Simple Cranberry Granola

This is a simple variation of my honey granola recipe with cacao nibs, and has me hooked at the moment.  It's still gluten, dairy and nut free, but instead of cacao nibs there's dried cranberries to add an extra sweet kick.

Fruit has so far been my main pregnancy craving, I just can't get enough! So a fruit flavoured yogurt topped with fresh banana, strawberries and this fruity granola is just heaven to me right now.  It's filling, sweet, and guilt free!

Recipe:

2 cups gluten free oats

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup dried cranberries (or as much as you'd like)

1/4 cup olive oil

3-6 tbs honey (depending on taste)

pinch of salt

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3 and line a baking tray with baking paper.  Combine all ingredients except the dried cranberries in a bowl and mix well, then spread evenly onto the baking tray.  Bake for about 20 minutes then stir the mix again to ensure the oats cook evenly, then bake for a further 5-10 minutes.  When the granola is ready it will be golden brown and crisp.  Allow to cool, then add the dried cranberries to the mix and store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Coconut Yogurt With Banana And Cinnamon

So I'm not sure if this really counts as a recipe, but as it's a something I've been loving recently I thought it was worth noting.

I first tried this for breakfast on holiday in Tenerife (more about that here), and was totally hooked on it the whole time we were there.  I decided to re-create it at home and now I'm pretty much hooked again!

Coconut, or coconut flavoured yogurt is super creamy and goes wonderfully with the banana, with the cinnamon adding a bit of a kick.  On holiday they had coated the banana in cinnamon powder, but at home I just sprinkle a little mixed spice, a blend of cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg, on top with the end result being near enough the same.  

Not only does it taste great but cinnamon is also loaded with powerful antioxidants and additional anti-inflamatory properties.  Alongside the yogurt and banana you can enjoy a healthy, delicious start to day.

Recipe:

1 pot of coconut or coconut flavoured yogurt

1 banana

Sprinkle of cinnamon or mixed spice powder to taste.

Method:

Combine the yogurt and chopped banana in a bowl, top with cinnamon powder and enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Blueberry & Banana Smoothie Bowl

One of my favourite ways to start a warm spring or summers morning is with a smoothie bowl.  They're refreshing, nutritious and so delicious.

The simple difference between a normal smoothie and a smoothie bowl is the consistency; instead of adding coconut milk or water, you add yogurt to thicken the mixture.

In this recipe there's blueberries for a dose of anti-oxidants, banana for fibre and energy and some vanilla yogurt to mix it all together.  I used soya yogurt, but you can use any type you prefer :)

The thicker consistency means that you can throw all kinds of yummy things on top too; some granola, nuts, seeds, cacao nibs, fresh or frozen fruit are always great toppings, and bring even more goodness to the bowl.

Of course, you don't just have to keep these for breakfast.  I have this as a desert too, and its great for satisfying any sugar cravings!

Recipe:

1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 banana
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
splash of milk or water if needed

Blend until smooth, add a splash of water or milk to help it blend if necessary, but not too much as it will loose its thicker consistency.  Pour into a bowl and top with your favourite things.

Then enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Banana & Mango Green Smoothie

It's been a while since I posted a green smoothie recipe, which is crazy because I have them near enough every day!  This new favourite of mine is just so tasty I had to share.

It's true that Green Smoothies can take some getting used to, but once you do, they're so addictive.  They're so full of goodness and you can quite literally feel the benefits straight away.  As they're already liquidated, they're also a fantastic way of giving your stomach a rest without skipping meals, which is perfect if you're feeling like you've over-indulged a little!

In this smoothie there's iron, fibre, potassium, as well as vitamins C and K...which briefly mean improved energy levels, brain function, skin, vision, digestion and immune system; the list goes on!

All these things combine to make an incredibly nourishing and energy boosting drink, and also serve as a great antidote to that mid-afternoon slump.

Recipe:

1 cup of spinach
1 cup of kale
1 cup of frozen mango
1 cup of Alpro Coconut Drink (or water)
1 chopped banana

I also add:

1tbs chia seeds for an extra dose of fibre, omega-3 and protein.

Method:

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth, then serve and enjoy!

Have a fantastic week ahead x

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Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges

Let me introduce you to another one of my addictions - spiced sweet potato wedges.  The first thing I did when trying to break bad eating habits was to find healthier alternatives to the things I liked to eat, and this was one of them.

It's hard to believe that something which tastes this great can be so good for you too, but not only do they taste and look amazing, they're full of nutritional benefits!

Sweet potatoes contain powerful antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and fibre.  They're a good source of vitamin C, beta-carotene and iron and so promote healthy vision, skin, and immune system, whilst releasing energy slowly to keep you energised without peaking your blood sugar levels.

They're so soft and sweet, which balances perfectly against the spices.  What's more is that they feel like a such a treat, but there's no reason to feel like you've over indulged!

There's a number of ways I like to serve them; with avocado, leafy greens and feta, with garlic or sweet chilli sauce; but sometimes the simplest ways are the best, and some guacamole is all that's needed.

Recipe: (serves 1)

2-3 medium sized sweet potatoes (about 500g)

1 tsp of chilli powder

1/2 tsp of ground cumin

1/4 tsp of salt (scant)

1 tbs of olive oil

Method:

Pre-heat oven to gas mark 8.  Peel the sweet potatoes and chop them into wedges, about 1cm thick.  In a bowl, drizzle olive oil over the wedges, then add the salt, chilli powder and cumin and stir until the chips are evenly coated.  Line a baking tray with baking paper and bake for around 25-30 minutes.

To make the guacamole, simply mash an avocado in a bowl and add some salt and lemon juice to taste.

Then enjoy!

Have a wonderful week ahead x

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Simple Honey Granola : gluten, dairy, nut & refined sugar free

This granola is seriously addictive.  I first made it a couple of weeks ago and since then we've been eating it with everything; it's great for a quick snack, with milk or for throwing on top of a yoghurt bowl with some fruit (Oh yum, I want to eat some now!).

The beauty of granola is that you can pretty much throw any nuts or seeds in there and it'll taste great whilst giving you a healthy dose of nutrients.  My recipe is nut free however, as my son is allergic to them.

Sunflower and pumpkin seeds are great for promoting healthy bones and energy production, whilst cacao nibs are fantastic for their antioxidant properties and ability to enhance your mood.  Of course, the oats themselves also promote digestion and release energy slowly.

I use honey to sweeten the mix and olive oil to add some crunch.  The issue of sugar is a complex one but the general consensus is that refined sugar is bad, natural sugar not so much - either way we should be aware of our intake.  I've found that the lesser amount of honey in this recipe is plenty for me as I usually eat it with sweet things like coconut milk, fruit and soya yogurt, whereas my husband doesn't and so likes his batch a bit sweeter.

Recipe:

2 cups gluten-free oats

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup pumpkin seeds

1/3 cup cacao nibs

1/4 cup olive oil

3-6 tbs honey (depending on taste)

pinch of salt

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 3 and line a baking tray with baking paper.  Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well, then spread evenly onto the baking tray.  Bake for about 20 minutes then stir the mix again to ensure the oats cook evenly, then bake for a further 5-10 minutes.  When the granola is ready it will be golden brown and crisp.  Allow to cool and store in an air tight container for up to 2 weeks.

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Banana & Coconut Porridge

As the weather gets colder I find myself reaching more and more for a warming and filling breakfast, and this really does hit the spot! 

Gluten-free oats keep me filled but not bloated, while the banana and coconut milk bring a dairy-free yet totally creamy taste to the bowl which is just delicious.  On its own the oats, coconut milk and banana are full of fibre, vitamins B12 and B6 but with a few choice toppings you can bring even more nutritional goodness to this bowl.  

I like to add pumpkin seed, flaxseed and cocao nibs to mine as they're high in healthy fats, zinc, magnesium and omega-3; cocao nibs are fantastic as they are actually anti-oxidising chocolate!

Recipe:

3/4 cup of gluten-free oats

1 cup of Alpro Coconut Drink (a coconut & rice milk blend)

1 banana

Honey to taste

I also add

Pumpkin seeds

Flaxseed

Chia seed

Cocao nibs

Add the oats and coconut milk in a pan and heat for about 5 minutes on a low-medium heat, stirring often.  When the oats are almost ready, add the chopped banana and stir in for another 3-4 minutes until softened and warmed.  Pour into a bowl and add your toppings of choice, though go easy on the powders, you don't want the porridge to dry up! Drizzle with honey if needed and serve immediately, then enjoy a deliciously warming and nutritious start to the day.

Enjoy!

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Mango, Pear & Green Tea Smoothie

This has to be one of my favourite go-to smoothies.  It was one of the first combinations I really loved, and is a great one for people trying out a green smoothie for the first time.   The pear and frozen mango mean that it's light and refreshing, while the spinach provides that dose of green goodness without being overpowering.  If you struggle with low energy, headaches and a tired complexion as I did, then upping your intake of iron is an incredible way to combat this.  You can mix this simply with cold water, or with a cup of chilled green tea for some more flavour and an extra energy boost, not to mention the benefit of its antioxidant qualities.

If I'm feeling a bit run down this always helps to pick me up, and give me that extra boost.

Recipe:

1 cup of frozen mango

1-2 cups of spinach

1 pear

1 cup of water or green tea, brewed and chilled (I use lemon flavoured) 

I also add:

1-2 desert spoons of flaxseed (at the moment this is a flaxseed & goji berry mix)

1 tbs of shelled hemp

1 tbs of chia seed

Just throw everything in and blend until smooth.  You can adjust the consistency easily by adding more fruit or spinach to thicken, or more water to thin.  Enjoy!

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Mango and Beetroot Green Smoothie

Smoothies are a fantastic way of adding extra goodness to your diet with minimal fuss, and they're so tasty and really easy to make!  My favourite by far are green smoothies, as there's just so much goodness in one serving and you can feel the benefits very quickly.

The spinach, kale and beetroot in this recipe are all high in iron, without which you start to feel tired, lethargic and are more prone to illness, it can even affect everything from your brain function to your complexion!  They all also contain vitamins A and C, which are great for your vision, skin, immune system and digestion too.

Frozen mango has to be my favourite fruit to add to a smoothie; it's so light, sweet and refreshing and as it's high in vitamin C it also helps your body to absorb all that iron.  The coconut drink is also a great addition, being naturally sweet and a source of vitamin B12, which contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. 

This smoothie really is full of nutritional benefits, whilst also being a deliciously refreshing and light drink.

Serves 1

1 cup of kale

1 cup of spinach

1 boiled beetroot, chopped

1 cup of frozen mango

1 1/2 cups of coconut drink such as Alpro (A blend of coconut and rice milk)

1tbs of chia seeds

I also add:

1tbs of flaxseed

1tbs of shelled hemp

Simply throw everything in the blender and mix until smooth.   It's best fresh but if you want to store it in the fridge for later it will still taste great.  Enjoy!

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