The Most Amazing Dairy-Free Mango Ice-cream

Ingredients

• 3 cans of coconut milk/cream refrigerated over night
• 1 can of coconut condensed milk (found in the Asian food section of supermarket)
• 1 tsp of vanilla
• 2 mangoes chopped (or 1 1/2 cups of frozen berries)

What To Do

1. Whip the thick white coconut cream (save the clear liquid for another recipe) and the coconut condensed milk until rich and thick.
2. Add in vanilla and fruit. Whip until combined.
3. Freeze in a cling wrap lined container overnight.
4. Remove frozen mix from freezer, remove cling wrap, and chop frozen mix roughly with a knife.
5. Throw frozen mix into food processor and mix until smooth. Add a few slurps of leftover coconut milk to smooth it out. 
6. Eat now as soft serve! Or refreeze to make ice-cream on sticks. (see video for two layer ice-creams)

Perfect for surviving summer in Sydney.

Surviving Summer in Sydney!!!

Nutty Coffee Toffee Chocolate Bark

Ingredients

Method

1. Combine all but the chocolate in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat. Continue stirring until all combined.
2. Raise the heat and allow to boil untouched. Continue boiling until the temperature reaches 145°C (just before hard crack stage on a candy thermometer).
3. Pour into a baking paper lined tray.
4. Once slightly cooled sprinkle on chopped dark chocolate. As chocolate melts spread the chocolate across the top of the hot toffee. 
5. Sprinkle chopped almonds or extra coffee sugar on top. 
6. Refrigerate until firm. Chop roughly to serve.

*Place your can of coconut cream in the fridge overnight to allow the cream to separate from the clear liquid.

I was very excited for this recipe to be chosen for the CSR competition I entered. Am loving my abundance of sugar I have received...and the Maxwell William's jug is to die for! Well, maybe not to that extent...but it is my colours and so pretty!

Recipe adapted from Clean Eating with a Dirty Mind. Check out so many yummy paleo recipes over there!

Invigorate for Pain

Qi of Calm

Now the other reason I wanted to give this a go, was due to the awful emotional swings my body was taking me on mid cycle. I was anxious, on edge, and just wanting to hide from the world for those couple of torturous days each month. I was ready and willing to give almost anything a try, in particular something natural.

And thirdly, who with MECFS/Fibro has ever had a decent nights sleep…so I was open to anything that might improve the quality of my rest.

So, here all of that brings us to Qi of Calm by Resonant Botanicals. Now Qi (if you were wondering, like I was) is pronounced “chee” and refers to life force or energy. And is also that awesome 2 letter scrabble word to know for when you are stuck with the Q and no U!

This was also my first foray into Hemp Oil (the legal version of CBD Oil) and the medicinal properties it provides. According to Resonant Botanicals… (as they have put it better than I could have…)

“Qi of Calm™ is a carefully crafted, eclectic assortment of herbs from all over the world blended to harmoniously soothe anxiety, stress and aid with insomnia. Western herbs, such as chamomile, lavender, skullcap, green tea and passionflower are joined by Ayurvedic herbs such as ashwaganda, which is considered a tonic for protection against stress and Brahmi, which is believed to support sattva, or the pure essence of consciousness. Brahmi helps to promote a balanced emotional state and aid with a restful sleep.”

This product I have been using daily. And I love it. So much so I had to double check the dates of the month because I hadn’t wanted to hibernate from the world mid cycle…that in itself has had me cheering. It has also left me so much more chilled. Before I started using it, the Uni schedule had just ramped up….I was tense, and scattered, and feeling overwhelmed. Currently, a month or so in, the uni schedule is as still as full on, yet, I’m cruising along. I’ve also been in a great place cognitively, and so that has been awesome. My sleep has been pretty good too.

A little dab of this rubbed in under my left rib (where apparently your spleen is…I haven’t double checked) each day has been easy as. The smell is pleasant and mild enough that it doesn’t send this smell-a-phobe into meltdown. Some Lavender, Sandalwood and Frankincense make up some of the mix.

It comes in two different sizes… US$20 or US$55 plus $20 shipping to Australia. This is not cheap, but in the past 6 weeks I have used approx. 1/3 of a bottle with daily use. I would definitely consider purchasing another bottle when I am done!

Resonant Botanicals also has an awesome Pay it Forward program…I love this concept. Medical expenses are ridiculous, and so any saving grace for those who are struggling is awesome in my books! 

My recommendation: Well worth a try.

Find the FB link here for Resonant Botanicals.

ME/CFS & FM Association NSW

So, what are they all about? This is seems to boil down to advocacy, awareness and support. The group are a bunch of everyday volunteers, with ME/CFS &/or FM or they might also be a carer of someone with it. So, they get it. Real people trying to make real change and awareness in our state.

This group is in it's early days (relatively speaking). But are already have big goals and are ready to be a voice for the so many in our state who are struggling day in, day out with these diseases. They are keen to focus on instilling education (in particular with medical professionals and students), investigating self-management courses for sufferers, and awareness, awareness, awareness.