It is that time of year again where we say goodbye to another year, and welcome in the next. What has happened for Vegie Head this year??

-The website was launched (only 4 months ago, if you can believe it?!)

-My very first Vegie Head YouTube video was launched
 
-I have been lucky enough to be published on some fantastic websites: 
Green Smoothie Community 
FaveDiets.com
Finding Vegan 
Planet VegMel


-I have contributed recipes to two up and coming books:
The Pets Haven Animal Shelter's cookbook
The Green Smoothie Bible

And published in an on-line magazine "The Hummingbird"

-I co-created a 14 Day Juice Cleanse with the lovely Dayan from BeVitamins (which we will be running again in the New Year!)

-My Vegie Head Cooking Classes were launched, and the 3 classes were sold out in a week!
(There will be more dates announced soon.)

-My Vegie Head Facebook page is growing, slowly but surely- feel free to share!

-I helped to un-cook the raw food for the Miss Organic Christmas Party, with the lovely Carol (Mama Organic!)

-I also have a publishing agreement with FoodBuzz..com that will be starting in the New Year!

And its not just about what I have achieved, its also about the wonderful people that I have connected with!

Richard Parris (who filmed and edited my video)
Monique from Ascendance Natural Health
The great team at mmink
Nicci from Miss Organic
Lisa and Jim at The Vegetarian Pact
Dr Paul Carter from Acupuncture Australia 
Jessica from Nektarina NonProfit

And this is just the start of the list! Many of you are my Facebook friends and some I have never met in person. But that doesn't mean that you aren't any less important to me, or the entire Vegie Head...empire (??)!

Some very exciting news came to me last night....I was contacted by Chef Martina, who lives and works in Spain....some of my Vegie Head recipes are going to be featured on their menu! More to come on that in 2012.

Things are moving along very quickly, and so much has happened in this short amount of time! This has all been thanks to the wonderful people who have shared my website with their friends and family, and have written lovely messages of support to me! Your kind words are what have kept me going in the kitchen.

Personally, this has been a great year as well. My husband and I celebrated our first year of marriage, and we welcomed our fur-baby Charlie into our home and our hearts. They are my two pillars of strength Paul keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground, and Charlie gives me unconditional love and always puts me in a good mood. We have plenty of things planned for the New Year- hopefully moving Vegie Head to a new premises, a few overseas trips with regional cooking classes (Thailand is the first on the list!) and working on the e-books! 

The e-book 'Vegie Head Vegan Essentials' will hopefully be ready in the next few months, as well as the 'Vegie Head Raw Essentials' e-book. There will be more YouTube videos, more recipes on the website, more blogging and cooking classes, and of course lots of love and inspiration from me!

Now is the time to set your intentions for the year to come....find your dreams and follow then Vegies! That is what I did! Don't be afraid to take that leap of faith, and shine on, no matter what.

2012 is going to be a huge year for Vegie Head, so I am inviting you all along for the ride- enjoy everything I have to offer and lets be safe, happy and healthy in the New Year!

Wishing you all love and happiness,

Adele xxx

Well, the time has come! After reading my posts and looking at my pictures for so long, it seemed like the right time to show my face to all of my lovely Vegie Head followers. 

I was very lucky to have the incredibly talented (at everything mind you!) Richard Parris guide me through the process, film me and edit the final cut. 

The entire process was amazing, yet nerve-racking. I have 'hidden' (as much as one can hide) behind the camera and the written word. Stepping in front of the camera is daunting and a complete role reversal. As someone who always takes the photos instead of being in them it certainly was different! 

I really hope that enjoy the first of many, many videos to come.... This is number one, and I still have a lot to teach! So subscribe to my channel, and stick around for more Vegie Head fun! To view the video, click HERE.

Garlic is one of my favourite herbs. I add it to soups, stews, curries, homemade bread...pretty much anything. Not only do I love the pungent smell and sweet earthiness of the clove, but it has been used for thousands of years medicinally, as an expectorant and even as an aphrodisiac. 

Garlic throws a diverse flavour profile; depending on the type. It can be hot, metallic, fruity, nutty and floral- which can change by season, how you cook it, and also on the individual. 

Buying minced garlic in a jar is like buying ready chopped apple in a bag......convenient - yes, flavourful - no. Fresh garlic cloves are one of the most incredible things you can add to food. The depth and definition that it brings out of food is second to none.

Medicinally, garlic is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, lowers blood pressure, lowers lipids in the body (cholesterol lowering), and has even been found to reduce the metabolism of glucose in diabetes.*

Some gorgeous garlic combinations are garlic/cucumber salad, garlic/fresh thyme, garlic/fresh basil, and garlic/chilli. You can rub fresh garlic on toasted bread and sprinkle it with parsley, mince it and marinate vegetables, take it raw on a spoon (if you are under the weather), and even rub it externally on your skin to help fungal problems.

I was super lucky today to be given a garlic plait from one of my closest friends Matthew. Matthew and his family own a farm in Kardella, about 90 minutes from Melbourne. Everything is done by hand and is organic- planting, weeding, picking, plaiting and curing. This garlic is truly magnificent-like no other garlic I've had before. The flavour is so intense, yet can be the most subtle layer in your dish. Garlic can often taste sulphurous, however Kardella Garlic is sweet and hot. Throw away the minced garlic jars and try the fresh stuff! Invest in a good garlic bulb once every few weeks and it will add amazing depth to your dish.

The best way to peel garlic is to place the clove flat on a chopping board, and using the flat  side of your knife press down hard until it 'cracks'. Then peel it and chop it finely. Allow it to sit and oxidise for 10 minutes before adding it to your food.

Matthew and the team from Kardella Garlic will be at Mulgrave Twilight Market on Friday the 23rd of December....have a chat to them about getting the most out of your garlic and support this wonderful family run business.


*Health Literacy

I am truly a lucky girl. I love what I do, and I do what I love!

A few months back I was approached by Jessica, the director of Nektarina Non-Profit to do a little interview in an on-line magazine she was editing, The Hummingbird 

The Hummingbird is an international on-line magazine, published by Nektarina Non Profit. It is positive, non-political, and creative about people and the planet...sounds like everything I believe in!

The magazine is named after an anecdote by the late Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for her influential work in democratic and environmental campaigns. She narrates a short film, "Dirt! The Movie" and says; 

"I may feel insignificant, but I certainly don't want to be like (the other characters) watching as the planet goes down the drain. I will be a hummingbird. I will do the best I can." 

The online magazine is a true testament to what The Hummingbird represents. One person has created an amazing legacy that is going to be shared all over the world, and from that, conversations and action will arise. It is filled with gorgeous, emotive images, interviews and articles, and an interview with me. I am so happy and proud to have been involved (in a small way) in such an amazing cause. You can read the on-line magazine "The Hummingbird" here. Sign up, and share it with your friends. All it takes is one voice to speak up and make a difference!

Flying your flag....

I believe that we attract people into our lives for a number of reasons. It may be that we need someone to balance our personality, to teach us life lessons, or it may be that THEY need our help. The longer I am here, the more I learn. But I am also teaching a lot as well. Friends will come to me with their problems, and (me being me!) I have to solve them. I seem to attract people that need inspiration and motivation to follow or discover their dreams.

I used to seek my dreams, and then one day I was actually LIVING them. But the weird thing was, I actually didn't know where they would take me. I just fell into Vegie Head, and here I am now. LIVING MY DREAM (well I am on my way). 

Going to back to my original point, FLY YOUR FLAG! Fly your flag so damn high, that the people on the highest mountains can see it.

What does this mean??? 

Keep it simple. What do you LOVE to do? What do you find yourself putting energy into? It doesn't need to be a 'job' as such. It can be something that is just SO MUCH FUN, and then it grows and evolves, and then all of the sudden you are being recognised for your work. 

I have met people that truly LOVE what they do. Those people are rare. You may really like your job, it pays the bills, offers training and security. But you don't love it. It's not yours, and probably never will be. Think of your dream like a baby (or in my case a dog)....that baby/dog, is yours to nurture, love, care for and watch it grow. You protect it, stand up for it, and reprimand it. This is what love is. This is what you need to do to grow your dreams. Be your own worst critic and your best advocate. Whether it be setting up a small stall at a market, writing a blog, starting a website, volunteering an animal shelter or even cooking in your kitchen- jump in with both feet!!!

Keep your chin up, stay true to yourself, and don't place importance on things that just don't matter. Remove people from your life who tie you down and hold you back. Surround yourself with amazing people, and amazing things will happen. 

You can do anything you want. It's all possible. It's just waiting for you to open up and let the light and love in.

The lovely Lynn Gilmartin approached me a few months back for some recipes for her blog. Lynn is a presenter for Pokernews.com and travels the world (lucky girl!) reporting on the worlds biggest poker tournaments. She has YouTube videos and has her own travel column! She must get her energy from eating Vegetarian food!

She has radio and extensive entertainment experience, and I was so honoured when she asked to feature vegiehead.com on her blog.

Poker players get 5 minutes every hour for a break....this generally means that they eat 'on the run', grabbing whatever is fast and easy, not necessarily what is healthy. Finger food is a great option when you are in a hurry, however to try and find something healthy and balanced can be really hard. Keep your eyes peeled for more Vegie Head finger food coming soon!

Check out the great article here, and follow Lynn on her facebook page here.