Made The Better Way: Carrot Cake

Body Sticky Comments: 3

Carrot cake goes hand in hand with the Lime Tree Cafe here in Dubai. It’s a slice of mammoth proportions, coated in a sweet and creamy layer of frosting. The carrot cake below is Made The Better Way packed full of walnuts, pecans, dates with flavours of nutmeg, cinnamon and orange.

The trick here is mind association. When you think of carrot cake don’t have pre conceived notions that your getting a massive slice of triple layer, sugar packed and essentially fatty cake. The icing with this recipe is creamy, coconutty and sweet enough to satisfy any naughty cravings.

carrot cake

I followed this recipe but would love to know what variations you’ve made of your favourite treats, or do you have any go-to substitutions when you’re baking? Share your ideas below!

Procrastination

Mind Sticky Comments: 3

Procrastination

As I sit down to type this post, everything BUT writing seems to have taken a priority in my thoughts. My  stream of consciousness is going a little like this…

“Oh is that my tummy grumbling, I should get something to eat… Shit I need to borrow the vacuum from Liz, must what’s app her now…. my hair is annoying me, let me find a hair tie…. oh look there’s that magazine I thought I’d thrown out.”

I’ve always thought I had a hyperactive mind, but I’ve come to realise most of this is fear coupled with a lack of self belief and no clear goal setting.

Fear because I’m afraid of judgement from my actions. Lack of self belief because I don’t really think anyone will care what I write that spills over in lack of self worth and because plodding along in life is sometimes SO MUCH EASIER. But only in the short term.

Let’s get started

Here are some strategies to identify why you’re putting off doing the things you know you need to get done, and how to get started being disciplined with yourself.

  • Ask yourself why the hell are you avoiding the task- Are you overwhelmed? Do you think you can get it done later? Are you prioritising other tasks? Or are you afraid of the end result?
  • Once you’ve figured out what that massive block is, set about clearing up all that crap. In order to get this post done I switched my phone on silent and kept it away from my desk. Shut down the tabs with twitter and facebook on my window and took some ownership for my life and work. What can you do to remove those negative influences in your environment?
  • Realise that procrastination can strike at any time! Your Captain Planet and life isn’t a one episode deal. This shit is going to come back and you’ve got to keep these tools in your arsenal to fight back. I’m scheduling writing hours within my week, perhaps you need to tell colleagues that your unavailable for an hour to get things done. Or be honest with yourself, turn that phone and TV off and just get started on the task at hand. If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start something, this is it.

This site is all about spreading positive, useful tools to enhance your life! Tell me your tips on how you’re  becoming more disciplined below and share with your friends on facebook and twitter.

 

Made The Better Way: Rainy Day Food

Body, Food April 29, 2013 Leave a comment

Mother Nature is going through a bit of rough patch. At a time when people would normally be talking about “How hot it’s getting at the moment” we’ve been hit with thunderstorms, rain and grey clouds to rival London in Summer.

Weather like this always make’s you want to reach for something stodgy so I decided to try this version of Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms. It’s Gluten Free and Vegan Friendly but you can make it as naughty as you like.

Portobello

Ridiculously easy to put together, very few ingredients and loads of room to add your own flair to it with feta, diced capsicum or chilli. I substituted the pine nuts for a sprinkling of sunflower seeds and went heavy on the garlic, but that’s just the way I like it. That contrasted perfectly with the sweetness of the raisins and juicy cheery tomatoes.

Have you got a favourite way to cook Portobello Mushrooms or even a favourite not so naughty rainy day treat? Let me know below!

Taking the Bull by the Horns

Mind April 27, 2013 Leave a comment

bull

My Mum has always used this phrase when she want’s to emphasise the fact that I need to get stuck into my problems and take control.

If English is your second language you’re probably thinking it’s quite a strange concept but metaphorically it means to confront your problem head on.

I often get stuck compromising my own happiness for fear of making others upset, giving people answer’s they don’t want to hear or my over active imagination getting the best of me and I draw my own conclusions in my head before I’ve had a chance to take any action.

Sometimes timing is everything, you may be stuck in a place where taking another more passive option may be a better solution. But if you have an underlying feeling the issue at hand, be it problems with a work colleague, a friend or a business partner, isn’t progressing to a solution then the following steps may help to nip it in the bud.

Let’s Get Started

  • Quantify the issue, detail exactly what the issue is and how it’s affecting you. Is it a person? A problem with a timetable? How is it impacting your work or your goals?
  • List the people that can help you address the problem. Can your landlord intervene? Have you spoken to your boss? Would a friend work as a mediator?
  • Schedule a time to meet. Want that pay rise? Send a meeting appointment to your boss. Would you like to see what working in a different career would be like? Ask to meet for coffee with someone in that industry.

Using simple tools to carve out a life you love will enable to you sit in the driver’s seat and be in control. Have you every been stuck in a situation you thought you didn’t have any say over? How do you deal with problems? Share your tips and thought’s with me below!

Eating habits on holiday

Body April 20, 2013 Leave a comment

mum and i petra

I surprised my mum with a trip to Jordan last week which was jammed packed and full of fun. One thing I always struggle with is making healthy choices when I’m on holiday. I tend to give myself too many reasons to treat myself, eat poorly and gorge. We knew that we would have some pretty long days that involved a lot of walking or driving, so I wanted to make sure we had good energy levels and would be able to have something on hand if we weren’t close to a supermarket.

With us we took

  • Chia Seeds, to add to yoghurt from the supermarket or mix with water
  • Home Made Muesli Bars with cocoa nibs!
  • Bananas and Oranges, great non perishable fruits
  • Popcorn in sandwich bags

While we were there we managed to find a supermarket and brought cucumbers to snack on as well as bread rolls, sliced chicken and cheese to make sandwiches and take with us and bottles of water.

We made the choice to plan ahead and be actively involved in what we ate rather than have our holiday and the places we went to dictate how we should eat. It meant that I always had good choices on hand, I never had a chance to feel hungry and make bad nutritional choices as well.

Let’s Get Started

  • Find markets, supermarkets or juice bars where you plan to go. The internet is a great tool and I could find things in the middle of Jordan!
  • Pack things before hand- put chia seeds into a small tupperware container, make popcorn on the stovetop with coconut oil or buy some banana’s and apple’s.
  • If all else fails, make good choices on the menu. Salads and vegetable sides can be found in the deepest darkest corners of restaurants, whether its ethnic cuisines or fast food places you can always put together a healthy meal if you want to.

I would love to know how you make food choices while your away or travelling in a new country. Do you have a go to recipe or strategy on holiday? Share your stories and tips with me below!

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