Yesterday my food processor kicked the bucket.  She was a fabulous draught horse of a kitchen appliance.  Not much to look at or talk about, a sensible, frumpy, hard working model.   She had toiled tirelesssly beside me for years, 10 in fact. She was a loyal, compliant member of the kitchen team.  Her name was Kit.

Replacing Kit had been on my mind for a couple of years.  Being a member of the cutting edge healthy foodie business, it is of course my duty to ensure I am up to date with all of the latest kitchen gadgets...and yet the thought of jumping on the Thermomix train made me a little scared of losing that wonderful traditional wholesome cooking experience.  Would the thermomix replace all that I hold dear in my beautiful kitchen? The wooden spoon, the french oven and the egg beater - yes I know that most people think this is a party trick these days but I still have one!

On Tuesday morning I attended a thermomix cooking demonstration.  I did not tell Kit.  The demonstrator was a friend of mine, a brand spanking new consultant, a cult virgin.  She did a great job.  She sold a machine and signed up a new consultant.  

That afternoon, Kit helped me make a batch of Bliss Balls. When cleaning up I could not remove the food processor bowl from the motor.  Kit looked a little pale. I filled her with water and ran out the door to the New Thermomix consultant's sign up meeting...

When I came home, Kit had been washed and was sitting peacefully on the drying up rack.  I replaced her bowl on the motor and then tried to refit the blade. I could not help her. The blade shaft was cracked in two places.  I think it was her telling me it was time to move on.  Thank you Kit for all you have done for me and my family and friends.  

I took it as a sign that I had done the right thing.  I had not rushed out and bought the newest kitchen applicance and thrown out a perfectly good one.  I did not feel guilt as my husband and I carried her tenderly to the garbage bin and bid her a fond farewell.  

So now with the mourning period over I embark on a new relationship with a new kitchen appliance and I feel that the time is right.

Omega3 Seed & Nut Dukkah
1/4 cup Linseeds
1/4 cup Chia seeds
1/4 cup toasted sesame seeds
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup almonds
1 cup toasted flaked coconut
1/2 tspn cinnamon

Makes 2 1/2 cups.  Serving size 2 Tablespoons.
Blitz linseeds, chia seeds and half sesame seeds in a seed grinder until very fine. Transfer to a food processor and add remaining ingredients. Process until quite fine.  

The reason you need to blitz the smaller seeds separately is so that your body can absorb their nutrients, otherwise they will go straight through you (with the exception of chia which will get stuck in your teeth.)

Store in airtight jar in the fridge (so omega3s do not go rancid.)  This is delicious on fruit salad, home made muesli and poached fruit.

Tofu Smash
serves 2
1 cup silken Tofu
1 passionfruit
4 Tablespoons omega3 seed & nut dukkah

In a small bowl whisk Tofu until smooth.  Add passionfruit and dukkah and mix until well combined.  Serve on top of your fruit salad or spread on wholegrain toast with banana.