And 2016 is almost done! How has your year been – full of health and happiness? Have you accomplished all you set out to do? Lived each day fully? Tackled any inevitable downs with your highest and best self? Even if you can’t answer yes to all of those, I love this time of year when it always feels so good to review the year that’s been and make plans for the one coming. I’m a mad goal setter (“Goals 2016”, “Goals 2015”, “Goals 2014″… are keystones in my iPhone notes), and love making new ones each year. It’s such a great time to review where you are at in life, and what you want to focus on in the coming year to live your very best one yet. What do you want to achieve personally, in your relationships, or in your career, to experience even more happiness, love and fulfilment? I’m yet to write my 2017 goals (that’s definitely a 1st of Jan endeavour – we’re too busy cooking and eating up a Christmas storm right now). But I’ll be sure to check in next week to share what I come up with you.
As for us, we’ve just arrived in Matarangi, a beautiful beach in the Coromandel on the east coast of the North Island. Tony’s mum lives here, so we’re lucky enough to be able to whip down and enjoy the sun, sand and fresh sea air for the next few weeks. I’m also incredibly blessed to be able to work remotely (my girls are holding the fort back home), so I’ll be continuing my weekly notes and recipes to you over the break. Doesn’t much feel like work when I’ve been for a beach walk in the morning, and am spending the afternoon in the kitchen! Mila’s midday sleeps are always a great time to sneak a bit of screen time in, so here I am with you 🙂
This week I’ve put together your favourite recipes from 2016! We had a tough time selecting these, as there were actually about 12 strong contenders. But here’s our final five – a good selection of sweet, savoury, pantry staples and icy treats for those hot summer days. From myJelly Tip Ice Creams, to myOrange Almond and Coconut Cake,Five Seed Sourdough,Banana Walnut Bread, and my very first recipe video of this deliciousSalted Caramel Macadamia Slice– there are some goodies in here that I hope you’ll try and love.
I’ve so enjoyed seeing all your recipe recreations this year, so thanks so much for sharing them with me. Whether it’s been over onInstagram,Facebook, in the comments below my posts or over on my newYouTube channel– it’s always so lovely to hear from you, see what you come up, and hear your successes in the kitchen, health, and life. I hope you enjoy this top 5 selection – you can read more of my Christmas musings below!
This year’s been another big one for us (but hang on, I always say that). Our little Mila started pre-school, is running, talking, singing (Old McDonald and Twinkle Twinkle are favourites), and developing thefunniest little outgoing, mischievous, independent personality. It’s crazyto think that how she is now is probably how she’s going to be as an adult,and that that personality is already ingrained! We’ve almost (almost..) finished our house renovations with a now flourishing vege garden, and the last step about to start – anew walk in pantry which obviously i’m mad excited about. I completed another year of my Nutrition, Naturopathy and Herbal Medicine degree, so am almost done. And a finalbig project for me this year was starting anew YouTube channel, on whichwe’ve already shared fourvideoswhich I’m really proud of, with another bunch in the pipeline. I’d love to hear what you think, what you’d like to see more of (or less), so do leave meyour thoughts in the comments below this post!
And with that, I’ll let you go and enjoy the festivities.Wishing you the merriest of Christmases. I hope you getthe chance to spend some quality time with the ones you love most. That’s what it’s all about right? Oh, and of course, a good dose of fabulousfood. Hopefully my recipes haveinspired you to put a few healthier plant-based options on your family Xmas table this year too.
Much love, and til next week as always, stay happy and well.
PSIfyou like this recipe, I’d love you to pin it onPinterest, share it onFacebook, post your recreation onInstagram(tag me@begoodorganicsand#begoodorganics), or share it with your family and friends. Also, if you’re not already subscribed to my weekly recipe emails, be sure to do thathere, anddon’t miss my next recipe video by signing up to my YouTubehere.
If you’re interested in one-on-one advice, I have a small number of Naturopathic and Nutrition consultations available each week, either in person or via Skype – you can find more information on thosehere.
Salted Caramel Macadamia Slice
Home to my first ever YouTube video! We had so much fun making this vid, andI’m so glad you guys loved it too– this gorgeous Salted Caramel Macadamia Sliceis hands down one of myfavourite raw sweet treats to date. Witha subtle hint of caramel, and quirky offset from the fresh sea salt it channels all the flavours you want from a caramel slice, without the sicklyfeeling afterwards. The creamy filling is just sweet enough, and perfectly balanced by the more-ish biscuity base and crunchy macadamia topping.
Here’s a couple of lovely commentsyou guys had to sayabout this decadentslice:
“I made this a few weeks back, and am about to make my second lot. It’s amazing!”~Roz
“Oh..my..god! Can still taste them! Best raw treat I have ever had!!”~ Niki
“Seriously taste EVEN better than they look… and they look incrediblleee!!! xo”~ Emma
Try out my Salted Caramel Macadamia Slice recipehere.
Banana Walnut Bread
I originally made this recipe because I’m a sucker for banana bread. And while the cafe versions taste good, the sugar/dairy/white flour/egg combois not so great for every day. So my goal was to create an effortlessly delicious banana bread recipe that you’d be able to recreate at home. It’s super low in sugar, naturally gluten free, and tastes amazingtopped with your favourite nut butter. Banana andwalnuts is one of those flavour matches made in heaven! Here’s what you guys thought…
“Yum this is delicious! My two littles love it too, will be adding this to my weekly repertoire!”~Jacqui
“Was such a yummy loaf, I made another this week! Even got the tick of approval from hubby”~ Kat
“Made this last week it’s sooooo good. Perfect to slice and freeze then take out and warm up in the toaster!”~ Willow
“Made this yesterday and had a slice this morning with some of my homemade almond butter – it was delicious! It’s great because it’s not super sweet. Well, I don’t feel as guilty eating it for breakfast haha. Thanks for yet another cracking recipe Buffy!”~ Karly
To trymy Banana Walnut Bread recipeclickhere.
Orange, Almond and Coconut Cake
One of the only ‘baked’ cakes I madethis year, but boy is it a goodie.So many of you recreatedthis gorgeous cakefor a special occasion and shared your amazing photos and comments with me, I was blown away! So thank you.There’s not much else to say about itother than (a) it’s amazing, and (b) you have to try it!It’s quite unique using justalmond and coconut flour on their own, and has the mostdivine citrus ‘cream cheese’ icing.Most cakes (even paleo ones) are held together with some combo of eggs, butter, sugar and refined white flour, andwhilst it’s easy to replace one of those at a time with a healthier alternative, removing all four together is a definite challenge! Which is why I was so pleased with this recipe – none of those above four,and yet all the moisture and flavour of the cakes youknow and love.100% plant-poweredgoodness.
Here’s what some of youhad to say about this gorgeous cake:
“I made it this morning and the icing is TO DIE FOR! Will be serving up as an after dinner treat for my little family tonight. Especially love that it is egg free.”~Amanda
“I made this cake for our staff’s dinner party last night and everybody had a second piece! I have made lots of your cakes, but this one has to be my favourite by far! Thank you somuch for sharing it!”~ Anja
“I made this tonight, myself hubby and our little babe loved it! Great recipe!”~ Allie
To check outmy Orange, Almond and Coconut Cakerecipe clickhere.
Jelly Tip Ice Creams
Jelly Tip Ice Creams for the win! It’s super hot here in NZ, so ice cream and ice blocks seem to be on everyone’s wish list right now. This delicious summery recipe is my healthy take on a kiwi classic, Jelly Tip Ice Creams. Containing only 8 simpleingredients, it’s a gorgeous combo of gooey raspberry jelly, creamy vanilla ice cream, all coated in rich dark chocolate – the perfect treat on a hot summer’s day.Chocolate and Raspberry is another of those combosthat never fails to impress. You guys said…
“I am seriously loving life right now, I made these jelly tip ice creamsfrom Be Good Organics’recipe and it’s probably one of my FAVOURITES out of all the raw treats I’ve ever made! The gooey-ness of the chia jelly against the crunchy chocolate is a match made in heaven.”~ Chelsea
“The raspberry tip and banana/coconut ice cream give the perfect balance of tang, sweetness and creaminess”~ Fiona
To get my Jelly Tip Ice Creamsrecipe, clickhere.
Five Seed Sourdough
This delicious healthy bread recipe is super easy, requires only a handful of ingredients, is packed with healthy polyunsaturated fats and omegas from the super seed blend, and there’s no fancy bread maker required. When I first made this recipe I was makinga new loaf every third day, I just couldn’t get enough of it! There istruly nothing better than the delicious warming smells of a home baked loaf wafting out of your oven.Once you become a home-made bread convert, there’s no turningback…
Here’s what some of you said:
“The first loaf was just superb. So delicious, yet so simple. I’m already onto number two!”~Sarah
“I’m completely guilty of over-spending on wholegrain loavesfrom the local health food shops, so I’m so excited to have found a recipe to replace these – at half the cost. I used the yeast method, and the resulting loaf smells divine, and tastes delicious! Have added to my weekly meal prep, and it’s so worth it”~ Elise
To trymy Five Seed Sourdoughrecipe clickhere.
Enjoy, and talk soon!
