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April is my favourite month of the year so I though it would be extremely appropriate to begin my monthly favourites in the month of April!.. You guys are probably asking why is ‘April’ Ballerina Bites favourite month? Well number 1 my birthday is in April! Not only do I love celebrating another year but I also love how the family gathers together and we cook a storm. Each birthday we generally have a theme for a family dinner and mine wasn’t a theme as such but a colour that brought inspiration. The colour was Autumn Red! So I am sure you can image that everything was somewhat blushed with this seasonal colour. (Maybe at times we went a bit overboard haha) One the menu was a very vibrant and utterly delicious Beetroot + Leek Risotto. Dessert, was Red velvet Cupcakes (that were incased in the cutest red poka dot patty pans) and for the showstopper we had the most amazing Pistachio and Pomegranate Cake. Anyway now that’s talk about this months favourites…  Cinnamon: This humble spice is without a doubt my favourite; I can literally add it to everything (almost). I adore this spice in both sweet and savory dishes including my nourishing Honey Cinnamon Banana Overnight Oats and Ottolenghi’s Freekeh Pilaf, which is a recipe I have made on numerous occasions and I never seem to become tired of. If you haven’t heard of Ottolenghi before I recommend you Google him because he is a genius in understanding flavour combinations as evident in his cookbook Plenty. Anyway back to cinnamon and some of its health benefits. Cinnamon is great for your blood sugar levels as it has the ability to trick your mind into thinking it is a sweetener, so great to stop those afternoon cravings. It also boosts blood flow, which is perfect for a healthy metabolism.   Pana Chocolate: I am originally from Victoria so when ever I go home I head to Melbourne to sample Pana's artisan chocolate cakes, which I am sure you have seen on Instagram... But when I am in Brisbane (where I do my ballet training) I always have a stash of their chocolate bars on hand. Pana Chocolate is my go too treat. I seriously love this stuff. It is completely raw, dairy free, vegan friendly and lets not forget guilt free! My favourite flavour combo is defiantly the Sour Cherry & Vanilla and I have been recently obsessing over pure orange. You can purchase some of their chocolate here: http://www.panachocolate.com/online-shop-62.html or a place near you as they now stock all over the world! If you want a more in depth post about Pana Chocolate check my new section on the blog called City Bites for my review.  Kit Body Wash: Every time I use this body wash I can’t wipe the smile of my face. Not only does it make my your skin feel super smooth (and not like leather as most soaps do) but it smells incredible, I could almost eat it… There is probably no harm in eating it as it contains only natural botanical ingredients, but lets not just in case haha. I have used many kit products before and will definitely share them with you in the future. But at the moment this body wash is my favourite go to beauty product to freshen you up and give you a moisturising glow. For more info about kit check it out here.   Amazonia's Slim + Tone Protein Powder: I must admit I didn't like this protein when I first tired it. I am am more a hemp protein girl as I like it's mild flavour, but I decided to continue to give it ago and add a few spoonfuls to my porridge, smoothies and alike. The Amazonia Slim + Tone Protein Powder lasted about an month and it is probably safe to say that I am now total addicted! I find myself craving a bowl of creamy overnight oats (picture below) that is spiked with this delicious vanilla + cinnamon flavoured protein. What I upmost love about this product is it is organic, sugar free, bio fermented, vegan, and alkalising. There is simply nothing that a whole food lover wouldn't love. You can purchase Amazonia's Slim + Tone Protein here: http://www.amazonia.com.au/slim-and-tone-protein Also if the Slim + Tone is not what you are after they also have other protein powders available as well as various Açai products and powdered nutrition boosters.  Swiss Magnesium: Whenever I feel a bit overwhelmed and there seems to be a million and one things I have to do I generally turn to magnesium. I occasionally take one just before bed to bring calm to my muscles and mind so I can regroup and find clarity. The brand that I use and trust is from an Aussie company called Swiss. They come in tablet form and I personally find very easy to sallow. They also have no added lactose, gluten, yeast, egg, artificial colours or flavours. It is just pure bioavailable magnesium. You can purchase Swiss products from all leading Supermarkets and Pharmacies in Australia or online here.  Well, I hope you enjoyed reading about my first ever Monthy Favourites!.. In the future I hope to share more healthy foodie finds, beauty products and interesting lifestyle tips. So stay tuned!
If you would like to share your thoughts be sure to comment below. I am also open for recommendations on products that you think I would be interested in. Ballerina Bites. xx
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