Tuesday 20 September 2016

the best apple recipes.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"You're the apple of my eye."

"Apples are so sweet, and they're wholesome, and it's biblical – and I just thought it sounded so lovely and... clean!"
     Gwenyth Paltrow on naming her daughter.

Apples, obviously have a good thing going. And when, just down the road, you can get 4kg for $5, you know that's a good thing!


The other week I went and purchased one of those bags and ate many apples and made many things from apples. I wasn't disappointed – I found many awesome recipes and enjoyed the fresh, crisp apples.

So if you find yourself with an excess of apples or just need to get more fruit into your life, here are some ways I have eaten apples:


  • as a snack. Apples are an easy food to chuck in your handbag, or take with you wherever you're going. They're hardy, filling and refreshing.
  • as a snack with toppings. My personal favourite is apple slices with nut butter – it's high in protein and good fats and makes a filling and delicious afternoon tea. I also enjoy apple sprinkled with cinnamon, and my husband had apple with (a healthified) salted caramel sauce for dessert the other night. And I'm sure apple slices dipped in dark chocolate would also be delicious! 
  • apple chips. These are delicious, easy to make, and make a great snack – just careful not to eat too many at once! All you need to do is grab a mandolin (or a knife), slice thinly, chuck them in your dehydrator (or I've done it in the oven!) and wait patiently. They're just so good!
  • apple crumble. I love apple crumble and it's one of my go-to desserts when having people over. I usually use this recipe by The Healthy Chef (or make a variation of it) but my husband needs to be eating less gluten so I thought I'd try a new recipe from a new cookbook: Love Life and Gluten Free. (I do realise that The Healthy Chef's recipe has a gluten-free option but why not try something new?!). I made this Apple Berry Crumble in individual ramekins and we ate it for breakfasts for a week (it made 10!). Healthy, delicious and filling – my husband was so happy to be able to eat apple crumble for breakfast!

  • apple blueberry chia bircher. This was another breakfast we enjoyed – and it was even better because it served 4 (so lasted two days), was super easy to prepare, and can be made in a jar and taken on the road if need be. It is also from the Love Life and Gluten Free cookbook. It's a mixture between a chia pudding and bircher muesli – a good in-between, in my opinion! So good I didn't take any photos, so you'll just have to imagine how good it is! Comment below if you'd like the recipe and I'll type it up for you.

I now need to go back for more because I still have a list of incredible apple recipes to make:

  • As I was writing this post, a recipe for Vanilla Toffee Apples by Alexx from Low Tox Life came up on my Facebook newsfeed. YUM!
  • Speaking of cake, I'm keen to make my fave Spiced Apple Coconut Cake from I Am Food. I've made this a lot but not in a while, but it's so moist and uses desiccated coconut as the flour – an excellent gluten free alternative.
  • Other cake recipes I've come across include Brown Butter Apple Cakes and Coconut Apple Cake from Eleanor Ozich's – from Petite Kitchen – cookbooks.
  • I'd love to also make gluten-free versions of an Applesauce Sweetened Granola and Apple Pie, as well as try an Apple Pie Milkshake and make some Stewed Apples to have when I have porridge.

So many apple recipes to try. I just want to make all of them. Have you got any more to recommend? Please comment below – I'd love to try them. I better get in quick while they're still in season and such a great price at the farm down the road.

Monday 19 September 2016

new things coming!

In case you haven't heard, we're having a baby!


So much excitement, so much change, so much anticipation.

We're slowly getting things ready and getting ourselves ready... however you prepare for a baby.

This will mean lots of changes: changes in our lives, changes in the blog, changes with everything... but hopefully all for the better!

It also leads to much more potential of what to write about, especially in things I'm already passionate about:

- healthy living (how I'm bringing this baby into and up in the world)
- sustainable living (how to I'm trying to not create so much waste and use less plastic)
- interiors (oh I have some cute things to show you!)
- craft (yes, I've been busy making...)
- supporting small businesses (I have purchased a few sweet things!)
- DIY (and I've been doing some upcycling and creating)

Plus I'll share some photos from my baby showers (yes, I'm having two!) and I might share some thoughts and stories on pregnancy, birth and being a new mum... that is if my baby sleeps, my body copes, and I have any time and headspace to write.

Keep an eye out, hopefully we'll have new content soon (but don't hold your breath, pregnancy has been exhausting and not awfully productive!) including some interviews and I've been chatting with some guest bloggers...

I'll continue sharing other content as well. We'll have to wait and see what there is. Thearle Girl is changing and moulding, with life and its journeys.

Join me on the adventure... I'd so appreciate your support.

Friday 16 September 2016

2015 weddings.

Spring has sprung and wedding season is beginning.

This year, we have the joy of celebrating a few weddings but at the beginning of last year, I declared 2015 to be the year of the wedding (for us, at least)! I knew of many weddings but as the year progressed, so did this number. I can't imagine there being another year like this – lucky I love weddings!

We had three weekends with wedding clashes... devastating! Choosing which wedding, being split as a couple, missing out all together – none are good options. My husband is a pastor and is asked to be involved in many. I'm thankful for the weddings we get to enjoy!

Because I love weddings and it's such a special year, I wanted to document the weddings and share some highlights (and who doesn't want their wedding blogged... or is that just me!?).

Check them out and I hope they get you excited for any weddings you have coming up.

Wedding 1 // B E K  &  N I C K // 22 January 2015 // #woodyoumarrymein2015
A summer ceremony under an oak tree, a rustic barn party. A gathering of families and the making of a new one.




Photographer: James Day, Daylight. Location: Country Weddings, Sydney Polo Club. Flowers: Sarah Rowbotham. Stationery: TEAPEAlala.

Wedding 2 // F I  &  M I K E // 7 March 2015 // #fiismikeysgirl
A long-awaited and anticipated union of two incredible people. Details all accounted for, all people valued, a joyous celebration, incredible food shared between friends! {Also blogged here}




Photographer: Mr Glen Edwards. Locations: Swain Gardens // Ku-ring-gai Town Hall. Flowers: Madelaine Tarasenko // posy by steph // TEAPEAlala. Stationery: Lauren Langley. Dress: Grace Loves Lace. Shoes: Funkis.

Wedding 3 // A N D Y  &  N E R I D A // 7 March 2015
A special celebration, just the way they are. No expectations, valuing love and one another. Great beer, old friends, Sydney Harbour. [Attended by my love].




Photographer: Ben Teh Photography. Location: Athol Hall.

Wedding 4 // L O U I S E  &  N I C H O L A S // 24 April 2015
Stunning. Fun. Creative. Special. A DIY wedding to professional standards, with love overflowing. So much personality, joy and fun friends. And a killer autumn sunset.




Photographer: Robert Meredith Photography. Location: Simmer on the Bay. Flowers: Francis Floristry.

Wedding 5 // T I M  &  A N N A // 22 August 2015 // #donthasslethehoughs
Devastating. Unfortunately Tim and Anna were on a clash weekend, and this time, my husband and I couldn't split between them, as one was in Australia and the other England. We flew to England to celebrate Wedding 6. From all reports, it was a super fun and beautiful day!







Photographer: Joshua K Photography. Location: Christ Church, Gladesville // Dedes at the Point, Sydney Rowing Club. Flowers: TEAPEAlala.

Wedding 6 // F R A N C E S C A  &  J O E L // 22 August 2015
A funny and fun celebration of two funny and fun friends. We travelled to England to celebrate these guys, and my husband preached at their ceremony. A beautiful English summer day followed by a crazy storm. What fun!






Photographer: Firehorse Photography. Location: St Oswald's, Sowerby // Mill House, South Kilvington. Flowers: Floristik // posy by steph. Stationery: Lauren Langley.

Wedding 7 // E R I N  &  J E R E M Y // 26 September 2015 // #wouldntitbebryce
Flowers, felt balls, fun and friends; this wedding honoured the creativity of the couple. So privileged to be included in the celebration and organisation of this wedding. My husband and I prayed for them and their future together at the ceremony and we MCed the party of these incredible friends.






Photographer: Shane Shepherd. Location: St Philips, South Turramurra // Estuary Restaurant, Brooklyn. Flowers: posy by steph. Stationery/Ties: TEAPEAlala.

Wedding 8 // J O S H  &  B E T H A N E Y // 31 October 2015 // #bemyvallentine2015
A huge wedding and celebration including many generations of friends and family. My husband MCed the reception and I jumped between tables sharing laughs with friends.





Photographer: Jack Gilchrist Photography. Location: St Paul's, Chatswood // Galston Community Hall. Flowers/Stationery/Ties: TEAPEAlala.

Wedding 9 // M I T C H  &  S A R A H // 4 December 2015 // #bryce4lyf
A big but intimate wedding, full of fun and personality. If you like eating pizza, you would have liked this wedding. If you like a mad dance party, you would have liked this wedding. If you like good chats on small tables, you would have liked this wedding. Lots to love with a very loved-up couple.







Photographer: James Goff Photography. Location: St John's, Wahroonga // Douglas Pickering Pavilion, St Ives Showground. Flowers: Flower Spells.

Wedding 10 // D E E J A Y  &  R A C H // 12 December 2015 // #deejayandrachforever
When you attend the wedding of a wedding photographer, you know they will have thought of the details; I was not left disappointed. Held under a fig tree and in a community hall, much was left to their imaginations – thankfully they're a creative couple. A fun and relaxed celebration; I'm so happy I could celebrate as my husband celebrated Wedding 11.




Photographer: Tim Coulson Photography. Location: Fig Tree // Wyong Creek Hall. Flowers: Merrin Grace Floral Design. Stationery: Lauren Merrick Illustration.

Wedding 11 // D R E W  &  P H O E B E // 12 December 2015
Sadly I couldn't be present at this wedding to celebrate "Drewbe" and to hear my husband preach a brilliant sermon, but from all reports it was beautiful and fun and a great time to celebrate and catch up with old friends.







Photographer: Faure Valletta. Locations: Village Church, Annandale // Dedes at the Point, Sydney Rowing Club. Flowers: Floristik.

Thursday 8 September 2016

coconut lemon pound cake.

I finally found a recipe that uses coconut flour and is simple and delicious!

I used a lot of coconut flour when I first started considering what goes into my body and treating my chronic fatigue syndrome with food. It's so good because of its many health benefits but is quite a difficult flour to use.

Some of its benefits include:

  • it is gluten-free: gluten is damaging to the gut and is difficult for your body to process.
  • it is also grain-free and so doesn't need any special preparation, like some grains do, to help you process them.
  • it is high in protein, fibre and fat (the good kind), and so is much more filling than other flours.
  • it is made from the flesh of a coconut, so you know exactly what's in it, but the coconut flavour isn't overly dominant.
It's a difficult flour to use because:
  • it is highly absorbent and so you don't need much but you need to work quickly and use lots of liquid and eggs to get the recipe right.
  • it often clumps up as it is really fine so you need to mix it really well to ensure you don't get clumps of flour.
Coconut flour and I have been on a break because I didn't love any of the recipes but I'm glad I tried again. I think you'll also love this recipe I found. 

Do you have any coconut flour recipes you love? Please comment below, I'd love to try them!



COCONUT LEMON POUND CAKE
gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free

Ingredients:
5 eggs
1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup lemon juice (this was about 1 1/2 lemons)
zest of one lemon
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon coconut flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch (also known as arrowroot starch/flour)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt

Method:
  1. Preheat oven to 175*C and line/grease a loaf pan (approx 8x20cm) 
  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk eggs with coconut oil, maple syrup, lemon juice and zest.
  3. Add coconut flour, tapioca, baking soda and salt. Mix well.
  4. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40 minutes or until skewer/toothpick comes out clean.
  5. Remove from pan, cool and eat!

Recipe from blog.paleohacks.com