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Thursday, July 21, 2011

Healthy Candy. Bet You Never Thought You'd See Those Two Words Together.

Veggie Wedgie
 
This recipe had me at "healthy" and "Bounty". 
 
Mmm... Thanks, Veggie Wedgie.
 
 Chocolate Coconut Candy
  Filling...
  • 1 cup dates
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 3 cups coconut flakes
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
Coating...
  • 150gr raw cacao butter
  • 4 tbsp raw cacao powder
  • 2 tbsp agave nectar

What to do...
1. Soak dates in water for 20 minutes to soften. In a food processor,add the dates and water and blend to make a smooth paste. Transfer in a bowl and mix with the rest of the filling ingredients. Knead with your hands until the dough sticks together. Add more coconut if necessary. With a tablespoon,take 1 tbsp of dough at a time and shape however you desire. Refrigerate the candy pieces while you melt the cacao butter in the dehydrator or using bain-marie method. Add the cacao powder and the agave and stir with the melted cacao butter until everything is incorporated.
2. Using a fork,dip one by one the coconut candy to coat with chocolate. Set aside on a waxed paper to set the chocolate. To do this faster you can refrigerate the candy bars.
 

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

On The Couch: Bye For Now, Offspring.


It's the Offspring season finale tonight (Channel 10, 9pm) and I have to admit I'm a teensy bit sad that it's all over for another season. You see, I love Nina Proudman. And it's not just her amazing owl-filled apartment and her sometimes very original wardrobe choices, I love Nina because she makes me (and every other slightly neurotic woman out there) seem somehow less crazy, more normal.

I also love that she is played by one of my absolute favourite Australian actresses Asher Keddie. Loved her in Paper Giants. Loved her in Underbelly. Love, love, loved her in Love My Way. In fact, not long after Love My Way wrapped on TV, I saw Asher in a make-up store on Oxford Street. I was there on official magazine business so I had to reign in the crazy fan part of me that wanted to run over and scream, "Ohmygodyou'reAsherKeddie! Iloveyou!"

Instead I just silently stalked her around the store, trying to think of something cool and ot even slightly obsessive to say, until my online editor told me it was time to roll. And I like to think that's exacty what Nina would have done.

So if you've been living a rock and haven't yet caught Nina Fever, do yourself a favour and get thee to the DVD store, stat. Already a fan and not sure what you're going to do with yourself post-Offspring? You might start with one of these Nina-inpired owl buys...

Owl box, $24, Have You Met Miss Jones.



Wall hanging, from $135, Bride & Wolfe.





Tea towel, $16.95, Annabel Trends @ Funk Mebourne.

Planters, US$39.99 each, Fruitflypie @ Etsy.

White owl, $19.95, Hart & Heim.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

The Australian Open Effect


There's a little thing I like to call The Australian Open Effect – so named because every time the Australian Open airs on TV, I'm suddenly overcome by the urge to play tennis. Doesn't matter that I don't really know how. Doesn't even matter that I don't own a raquet. I see Anna and Serena and Venus hitting it up on the court, and suddenly I want to be a tennis pro. Thankfully the effect only lasts about as long as the telecast, but I've started to realise The Australian Open Effect is becoming more far reaching.

There was The Swimming Championship Effect. And The World Cup Effect. Now there is The Tour De France effect. Yep, I don't even own a bike, but all of a sudden I'm waking up thinking I could be the next Lance Armstrong. And I'm riding every spin class like I'm gunning for a yellow jersey. Well, I guess if it makes me work harder in spin class, it can't be that bad, right?

Do you ever get overcome by The Australian Open Effect?