Secret Recipe Club - November
Secret Recipe Club - November

Say hello to Sid.

Sid is the ever so happy Danish/American cook, photographer and author behind the blog Sid’s Sea Palm Cooking:  I cook, therefore I am.

Sid loves having fun in the kitchen and warmly shares her food and recipes with friends (from her monthly tapas nights) and the blogging community as a whole.

I haven’t been to Denmark (yet!), but fall in love with the country every time I watch a Danish movie or read a book based in Denmark, so of course, I was going to pick one of her many delicious looking Danish recipes from her blog to be my Secret Recipe Club Dish of the Month.

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Chit Chat ChompGluten-Free, Secret Recipe Club
Envy + Chocolate
Envy + Chocolate

I'll be the first to admit it - I am 100% guilty of comparing myself to others.  Most days I'm more grateful than jealous, but in those weak moments, especially with instagram at my finger tips, I have been known to feel those horrible pangs of envy. 

From comparing my photos through to comparing my lifestyle.  In those weak moments I forget that the perfect food photograph possibly took them all day to achieve, and that beautiful shot of a home, a holiday, or my dream career was possibly fought tooth and nail for with a lot of hard work, savings and time.  

Seriously....who am I to whine when I get to travel to France each and every year!

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RecipeChit Chat ChompSugar-Free, Chocolate, Dairy-Free, Vegan3
No dairy + Elixir !
No dairy + Elixir !

I've been taken off dairy.  Crap!

I'll happily live my life without twirling wheat pasta, buttering bread with gluten and sucking on sugary lollies, but the thought of not being able to enjoy my daily, creamy, fluffy, life altering cafe latte is killing me.  

Yes, it may only be for the next 6 weeks, but it will be 6 weeks of hell for me and for everyone around me.  That's a promise.  Especially those little sh*ts who insist on drinking their lattes in front of me.  They will pay.  (See - me not drinking my latte could be a health hazard).

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Recipe, Thyroid Health, Nutrition, NourishChit Chat ChompThyroid Health, Dairy-Free, Small Bites10, Paleo, AIP, vegan
Rosy Rocky Road !
Rosy Rocky Road !

Yes I’m a girl.  Yes I like to shop... for shoes.  Yes I think Matt Damon is hot.  But no, I’m not a chocolate lover.  That is until raw cacao come walking into my life.

It’s slightly bitter, it’s rich and it’s not sweet.  Mix with berries, nuts and rose petals and I’ll be swooning like Scarlett O’Hara:

“How fickle is woman”  - Rhett Butler

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RecipeChit Chat ChompSugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Chocolate, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Paleo3, Vegan2
Vanilla Bean Powder
Vanilla Bean Powder

When I east sugar - I scratch.

My thyroid swells, my brain gets foggy and I'm suddenly ravenous.  It's taken years of experimenting on myself to discover this fact.

My problem...I love to bake (why couldn't I love gardening instead?).  

So like a dog with a bone (albeit one of those cute fluffy ones) I've been searching for ingredients that don't send me screaming down the street.  

My latest discovery...Vanilla Bean Powder!

Now I do realise this product has been around for ages, but I'm finally on board.  

Now, I'm in love.

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RecipeChit Chat ChompGluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dessert10
Fish Patties !
Fish Patties !

I have a tip for you - you can't fry soggy mash!

Hmmm...maybe not such an exciting tip, but a good one nevertheless if you plan on making fish patties.  I'm not only talking about potato mash, but mashed food in general.  It's a tip I've kinda known for a long time, but not often put into practice.....unfortunately.

If you use this tip with these patties (by making sure you allow to firm up in the fridge before frying), you'll love me forever.

Is that weird?

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RecipeChit Chat ChompGluten-Free, Small Bites, Grain-Free, Paleo1
SRC | Butter Chicken
SRC | Butter Chicken

Say hello to Sarah!

Sarah loves to bake (like me).   She is from Ontario, Canada (a country I hope to one day see soon, and a country where my niece Miss B is studying at university....well, she says she's studying...hehe).  Sarah fully admits to being a comfort eater (like me too!), and is the lovely lady behind the blog Things I Make for Dinner, a place where she keeps weekly menu plans and showcases her newly tried recipes.  

I love that Sarah and her husband lose weight and save money by cooking and eating at home (this made me laugh Sarah) and what put a big smile on my face is that she adores French food (ME TOO!!)  Things I Make for Dinner is my Secret Recipe blog for the month of October, and my recipe this month is a long-time favourite, yet one I rarely cook myself.  That's all changed now....

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RecipeChit Chat ChompSecret Recipe Club, Mains, Paleo2
Chocolate + Orange
Chocolate + Orange

You take one orange - it doesn't even have to be a juicy one - boil it for an hour and then let it cool.

That's the longest (and hardest) step of this recipe.

The rest is a cinch.  Even the eating part, because these cakes (not sure they can even be called a cake) are so fluffy, light and mousse like in texture, that you'll devour each and every one of them quicker than it takes to do the first step above.

Trust me.

I'm experienced!

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RecipeChit Chat ChompGluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Grain-Free, Chocolate, Winter, Dairy-Free2, Paleo3
HOW TO: Poach Chicken
HOW TO: Poach Chicken

Chicken for breakfast.  Yep, you heard me right.  I've been doing it for a little while now and am loving myself sick....well, loving my breakfast anyway.

I poach organic chicken breasts on the weekend, slice them, batch them and pop them in the freezer.  

With some left over veggies and a big dollop of hummus...breakfast is ready my friend!

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RecipeChit Chat ChompHow To, AIP, Mains1, Paleo
COOKBOOK: My Family Table
COOKBOOK: My Family Table

I may be a blogger, but working full-time in the corporate world leaves little time for my own cooking, photography and blogging, let alone the chance to peruse all the beautiful inspirational blogs out there.  

Petite Kitchen  is an exception.

I've been following Eleanor's adventures for quite some time and was a BIG fan of her first hugely successful cookbook My Petite Kitchen.   So when Murdoch Books had Eleanor's second cookbook up for review, I jumped at the chance.

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Cookbook, RecipeChit Chat ChompCookbook, Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Grain-Free, Dairy-Free, Autumn, Winter, Paleo3
IN SEASON: Celeriac
IN SEASON: Celeriac

Celeriac.  Have you ever seen a more ugly vegetable?  By golly it's delicious though!  Probably one of the least used and most under-rated root vegetables, which is such a shame as it has some serious health benefits.  It’s high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6, which help our bodies absorb nutrients, expel waste, improve immunity and maintain our blood sugar levels.  

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

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Recipe, Nourish1, Nutrition 101Chit Chat ChompSoup, Vegetarian, Nutrition1, Paleo6
Merci !
Merci !

Merci.

 A 3 story loft-style store located in the trendy 3rd Arrondissement in Paris.  However, this is more than just a simple store - it is a charity store run by the founders of the luxury brand Bonpoint. 

This is not your traditional charity store either, but more of a large and stylish concept boutique where you can shop for both vintage and new clothes, home-wares, perfume and a hell of a lot more. 

Our favourtie part - the Used Book Café where we relaxed over bowls of delicious taboule aux legumes du marche and glasses of rose, whilst flicking through their secondhand books  (see here). The best thing....profits are donated to a charity for disadvantaged children. 

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TravelChit Chat ChompFrance, Travel
Blackberry Ripe Bites !
Blackberry Ripe Bites !

Four random facts about me.  

1.  I use to sleep in my tap shoes so I would be ready for dance class the next morning - I didn't want to miss a minute.

2.  My shameful food secret is my utter love for the little fake milk pots they serve on planes (I probably shouldn't call it "milk", should I?)  

3. I can waste hours of my life taking random photos of the same thing over and over and over again (as you'll see below, the poor Parisians must be sick of me blocking their walkways so I can satisfy this need). 

4. I use to be addicted to cherry ripe bars...seriously addicted.

Now I have a new chocolate addiction.

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RecipeChit Chat ChompSugar-Free, Grain-Free, Chocolate, Dairy-Free1, Paleo3, vegan4
Secret Recipe Club - September!
Secret Recipe Club - September!

Everyone, say hello to Sawsan!

Sawsan is an orthodontist by day, food explorer by night, is currently living the United Arab Emirates (an airport I know very well from my travels back and forward to Europe) and is the exceptionally talented lady behind the beautiful blog Chef in Disguise.  A blog filled with easy, authentic middle eastern recipes, packed full of season fruits, vegetables and spices.

On a personal note, I was so happy to find out Chef in Disguise was my Secret Recipe Club blog for September as I'm a huge, huge fan.  Sawsan's photography alone makes me smile, not to mention her authenticity which comes shining through the screen.  Such a joy!  So many recipes to choose from, but one in particular stole my heart.  A dish I grew up with (although maybe not so eloquently replicated by Sawsan).  

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RecipeChit Chat ChompSecret Recipe Club
Pink Peppercorns !
Pink Peppercorns !

Pink Peppercorns.

Did you know that they're  not actually a true peppercorn?  Just a little ripe berry from the Brazilian pepper tree.  Who knew?

With a delicate, fragrant, sweet and spicy flavor, reminiscent of sweet berries and citrus zest.  

They can help fight against flu, colds and infections, and can also give relief from muscle stiffness and aches.

Sounds like I could use a truck full of these little biddy beauties after every Wednesday's pilates class.

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RecipeChit Chat ChompMains, French Cuisine, Paleo5
Butter !
Butter !

Mmmmm....butter.  I'm licking my lips as I write the word.

It's probably my favourite food word.....oh who am I kidding, it's one of my favourite words.  Full stop!

It is a completely natural food which is essential to your health (especially when you eat organic), providing your body with essential fatty acids for hormone balance, heart health, glowing skin and energy.  It's also the most  easily absorbable source of vitamin A, which supports the thyroid and adrenal glands - something very close to my heart.

Margarine, on the other hand, is a processed product, created chemically from refined polyunsaturated oils. It's not a real food.

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RecipeChit Chat ChompGluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Dairy-Free1, Grain-Free1, Paleo3
IN SEASON: Sweet Potato!
IN SEASON: Sweet Potato!

Yes the lovely orange root vegetable may have oodles more vitamin A, vitamin C and fiber than its white cousin - the regular potato, but did you know that sweet potatoes are outstanding for your digestion?

Their high starch content can be easily broken down which is so soothing for our stomach and intestines - ideal for those of us suffering tummy issues (like the horrible bloating I'm currently enjoying due to my hypothyroidism).

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Recipe, Nutrition, Gut Health, Thyroid Health, Nutrition 101Chit Chat ChompSoup, Vegetarian, Thyroid Health, Paleo1, Vegan3, Nutrition1