Monday 30 June 2014

Rich and Creamy Oat and Chia Breakfast Pudding

So, I've tried and tried to get chia puddings right. They never seem to come out right, I've tried all sorts of recipes and they always seem to come out lumpy and just eugh! So, after doing a bit of trial and error and getting some inspiration from looking at all different recipes online I've finally come up with one that seems to suit! FINALLY!
So here it is! I'm not usually one of those people who can be bothered or have the time to do 'overnight breakfasts' as I always seem to forget to make them - but this one... this one I never forget! I'm just so excited to eat it I can't wait to make it!!
Here's my recipe that I use and it seems to work, I like CoYo yoghurt but you can use normal organic natural yoghurt as a replacement and it works just as well - just a bit more tart. you may need to beat a little honey into the liquid ingredients first to take away that sharp, 'yoghurty' taste.





Ingredients
  • 5 tbsp Almond Milk (or normal whole milk)
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Dairy free coconut yoghurt - or natural yoghurt
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp honey (if using natural yoghurt)
  • 4 tbsp Oats
  • 2 tsp chia seeds
  • 1 tbsp roasted almond butter
  • 2 tsp cacao nibs
  • 1 tsp bee pollen
  • handful of frozen raspberries
  • handful of blueberries
  • 1 tbsp goji berries
  • 1 tbsp flaked coconut
Method
  • Beat together the first 4 ingredients into a bowl and stir through the oats and chia seeds
  • Place a plate on top and put in the fridge overnight
  • In the morning, arrange on top all the remaining ingredients
  • Eat and enjoy! :)

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Sunday 29 June 2014

Sexy Homemade Granola!!

Granola is one of those super tasty breakfasts that you can have with yoghurt or milk in the morning. There's nothing like that crunch of nuttiness! But... there is a but... there is no reason that this has to stop at breakfast! It's great as a yummy snack mid-day too!
I'm not a great fan of dried fruit - any of my friends will tell you the thought of a raisin or dare I say a sultana *shudders* makes my skin crawl - one of those weird phobias of mine! But, with this granola, YOU are in charge! I love dates and have a slight addiction to goji berries too but you can add any dried fruit you wish, or even leave it out! It's your call! Granola can also be used in my love bowls in place of the oats, it can be used in cookie recipes too amongst other things.
Please feel free to adjust the recipe to suit your taste - if you don't like something, simply leave it out. Please be aware that you may need to adjust liquid ingredients accordingly.




Ingredients: 

  • 2 cups of oats
  • 1 cup of pecans (hazelnuts and brazil nuts are tasty too!)
  • 1/2 cup almonds or flaked almonds (just do not process the flaked ones)
  • 1/2 cup cashews
  • 2 cups mixed seeds (I like sunflower, sesame, pumpkin and linseeds)
  • 1 cup chopped dates
  • 1/4 cup goji berries
  • 1/4 cup of flaked coconut or dessicated coconut
  • 3 tbsp coconut oil
  • 3 tbsp raw maple syrup or honey
  • 1 tbsp redcurrant jam
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste or extract
Method
  • Preheat the oven to 175 degrees or 150 fan oven, line two baking trays with greaseproof paper
  • Process the nuts in a food processor for about 30 seconds so that you have some rubble and some chunks
  • In a large bowl add the nuts, seeds and oats
  • Warm the coconut oil, maple syrup or honey and jam in a pan until all combined
  • Take off the heat and stir in the vanilla
  • Add the liquid ingredients to the bowl and stir through until really combined
  • Pour onto the two baking trays and flatten out as much as possible
  • Put in the oven for 30-40 minutes checking every 10 minutes and stirring frequently
  • Cook until golden brown and then pour back into the large bowl
  • Stir through the dates, coconut and goji berries
  • Allow to cool and then store in a large air-tight jar. This should last up to 3 months if stored correctly.

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Thursday 19 June 2014

Super Excited!

Ok, so my life isn't that interesting I know! I just HAD to show you my new toy! Oh my god! I'm so excited - meet my new little baby... my KitchenAid

Ta Dah!!

Oh, it's so beautiful! I'm not really one for 'love at first sight' but me and this little baby fell in love straight away! It's the 'Cafe Latte' version which is an off-white with a metallic (dare i even use the term glitter?) running through it that you can't really see in normal daylight but as soon as a spotlight hits it - SPARKLE!!
Ok, now I've calmed down a bit and had my showing off moment he he, I also want to tell you I've started a course on nutrition! I'm so excited to share everything I'm learning and try to develop new recipes which are healthy, super tasty and also good for people with diet probs and also just wanting to be generally healthier - with the side effect of weight loss.
I've also got a new obsession with bread making - ok, I know not the healthiest but lets be realistic, I'm NEVER going to be able to cut bread out of my or my husbands diet so why not make it myself - organic and super tasty! I made the most delicious onion bread the other day and also a sundried tomato and black olive bread - just HEAVEN! Didn't get to eat too much of it though as it all got eaten so quick!
Will be posting some piccies soon of all my new things I can make with my KitchenAid - Yah I know its no different than a handheld whisk, but it just looks so much nicer!

Hope you all are having a good week!

Emmaline xx
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Thursday 12 June 2014

JUICE!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE JUICING! It's great! I make fruit and vegetable juices nearly every day and nutmilks once or twice a week. I highly suggest that you get into it too! Whether it be just making a good old-fashioned apple juice, orange juice or a green juice, it's a great way of getting what I like to call 'a mini multivit' into your diet. Now obviously, green juices are far better for you than the usual apple or orange due to the high sugar content they have. I love to do a green juice maybe 4 days a week and at the same time make hubby a more 'normal' coloured one for his breakfast.
I have included a recipe for my green juice that I tend to use, but I highly suggest that you change it up a bit and don't always include the same veggies just as I think it's good for your body not to have too much of them same thing - that goes for more than just juice in my opinion too!

I always try and use organic wherever possible - I'm sure I don't have to explain why, but you do whatever suits you and your budget.





GREEN JUICE - approx 500ml

Ingredients

  • 4-5 Romaine lettuce leaves
  • 2 large handfuls of kale
  • 1-2 large handfuls of spinach
  • Small bunch of mint
  • 2 sticks of celery
  • 1 gala apple
  • 1 pear
  • 1/4 average size cucumber
  • 1/4 of a lemon - peeled
  • 1/2 inch of fresh ginger peeled
  • 1 tsp. Green Magic Powder (optional)
Method

Well, basically juice it all together! I like to add my green magic powder to my glass first then when I pour in the juice it mixes easier together.
You can mix up the ingredients and as I said before - I suggest that you to too. Maybe use watercress instead and some rocket, switch up your herbs - maybe try parsley instead. Add a kiwi instead of the pear and so on...




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Is it a mash? Is it a bean?

Ok, I have just discovered cannellini beans - well not 'just' discovered because I've known they existed for quite some time now - Hey! I've not been living under a rock for god's sake!
Anyhoooo.... Cannellini beans are amaze! Such a great healthy alternative to the usual mash potato and you can also give them a bit of texture too!
I made a super quick dinner last night - all in less than about 10mins! It was 9pm and I was hungry so I was working pretty damn fast, but even so, this is super quick!



Ingredients
  • 1 large tin of Cannellini beans
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove of garlic - minced
  • 1 sprig of rosemary
  • (optional) piece of fish - I chose salmon
  • (optional) bunch of watercress
  • Drizzle of sweet chilli sauce
Method
  1. In a cold pan, add the oil, rosemary and garlic and then turn on the heat
  2. Allow the garlic to warm through and the rosemary scent to waft around for a min or so and then remove the rosemary.
  3. Add the beans to the pan and stir around to warm and then begin pressing them with the back of a large spoon to mash them up
  4. Grill the salmon to your liking and serve on a bed of watercress and the mashed beans with a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce - nom nom nom :)
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Tuesday 10 June 2014

Super Anti-Oxident Super Food Super Salad!

Yummy!!
Ok, so I was kind of getting a bit bored of the same old 'monster salads' every day. I know! Crazy Right?? I decided to have a bit of an upgrade into 'health-food-ism'. Here is the result of that, it's so super tasty and yummy, you wouldn't believe that it was so good for you! Yes, I know its a veggie - actually vegan salad but its just so tasty you don't miss the meat and I am seriously full after it! It's also packed full of protein even though it does not contain any meat sources but instead you have the sprouting lentils and chickpeas, plus kale too! Mmmmmm.....



Ingredients - 
As with most salads, it's more of an assembly job and also you can pick and choose if you want more, less or none of a certain ingredient, this is just how I like mine. Try and get organic where possible if you can, your body will thank you!

  • Large handful of kale
  • 1 avocado sliced into small chunks
  • Around 8 plum tomatoes sliced in half
  • Handful of blueberries
  • 1-2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
  • 1-2 tbsp edamame beans
  • 1 tbsp roasted mixed peppers chopped
  • 1 tbsp toasted sunflower seeds
  • 10 Olives
  • 2 tbsp sprouting lentils and chickpeas
  • Drizzle of Balsamic Glaze
  • Small handful of cooked and cooled Gluten-free pasta (optional)
Method
  • Place all the ingredients (apart from the glaze) into a large bowl/plate and mixed together
  • Finish by drizzling over some balsamic glaze
  • Eat and enjoy

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Tuesday 3 June 2014

Super Tasty Breakfast Pancakes - The Thick American Ones!!

So.... ok, I can't take full credit for this recipe - I have to thank my fav cook of all time - Ms Nigella Lawson obviously! I've had a play and tweaked the recipe to make it a little healthier and OMG! It's amazing!! :)


So, I advise that you make a large batch of the pancake mix and store it in an large jar until you need it.

Pancake Mix

600g Gluten Free Flour (I like Dove Farm Plain Flour)
3 tbsp. Baking powder
2 tsp. bicarb of soda
1 tsp. salt
40g of caster sugar - or you can substitute it with your fav sugar alternative

Add all the ingredients to a large jar and mix/shake thoroughly

Pancake Batter

150g Pancake Mix
1 large egg (preferably free range organic)
250ml Almond Milk
1 tbsp. melted coconut oil

Method

  • Mix all the ingredients together into a large jug and all pancake mix or almond milk if needed to get to the right 'dropping' consistency
  • Fry Pancake in a pan and serve with yoghurt and blueberry syrup
Blueberry Syrup

Handful of frozen blueberries
Zest of half an orange
Juice of half a lemon
1 tbsp. Agarve/Golden Syrup/Honey/Sweet Freedom
1 tbsp. Jam - Apricot or Berry 

Method
  • Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan
  • Bring to the boil and then simmer for about 5mins or so until the berries have 'popped' and the juice has turned to a syrup



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