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Quirky Cooking

Time Out

QuirkyJo by QuirkyJo
October 27, 2013
in Health, Health Tips, Healthy Living
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Time Out - Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton
Time out…

This has been a crazy week. Cookbook deadlines are zooming by, so I’ve been stuck at the computer with hardly a break. (Except to homeschool, do housework, cook, go to a wedding, answer lots of phone calls and messages, and deal with all the other interruptions that are part of everyday life around here!)

Then at about 11pm the other night I realised someone had decided to steal my Facebook identity, so I was madly trying to sort that out and didn’t get much sleep. (And it’s still ongoing… so please don’t accept a ‘friend request’ on FB from ‘Quirky Cooking’ because it’s not me, despite the fact that they’re using my photo and covershot and have also set up a Quirky Cooking ‘Health & Beauty’ page. This is my page, by the way —> Quirky Cooking… not the other one.)

Stress. I was tingling with it that night and the next morning. And quite a few times in the past week. You know that feeling? I hate it. Sometimes the feeling of “so much to do and I don’t know where to start and I don’t know what to do” totally overwhelms me. I don’t want to talk to anyone, I want to hide in my bed, disconnect the phone, and pretend I’m not home when someone knocks on the door. But you can’t really do that when you have a home business, a family to look after, and you’re behind schedule with the book you’re writing.

I find it helps to focus on a job that needs doing, and start working on that in slow and steady steps, bit by bit, til it’s done. (It feels so good to tick something off your to-do list, no matter how small, doesn’t it!)

And I also find it helps to give myself the reward of some ‘time out’ to look forward to, as the jobs are ticked off my list.

Time Out…

 
As my mum says, it’s imporant to ‘take some time out to let your soul catch up with your body.’ I’m not talking about big chunks of time spent alone in blissful quietness – I mean just making the most of little moments, little snippets of time, and letting that quiet moment completely soak in and relax you.
 
One of my favourite writers said this.
 
“It is in quietness that we are fed. Sometimes it is not possible to get long uninterrupted quiet, but even if it be only ten minutes, “hem it with quietness.” Enclose it in quietness; do not spend the time in thinking how little time you have. Be quiet. If you are interrupted, as soon as the interruption ceases, sink back into quietness again without fuss or worry of spirit. Those who know this secret and practise it, are lifted up.”       (Amy Carmichael)

It can be as simple as…

– Getting up early to have some peace and quiet to read and think and write before the kids wake up.- Going for a short walk and bringing home some flowers you picked. (Or weeds, if you’re anything like me.)
 

– Baking a cake.

– Playing relaxing, happy music while you work. 

 – And maybe dancing around the kitchen a little bit. And singing.

– Sitting outside in the sunshine with a cup of tea for 10 minutes.

– Kicking off your shoes and sitting on the grass to eat your lunch.

– A chat and a laugh with a friend. 

 – Stopping to notice the beauty that is all around you, and taking photos of what you see.

– Hugging someone you love.

Time Out - Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton

And for me, a big one is…

Driving.

If I’m feeling really overwhelmed and my brain is tired of thinking, and all those little ‘time outs’ just aren’t enough, I find it really helps to go for a drive.

Time Out - Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton

I’ve been feeling really frustrated the past couple of weeks, because I have this absolutely beautiful car sitting in my driveway, and no time to drive it. And I have only two weeks til they take it back! Noooooooo…

(For those of you who don’t know, Ford sent me a Territory Titanium to test drive for six weeks (yeeehaaaa!!) as part of their “Choose Your Own Adventure” Challenge. I was picked because Kidspot awarded me a place in the top 25 “Food & Wellbeing” Bloggers for Voices of 2013 this year. And yes, I’m truly loving this car. And I don’t want to give it back.)

Anyway, today I had so much to do, and a wedding to go to, and the ‘overwhelmed’ feeling was building up again. So when my husband said, “Let’s drive home from the wedding the long way – around the lake,” my answer was, “I’m driving!!”

I know, I know, I had lots to do. I probably should’ve said, “No we’d better get straight home as I need to keep working.” But after the stress of the past week, hugging the cat just wasn’t going to cut it. I needed some time out to drive ‘my’ car, to sit back in air conditioned comfort and relax and watch the scenery go by.  I could honestly sit in those soft, leather seats all day, meandering through the countryside enjoying the view, music on, air conditioner blowing in my face, thoughts drifting, stopping to take photos whenever I want to… I dream of doing that when I’m stuck in front of my computer for hours.

So that’s what we did. We went for a drive on a winding dirt road, and stopped to watch the sun set over the lake. And revelled in the comfort of driving such a lovely car. And it really helped. Now I’m feeling much happier and more relaxed, because I’ve had some time out, away from the computer and housework, driving this lovely car and enjoying the scenery. Bliss. 

Time Out - Quirky Cooking - Jo Whitton

 So tell me, what do you do to help yourself relax, refocus and de-stress? I’d really love to know. Please leave a comment – your ideas may help someone else!

Have a great Sunday, guys, and don’t forget to…

♥ ♥ ♥

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{Ruby Red Grapefruit Pie} Wednesday isn’t too ea {Ruby Red Grapefruit Pie} Wednesday isn’t too early to start thinking of treats for the weekend, is it? 😄 Citrus is in abundance right now, so if you’re like me and have ruby red grapefruits piled up on your bench top, you should definitely try this pie. It’s arguably my favourite recipe in our Life-Changing Food cookbook and I will shout its praises every citrus season til my dying day!!

Grapefruit pie is a local favourite in South Texas (USA) and in ruby red grapefruit season you’ll find it served at
little roadside barbecue joints where they guard the recipe closely! I only know about it because my parents are Texan and lived in South Texas for years… but this recipe is way too good to hide away. The pie's crunchy crust holds big, juicy sections of ruby red grapefruit set in a sweet citrus jelly, and it's not bitter, because the grapefruit pith is removed. 

Some versions have a layer of cream cheese spread over the pastry under the grapefruit and jelly, to protect the crust from getting soggy, and this also acts as a creamy foil to the tangy fruit and crunchy crust. I love it best this way - I use cream cheese or labne, or I make cashew cream cheese for a dairy-free version. The traditional accompaniment is a big dollop of fresh whipped cream (which is always sweetened in Texas, but I prefer it unsweetened), or use coconut cream if you’re avoiding dairy. And don't panic filleting the grapefruit - once you get the hang of it, it's quite easy. And if your pieces turn out a little mangled and messy, don't worry, it will taste just as amazing!

You can find the recipe in our Life-Changing Food cookbook* or app AND I’ll be making this recipe and sharing it on my next podcast video THIS FRIDAY  on my citrus episode, so keep an eye out for that! (Subscribe to my newsletter to get all the latest videos as they are released - link in bio.)

[Photo by @cookrepublic for Life-Changing Food]

*Note: The Life-Changing Food cookbook has just sold out and we are waiting for the next print run to arrive, but you can buy the app which has the same recipes as the book - search “Life-Changing Food” in your App Store!

http://bit.ly/QCnews

#eatseasonally #weekendbaking
{Herb & Cheese Fatayer} I promised to share how we {Herb & Cheese Fatayer} I promised to share how we made these little cheesy-eggy grain-free pastries, so here you go!

- Make a batch of Grain-Free Dough (recipe in Life-Changing Food, or buy the pastry premade from Primal Alternative, or you can use the Almond Meal Pastry on my blog)
- Mix together 300-400g quark (or mashed feta) and 4-5 eggs (whisked)
- Roughly chop some flat-leaf parsley, chives and mint (and finely chopped onion if you like), add zest of 1 lemon and mix through egg mixture, then season with salt and pepper
- flatten a circle of dough in your hands (about 10cm diameter and about 5mm thick) and shape into fatayer (like a little boat), then set onto lined baking trays
- fill fatayer with egg mixture
- bake in 200C oven for 15-20 mins or until pastry is browned and mixture has set firm

I keep these in the fridge/freezer and warm them up for a quick breakfast or lunch!

#grainfree #pastry #glutenfreepastry #glutenfree #lunch #snack #cheese #quark #eggs #herbs #baking #quirkycooking
Thank a farmer for your next meal! ❤️ (Also, S Thank a farmer for your next meal! ❤️ (Also, Simi can do his own washing today 😂😂)

(Simi works on an organic farm and often brings home goodies like these beautiful daikon radish, which we fermented with chilli and garlic! So good - they stay quite crisp and make a great condiment to serve with dinner.)

#ilovewhereilive #athertontablelands #farnorthqueensland #fnqlife #countrylife #muddy #organic #farmer #thankafarmerforyournextmeal #garden #daikonradish #fermentedfoods #fermentedradish
Yesterday I shared my Monday cooking videos in my Yesterday I shared my Monday cooking videos in my stories (let me know if you missed them and want me to re-share), and one of the questions I had afterwards was this one ⬆️ - “Can you share ‘What we ate this week’ day in the life style? And what is made fresh, prepared ahead, and from the freezer”. 

Why not, I said! So I’ve been taking photos of my food even more than usual 😂 like a photographic food diary, and it’s sometimes boring and sometimes delicious and sometimes weird, but you’re welcome to follow along if you like!! 😁

Today’s “day on a plate” in pictures: 

Breakfast: herb & cheese fatayer (grain-free pastry from Life-Changing Food filled with a mixture of quark, eggs, herbs and lemon zest - will share recipe in another post) - made yesterday and stored in fridge/freezer, heated in grill and eaten on the run with coffee 😁

Lunch: savoury mince from Simple, Healing Food (made yesterday, with a lot of cabbage added because we needed to use it 😄), fermented daikon radish (grown on the organic farm where Simi works), and Camembert cheese (made at a local dairy)

Snacks: Peanut butter chocolate fudge 😁 recipe on the blog ❤️ (and tea)

Dinner: Broccoli & cauliflower bake (from Simple, Healing Food except with cheese on top rather than macadamia “cheese” - prepared yesterday, stored in fridge then baked in oven tonight), steak & veggies - kids had fish instead of steak … I made lots as the leftovers are for work lunches tomorrow 😊

Before bed: probably another cuppa tbh but last night was beet kvass - I don’t think I’ll do that again right before bed though, it was a bit too strong before bed 😄

I don’t know if any of this will be at all helpful, but I guess it will show that I’m not always perfect and I don’t always stick to my meal plan and my food isn’t always “instagrammable” 😄 and that’s ok! 🤗 

PS My meal plan for the week is at the end - links are in my newsletter sent out on Monday. ❤️

#cooking #dayinaplate #quirkycooking #meals #quirkymeals #jowhitton #whatimeating #currentlyeating #food #keepingitreal #glutenfree #grainfree #wholefood #mealplan #usewhatyouhave #reducefoodwaste
I had so much work planned to do today, but at 6am I had so much work planned to do today, but at 6am I decided it was much more important to drive down the mountain and spend the day eating good food and drinking amazing local coffee with our dear friends visiting from Melbourne. 😍❤️ Have you heard of the 5 years rule? In 5 years time, no one is going to remember the housework didn’t get done today, the newsletter didn’t get written, the washing didn’t get put away, or the dinner was very basic. But we WILL remember this beautiful day spent with family and friends. ❤️ 

[Photos taken at @guyalacafe (YUM!! Just sayin’) and @rustysmarkets 🥥, Cairns]

#whatsreallyimportant #the5yearrule #friends #family #goodfood #bestcoffeeintown #timeout #catchup #connection #community #love #cafe #guyalacafe #rustysmarket #cairns #cairnslife #farnorthqueensland 

@just_acountrygal_ @natashacincotta @laudy.cincotta @isaacjwhitton @simeonwhitton
Did you know you can get my cookbooks at your loca Did you know you can get my cookbooks at your local Source Bulk Foods store? 🎉🎉🎉

@thesourceerina NEW COOKBOOK just landed - “Simple, Healing Food”, the fabulous latest book from Jo Whitton of Quirky Cooking fame.
.
The simplest and most effective way to reclaim our health, and improve the health of our families and the world around us, is to embrace nutrient-dense whole foods; the traditional foods that have nourished humans for thousands of years.This invaluable guide from Quirky Cooking's Jo Whitton provides all the information you need to transform the way you look at food. Packed with easy-to-follow and nutritious recipes, with practical advice from integrative nutritionist and GAPS practitioner Elyse Comerford, the gentle, step-by-step approach used in this book will have you cooking fresh, delicious and easily digested whole foods you and your family will love. Inside you'll find:
🌱Over 140 gut-loving recipes that are completely free from grains, gluten and refined sugar
🌱Fuss-free meals suitable for a wide variety of dietary challenges, including dairy free, egg free, nut free, nightshade free, GAPS and low FODMAPS
🌱Ideas for healthy snacks and treats
🌱Nutrition advice for improving gut health, from nutritionist Elyse Comerford
🌱Tips to help you discover the joy and simplicity of cooking with whole foods.
.
Simple, Healing Food is for everyone who wants to cook and eat their way to better gut health.
.
With our 20% off storewide sale on till Sunday, it’s a fantastic time to add this one to your collection, or put it aside for someone special. Shop the sale online for delivery or click and collect, link in bio. 
.
📷 @thesourceerina

#cookbooks #quirkycooking #wholefood #glutenfree #grainfree #recipes #thermomix #stovetop #oven #slowcooker #realfood #familymeals #jowhitton #sourcebulkfoods
Did you see my latest podcast video? 😃 “Cooki Did you see my latest podcast video? 😃 “Cooking with Seasonal Produce - 2 Winter Meals You’ll Love!” 

From this… to this! 😍

On this live, 1 hour video I made:

- Gypsy Stew (with chicory leaves, bok choy, tomatoes, Spanish onions, Russian garlic, a red chilli, lemon juice, chicken stock & chicken breast, ghee, salt & pepper - forgot the flat-leaf parsley 🙄)

- Beef & Cabbage Soup (with brown onion, Russian garlic, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, zucchini, fresh parsley & oregano, thyme, sage, tomato paste, red wine vinegar, honey, salt, pepper, chicken stock and just 300g beef mince for a meal that feeds 6-8 adults!)

- Pumpkin, Cauliflower & Leek Mash (made with the above plus coconut cream, ghee, salt & pepper), to serve dolloped into the Beef & Cabbage Soup

- Herb-Roasted Chicken (with the chicken pieces from making the stock)

I fed 8 people last night (the kids & their friends plus Simi twice 🤣) and they licked their bowls clean! 😁 (Practically!) And there were plenty of leftovers for work lunches and dinners today. 🎉🎉

LINK IN BIO to watch video! Recipes in Life-Changing Food and Simple, Healing Food cookbooks. ❤️

https://youtu.be/28q5Qqor1qg

#quirkycooking #quirkycookingchats #cookingvideo #cookingpodcast #podcast #dinnerideas #seasonalproduce #inseason #winterveggies #wintermeals #familymeals #glutenfree #grainfree #wholefood #eattherainbow #gaps #paleo #justeatrealfood #supportyourfarmers #organic #organicveggies #athertontablelands #fnqlife #cairnslife #farnorthqueensland #australia #fnqfood #food
Want to hang out and cook with me this afternoon? Want to hang out and cook with me this afternoon? 😃 In my last podcast video I showed how I meal plan to use up the produce I have on hand and reduce food waste. Today I’m going to go live at 4pm (AEST) and show what I’m making for dinner with some seasonal produce I picked up today at my local organic farmer’s co-op! 

If you miss the live, you can watch later on my Quirky Cooking YouTube channel. 🤗

#livevideo #cooking #seasonalproduce #usewhatyouhave #produce #seasonal #local #dinner #mealplanning #familymeals #wholefood #glutenfree #grainfree #delicious #nourishingfood #healingfood #athertontablelands #farnorthqueensland #australia #inseason
This is the kind of message I LOVE getting!! It’ This is the kind of message I LOVE getting!! It’s small changes like these - learning to use what you have, working out a simple meal plan, getting some meal prep done ahead of a busy week - all make a huge difference to feeling motivated, organised and less overwhelmed. And there’s the added bonus of saving money and reducing food waste. 🎉🎉 Win win!!

Watch this video on my Quirky Cooking YouTube channel, or listen via your podcast app. 🤗

#mealplan #planahead #fridgeorganization #fridgeforaging ##organised #meals #moneysavers #reducefoodwaste #useitup #savemoney #wasteless #freshproduce #eatwell #spendless #food #cooking #quirkycooking #jowhitton #quirkycookingchats #cookingvideos #podcast #australianfoodie #farnorthqueensland #fnqfood
Far North Queensland winter evenings be like… 😂😂😂 (It’s getting down to 9C tonight and we’re feeling the cold!) 🤣🤣🤣

#fnqlife #fnqwinter #winter #athertontablelands #farnorthqueensland #Australia #myboys #chattime #wishwehadafireplace 😁
Exciting news!! @elysenutritionist and I are hosti Exciting news!! @elysenutritionist and I are hosting an ‘Open Fire Feast’ at @thebarnretreat on July 28th! 🎉🎉 It’s like a half day, outdoor feast + gut health retreat, with amazing chefs @pipsplate, and @walfoster of @naturalicecreamaustralia!! 😍🎉🎉 

We will be savouring every mouthful of locally-sourced produce as we watch the food being prepared over the open fire, with multiple courses culminating in a gourmet, cultured-ice cream dessert. 

@elysenutritionist and I will be sharing our health wisdom between courses and talking though the process as the food is being prepared, with cooking demonstrations and harvesting of honey and some local produce on site. 

Tap on link in my bio for details and to book your spot!

{This is an exclusive event with only 40 tickets available.}

https://www.quirkycooking.com.au/2022/06/open-fire-feast-event/

Photos by @jesskearney_ and @ellibyrne 📷 

#firefeast #fire #feast #event #guthealth #healingfood #realfood #wholefood #nourishing #healthy #outdoors #outdoordinner #openfirecooking #byronbay #northernrivers #thebarnretreat #miniretreat #halfdayretreat #quirkycooking #jowhitton #elysecomerford #nutritionist #pipsumbak #pipsplate #walfoster #naturalicecreamaustralia
So, did you see my latest podcast video showing ho So, did you see my latest podcast video showing how I meal plan to use up the produce I have on hand each week? 😃🍋🥒🥑🥕🍌🥦 Here’s my lunch today, with some of the produce & ideas shown in the video… 

- baked sweet potatoes (I bake a few whole in their skins & keep in the fridge to add to meals), sliced & pan-fried in ghee with homemade butter (from cream that was nearly out of date & needing to be used), sprinkled with the a sesame seed/nigella seed spice blend (Everything Bagel Blend by @gewurzhaus)

- a cheat’s version of pickled beetroot (boiled, sliced, drizzled with apple cider vinegar and stored in the fridge for up to a couple of weeks)

- smoky baba ghanouj on the side (I had SO many eggplants & my sister made this with some of them) - recipe in Life-Changing Food

- homemade sauerkraut (I always have jars of kraut & fermented veggies in the fridge - such a great way to preserve an abundance of veggies, & so good for your gut!!) - recipes in Simple, Healing Food

An inexpensive and delicious meal using locally grown, in season, pesticide-free produce from my CSA box ❤️

Need some inspiration to help you use up the produce in your fridge? Check out my latest podcast, do a “fridge audit”, make a list of ideas, plan your meals for the week, and save yourself some money!!

Watch on my Quirky Cooking YouTube channel, or listen via Quirky Cooking Chats on your podcast app. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#lunch #wholefood #justeatrealfood #useitup #reducefoodwaste #reducewaste #cooking #veggies #locallygrown #seasonal #eatseasonal #localfood #fnqfood #pesticidefree #csa #communitysupportedagriculture #simplefood #foodismedicine #quirkycooking #jowhitton #recipes #moneysaver #mealplan
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I love it when my readers are as excited about my recipes as I am, and want to share them! I only ask that if you do share my recipes on your own blog or on social media, you only share an excerpt or link, not the entire recipe. Full and clear credit must be given to Quirky Cooking with a link back to the original content. If you’d like to share one of my photos, please contact me for permission. Thank you! Jo x

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