Catalan Coastal Gems

pennybenjaminPB-Log, TravelLeave a Comment

[picture above: View of Peniscola from Castell de Peniscola] The Spanish cities of Madrid, Barcelona, San Sebastien and Granada draw many visitors to Spain every year. However, along the coast south of Barcelona, in the region of Catalonia, you’ll find many just as beautiful, fascinating and historical towns to visit on your travels. Guadalest Beginning just south of Valencia, you … Read More

ATP – How does our body make Energy?

pennybenjaminNutrition, PB-Log, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

 As an assessment for a unit in my Masters of Nutrition degree, I recently had to put together a ‘Factsheet’ on how our bodies make ATP (targeted at the level of a fellow student). I received a HD for this assessment piece and several of my friends expressed how interesting they found the factsheet. So I thought I’d share the information with … Read More

10 Highlights of Alicante and Murcia

pennybenjaminPB-Log, Travel2 Comments

Alicante and Murcia are two cities (about an hour apart) in the region of Spain south of Valencia. Alicante, on the coast, attracts some tourists in the Summer (although not nearly as many as its neighbour, Benidorm), while Murcia is a somewhat unknown, though nonetheless beautiful and interesting, city! Both Alicante airport and Murcia airports are the nearest to this … Read More

Mouthwatering Murcian Morsels

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Spanish Food Paella

Did you know that paella is actually the name of the large pan that the rice is cooked in? In a more local restaurant you won’t actually see ‘Paella’ on the menu. Rather you’ll read the heading “Arroces” which is Spanish for ‘rices’. Under the heading you’ll then see the different rice dishes that the restaurant serves (seafood, chicken, chorizo etc.). … Read More

Raw Cacao Bean Bliss Balls

pennybenjaminNourish, PB-Log, Snacks, SweetsLeave a Comment

cacao bean

  RAW CACAO BEAN BLISS BALLS I’ve been spending lots of time with my family in the Netherlands since arriving in Europe. Low and behold, the husband of one of my cousins is in the cacao bean trade! So what did I head home with after lunch at their place? A giant bag of raw cacao beans of course. I … Read More

Spanish Lemon Coconut Bliss Balls

pennybenjaminNourish, PB-Log, Snacks, Sweets, TravelLeave a Comment

Spain Lemons

SPANISH LEMON COCONUT BLISS BALLS I’m currently housesitting just outside of Murcia, Spain, in a villa on the outskirts of the town situated amongst rows and rows of lemon trees! So, what do you do when your Spanish adventures give you a seemingly endless supply of lemons? Make Lemon Coconut Bliss Balls of course! I would normally use a base of nuts … Read More

Keukenhof: the Epitome of Springtime in the Netherlands

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Keukenhof

The Keukenhof, located not far from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, is a large exhibition of Spring-flowering “bulbs” and the Dutch floricultural sector. It is open only for 8 weeks during the peak flowering period from late March through to mid-May each year and displays a magnificent array of beautiful flowers in all the colours of the rainbow! And, yes, the perfumes are delicious. … Read More

Superfood Falafels

pennybenjaminMain Meals, Nourish, SuperfoodsLeave a Comment

These falafels are tasty, versatile and one of my favourite things to have on hand for a flavour-and-nutrient-packed lunch.  They’re also a great vegan (non-meat) way to add protein to a meal. Use what you have on hand at home and improvise as you need. Recipe Type: GF, DF, RSF, V Makes 8-16 falafels Time 30mins Ingredients: 1/2 C your favourite seed mixture (sunflower … Read More

In the Netherlands for Koningsdag? (Kings Day)

pennybenjaminPB-Log, TravelLeave a Comment

I had the pleasure of arriving in the Netherlands from Hong Kong at 6:35am on 27th April 2016; Koningsdag!! Along with the warm and welcoming arms of my Oom (Uncle) Frits, I was greeted by some crazy orange decorations, from clothes, hats and balls to flags, rings and earrings (orange is the Dutch national colour, if you didn’t know). Koningsdag, or “Kings … Read More

Paleo Pumpkin Lasagne

pennybenjaminMain Meals, NourishLeave a Comment

Catering for Paleo and Vegan friends alike – Check out this Paleo Pumpkin Lasagne made with my famous Cauliflower Cheese Sauce! A wonderful winter-warmer Recipe Type: GF, DF, RSF, V, Paleo Serves 1 x 20cm square lasagne. Time 1 hour Ingredients: About 1/2 a pumpkin (use your favourite type ), sliced into thin slices to use as  lasagne sheets. 2-3 medium-large zucchinis, sliced … Read More