Fun Gift Wrap DIY


September 14, 2014

I am joined today by Fiona from Craft Hunter who has a wonderful blog filled with fantastic DIY tutorials, tips and idea.

Fiona is sharing with us her Confetti Gift Wrap Tutorial today – here is what she has to say about this fun DIY Gift wrap.confetti-leaf6-1-of-1

I wanted to make something bright and happy to decorate a special present, and with a bit of sticky tape and hole punched scrap paper, I got just that. In true Fiona style this project is super easy and literally takes less than 5 minutes – so there’s no excuse to give a boring gift. Actual confetti would of course work splendidly too, or a fun collection of cut up shapes… or chunky glitter!confetti-leaf8-1-of-1

To make some confetti leaves yourself:

Lay out a few pieces of sticky tape, sticky side up.
Make them slightly overlap eachother so you create a bit of a sheet
Sprinkle on your confetti goodness (mine are just from a standard hole punch)
Layer more tape on top, sticky side down
Cut your leaf shape and you’re done.

Simple and very cute indeed!

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You can visit the Craft Hunter blog here or find Fiona on Facebook


Coconut + Banana Cupcakes


September 11, 2014

Another yummy sugar free recipe for you today!  This time it is super healthy Coconut + Banana Cupcakes.  I have been working with a wonderful nutritionalist lately so I can get my kids back on track with their eating and this is one of her many great recipes.  There are really so many recipes to be found on the plethora of healthy eating, nutritional websites that are around.  I will do a post next week sharing some great sites I have found to help you source low or no sugar baking ideas.

My nutritionalist tells me these guys are perfect for breakfast but I think they also work perfectly on a party table as really it is all about presentation when it comes to food – prepare them in a pretty cupcake liner and place them on a cake stand and you have an instant party.  They are made with almond meal so make sure you check your guests for nut allergies.  A great replacement to use in your baking is coconut flour so be on the look out for delicious recipes using this as an ingredient.

This recipe is originally by Lee Holmes of Supercharged Food and shared with me by A Healthy View.  

The lovely cupcake wrappers & napkins can be found at Emiko Blue and the cake stand is the beautiful Les Desserts Round Skirted Pedestal you can find in my store here.

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Coconut & Banana Cupcakes
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Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Cook Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 2 Cups almond meal
  2. 1/4 cup bicarb of soda
  3. 1 tsp baking powder
  4. 1 tbs arrowroot flour
  5. 3 eggs
  6. 3 ripe bananas mashed
  7. 3 tbs butter
  8. 3 tbs coconut milk
  9. 1 tbs rice malt syrup
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 180 deg
  2. Place almond meal, bicarb, baking powder and arrowroot in a bowl and stir to combine
  3. In a separate bowl mix the eggs until pale and fluffy (I used an electric mixer). Add the mashed banana, butter, coconut milk and rice malt syrup to the eggs and combine
  4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
  5. Spoon batter into 12 cupcake liners
  6. Bake for 15 minutes or until set
Sweet Style http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/

 Photography :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style


Slow Living Workshop


September 10, 2014

To say my weekend was amazing is an understatement.  I am still flying high after spending the most glorious weekend surrounded by talented ladies from all parts of the globe.  Ladies who love to be immersed in things they are passionate about.  Ladies who love to share and inspire.   I get so much out of just being around creative souls – soaking up their enthusiasm – an enthusiasm I have, but at times is dampened by the fact that I work alone at home and when I am not working I am surrounded by little people who are quite demanding!  The slow living workshop I attended last weekend was just what I needed to give me the motivation to take exciting steps!  I am full of ideas (probably too many) so now need to bring them to life!  The possibilities are endless really.  Thank you to the amazing Luisa Brimble, Beth Kirby from Local Milk & Rebekka Seale from Camellia Fibre Company for what was a truly wonderful weekend.

Some other pretty terrific people were also involved over the weekend giving their time, amazing produce, incredible food and beautiful  products – go check all these cool people out
The Floury Baker – Anna provided us with the most amazing tarts – not only were they a joy to photograph but Anna tarts are THE BEST I have ever tasted!
Arthur Street Kitchen – Hetty’s salads were incredible and I am in need of her recently released cook book!
Stacey Clark Stylist – Stacey was on hand to be a right hand to the girls and be our sometimes model – she also made us laugh lots! 
Sney Roy from Cook Republic – Sneh’s beautiful props were on hand for us to play with! Very envious of her collection.
Our lovely take home gifts were from The Assembly, The Jam Bandits & Maison Balzac

Now here are some images I captured over the weekend – the amazing venue is Glenmore House! Totally incredible.

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Party Bliss Balls


September 8, 2014

I have more great low sugar party food to share with you today.  These perfect little party treats are called bliss balls and are the perfect addition to your party table.

Made with dried fruit, nuts and coconut they tick all the boxes for a healthy treat and when rolled into these balls they are the perfect on a cake stand.  To take it even further just add one of these pretty sweet sticks to tie it in with your party theme and you have a stylish healthy cake pop (minus the cake).  

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These sweet sticks are the perfect addition to your bliss balls to give them a party feel!  What kid (or adult) doesn’t love eating their dessert from a stick.

You can find these lovely sticks at Emiko Blue here – they come in a range of lovely colours.

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Party Bliss Balls
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Prep Time
15 min
Prep Time
15 min
Ingredients
  1. 1 cup Mixed nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts)
  2. 3/4 cup Dried Fruit (dates, cranberries)
  3. 1/4 cup Cacao Powder
  4. 1/4 cup shredded coconut
  5. 2 tablespoons coconut oil
Instructions
  1. Place nuts, fruit, cacao powder in a kitchen whiz for a few minutes.
  2. Tip into bowl and add melted coconut oil
  3. Mix together and then roll into balls
  4. Store in the fridge
Notes
  1. If your mixture is too dry add a little more coconut oil
Sweet Style http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/

Photography :: Leanne Ambrogio | Sweet Style


Salted Nut Butter Cups


September 4, 2014

I have a simple and delicious no sugar recipe to share with you today courtesy of talented blogger and photographer Chantelle Grady of The Grounded Kitchen.

I have been a long time follower of Chantelle’s original blog which she recently took a little break from.  Just like me she has recently taken a close look at the health of her family and is now back with a wonderful new blog called The Grounded Kitchen, where she shares the wonderful food she cooks for her family.  

Today she is here to share with us her great recipe for Salted Nut Butter Cups – I can see these guys added to a sophisticated dessert table or enjoyed as a sweet treat with coffee!
The recipe includes honey and almond butter and my tips for these two items is firstly for the best honey, buy Manuka Pure Honey which is available in the supermarket.  The nut butter I buy is from my local bulk health food store where it is made as you ask for it but if in the supermarket look for a pure nut butter and not one that has sugar added to it.

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Salted Nut Butter Cups
Serves 24
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Ingredients
  1. CACAO CHOCOLATE
  2. 1/2 cup (125ml) extra virgin coconut oil, melted
  3. 1 tbsp honey
  4. 1/2 cup (55g) raw cacao powder
  5. 3 tbsp coconut cream
  6. 1/4 tsp sea salt
  7. ALMOND BUTTER FILLING
  8. 1/2 cup (130g) almond butter
  9. 1 tbsp honey
  10. 1/4 tsp sea salt,
  11. plus extra for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. Arrange small paper cups in 2 mini cupcake tins. Or use silicone moulds if you have them.
  2. To make the cacao chocolate, place the melted coconut oil, honey, cacao powder, coconut cream and sea salt in a bowl. Whisk together until completely smooth. Drizzle a little of the cacao mixture into the bottom of each paper cup, about 3mm. Place in the freezer while you make the almond butter filling.
  3. Place the almond butter, honey and sea salt in another bowl. Stir until it forms a dough. You might need to use hands to bring it together.
  4. Remove trays from the freezer and roll a small dollop of nut dough between the palms of your hands. Flatten slightly and place into the cups. Repeat until all cups are filled. Drizzle more cacao chocolate into each cup covering the filling. Place back in the freezer for 5 minutes to set slightly before pulling them back out again to sprinkle with extra sea salt. Refrigerate until completely set, about 1 hour.
  5. Store in the refrigerator.
Sweet Style http://www.sweetstyle.com.au/

 Chantelle Grady is a lifestyle, food and travel photographer from Australia currently living in Berkley, California.  Her blog The Grounded Kitchen focuses on wellness recipes.