10 Tips to an Amazing Kiwi Summer !

1. Stay cool and hydrated. Drink heaps of water !! Carry water with you in a hard plastic container (more stable polycarbonate rather than polyethylene that leaches plastic into the water).

   

   Do you have any plankton?

2. While enjoying the sun and outdoors, protect yourself from overexposure to sunlight by wearing a hat and using natural sunscreens without excessive chemicals. The sun rays in New Zealand can be quite harsh, use a sunscreen with SPF more than 15. Carry Aloe Vera gel for overexposure and have an aloe plant growing in your home for any kind of burn. The cooling and healing gel inside the leaves will soothe any sunburn. It works great.
3. Keep up or begin an exercise program. Aerobic activity is important for keeping the heart strong and healthy. If you only work out in a health club, take some time to do outdoor refreshing activities — hiking, biking, swimming, or tennis. Reconnecting with these activities will help keep your body and mind aligned. Go Camping!! It’s  New Zealand!
4. Enjoy Nature’s bounty – fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables at their organic best. Consuming foods that are cooling and light — fresh fruits, vegetable juices, raw vital salads, and lots of water — will nourish your body for summertime activities. Include some protein with one or two meals. There are a number of light, nourishing proteins that don’t require cooking. Most of these complement fruits and vegetables nicely– nuts, seeds, sprouted beans, soy products, yogurt, kefir, and cottage cheese.
5. Take some special summer time with your family, kids, and friends who share the enjoyment of outdoors. Plan a fun trip if you’re able and motivated for a day or longer — hiking in the wild, camping, playing at the river, or a few days resting at the ocean. Rekindling our Earth connection has benefits that last beyond this season, continuing to enrich the whole of your life.
6. Relax and breathe. You’ve been working hard. This is the season to slow the pace a bit and absorb the light that stimulates your hormonal message center. Leave your cell phone at home or take a week off from TV. Hit the bar, relax with some summer Ale!
7.  Turn off unnecessary heat-producing devices. Incandescent light bulbs are a big heat generator. Shut down electronic gear when you’re not using it. Let’s reduce our carbon footprints by following this tip!
8. Ditch those aerated drinks. Most people have the tendency to reach out for an ice cold aerated drink to quench their thirst on a really hot day. DON’T DO IT! However, it’s important to remember that these drinks are full of sugar that is not good for your skin or your figure. Instead drink some water, fresh lime, fresh fruit juices, It’s also best to minimise the intake of diuretics like alcohol and caffeine as they reduce the water from your system.
9. Go for a water-based moisturisers. Don’t make the mistake of skipping the moisturising routine altogether as its essential for your skin to remain hydrated. However, if you find your regular moisturiser too oily, go for a water-based one.
10.  In short : Eat healthy, exercise and sleep well!

 

Enjoy your summer!

Top 10 Incredible Food Facts

10) There are over 1000 different kinds of apples.They are also more proficient at waking you up in the morning than coffee. And they float in water because they are 25% air.

9) Cherries are a member of the rose family.

8) Lemons contain more sugar than strawberries.

7) Pumpkins and avocados are fruits not vegetables.

6) Strawberries and cashews are the only fruits that have their seeds on the outside unlike all other fruits which have their seeds inside.

5) Lychee seeds are poisonous and should not be eaten.

4) Grapefruit can cause dangerous reactions with some prescription medications.

3) The aminoacid tryptophan found in bananas which reduces depression.

2) Mangoes are the most favorite and number 1 fruit in the world.

1) The most hated vegetable in the world is Brussels Sprouts.

The Pavlova?? Of course it’s kiwi as!

The Pavlova is a definite must have for a complete Kiwi Christmas. We at Team Hospotrade  are sure it is kiwi as!

Learn how to make the most delicious Pavlova for Christmas this year!

Ingredients:

• 6 (59g) eggs, separated
• 1 1/4 cups (270g) caster sugar
• 2 tsp cornflour
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 300ml thickened cream
• 2 tbs icing sugar mixture, sifted
• Finely shredded rind and juice of 2 limes
• 2 Lady finger bananas, thinly sliced diagonally
• 3 golden kiwifruit, peeled, thinly sliced
• 2 starfruit, thinly sliced
• Pulp of 2-3 passionfruit

Method

1. Step 1Preheat oven to 120°C. Line an oven tray with foil. Brush with melted butter and dust with cornflour, shaking off excess. Mark a 24cm-diameter circle on foil.
2. Step 2Use an electric mixer to whisk egg whites in a clean dry bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition, until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar dissolved. Rub a little meringue between fingers. If still “gritty” with sugar, continue to whisk until sugar dissolves. Add cornflour, vinegar and vanilla and whisk until just combined. Spoon meringue onto the foil, using the marked circle as a guide. Smooth sides and top of pavlova. Use a small spatula to forms little peaks around edge of pavlova. Bake in oven for 11/2 hours or until pavlova is dry to the touch. Turn off oven. Leave pavlova in oven with the door ajar to cool completely. When completely cold, transfer to serving plate or store in an airtight container until required.
3. Step 3Use an electric mixer to whisk the cream and icing sugar in a medium bowl until firm peaks form. Spoon cream onto the top of pavlova. Pour lime juice into a ceramic or glass bowl. Add banana slices and toss to coat with juice. Drain. Decorate pavlova with banana, kiwifruit, starfruit, passionfruit and lime rind.

Tips and tricks!!

To ensure the egg whites reach maximum volume, have your mixing bowl and whisk clean and free of grease.

  The eggs you use to make meringue should be as fresh as possible. This is for two reasons. First, fresher eggs separate much better than older eggs and it is absolutely vital that there is no trace of egg yolk in the egg whites. Second, fresher egg whites are more stable than less fresh whites once they have been whisked.

  It is easier to separate your eggs while they are cold. Once separated, cover the egg whites and let them come to room temperature before using (about 30 minutes).

  A better meringue is produced when superfine sugar (caster) is used, as it dissolves faster into the egg whites than regular granulated white sugar.

  Adding all the sugar at the beginning can double the time you have to whip the egg whites to get a foam. That’s because the sugar molecules get in the way of the egg proteins. With sugar molecules in the way, it takes longer for the proteins to find each other and form bonds.

  When meringue is cooking, sugar helps keep it stable by bonding with water molecules and preventing them from escaping as water vapour. Delaying the evaporation of water from the foam helps keep the foam stable until it stiffens.

  Adding vinegar (or any other acid) can make the foam less likely to suffer the consequences of overbeating — lumpiness, loss of water and collapse.

  Sugary droplets formed on the surface of the meringue are caused by overcooking.

  Liquid seeping/oozing from the meringue is a sign of undercooking.

  You can make a pavlova several days in advance. Just store it in a cool dry place and in an airtight container.