Girls Day Out!

Took MO and SO out whilst the Big Brother was off doing boy things. The request was a cafe lunch, so off we go to the usual haunt.

MO devoured a chocolate brownie, having just had actual lunch about half an hour before we went out. I prevaricated over my coffee order. Giving up the mocha in favour of the flat white has not been easy, especially when the Mr isn't around to be my sugar conscience. But flat white it was, along with this delicious salad number. I spied all sorts of ingredients in there, but I'm not so great with dressing identification. It was lightly creamy, and tasty, but I think could have been improved. Any suggestions on what would go well with these flavours?

Chicken, kale, brocolli, green beans, pomegranate seeds, strawberries, cucumber, capsicum, cherry tomatoes and baby spinach.

Who says you can't get great fresh food at the cafe's in small towns?

Midnight Pumpkin Mud

My new favourite breakfast also doubles as a handy late night snack. Yummy 'Snickery Pumpkin Mud Smoothie' from Sarah Wilson's 'I Quit Sugar'.

It's now just after 11.40 pm. The smallest offspring (SO) has been cluster feeding on and off since around 8pm. She's taken to a new habit of being relatively settled during the day, then partying late into the night - much like her parents' hazily distant youth. But after a couple of nights of this, combined with some busy days, my energy levels (and sense of humour) are depleting as midnight approaches.

Of course it's also super hot and humid, so no one is having any fun, and usually my go-to energy boost right about now would be chocolate - and lots of it. But I've discovered on my sugar free recovery that I can't really stop at a couple of bits of chocolate just yet, so it's off the menu for now.

Ransacking the fridge uncovered the leftover cup from yesterday's breakfast, so in between 'shushing' and rocking the SO, I've scoffed it. For me Pumpkin Mud covers all the bases for chocolate, cold, pudding, protein and veges.  The middle offspring loves this too, and shares a small cup with me in the morning.

Snickery Pumpkin Mud Smoothie (makes two serves)

Blend the following, add a small handful of ice to blender if you like it runnier or need it colder.

*    small handful of spinach leaves
*   1 1/2 tablespoons raw cacao powder (I use LifeFoods brand)
*    1/2 cup Greek yoghurt (or almond/coconut/any milk you like)
*   1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder
*   1 tablespoon peanut butter
*   3 wedges cold roasted pumpkin (organised types will have premashed and frozen this in portions)

It blends up to be a seriously unappetising colour, but that just means that no one round here wants to steal it. Apart from my middle offspring food adventurer, she's discovered it's yummier than it looks.