Winners Announced

The Art of Raw Food Living: Book Winners Announced!

Congratulations to Julie from Iliska Dreams, who in turn selected Elaina from A Little Bit Country as the second winner.

Did you like the two prize giveaway or would you prefer the major prize to be a little larger, as was the case in my previous giveaways? I'm open to suggestions!

Thank you to all who entered and stay tuned for the next giveaway to be announced later this week. It will have you reaching for the beach towel and running to the sea shore! Winter, be gone!

Bella x

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It's Giveaway Time: Raw Food Recipe Books

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED, WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

It's not often that I think of meals constructed entirely from raw ingredients when I imagine Mexican, Asian or Italian cuisines. Do you? I mean sure I've thought about soaked glass noodle salads, homemade guacamole, and fresh crunchy lettuce with red peppers but I usually think of these meals as a side to a cooked main. I'm trying my hand at preserved lemons, chia seed pudding and have a go-to favourite in a platter of olive oil drizzled over thick slices of vine ripened tomatoes seasoned with sea salt flakes, cracked pepper and aromatic fresh basil. Do you see a pattern here? I'm making sides or sweet desserts, rather than raw food main meals.

In all honesty, I hadn't really given much thought to serving a completely raw meal to my family, especially in the winter time... Until now.

Two Raw Food Recipe Books to Give Away!

You're not seeing double, I have two books to give away!

This is a giveaway with a difference. With a keen focus on sharing nutritious, tasty recipe ideas with my fellow bloggers and readers. I have decided to include TWO copies of The Art of Raw Living Food for two lucky people!

How to Enter: Follow Sea and Salt with Google plus (+), Bloglovin' or Google Friend Connect. The lucky winner will choose the second winner from the remaining entries. How cool is that?! If you know someone who you think would love to know how to make Baja burritos, living lasagne, blood orange truffles, pesto tortellini, macadamia-coconut curry wraps or a luscious fig smoothie then invite your friend to join Sea and Salt for a chance to win!

A treat for any kitchen

Have you ever wanted to know what you can do with all your fresh produce? Do you wish you could heal yourself and the planet with eco-delicious cuisine? Try incorporating some delicious raw food ideas into your diet today to reap instant rewards. You don't need to adopt a 100 percent raw food, strictly vegan diet to enjoy these delicious meals throughout the year and who wouldn't want to feel energised after every meal? I experimented with chocolate pecan truffles, cinnamon fig bars and apple-lemon-ginger juice before working my way up to sweet corn tamales and clayudas. Yum!

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Disclaimer: Both books have been purchased by myself, without any monetary reimbursement or discount for featuring these books. I do not have any paid sponsors and I am not affiliated with any of the authors or publishers of the items listed here, nor have I been paid to feature the listed items.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Follow with Bloglovin' and comment "Bloglovin'" in the comment section below. Follow by clicking here:

2. Become a GFC follower by clicking 'Join this Site with Google Friend Connect', then post the comment 'GFC' (Current followers need to post the comment 'GFC' to complete your entry).

I encourage you to enter as many times as you like, but the more times you enter, the higher your chance of winning! Please leave a separate comment for each entry, each comment will be counted as a single entry. You can only enter once for each of the listed methods of entering the giveaway and don't forget to invite your friends to increase your chances of winning!!!

+ Like Sea and Salt on Facebook



+ Follow seaandsalt on instagram



+ Repost this giveaway on either IG / FB / Blog and comment "Reposted on (social media site)" below.

A winner will be drawn at random on Saturday 10th of August, 2013 (That's one entire month to enter ladies and gents!!!) and contacted shortly thereafter. I will post the name of the winner in a blog entry on Sunday 11th of August, 2013 (four short weeks away). Don't forget the winner will select a second lucky person from the remaining entries on this giveaway to receive this clever recipe book!

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Anyone can enter, this giveaway is open to everyone, everywhere!

Lots of love, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Bella xxx

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Autumn Giveaway Winner

MY AUTUMN GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

Sash from Inked in Colour

Sash just so happens to write an amazing blog, filled with colourful images of her gorgeous daughter Bo, adventures from her globe-trotting travels and thoughtful posts about love and daily living. Pop on over to Inked in Colour if you have the opportunity, it's a delightful way to spend a lazy winter morning with a cup of hot tea.

Congratulations, Sash! I hope you enjoy the giveaway items.

Thank you to all who entered! My next giveaway will be focused on healthy eating, the natural way. Details will be announced very soon! It's a giveaway with a difference, designed to highlight the lovely way in which the blogging community is open to sharing. The winner of my next giveaway will select a second winner!

Check back soon for details!


With seaside love from my coastal cottage,

Bella xx

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20/52 Dreaming

"A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Maxi: Fighting to stay awake, his head began to droop and soon he fell asleep.

Fluffy, calm and cute. This is Maxi during the early mornings and usually for the rest of the day. I think his exhaustion stems from the long hours he bounces around our house during the night, crashing into furniture, leaping onto my windpipe and pouncing on our toes as we dream.

I've heard that it's good practice for when we have a baby... The restless nights, dark circles under my eyes and demanding little one. They say I should sleep when the little one sleeps. Usually I find myself staring at this fur ball in wonder as he dreams and all the night time interruptions are forgiven.

My favourite portrait from Jodi's 52 project this week is of this tiny face, with her deep brown eyes so focused on her mama as she grasps her tiny letter block. I could melt with that gaze.

Oh and a friendly reminder: If you haven't seen my little autumn giveaway, click here to enter. Entry is free and will only take a minute of your time. Have a wonderful Sunday :)

Love Bella xx

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Autumn Giveaway

MY AUTUMN GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED, AND THE WINNER IS... DRUMROLL PLEASE...

Sash from Inked in Colour

Sash just so happens to write an amazing blog, filled with colourful images of her gorgeous daughter Bo, adventures from her globe-trotting travels and thoughtful posts about love and daily living. Pop on over to Inked in Colour if you have the opportunity, it's a delightful way to spend a lazy winter morning with a cup of hot tea.

Congratulations, Sash! I hope you enjoy the giveaway items.

Anyone can enter, this giveaway is open to everyone, everywhere!

This giveaway hints at the seaside with beach towel striped dipping bowls and tropical gardenia natural soap. There's something for everyone if you love to cook, picnic outdoors, entertain friends, dine on the beach or celebrate with family. This Sea and Salt giveaway celebrates good health, home cooked food, natural and eco friendly products, and motherhood, which is fitting because it's Mother's Day after all.

As some of you may know, Byron and I are wanting to expand our family. You will find natural products in my giveaways that I would use for my own baby (believe me, the stockpile is growing for baby goods!).

Giveaway items:

1. Natural rubber soother (large) made by make U well. The rubber used in this eco-friendly product is a natural resource and the supply is replenished through a tree replanting program. Rubber used for this soother is grown in Malaysia from renewable and sustainable crops and packaged here in Australia. Natural rubber is free from allergy causing substances, BPA (Biphosenol-A), parabens, PVC and phthalates, artificial colours and chemical softeners.

2. Jack n' Jill Silicone Finger Brush is suitable for baby's first tooth. Made from soft, flexible 100% medical/food grade silicone, it's easy to use, gentle on gums, non-toxic and BPA free. Convenient for travelling and safe to sterilise. Double Sided: Use 'brush' side for gentle cleaning of baby's teeth. Use 'dimple' side to massage gums - great for teething gums. Jack n' Jill also produce naturally flavoured toothpaste with organic calendula.

3. Four petite dip bowls, perfect for guacamole and hummus. They make a bright addition to your outdoor picnic, are lightweight for travel and dishwasher safe. Chase the summer with brightly coloured bowls full of healthy dip and beach campfire dinners.

4. Four short polypropylene drinking cups in yellow, lime green, soft blue and pink. Lightweight, fun and perfect for an outdoor picnic or road trip.

5. 20cm (approximately 8 inch) round silicone Bellini cake pan in pink/grey. This clever non-stick silicone cake pan is ideal for baking as it is stain resistant and can be used in the oven, microwave and freezer. It is dishwasher safe, will not absorb odours or flavours and has been developed for durability and longevity. Suitable for temperatures up to 230 degrees Celsius (approximately 440 degrees Fahrenheit), this cake pan is flexible to allow you to easily remove your cake and has a wide brim to grasp without oven mitts!

6. Beech wooden spoon. Perfect for plunging into a pot of crème anglaise to test the flavour. Yum!

7. Silicone spatula. This cream coloured spatula is has a smooth, easy grip texture and is dishwasher safe.

8. Cinnamon Apple candle, measuring 7cm (2.75in) diameter x 7cm (2.75in) height. This sweetly scented candle will have you thinking a gorgeous apple cinnamon pie is baking in your oven. Best lit during a rainy cool Autumn afternoon when you have guests over for hot tea and homemade cake. Burning time approximately 30 hours.

9. 100g Natural Tropical Gardenia Soap by Tilley Australia. A gentle soap crafted using vegetable oils, and no harsh ingredients making it a moisturising soap that is kind to your skin.

10. Heart-shaped Wiltshire cookie cutter with easy grip, great for kids. Think Valentine's Day, birthday, Mother's Day, baby shower, bridal shower, Anniversary, any day heart shaped cookies. Love!


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Disclaimer: All items have been purchased by myself, without any monetary reimbursement or discount for featuring these items. I do not have any sponsors and I am not affiliated with any of the brands or companies of the items listed here, nor have I been paid to feature the listed items.

HOW TO ENTER

Two Required Entries:

1. Follow with Bloglovin' and comment "Followed with Bloglovin'", follow by clicking here:

2. Become a GFC follower by clicking 'Join this Site with Google Friend Connect', then post the comment 'Joined Sea and Salt' (Current followers need to post the comment 'Joined Sea and Salt' to complete your entry).

Optional/ Additional Entries: I encourage you to enter as many times as you like, but the more times you enter, the higher your chance of winning! Please leave a separate comment for each entry, each comment will be counted as a single entry. You can only enter once for each of the listed methods of entering the giveaway.

+ Like Sea and Salt on Facebook



+ Follow seaandsalt on instagram



+ Repost this giveaway on either IG / FB / Blog and comment "Reposted on (social media site)".

Overall that is five ways to enter (including the mandatory Bloglovin' and GFC entries')! A winner will be drawn at random on Sunday 16th of June, 2013 (That's one entire month to enter ladies and gents!!!) and contacted shortly thereafter. I will post the name of the winner in a blog entry on Monday 17th of June, 2013 (four short weeks away).

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Lots of love, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Bella xxx

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Winner

Dear Friends, 

The Sea and Salt summer giveaway has CLOSED. 

Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our winner Sarah Raaen, who just so happens to have a lovely blog worth checking out at Love Love Lady. 

Stay tuned for more giveaways, they'll be popping up regularly!

A gentle reminder that we will be announcing our Autumn Giveaway in the next few weeks. Check back soon for details!

Love Bella xx

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Autumn Whispers

On a recent trip to our local green grocer, I discovered a crate of beautiful Kent Pumpkins on sale. The days have been cooling considerably in the late afternoons as we transition from Summer to Autumn and so I decided on the spot that I would prepare a quick pumpkin soup for dinner. I squeezed a whole pumpkin into my red shopping basket and proceeded to the checkout, feeling the pleasing warmth that comes from the early whispers of a new season.

Pumpkin Soup

Serves 4

500g kent pumpkin (peeled, deseeded and chopped roughly)
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 cups (approx 500ml) vegetable or chicken stock
nutmeg seed (1/8 to 1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg)
sea salt and cracked black pepper to season
parsley to garnish

Place the chopped pumpkin, garlic, finely grated nutmeg and stock into a large saucepan and boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Once pumpkin is soft (test with a fork), blend the soup until thick and smooth, season to taste. Serve immediately with a dollop of cream or natural yoghurt and a sprig of fresh parsley, sprinkle with freshly cracked black pepper.

I've previously added a small brown onion to this recipe and it tasted warm, savoury and delicious, however it is not necessary and cuts down on preparation time. I also used a ThermoChef, instead of a saucepan. All I did was place the pumpkin, garlic and enough stock to cover the pumpkin (approximately 3 cups) into the ThermoChef, set the temperature to 100 degrees Celsius (210 degrees Fahrenheit) and set the timer to 20 minutes. I then went for a jog on the beach with the puppy in the late afternoon.

When I returned, the soup was cooked so I showered, then poured off some of the excess stock into a bowl and blended the soup in the ThermoChef (less washing up equals more time to relax). You can always add more of the hot liquid stock to the soup later to make it less viscous, this is how I achieve the consistency that I want. I add the excess stock sparingly as I love my soup thick!

I poured the soup directly into a large soup mug and in my pictures I have dolloped natural yoghurt on the top and garnished the soup with Italian parsley from my herb garden. I then toasted two slices of gluten free bread and slathered a tiny amount of unsalted butter onto each hot, crunchy piece to plunge into my soup.

The soup was warm and inviting, the perfect pick-me-up after a gentle run across the wet sand. As the sun dipped low in the sky, I slowly savoured each spoonful whilst the puppy lay at my feet, sleeping soundly.

I would have to say that kent pumpkins are my favourite to use in pumpkin soup, unless I'm roasting the pumpkin beforehand, in which case I sometimes like to use the sweet, nutty flesh of butternut squash. If you choose to roast your vegetables beforehand, preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius and on a baking tray, coat the chopped pumpkin, crushed whole garlic cloves and roughly chopped brown onion in one tablespoon of olive oil. Roast the vegetables until golden, approximately 15 minutes, then combine in a heavy based pot with enough vegetable stock to cover the pumpkin. Finely grate 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of fresh nutmeg into the pot and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to a simmer until the vegetables are tender, then blend the vegetables and half of the stock until smooth. Pour in the remaining stock sparingly to achieve the consistency you desire. I prefer a thick soup, as pictured. Season with sea salt and cracked pepper to serve.

No matter what kind of pumpkin you decide to use, the end result will be healthy and filling and if you're lucky, you'll have enough pumpkin infused stock left over to flavour a lovely pumpkin risotto. The options are only as limited as your imagination.

Sitting in an old favourite chair on a broad verandah opposite the sea, my pumpkin soup in a large mug warming my fingers. Simplicity in all it's beauty.

You may have noticed that the soup mug I used is the same as the one featured in our giveaway. When I stood in a brightly lit store all those weeks ago searching for the ideal gifts to include in my giveaway, it was pumpkin soup that I imagined ladling into the teal coloured mug. I purchased an extra one for myself because I love the deep blue-green colour, especially when partnered with the glossy orange of this soup.

A gentle reminder that the giveaway will finish at the end of February. To enter, visit here and follow the instructions. Entry is free and you can enter up to seven times. Good luck dear fiends!

In other giveaway news, the lovely Jodi over at Che and Fidel is sharing details for yet another giveaway on her blog. The handmade items for the home and nursery have been generously donated by Melbourne based artist Madeleine Sargent of Made by Mosey and the link for that giveaway can be found by visiting here.

Let the sharing continue in our wonderful online community!

Thanks for popping in for dinner, as always I love to share it with you.

Bella xx

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Sea and Salt Giveaway

Dear Friends, This giveaway has CLOSED. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our winner Sarah Raaen, who just so happens to have a lovely blog worth checking out at Love Love Lady. Stay tuned for more giveaways, they'll be popping up regularly!

Love Bella xx


So here it is! Our first ever giveaway open to everyone, everywhere! It doesn't matter if you're in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, Germany, South Korea, China or Australia. As long as you have have an address and Australia has a postal service to your country, you can enter!

This is a 'Thank You' to everybody online who has shown their support for our little blog. We've kept the theme of the giveaway a seaside one with some of the colours reflecting the sea and her shores. Teal green, aqua, grey, the sandy colours of the beechwood spoon and the bamboo serving board and the beach towel style stripes in the apron.

1. White ceramic owl for storing your beloved kitchen utensils. This sweet little bench top friend will proudly store your wooden spoon and whisk (as pictured). I love his feather detail!

2. Bamboo serving board. Perfect as a small cheese platter, made from highly compressed bamboo, environmentally friendly and measuring 26cm x 15 cm.

3. 100 percent cotton apron, measuring 60.5cm x 82 cm. This soft cotton apron features gorgeous horizontal stripes in warm red, white and camel, an adjustable neck strap and handy front pocket.

4. Natural Goats Milk Soap by Tilley Australia. A goats milk soap crafted using vegetable oils, and no harsh ingredients making it a moisturising soap that is gentle on the skin.

5. Large teal green soup mug. This enormous mug is dishwasher safe and suitable to be served with your favourite soup. I would recommend a hot, thick pumpkin soup with a side plate of chunky bread, grilled and drizzled with olive oil.

6. Pumpkin Maple Tart soy wax lantern candle, measuring 8.5cm diameter x 10.2cm high. This sweetly scented candle will have you thinking a gorgeous pumpkin and maple tart is baking in your home. Best lit during a rainy afternoon when you have guests over for hot tea and a game of Scrabble. Burning time approximately 48 hours.

7. 12 cup silicone Bellini mini muffin pan. This clever non-stick silicone muffin pan is ideal for baking as it is stain resistant and can be used in the oven, microwave and freezer. It is dishwasher safe, will not absorb odours or flavours and has been developed for durability and longevity. I have selected a two tone aqua and grey muffin pan for your kitchen, to remind you of the sea (and of course Sea and Salt!). Suitable for temperatures up to 230 degrees Celsius (approximately 440 degrees Fahrenheit), this muffin pan measures 24cm x 18cm and is flexible to allow you to easily remove your muffins, or our mini quiches.

8. 27cm stainless steel balloon whisk. This whisk is ideal for incorporating air into egg whites or cream, and mixing dry ingredients, such as the flours, salt and xanthan gum in our previous post, the Apple Plum and Nectarine Galette. Dishwasher safe and oh so easy to clean!

9. Beech wooden spoon. Perfect for plunging into a pot of butterscotch sauce to test the flavour. Yummmmm....

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Disclaimer: All items have been purchased by myself, without any monetary reimbursement or discount for featuring these items. I do not have any sponsors and I am not affiliated with any of the brands or companies of the items listed here, nor have I been paid to feature the listed items. I have simply featured items that I hope will brighten up your kitchen and bring a little of the seaside into your home.

HOW TO ENTER

Required Entry: Become a follower by clicking 'Join this Site with Google Friend Connect'. This small blue button is located in the right sidebar where you can see the little boxes of followers we currently have at Sea and Salt. Once you have done this please post a comment stating you have 'Joined Sea and Salt'.

Yay for my current followers, you've already entered but you must post the comment 'Joined Sea and Salt' to complete your entry.

How do I follow this blog?

Click on the "Join this site" button under the "Followers" widget:

After you sign in with your Google Account (or another account if you so choose), you'll then see a popup window with the options to either follow publicly or privately.

Select how you'd like to follow the blog, then click the "Follow this blog" button. To enter this giveaway, you must follow publicly. If you elected to follow the blog publicly, your profile picture will be displayed on my blog with a link to your Blogger profile or Google+ profile (if you've opted to link your blog to your Google+ profile). When you become a follower of this blog, Sea and Salt will also be added to your Reading List on your Blogger dashboard (so you can follow our recipe updates and stay tuned for the winner of the giveaway!).

Optional/ Additional Entries: I encourage you to enter as many times as you like, but the more times you enter, the higher your chance of winning! Please leave a separate comment for each entry, each comment will be counted as a single entry. You can only enter once for each of the listed methods of entering the giveaway.

+ Like Sea and Salt on Facebook


+ Follow @sea_and_salt on Twitter


+ Tweet this: "I hope I win the Sea and Salt giveaway on @sea_and_salt's blog! www.seaandsalt.com"

+ Follow seaandsalt on instagram


+ Follow Bella Mills (seaandsalt) on Pinterest


+ Repost this giveaway on either IG / FB / Blog / Pinterest

Overall that is seven ways to enter (and hopefully) win (including the mandatory 'Join this Site with Google Friend Connect')! A winner will be drawn at random on Thursday 28th of February, 2013 (That's one entire month to enter ladies and gents!!!) and contacted shortly thereafter. I will post the name of the winner in a blog entry on Friday 1st of March (The first day of Autumn in Australia and four short weeks away).

We will also list details of our Autumn giveaway shortly after this giveaway closes so be sure to check back soon!

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The purpose of this giveaway is to give a little something back to my online friends in all the different regions of the world in which you are scattered. This little blog has slowly grown to become a quiet, special corner of the internet for me and I am truly grateful for our current and future followers.

We're a little bit sea, a little bit salt and very happy that you took the time to visit us.

Lots of love, and GOOD LUCK!!!

Bella xxx

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A Special Announcement. A Giveaway?!

Dear treasured blog friends, near and far...

January 2013, like it's predecessors has marked the beginning of countless new resolutions, body detox diets, healthy living decisions and promises we make to ourselves to better our lifestyles, our bodies and our minds.

We LOVE this about the beginning of the year. We feel renewed, empowered and serious about treating ourselves better, learning perseverance and the art of patience. We may falter through the year, but I have found that setting some realistic goals in January, small ones, that can be achieved early in the year can help to keep us on track.

January happens to be the month that I will announce my little blog's first giveaway.

I will be starting quite small, with carefully selected gifts to inspire you to march back into the kitchen and get creative. Unfortunately I do not have the sponsors to assist me with the giveaway and am relying solely on some money that I have saved in my owl bank for this very purpose- Because I want to share and I'm truly appreciative of the online support.

Details on how and when to enter will be posted over the next week so be sure to check back soon. I can't wait!!!

I hope you're having a beautiful month.

Bella xx

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