Sweet weekend - why Mums are the best

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This weekend we celebrate our mums.

All they do for us and have given us. Mums are selfless and always put others before themselves.

This mother's day I will be running in the Mother's Day Classic with my Mum. It's something we've both wanted to do for a while.

My Mum is an inspiration. She is amazing, and I owe her so much.

Happy Mother's Day Mum, I love you very, very much!

xxx

In the garden - carrots

I heart carrots. And I have just started harvesting the first lot of my very own baby carrots - yum!
I love the funny shapes. It's hard to look at a chemical-ridden supermarket carrot the same...

Carrots contain fibre, vitamin A, B2, B6, C and K, potassium, thiamine, and are an excellent source of beta-carotene.
They're good for our spleen, stomach and liver.

Carrots are one of the richest sources of carotenoids. Carotenoids enhance the functioning of your immune system, improve your reproductive system function and protect your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals.

Some oil-y tips

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Yesterday I came across some handy tips on cooking oils. I thought I would share.

Store oils like olive and grapeseed in a dark bottle, not a clear one like the one pictured above. This prevents them from oxidising and becoming rancid. If you do have oil in a light container, make sure you keep the bottle in a dark place like a pantry or cupboard, and not on your kitchen bench.

Make sure you keep the lid on your oils. Always replace the lid as soon as you have used them.
Oils are also air sensitive. Leave the lid off for long amounts of time and your oil will oxidise.

Good extra-virgin olive oil will last about a year if stored properly.

Use olive oil to balance acidity in foods. Good to keep in mind with foods such as tomatoes, vinegar, wine and lemon juice. Think balsamic vinegar and olive oil salad dressings...

Many of us stick to good old olive oil when it comes to cooking in the kitchen. Try oils like coconut, flaxseed, sesame and safflower. I like to use coconut oil when cooking things like curry's, and flaxseed oil drizzled over salads. 

What's your fave oil to use in the kitchen? Have you got any tips for using oils in cooking?