Archive for the ‘Recipe Inspiration’ Category

There must be hundreds of recipes and variations for granola bars on the internet. Thousands even. Do we really need another? Most likely not… But then again, there is something about this enticing combination of simply good ingredients that deserves the opportunity to shine whenever possible, and i’m proud to have it here in my little space on the internet! Read the rest of this entry »

{Images above from Équilibre}

It was a special milestone birthday in our household last weekend. Pascal turned 40. Sounds old, doesn’t it? But then again, isn’t 40 the new 21? Read the rest of this entry »

Quinoa…have you tried it? Do you know what to do with it? High in protein and gluten free, this grain (that isn’t actually a grain at all) is the perfect way to add variety, as well as a powerhouse of nutrition to your diet.

Despite having a few so-so attempts at quinoa based meals in the past, i’ve recently been refining this wonderful salad and just can’t get enough of it! Read the rest of this entry »

Images (clockwise from top right): Apple slices with Tahini; Broccoli pesto with rice noodles; Juice (all from Wholeliving) Almonds, Apples & Kale (both from The Chalkboard) Detox Tea from Pukka.

It’s true. We really do LOVE our food, and that does include wine, coffee, bread and homemade treats, but all in a balanced way, of course! As we are now heading in to a busy and indulgent period, we decided that October was the perfect time to commit to a fortnight of keeping things clean and giving our bodies a little break – and we did it! Read the rest of this entry »

Autumn always makes me want to get back in the kitchen and start baking! Read the rest of this entry »

There’s something special about autumn in Perth. Read the rest of this entry »

I’m largely a visual person, so when Pinterest first came to my attention earlier last year, I decided to embrace it. Yes, it’s another form of social media (and one that has the potential to chew up a lot of time!) but I like to think of it as my online ‘vision board’ – a place to collate images and articles that inspire me, represent who I am at this point in time and where I want to be in future. I also appreciate the fact that it is largely a very supportive and positive community – there is even a pinterest etiquette in place, and you have to wait for an ‘invitation’ to join – very civilised indeed!

Recently, I recognised the value of Pinterest as an inspirational resource that we can use to share with our Équilbre friends. In effect, becoming a practical representation of what we stand for…

Read the rest of this entry »

Things have been a little quiet here at Équilibre as we await the birth of our second child… due to arrive any day now!

As this means that social festivities in the lead up to Christmas will be significantly curtailed for me this year, my girlfriends and I took the opportunity to organise a lovely lunch a couple of weeks ago to take time out to celebrate our friendship and the year that has been, as well as a couple of expected new arrivals! It was so delightful to share in some delicious, seasonal food on a lovely warm, sunny Sunday afternoon in the company of close friends.

I’ll have the recipes for the homemade cordials on a future blog post – everyone received a little ‘take home’ bottle as a memento of the afternoon!

Here are a few snapshots from our little feast as well as links to the recipes below… Read the rest of this entry »

In search of the perfect muesli bar recipe…

I know it’s popular to compare fat and sugar levels of shop bought muesli bars, and yes, despite their healthy image, in some cases you might as well be eating a chocolate bar! For me though, it’s the actual ingredient list that matters. Many popular brands have very low quality, highly refined ingredients, artificial additives and fruit that isn’t really fruit!

The only brand that I am happy to have in my pantry for snack time emergencies is Carman’s. With just a simple list of wholesome ingredients, there isn’t much to raise the alarm bells (and they don’t cost the earth in comparison to some upmarket gourmet brands).

Ideally, of course, it’s best to bake your own and take control of exactly what goes into them. Sadly though, not all of my muesli bar baking efforts have been successful, often ending up with a pile of muesli ‘rubble’ rather than nicely turned out bars!

My latest effort was inspired by Bill Granger’s recipe ‘Real Muesli Bars’ from Everyday Food. I took the liberty of adapting it somewhat, including the addition of extra flavourings like vanilla, cinnamon and orange rind – and the result was pretty good. Even Sophie tucked in to them with relish! Read the rest of this entry »

It’s my birthday on the weekend and i’m planning to indulge… Read the rest of this entry »