Super Easy & Healthy Gluten/Egg Free Almond, Apricot, Macadamia & Coconut Slice

One of the things my 'carob feeding' mother passed down to me was substituting recipe ingredients with healthier alternatives, it was like a genetic malfunction that just clicked in at a certain age. Since the birth of my Son, I find this condition has worsened dramatically, as I look for new and interesting ways to get 'good stuff' into him, (and it doesn't hurt me or Man of house either).

This chain of thought brings me to my next, Agave Syrup.. the great sugar alternative, recently re-introduced to me by a friend P who I'm sure must take sunshine supplements as he literally glows with health. So of course, I didn't have a choice to re introduce my love of this amazing syrup! Rather than harping on about it here is the link to a fantastic website that will tell you all you need to know, www.allaboutagave.com

As in all my recipes if I can source organic produce I try to, and encourage you to buy Organic and support this fantastic industry.

Here is today's small pleasure, my Gluten/Egg Free Almond, Macadamia, Apricot & Coconut Slice..

1 1/2 cups Brown Rice Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1 1/2 cups desiccated Coconut

1/2 cup chopped Macadamia Nuts (or other nuts)

200g of Dried chopped Apricots

1/2 cup Almond meal

1 1/2 cups Organic Milk

1 cup Agave Syrup

Grease a slice pan and line with baking paper

Preheat oven to 180C

Place dry ingredients in bowl and make a well in the centre

Mix in wet ingredients with a spoon

Bake for about 30min or until golden brown

I was a bit naughty and put a little icing on mine but you can easily just dust a bit of icing sugar over the top or leave it as is..

1 1/2 cups icing sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Coconut to sprinkle

I had a friend email me that her little boy has nut allergies and what could she substitute the almond meal and macadamias with.. 

The nuts can be substituted with more dried fruit or chocolate chips if you can find a brand that they can have, the Almond Meal - you could just pop in 1/4 cup more of Coconut or 1/4 cup more of  Rice flour, either is fine.

The Lemon Canary x

Banana Birdie Face Masque

These days, these days.. we use so much make up, we clog our pores with toxins and chemicals and then wonder why our skin looks and feels sluggish, I have a beautiful face mask to rejuvinate tired looking skin. First cleanse your skin properly and make sure you have removed all dirt and debris, prepare your bed to lie down with a towel across the pillow, put on some relaxing music, light a (soy) candle, then apply the following..

Banana Birdie Face Masque

1/2 mashed banana

2 teapoons honey

2 teaspoons plain yoghurt

Mash it all up - pop it on your face and lie down for 10-15 minutes.. relax...

This will give your skin a big oxygen boost, the honey is so healing and nourishing, Banana is soothing, (did you know rubbing a banana peel on a mozzie bite can reduce the itching??)..

Afterwards, wash the mask off and just press a few drops of Jojoba oil over the skin... bliss..

The Lemon Canary x

Beginning to Soy (and amazing Salt Body Scrub)

I have begun this blog to share my love for all the little pleasures in life, predominately small things that make life special and beautiful. These can be as simple as time alone with a delicious cup of tea or a cuddle with your child. Lately my love of these things has come into full bloom as I have begun my own company Lemon Canary making beautiful, eco friendly Soy candles to spoil myself and my loved ones with. I make each candle myself, reducing the cost to the consumer, in other words, everyone can enjoy these gorgeous healthy candles.

I try where I can to contribute to creating less toxic waste in my own life and love making a product that is completely renewable. I am always looking for new and exciting ways that I can make my house clean and smell amazing using natural cleaning products.

On this blog I will post recipes for Making your own beautiful bath products, cleaning products and pretty much anything I come across that I just have to share with you. I look forward to hearing from others on their life's little pleasures and recipes for body/kitchen etc.

I should probably mention that I have been a Beauty Therapist since I was 17 and for years prior to that even, have been making my own wonderful beauty products - which yes.. I'm going to share with you, I would be lying of I hadn't been accused of smelling like a salad over the years or forgetting I was answering the door with a face full of mashed avocado but hey, if you wouldn't eat it why would you put it on your skin right?? I am very passionate about a keeping body, mind and spirit clean (apart from the odd red wine of course) and often consider the effects of the huge number of chemicals that people put in and on their bodies. I hope I can help you frighten your partner or neighbour with a delicious face mask this week!!!!

RECIPE FOR AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS SEA SALT BODY SCRUB

- Bag of Sea Salt about 300g (try and get a smooth fine kind).

- Glass Jar to put it in (just use an old sauce jar, after it's been washed of course you don't want bits of garlic in your scrub)

- 100 - 150ml of Oil, Something nice, nothing too olive smelling, macadamia, apricot kernel, sweet almond are all nice depending on your budget.

- 5 drops essential oil of Lavender

- 5 drop essential oil of Ylang Ylang

(You can substitute these essential oils for different ones, lime and lemongrass for example is very refreshing, Lavender and Ylang Ylang is a more relaxing blend)

If you are pregnant please check with your GP before you use any essential oils.

Place the ingredients in the jar and mix with a spoon until you get a nice consistency adding more oil/salt as needed. Then pop lid on and keep next to bath or in shower, great gift idea too, just pop a ribbon on). Try not to get water into the jar when using scrub or this may send it rancid.

Let the salts dissolve into the bath after your scrub, the magnesium is so relaxing for your muscles.

Scrub and enjoy.

The Lemon Canary x