesto >>
Food For Thought »
" When we are stressed, our bodies produce more cortisol (stress hormone). Vitamin C has been known to effectively reduce cortisol and thereby stress by upto 70%. Oranges are your ultimate stress buster! Right from peeling and cutting an orange which releases the essential oils and aroma leading to a sensory experience that starts the stress reduction process to eating an entire orange, your cortisol and subsequently blood pressure levels will reduce and drop. The phytochemicals in orange also help immensely in stress reduction. The same goes for other citrus fruits like Grapefruit, Mandarins and Lemons.
Orange Therapy - Besides eating an orange every day this week which would be amazing for your skin and gut as well, try some Orange Essential Oils in your diffuser. Or an Orange Simmer Pot! Bring a large deep pot of water to boil. Add the peel of 3 whole oranges and 1 whole lemon, two large cinnamon sticks and 6-7 sprigs of lavender. Reduce heat to low and let simmer uncovered for a few hours.
Today » I will listen to music that used to be my favourite when I was in college. I will spend an hour in the sun. I will make myself a cup of tea and read something I have been wanting for a little while.Â
JAPANESE MISO ROASTED VEGGIES
These Japanese Miso Roasted Root Veggies are absolutely delicious. Inspired by my Miso Baked Salmon Recipe, this tray of potato, sweet potato, carrot and onion is caramelized to golden perfection with a gorgeous miso-garlic-soy dressing. With plenty of fresh herbs and Japanese spices to finish, this is a great way to use up all the stray root veggies in your pantry.
On my Cooking Wishlist this week
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Mushroom Sloppy Joes!
Salty, Sweet And Sour - Three Fantastic Thai Salads to try out!
Spaghetti With Crispy Zucchini!
30 Minute Indian Pumpkin Butter Chickpeas & Marinated Olives With Walnuts!
Donna Hay's Instant Caramel Pudding Cups
Andy Allen's Fermented Capsicum Glaze that I will make and drizzle on everything!
And finally my heart is set on trying these gorgeous Portuguese Custard Tarts!
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Molly Wright's TED talk (source - Youtube)
I watched something that was incredible on so many levels. And then I showed it to my family and they all agreed. It was a video of a TED talk given by 7-year old Molly Wright, an Australian girl who is an early childhood development advocate and downright impressive and adorable! She is also the youngest person to ever give a TED talk. Besides being a fabulously engaging and powerful seven-minute talk, the talk itself is a reminder for us all and what we can do for our own children and other little humans in our lives no matter what age they are - 5 or 10 or 15 or 20!
On our watch list this week we have Nine Perfect Strangers starring Nicole Kidman as the owner of a wellness resort that might have a dark side to it and the nine city-dwelling strangers who arrive there to heal. (last year I read the book by the same name written by Lianne Moriarty)
In the aftermath of the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Australia has evacuated at least 4100 people from Kabul. The captain of the Afghan women's football team, Shabnam Mobarez, has shed light on a successful evacuation operation conducted by the Australian government that resulted in members of the team, coaches and family members being extracted from Kabul.
Do you say Butt Naked or Buck Naked?
Do you know how to pick the most perfectly sweet watermelon?
Everyone's favourite Masterchef judge Jock Zonfrillo did a series of live cook-ups last week that can all be viewed on his profile on Instagram! His cook-ups are fun to watch, super informative, full of wry humour and great taste!
And with that, I sign off and wish you a good one! Until Next Weekend :)
SPARKLING ICED LEMON TEA
Serves - 4
*
6Â black tea bags
½ cup (120g) raw sugar
500ml boiling water
Juice of 3 large lemons (150ml)
500ml sparkling water
Ice cubes and lemon slices, to serve
*Â
Add tea bags, sugar and boiling water to a 1 litre mason jar. Steep for 3-5 minutes.
Remove tea bags and add lemon juice. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate the lemon tea concentrate until ready to use.
To serve, add chilled sparkling water to the lemon tea concentrate. Mix well.
Place a handful of ice cubes in 4 tall drinking glasses. Pour over the sparkling lemon tea and garnish with lemon slices.
(Alternatively, pour lemon tea concentrate in 4 tall drinking glasses filled with ice cubes. Top up with sparkling water and garnish with lemon slices)
(Add 1.5oz (45ml) tequila/gin/vodka to each glass for a cocktail version)
I have limited copies of my cookbook Tasty Express - a labour of love filled with over 100 of our family's most tried and tested and exciting 30-minute recipes inspired by street foods of the world. Mostly Vegetarian recipes that go from breakfast to quick dinners in a heartbeat. They make great gifts for you or a friend!
