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.

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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.