Nut Butter

 

As fellow Thermomix owners know, once you have this ultimate kitchen appliance, there is literally no way you could live without it.  So on occasions I have sympathy for those without and I make healthy goodies for them.  One on my regular list is whipping up nutritious and delicious jars of nut butter for my sister and niece.  High in protein, a great energy boost for kids, and good enough to eat by the spoon full!

You can use whatever nuts you prefer, roasted or raw, and in whatever quantities.  I use the following because I love almonds, cashews add a creaminess and macadamias are naturally high in oils. 



Apple and Cinnamon Pizza with Nut butter, Maple Syrup and Blueberries

Apart from spreading on fresh bread or toast, nut butters can be used in baking, or in smoothies.  In fact, after making a batch I usually whiz up a high protein banana nut smoothie for the kids to “wash out” the bowl.  So Aunty M your order is awaiting...

Nut butter and banana smoothie

Nut Butter

250g raw almonds

100g cashews

50g macadamias

• Add nuts to Thermomix bowl and blend for between 1 – 2 minutes on speed 9 depending on your desired consistency
• Add a tablespoon of grapeseed or other neutral oil if needed
• Add a tablespoon of coconut oil or rapadura sugar for extra sweetness if desired
• Keeps well in a jar in the fridge for at least a month

 

Snow

It was an inaugural adventure of the kids first trip to the snow!  Now while it was a humbling experience, far from the snow covered mountains we’d been to pre children in Canada and New Zealand, we all had fun.  A day trip to Lake Mountain with enough snow machine cover for a toboggan run, it was more than enough to introduce the kids to the elements and tire them out.  Our highlight of the day was venturing along a cross country ski track to find some real snow.  Soft and deep, gently covering plants like marshmallow and sinking under your feet as you climbed over it.  We made snowmen and had snow ball fights.  Even if there were only patches of it, this was “real” snow!

Snow fights...

 

Snow angels...

After a hot chocolate and swapping wet gloves we battled a few more toboggan runs.  Then it was time to head down the mountain, farewell the snow, and back to our accommodation in nearby Healesville for a few nights.  Woodbox Retreat was all you could need for a weekend away while being child friendly.  Great kitchen, quality linen covered beds and highlight for the kids was the spa bath, big enough for everyone to fit in!

The following day the adventures continued with a trip to the Healesville Sanctuary.  A relaxed wildlife park with a focus on conservation and protection of animals along with informative shows and keeper talks.  A visit to the animal hospital fuelled Summer’s curiosity about animal care and desire to become a vet some day.

And of course I can’t forget a mention of food.  Healesville is in gourmet food and wine country and we loved our make at home meal of Yarra Valley Pasta topped with a creamy sauce brought to life by a squeeze of lemon from the garden of our accommodation.  We also enjoyed a meal at the renown Innocent Bystander with sourdough bread to take home.  As always I took along plenty of homemade snacks with treats like my Scrumptious Slice (energy laden for an adventure to the snow) and Apricot Coconut Balls which were handy snacks for on the go.

So as it’s now nearing the end of the snow season in Australia you never know what next year will bring.  Perhaps even snow school for the kids at a real mountain!