Documentaries

I've been watching a few documentaries lately which I've been enjoying so I thought I'd share what I've been watching and what I'd like to see. 

I like the story of stuff project. They focus on a range of different topics; including what you can do within your own home, bottled water and cosmetics to name a few. I like the ideas they portray it's done in a nice simple manner so that even the kids can watch it (John and I watched the first episode together).

I also enjoyed the Food, Inc movie and found it very informative. You can watch the full documentary on documentary addict. This doco really opened my eyes how food is made and processed. I have to say I am super glad I live in New Zealand were our meat (beef and lamb) is free range. After seeing this doco I think buying free range is more important than ever.

Then we watched Supersize me. It's an oldie but a goodie. We don't often eat takeaways but this reminded me that not only takeaways are bad for you. It made me rethink some of the other meals we eat.   

I really want to watch forks over knives it looks really informative. It appears to be about how your dietary choices affect your health.

Last but not least I really, really want to watch Our green roadie. This is an amazing looking documentary that follows a mother and son team who travelled around New Zealand talking to 50 eco-conscious and economically viable businesses and lifestyles. You can order your copy from their online store.

I'm always open to watching new documentaries if you have any favourites please let me know. Thanks.

Tin foil substitute

When I roasting beetroot for my beetroot ice cream Hugh mentioned to use tin foil (which I do own but never ever use) so I though there must be a better choice. So I simply covered my roasting dish with an oven tray. This also works great on stopping lasagne from burning on top. So simply cook the food with the tray on then towards the end take the tray off to brown the top of a meal. So simple and no waste.  

Review; Mangopare Ecotanka

My love affair with my ECOtanka is no secret. We are a family of ECOtankas, John has 2, Mr Ecochick and I both have one each. I buy them as gifts for family and friends and I take mine everywhere I go. So when the wonderful folks at ECOtanka released the sexy new black Mangopare (hammerhead shark) I was super excited when they said they would send me one for my collection. Doesn't it look fantastic!?!

I thought the bottles looked fantastic in the photos but wow it's even more amazing in real life. So super stylish and sleek. I love the Mangopare motif; you can really see the shark jumping out of the water. It is so beautiful and so New Zealand.  

This tanka is a sports sized tanka (holding a refreshing 800mls) and can be bought with several lids including the new cap top lid. I got this lid for Mr Ecochick as he's always taking off the other lids to drink from the bottle. Mr Ecochick loves this lid as he said you can fill the bottle without taking the lid off and can pour from it. Though best not give these children as you could potentially have a mess on your hands.       

Another amazing bottle to add to the ECOtanka family. Thanks ECOtanka.

Even though ECOtanka sent me this wonderful product all views are my own.

 

Chocolate Baileys ice cream

I wanted to call this double chocolate Baileys ice cream but Mr Ecochick said I can't since it's chocolate ice cream with chocolate on top. Either way it's super yummy.

This ice cream comes with a health warning. It is super yummy and I guarantee you'll want to make it again and again. You have been warned. I hold no responsibility for weight gained due to this yummy recipe.

Basic ice cream recipe

4 free range eggs separated

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/4 cup caster sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

200ml cream

100ml Baileys

70ml chocolate sauce 

Beat egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Add 1/4 cup of sugar a tablespoon at a time beat until sugar dissolves before adding the next tablespoon of sugar.

In another bowl beat the egg yolks and add the rest of the sugar until thick and pale. Add vanilla.

Gentle fold the yolk mixture into the egg whites.

Beat the cream until thick.

Fold the cream, Baileys and chocolate sauce into the egg mixture.

Pour mixture into an ice cream machine. Let the machine run until ice cream is frozenish.

Put any leftovers into a container and freeze.   

The ice cream wont completely freeze due to having alcohol in it.

I have also made this recipe with Kahlua instead of Baileys both are super yummy.

You'll want to make this recipe heaps of times and promise you'll share with friends but it's just far too yummy sorry.

Spinach macaroni

We had a lovely dinner with the family and Mr Ecochick thought we'd make a pasta side dish (though this can easily be a main dish as well). The recipe is adapted from Hugh's River cottage veg everyday. The original recipe is made with peas but we didn't have any so spinach it is. Can't really go wrong with spinach! This is a healthy alternative to macaroni and cheese.  

Man I love Hugh's book it really is my favourite cook book. I love that I can eat every recipe being a vegetarian cookbook and all. I love how the book is laid out with a beautiful colour photo next to the recipe just the way I like it. I love that the recipes are simple and generally made with things within your home and garden often no need to buy any fancy items that you'll only use once. Hugh I love you.   

What you'll need: (written and made by Mr Ecochick)

1 500g bag macaroni or shells

1 kg spinach or other green vegetable 

1 tbsp olive oil

1 onion

2 garlic cloves

50g butter

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dill

1 tbsp fresh basil

150g+ finely grated parmesan 

Start boiling enough water in which to cook the pasta. When boiling add salt and begin cooking pasta.

Cook the vegetables by steaming, boiling or microwaving - reserve cooking water.

Heat oil and fry finely dice onion until sweating.

Add butter, garlic, herbs and spices. Fry until fragrant.

Purée half of the vegetable with all of the onion mix until smooth, add cooking water as needed.

Combine all the vegetables in the pan and heat while pasta cooks.

Drain pasta and combine with vegetable mixture, stirring well.

Stir through cheese just before serving. 

This was super yummy we'll totally be making this dish again and best of all you can add whatever green vegetables you have on hand. Eet smakelijk.

3 easy to make natural treats for kids

Today's guest post comes from Rachel. Rachel is an ex-babysitting pro as well as a professional writer and blogger. She is a graduate from Iowa State University and currently writes for babysitting.net.

When it comes to snack time many parents feel like they have no choice but to buy prepackaged foods. However that is not true. There are a variety of fun and healthy snacks that you can make right in your own home easily and quickly. Here are three recipes that your kids will love to eat and take only a few minutes to put together:

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1. Fruit Roll Ups–Most kids love those sticky sweet packaged fruit rolls, but have you read the ingredients lately? Instead opt for these all natural and easy to make fruit rolls. Just two ingredients (strawberries and apple sauce) and a little drying time and you will have handfuls of rolls to keep kids satisfied. Check out NZ Ecochick's spiced apple fruit leather recipe.

2. Fruit Popsicles– Who does not love the taste of fresh fruit? These easy to make popsicles have chunks of real fruit and all natural ingredients that you can tailor to your kid’s tastes. I love pineapple and kiwi, so that is a big draw for me but practically any fruit would work in these simple summer treats. Check out NZ Ecochick's homemade popsicle recipe.

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3. Giant Pretzels – These easy to make giant pretzels can be filled with tons of different flavours to suit your child’s taste. With homemade or store bought pizza dough and ingredients like mini chocolate chips, chopped nuts, or even fennel seed you can mix and match for the perfect flavour. Or just sprinkle on some sea salt and dip in mustard for a tasty treat your kids will love.

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Looking for a fun drink to pair with your snacks? Why not make your own pink strawberry milk? You can use skim milk, almond milk or soy milk to make a great and flavourful drink kids will love. Just make simple syrup from fresh or frozen strawberries and a little sugar, strain it and add the syrup to the milk for a pink drink that even milk shy kids will gulp down.

Thank you so much Rachel for this very yummy guest post I look forward to trying some of these treats. Rachel welcomes questions/ comments which can be sent to rachelthomas.author@gmail.com.

My favourite 10 baby helpers

I don't believe anything is a necessity when you have a child except to love them. So I though I'd share some of my favourite items that make all our lives easier. I love these products for their econess as well as how practical and versatile they are since most are now being used by Gabriel as well as John.

I love my Ergo. It's so easy to use, stylish and very versatile. I have it in the car at all times and use it about a million times a week. I bought mine when John was 6 months old and continued to use it with him on my back until I got pregnant; he was about 2 at this stage. I find using my Ergo is so much easier than trying to carry a heavy 6kg baby and it also keeps my hands free to catch or hold onto a slippery toddler. I love that the baby's weight sits on my hips and the thick shoulder straps rather than pulling on my back.        

I love walking and just love my Mountain buggy. I love that it's a New Zealand company so built for our conditions. They are so sturdy and can handle pretty much anything I throw at it. Even better they are still fantastic second hand. 

I love cloth nappies we've only ever used Itti bitti and so far they've stood up to a very active toddler and a wiggly little baba. I love the colours and that they are made from organic cotton and bamboo. They are super absorbent, fluffy and super easy to use.  I must also mention I love bamboo velour baby wipes. They last for many many years and have so many uses and also wash and dry really well. Cloth wipes will save you a lot of money and rubbish. 

  Gina Ford's books were a huge help when John was little as we had no idea what we were doing. Gina's easy to follow routines really worked for John and allowed him to sleep through the night very early on. Her routines allows me to know what my boys need, when they need feeding and putting them to sleep before they have to cry for these things.      

My favourite kid's toy has to be Sophie the giraffe. I love that she is made from natural rubber and is 50 years old. Both my boys have a Sophie and both of them love her. She was/ and currently is in both my boys bassinets. She was also the first toy/ object that both boys "talked" to. Sophie's not just a pretty face she is a teether and John's Sophie has been so chewed on she has hardly any paint left.   

Using a good quality natural balm on my baba's bum really helps reduce rashes and pain. I love my botty balm which I've been making and using for ages now. It's easy to make your own and so much cheaper. When my boys do get nappy rash I use my benzoin ointment.

I was anti-pacifiers before I had children, however they really can be a lifesaver. I really like the Hevea pacifiers. They are made of natural rubber and I like the nose and chin cut outs. Not all children like or need pacifiers but I find they have really helped both my boys get to sleep easily.     

Playpens are just fantastic. They keep your baby safe so they can play and sleep whenever they want. We bought this one second hand before John was born and he was in there all the time. Now that Gabriel is here he plays in the playpen. It keeps him safe from harm and allows him to have his own space.


Baby's need to sleep somewhere so we bought a second hand touchwood cot. I chose this cot because it's a four in one; bassinet, cot, toddler bed and a children's sofa. Another great New Zealand company; super versatile and long living. Gabriel will be the third child who uses this bed and it will have many years of life left in it. We got a latex mattress made for the bed which is super comfortable and hypo-allergenic.
   
Second hand clothes or second hand pretty much everything will not only save you heaps of money but is also much better for the environment. Children grow out of clothes so quickly that there really is no need to buy brand new. Clothes are easily passed down from one child to the next and beyond.


What are your favourite baby helpers?