CleanLife

Pure and Natural Soap

2008-08-26T22:21:00.000-07:00

Feeling itchy? It could be your soap
This guest BLOG is from Jan from Pure and Natural AromaBeauty. We LOVE her soaps, I am a fan of the sunshine exfoliating bar, but if you are adventurous the 'choc mint slice' does look ridiculously good! Jan is offering a special offer for CleanLife readers;

BUY 6 BARS of SOAP and GET ONE FREE (while stocks last) To redeem this offer email jan@aromabeauty.com.au after you order and mention CLEANLIFE and your free soap will be added. www.aromabeauty.com.au

Pure and Natural AromaBeauty is a small family owned and operated business located in beautiful Mackay, Queensland. We are committed to providing you with all natural soap made with all natural ingredients. Why? Because we believe that natural is better, and we want to offer you the choice of using totally natural products over chemical filled ones.

You won’t find any harmful chemicals, synthetic fragrances or artificial colours in our natural soap bars, only pure natural ingredients.
Our pure and natural soaps are handmade from scratch, using the time-consuming cold process method, in small batches to ensure the highest quality. They are made with the finest virgin olive, coconut and palm oils for a rich and creamy lather. Extra nutrients such as certified organic Shea and Cocoa Butters, Apricot Kernel, Avocado and Sweet Almond oils and skin loving botanicals are added to make them mild and luxurious. They are then infused with pure, plant-derived, aromatherapy essential oils for their natural and beneficial properties.
There are no artificial fragrances or colours in our soap; they are a major cause of skin sensitivities and irritation for many people. Why spoil a natural product with artificial ingredients?

After using our handmade natural soap you will feel the difference in your skin, and will never want to go back to store bought chemical loaded bars again!

SPECIAL OFFER FOR CLEANLIFE READERS
BUY 6 BARS of SOAP and GET ONE FREE (while stocks last) To redeem this offer email jan@aromabeauty.com.au and mention 'CLEANLIFE' and your free soap will be added to you order. www.aromabeauty.com.au

Where does your food come from?

2008-08-26T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sourcing Real Food
When we sit down to enjoy a delicious meal with family or friends, it is made even more special if we know exactly where that food has come from, and all the better if we have met the producers. If you can't travel the countryside yourself to meet and greet the local producers, then it is great to find a company who has done all the hard work for you. That is why we LOVE the source real food store.

The source real food store offer real food sourced regionally, organically, seasonally and also offer a range of sustainable international foods. They buy direct from producers whenever possible. The Source team are heavily involved in the SLOW FOOD movement, and you can read more about this on their website. www.thesourcerealfoodstore.com.au There shop is located in Denmark (yes the CleanLife Teams favourite holiday spot)in Western Australian's great southern region. Don't worry if you can't make it to Denmark, you can also order online.

For the next three months we will be offering some recipes from the Source team, for CleanLife readers to try. Let us know how your cooking goes!

Yoghurt Cake With Pistachio Nuts and Summer berries

300ml Billawarra natural yoghurt
3 free range eggs
½ cup organic castor sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 organic lemon rind and juice
1 tbspn organic plain flour
Organic Williams River Biodynamic Pistachio nuts roughly chopped
Ravenhill Cream and berries to serve

Oven preheated to 180C Line a square 25cm ovenproof dish with greased waxed paper and grease well
Beat egg yolks with 2/3 of sugar until pale and fluffy
Beat in vanilla and stir in yoghurt lemon rind and juice and the flour
In separate bowl whisk in egg whites antil stiff and whisk in rest of sugar, then fold into the yoghurt mixture
and turn into the prepared dish.
Place dish into a roasting pan with water half way up the sides, bake for 20mins until set , sprinkle with the
nuts and put back in oven another 20 mins until browned on top.
Serve warm or chilled with berries and cream
(From Food and cooking of AFRICA and the Middle East)

BEAN & VEGETABLE MISO SOUP

Ingredients
1 cup of white beans (dried) / (kidney beans, fava beans, pinto beans, chick peas)
400ml Water (vegetable or meat broth)
1 bay leaf
3 tbsp Spiral Olive Oil
8 cups any assorted fresh vegetables on hand:
chopped onions
sliced carrots
sliced zucchini
diced eggplant
diced string beans
diced tomatoes
peas, etc.
1 cup macaroni
Salt and pepper to taste.
Chopped parsley

Method:
Soak beans in 400ml water overnight. Do not throw out the soaking water. Add another 800ml water or
broth, bay leaf, and simmer slowly until beans are almost tender (about 3 hours).
Sauté freshly chopped vegetables in oil and add to soup.
Add macaroni, salt and pepper, and simmer about half an hour until everything is tender. Add parsley and
serve. Or let soup stand for a few hours before serving; its taste will be even fuller.

For many more recipe ideas or to purchase beautiful food products visit the website
www.thesourcerealfoodstore.com.au

Why we are loving our local library

2008-08-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

Been to your local library lately?

We all love a good book don't we? It's easy to be drawn to the glossy new titles sitting beautifully on the bookshelves of the bookshop, but if I were to tell you that you could read almost any book you want, in your own time, for FREE, and reduce your impact on the planet, WOULD YOU TAKE UP THE OFFER?

If you would, it's time to reacquaint yourself with your local library. Times have changes and what once were quiet, dusty halls of old books, inhabited mostly by scary librarians and old academic types are now bright modern places, crawling with babies, children, young and old adults and oozing with the latest books, DVDs and much more.

TIME FOR FUN....
Lilian and I LOVE to attend 'Rhyme Time' which is a free session for Parents and babies up to 2 years offered at almost all local libraries every week. For slightly older kiddies there is 'Story Time' which involves not only stories read by a lovely librarian, but activities that are matched to the story theme.

TIME TO RESERVE YOUR BOOKS.....
The offering of books at most local libraries is now extensive and the great news is that if they don't have a book that you are after, they will find out which library does have it, and borrow it for you! You can also reserve items from your own computer at home, and renew your items without getting out of your PJs!

So go on give the Library another try... you might be pleasantly surprised. We were!

The Broccoli Wars

2008-08-26T20:49:00.000-07:00

Who stole my broccoli?

The inevitable truth in modern city living is that when we go to bed a night, we must lock up the house, to keep out the 'baddies' or at least make it so hard for them to get in so that they just don't bother. This 'lock up' mentality was however not at the forefront of my mind when we decided to grown our own vegetables in a front garden bed.

THE CRIME
Perhaps it should have been as we have been horrified to discover that all bar one of our broccoli have been STOLEN. I like to think the best of human nature and when we first discovered the hideous hacking of our beloved broccoli, we conjured up all nature of excuses for our fellow man? "perhaps there are rats that can use garden scissors?", "Perhaps the school kids stole them in the hope that mum wouldn't serve broccoli again this week?".

THE CULPRIT
The harsh reality is that after much investigation, the only culprit could be an adult human and the move was calculating and selfish. The way our garden is set up, you really need to get in and have a good close look to know that the broccoli is there, it is sandwiched between turnips, beetroot, radishes, cabbage, carrots and peas. Only one of the broccoli plants is visible to those walking along the street. This was the one and only plant they left unharmed; knowing perhaps that it is the one we were using to test the readiness of the crop.

THE COST
It must be said that we have no problem in giving excess produce to family, friend and neighbours, we do so regularly. What really bites about this crime is that the plants were hacked at their bases, so even the heads that were very small and not even close to being ready where taken. The cost financially was probably over $100 worth of broccoli (we use certified organic seeds and soil from www.yourpatch.com.au). We also pay your patch to help with our maintenance, a cost that is offset by not having to purchase vegetables. The biggest cost for us however is that our daughter Lilian, LOVES broccoli, and we grow these primarily for her, so that we know exactly what she is eating and where it comes from. Now that joy has been taken from us. So when people steal almost your entire harvest, there is a time cost, a financial cost but also an emotional cost. No I am not emotional over lost broccoli, but rather that people can stoop so very low!

JUST ASK
If the person / people in question here, had so much as asked, not only would I have given them broccoli but possibly some other vegetables too.

THE SOLUTION
I am not sure how to deal with people who steal from a one year olds vegetable patch. I am fairly sure I know who is responsible, but I am not wasting any of my time engaging with such destructive individuals.

THE HOPE
The thing I love most about man is that we have infinite capacity for change, and so we live in hope, that this won't happen again.

Signing off, one very sad vegetable gardener

Gina

Personal care products: not so squeaky clean

2008-07-31T00:59:00.000-07:00

The dirt on personal care products

One of the many catalysts for CleanLife was my personal experience of developing severe perioral dermatitis at the age of 25 and being told that looked and felt pretty yucky. I was told by my GP and several dermatologists, that I would most likely have to take several courses of antibiotics to clear it up initially and in all likelihood would need to take the antibiotics intermittently during 'flare ups' until I was about 45, at which time it would be likely to improve.

'The cause?' I asked......
'Oh most likely the cosmetics and skincare products you use' was the reply
'OK, which ingredients are causing it, I will try to avoid them' I offered
'No point, we don't know which ones cause it and well these chemicals are everywhere, even in the water we drink' was all the dermatologist could offer
'But I can try to reduce my exposure?' I questioned with hope.......
'You could try' the dermatologist half heartedly agreed

So with that I was on a mission to study every ingredient in every product I used, not only was I horrified to find that most of my products have several ingredients that had been proven to cause dermatitis, many more had been linked to everything from cancer to birth defects.

The good news is that within three months I had removed almost all the irritants from my skincare regime and cosmetics and no longer suffered from perioral dermatitis, and now more than 5 years on, my skin is still clear and I never did take those antibiotics! While not all skin conditions are as simple to correct and many will and do need medical intervention, it is worth considering, that removing what is causing your problem it an obvious step that is often overlooked by modern medicine, which can be great at 'fixing' the problem, but not always so good at preventing it from returning, or identifying the cause. Below, is a small article I wrote three years ago, that may get you started on your own bathroom cupboard clean out!

In an age when slapping more products on our hair, face and body is thought to make you ‘squeaky clean’ and ‘beautiful’, it may be worth considering exactly what these products are made of and how they are affecting our bodies and our environment. Warning: reading this article may change the way you consume forever.

• Conventional cosmetic and skincare products contain a huge variety of chemicals, some of which have been listed as probable and definite carcinogens, irritants, toxins, teratagens (substances that cause foetal developmental defects) and mutagens (substances that change DNA).

• We are told that these chemicals are safe and that they are only present in small doses in most products. Unfortunately nobody knows what the long term consequence of using these products several times a day for your entire life does. Some have been found to accumulate in the body, others have been found to cause serious DNA damage.

• The skin is the largest organ of the body and approximately 60% of what we put onto our skin can be absorbed. In addition to that we inhale the vapours of these products and often ingest some too. Yes Lipstick on the teeth may be more than a first date dilemma!

• Some chemicals may appear safe in isolation, but are they safe when combined with the other chemicals in the product or the environment? Cosmetic companies claim there are too many chemicals used to allow testing of each in combination with all other possibilities. This is true, so why don’t they just reduce the number of chemicals in use.

• Regulators usually say that a chemical is safe until proven to be harmful. Firstly I would suggest that there appears to be significant evidence to substantiate the harmful qualities of many chemicals used in personal care products. Secondly, do we really need to wait, given the past history with asbestosis and tobacco? Would it not be more logical to consider them harmful, until proven safe?

• Not only do many of the conventional products cause significant health and safety risks, most of them will actually make your hair and skin dryer or oilier, therefore encouraging continual use.

• It is a myth that the chemicals in personal care products are necessary. An ever growing number of companies are now producing a range of low chemical, chemical free and organic cosmetics. The main reason companies choose chemicals over health is COST. It seems nasty chemicals are the cheapest of all!

• There is around 70 thousand chemicals currently in commercial use and approximately 1000 new chemicals are added each year. Of these approximately 9000 chemicals are regularly used in the cosmetics industry. Although those with known harmful effects are applied only in small quantities to comply with health and safety regulations, the long term and cumulative effects of frequent small doses are not yet known.

• In the US there are no compulsory safety tests for cosmetics. The legislation stipulates that the products must be safe, however what ‘safe’ is, is at the discretion of the company. Some ingredients don’t even have to be listed due to a loophole that protects the manufacturing secrets of companies. These companies self regulate. There is no external testing body.

• Skincare, hair care and body care products contain potential endocrine disruptors, which may be inhaled, ingested or absorbed into the skin. This can confuse the endocrine (hormone) system, leading to health problems. In particular thyroid, breast and lymphoma cancers have been linked to endocrine disruption.

• Mineral oil and petroleum make up a large component of conventional cosmetics. These are both non-renewable resources. Genetically modified organisms are often found in conventional cosmetic products commonly derived from maize or soy. Conventional cosmetics have a negative environmental impact.

If you would like to read more on which chemicals are the ones to avoid visit our article 'Check your bathroom cupboard now'.

And if you are looking for skincare and cosmetic products without the cheap and nasty synthetic chemicals, visit our http://www.cleanlife.com.au/dir_health_beauty.htm, where you will find companies that offer truly natural alternatives.

Ethical t-shirts for all

2008-06-23T22:19:00.000-07:00

The low down on ethical t-shirts

This weeks BLOG is from Certton, producer of Australian Made Organic Cotton T-shirts and Fabrics.

When we first started Australia had no organic cotton farmers so we set about sourcing the best quality organic cotton t-shirts in the world. Nick, one of the founding directors had worked with Patagonia for a couple of years in the US and was immediately hooked by the quality of their garments and the truth that they sold. Patagonia had played a major role in pioneering organic cotton when in 1996 they agreed to only source organic cotton for their established sportswear brand. They established a separate division Beneficial Ts to help educate consumers and worked hand in hand with organic cotton farmers to build the industry. In 2004 we placed our first order with Beneficial Ts and became their official Australian distributor.

In 2005 we met with our first Australian organic cotton farmer. We purchased a stockpile of his certified Australian grown organic cotton and developed and launched ‘Certton’ our own brand of high quality Australian made top organic cotton t-shirts & fabrics.

Our purpose is simple. Provide the workers at our Sydney factory with a safe, clean & enjoyable working environment, pay them a fair wage, supply them with our high quality Australian made fabric, knitted from certified organic cotton and our t-shirts will be the best in the world.

Certton offer t-shirts for the individual but are also fantastic for companies or groups wishing to use Organic t-shirts for a marketing tool, and the friendly Certton team can organise everything including design and printing of the shirts!

Visit Certton at www.certton.com.au and find out more about there ethical t-shirts.

The CleanLife t-shirts are made in Australia from 100% Organic Cotton by Certton. To order CleanLife t-shirts, click here.

ARE YOU A FASHION DESIGNER IN THE MAKING?

If you think you have a great idea for an eco t-shirt design, Todae (www.todae.com.au) want to hear about it, visit their website to see what is currently on offer by clicking here and tell them what you think!

Happy green T hunting!

Green judgement

2008-06-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

I think by now most people have conceded that GREEN IS GOOD. There is now literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide (and possibly billions) of people who are in their own way - trying to make a difference for our environments sake. While some of us haven given up our 'day jobs' and previous professions to do this, many more are making their own mark simply by the way they live.

The GREEN INDUSTRY as a whole involves a very good bunch of people, most of whom genuinely want to make a difference and while some are exceedingly good entrepreneurs who are making good money, others are purely altruistic in their endeavours and if at the end of the month, they have enough to pay the bills and enjoy a glass of organic wine, then all is well.

Importantly ONE IS NOT BETTER THAN THE OTHER, they are just different. The company that makes good money, may both in their consumption and philanthropic ventures, give a large amount back to the cause. They may also inspire other individuals to follow suit. The company that is happy just to have enough to get by, in effect is doing the same thing, in a different way.

I write this because on visiting our local farmers market the other day my husband made the comment, that he often feels that some 'hardcore greenies' are judging us. They look at our clothes, that while often sustainable, fair trade and organic or second hand (or very old but very well maintained!), are also semi-fashionable, and assume that we are 'the enemy'. On this particular day the case in point was our daughter who was wearing an adorable cotton hoodie that just happened to be pink and red and have pom poms on it. It was a gift from a family member, and she did look very cute, yet instead of being looked upon with JOY and LOVE as all children should, there was a small group of individuals that had nothing but scorn for us.

I find this hard to take, as I truly believe that we all have our own shade of green. While I absolutely commend those hard core greenies who do spend days up trees, and consume very very little that just isn't my thing. We all know we should never judge another until we have walked in his shoes, that this is very very true in the case of green credentials.
I found it frustrating that these people who know nothing about us, what we do or how we live, assume we are 'evil consumers' and label us in an instant. Of course it only worried me for a moment and then I did what all good YIPPY's would do and treated myself to an Organic, Fair Trade Coffee! (NB: a yippy is a cross between a yuppy and a hippy, who is more likely to be found sipping an organic latte from a reusable SIGG mug, than protesting on the front line).

In the past I must admit I have been guilty of looking at city slickers in huge 4WDs and designer sunnies as they drop their children at school, with some disdain. In reality, we shouldn't judge, as that 4WD may be climate friendly (that is it's emissions may have been offset), or perhaps it is actually a Lexus hybrid. That family may also purchase 100% renewable energy for their home, eat organically and choose to holiday in the countryside rather than overseas, which are all good green choices. There is also the possibility that they are from the country and do need a 4WD!

An example that comes to mind is at our Christmas holiday last year. Every year we spend two weeks at a local island (Rottnest). While our daughter usually wears cloth nappies, we decided that given our accommodation has no laundry sink or washing facilities, it may be best to go with eco-disposables. Unfortunately the nappies were not quite the right size and after one day of using them, poor Lilian had a graze and was unable to wear them any longer. After another day of just using terry towelling (which meant two hourly changes all night long), I finally realised that I would have to buy a different brand. The problem??This lovely little island that we were on has one shop and one pharmacy, both of which only stock conventional nappies. So finally I purchased some 'conventional' nappies, and as I walked back to our accommodation, I realised that if I had seen someone like me just weeks before, carrying a big pack of nappies, I would have thought, what a shame they are not using cloth or eco-disposable nappies, and perhaps a very small part of me, may have thought that they were not such a green citizen. However taking this one action out of context is unfair and I realise now that I have been guilty of that.

So while each and every one of us has a moral responsibility to do our bit, perhaps we should all try to stop ourselves from passing judgement for green reasons.

The fellow next to you at the checkout may be carrying a plastic bag, we don't know why, but it is very possible that he lives in a self sufficient house, produces his own food and donates a large amount to green causes. Perhaps someone delivered something to him in the bag and he has been using it ever since!!

So if you are going to create a story about your fellow humans as you people watch, make it a positive one, it really can make the world a better place.

Gina (yes my daughter has some cute clothes but I am still pretty green) Cacho

Healthy and Green Book Ideas

2008-05-26T21:12:00.001-07:00

I love to read...
but must admit that it can be hard to find the time, so as of about six weeks ago, Tony and I gave up TV during the week. Not only have we read more, eaten better and spent more time actually talking we have actually quite unexpectedly spent less!

Hopefully some of you are getting some time to read too, so here are just a few of the books I have read recently, that may (or may not) take your fancy.

'The Green Gardener' by Josh Byrne, if you are even remotely interested in gardening, or even just looking at a bit of greenery, this book is a great read. The lovely Mr Byrne is a Perth boy, but my liking for this book goes well beyond his local roots. The book goes through all the essentials like water saving techniques and tips, native plants, growing your own food, maintaining local habitats, composting and more. Josh's love for the subject is palpable, and the book has even inspired me to actually help Tony with our increasingly sustainable little garden, rather than just chat to him, with our daughter on my hip as he works away!

'The Food Revolution' by John Robbins is not for the light hearted, and I must put a disclaimer here, it is written by a fairly hard core vegetarian, who just happens to be the son of one of the founders of Baskin and Robbins ice cream. It is a well researched and referenced yet highly captivating acccount of in the authors words 'how your diet can help save your life and the world'. While I LOVE this book (an have for years) many won't, but if you want to challenge your ideas on the way we eat and learn a huge amount in the process, I highly recommend it. One of the thought provoking sections in the book comments on recalls the tale of a Cardiac Surgeon who was thought to be 'radical' and 'too severe' for putting his clients on a vegan diet and exercise program before opting for Cardiac surgery. There was outcry from other surgeons who thought his methods, harsh and cruel. It is strange really as I would have thought having major open heart surgery was a little more radical than having to change your diet!!! It must be noted, his results were very very good, with only a small proportion of patients eventually requiring surgery.

G-magazine
If you want some interesting green reading, but are not ready to commit your self to a book, G mag is a great option. Some parts light and fluffy, some parts hard green, all parts interesting, it is a really good monthly publication to have on your coffee table. You'll get a good variety of info all in the one neat mag.

Happy Reading

Gina

Healing ideas from Nature's Symphony

2008-05-20T20:42:00.000-07:00

This weeks BLOG comes from Connie Vella, Founder of Nature's Symphony, Bach Flower Practitioner and Holistic Counsellor (AHHA accredited).

Nature’s Symphony began when I became aware of toxic ingredients found in the formulations of today’s commercial hair and body care products and its negative side effects on one’s well-being.

After having suffered from chronic painful mouth ulcers and a very itchy, inflamed scalp from using commercial hair care products, I decided to make my own healthy brew and one month later after using my formula, my mouth ulcers cleared completely and so did the itchiness and scalp inflammation leaving my hair with a healthy shine. To my formula I have added one of the Bach flower remedies essences making my product unique for its cleansing, purifying and healing properties.

To add to our products, I have just included a new Eco friendly line of Soy Wax Candles. They support the environment by keeping our planet clean and free from toxic fumes which Paraffin candles give out when lit.

To formulate these cruelty free alternative products, to make them available to the health conscious Consumer and for them to enjoy their benefits and educate others about the dangers of toxic ingredients and to get a positive feedback from consumers, in relation to their well being, fulfils one of my wish to help others in maintaining good health and to help mother earth in keeping a cleaner planet with our latest addition of Eco-friendly soy wax candles.

We use recyclable packaging whenever possible as we recognise the importance of keeping a clean planet.

It is better to light just one little candle
Than to stumble in the dark.
All you need is a tiny spark To light up the world.

If we'd all support Mother Earth by supporting a cleaner planet,
A wonderful dawn Of a new day we'd see . .

And if everyone lit Just one Eco-friendly candle,
What a cleaner and bright world It would be,
For us, for our children, and their children's . .

To learn more about our products or to order any of these Eco-friendly products you can do so on line by visiting www.earthquest.com.au

Eco Luxury - Fashion and Conscience

2008-05-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

This weeks BLOG entry is from Charlene O'Brien, director of ECO LOGIKA, who proves that luxurious fashion, needn't cost the earth.

The label ECO LOGIKA® est. 2002, stylish resort wear specialises in combining fashion and conscience, using natural and environmentally friendly textiles. Its strong values denote a well made product with minimal impact on the environment. Hand crafted, stylish, ultra feminine for women using quality natural fibres, botanical dyes, eco yarns and textiles such as sustainable silks, certified organic merino wool, certified organic cotton/hemp, environmentally friendly linen, recycled remnants and recycled denim.

After graduating from the London College of Fashion in the mid 80’s, Charlene O’Brien established her own fashion label ECO LOGIKA®. She is an international eco textile designer who combines raw organic fibres, hand spun silks, recycled remnant, organic Australian merino wool and luxurious sustainable silks, fused with various constructive and embellished techniques by hand and by machine.

Recently re-located to a studio in the Kelmscott hills, Western Australia, Charlene’s goal is to practice low impact environmental production by creating her atelier, a pure and safe workplace using solar energy, rainwater, handcraft skills and techniques, carefully collected botanicals from her dyers garden for hand solar dyeing. Charlene launched her new eco luxury signature label at the Ethical Fashion Show, Paris, October 2007. Selected as one of 80 designers world wide, she successfully marketed her eco luxury label to a high end Parisian galerie.“My ultimate aim is to create clothes that are comfortable to wear” commented Charlene. “My mandate is that they must be good for both the person, meaning that they are free of any harmful dyes and chemicals, as well as good for the environment and economies.”

Charlene’s fairly traded recycled denim label, est. 1997, uses an innovative yarn from recycled denim fibre, which is hand knitted and crocheted by a Vietnamese co-operative. Charlene, who lived in Vietnam for six months during which time she put her young son into a Vietnamese school, said denim is one of the world’s most produced textiles, despite the fact that cotton is prone to high chemical and pesticide usage.

“Research proved denim waste from jeans manufacturers becomes a landfill problem because it doesn’t biodegrade when it hits the dump,” she said. “By collecting denim offs-cuts from factories we prevent more chemical usage and landfill by creating products from the waste. The off-cuts are shredded back into a fibre and then re-spun into a yarn. The yarn is then transported to Vietnam where it is used to create clothing and accessories.

“One of my major goals is to support fair trade practices. This provides self empowerment to small global communities with appropriate hand skills. Our Vietnamese community workers are paid fairly and this encourages the emergence of micro businesses where women take responsibility for themselves and therefore the knock on effect is that poverty within these communities is diminished, if not eradicated.”

Charlene’s focus on developing products on a sustainable level using recycled or organic resources means, she said, that ECO LOGIKA® is an Australian fashion label with a conscious. “For people who are passionate about a designer range of products that are natural, organic, recycled and hand made, and if you care about the environment and humanity, you share the tierra ecologia vision,” she said.

Charlene designs a wide range of products including;

Recycled denim - shawls – Hand crafted 100% cotton recycled denim
Eco logika® - Ladies wear - Coats, Jackets, Skirts, Dresses, Pants, Tops, T shirts, Menswear - Shirts, T shirts, Jeans
Charlene O’Brien - eco luxury signature range – Dresses, Skirts, Tops

Visit http://www.tierraecologia.com/

Paint, kids, babies and nesting....

2008-05-05T20:49:00.000-07:00

Got the nesting instinct?

Bauwerk colour has created a new range of natural paint colours for children's rooms, which allows kids to draw on their walls with chalk , just a like a giant chalkboard. So unleash your inner child , its easy and safer for kids , chalk just wipes off ready for the next round of fun.

BAUWERK Paints are giving the phrase freshly painted a new meaning:
Paint produced using abundant resources, without toxic by-products, free from harmful substances, technically brilliant, greenhouse gas free, carbon neutral and user friendly.

The nesting instinct may be a natural urge, but many of the products and materials used by expectant parents to create a nursery or children's room can be a danger to the health of babies and young children. This is a critical time to consider the impacts of chemical pollution and to take the time to create a healthy space for your little ones.

Babies are at greatest risk from chemical exposures because their skin absorbs up to three times the amount of chemical absorbed by an adult.Babies and young children breathe twice as much air as adults, so they have greater exposure to chemicals from the air.

Visit www.bauwerk.com.au for more details.

Natural Woman Network

2008-04-16T00:14:00.000-07:00

Natural Woman Network

Dawn Burke (left) and Wendy Dumaresq (right)

The following blog is from Wendy Dumaresq, owner and founder of Rad Pads and the Natural Woman Network.

The Natural Woman Network are giving away two yearly memberships valued at $50 each. The membership gives you benefits such as discounts on products and a $20 gift voucher.

Just answer the question ;

What is it that you think Mothers need or want most to live a happy and healthy lives?

"Once upon a time, there was a woman - a rather frazzled one, a bit worn at the edges from child-bearing and bringing home the bacon. One day she was sitting in the gentle autumn sun having just had a meditate.

Out of nowhere (or everywhere?) appeared an angelic like form to her left.

'Now this is interesting' the woman thought, 'where did that come from?'
The 'being' took this woman (who we shall call Wendy) by the hand and they walked to the top of a mountain and looked down upon our world.

What Wendy saw there was quite unsettling.

There was not a single green tree, shrub or blade of grass. No water was to be seen - no bird or animal life or human life. The 'being' said - 'Your task is to help heal the earth..."
Well, Wendy freaked out, this was indeed rather a large task after all.
However the 'being' picked up on her distress and said, "you do not have to do this, but if you do, you will be given the resources and help you need..."

Wendy thought 'what have I got to lose', and accepted the task. After all she has been asking for a while what the next step was for her.

Just goes to show, we need to be careful what we ask for!
Not long after this, Wendy took over the business Rad-Pads, cloth menstrual pads, continued her Herbal medicine practice, and has now launched "Natural Woman Network", a private company with the slogan 'Earth Conscious, Health conscious'.

If you would like to join us on our quest to contribute to a cleaner, greener world full of happy, healthy people, please go to our website http://www.naturalwomannetwork.com.au and become a member of the NWN, or become a facilitator, or have access to our products and services among
other things or just keep telling this story! It is all true. "

So tell us your stories and win!!

Why I am in love with Jude Blereau

2008-03-26T21:28:00.000-07:00

Wholefood Cooking; they way all life should be

After months of substandard cooking initially induced my morning sickness (in my case all day and all night sickness!) and subsequently through pure exhaustion (yes I finally realised that having a baby is a full time job!), I have just today, returned to the kitchen with gusto. This is with thanks to the birthday gifts I received family and friends (thank you Marisa and Gillian!).

If you buy just two cookbooks this year - choose these!

'Wholefood; heal, nourish, delight' by Jude Blereau
and
'Coming home to eat; Wholefood for the family' by Jude Blereau

These two books are so incredibly well written that I have been taking them to bed at night, to read like you would a novel. The food is so inviting, homely and nourishing that I truly feel better fed, just for having read them!

Jude not only gives you wonderful recipes, but explains why you do things in a certain manner, so you can really ad your own personal touches. I also love that she provides ways of using leftovers (very relevant for me as my mantra this year is NO WASTE).

Everything in these books is nourishing. The beautiful words make you want to don the apron, make apricot pie and have loads of children (until of course you realise that the more children you have the harder it is to find time for the kitchen!).

Though our little daughter Lilian is only seven months, Jude has already began to influence her as Lily, sits in her high chair watching me cook and explain why I am using agave nectar or rapadura rather than white sugar and why putting love into cooking is the most important ingredient of all!

Well enough from me I am off for another slice of truly decadaent banana cake (with no added sugar or sweeteners!)

Please feel free to tell us your cookbook suggestions - or recipes, we love to be inspired.

Gina

Doing the green thing at CleanLife

2008-03-13T00:52:00.000-07:00

Being a company that promotes healthy, non-toxic and eco-friendly living it would be a little naughty if we didn't live this way ourselves. Luckily for us, for the most part we do! We are a course very very far from perfect but since this week, we are talking 'Green Offices' here is just a few of the things we do to reduce our ecological footprint as a business.

* We operate from a home office and all CleanLife staffers work mostly from their own homes, meaning we have minimal need to transport ourselves each day.
* We have installed insulation, curtains, water saving devices and energy efficient appliances and lighting.
* We purchase 100% greenpower for the CleanLife office (and our home).
* We re-use everything that we can and in fact we are still using the clean side of old paper we have had since before we lived in London (yes prior to 2003!) and envelopes we have had since 2001.
* If we can't re-use things we recycle them. This includes our ink cartridges.
* All our professional printing is on 100% recycled paper with vegetable based inks (from www.theenvironmentalprintingco.com)
* We drink organic and fair trade teas, coffees and hot chocolate.
* We choose organic foods (local if at all possible) for our office meals and our scraps are composted and go onto our garden.
* We also have a relatively new organic vegetable patch, that provides us with some very yummy food and we did have a worm farm, but alas, that died in the Christmas heat, after a year and a half of faithful service (it was a dog poo worm farm, so you can't really blame the worms for wanting to go somewhere a little nicer).
* All our office furniture is second hand with the exception of my chair (the second hand one I was using was doing my back in!!)
* I won't bore you with more of the little things we try to do every day, but we realise that as much as we reduce our useage, we are not perfect (not even close) so we are now on the path to becoming Climate Neutral thanks to a gift from CleanLife staffer Shona. (www.climatefriendly.com).

We would love to hear what other do to green up their office, the important thing to remember that whether you are the head honcho or just starting out at a new place, there is always something little you can do. Try one change a week and make a difference.

My favourite organic baby books

2008-03-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

I could go on for ever about all the wonderful books I have read on natural mothering, organic baby food and more, so here are just a few that stand out.......

Cooking for Kids
We were lucky enough to receive the following two cookbooks from friends;

Organic Federation of Australia, Organic baby and toddler cookbook; easy recipes for natural food by Lizzie Vann which has been absolutely wonderful. While little Lilian is only just coming up to seven months old, and not much a fan of solids yet, this book has allowed me to fill my freezer with a multitude of home made purees that really do taste delicious. (Yes I always taste test- with a clean spoon of course!). There is also casseroles, fruit porridges and some fantastic toddler food. Funnily enough Lilian's favourite food so far has actually been pureed betroot, a recipe I found in

Cooking for Coco; Naturally delicious baby food recipes from a chef's kitchen by Sian Blunos, it is a completely fabulous book for if you are getting a little board with the normal baby puree deal. I must admit that some of the recipes indicate that a little sugar should be added and I don't do this. I don't feel the need for any salt or sugar at this early stage! The great thing about this book is that many of the meals are suitable for the entire family (well once you are past the puree stage!)

I must admit that I am extremely fortunate to have a Thermomix, which apart from making fabulous cakes, bread, cocktails, coffees, salads, and curries is absolutely the most incredible thing when it comes to baby food. I just put the fresh goodies in and it chops, cooks and purees!
Yes these things are definitley not cheap, but it has been possible the best baby investment I have ever made! If you want to know more about thermomix call Peta Crogran, the delightful Wellness Consultant who sold me mine Thermomix on 0427 159 033 (Perth) or email her at petacrogan@bigpond.com you can also visit the thermomix website at www.thermomix.com.au

If you haven't already you absolutely MUST read;
Additive Alert by Julie Eady
as you may know I am not really into telling people what they MUST do but rather gently guiding in a direction that I feel is beneficial, with all options available, This however is one expception, it does not matter if your kids are all grown up or still in the womb, the information in this book is essential. You'll find out why Australia allows additives in our food that are banned in Europe and the USA and why up to 5% of what is in your food, does not need to be listed on the label. It comes with a handy bookmark that you can take to the shops to help you avoid the worst additives.

A healthy environment for kids;

If you haven't yet stumbled onto the CleanFood Organic series by McGuire Guides, then you have a treat in store. The lastest edition is Volume 5 and it has two articles by yours truly (sorry shameless self promotion I know!). Both articles are relevant to expectant mums or those even considering it; one is about the chemicals in umbilical cord blood and how to reduce your unborn babies exposure and the second is about Indoor Air pollution.

Green Parenting;

I absolutely LOVE this book, that I was given for Christmas;
Raising Baby Green; The Earth Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby Care by Alan Greene, MD. www.drgreene.com
I love this book for so many reasons. It gives a fantastically broad amount of information including everything from feeding, non-toxic baby matresses, natural remedies for common ailments to toxic toys, personal care products, cleaning and even gardening. If you have been following the CleanLife email tips for some time, you will probably be doing almost everything recommended in this book, but still it is a wonderful read and as it is a book, it has more room to go into the 'why and how' of these many topics.

It is written by a paediatrition and I think this helps you to feel confident when people brush your concerns about everyday things like pesticides, the harmful endocrine disrupting chemicals in most baby bottles to the side. Like me you have probably heard the 'well you had plastic bottles and you are fine' or the 'well you never ate anything organic and there is nothing wrong with you' or my personal favourite 'if there really was anything wrong with all these things, the government wouldn't allow it'. Dr Alan Greene puts the research out their with the authority that only a medical Doctor seems to have (sadly).

The other great thing about this book, is he realises that we are all human, some babies will need formula, some people can't afford an organic cot matress and some people really won't be able to get organic food for every meal of every day. He does however offer hope and practical suggestions.

Natural Baby and ChildCare by Lauren Feder MD www.drfeder.com
is also excellent. In addition to covering everything from baby clothes to breastfeeding and mastitis. The book offers some information on natural remedies,including homeopathics for common ailments in a fair amount of detail. Again the book written by a medical doctor but in this case she is also a homeopath.

If you thought that being an Organic Parent was all about looking frumpy and having a dirty child hanging from your sling then check out
Organic Baby; Simple steps for Healthy Living by Kimberly Rider.
This book is incredibly beautiful with amazing photography and design. It gives simple suggestions for reducing your environmental impact and toxic load and is a great coffee table book.

Imperfectly Natural baby and toddler; How to be a green parent in today's busy world by Janey Lee Grace www.imperfectlynatural.co.uk is a great option for those who are not too green yet,but are keen to work on it. Janey's approach is very calm and very imperfect. Being a mother of four she knows that you may only managed to achieve a few of the suggestions in the book, but everything she offers is practical and realistic. One thing I would mention is that Janey mentions not starting pelvic floor exercises until six weeks post delivery of your baby. The Physiotherapist inside me must beg to differ on this one point. Start very very gently as soon as you are able, for me this was several hours after the birth, for others this may be a few days. Importantly very gentle pelvic floor exercises increase the circulation in the area and promote healing. Please speak to your Physiotherapist about this!

I hope these suggestions are useful, now all you need do is find some time to read them!!!!

Stay tuned for more book reviews in the future.

2008-02-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

CleanLifers you have the chance to win a gorgeous skincare pack that will not only protect your skin and the environment, but simplify your life!!

TO WIN: Just tell us how you have 'simplified your life' it could be anything at all, small or large. The idea that takes our fancy, will be announced winner and receive a SAVE OUR SKIN (www.saveourskin.com.au) pack worth over $100. Enter by replying to any CleanLife email tip or by posting a BLOG /comment on this BLOG. Winners will be announced in the February 28th email tip, so keep your eyes peeled to claim your prize!

The ethos behind Save Our Skin, is very interesting so we have included an excert from Anastasia - Director of Save Our Skin, to inspire you.

I could sit here + bore you with the ins + outs of how I became so passionate about launching this range, the triumphs, hurdles + successes that I experienced along the way… but I could write a whole book. + the reason 4 save our skin’s existence is really simple. less = more.
this is however, where I pay credit to the skin crusaders that went b4 me. you see, I did not invent save our skin.+ I did not employ scientists in hi-tech, clean white labs to do it either.
my skin crusading efforts lead me to knowledge. knowledge that has been around for centuries. just somewhere along the line this knowledge got buried… + deep. i’ve simply resurrected it because I had to.
I had a dream one night in September 2004 + in this dream I saw 3 products based on the restorative qualities of xtra virgin olive oil. the message in that dream was so clear + strong, that I later drew a rough sketch of each product in my notebook + this is how save our skin was conceived. I had no idea of how I was now going to bring it to life. I just knew that I had to do it.
that dream has kept me awake every night since, (that + Alexander-Jai the little angel in our lives). he has extremely sensitive skin, just like me + and I don’t feel comfortable using anything other than save our skin products on him. why? because save our skin’s entire range contains only 5 organic ingredients. think about it…, the more sources of irritation you can eliminate, the better off your skin will be. hence, less = more.
save our skin’s wash bar is honestly the mildest soap on earth + is derived from a 15th century formulation used across Spain. the protective balm is a powerful concoction developed by Galen, doctor to the gladiators of the 2nd century.
the nourishment oil has xtra virgin olive oil as it’s base, which has been used since biblical times as a magical beauty multi-tasker. (I’ve simply added calendula flowers + mandarin to the mix 4 enriched healing qualities + natural aroma).
so to Galen + his fellow skin crusaders – cheers, you were really on to something. + I feel so blessed to have discovered your work + to bring these magical ancient skin saving formulas back 2 life. njoy.
Anastasia skin crusader

www.saveourskin.com.au

2008-01-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

Unique Gluten Free Grains

For those of you who can not eat wheat, rye, barley or oats, because you have an intolerance to gluten or you are a diagnosed coeliac sufferer, there are several other grains, fruits and legumes available to you that are loaded with flavour :

Amaranth
Millet
Soy & soy beans
Quinoa
Buckwheat
Lupins

Amaranth is an ancient seed that today is used as a grain. As a plant amaranth is an exceptionally complete protein and also provides a good source of dietary fibre, as well as iron, magnesium, phosphorus, copper, and manganese. Available as organic puffed cereal, organic rolled flakes and organic flour.

Millet is said to be the most ancient of all grains. Containing a protein level of approx. 11% millet is rich in B vitamins, especially niacin, B6 and folate (B9), calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. Available as organic unhulled grain, organic hulled grain and organic flour.
Soy beans are a legume and belong to the pea family. With a protein content making up about 40-50% of their weight, soybeans are extremely nutritious. Available as organic and non organic beans, flour and organic roasted beans.

Quinoa is an ancient seed also used as a grain. It’s protein content is very high (12%–18%). Quinoa contains a balanced set of essential amino acids for humans, making it an unusually complete food. It is a good source of dietary fibre and phosphorus and is high in magnesium and iron. Quinoa is also easy to digest. Available as organic grain (both white and red), organic rolled flakes, organic puffed cereal and organic flour.

Buckwheat despite it’s name is neither a grass nor a relative of wheat. Buckwheat is related to the rhubarb family. It is high in essential amino acids making it close to a complete protein. It is available as grain and flour.

Lupins are a legume and belong to the pea family. They contain a high level of protein (40%) and fibre (30%). Available as flour.

You can find all these goodies and more at LOOSE PRODUCE, Hobbs Ave, Como, WA or visit
www.looseproduce.com.

Loose produce also offer a great range of cooking classes for the seasoned cook or the kitchen novice. Visit the CleanLife events page for upcoming classes.

Organic Baby Lily

2007-08-22T22:48:00.000-07:00

CleanLife has a new team member - Lilian Joy! Born on the 9th August 2007 at home in the bath, weighing 3.650kg (8lb 1oz). She is a much loved addition to Gina and Tony's family. So here are a couple of photos of Lily in her organic bodysuit laying on a rug crocheted by Tony's mum out of Organic Merino Wool from Ecoyarns. You'll also see Lily (and Gina) wearing an organic hugabub - the cosiest way to carry your bub! In fact we are wearing it right now!

Ethical Threads - Style with Soul

2007-08-06T18:25:00.000-07:00

Green fashion for the planet............................

Perth has a fantastic new Ethical fashion store, the CleanLife team think it is uber cool, so we’ve asked the owners Angus and Clarissa to tell us a little about themselves, their concept and their ethos.. Read on……………..

Greetings!

We have just opened an ethical clothing and accessories store called Ethical Threads in Subiaco, Perth. The concept is a first for Australia and we are very proud to have Perth at the forefront of this new clothing revolution.

Our shop is based on a broad ethical platform with an underlying philosophy of Sweatshop free, Fair Trade and environmentally-responsible practices.

We stock mainly clothing for both men and women made from sustainable fibres (hemp, organic cotton and bamboo) and recycled fabrics. However, we also carry bags and shoes made of hemp and recycled products, belts and jewellery from recycled products and vegan friendly shoes.

Many of our eco-conscious suppliers also use solar power, dye with vegetable inks, recycle their waste, or have committed themselves to being a carbon neutral company.

Ethical Threads is all about bringing conscious consumerism to the mainstream and showing that sustainability can have style! We have done the hard work for you and have sourced the very best ethical fashion from around the world. So join us in being part of the solution and in using the most powerful tool we have to change the world – consumer choice.

We, both as a business and in our personal lives, strive to ‘walk the talk’. We want to make our contribution count and will always be evolving and expanding upon both our ideals and our products.If you are interested in getting more information on what we're all about and some background on the philosophy of our store please visit our website at www.stylewithsoul.com.au

Stay true & happy,
Clarissa & Angus.

Ethical Threads

Address: 267 Hay Street, Subiaco WA 6008

Phone: (08) 9381 4641

So Perthites get on down to Subi for some ethical retail therapy (and to make a truly green day of it, you may like to visit the local organic cafe and shop THE EARTH MARKET!)

2007-07-30T00:33:00.000-07:00

PLANET ARK , Fremantle

Planet Ark Stores
Helping you to create a
healthy, harmonious &
environmentally sound home

SAVING THE PLANET
BEGINS IN OUR HOMES….

Most of us spend over half our lives in the home.

We may have little influence over what happens at work or school, but at home we can really exercise control over the quality of our personal environment.

The choices we make today in our homes can affect our own health and the health of

the planet.

Planet Ark Stores make these choices easy and affordable. We do this by providing

the products and information necessary to make your home safer for you and the

environment.

SAVE ENERGY & WATER

With our energy and water efficient showerheads, a family of four can save 170,000

litres of water per annum.

With much less water to heat, you can save up to $300 a year in power and water bills

– saving the environment and your wallet at the same time!

We offer light globes that can last up to 10 years using 80% less electricity than

normal light bulbs.

SAFER RENOVATING

Next time you renovate, think about the wellbeing of your family and our environment

We stock plant-based paints and varnishes, floor finishes and other materials made

from naturally renewable resources

If you suffer health problems from living and working in ‘sick buildings’, you really

must use these materials.

PURE WATER

Pure water is an essential element. Look after your family’s health by

purifying your drinking and showering water with our high grade filters

and purifiers.

SOLAR POWER

We sell the best range of solar powered lights, radios, portable solar

ovens, solar garden lights and much more.

PERSONAL CARE

Planet Ark stocks the purest, plant-based personal care range. Products

include plant-based shampoos and body care, mineral crystal deodorants,

organic sanitary range and hand made vegetable oil soaps.

EDUCATION

The store is an interactive learning centre. It provides easy to understand

advice on things you need to know – everything from household cleaning

to home renovation.

You can also check out the Planet Ark Internet Site at www.planetark.com

SAFER CLEANING

You should always use products made without phosphates,

petrochemicals, fragrances & dyes.

The Planet Ark range of cleaning products are available in single packs or

in bulk. At our refill bar, if you bring in your own container [or take one

from our recycling bin], you get a minimum 10% discount!

It’s a great way to save money and resources.

We stock an extensive range of fibre technology cleaning cloths, mitts,

window cleaning tools and mops. They use special fibres and water to

clean without toxic chemicals.

We also have chemical-free high pressure steam cleaners which clean and

disinfect any surface and kill dust mites. These are essential for those

suffering from asthma and allergies.

HOW PLANET ARK
CHOOSES PRODUCTS

We look at the totality of the product: where and how the ingredients

were derived, through to their processing, packaging and ultimate

disposal. We also concentrate on the products impact on human health.

With an estimated 1 in 6 people now having some form of allergy or

environmental illness such as asthma, protecting personal health is a key

part of our philosophy.

PRODUCTS STOCKED

. Plant-based paints, varnishes & floor oils

. Water & energy saving showerheads

. Plant-based cleaning & personal care products

. Energy saving lighting

. Hand powered washing machines

. Flushable and 100 % compostable disposal nappies

. Range of plant- based baby products

. Water & air filters

. Garden & pest control products

. Fibre technology cleaning cloths, mitts & mops

. Chemical free steam cleaners

. Rechargeable batteries and chargers

. Environmental books and software

Visit Planet Ark Fremantle today at 37 Cantonment St, Fremantle WA or phone (08) 9430 5054

WIN Homeopathic Teas from Macro Wholefoods.

2007-07-22T18:37:00.000-07:00

WIN WARMING MACRO HOMEOPATHIC TEAS FOR WINTER

We have three Macro Tea hampers to give away. Each hamper contains all five teas described below so tell us your best ideas for Conscientious Consumption to be in the running to win! Just post a comment on this BLOG letting us know your idea and which state you are from.

Who said winter was gloomy? Forget the dismal weather and frolic in your Ugg boots, knit a scarf or two and drink a soothing cup of one of Macro’s new teas!

Created exclusively for Macro by blender extraordinaire Lisa Hilbert, the recipes weave homeopathic super-herbs together with a quixotic array of native plants, flowers and green teas.

The result is an entirely unique range of five teas that will suit every mood and palate. The new range includes the following blends:

· Chamomile Fields – Chamomile and rose petals / 40g
· Fruit Punch – Fruit pieces, rose hips and hibiscus / 100g
· Liquorice Crush – Liquorice, aniseed, calendula / 100g
· Mint Madness – Peppermint, spearmint, cornflower blossom / 33g
· Oriental Lemon Twist – Green tea, ginger, lemongrass, lemon myrtle / 60g

The homeopathic properties of each blend are as follows:

· Chamomile Fields – Calming and soothing, caffeine-free, antioxidant
· Fruit Punch – Vitamin C potent/rich, caffeine-free, antioxidant
· Liquorice Crush – Adrenal tonic, caffeine-free, antioxidant, healing and soothing for sore throats, good for breast feeding
· Mint Madness – Digestive, relaxant, caffeine-free, antioxidant
· Oriental Lemon Twist – Immune boosting, antioxidant, warming, digestive

For more details on organic products visit www.macrowholefoods.com.au

So sit back with a cup of tea and tell us your favourite ways to be a conscientious consumer!

Sustainable fish ideas and recipes

2007-07-18T23:10:00.000-07:00

Here are some great suggestions for quick and easy sustainable fish meals from the First Ray team;

Four Ways with Fish 4 Ever

Many of us can probably relate to the unfortunate experience of smelling someone’s fishy lunch from down the hallway or from another room – well with Fish 4 Ever no more smelly lunches!!

In fact, open a tin of Fish 4 Ever and you will immediately notice a difference. The fish is dense and whole, not mashed up or flaked. This is because only the fillet of the fish is packed, the best and most nutritious part, in rich organic and cold-pressed oils and dressings.

For this reason, we suggest sticking to the “KISS – Keep is Simple” rule when next enjoying your favourite Fish 4 Ever product as that way you can enjoy the full richness of the taste and quality without having the need to overpower the flavours with a bunch of other ingredients or overcooking.

Here are just Four Ways with Fish 4 Ever that we like and which you may want to try…

1. In a large bowl mix in your favourite green salad leaves along with some halved cherry tomatoes, small black olives, sliced cucumbers and finely chopped red onion. Make a dressing of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, baby capers, crushed garlic, salt and coarsely ground black pepper and drizzle over your salad. Once you’ve tossed all our ingredients together place a can of either Tuna in Brine or Tuna in Oil on top of your salad and enjoy!

2. Cook your favourite pasta in a large pan of boiling water until tender. In a frying pan add some olive oil and cook some finely chopped onion and garlic until softened. Add approximately 500g of ripe fresh tomatoes and cook stirring gently until tomatoes being to soften. Add a can of Fish 4 Ever Sardines to the pan and stir just until heated through. Toss your sardine mixture with your pasta and add a good handful of fresh basil. Buon Appetit!!

3. When you next have unexpected visitors drop by or when planning your next dinner party or luncheon the Fish 4 Ever White (Albacore) Tuna is perfect for your antipasto plate. Put together your favourite antipasto ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, marinated vegetables, cheeses, olives and cured meats. The White Tuna is a great compliment to your traditional antipasto favourites with some people describing it as “lobster like”.

4. Need a nutritious lunch in a hurry? Grab some good rye or mountain bread and spread with some mayonnaise. Next add your favourite Fish 4 Ever product along with any ingredients you like or have handy. Some suggestions include cucumber, tomatoes, grated carrot, celery, avocado, chopped walnuts, pine nuts, boiled egg lettuce, spinach leaves and finely chopped onion. Let your creative juices run wild and just watch everyone’s eyes wishing they had your lunch!

If you have a favourite Fish 4 Ever recipe, why not share it with others or send to sandy@firstray.com.au as we’d love to hear about them. Visit www.firstray.com.au to purchase fish online or find your local stockist.

Vegan Recipes for all!

2007-07-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

These recipes are great for any family, and the great thing about Vegan food, is that you don't necessarily have to be a vegan to eat it!

The following recipes are from www.veganchef.com

Tempeh Pate
6 oz. multigrain tempeh
4 oz. baby bella mushrooms (or other mushrooms of choice), washed well, and roughly diced
1 cup shallots, diced
2 T. olive oil1 t. garlic, minced
1 t. dried rosemary, crushed a bit with your fingers
2 T. soy sauce
2 T. dry sherry or red wine
1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper

Using your fingers, crumble the tempeh into a small bowl. In a skillet, saute the tempeh, mushrooms, and shallots in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and rosemary, and saute the mixture an additional 2-3 minutes or until the tempeh begins to brown around the edges. Add the remaining ingredients, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a food processor and blend for 2 minutes or until smooth. Transfer the pate to small dish or crock, cover, and chill for 1-2 hours to allow the flavors to blend. Store covered in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Serve the pate on a platter with slices of bread or crackers.
Serves 6-8

Quinoa (ancient grain) and Vegetable Patties
2 cups water or vegetable stock
2/3 cup millet, rinsed, and drained
1/3 cup quinoa, rinsed, and drained
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. dried basil
1/4 t. dried oregano
1/4 t. dried thyme
1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
3/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1 T. olive oil, plus additional for oiling cookie sheet
1/2 cup baby bella mushrooms (or other mushrooms of choice), roughly chopped
1/3 cup carrot, finely diced
1/3 cup celery, finely diced
1/3 cup red pepper, destemmed, deseeded, and diced
1 T. garlic, minced1 cup spinach or Swiss chard, triple washed, patted dry, and roughly chopped 3 T. quinoa flour or brown rice flour
2 T. tamari, soy sauce, or Bragg Liquid Aminos
2 T. freshly chopped parsley1 T. balsamic vinegar
1 t. hot pepper sauce
2 T. cornmeal

In a medium saucepan, place the water, and bring to a boil. Add the millet, quinoa, salt, basil, oregano, thyme, and pepper, stir to combine, and return the mixture to a boil. Cover the saucepan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the grains for 18-20 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed. Remove the saucepan from the heat and set aside to cool. Meanwhile, in a dry non-stick skillet, place the almonds and sunflower seeds and cook them over medium heat for 3-5 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant. Transfer them to a small bowl to cool. In the same skillet, saute the red onion in the olive oil for 3 minutes to soften. Add the mushrooms, carrot, celery, and red pepper, and continue to saute an additional 5 minutes or until the vegetables are crisp tender. Add the garlic and saute an additional 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat.
Transfer the slightly-cooled grains to a medium bowl. Finely chop the toasted almonds and sunflower seeds and add them to the cooked grains. Add the sauteed vegetable mixture, along with the remaining ingredients except the cornmeal, and stir well to combine. Using a little olive oil, lightly oil (or mist with oil) a non-stick cookie sheet and set aside. Place the cornmeal on a small plate. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, portion the grain-vegetable mixture into 6 patties. Dust the patties on all sides with the cornmeal and place them on the prepared cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve the patties plain or with your choice of condiments.
Yield: 6 patties

Chocolate chunk, almond and coconut cream tart
Crust:
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup unbleached cane sugar (or white sugar from sugar beets)
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. baking powder
1/2 cup safflower oil

Filling:
2 - 12.3 oz. pkgs.
Mori-Nu silken style tofu, extra firm
1/2 cup unbleached cane sugar (or white sugar from sugar beets)
1 T. vanilla
1/2 t. coconut extract
1/4 t. almond extract
1/2 C. toasted coconut,
divided1/2 cup vegan chocolate bar of choice, roughly chopped (or vegan chocolate chips)
1/3 cup raw almonds, roughly chopped

Begin by preparing the crust. In a medium bowl, place the flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder, and stir well to combine. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the safflower oil into the dry ingredients to form a crumbly mixture. Transfer the mixture to an 8-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Using your hands, firmly press the crust mixture to cover the bottom and sides of the tart pan. Place the tart pan on a non-stick cookie sheet and set aside.
To prepare the filling, in a food processor or blender, place the tofu, sugar, vanilla, coconut and almond extract, and process for 2 minutes or until very smooth and creamy. Place 3 T. of the toasted coconut in a small bowl and set aside. Add the remaining toasted coconut, chopped vegan chocolate bar, and almonds, and pulse 2-3 times to combine. Pour the filling mixture into the reserved crust.
Bake the tart pan on the cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven, sprinkle the reserved toasted coconut over the top of the filling, and allow the tart to cool for 15-20 minutes, before removing the ring from the tart pan. Allow the tart to cool completely before cutting it into 8 pieces. Store any remaining tart in the refrigerator.
Yield: One 8-inch tart or 8 pieces

The following recipe is from www.vegweb.com

Delicious Pakistani Dhal

Ingredients

1 cup dry red lentils
3 cups water
1 diced onion
2-3 diced or crushed garlic cloves
1/2 peeled and chopped ginger root
1/2 can of chopped tomatos
2 tsps curry powder
1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
4-5 tablespoon cooking oil
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat water in pot until boiling. Add lentils and boil for one minute. Reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer lentils until they resemble a thick paste. While lentils are simmering, heat oil in frying pan. Add onion, garlic and ginger. Fry until soft. Add curry, chili, cumin, coriander, salt and pepper, saute for 2-3 minutes. Add tomatos and saute for another 3-5 minutes. Add fried spice mixture into lentil paste, stir and cook an additional 15-20 minutes. Serve as is or over basmati rice.
*Vegetable stock can be added to boiling water for additional taste.
Serves: 4-6
Preparation time: 45 mins

NB: to make a more complete meal, add some steamed vegetables of your choice for the last few minutes of cooking.

Please feel free to make a comment and add you own recipes!

Happy Cooking

Gina, Shona and Tony