Flaxseed bars

This recipe uses whole food sweeteners. If you are healthy with no weight problems, you can use small amounts of natural sweeteners occasionally. Choose from raw honey, maple syrup, and unrefined sugars such as rapadura, shakkar or the unrefined (dark) Billington’s sugars. If you have health problems, it’s best to avoid sweeteners altogether and you might like to try this recipe. For the occasional sweet treat, though, the combination of stevia and glycerol is fairly […]

Chocolate “crackles”

Remember the chocolate rice bubbles “crackles” that used to be popular at children’s birthday parties? If you use a mild flavoured nut such as almonds or macadamias, these taste very similar. 225gms (8 oz) coconut oil 4 Tbs honey 4 Tbs cocoa 1 cup dessicated coconut 3 cups crispy nuts, roughly chopped in a food processor Optional: ½ cup sultanas or raisins Melt the coconut oil and honey over a very low heat. Meanwhile, chop […]

Lemony kidneys

Kidneys must be very fresh, and preferably from organic, grass fed animals. 2-3 lambs kidneys, per person lemon juice butter, ghee or other “good” fat of choice salt and pepper arrowroot (optional) If the kidneys still have a skin on them, peel that off. But leave the knob of fat on the underside, this is very nourishing. Cut each kidney into quarters, and put them all into a bowl or jug. Cover with lemon juice, […]

Hummus

Measure out about a cup of chick peas Soak overnight (or 8 hours) in a large pan of warm water, with 2 Tbs whey Rinse and pick out any bad looking ones Cover with fresh water, making sure you have at least as much water as peas Cook for 2 – 2 1/2 hours, until soft, checking water from time to time Drain off the water into a cup Dissolve 1/4 tsp sea salt in […]

Guacamole

2 avocados 1 Tbs lemon or lime juice ½ ripe tomato, deseeded and chopped finely ½ red onion, chopped finely 2 cloves garlic, crushed ¼ tsp sea salt First make sure your avocados are at the right stage of ripeness. Gently press the outside of the avocado. If there is no give, the avocado is not ripe yet and will not taste good. If there is a little give, the avocado is ripe. If there […]

Kefired fruit juice

You can also use your milk kefir grains to make fruit juice kefirs. Plain fruit juice is very high in sugar, so not recommended as a drink. But once kefired the sugar turns to acids and can become mildly alcoholic. Freshly pressed, organic juice is best, but commercial juice will work even if pasteurised, as long as it doesn’t have any preservatives. Acidic juices work best, as high sugar juices make a more alcoholic drink. […]

Meat Jerky

The first time, use 500g beef (or thinly sliced chicken or turkey breast). For later batches, you can adjust the amount to suit the size of your dehydrator or oven tray. Use any steak that’s suitable for frying, and slice it as thinly as you can. I buy schnitzel when it’s on special, to minimise the time spent chopping, and cut each piece into about 4 or 5 bits. Remember that fat is needed to […]

Baked Tempeh

Although even fermented soy shouldn’t be eaten in large quantities, this makes a tasty high protein snack, and is especially useful for those who don’t want to eat too much animal protein. Take a block of tempeh. Cut it in half through the middle, so that you have two thin slices. Cut each slice into 6 pieces. Lay out on a lined or greased baking tray. Sprinkle with paprika and sea salt. Bake at 175C […]

Fermented vegetable juice

This recipe came from the Native Nutrition board. Commercial vegetable juice can be used (about 1 ½ litres/quarts), as long as it doesn’t contain preservatives, but freshly juiced is better. 6 large tomatoes 1 small beetroot (beet) 4 carrots 2 celery stalks 1/2 bunch of spinach 2 garlic cloves 2 lemons tabasco sauce to taste 1 Tbs sea salt 4 Tbs whey Juice the six vegetables and the lemons. Mix together with the rest of […]

Coconut Kumara Soup

We’ve had a late summer here in Wellington, but it’s drawing to a close, the winter duvets have come out of storage and we’ll soon be in the part of the year where thoughts turn to hot soup. This is one of my favourite soup recipes, which combines the mineral density of homemade stock, the beneficial fats in coconut, and the comfort and sweetness of kumara. It’s a combination of the delicious Coconut Chicken soup […]

Honey wine (T’ej)

This recipe is a “wild ferment” from Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Ellix Katz. If you enjoy this recipe and want to explore wild ferments in more depth, take a look at his website at Wild Fermentation or you can buy his book through Amazon. I’ve halved the recipe for your first experiment. 1 1/2 cups honey, preferably unheated 6 cups filtered water Stir together the honey and the water, in a large bowl or jar, […]

Oysters in cream

A very quick and simple way to cook oysters, for those who don’t like them raw. Serves 2 A dozen (or more) fresh oysters in their shells, or a punnet of fresh oysters in liquid A dollop of butter ½ cup of fresh cream Sea salt to taste Take the oysters out of the shells, or if they’re in a punnet, drain the liquid into a separate container. Sauté the oysters lightly in the butter, […]

Mussels Steamed in Coconut Cream

16 mussels 1 tbsp butter, ghee or other “good” fat of choice ½ onion, finely chopped 1-2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 tsp ginger, grated ¾ cup coconut cream Store live mussels for a short time only. Keep in a container in the fridge, not in water. To make sure they are alive and fresh, tap them and they should close. To prepare, snip “beards” (any hairy stuff on the outside of the shell) off the […]

Taramosalata

Most recipes for taramosalata include breadcrumbs, which are not good for some people. Potato can also be used, or Nourishing Traditions has a version using cultured cream. The recipe below gives the 3 options so you can choose the version that works best for your dietary needs. If none of them are ideal, try using homemade mayo (but that’s not tested). The flavour and texture will vary slightly depending which version you use, but they’re […]

Raw Liver pills

Raw liver is an amazing health tonic, but it’s not to everybody’s taste. There a number of raw liver drink recipes around, but most people find this method the best. Start with some good quality, grass fed, organic liver. If it doesn’t look fresh with a good, rich colour, don’t buy it. Lamb’s fry has the best flavour; beef can be a bit strong. Cut up and freeze the day you buy it, so it’s […]

Broccoli And Carrots, With Cashew Sauce And Rice (Serves 4)

Brown rice, cooked in stock 1 Tbs butter or extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, peeled and chopped 1 cinnamon stick, broken small knob of fresh ginger root 1 garlic clove, crushed 6-8 cardamom pods 1/2 tsp turmeric 150g (1 cup) crispy cashew nuts 250ml water (or chicken or vegetable stock) salt and freshly ground black pepper 1-2 tbls lemon juice (optional) 450g (1 lb) broccoli, or combination of broccoli and carrot 3 hours before […]

Stuffed Lentil loaf

Lentil layer: 8 oz (225g) red lentils 2 Tablespoons whey (or lemon juice) 1 oz butter 2 Tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 teaspoon paprika Onion layer: 1 oz butter (or olive oil) 2 large onions, chopped 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh sage, or 2 teaspoon dried Mushroom layer: 2 Tablespoons butter (or olive oil) 4 large brown mushrooms 1 teaspoon sea salt Topping: ½ cup tasty cheese – and/or 3 Tablespoons breadcrumbs ~In […]

Mexican Beans

This is a quick chilli, and can easily be adapted for meat eaters. Just add 500g mince, and brown it, before adding the beans. Then add some extra flavourings. Beans: 1 1/2 cups dried pinto beans 2 Tablespoons whey (or lemon juice) 1 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 onion 2-3 cloves garlic 1 tin tomatoes in juice 1 teaspoon sea salt 1 Tablespoon chilli seasoning cayenne to taste Garnish. Choose all […]

Black bean chilli with roasted vegetables

250g/9oz black turtle beans, soaked overnight and then drained 6 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 1 onion, finely chopped. 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 green chilli, finely chopped 1 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tbsp ground cumin 1/2 tbsp chopped oregano 1 litre/1 3/4 pints chicken or vegetable stock 3 tomatoes, peeled and diced 1 green pepper, finely diced salt and freshly ground black pepper 675-900g/1.5 -2lb assorted vegetables suitable for roasting, such as kumara, pumpkin, […]

Baked Beans

Bought baked beans are a popular breakfast in NZ, but they have 3 problems: It’s very likely the beans are not prepared properly Have sugar included Often have gluten or other undesirables added Traditional baked beans (or Boston baked beans) don’t have tomato in them but are baked in a molasses sauce. For the Kiwi palette, this is a tomato based alternative. 2 cups dry haricot, navy or pink beans 2 Tablespoons whey (or lemon […]

Marinated Tempeh (2 to 3 servings)

Remember that even fermented soy products should be eaten in small amounts, and not too frequently. 1/3 cup fermented soy sauce, such as tamari 2 tablespoons water 6 to 8 large cloves garlic, crushed 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil freshly ground black pepper 1 8-ounce package tempeh, cut into 6 to 8 even strips 1. 10 to 12 hours before you want to serve: prepare the marinade, by combining all its ingredients in a […]

Mediterranean vegetables (Serves 2)

Serve these with fish, chicken, steak or roasts. 2 medium sized zucchinis about ½ a red capsicum 1 medium sized eggplant 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon Italian-style dried herbs ¾ teaspoon sea salt handful of grated mozzarella cheese OR sliced mozzarella OR grated Tasty cheese Cut up the zucchini and capsicum and put into a medium sized bowl. Add the oil and stir till they’re all coated. Cut up the eggplant and […]

Pumpkin gratin

We have already used pumpkin as a topping for cottage pie, but it also makes a nice dish on its own. This side dish can go with meat or vegetarian meal such as nut roast or oat loaf. A small pumpkin, or half a large one A generous lump of butter Sea salt About 100g feta A large handful of grated cheddar cheese Cut the pumpkin in half and scrape out the seeds. Place both […]

Stuffed mushrooms

Serves 2 as a main dish, with a salad. Or serves up to 6 as a side dish. 1 red onion 6 large flat mushrooms 125g (4 oz) feta cheese extra virgin olive oil Peel and chop the onion. Saute gently in 1 Tbs of olive oil (or butter) for 5-10 mins till tender. Wipe the mushrooms, and remove the stalks. Brush caps lightly with olive oil, then place gill side down on a tray […]