Healthy recipes ~ The heat

Just what I didn't need right now. (now is the time to remember what I am thankful for)

All the preserving jars are cleaned and ready to go.

43C (109.4F) melting temperature for today. The nectarines may just get cooked on the trees as most are not quite ready although I have picked a few. I checked them last night after the hot day yesterday and they felt quite spongy from the heat, but not ripe. With an early rise this morning I have given the fruit trees a good watering to try to get them through. The chooks are feeling it too, so water has been laid around for them as well.

To top my day off nicely, dear son has come down with a bad dose of gastro this morning. Poor little soul.

A Praying Mantis graced us with a visit this morning. He was on the screen door taking in some cool air.

I have started the New Year with a healthy food plan. I began last Saturday and have already lost over a kilo without feeling hungry. Sugar and dairy have been omitted from my diet as part of getting my liver back healthly.



Here are a couple of healthy recipes.
They don't taste too bad either.




APRICOT CHEWS

1 packet of diced apricots

2 cups of orange juice

4 tablespoons of honey

3 1/2 cups skim milk powder

1/2 cup soya flour

2 cups chopped almonds

2 tablespoons grated orange rind

2 cups sultanas

2 cups currants

2 cups coconut

In a saucepan, simmer apricots, orange juice and honey until apricots are tender (5-10mins). Mix in milk powder and soya flour, add almond, orange rind, sultanas, coconut and currants. Mix well and leave to cool slightly. Roll mixture into log shape and roll in extra coconut, refrigerate, cut into slices when firm and store in container.

I halve this recipe and add mixed dried fruit instead of sultanas and currants. I also used plain flour in place of soya flour as I was unable to purchase soya flour.


FRUIT AND HONEY LOAF



3/4 cup cold tea

1/3 cup honey

1 1/2 cups mixed fruit

1 large apple, grated

1 egg

2 cups wholemeal or high fibre SR flour



Preheat oven to 180C. Combine tea, honey and mixed fruit in saucepan. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, simmer 2 minutes and allow to cool. Stir in apple, egg and flour. Transfer to greased and floured (or lined) loaf tin. Bake in moderate oven for 50 minutes.






Today will be spent inside apart from going outside to check on the animals and garden.



x Tania