Asparagus, Bean and Pine Nut Salad

• 
  
• Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts
• 125g green beans, trimmed
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
• 1/4 cup French dressing

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Place pine nuts on a baking tray. Bake for 4 to 5 minutes or until golden.
2. Cook beans and asparagus in a saucepan of boiling water for 2 minutes or until just tender. Drain. Refresh under cold water.
3. Place pine nuts, beans and asparagus in a large bowl. Add dressing. Toss to combine. Serve.

Variation: 

You could use flaked almonds instead of pine nuts. Serve with grilled chicken, trout or tuna.  I used apple cider vinegar instead of dressing as it is a more natural alternative.

My Salad Eating Life

My healthy eating plan includes a lot of salad. Eating leafy greens before a meal begins the digestion process much faster. Each meal needs to be made up of fat, protein, and fibre (veggies) so I don't just eat plain garden or Greek salads but I can have whatever (fatty) salad I want.

My favorite has mixed greens, tomatoes chopped and covered with lime juice and herbs, avocado, marinated goats feta (in lots of olive oil, garlic powder, Italian herbs, and mixed herbs), and macadamia nuts. I am supposed to include protein in each meal, so when I get lazy, I just add some sliced beef schnitzel which I marinated the night before.

My life pretty much revolves around salad at the moment. I buy it. Cut it up. Marinate it. Eat it. I never knew salad took so much time...

It's been two weeks since I left the retreat, and I'm starting to get stuck for new ideas for salad. My project this week is try some new styles, and add some new favorites to my collection...

Ten Days Of Detox

I have just spent ten days at a world class health retreat in Kin Kin thanks to my very generous dad.

Part of the Living Valley Springs property in Kin Kin, Queensland

Living Valley Springs incorporates natural health lectures, detox routines (steam baths, clay wraps, colonics, lymphatic drainage massage, short juice fasts), exercise opportunities (scenic walks/hikes, gym, stretch classes, personal trainer, mountain climb) and pampering (mmm massages, facials, salt scrub & mud wraps etc).  

Mum, me & a group of 20 other guests and staff climbed Pomona Mountain on day 7

People go in order to sort out chronic illness, to detox from cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, preservatives in food, and to learn what lifestyle and foods our bodies were intended for.

I went because my immune system does not love me.... and I have a couple (ok quite a few) kilos I could lose.  Mainly, I'm sick of getting every cold, flu, throat, chest, and sinus infection around.  

When they said we were having salad for lunch I did not expect this deliciousness...

At the end of the ten days, I was given a lifestyle plan quite different to the lifestyle I've been living.  I'm going to document my progress here, hopefully not only to shed some light on healthy habits we should have, but selfishly so I have some sort of accountability and encouragement through the process, and an opportunity to reinforce what I've learned.  Stay tuned...

Pre-Christmas Wishlist

I have been exploring a new picture blog site - Pinterest - and have found the perfect item to start my Christmas wish-list.

Check out Waxing Poetic for ideas on how to wear this square insignia charm.

Fashion in the Twenty 10's

I have been hanging out for my whole 27 years of life (twice through high waisted denim shorts - 90's & 10's, neon tights, and frilly socks under mary janes - 90's & 00's) for the late 60's/early 70's vintage fashion to come back.  I finally found my perfect dress... thank you Sportsgirl and numerous weddings/parties for the opportunity to dress up like I did when I was a kid (in a floral dress, pumps, and beads).  

Now I can't wait for the next phase in fashion to fully kick in - a return of 50's house dresses, hats, gloves and fans.  I could even get matching Louboutin's...

Fairy Tales

fairy tale

noun

a children's story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.

• [as adj. ] denoting something regarded as resembling a fairy story in being magical, idealized, or extremely happy : a fairy-tale romance.

Who doesn't love fairy tales? Even the manliest man cannot say that he doesn't like stories with kings and knights and sword-fighting.  While no one's life is all fairy tales (magical, idealized or extremely happy), it's sometimes nice to share the times that are.  My fairy tales begin here...