I think I’ve mentioned, (probably numerous times) that Arabella is onto a new eating regime where basically everything I buy deserves a roll of the eyes. It’s because the boyfriend with no tattoos from the neck up, is health conscious. And in between he and Arabella’s five break-ups and six getting-back-togethers, this new eating regime has permeated my kitchen.
From what I understand, there’s to be no wheat or dairy, no carbs after five, (or maybe it’s no carbs at all) and a constant scream of, ‘Why is there no room on the bench for the juicer?’ Because one must start the day with a freshly juiced juice and green is the colour of choice so someone had better be stocking up on kale, spinach, celery and green apples for sweetness.
Organic Incaberries
And this juicing business gets going at around the same time as Archie, (who has his own eating regime because he’s trying to get back the body he had in high school – aren’t we all!) is cooking his chicken breasts with the garlic and lime juice then simmering frozen vegetables that don’t include carbs to take to uni, then progressing to making his scrambled eggs with four organic eggs for breakfast.
I really should video these early morning kitchen episodes just so you can watch the circus unwind.
Incaberry and macadamia nut stuffing
In the left corner we have the juicer spewing out green slime and in the right corner we have hot oil splattering from the frying pan and covering every surface within a 10 metre radius and I’m looking for some space to pack Alfie’s lunch box. From the left corner it’s ‘What are you giving him a muesli bar for? You know they’re full of sugar. Do you even know how bad refined sugar is? He could get cancer’.
And from the right corner, it’s, ‘And mum, you do remember me telling you that that girl from uni is coming here tonight to help with my assessment? She’ll have to stay the night and we’ll both be here for dinner. I’ll ask her today what she wants for dinner and then text you’.
Very bad photo of Roasted Spatchcocks with Incaberry and Macadamia Stuffing
‘Just ask her if there’s anything she doesn’t eat’.
‘What is for dinner?’ asks Arabella.
‘Poison’, I reply.
‘Just nothing with pasta or rice. And if you’re doing potatoes, did you know sweet potato is lower in carbs? It’s much better for you’, adds Arabella.
‘We won’t be here before seven. What time’s dinner?’ asks Archie.
‘Around seven and no later’. I put some corn chips in Alfie’s lunch box.
‘Corn chips, mum? Seriously? They have so many preservatives’.
‘Well it’s not like I can give him celery sticks is it, seeing as you’ve shoved them through the juicer. And give me that last green apple. He can have that for his lunch box and you can find something else to sweeten your slime’.
‘Mum’, says Archie with great urgency, I’ve got to go or I’ll miss my bus. I can’t be late, I have a dance class. Do you mind washing up the frying pan for me? I’ll clean up after dinner tonight; or maybe the next night because I’ve got that girl coming over and we have to study. See you then. Love you.’
When you’re a uni student running out of time to clean up after one’s self is standard.
‘When you’re at the shops today mum, can you get some more kale, and strawberries, and celery and spinach and some mushrooms and it looks like we need more eggs. See you tonight and text me with what you’re cooking for dinner; with a picture if you’ve got one’.
And off goes the princess and I can then pack Alfie’s lunch box in peace.
Gluten-Free Brownies straight out of the oven
Recently a package arrived in the mail and you can imagine how excited Archie and Arabella were to find it was incaberries. Recently Harris Farm started stocking incaberries coated in dark chocolate and this is how I became aware of them because they’re very nice after dinner with a coffee (even better with a glass of red wine).
The reason the learned uni students were so excited is because the berries are organic, are very high in fibre and antioxidants and contain no additives or preservatives. They are one of the new super-foods because they’re higher in antioxidants than even goji berries.
Brownies served with clotted cream
Incaberries are grown in the high altitude regions of South America. They are the size of a raisin and they have seeds in them like a raisin so you get plenty of crunch. I think they taste like a prune but with a pleasant sour finish. The sourness gives them a nice tang making them quite refreshing and this is why they go so well coated in dark chocolate.
And as for the fibre, when you compare the fibre levels of the most common dried fruits, incaberries have two to three times more. For every 100gms, incaberriers have 19.1gms of fibre. The second highest is dates on 9.7gms, then gojiberries on 8gms and one of the lowest is blueberries on 2.4gms.
Dark Chocolate Incaberry Clusters
Having already tried these as an after dinner snack I was keen to cook with them so I went to the incaberry website and adapted some recipes to share with you. The website will also tell you where you can source incaberries in your local area and mine are within walking distance at my local health food store.
Spatchcocks with Incaberry and Macadamia Seasoning
Serves: 4
Degree of Difficulty: 3/5
Cost: I made these for a dinner party and found it to be a very affordable dinner party dish as spatchcocks are around $7.00 each.
- 125g softened butter
- 1 cup chopped incaberries
- 1 cup roughly chopped macadamia nuts
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped sage
- rind of 1 orange
- 4 spatchcocks around 500g each
- 1 tbspn cornflour
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup chicken stock (or more depending on the consistency of gravy desired)
Pre-heat oven to 180C (375F).
In a medium-sized bowl combine butter, incaberries, macadamia nuts, parsley, sage and orange rind. Season and mix until well combined.
Rinse spatchcocks under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Fill cavities with seasoning then secure opening with poultry pins.
Place in a roasting dish. Drizzle with olive oil and season.
Place in oven and cook for 45 mins. Remove from oven and place spatchcocks on a warm plate. Cover with foil and rest for 15 mins. Meanwhile, drain roasting dish of all but 2 tbspns of pan juices. Place over a hot element and add cornflour. Stir until well browned. Add white wine and bring to the boil to evaporate alcohol. Add chicken stock and return to the boil. Simmer for a couple of minutes then strain into a serving dish.
Serve with potatoes and steamed greens.
This recipe has been adapted from the Incaberry Website.
Gluten-Free Incaberry Brownies
Makes: 16
Degree of Difficulty: 2/5
Cost: Will very depending on the quality of chocolate used.
- 125g butter
- 175g dark chocolate, chopped
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 1⁄2 cups GF plain flour, sifted (I used White Wings)
- 3⁄4 teaspoon baking powder (use GF)
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup Incaberries, chopped
- 2 tablespoons dark choc chips
Preheat oven to 160C.
Place the butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat and stir until melted and combined fully. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature.
Place the sugar in a large bowl along with the flour and baking powder. Mix to combine then pour in the melted chocolate mixture and lightly beaten eggs. Fold together then stir in the Incaberries.
Spoon the mixture into a 20cm x 30cm (I used a 25 x 25cm) slice tin lined with non stick baking paper. Sprinkle with choc chips. Transfer to the oven and cook for 30 – 40 minute until brownie is still quite moist when tested with a skewer.
Cool completely or serve warm with ice cream.
Note : cover the brownie if the surface is browning too quickly.
This recipe has been adapted from the Incaberry Website.
Gluten-Free Incaberry Chocolate Brownies
Dark Chocolate Incaberry Clusters
Serves: 2-10
Degree of Difficulty: 1/5
Cost: This will vary depending on the quality of chocolate used.
- 250g dark chocolate (I used Lindt) broken into small pieces
- 1 cup incaberries
Line a tray with baking paper.
Melt chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Remove from heat and add incaberries. When well combined pour out onto baking paper and spread to single layer thickness. Place in the fridge to set then break into bite sized clusters.
Incaberry Clusters – so simple and easy to make
For more information regarding incaberries, head to their website.
Wow three new recipes at one time.. We are blessed. I know how difficult our children can be… they go through eating phases faster than they eat me out of house and home. It is exhausting… Love the look of that stuffing and your four little birds. Wishing you a super weekend. BAM
Your morning routine sounds like madness. My house is deathly quiet as I rush downstairs with my purse, throw yogurt, my water bottle and a couple of tamales or a sandwich on a bun into my Kodak film cooler bag and race out the door. Twenty minutes from when the alarm rings in the morning is usual though 10 minutes is my personal best record. 🙂
I’ve never heard of incaberries though they DO sound intriguing.
Firstly I have to say you are a martyr. Not sure I could handle that razzamatazz in the kitchen each morning.
And I’ve never heard of incaberries, They sound interesting and sound like they go perfectly with chocolate. The brownies look very moist in the centre yum.
Carolyn
I’d like to see that video you suggested shooting! I don’t know if I could handle a morning like this in my kitchen (hence, I have no kids). 😉 And, I’ve never tried incaberries. I’ll have to look for them. The chocolate clusters look fantastic!
Haven’t you been busy! I made some incaberry and date slices with my incaberries. Much better on day two after the flavours have come together a bit. I’ve got some more for chocolate clusters or incaberry stuffing.
I can’t imagine trying to sort out two uni students AND a young fella. In the states few kids live at home when going to college. I think I know why after reading this. 🙂
Goji berries I know, but I haven’t yet tried Inca berries. I particularly like the chocolate clusters with Inca berries. You are unbelievably patient with that many different routines going on in the kitchen at one time!, and at least there is a lot of health consciousness taking place! 🙂
I suspect the left and right corners of your kitchen would stay away from the chocolate incaberry clusters, but I’d take their shares quite happily 🙂 I discovered the berries last year and loved them – with chocolate would be even better.
The circus in your kitchen each morning sounds exhausting!
Sounds like your sense of humour and tons of patience gets you through the morning kitchen chaos! Thank you for sharing these recipes with inca berries, I must look for them in the healthfood shop and might even try all three for a dinner party!! (I’m a fan of no entree/starter, straight to main then TWO desserts ;-))
Wow that sounds like a very hectic ritual Charlie! And lol at the picture of what you’re cooking, what is that for? To show the friend a preview? Wow!
Incaberry clusters for me please! Your kitchen is the opposite of mine, I am desperately trying to get the kids to eat something green and they are abusing me because the food I cook doesn’t taste as good as a McDonalds. Hah! At least the husband appreciated the broccoli and cheese soup made tonight. I mad the little kids a cheese toastie and some chopped carrots and apple and told them they were missing a treat. Eyerolling.
Incaberries – a new one on me. But some great recipes here. Loving those clusters you deserve them with the wine after some of your mornings!
Your morning does sound like a circus, I’d be tempted to go back to bed (with a latte of course!)
Those berries sound great and thank you for describing the mouth feel and taste, I’ll look out for them at our health food store. Would you serve one if those spatchcocks per person?
I can’t believe how patient you are!! I would have added to the mayhem with a meltdown. Great recipes, I’ll have to do a bit of searching out for the berries, sound very interesting. As for the high school body?!!! GG
You really should video your mornings! That would be lots of fun to see. The incaberry craze hasn’t hit the US yet. Or if it has, I’m – as usual – behind the curve (terra cognita for me, alas). But they look like lots of fun – I should look for them. Loads of recipes today! Thanks for all of them.
urmmmm.. i think your kids are just lucky they have you as a mom. My mum can’t cook at all and I’ve been responsible for my own meals for the past……… 10 years? Even before I moved to Vancouver. Now that I’m back in Asia, we have a domestic helper at home making the meals. If I wanted something different, I’d have to go get it myself! hahaha.. You’re really quite wonderful and I’m super amazed that you managed to cater to their wants and needs! Hope you had a good weekend. 🙂
Incaberries? How have I missed these? Love the look of the recipes you made with them and laughed at and identified with your story. My 23-year-old son, who has been living in Los Angeles (home of all new and strange and trendy) is now a vegetarian like his father. I am definitely odd man out. We spew green slime as well.
Please, please please videotape a morning in your kitchen! I would love to see what goes on. It sounds wonderful!
Haha no need to film my friend I got quite a vivid image of the chaotic kitchen in the morning 😉
Ours is the same though if I even suggested only juice for breakfast my mum would nuke me on spot!
Lovely incaberry recipes, I will definitely be on the lookout for them!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Umm…darling, your gluten-free brownies have plain flour in them.. 😉
Your kids are a riot! Both figuratively and literally! 🙂
Your life is so eventful, I don’t know how you manage haha. And you even shared 3 recipes that suit your daughter – now that’s a mum 😉
Oh please please please can you video a morning for us?!?!
I was already giggling but the line that really got me was asking for a picture of dinner ‘if you can’.
So much entertainment! I love that now I’ve met them I can picture the scene so much more vividly.
You would love this post from Food Sage – http://thefoodsage.com.au/2013/04/12/food-for-thought-for-a-loved-one/
Thanks Claire. Popped over to The Food Sage. Loved it. Glad to know I’m not running the only dysfunctional household xx
This is the second time I’ve heard of incaberries. I’ll have to look for them here!
Pack Alfie’s lunch the night before and give the kitchen a wide berth in the morning – that is my advice. I love their healthy eating though – for as long as it lasts. Teenagers are nothing if not unpredictable. All that green smoothie stuff gives me a belly ache, but that’s just me. LOL.
You are just the greatest.
Also, I was reading the post and somehow missed the recipe title and so read “butter, incaberries, macadamia nuts, parsley, sage… WHAT THE?! These really must be Arabella brownies!”
And then I realised the brownie recipe came later.
Whitewings is definitely the best GF flour around isn’t itl?
I had heard rumors that you were a bad mum, now you’ve just confirmed them Charlie. It’s such a shame you’re such a bad cook that your kids have to make their own meals, and are so worried about you embarrassing them in front of friends that you have to show a picture of what your food is supposed to look like before they bring them home. The real surprise though Charlie, is you admitting to feeding your innocent child poison like sugar and corn chips while you hog the superfood berries to yourself to scoff with wine at night when he’s sleeping. I think Archie and Arabella should adopt Alfie, start cooking some healthy family meals, clean up after themselves as you obviously can’t be trusted, and thus leave you free to wallow in your pit of brownies,wine and chocolate. Win win I think Charlie! What do you think? 🙂 xox
You are too funny, Rebecca and you have given me sage advice. Yes, I really must spend more time wallowing on my couch with my super-food berries, wine and chocolate xx
LOL…you win!!! I will never complain about the craziness in my kitchen 🙂 At least your crew is leaning towards healthy… I have a feeling your brownies will be scarfed down in an instant! What a super mom you are! xx
Sounds tough to have a picky eater in the house! 🙂 Those gluten free brownies look incredible! Yum!!
Oops: this is going to be the most unpopular and unwanted answer on the blog! My apologies beforehand!! Well, Alfie is dependent on you, BUT let the other two shop themselves, cook themselves AND DEFINITELY immediately wash up after themselves and see how long they last! They could be doing a lot more unwise things than attempting to choose healthy food: I’m all for that, but their choices are not necessarily mature or based on the total spectrum of what is healthy for one! Incaberries: sure – good for one and have had, but certainly just an expensive fad which is niot going to keep one person alive and healthy byond their alloted time 🙂 !
Thanks Eha, always lovely to hear from you.
And to read your blog and laugh and then think it thur’ again 😀 !
I can only imagine the circus, too funny 🙂 I’m loving my sample of incaberries right now, the tartness is really refreshing!
Charlie, if ever you need to get really far away to re-group, we have a room open for you and promise, I will cook everything with carbs, dairy, wheat, sugar and fat and may even throw in a preservative of sorts in just for good measure.
Have a happy week.
🙂 Mandy xo
That is so tempting, Mandy. I think I need to book a flight. See you soon!
Oh man – thank Heavens I have boys lol. But then I could end up with 3 health conscious no tatoos from the neck up boys 😉 Congrats on the Top 100 hun – very well deserved. xx
these dishes sounds delicious! I wish I had the determination to stick to a diet like your daughter (I say tucking into chocolate and a whole host of other things that are terrible for me!)
I too would love to see a video. Just think Charlie, in no time, all 3 will be on their own you can view those videos, have a good laugh and wonder “how in the world did I survive all that commotion?”
Incaberries? New to me, then again, so many fruits throughout the world are more local or regional.
Amazing recipes, I need to get my hands on some incaberries! That brownie looks out of this world 🙂
Love all the recipes today!! I want that brownie!
I remember some of the diets my nieces and nephews tried, driving their Moms crazy in the process. All, save one, reverted to the Old Ways once they got out on their own and Mom wasn’t there to prepare the food. And the one? Despite all evidence to the contrary, I maintain that she was adopted. 🙂
3 tasty recipes in one post, Charlie. You spoil us!
Hi Charlie, I really enjoyed read your posting and love your sense of humour. You’re a super mum. 🙂
Thanks for the incaberries info, this is the first time I heard of this but it look awesome. Your roasted spatchcocks look awesome, I bet it’s finger licking good. Your brownies look perfect, just nice for my coffee break now. :)) And please save that addictive incaberry clusters for me.
Have a wonderful week ahead. Regards.
P/S I like your call sign “hotly spiced”
Hmmm Incaberries..they are new to me and I have to look them up.
Your mornings sound like ours at home but it is my husband and my daughter who are in opposite corners 🙂
Wow, that is a lot going on before or during coffee! Thank you for introducing me to incaberries… and that picture was not all that bad in my opinion.
I just LOVE your family! Mine looks so boring in comparison 🙂 At least you get a “love you” after being asked to clean up his pans, LOL A video would be nice, if you have the time 😉
UUUuumm, I NEED chocolate! That is all…. 😉
I do love how adventurous you are Charlie, to make all of these yummy dishes using the same berry, I’m especially digging the stuffing, yum! BTW, I’d take the corn chips over celery sticks!
Oh gosh i don’t really understand why Arabella is on a diet 🙂 She really doesn’t need it! She’s beautiful as is and I know being health conscious is good and important but lol it sounds a bit extreme with how she’s doing it 😛
But you are an amazing mother 🙂 Always trying to cater for their needs ~ Just don’t forget to take care of yourself too! xox
Clearly your life is busier than mine! You have to cook for your kids friends and different dinner time requests… oh boy! You do everything so well, Charlie. I’d like to know how you manage the entire day. I’ve never heard of incaberries so I googled and realized that I know these (from pics) but never known the name or tasted before. I’d love to have these. Look so good!
Gluten-Free isn’t my thing Charlie, but that first image of the brownies is perfect so I’ll have some. 😉
Sometimes I do wonder where our kids are going….my grandma was the least conscious eater of all, ate loads of fats and similar foods, and both my grandpa and grandma lived well into their nineties, and they were all good till the end. With all this health conscious stuff going on, I can’t help wonder if these kids are right, or whether our grandparent generation was right……the brownies look terrific.
Maureen asked me that day if I knew those berries but I didn’t. They somehow never reached to Goa, although health conscious hippie folks had come back from peru the other day, so those should have been in the market here.
I don’t mean anything bad but why doesn’t Arabella make some homemade muesli bars with stevia for her brother instead of criticizing you Charlie?
God! If that was my kitchen in the morning I would be starting my day with a big coffee followed by red wine or valium!!! I need calm and quiet of a morning!!! WOW, I don’t know how you do it… also I would lock the front door and make them clean up MY kitchen before they left. My teenagers know that they don’t step foot inside the kitchen unless they intend to leave it better than it was when they walked in!
You are amazing! So much more patient and nicer than me!
Oh my, I had such fun reading about your
tormentous relationship with your familys very varied diet preferences!
Poor you, must be very confusing.
The Incaberry recipe sounds delightful, will try to find these Incaberries. I’ve never seen them here even I now live in Inca land 🙂
May be I should try in a health store.
Cheers!
Super Mom ! And oh those brownies ! 🙂