These Quinoa Oat Bars are deceptive. They appear to be super healthy, an all-round nutritious snack bar. That’s not to say they aren’t (well relatively speaking) however they’re much more than that. How so? You could just as happily snaffle one of these up for dessert with a dollop of creamy yoghurt or vanilla ice-cream, as you would chow into one for a post-workout snack or breakfast on the run. This ‘fancy schmancy’ muesli bar is luxuriously chewy with a subtle sweetness (be warned sugar fiends, this may not be the one for you). When toasted the quinoa, apart from instantly elevating the street cred of these bars (why, it even makes them sound virtuous and healthy), lends itself to a sublime nuttiness. Throw in a handful of a trio Christmas coloured goodies – pistachios, dried cranberries and white chocolate – and you’ve got a groovy thing going on. Continue reading
Let’s mosey back to last Saturday night. I’m sitting in bed propped up against the pillows, staring somewhat vacantly at my inspiration board (cheesy as all get out, but yes I have one) and half listening to my little sister get ready for her first night out on the town. Gosh that makes me sound ancient, doesn’t it? I’m in a ponderous state – one reached by a combination of a nine hour shift, a hectic week (exams galore) and a late night baking frenzy. Through the jumble of thoughts, and all things considering I’m surprised there’s not just bits of fluff floating around up there, it dawns on me that a year ago I was flying across the skies over Asia, destined for Sydney with no voice and a very blocked nose. How is it that we remember mundane details such as head colds, but forget more important things like birthdays or where the house keys wandered off to? Aaannyways, it’s a bit of a ‘my god’ moment. One that threatens to bowl you over with a cartload of emotions. Because a year ago the beaten up station wagon (I like to tell myself it’s more akin to a Cooper mini, but lets be honest here) that’s my life took one massive hook turn and rumbled off down an entirely different highway. The destination of which I’m still trying to work out…but probably never will. Eighteen months ago I would’ve been having kittens over that. Now? Not so much. Maybe just one or two. Every once in a while. But that’s normal, right? 
On Monday afternoon we ventured into the city with one destination in mind. Max Brenner Chocolate Bar. The previous evening my sister had taken part in her very last ballet performance at the Sydney Opera House (next year she moves on to a different school/company/whatever you want to call it), and celebration seemed due. Unless you have squillions of money screaming to be spent (both at the chocolate bar and the dentist) or possess the superpower to eat/drink as much chocolate as you like and be none the worse for it, Max Brenner is not going to be your everyday, regular café. For most ordinary citizens it’s a café for special occasions. A place to frequent when you wish to spend some quality time with others and eat a lot of chocolate. Consequently you would think that Max Brenner would be jumping over houses to provide a space that facilitates savoring the moment and encourages customers to ‘stay a while’. For some unidentifiable reason they have failed to do so. 
Taste Without Waste 