MANGO AND BANANA SMOOTHIE

I want to pay a tribute here to the most amazing device in my house - my HERO - my BLENDER.Thank you, thank you, thank you!And also to the person who invented it. YOU HAVE MADE MY LIFE SO MUCH EASIER!

Yes!I'm standing in the kitchen, looking at it while it blends my favourite foods into a velvety and creamy smoothie and I'm thinking ''GOSH YOU ARE AMAZING''. 10 min longer in bed(and everyone knows what 10 min longer in bed feels like), scrumptious breakfast(or lunch, or snack)within 2 minutes and this taste......hmmmmm :) it will spoil your taste buds....

RECIPE:
 For 3 big glasses

INGREDIENTS:

2 small bananas
1 small mango
500 ml organic soya milk
1 BIG spoonful of milled flaxseeds

METHOD:

B L E N D :)

OAT FLORENTINES

Is there anything in your kitchen you buy on regular basis and it's something that ''is always there'' and when it's not there it kind of gives you a panic attack?
Well in my house we ALWAYS have oats, and when we suddenly run out, we dash to the shop and supply 'shortcomings'. These little 'squashed' grains are pretty awesome, full of vitamins B, fibre, calcium, magnesium, folic acid, potassium,phosphorus,zinc, iron, selenium....Really AWESOME!
It sounds like eating them for breakfast, lunch, dinner, tea......all the time. I do love them.I really do but please don't forget they are carbohydrates, in simple words ''sugar''. So yes they are great for energy and supply essential vitamins and minerals but overeating is not the best idea. BALANCE is the word I really like :)

Right, so after all this.....I hope you still fancy some scrummy florentines :) Perfect when you just need a little break or a little reflexion, with a big cup of green tea or your favourite milk...

RECIPE:

You are going to need a muffin tray

for 12

INGREDIENTS:

45g dried plums or prunes
75g jumbo oats
20g dried apples
1 tbsp milled flax seeds
40g butter + for greasing
2 tbsp honey
3 tbsp natural yoghurt(room temperature)
50g dark chocolate

METHOD:

1.Preheat oven 180C/160 Fan/GAS 5

2.Melt butter in a medium pan and add honey and yoghurt.Bring to boil. In a meantime combine dry ingredients: dried fruit, oats and flax seeds and mix in with melted butter in a pan.Take off the hob.

3. Put a spoonful of mixture into each muffin mould(PREVIOUSLY GREASED) and press it with a spoon.

4. Bake for 15 minutes.

5. Leave to cool before removing from a tray.

6. When they are ready melt chocolate: break it into smaller pieces and place in a metal bowl. Pour 1/4 water into a medium pan and bring it to boil, turn the heat down to minimum and place a metal bowl with chocolate over it(REMEMBER: a bowl must not touch the simmering water). MELT and dip florentines into it or pour chocolate over it with a spoon.Whatever works better for you.

They are not very crunchy and they are even softer the next day. But this is what I like about them and they are definitely worth a try :)

PESTO TAGLIATELLE

I'm not such a big fan of pasta,I don't know why I personally always preferred grains in they more natural state.Pearl barley, buckwheat, bulgur, quinoa....you name then :)
Saying that I do enjoy a little bit of pasta now and then and if it's packed with loads of green veg, dripping with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with nuts and basil.....that's a different story. Nobody will resist it!

RECIPE:

Served for: whole Tamworth or one very hungry husband ;) But seriously 6 people should be quite full ;)

INGREDIENTS:

500g Multi Grain Tagliatelle
500g small chestnut mushrooms, halved
3 medium courgettes, sliced
250g broccoli florets, cut into smaller pieces
olives
salt and pepper

PESTO:

80g pine nuts
2 bunches of fresh basil
50-60ml extra virgin olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
60g freshly grated Parmesan cheese

METHOD:

1. Toast mushrooms with a little bit of olive oil in a frying pan, add sliced courgettes and stir-fry until cooked, but not overcooked(especially courgettes - you want them a little bit crunchy). Remove excess of water. Steam broccoli florets ''al dente''  - they should be cooked but still quite firm.

2.Cook pasta with the instruction on the packet. In the meantime chop and mix all the ingredients for pesto.

3. Put all the ingredients into a big pan: pasta, vegetables and pesto, add some olives, mix well and enjoy :)

 

NUTTY BREAKFAST

Breakfast.They say it's the most important meal of the day, but who doesn't like this extra 10 min in bed.....then we get up in a rush, don't have time to prepare any food and dash out with empty stomach....NO, NO,NO. Breakfast is important and it apply to everyone!You too ;)

So this is a quick idea for a healthy breakfast, that you might already know,or maybe not ;) Prepare in literally a minute(in a morning or a night before), delicious, nutritious....well...I dare say perfect for those mornings when you just can't force your eyes to open. Enjoy with seasonal fruit and start your day with extra energy.

RECIPE:

for 2 glasses

INGREDIENTS:

300g natural greek yoghurt
30g jumbo oats
2 tbsp flaxseeds
50g nuts - pecans and hazelnuts, chopped
2 tbsp honey
few pinches of cinammon
couple drops of milk(optional)

METHOD:

Layer the ingredients in glasses, starting with oats, flaxseeds,cinnamon, nuts, honey and yoghurt,  repeat.
If you prefer your oats a little bit softer, sprinkle them lightly with milk.

JOB DONE :)

QUAIL EGG SALAD

RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:

quail eggs
rocket lettuce
spinach
watercress
red onion
avocado
pecan nuts
olive oil
freshly ground pepper

Mix how much of every ingredient you like ;)

PERFECT QUAIL EGGS:

TO SOFT BOIL IT: place in gently boiling water for 1 minute, leave eggs in the water for a further 30 seconds, remove and peel the shells then serve.

TO HARD BOIL: place in gently boiling water for 2 1/2 minutes, remove, remove,run under cold water and then peel the shells and serve.

CAULIFLOWER CURRY

 

RECIPE from kwestiasmaku.com (with small modification)

Serves 2-3

INGREDIENTS:

400ml (good quality) coconut milk  - I like organic KINGFISHER

5 shallots,chopped

350g cauliflower, sliced into small wedges

3 cloves of garlic,crushed

1 chilli(or more if you like it more spicy), chopped

1 1/2 TBSP turmeric

1 1/2 TBSP cumin

1 TBSP coriander 

seeds from 3 cardamon pods

pinch of cinnamon 

pinch of freshly grated ginger

60-70 ml water

salt

olive oil

Serve with: rice, basil and lime wedges

METHOD:

1.In a big pan fry onions with a little bit of olive oil for a couple of minutes.In a meantime steam a cauliflower ''al dente'' - when it's not quite soft yet.

2.In a small bowl mix herbs and spices:chilli,garlic,turmeric,cumin,coriander,cardamon seeds,cinnamon and ginger.Add water and mix into a smooth paste and mix it with the onions,still frying.

3. Spoon the coconut milk in and bring it to boil.The coconut milk that I use has to be mixed before use as the water separates from the coconut - it's normal! ;)

4.Season with salt and mix the cauliflower into curry.Let it cook until cauliflower is soft.

PERFECTLY COOKED BROWN RICE:

Cover 140g brown basmati rice with 450ml cold water.Bring to boil, then turn the heat down to minimum, season with salt and put the lid on. Cook for around 25-30 minutes, or until the water evaporated.Don't stir until ready ;)

Sunny Salad

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! ;) I'm glad 2013 is over....finally...It was a taught year and I hope 2014 will be a better one.I have a feeling it will ;)

In this New Year I would like to wish you all GOOD HEALTH.....because there is nothing more important...

I'm a believer that food is our medicine and by nurturing our body we feel better, look better and stay healthy.And at the end of the day our body is the most valuable treasure we have got.Why do we often forget to look after it?

WE are WHAT WE EAT.

So don't be

FAST,CHEAP,EASY or FAKE.

Recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

Wild salmon

Rocket salad

Tangerines or mandarins (or any other citrus you like)

Pomegranate

Almond flakes

Quantities:  your choice, mix how much you like and enjoy!