I think you’ll enjoy the tropical twist to this banana bread. There are lots of healthy ingredients and I have given substitutes for making a gluten-free loaf if you prefer. I have also made it with pieces of dried mango – the thing is to get creative and come up with your own favorites. In the US we have lots of national food days and I came up with this recipe to celebrate National Banana Bread Day (February 23) but it’s great anytime. Please use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Ingredients; 2 Medium bananas (slightly over-ripe, and mashed); ¾ Cup dark brown sugar; ¼ Cup coconut oil (melted); ½ Teaspoon vanilla extract (*gluten free); ½ Cup coconut milk (use So Delicious in the carton like soy milk if possible); 1 Cup whole wheat flour (or for gluten-free substitute ½ Cup each potato and corn starch, and ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum for gluten-free); ¼ Cup coconut flour; 4 Teaspoon baking powder; ¼ Teaspoon baking soda; ¼ Teaspoon sea salt; ¼ Cup shredded un-sweetened coconut; ¼ Cup crushed pineapple (drained very well); 1 ½ Cups chopped walnuts or macadamia nut (reserve ¾ cup for top of banana bread)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9″x4″ loaf pan (approximately, you can use a different shape pan) with organic non-stick spray. In a large bowl, mix the mashed bananas, egg, brown sugar, oil, milk, and vanilla. Mix well.

In a small bowl, sift together whole wheat flour (or potato starch, corn starch, and xanthan gum), coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix the banana mixture and flour mixture together well. Add the shredded coconut, pineapple, and walnuts and mix well. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top as much as possible to ensure a uniform top. Evenly distribute the ¾ cup nuts on the top of the loaf and gently push them down a bit to secure them.

Bake for about 40 minutes and check after 20 minutes to see if the nuts are starting to cook too quickly – you may need to lightly cover with foil and continue baking for 20 minutes or until a toothpick insert into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 5 to 10 minutes, (if you can wait) before removing from pan.

I look forward to hearing from you so please leave a comment with you questions, recipe requests, any recipe tips you wish to share, and let me know how your banana bread turned out.

Kate McAloon is a personal chef whose client list includes Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr, Tracy Anderson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Visit Chef Kate’s website www.chefkatealiveandcooking.com and the Kora Organics blog www.koraorganics.com (under Chef Kate) for more healthy organic recipes and articles.

Image: Peter Turner www.magiclanternpaperproducts.com.

 

Thanks to our friends at InStyle for highlighting our fab halterneck monokini in this month’s issue. Visit the their website here for Hollywood know-how and the latest fashion news.

 

Happiness seems to have almost magical properties. Scientists claim it can make us more resilient and creative, harder working, healthier and even live longer. But happiness is a fuzzy concept, and attempting to harness it and ‘get hold of it’ can be tough. The ‘Happiness Formula’ is a proven way to begin that process, the results of which we could all benefit from.

We’ve all got a lot on our plate nowadays, from jobs, childcare, family worries, juggling a social life and being agony aunt to numerous friends and colleagues. In a fast paced world where you’re assumed and expected to be superwoman – there’s no wonder that many of us have moments of despair and worry.

A new form of psychology – positive psychology – suggests we can think ourselves happy and actually re-wire our brains to be more optimistic. We are told we all have a set range of happiness, and positive psychologists say we could make ourselves 10-15% happier simply by knowing what our strengths are.

We would, perhaps, be happier if we did not compare ourselves to those at the top, but we are encouraged to do so. We would be happier if we were not so bloody selfish, but we mostly are. Some people just have a gift for happiness. “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” asked Einstein. But we are not all Einstein’s and positive action as well as thoughts is what we need.

How, then, can we make ourselves happy? There are a number of recognized ways to do this:

* Seek out positive people to associate with.

* Rid your mind of negative thinking with yoga and exercise.

* Speak in a positive tone.

* Expose yourself to all the wonderful books, music and movies available.

* Discover the one important thing in your life that’s important, and pursue it.

 

Happiness is not a genetic trait we are born with, but a choice. It is up to us, then, to be willing, hold onto positive thoughts, create happiness, maintain it, share it, and build our lives around it. In short, we are all just about as happy as we choose to be. Follow this day-by-day checklist to put yourself on the road to a brighter tomorrow.

Day one: Instant mood booster – Build some mental muscle Just as weight-training can help you be a better runner, exercising your brain can make it easier to think positive. For most of us, meditation is like flossing – something that never makes it off the to-do list. But just a few minutes a day could help get your brain in happy shape, so try this simple technique.

* Pick a word with peaceful connotations, such as ’calm’, ‘relax’ or ‘love’.

* Sit somewhere quiet, close your eyes and breathe slowly.

* Each time you exhale; silently repeat your chosen word.

* When other thoughts arise, gently dismiss them and keep repeating your word.

* Build up to doing this for ten minutes at a time.

Day 2: Instant mood booster – Have a daily ‘happy hour ‘‘People don’t devote enough time to thinking about their life and how much of it they actually enjoy,’ says psychologist Dr David Schkade. Schkade once asked 900 women to write down what they’d done the day before and then analysed how they felt during each activity. The women were amazed at how much time they spent doing things that made them unhappy. Write down how you spend your time for a week. Then think how you could swap an hour a day from an activity you feel indifferent about (surfing TV channels, tidying the house) to one you enjoy (going for a walk, spending time with your partner).

Day 3: Instant mood booster – Take up something you’re passionate about According to research, It’s when you’re so fully focused on a pleasurable activity, you tune out of everything else. Think back to what you were passionate about at the age of nine and consider taking it up as a hobby. It’s said that we are most true to ourselves and least influenced by others when we’re about this age. So apply the ‘rule of nine’ and try ballet or tap-dancing classes, knitting, embroidery, sketching or painting. In fact anything, which makes your heart sing.

Day 4: Instant mood booster – Believing you’re a good person is easier if you act like one According to her studies, doing lots of small kind acts in a single day gives a more noticeable mood boost than simply trying to be a kind person generally. One day a week, look out for kindness opportunities – but vary what you do. ’When we gave people the same kindness task to do over and over again, we found their happiness levels went down,’ says Professor Lyubomirsky. ‘Variety and spontaneity seem to be the key.’

Day 5: Instant mood booster – Surround yourself with psychological supports Dr Zelsel,, a psychologist says that ‘Minimalist interiors can starve your brain of stimulus. Personal objects and pictures aren’t just décor, they’re psychological supports, increasing your sense of self, and reducing the production of the neurotransmitters in your brain that create anxiety.’ Zelsel suggests that we; ‘frame photographs of family and friends, along with visual reminders of your own achievements (such as that snap of you finishing a marathon) and your academic or vocational certificates’, because on a bad day, ‘they’ll be instant reminders of your success’.

If you’ve checked out the lovely  scarves here at Lovestretch and are looking for some great tips on how to wear them, follow the link below for the latest styling info from Refinery 29 (check out some great fashion content while you’re there!) :

‘We’ve already extolled the multifarious styling abilities of the lightweight scarf, and now that you’ve stocked up on a few, it’s time to learn how to make them worth their salt. Before you get snarky, there are more ways to tie a scarf than just “around your neck.”

‘Special tricks for special looks are scarves’…well, specialty, and we’ve compiled the most compelling ways to do ‘em up. Here are eight fresh ways to wear your scarves this summer.’

via Summer Scarves- How to Wear Scarves for Summer.

Visit Elle.com for the latest trend news – including our own fabulous skinny jeans from Karen by Simonsen.

It may be an important national matter but we promise to make this the very last mention of a certain famous bottom.

There are countless Facebook pages devoted to Ms Middleton’s derriere and she has finally revealed the secret behind her perfect behind: Pilates.

It’s said that the Duchess of Cambridge’s sister attends classes at small studio in Parson’s Green near her London flat and has become devoted to her practice.

Pippa claims the exercise has helped improve her core stability and posture – which explains her elongated frame and natural poise on the big day and calls her daily date at the studio a ‘weekly necessity’.

This bombshell news is sure to boost Pilates attendances up and down the land and a very good thing too. For lots of different reasons.

Founder and CEO of Lovestretch, Gill Owen, has some sound advice on how to follow Pippa on the road to backside righteousness:

‘Firstly I’d always advise someone starting out on the Pilates road to do their homework and find a really good teacher – it can make all the difference. He or she needs to be able to communicate well and who properly understand the mechanics.

‘Pilates – and the very best bottom you can achieve – comes from a base level of the pelvic floor. The way to find that is to bring the sitz bones together (the ones you can feel against a chair when you sit up straight). These close the pelvic floor at the perineum, the strongest part of the pelvic floor.

‘When you bring those areas together the bottom lifts and if you do this often enough within your practice and often enough you will achieve a pert bottom. For best results this movement should be performed in all the main positions; prone, lying, sitting and standing.

‘With commitment and two or three classes a week great results can be achieved. After three months optimum strength should be reached. Then it’s simply a case of honoring that work and maintaining it!’

For any Pilates questions or advice, email Gill; gill@lovestretch.com.

 

Sometimes fashion feels better when we steer away from clingy fabrics. Nothing can ruin your day more than feeling uncomfortable in tight clothing. But there are plenty of designers who insist clingy doesn’t necessarily mean your world will turn upside down if you wear it. In fact, body wear brand Metalicus says there’s more to stretchy fashion than meets the eye.

The Melbourne brand, which has been around since 1992, prides itself on mastering all that is stretchy. It makes singlets, tights and tops using spandex, cotton, seam-free fibres and even merino wool to spread the word that being clingy isn’t such a bad thing. The key to wearing clingy fabrics appropriately is to make sure you wear a combination of loose and fitted garments, and finding the balance between the two is where many women go wrong.

Head designer Vanessa Rochman joined Metalicus six years ago with a mission to take the label’s basic look to somewhere more extravagant. The plan was to find the balance between the ordinary and extraordinary, and the label has certainly transformed itself, offering a much larger selection of clothing in recent years. For winter 2011, Metalicus takes us on a journey of autumnal shades (think of clay brown and mauve-tinged leaves) with a hint of orange zest, rich navy, some neutral notes and syrupy purple shades. There are 1970s-inspired stripes and zig-zag prints for some contrast, too.

The range is still heavily fixed on the fitted when it comes to tank tops, long-sleeved wardrobe staples and tights, but the collection is just as focused on deconstructed fashion and looser pieces of clothing. Flowing empire-line dresses in cotton, cardigans and wraps make way for all shapes and sizes, while some of the more popular styles from the winter collection include the body-con dresses in cream and a tulip-shaped concept cocoon skirt for a hint of difference.

“I am a big fan of pushing people out of their comfort zone and trying different colours,” says Rochman. “Sometimes wearing something bright instead of grabbing black can make a world of difference. Colour can lift your mood and make you feel energised. With the winter collection I wanted to emphasise the importance of layering with colours and making the most of a variety of silhouettes which can suit any shape.”

Layering your clothing doesn’t need to be as complicated as some might think. In fact, Rochman says many women become confused by what it means. “It’s something that’s very simple and given that our weather is all over the place at the moment; understanding layering is important,” she says.

“You layer up for cooler weather and layer down for warmer weather. You have your cardigan and scarf and use them accordingly. Keep pieces in your bag to allow for a quick switch if you have to. People over-complicate it for themselves when they don’t have to.”

Note to self: Layering means adding one or two extra items, not a range of pieces when it comes to your outfit.Metalicus is one of those brands that doesn’t size its garments, preferring to opt for a one-size-fits-most tag.

“While we are a one-size-fits-most brand, I wanted to make sure there were different silhouettes that suit all different women in our range,” says Rochman. “The reason we are not sized is because who are we to tell women what size they should be? They will wear shapes and styles that suit them. There is a lot of looser and draped layering in each collection with Metalicus which can suit everyone, and that’s what we are about. But owning some stretchy fitted items is a must-have,?too.”

via Stretch it to the limit @ The Weekly Review.

This salad is gluten-free, low glycemic and packed with flavor and nutrition. Miranda Kerr served it during her lunch interview with 60 Minutes Australia. I love to make it instead of chicken salad sometimes and for my vegetarian clients I have used crispy tofu pieces instead of salmon. It’s light and delicious and makes the perfect lunch served on a bed of fresh greens. It’s also great as a sandwich filling or on top of cucumber slices as a quick snack or passed appetizer. As ever, please use organic ingredients whenever possible!

Salmon Salad with Herbs and Toasted Seeds

Ingredients: 1 lb *salmon (fresh or frozen wild caught); 2 ½ Tablespoons coconut or olive oil (reserve 1½ Tablespoons for sautéing); ½ Cup celery (finely chopped); ½ Cup red or yellow onion (finely chopped); 1 Tablespoon green onion (finely chopped); 2 Tablespoons parsley (finely chopped) (reserve a little for garnish); 2 Tablespoons cilantro (finely chopped) Reserve a little for garnish); 2 Tablespoons mint leaves (finely chopped) (reserve a few whole leaves for garnish); 2 Tablespoons toasted sunflower seeds; 2 Tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds; ½ Teaspoon sea salt (or more to taste); Freshly ground pepper (to taste); Red pepper flakes (to taste); 1 Tablespoon *Braggs Liquid Aminos; 1 Tablespoon honey or agave; ½ to ¾ Cup mayonnaise or vegan mayo

To prepare the salmon (thaw if using frozen fish) remove the skin and bones – you can have your fishmonger do this too. Cut the salmon in about 1 inch pieces. Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add olive oil and heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the salmon and stir occasionally until well cooked (it’s ok if it crumbles a bit).

Remove from heat and cool. Check to see if there are any small bones and remove. In a medium/large sauté pan heat the olive oil and add the celery, onion, green onion, parsley, cilantro, and mint. Sauté for about 4 minutes, stirring often until tender but not browned. Add sunflower and pumpkin seeds, sea salt, pepper, and pepper flakes and continue cooking for 2 to 3 minutes stirring often.

Add Bragg Liquid Aminos and honey or agave and stir well. Remove from heat and cool. Add the sautéed veggie mixture to the salmon and add mayonnaise then gently mix well until combined. You can serve as is or on a bed of greens (lightly tossed with olive oil, lemon, sea salt, and pepper.) I like to serve the salad on arugula and micro greens. Garnish with herbs a serve immediately or refrigerate and serve later.

*You can also use canned salmon, just drain it very well before using and there’s no need to cook it. I prefer to use fresh or frozen, but in a pinch canned works great.

Kate McAloon is a personal chef whose client list includes Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr, Tracy Anderson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Visit Chef Kate’s website www.chefkatealiveandcooking.com and the Kora Organics blog www.koraorganics.com (under Chef Kate) for more healthy organic recipes and articles.

Image: Peter Turner www.magiclanternpaperproducts.com *Bragg Liquid Aminos www.bragg.com

 

If you haven’t already signed up for the Lovestretch newsletter do so here for the very latest news and exclusive offers. This week you can pick up the very best clogs from Sanita with the extremely comfortable discount of 50%. Simply add SAN50 at checkout as your voucher code to make the most of this great summer promotion.

It’s refreshing to note that the latest Forbes Supermodel List is peppered with women in their thirties. Gisele Bündchen (30), Kate Moss (37), Heidi Klum (37) and Carolyn Murphy (also 37 – 1973 must have been an especially beautiful year) are all top earners.

Their money comes not from the editorial pages they fill but the advertising ones that fatten magazines and decorate billboards. Why is this interesting? It means that advertisers have to pay more attention to the real age of their target audience than the mags themselves.

Age softens and matures a woman’s look in a way that’s attractive to younger as well as older women. It’s great to see that acknowledged by the advertising agencies.

Now the demographic is moving in the right direction we’re looking forward to the time when women over 40 regularly make the list alongside their beautiful counterparts who are 20 years their junior.