Little Green Dot

Category: Food

Live your dream! Inspirational documentaries.

Three days ago I stumbled upon a series of short documentaries, made by a film-maker who is also a food-lover. She tells the story of ordinary people who have chosen to follow their dreams, making a living doing what they love – and for each one, it’s making a food product. There’s a cheese maker, a donut baker, a hot-sauce creator… there are almost 100 of them and I seriously have watched them all! Excessive, I know, but in my defense they are only 5 minutes long and really good!

What grabbed my attention was how each story was different, but shared a common theme. People who create with love and passion, not because of money but because it makes them happy, all care about what goes into their product. They choose natural, organic, humane and eco-friendly ingredients – simply because that means that it’s the very best. What I love is that these quality products are made for everyone, not a luxury designed for a select few. They are the way that we should all be eating and consuming.

I’ve been re-inspired to go out there and find our own pioneers and artisians right here in Singapore who create beautifully made products with conviction and heart. So, if you make a product yourself or know someone who does, please let me know, I’d love to tell that story!

For now, I’d like to share these stories with you. Here are some of my favorites, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll end up watching them all too! Here’s the full list – go be inspired!

August 15, 2012
Make it – Healthy Chocolate Fudge Sundae! Plus a discount on Coconut Oil!
Update: As the NaturaWorks deal has finished, check out more places to buy coconut oil in Singapore.

I’ve been playing in my kitchen, and what has resulted is probably one of the most exciting things ever: Healthy Chocolate Fudge Sundae. It’s a no-guilt treat, that is as delicious as it is good for you! The chocolate sauce is a superfood and the “ice-cream” is creamy frozen banana! It’s a stroke of genius! Living a more natural life and stepping away from processed foods means that you begin to make your own things, and a lot of that is just about getting in the kitchen and letting yourself go! When you use beautiful, simple ingredients… sometimes a bit of magic happens. Hopefully this inspires you to play a bit more!

Chocolate Fudge Sundae – vegan, no sugar, no dairy & all good!

Let’s talk about one of the main ingredients: Coconut oil. It’s amazing. Easily digestible, it is immediately burned as energy. It doesn’t store as fat in our bodies, like other oils do. It boosts your metabolism and is packed with so much nourishment, which you can use on the inside and out. I have praised coconut oil many times before, you can have a look at some skin-care and hair-care recipes if you like…

Before the recipe – let me tell you about this deal!

I get asked a lot where to buy unrefined, virgin coconut oil… so I contacted a great shop here in Singapore, NaturaWorks, and they were kind enough to offer our family of eco-maniacs a 5% discount for the entire month of August! Go grab a bottle and start making healthy and nourishing recipes at home! Use the discount code: GreenDot5Aug!

Tip: if you don’t want the coconut flavor, they offer a neutral/unscented coconut oil… I personally prefer the raw, unrefined oils which are cold-pressed and retain their natural flavor and scent. Have a read on their website and decide which you prefer!

Vegan Chocolate Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:
- Dates (to sweeten)
- Cashews (to give it a buttery, creamy feel)
- Coconut Oil
- Raw Cacao Powder (raw means it wasn’t heated, and still retains it’s antioxidants and nutrients!)
- Pinch of salt
Banana Ice-cream Recipe

Ingredients:
- Frozen Bananas
- optional: vanilla beans or powder
Directions:

1. Start with the chocolate fudge sauce. In a blender or food processor, blend the dates and cashews to form a paste. If your dates are hard, soak them first in water for about 15 minutes. You should always soak your nuts before eating, to make them easier to digest and to absorb their nutrients (which are abundant!) Cashews should soak first for 2 hours. As for the amounts, I did 2 parts dates and about 1 part cashews.

2. When you have formed a date/cashew paste, add in the cacao power. It will form a ball, so start to slowly add in the coconut oil until you have reached a consistency that you like. Continue blending, add a pinch of salt, to bring out the sweetness. How much cacao powder? Depends on how many dates you added….for about 6 dates, I add 2 big tablespoons of cacao powder. Taste as you go…

3. To make the ice-cream, you need to start with very frozen bananas. Cut them up into small pieces and blend them up. Don’t blend for too long or it will heat up and begin to go soft. You can add vanilla bean to give it that real vanilla ice-cream flavor!

4. Serve scoops of “ice-cream” in a bowl, and pour your chocolate fudge sauce all over! enjoy

Tip – to make this: First, peel and freeze your bananas and soak your cashews. In 2 hours, you’ll be ready to start!

This treat was a happy accident that I loved! Let’s make it great – try it out and let me know your thoughts!! Thanks again to NaturaWorks for offering us a discount!! Go grab a bottle today! Don’t forget to enter discount code: GreenDot5Aug

Enjoy!
August 3, 2012
Roasted Garlic and Chili Tomato Sauce – easy to make!
A beautiful jar of tomato sauce can make a simple meal delicious! Boil some pasta, pour on the sauce… and you’re done. There are some great brands of jarred sauce out there, but the problem with many is that they are often loaded with so much sodium. Even when you do get a good, natural and low-salt brand – it’s still a processed food. There are a lot of steps involved from farm-to-jar-to-plate, and when you make it yourself, you can simplify that.

This recipe is for a beautiful roasted tomato sauce that is so easy to make! You’re left with a jar of sauce that you can use on that day, you can store away in the fridge or freezer for another day, or give away as a gift to a well deserving friend.

Roasting your veggies makes a great sauce with little fuss. It brings out the natural flavors and sweetness, and it’s just perfect. When you make this sauce, and your house fills with the aromas as it cooks and your belly grumbles in happy anticipation. It just makes the entire meal that much more special.

delicious!

Homemade Roasted Tomato Sauce

Ingredients:
- 5-7 ripe tomatoes
- salt & pepper
- olive oil
- 1 date – for sweetness
- any other ingredients that you love – garlic, onion, chili, bell peppers, eggplant…
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 180 C
2. Cut your tomatoes in halves along with your other ingredients. Drizzle olive oil to fully cover, but not saturate. Sprinkle with salt & pepper.
3. Roast in the oven for about 20-30 minutes or until oozing and brown.
4. Bring it out of the oven and allow to cool. Then whizz it up in the blender, with a bit of water or stock until you get the consistency that you want.
5. Add the pitted date for sweetness and salt & pepper to taste.
Store it in a jar and it will keep in the fridge for about 3-5 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months!

Enjoy it and share with a friend!
July 26, 2012
Growing Herbs for Beginners
I kill herbs. There I said it! I try to grow them, but somehow they always seem to wilt and die on me. I don’t want to kill them, I want to eat them! They make food taste great! That’s why I started this beginner’s guide to growing herbs, if only to teach myself! My problem was that I never really got to know them… I would treat them all the same, but each herb has its own little quirks, its own way of doing things…

If you want to bring nature into your home, save money and enjoy fresh food – this guide is for you!

Let’s start with three beginner herbs: Mint, Basil & Rosemary. You can grow them from seeds, but since we’re dealing with a lack of a green thumb here, let’s make it easy. Buy a plant from the nursery or even supermarket, a bag of good soil and start on your way!

If your mint comes in one of those tiny plastic containers, re-pot it into a larger pot. Their roots are creepers and need room to grow. If you want more mint, cut off a few sprigs and place them in a cup with some water. After a week, the roots will grow and you can plant it in soil.
- sun: morning sun and partial afternoon shade
- water: mint likes water, keep the soil humid. (put your finger in the soil, if it’s wet, don’t water it – but if it’s feeling dry, water it)
- care: Do not allow to flower, snip off buds. If you plant mint in a bed, with other herbs, keep it in a pot or mesh bag, and plant the whole thing in the soil to contain the roots, otherwise they spread out and overpower other plants.
There are so many types of basil with different flavors, from cinnamon and peppery to sweet! Basil loves tropical weather, hot and sunny! When you harvest your basil, don’t keep it in the fridge, it will turn black in the cold. Keep in a cup with some water, like a flower.
- sun: likes full sunlight
- water: basil likes water, keep the soil humid. (put your finger in the soil, if it’s wet, don’t water it – but if it’s feeling dry, water it) make sure that you water it at the base of the plant to avoid stressing the leaves and stems. Check that the soil drains well, add small pebbles to the soil at the bottom of the pot, to help with draining.
- care: Do not allow to flower, snip off buds, other wise your plant will turn bitter in taste. Only harvest a few leaves from the tops of each stem at a time. When the basil grown to about 15 cm, prune the tops to encourage bushier growth.
Incredibly low-maintenance, it seems that most rosemary plants suffer from too much attention rather than too little! As long as you keep it’s environment sunny and airy, it should thrive!
- sun: Likes sunlight and good air circulation.
- water: Rosemary likes it on the dry side. Put your finger in the soil, when it’s dry then water. Rosemary does not like it’s roots to sit in water, so make sure the soil is draining well. You can add pebbles to the soil at the bottom of the pot to help.
- care: If your home is humid, the plant can develop a powdery white mildew. Make sure that it has enough air circulation to keep dry. Let it sit near where a fan blows, let it spend time outdoors and don’t keep it in humid rooms like bathrooms or closed rooms.
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I will grow my own food. This is my goal. An urban garden, in my little apartment and without a green thumb!
It’s pretty simple: If we nourish them, they will in turn nourish us!
July 25, 2012
Drink your wrinkle cream! Spicy Orange Juice
How many different creams for your skin do you think you’ve used? As our skin begins to change, we start to buy all of these anti-wrinkle creams and potions and lotions, and while these products do contain some great ingredients, they often contain a lot of undesirable ingredients too.

This juice is perfect. It delivers beautifying benefits to your skin, it’s delicious and has a real kick to it. I love it!

And if you don’t have a juicer, don’t worry, I’ll show you what to do!

Preparing fresh juice takes a bit of effort, but I think that’s the point. We get caught up in the rush of the day and taking that time out to do something good for ourselves is important. As you cut the fruit, smell the citrus peels, their essential oils evoke feelings of happiness and energy. It’s a great way to start your day.

It’s also important for your overall health, and good health is what gives you that beautiful glow! Vitamin C is needed for our body to create collagen and I’m sure you’ve noticed that it’s in so many beauty products. Collagen is what keeps our skin plump and firm. As we age, gravity will pull things down and we need that collagen to keep everything in place! Beyond that, Vitamin C helps to detoxify our bodies and boost your natural immunity to fight off disease. Really interestingly too, it helps to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut, which scientist are finding this ecosystem strongly linked to our overall health and well-being. So, while topical Vitamin C creams are great, you really want to get it in your system.

Top Vitamin C Foods

Are you surprised to see chili there? It’s one of the best sources of vitamin C, up there with kiwi, oranges and pineapples. The ginger, I think, really ties the whole drink together nicely. I mean, if you really want to kickstart your day, you need to drink this!

I add half a chili – but you can add the whole thing in if you like it spicy!

You have 3 options here. You can drink it blended up, with the fibers. It’s more like a smoothie, maybe add the pineapple frozen, or add some papaya to get a creamier texture. Or, you can juice it. I don’t have a juicer, so I either strain it out or squeeze it out.

The difference between a smoothie and a juice is that when you remove the fiber your body doesn’t need to spend a lot of energy digesting. It’s a quick delivery of those nutrients. Try to include both smoothies and juices in your diet. Enjoy!

Spicy Orange Juice Recipe

Ingredients:
- 3 oranges
- 1 kiwi
- half a pineapple
- 1 chili pepper (or as much as you can take)
- a small nib of ginger
Directions:
- If you have a juicer, juice all of your ingredients together.
- If you don’t, first blend it then either strain it in a colander or squeeze it in a cloth filter bag, cheese cloth or nut milk bag.
Singapore Shopping Guide

A question I often get is: Where can I buy mason jars in Singapore?
- you can sometimes find mason jars in Fairprice; pictured above is the brand I use, a range of canning jars called Quattro Stagioni
- If not, you can definitely find mason jars in TOTT (Tools of the Trade) in Bukit Timah or Sia Huat on Temple Street
- find the cloth filter bag (to squeeze your juice) in TOTT or Sia Huat too
July 18, 2012
Four Amazing Herbs

Basil is pretty amazing – it can protect us on the inside and out! It does this in two ways: its leaves contain essential oils which have been shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria, including e. coli and others (even some strains of bacteria, like Staphylococcus, which are becoming resistant to antibiotics!) Used in your vinaigrette, it can help to make sure that raw salad is safe to eat! It’s also packed with flavonoids, which protect us from free radicals – a cause of early-aging, disease and even some cancers!

The word dill comes from an ancient word which means “to lull”, named this because of its calming effects on the mind and body. It’s used for stomach aches, gas and colic in babies and children, and even as a sleep aid to treat insomnia. Can you imagine bathing your baby in dill and chamomile infused water! But this herb doesn’t just rest there – it’s also a great source of calcium and important minerals and has also been shown to have bacteriostatic properties, which means that it can stop bacteria from multiplying.

This delicious herb has the remarkable ability to remove heavy metals from the body. Ladies, coriander is your friend: it has also been shown to reduce menstrual cramping, regulate mood swings from PMS and because of it’s antibacterial properties, it also helps with urinary tract infections. A green shake with some coriander would be a great way to detox and cleanse yourself! Look for it in the market under its other names too – cilantro or chinese parsley.

In ancient times, Hippocrates prescribed parsley as a cure-all tonic, to treat people who were exposed to poison, suffered from bronchitis, bladder stones or just simply were unwell. He may not have know exactly why it worked, but modern scientist today understand its powerful properties – a mix of vital nutrients, minerals and cancer-fighting antioxidants! It’s been shown to slow the growth of tumors and to prevent the spread of cancer in the lungs and breast. It strengthens the heart, boosts the immune system… the list is impressive! It’s basically a great ally to have in your system!

Blend it up, sprinkle on food and even smear it on your skin! Herbs really are nature’s medicine!

May 30, 2012
Top Six Salad Recipes!
You won’t want to push these salads to the side, they belong center stage on your plate! Pick your favorite and get the recipe below!

From top left to bottom right:
p.s. Singapore, if you want to try one of the best salads ever, head over to Food For Thought and order the:
- Roasted Beetroot & Melted Camembert with Toasted Walnuts & Szechuan Balsamic Dressing
Wow!
April 25, 2012
Favorites of the Month – January!

It’s the last day of the month which means it time for: Favorites of The Month! Here it is – all the the little things that really stood out this month!

1. Calendula Remedy. This is from Four Cow Farm – a children’s skin care line that I featured before and loved. I had tested the products out on my baby with great results, but, this month I went for a facial at Aphea Boutique Organique and the technician actually used this Calendula Remedy on my lips. Wow! My lips felt soft for days after! I had never thought of using it on myself but – makes sense – it’s great for our baby’s skin, so of course it’s good for us too!

2. Renew Rose Hip Oil & Moisturizer I bought this in Watson’s and have been using it every morning and night. I felt a difference right away! It came in a pack together for $32 (the oil is organic, the moisturizer is not all-natural, but free of harsh chemicals) All you need are 3 drops of the oil and you pat it onto your skin (please don’t tug and pull!) The moisturizer goes on top and my skin feels soft and hydrated (which helps to reduce the appearance of wrinkles) Rose hip oil is great – it is absorbed quickly by the skin and contains essential fatty acids which helps to regenerate skin tissue.

3. Pomegranate. Can a fruit be a favorite of the month? Sure it can! It has entered my life, and when the season passes I will miss it greatly! Not only is it delicious and my new favorite ingredient for my morning green shake – but this superfood is packed with antioxidants helping to achieve health and beauty from the inside out!.

4. Mekhala Living Young Rice Milk Lotion. I’m always looking for a lightweight moisturizer for the day time. It’s so important to moisturize, but with the heat, the last thing that you want is an added layer. This lotion is light and absorbs quickly and it has such a unique scent – Moke Flower.

5. Vapour – I am all about products found in Singapore – but unfortunately I’ve not seen Vapour products here as of yet – but this is just too good not to mention! (Retailers take note!) Vapour’s Luminous Foundation and Instant Skin Perfector have won numerous awards… which is what piqued my interest. I ordered on-line from the States and paid $13 shipping… I just had to give them a go! I loved it right away! These little magic wands even out your skin’s complexion and add a layer of coverage which appears so natural that it is as if you have no make-up on at all – just beautiful skin! It’s actually good for you to wear make-up in that it helps to protect your skin from the elements – but it should be made of great ingredients which protect and nourish and do not clog pores or cause damage.

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I love discovering new things – if you have any experiences to share please comment on the Little Green Dot Facebook Page or e-mail me at [email protected] – I love hearing from you!

January 31, 2012
The 20% Guide
For many of us, choosing to eat organic food is not a matter of principles or beliefs, but simply a matter of economics.

We know and understand why it’s important – but, when feeding a family on a budget, it’s hard to know where to make those decisions.

Here’s a good way to look at it: Ask yourself, how much is it worth to you?

For me, organic farming means a safer environment for our farmers and their families, It means a healthier relationship with the earth and it means food free of pesticides for my family

Now, considering my budget, I would say that I can afford to pay 20% more for that…
- If I spend $70 a week on fresh produce – I can move up to $84 in order to then make those decisions where it matters most (the most contaminated foods)
- If ever I find an organic alternative to any conventional food (yogurt, rice – anything) at my 20% rate, I will usually always choose it…of course, I do have to like it 🙂
What your percentage?

Calculate how much you spend weekly on fruits and vegetables – can you increase that amount by 20% to make healthier choices?

If not 20%, then what’s the number that you would be comfortable with?

Can you cut out anything or reduce anything in order to shift some of your expenses around and make room for better food?

Take action – plan your meals and eat consciously.
January 11, 2012
The Year of Simple Imperfection

Wabi-sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection and awe in nature. It is authentic, simple, uncluttered and a celebration of the marks that time, weather and use leave behind. Wabi-sabi is flea markets, handmade, it’s aged wood, untreated paper, unfinished hems. It reminds us that we are connected to the world around us – and like those objects, we too are imperfect, natural, changing and transient. Through wabi-sabi, we learn to embrace liver spots, wrinkles, rust, and frayed edges, and the journey of time they represent.

For 2012 I seek to embrace this way of life. To live simply, eat mindfully and create an environment around myself which speaks of those things that matter most to me: living a full, meaningful and connected life, even if it leaves a few marks along the way…

I look forward to sharing this journey with you along the way. Happy 2012!

photos via: apartment therapy, carolineboneham, greigedesign, bayaderka, cannellevanille, everlytrue, wabiisabii

January 4, 2012