I have finally decided to post recipes I use for my little one, which are adaptations of foods I make for myself. My little one, or my Polpettino, as I call him, has been sheltered from any sort of processed foods, refined sugar, additives, etc. Just like his mother did as baby, he has been enjoying home cooked meals with no salt, sugar or MSGs--only fresh organic produce from Wholefoods, farmers' markets (and Sainsbury's when we ran out of Wholefoods items), and seasonal as much as possible. 

For the first Curds + Whey post--the series dedicated to all things ethical baby--I thought I would introduce one of Polpettino's favourite treats, which I only make one to two times a month. I was inspired to make a chocolate inspired snack as my mother-in-law was looking forward to spoiling him with sweet treats (No Cadbury chocolate, please!). Instead of giving him refined sugar, I thought a take on a mousse would be ideal. 

What follows is an adaptation of a chocolate mousse for babies, that is healthy and delicious, and deserving for your petites enfants. Also, I would like to think that by feeding him healthy sweets this will deter him from its evil twin in the future. Here is to hoping. 

  Organic Fairtrade Ingredients:

1 ripe banana

1/2 ripe avocado

4-5 large medjool dates (can substitute with prunes)

1 tbsp unsweetened (at least) 70% cacao

1/2 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice or coconut milk

Process:

Peel and cut in fruits

Add all ingredients to a food processor 

Whip to desired consistency

Add more juice or milk as desired

Suitable for:

8+ m, but I recommend it for 10+ m

Note:

Dates are great for babies as they have so many health benefits. For one, they help any intestinal disturbances, as they eliminate bad parasites and promote healthy bacteria needed for digestion. They also help to protect the liver--see ya later jaundice and hepatitis--and have a plethora of minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium which assist in bones and brain development (respectively). 

Cacao is not as straightforward as Dates. I have found conflicting research on the use of cacao in baby food,especially as it is a stimulant. Also, the cacao industry has been marred by child labour and trafficking, which is why I only buy fair trade cacao. Cacao also has its fair share of benefits, as it is believed to protect against heart disease, cancer, and various other medical conditions as well as improving blood pressure and glucose metabolism. However, I only give him raw cacao once a month to ensure that the negative impacts do not outweigh the positive ones (if that makes any sense).

Check out Curds + Whey on Insta @theconsciencecollectivebaby. 

A little WW1 ration inspiration* for Monday morning c/o pinterest.  

*That's gotta be an oxymoron!

I am not the best at baking [I once made buns that tasted of soap], so I thought I would look to one of my favourite yogis (next to my Mother) for a sweet treat this Meat Free Monday. I love almond butter, especially homemade almond butter as it is easy to make your own. However, as I had some leftover homemade peanut butter, I thought I would get a bit adventurous and substitute the almond with the peanut butter. Tara Stiles's recipe is easy to make and extra easy to follow, and can be enjoyed by Vegans and Non-Vegans Alike, so what on earth are you waiting for. 

LIZ COOK's nutrition wallchart is now in its 18th year and with over 150,000 sold continues to be as popular as ever. It is a hand-written and illustrated table showing some of the best plant-based sources of all the essential nutrients. Drawn as a quick reference guide for bringing up her son on an animal free diet, the original chart has been going strong for 15 years, during which time it has been regularly redrawn and updated as the latest nutritional research has come to light - the last redraw was at the end of 2005. 

In addition to the Nutrition Wallchart, Liz Cook also came up with several other charts, from Seasonal UK Fruits & Vegetable Charts to Yoga Charts on Daily Yoga Poses. There are even charts for Children: one that teaches a child the responsibilities that go into having a dog, and another called the Rainbow Food Chart, designed as a fun way to help children (and adults) eat the recommended five portions of brightly coloured fruit and vegetables every day. These charts are great in helping us to identify what produce contains what vitamins and minerals, and assists us in keeping track of our everyday intake of the necessary food groups. This would be good as a house-warming, late Christmas or birthday gift for your health-nut friend, or a great item for your own kitchen. Did I mention that they are inexpensive? 

Start the New Year with one of these nutrition charts to start a new you off right. My New Year's Resolution is to "tone" up (quite alot) and continue to eat healthily. These charts will certainly make this easier.

Visit: www.lizcookcharts.co.uk - £5.95 each(for one) OR £4.95 each (for two or more)

One of the Stacy H. Family Traditions the night before Christmas is to curl up in front of the television and watch old Christmas films (White Christmas is a favourite) whilst eating popcorn. This year I thought I would spice up the old tradition by making Coconut Curry Caramel Corn (OH YEAH, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY). This is one of the amazing recipes from Susan Feniger's cookbook Street Food, which I've been meaning to try for months now. I will obviously update you on how it went for me, but at the same time I hope that some of you will try the recipe I've provided for this exotic spiced-up version of our favourite movie-snack.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

I don't like to be defined by my vegetarianism but if you know someone who is particularly passionate about their dietary persuasion and never know what to get them, this gift list is for you.  Sweet, ethical gifts for that pesky vegetarian in your life :-). You could also take a Meat Free Monday pledge and gift it to them in the form of a voucher - thoughtful and FREE! 

Watch the video that inspired our Meat Free Monday posts here.

Yesterday, I took a quick trip to MOM's ORGANIC MARKET to get a few supplies for a pasta dish I was making, when my sister mockingly asked me "How do you know that all this stuff is really organic? It could all be a conspiracy!" I looked at her and said, "exactly, it all could be, which is why I tend to focus on seasonality and local farmers," but when in Rome, right? The problem, I told her, is that there is so much "greenwashing," which dilutes the very essence of what these terms were meant to mean. 

When we returned home, I was left wondering, why is it that so many of us put our trust in the word "organic" so easily?  So, being the curious Nancy that I am (and the idea of having a possible story to write about for the blog, obvs) I decided to search for organic food and its traceability. To my surprise there were many different reports, organisations and articles on this. Scrolling further down I saw a link for a Traceability App. What was that? An App that tells me where my food comes from? Tell me more...

Featuring superhero farm animals including Leo the young pig, Chickity and Moopheus, the Meatrix, a satire of cult movie The Matrix, revolutionised online grassroots advocacy when it went viral in 2003. Depicting the perils of today's factory farming culture, the short received an overwhelming response and The Meatrix II: Revolting and The Meatrix II 1/2 soon followed suit. The Meatrix website offers easy-to-digest information on factory farming as well as alternatives to conventionally farmed meat and poultry products and also features an Eat Well Guide - an online directory of sustainable food from farms, stores and restaurants for US users.

I had Emma J. over for Brunch, as we had a lot of work to do one fine English Sunday. I'm not a breakfast eater, and I know that most of you advocates for "the most important meal of the day" might scold me for such bad dietary habits, but it's just not "my thing." Instead, I'm a brunch kinda gal. I like the laissez-faire nature of the meal, and it's reference to a carefree approach to the day. Also, who wants to be woken up early on a Sunday?

For this brunch, I was craving a little bit of black beans--think of it as an ode to my South American yearnings--so had soaked these overnight, just in time for the brunch. I also had a few remained eggs that I get from my partner's parents house, where two young boys deliver us their fresh eggs from their chickens every Sunday. As a result, this dish came to being. I have no name for it, but what follows is the recipe for those of you who wish to throw your own Bean Brunch.

If you're feeling stuck for Meat Free inspiration on a Monday morning like I am this is the PERFECT book for you (watch out friends - it's all you're getting for Christmas!).  With 52 Meat Free meals there's one recipe for every Monday of the year. Launched as part of Sir Paul McCartney's Meat Free Monday campaign, The McCartney's share their favourite family meals as well as calling in help from some famous friends.

Sir Paul started Meat Free Monday in the UK in 2009 to promote the health, environmental and financial benefits of not eating meat one day of the week. The movement now boasts sister campaigns in 22 countries including Meat Less Mondays in the US.

All proceeds from sales of the book go to Mary, Stella and Sir Paul McCartney's Meat Free Monday Campaign. Get your copy here and here.

 When shopping for food, I rarely think of organic grocery shopping, but rather seasonal grocery shopping from local farmers. As we go into November, my local green grocers have been enticing me with overflowing pails of chestnuts and crates upon crates of brussels sprouts. Inspired by the latter, I made a brussels sprouts and cabbage medley with bacon bits.Clams are also in season (finally), as they are the key ingredient for my favourite pasta of all time Linguine alla Vongole.

As a result, I thought that I would share a list of some of the Seasonal British Foods that you can incorporate into your diet this month (I head to the US next week and will cover this there as well, so stay tuned). What I learned from the mushroom man at Borough Market is that wild mushrooms are slowly making its way out of season (wild mushroom risotto this week it is), so I have also included some of what is going out of season.

Dhal (Indian for lentils and pulses made as a stew) has always been a staple part of my life. My mom makes dhal once a week and always asks "which one shall we have?" A warm feeling is aroused and taste buds start tingling at all the possibilities. And this is the beauty of dhal. You have so many options. Our pantry is brimming with jars of all kinds, from kala chana (black chickpeas), moong dhal (mung beans), masoor dhal (split red lentils), motte and motti dhal (mixture of brown lentils). I could go on and on. Overall dhal is simple to make, the hard bit is choosing which one! 

FACECUP is the brainchild of hairstylist, design enthusiast, fashionisto, and my dear friend Tommaso Dall'Osso.  I met Tommaso in a New York Salon some years ago, where we started our friendship over a midnight cake fight and prosecco. Since then, his career has been growing in New York and now in Milano, where he has re-relocated to further develop his artistry. So, imagine my surprise when he informed me that he was starting a business, which combined fashion, design, health, 'eco-chic', the salon experience and a good cup of Italian coffee, I had to have him elaborate on this concept. What does coffee and hair have to do with each other? Then imagine my bigger shock when he announced that he would be moving to Seoul for a few months (or so...)? I needed to pry and find out what was going on in the life of someone who I see as up-and-coming in the Milano scene, and what his motivations were for this coffee brand, which has such a unique place within the coffee and fashion industries. 

FACECUP is a stylishly branded Italian coffee for everyone. It is meant to make the consumer feel empowered through it's sheer sexiness, and its overall eco-chic philosophy. "Facecup is meant to make you smile," Tommaso reiterates as I ask him where he sees the brand evolving. It frames its business ethos on the fusion and balance of opposites, especially when it relates to cultural disparities, whilst maintaining an environmental and Fair Trade stance. The latter is projected holistically through as they offer Joana Carvalho's Eco-Kit for Coffee, which is a made from biopolymer, non-polluting, biodegradable materials produced from a single injection mold and contains a saucer, cup with handle and spoon. The coffees and teas draw on his teams' cultural backgrounds and experiences across five continents, which is epitomised in the very nature of the branding. With names like Giorgio to describe a very Italian coffee, or God Shave the Queen to represent his Ceylon English Breakfast Tea, these drinks not only reference pop culture and comedic wordplay, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle through the added vitamins that promote internal and external rejuvenation.

What follows is an interview with the CEO & Founder of FACECUP, Tommaso Dall'Osso.  

by Emma H.

Chocolate. There's nothing like it. Deliciously sweet and punishingly bitter, the perfect pick me up and a devilish treat. Nothing illustrates chocolate's delectable dicotomy like Kum-Kum Bhavnani's documentary Nothing Like Chocolate. At once enraging and utterly inspiring it tells the compelling stories of activist chocolate maker Mott Green, founder of The Grenada Chocolate Company Cooperative, and independent cocoa farmer, mother of seven, and all-round superwoman Nelice Stewart. Both stories offer an uplifting antidote to the harsh reality of cocoa production in Côte d'Ivoire where enslaved child labourers, a symptom of corporate greed and low cocoa bean prices, often work to bring cheap chocolate to our supermarkets. Click below to read more and watch the trailer. 

So I am a crème brûlées junkie. The one who looks at the dessert menu first before looking at the mains, to see if it is on the chef's repertoire. So imagine my delight and confusion when I saw that The Tasting Table had featured a sweet corn crème brûlées. I had to try it, and man was it delish! 

With a subtle, but present hint of roasted corn bouncing around with the creamy sweetness we associate with this bit of heaven in a pot, I had to share with you this recipe that had me in a delightful giddy.

I would recommend using berries that are in season, as those taste the sweetest.