soreiya

Inspiring Design

Published on December 20, 2016December 17, 2016 by soreiya1 Comment

This week’s inspiring interior is the perfect place to hideaway from the rest of the world. Surrounded by lush greenery and situated by the water, I can’t think of a single reason why someone would want to leave such a serene environment. Large picture windows allow you to enjoy the stunning natural surroundings while relaxing in front of a fire, and the cool white washed tones of the interior contrast perfectly with the stunning natural colours of the outdoors.

The home’s wood and concrete exterior blends beautifully into it’s environment and the large deck is the perfect spot to entertain or relax and enjoy nature at it’s finest. Overall, this home is a perfect example of how to bring the outdoors inside with a chic, calming and minimalist design.

What do you like to relax in this gorgeous hideaway?

Images via http://www.kristoferjohnsson.com

I hope that you have a beautiful day!

XXS

Cashew Butter Blondies

Published on December 15, 2016December 12, 2016 by soreiya4 Comments

This recipe for cashew butter blondies came to me as an epiphany of sorts. I love blondies and my favourite recipe in the past was curtesy of the Barefoot Contessa. Rich, buttery and completely indulgent, those blondies were fun to eat but not so great for my health goals. So with this year’s baking challenge I decided to include a lightened up blondie recipe.

I thought that cashew butter would be a great addition to blondies and I spent a lot time Googling recipes trying to figure out how to achieve my blondie dreams. I tried a few recipes that I found, and while they were good they didn’t feel like the decadent treat that I was searching for. Then I came across a recipe for grain free brownies that was simple and sounded delicious. I decided to use that recipe as a base and adapt it into the blondie recipe I had been dreaming of.

This recipe is simple but delicious. These blondies are flourless and can be refined sugar free if you omit the chocolate chips. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 500g jar cashew butter

1 cup (250ml) golden maple syrup

2 organic eggs

4 Madjool dates, pitted and mashed

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Pinch of Himalayan pink salt (or sea salt)

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

1 tsp Baking soda

What to do:

Preheat oven to 320 degrees

Blend the dates and maple syrup until creamy

Mix in the cashew butter until completely integrated

Slowly stir in the eggs (one at a time)

Stir in the salt, cinnamon and baking soda

Gently fold in chocolate chips until just combined

Pour batter into a 8 X 8 pan lined with parchment paper

Bake for 45 – 50 minutes until golden brown

Let cool before cutting into squares

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

Wonderful Walnuts

Published on December 13, 2016December 12, 2016 by soreiya2 Comments

Nuts have had a bad reputation for many years. As the fat free craze took hold a few years ago, anything containing fat was demonized and nuts were no exception. Thankfully, we now live in a different world – a world where healthy fat is embraced in many forms and nuts have once again become a pantry staple in many households.

I love nuts in all forms but one of my favourites is walnuts. Rich in healthy fats, vitamins and minerals walnuts boost incredible health, brain and beauty benefits. As a rich plant source of Omega 3 fatty acids walnuts are known to help to decrease LDL cholesterol levels in the body and may help to reduce the risk of prostrate and breast cancer. With a high concentration of the Omega-3 fatty acid DHA , walnuts can help to improve cognitive brain function in adults and help to prevent cognitive decline. Research has also shown that walnuts help to increase inferential reasoning in young adults. Filled with stress fighting properties, these powerhouse nuts are packed with fibre, antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids.

Anti-inflammatory in nature, walnuts are a great source of selenium which helps to treat existing skin damage as well as protecting the skin from UV exposure. Helpful in treating inflamed skin conditions by oxygenating the blood and boosting circulation so nutrients are circulated well. By combating free radicals in the body, walnuts can also help to control how fast you age.

Walnuts are a great addition to your diet as there are benefits for everyone. Just be mindful of your serving size – a handful a day is more then enough to considerably boost your antioxidant intake. What is your favourite way to include walnuts in your diet – let me know in the comments below.

I hope that you have a great day!

XXS

Heavenly Hazelnut Cake

Published on December 8, 2016December 6, 2016 by soreiya1 Comment

The very first flourless cake that I ever made was a hazelnut cake. It may have been flourless but it was still full of fat and sugar. While it was good it wasn’t great, there seemed to be something off and I just couldn’t figure out what it was. Over the years I made the cake a few more times using the same recipe, always producing the same results – good but not great.

So in November, while searching thru my recipe books looking for dessert ideas I came across the recipe for hazelnut cake. I decided to make a few modifications in the hope of lightening it up and producing the great cake I was dreaming of. Thankfully the changes worked and I now have a recipe for hazelnut cake that I absolutely love. Light, moist and delicious this cake can be enjoyed anytime of day. Paired with a mug of lemon green tea, it is the perfect snack for when you want to take a moment for yourself and breathe.

Hazelnuts and chocolate together is an incredible food pairing, and I was hardly not willing to miss an opportunity to enjoy the two together, so I added dark chocolate chunks to the mix. This is purely optional and this hazelnut cake is delicious either way.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups of hazelnuts

6 large eggs (yolks and whites separated)

1 cup (250ml) of maple syrup

2 tsp of baking soda

1 cup of dark chocolate chunks (optional)

pinch of sea salt or pink Himalayan salt

1 tsp cinnamon

What To Do:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees (F)

Line the bottom only of a 9inch spring form pan with parchment paper

In a food processor or blender chop the hazelnuts until 95% finely chopped

Add the maple syrup to the egg yolks and beat until they are a pale yellow

Gently fold in the hazelnuts, chocolate, cinnamon and salt into the yolk mixture

In a separate large mixing bowel beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form

Gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mixture

Pour the batter into the spring form pan

Bake for aprox 50 – 55 minutes (until a cake tester comes out clean)

Cool completely before removing the sides of the pan

Enjoy!

XXS

Inspiring Interior

Published on December 6, 2016December 3, 2016 by soreiyaLeave a comment

When I was completing my certification in Interior Design, I never thought about using concrete in my design choices. Over the past year though, I have been enamoured with all of the design portfolios that I have seen that predominately feature concrete as part of the overall design. When I first saw today’s Inspiring Interior, it immediately captured a piece of my design loving heart.

Located in Victoria Australia, the designers received a commendation from the Victorian Architecture Awards (2016) for this carefully crafted piece of architecture. The timber, brass and gold details add a level of warmth and sophistication while the white marble contrasts beautifully with the concrete to produce a stunning yet laid back family home. Light filled and spacious, the lines between indoors and outdoors are blurred creating a calming yet charming space. The entire home is gorgeous, but I am obsessed with the kitchen in particular. The combination of the statement marble backsplash and concrete island with the black cabinetry and appliances is sheer perfection. The modern gold hood and lights help to elevate this space to a level of creativity I rarely see. It is the perfect place to inspire and encourage creative and delicious new recipes.