Corby-Sue's Table

 

CORBY'S TABLE - Good Food Made Simple

Sundays 12-2pm - Brunch Bondi Stylz...funk 'n food

http://www.bondifm.com.au/

 

After heeding my own advice of last year, I enjoyed myself and indulged in plenty of culinary love over the holiday season...There was much silliness and giggles and yes, a few extra kilos begrudgingly joined the other unwanted guests!  Regardless, I have begun my journey back to ‘healthy' living and believe that almost one month into this new decade it is never too late or too early to map out what you want to achieve in the days, weeks and months ahead.  So for all of us in need of a ‘health' kick start, I thought, ‘what better than a BIG DETOX?!'

 

Turns out I'm not alone and the inspiration for the show was actually provided by our friends at About Life in the Junction.  I was delighted when Nell King, one part of the brains and passion behind this alternate health universe, About Life, your one stop health shop, (locations in Rozelle and Bondi Junction), had sent me an email just before Christmas talking of their plans for what I consider to be a truly inspired Community Initiave, The Biggest Ever Community Detox!

 

I was even more convinced after speaking at length with the very passionate Emma Sutherland, one of the resident Naturopaths involved in the Big Detox, about her personal journey in the Homeopathic world.  She spoke of her own moments of inspiration, such as childhood trips to the ‘magical' isle of Ithaca where she witnessed the incredibly simple yet full lives villagers had growing their own produce, getting their own water, making their own food...she then spoke of her awe of life in India where she also studied and trained with Masters in Homeopathy...the common thread was going back to basics.  A catchcry bandied about today, but judging from her clear eyes, bright complexion and warm smile, this woman was definitely walking the walk!

 

I could list all of the do's and don'ts - instead I encourage you to check out the about life website for more info. From Feb 15 -21^st 2010, you will have FREE access to some of Sydney's best and informed Health practioneers!

Just as an aside, I had thought that the date for the community detox was clever, post Valentine chocolate!  Turns out that was coincidence.  Emma explained that it is most ideal to detox in February and September, post summer and winter which is kinder to our bodies.  Of course!  Simple yet logical thinking at it's best.  I look forward to more visits with Emma, I swear I just felt healthier listening to her speak!  I also loved that she ended our visit in the studio with a gift from her range of products, Rejuvenation Tea and Inspiration cards.  This woman is the real deal!

Speaking of real deal...imagine my glee when friend and extraordinary talent, Chef Skye Carijier agreed to come chat about summer salads...his resume reads like a who's who of the culinary elite.  A travelling Brit here in Oz who has worked with Marco Pierre White, Gordon Ramsay and Raymond Blanc, to name but a few...Skye had wanted to share his recent love of sprouting, liquid aminos and Himalayan pink salt, and I couldn't have asked for a better menu for this healthy kick start! He is quite literally one part encyclopaedia, one part gypsy and one part gifted chef.  He spoke of the digestive benefits of eating living plant organisms, aka sprouts,  the fact that Himalayan Pink Salt has over 84 (!) traceable minerals and liquid aminos are his new love, in the kitchen.

 

I too have been sprouting myself silly and the associated logic and benefits of eating a living plant organism is not lost on me.  However, I ‘cheat' and buy my sprouts, although, with Skye's encouragement, maybe those quinoa seeds, which I so love, will get a bit of the sprouting treatment after all!  There were some simple recipes shared, and I promise to add them to my repertoire soon, but one of the great revelations of our chat was the use of a diluted pink salt water solution for cooking meats!  I have long been a fan of Australia's very own, Murray River Pink Salt Flakes, and have recently added the grand Himalayan variety as well,  but complained to Skye that I felt that most pink salts simply aren't robust enough for cooking meats, he agreed and offered this simple salt solution, if you will...still working on the amounts but so far 1 tsp per cup water works a treat!  Love a new discovery.

 

 

I also introduced my new segment called, EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK! Where each week I will talk about what's in my cupboards...not every cupboard, but whether it's a utensil I can't live without or a fab new food discovery for your fridge, over the year it will be my goal to guide you through the building and at times refinement of your own domestic haven .

So let's get serious in the kitchen and acknowledge that dull knives are dangerous knives!  Here are my 3-4 must haves as they will improve presentation, prep time, texture and sometimes even the actual cooking.  It's win win all the way!

• Paring - birds beak 2 ½"- ideal for peeling fruit, potatoes, unwanted bits!
• Classic paring knive 3 ½" - the straight version of above with all of the same benefits.
• Serated - Needed for bread, fab for tomato, and even some unwanted length on a thick, tree-like flower stalk.
• Classic Chef 6"; Santoku (japanese shape, slightly curved)Perfect for absolutely every job in the kitchen.

 

My advice is to buy from a specialist shop, ask to hold the knives in your hand for comfort and weight, and most importantly learn how to use them!  Look, as chefs some of us learn at home, some at school, some on the job...but at one point we too had no idea!  So don't be intimidated.  Either ask a learned friend to show you how or find a knife skill class.  They do exist and once you have mastered the knife your life in your domestic haven will change dramatically, for the better.  Truly.

Have a great one and whatever you do this week.  Be kind to yourself, take one hour at a time and remember, this isn't a race...it's a journey...so eat something that will make you smile!  Preferably a ‘healthy' choice.

 

Til we eat again...

Corby-Sue x