Welcome to le blog

Orange, Fennel & Radish Salad

I have a strange habit of eating summer things in winter.

This salad feels like the last remnant of summer. The colours, the zing, the crunch. We’ve been lucky here in Sydney – the weather has treated us with sunny days and 19 degree weather (pretty hot, since it is June and officially winter). I never grew up eating fennel, but have started a craving for it. Every weekend I go to Room10 and order the same thing. The open sarnie of cured ocean trout, soft boiled egg with the rocket and fennel salad (plus a flat white as well). I order it knowing, that the trout is top notch and the salad has the thinnest sliced fennel in it – my two favourite things for brekky. If you haven’t tried it – it’s a winner.

Thin is key when fennel is the salad star. I can’t stress it more. Fennel has a strong aniseed flavour, with a rather thick bulbous root. If you’re not so great with a knife (I put my hand up here!) use a mandoline. It will create the most delicate slices of fennel with little fuss and make this salad a joy to eat. Team the fennel with rounds of radish (this was from my garden – hip hip hooray) and orange segments for a colourful lunch or shared dinner side salad.

Let’s hope the weather gods hear me, and let that warmth stay for the weekend.

ORANGE, FENNEL & RADISH SALAD

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE SALAD
1 BABY FENNEL, SLICED THINLY (RESERVE FRONDS – HERBY TOP BITS)
1 ORANGE, SEGMENTED
4 RADISHES, SLICED THINLY

FOR THE DRESSING
2 TABLESPOONS SHERRY VINEGAR
4 TABLESPOONS EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL
SALT AND PEPPER

LET’S GET COOKING

STEP ONE
Combine the salad ingredients in a large bowl.

STEP TWO
Whisk the dressing together in a separate small bowl.

STEP THREE
Toss the salad with the dressing. Arrange on a platter, top with fennel fronds.

Serves 2 as a lunch salad or 4 as a side salad.

June 20th, 2013

Taken From the Top Tuesday : Fuel Urban Wellness

Amanda Daley (from Fuel Urban Wellness) and I have a lot of things in common.

You see, Amanda’s worked in advertising. We’ve both worked in numerous agencies, on mega-global brands and won awards for our work. I’m not here to gloat about me (or Amanda) – but talk about what I learnt from her at her healthy high tea. Yes, you read right. Amanda held a sugarfree, yummy high tea to talk about her journey from burnout to better health (and her decision to say goodbye to the adworld). Something I’ve been in search of for the last decade.

Over the years I’ve gone through waves of burnout. It’s happened about every two years. I can solely contribute it to my work-life-balance – because, there was none – it was all work. I would crash emotionally, cry at a drop of a hat. If someone asked for a minor amend to artwork, for me to take on a new job, or simply how’s your workload looking. Week-after-week I wouldn’t be able to really pull myself out of the hole that I had dug myself in. Poor Round Eye has dug me out many times – he knows the signs – he tells me that ‘I’m doing it again’. My last burnout (only last year), my boss and good friend had to lend a hand to help me find a happier state of mind. Push me in a new direction – I can only thank her dearly.

My story is much like Amanda’s. While we all nibbled away on raw vegan cheesecake and coconut truffle balls, Amanda spoke about why she now helps others find better health. One thing that Amanda said which resonated was, “look after yourself, then good things will follow.” I have to admit at the time, I thought – really? Good things will just – happen?

But it’s happened to me. I started looking after my health. I gave up sugar* and built exercise into my everyday life. I started on the road to a healthier body and mind. Then somehow, someway – good things have started to happen. Not just one thing, but lots of things. And I’m slowly transitioning to doing what I love everyday. A goal I set late last year, yet has been tinkering away at the back of my mind for over a decade.

A big thank you Amanda. For proving that it can happen. And for the priceless helpful tips.

*Nowadays I have one sugarfree day a week, just to keep the balance. Plus special occasions too. But unlike before, I can stop after a little bit – unlike in my former sugar-guts-eat-everything-life.

THE DEETS YOU WANT TO KNOW

I attended Amanda’s healthy high tea and gained a few tips on battling burnout. I’ve been putting these into place and voila I have great results! She can help you find a better you. She will create a tailored one-on-one solution to help you get to a happier place. Contact Amanda here.

I attended Amanda’s healthy high tea as a guest. I would gladly enlist Amanda’s services if I ever fall into that deep dark hole again.