Australia’s recent Summer of drought, heat and bushfires has made global headlines. So imagine the relief this weekend with heavy rainfall finally dampening many long burning fires. It’s been such a non-stop downpour that forecasts are predicting the most rain in over 20 years and mass flooding. It truly feels like a case of ‘from …
Australia is in the midst of a crazy flu season – so much so that over 40,000 cases of the flu were reported during June – compared to less 2,000 for the same period in 2018. It’s a flu that’s hard to avoid – even if, like me, you tell yourself “my strong immune system …
On a recent trip back to Yorkshire for my sister’s wedding I was lucky enough to spend a day in the kitchen with one of the best Gujarati chefs in England. Or at least that’s what me and my husband think. Who was it? Not a celebrity chef nor even a professional chef, but my …
I’ve often thought about what stands between my love of food and going vegan. Really it’s just one thing – milk, cheese and yoghurt. Some of my favourite foodie pleasures are simple ones that involve dairy – like milk in my coffee, cheesy pizzas and yoghurt based ‘nice-cream’. So, despite being happily vegetarian I’m unlikely …
Oats have long been one of my go-to fast breaking meals. But, after one too many times under or overcooking oats on the stove I resorted to a more foolproof, and better for you, alternative – soaked overnight oats. I haven’t looked back since. Last week I was explaining to a colleague why he too …
Whether you call it a blogging birthday or an anniversary I just hit a big milestone. Feast Wisely turned five years old. I started this creative foodie outlet in January 2014 and almost 250 posts later my own diet has transitioned massively. I’ve gone from a meat based to a pretty much vegetarian or plant based …
I’m more of a muffin maker than a cookie monster but last week I mixed things up a little. Why? Because I’m a stickler for routine and doing things I’ve always done. So, when something goes well in the kitchen I tend to put the recipe on repeat. It’s a good thing for someone like …
Although I love to cook the electric gadgets in my kitchen are pretty thin on the ground. There’s the obvious kettle and toaster as well as my ‘can’t live without’ stick blender….but that’s about it. I don’t even own a microwave let alone a slow cooker. In our last apartment we installed a fancy Miele …
It doesn’t take much to get me excited when it comes to fresh ingredients. And for as long as I can remember ‘free’ has been one of my favourite words – music to my ears as they say. Pair these together and you can imagine my joy when I received a whole box of free, …
Being hangry is now official. Why? Because in early 2018 it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary along with over 1,000 other new entries. In my last post I talked about ‘me time’ as a new dictionary entry and when I spotted ‘hangry’ on the new words list I couldn’t resist sharing this news …
If you’re always looking to fill up and fuel on ingredients that promote your health today and your future longevity then it’s worth being in the know on resistant starch. What is resistant starch? Essentially it’s a type of fermentable fibre that fuels the healthy bacteria in our gut. Also known as a prebiotic. You …
A sneaky feeling that I was about to come down with something caught me off guard on Saturday. Something unpleasant enough to be energy zapping without making me bed ridden. Just days earlier my husband had been under the weather and his symptoms started with a tickle in his throat. Exactly the kind of tickle …
My inspiration for this post came from my mum, a lifelong jam lover. Growing up I remember her enjoying lashings of jam spread on toast at least once a day. In hindsight it was far from nutritious but 25 years ago little did we know about added sugar…. A huge amount of sugar is typically …
A few weeks ago I read a celebrity chef interview in one of those glossy newspaper magazines. The chef, a meat eater, said something that really stuck with me. He said that with daily access to Indian food he could envisage happily being a vegetarian. Similar thoughts have been shared by another famous chef, Rick …
It’s funny how time seems to pass so quickly as you get older. With the start of 2017 I couldn’t believe how the last year had flown by. And then January disappeared in a flash. Speaking of time flying by, WordPress recently sent me a ”Happy 3rd Birthday” message. It reminded me how far Feast Wisely has come since early 2014. …
Over the Christmas period, during my almost digital detox, a couple of posts by Elaine at Foodbod caught my attention. Her posts were all about spices – where to begin with spices, how to use whole spices and more. Whether or not you’re a spice expert I’d recommend checking them out here – because, as Elaine …
‘Hearty, authentic curry made from scratch’ and ‘Effortless & quick curry to prepare’. Sounds appealing? The challenge is finding a recipe that features both of these sentences. That’s because, as anyone who’s cooked a curry from scratch knows, there’s usually a labour of love involved. Provided, like me, you shun short cuts like store bought …
“The main meal of the day, taken around midday or in the evening. A formal meal, typically in honour of a person or event.” These intrigue building words greet guests as they enter the long dark corridor that separates the Crown Towers hotel from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. October 2015 saw the opening of Dinner …
You can’t beat using a wet and dreary Sunday as the perfect excuse to spend a few hours in the kitchen. I welcomed a recent downpour for just this reason. After whipping up my weekly loaf of paleo bread I moved onto these bites of gluten free goodness. My inspiration for these muffins was twofold …
What can I do with a bag of red capsicums that are going soft? I asked myself that question this week, with way too many almost past their best red peppers sat in my crisper drawer. Of course this was because of my ‘can’t resist buying specials in bulk’ shopping behaviour – something I do way …
I’ve been officially off sugar since early 2012. Today, a few years on my sweet tooth is easily satisfied. Where once I could easily devour a whole (large) bar of milk chocolate I’m now happy with a few squares of 85% dark chocolate. Giving up sugar hasn’t meant giving up my favourite desserts – because so …
I was having a pantry clear out last week expecting to find a few items close to their best before dates. To my surprise I only found one – a full bottle of premium fish sauce containing 72% anchovies (with salt the other ingredient). With a month to go before it passed its prime I had …
Australia boasts golden beaches and iconic landmarks, unique native wildlife and a laid back Aussie lifestyle. More recently it’s also becoming known for producing some of the world’s best food and wine. And when it comes to the food and wine there’s no better experience than overindulging for a carefree day or two in a wine region.
Sydney does so many things well when it comes to spoiling locals and tourists with top places to feast. Like restaurants with glorious water views. And menus that showcase the best local produce. Affordable food prices that allow you to justify becoming a regular. And drinks lists that hero Australian wines and craft beers. But …
I have many fond memories of Indian feasts growing up in the UK. And it’s these memories (and the end of the mango season) that inspired this, my 100th blog post……. In most British towns curry loving parents introduce their children to the local Indian restaurant or take-away at a relatively young age. Many of …
An extravagant Sunday brunch is a must do experience for any foodie visiting Bali. Every week restaurants around the island offer all inclusive brunch packages, each one a feast of local and international cuisine. After some research I booked ‘The Astor Diamond Champagne Brunch’ at Kayuputi Restaurant in The St. Regis hotel.
When it comes to building my health and wellbeing knowledge I’m a self-confessed digital-phobe. Yep, even though I have a food blog I’ve been reluctant to fully immerse myself in the digital age. I prefer a ‘real’ book any day over an e-book and can never resist pouring over a glossy magazine or flicking through … Continue reading
Is your New Year detox in full swing? Perhaps you’re trying hard to start 2019 by avoiding all things naughty and hoping to lose a few kilos in the process. I say trying because giving up things that taste great is never easy. Yes, most detox regimes can feel like deprivation – as it’s challenging … Continue reading
As a child my mother called me a ‘good-eater’, because every meal ended with a spotlessly clean plate. Growing up I even had a reputation for being able to out-feast my uncles during our family Christmas Day feast. They would sit back in admiration as I’d be the one going back for second and third … Continue reading
As a child I read my treasured Roald Dahl book collection many times over. The same collection still sits on my bookcase 25 years on. Only recently, for the first time in years, did I dive back into the Roald Dahl archives. Inspired by gifting Fantastic Mr Fox to my niece I wrote a piece … Continue reading
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership globally. According to the RSPCA, over 60% of Aussie households have pets. Dogs are the most common, with 38% of homes owning a dog. That’s 20 dogs for every 100 people! Here are my two fur babies, Enzo and Vespa. Ensuring our dogs remain hydrated is … Continue reading
I want to live to a ripe old age. Reaching centenarian status could be ambitious but 90 or even 85 will do just fine. But, for me at least, more important than the numbers of miles on the clock, is getting right to the end in good health – fully mobile, mentally sharp and free … Continue reading
I’d describe my diet as 95% plant based. After a lifetime of eating meat I decided to go pretty much vegetarian a few years ago. Surprisingly I found the transition so much easier than expected. Honestly I did. After a while I simply didn’t miss eating meat. I quickly found inventive ways to make ‘meat … Continue reading
Practice makes perfect they say. If only this applied to blogging. Every post we publish would get more views and comments than those that came before it. Every time we put pen to paper the words would flow more easily. And with every draft would come less editing….If this holds true for you then give … Continue reading
My posts have been distinctively orange of late. It’s what happens when a surplus of something hits my kitchen – the surplus something overtakes the week. In this case oranges are not a fruit I usually buy. So, confronted with a recent surplus, juicing them didn’t appeal. But experimenting with non-conventional orangey treats did…. First … Continue reading
In June IKEA revealed that it would stop selling all single use plastic products by 2020. Starbucks then announced plans to eliminate plastic straws by 2020 – saving over 1 billion straws globally every year. It seems the plastic free movement really is taking off. Here in Australia this month the major supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, … Continue reading
