Posted by chiropam on Oct 30, 2009 in
Wellness 
As an American living in Australia, I have seen the American holiday creep into Australia over the years. Now more than ever, there are decorations, costumes, party favours, candy/lollies to get into the Halloween spirit. I must admit that it was one of my favourite holidays as a child. I cherish those memories and really enjoyed celebrating the holiday with other fellow Americans when my daughter was little. The American Women’s Club of Perth was so influential in facilitating the American holidays, as well as an excellent way to mingle with other Americans living in Perth. This year I will be celebrating with some American friends, but not necessarily traditionally. I had some Halloween decorations to use on a pumpkin cake recipe that I modified to call my own. Celebrating with the superfood-pumpkin we will have Pumpkin Spice Cake and Pumpkin Spinach Salad.
Pumpkin Spice Cake (serves 8-10)
Ingredients:
125g butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
180g peeled pumpkin, steamed and mashed
2 cups sifted plain flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1-1/2teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup buttermilk
Method
Pre-heat oven to 180C. I used a fan forced oven.
Cream the butter, then add the sugar and beat till fluffy.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each one.
Slowly beat in the pumpkin.
Sift all the dry ingredients together, then add some buttermilk, alternating until all mixed in.
Pour the cake batter into the Tupperware Kugelhopf and bake for about 40-45 minutes. Remember, every oven is different so time will vary. Test with cake tester or knife. It should spring back when pressed lightly.
Cool cake in tin on a rack for 5 minutes -this allows for air to circulate around the base of the tin too. Turn onto rack gently to cool completely.
Decorate as desired. I frosted and decorated with Halloween sprinkles. It can be used anytime of year, just sprinkle with icing sugar.
Have a Happy Halloween! Try the cake recipe even if it’s not for Halloween. It’s great all year round, let me know how it turns out:-)
Tags: egg, Halloween, pumpkin, spinach, Tupperware Kugelhopf, Wellness
Posted by chiropam on Sep 30, 2009 in
Chiropractic 
I was wondering to myself, “What shall I blog about today”? The last couple weeks of my life as a female chiropractor have been quite full with the administration side of my chiropractic business, so my creative side has been put on the back burner. It is school holiday time in Perth, which means 2 weeks break for the school kids between Term 3 and 4.
My daughter was with some friends in the afternoon and needed to be picked up. On my way, I’m driving along the beautiful coast road, as the sun is getting ready to set over the ocean, and Whack! “What was that?!?!” I thought to myself. The sky is falling! Not sure, I’m driving along, and on the passenger window was an egg splattered over my window. At first, I thought I hit a bird. But the slime that was smeared was not the presentation that hitting a bird would make.
A flood of emotions came over me, startled, shocked, curious, wondering, then angry. This egg did not fly randomly out of the sky, or did it? Was the universe trying to get my attention? When I was angry I was thinking that it was probably kids with nothing better to do during their school holidays. Nothing better to do? How appalling is that? We live in a society where kids have so much, that they find throwing eggs out of bushes at oncoming traffic amusing. Good old fashioned fun is great, playing outside etc. but not when it can endanger others.
If that would have hit the window on the driver’s side, it could have caused a serious accident. I don’t feel angry anymore, I’ve learned it is best not to carry that emotion. Identify it, look at the positives and negatives and be grateful for what it is.
Grateful for an egg splattered on my car? No. Grateful for it not being worse and giving me the opportunity to remind my daughter about values and acceptable behaviour. Yes. Interestingly enough, I could think of many other great things to do with eggs, not throw them at people, places or things.
I felt the need to share this, and would love to get your feedback and your thoughts in the Comments section.
Tags: Chiropractic, egg, female chiropractor, grateful