Mayo and Aoli Worth Chirping About

Especially if you want it sugar-free and nasty-number free! Inspired by the I Quit Sugar Mayo recipe and a recipe by our friend, Rosanne Martin.

A stick blender and its mixing glass are the perfect tools for making this recipe.  It can also be made in an ordinary blender though you may need to use a spatula every so often to scrape the ingredients back down onto the blade. If you’re extra keen you can make this with a hand whisk.

2 Tblsp lemon juice

1 egg

1 tsp Dijon mustard

¼ -½ tsp salt (taste test after adding ¼ tsp)

About 1 cup good olive oil (don’t add yet)

1 Tblsp Whey (optional) will give the mayo a fantastic probiotic boost.  If you use whey, leave the mayo out on the bench for 8 hours to allow for a slight fermentation before storing in the fridge.

Now choose your flavouring:

•  Either 1 handful fresh Sweet Basil leaves
•  OR other fresh herbs
• OR 4 sundried tomatoes

Whizz the ingredients including the chosen flavouring (but not the oil) for 30 seconds to mix.

Pour your olive oil into a small lipped jug or easy-pouring bottle. While you have your blender running gently pour the olive oil in a thin stream into the mix. This slow pour will cause an emulsion to form which means the mayonnaise thickens. The mix will begin to thicken at about ½ to ¾ of a cup of oil. You choose how thick you want your mayo or aoli. You can thin it down with a little water if you accidentally go too thick.

6 Things to Note:

• Aoli is mayo with garlic.
• The Mayo with Sweet Basil version makes a nice pasta salad and also pairs well with eggs.
• The plain mayo is great with salad or if you add chopped cornichons (gherkins) and a little chopped tomato and parsley it makes a nice Tartare sauce for fish.
• You can collect your own whey by taking a jar of plain yoghurt and leaving it to drain hanging in a muslin cloth overnight. The whey will drain out and leave you with a firm yoghurt or cream cheese.
• An emulsion is the result combining fine droplets of an oil with another liquid by mixing to make a cream. This is essentially how face creams are made. Oooh mayo moisturiser…!
• All easy to make at home AND free of nasties. Keeps for 2-3 weeks in a glass jar in the fridge. If you use whey in the making your mayo will keep for 2-3 months in the fridge.

Top 10 Reasons to Filter Your Tap Water

Who else is sick of tasting chlorine in their drinking water and somehow knowing, deep down, that you're probably consuming harmful toxins? You’ll never regret filtering your tap water, even for the simple reason of making a decent cup o’ tea! Up for a little easy educating? Here are 10 reasons to filter your tap water along with a link to our awesome Bio Mineral Pot which is on SALE and also a customer review of the product. Ready, set, go!

1. Water filtration can provide better tasting and better smelling drinking water by removing chlorine, chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals and bacterial contaminants.

2. Point-of-use water filters remove lead from drinking water immediately prior to consumption, thus preventing this harmful substance from entering the body.

3. Use of clean, filtered water can reduce the risk of certain cancers including: rectal cancer, colon cancer, and bladder cancer by removing chlorine and chlorine by-products such as Trihalomethanes (THMs) from drinking water.

4. A carbon water filter can selectively remove dangerous contaminants from drinking water while retaining healthy mineral deposits that balance the pH of drinking water.

5. A water filter provides clean, healthy water for cooking, as well as drinking, at the convenience of tap water.

6. Water filters reduce the risk of gastrointestinal disease by more than 80 percent by removing Cryptosporidium, E-coli and Giardia from drinking water.

7. Drinking pure water is especially important for children. Water filters provide the healthiest water for children’s developing immune systems.

8. Filtered water is a source of clean, healthy water that is much less expensive than buying bottled water in plastic. Use of a water filter helps to reduce toxic waste in the environment.

9. Water filters offer the last line of defence between the body and over 2,100 known toxins that may be present in our drinking water.

10. A countertop filter is easily used in rental accommodation where an under-sink unit can’t be installed.

>>> Have a look at the Bio Mineral Pot HERE (glass - 5 or 10 litre capacity). Was $680, now $499!

This bench top filter system has 13 stages of sterilising, filtration & activation. The main filter lasts for approximately 12,000 litres, equating to three years of normal use. The new BMP 500 can now remove up to 99.99% of fluoride in your water! Have a read of the review below, sent in by one of our customers after purchasing the first version of the Bio Mineral Pot. (The new version is even more sophisticated!)

Review: “As we have a large household, we bought the Bio 1000 (10ltr) water filter 3 years ago and we are so glad we did. The water tastes really good and when you drink it, you know you are getting those trace minerals that nature intended – I’ll never make a cup of coffee or tea from the town supply ever again (I don’t know how I put up with the chlorinated taste in my hot drinks for so long)…!

~ Lee-Anne