Fudgy Brownies

May 12, 2017May 12, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ 2 Comments

Hi everyone! Today I’d like to share a recipe with you from the lovely Emma. I had a tough time choosing as all her recipes look and sound amazing and are mostly centered around breakfast or dessert (or both! check out her latest recipe for Banoffee Pie Oats!) , which is my absolute favorite kind of food. These fudgy sweet potato brownies look incredible and I can’t wait to make them once I have an oven again!
Do check out her site for more fabulous recipes, as well as all things running-related. Hope you enjoy! xoxo

Fruits and Routes

Brownies and I have had a love-hate relationship in recent years; in my efforts to create one that both satisfied my craving for that square of rich, fudgy chocolatey goodness whilst providing a nutritional twist, my experiments would always fall short of my aspirations. Too dry, too dense, not sweet enough, too “healthy” looking and tasting… something was always amiss. As I’ve progressed along my brownie-journey, I’ve realised that no “healthier” brownie will be able to totally replicate the taste, texture and appearance of your typical one, but I think this one comes quite close. Maybe they’re not perfect, but they taste pretty amazing either way and (hopefully) will satisfy your chocolate cravings.

brownies 2 Look how gooey and fudgy they are 🙂

The not-so-secret ingredient? Sweet potato. I know, it’s not incredibly original nowadays what with social media being rife with pictures of super thick, gooey sweet potato creations, but having…

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Pea Shoot Crepes

May 5, 2017May 5, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ Leave a comment

Crepes are something I never ever liked making. Pancakes, sure! But crepes? I had the prejudice that they’re super fiddly and will surely end in a scrambled mess. And since going plant-based, I honestly hadn’t given them a thought. Until, that is, I found a brilliant and super simple recipe by the inspiring James Wythe from Healthy Living James.

Having had great success with his these sweet ones, I decided to make a savory version, so I would be able to indulge in my newfound love of crepes at any time of day! The result: fabulously green, soft crepes that went so well with the hummus spread inside, the cherry tomatoes adding a burst of freshness and some smokey paprika for a bit of heat. Delicious and also an easy way to get in some more greens!

So let’s get started:

Makes: 4 medium-sized crepes

Ingredients:

95 g flour (I used wholemeal spelt, but others, e.g. buckwheat, will work too)
260 ml water
1 tbsp ground flaxseeds
salt
2 large handfuls pea shoots (washed and thoroughly dried)
oil for cooking (I used olive oil)
optional: hummus to fill (a nice pesto or tapenade would be good to, though, I can imagine!), cherry tomatoes and some some hot smokey paprika for on top

Method:

Mix together the flour, water, salt and ground flaxseeds, then add the pea shoots and purée till all green!
Heat a bit of oil in a non-stick pan and pour enough of the batter in to cover the base. Cook until done and then flip. (Be patient with this, as they are delicate if you try to turn them over too soon. I had to learn this the hard way when I made the sweet version!)
Once they’re cooked, fill them with your filling of choice. I had them with hummus, topped with cherry tomatoes and some hot smokey paprika.

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Feel Good Fact: Pea shoots are super nutritious, being high in vitamins C and A as well as folic acid.

Fudgy Feel-Good Squares

April 24, 2017April 24, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ 6 Comments

Sweet, sticky, chewy, gooey... these little caramel-y squares are my new favorite indulgent treat! Great to have in the fridge to offer friends* or, of course, to sink your teeth into whenever you feel like a little pick-me-up 😉 You get the caramel-like flavor of the dates and maple syrup, which, with the hint of vanilla and cacao, is utterly irresistible. The walnut butter adds to the luxurious texture, enhancing without competing against the flavors.

Consisting of nourishing, wholesome ingredients, these sumptuous squares do more than just taste great – they provide a steady source of energy, which won’t cause blood sugar levels to skyrocket and crash, like more processed, refined options. A treat for your the tastebuds and a pretty nutritious, fueling snack… win-win situation, right?

*Side note: I tested this on a friend who is highly allergic to peanuts. Even though I used no peanuts in this recipe I was suddenly gripped by the fear that traces of the lethal legume had somehow gotten into into the mix, as, let’s face it, my place is a peanut allergy sufferer’s worst nightmare. Luckily I was just being overly paranoid and she was perfectly fine, giving them the thumbs up without landing in the emergency room 😉

Makes: 12 small squares

Ingredients

10 Medjool Dates (ca. 200 g); pitted
1 tbsp walnut butter**
2 tbsp + 1 tsp raw cacao powder
1/2 tbsp chia seeds
pinch of salt
some ground vanilla bean (or a drop or two of vanilla extract)

** If you don’t have this on hand, the recipe should definitely work with other nut butters, but the flavor will, of course, vary. Walnut butter is very subtle, so it blends in well with the other ingredients. I like to use the raw organic 100% walnut one by Sun and Seed.

Frosting:

2 tbsp walnut butter
1 tbsp + 1 tsp raw cacao powder
2 tsp maple syrup
1 tsp unsweetened almond milk
optional: crushed walnuts to sprinkle on top

Method

Once you’ve pitted the dates, process them in the food processor and mix together with the other ingredients (I like to do this by hand, as it easily forms a really nice, sticky, but perfectly workable, play-doh-type mix). Press down onto a plate with your hands and shape into a rectangle (a knife works well to smooth the top and clean up the edges), cover and place in the fridge while making the frosting.

For the frosting, simply mix together the ingredients and then spread onto the date base. At this point you can decorate by sprinkling some crushed walnuts and raw cacao powder, or whatever else you fancy, on top.

Now, either place back in the fridge or in the freezer to fully harden up. [I didn’t have any space in my minuscule freezer, which is bursting with berries, so I had to just pop the plate back into the fridge. The frosting stayed soft, but, surprisingly, I was able to cut squares without making a mess. If you do freeze before slicing, I’d store them in the fridge after, to get the best, stickiest, fudgiest consistency 🙂 ]. They should last a few days (or longer in the freezer) if you can keep them that long!

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Feel Good Fact: Dates are rich in dietary fiber and contain powerful antioxidants, both of which are important contributors to a healthy diet.

Purple Sweet Potato Pancakes

April 5, 2017April 5, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ Leave a comment

I’m back with more purple goodness! 😀 (click here to check out my purple sweet potato falafels and find some information on the nutritional benefits of purple sweet potatoes).

Due to requests I received on Instagram, I’m sharing these purple sweet potato pancakes with you here. They’re adapted from the Sweet Potato Pancakes by Deliciously Ella and reflect my undying love for these vibrant tubers.

Quick to make (especially if you cook the sweet potato before you actually want to make the pancakes) and oh so satisfying, they are especially irresistible with walnut butter and maple syrup – I can’t even begin to describe how good they were, so you’ll just have to try them yourself 😉

Ingredients:

1 small cooked purple sweet potato (mine was 240g, peeled)
160 ml almond milk (or 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp)
pinch of salt
dash of vanilla extract
2 tsp maple syrup
ca. 4 heaped tbsp wholemeal flour of choice (I used spelt)
coconut oil for cooking

Method:

Once you’ve peeled, boiled or steamed, and chopped your beautiful purple potato, purée it together with the other ingredients, except for the flour. Take a few seconds to admire the gorgeous mix, then stir in the flour, adding enough so that the mix holds together well. (I first only used 2 tbsp and my tester pancake was too delicate when I cooked it, so I added more to the mix. It’ll definitely be a very thick mixture, so don’t be surprised if you’re more used to a liquid pancake batter! If you’ve tried any of my other pancake recipes, you’ll know I like my pancakes thick and stodgy 😉 ).

Then simply heat some coconut oil in a pan, spoon in some of the mix, shape into circles, and cook till done (they only take a minute or two on each side).

Stack and drizzle with walnut butter (I used this one and can’t recommend it enough!) and maple syrup for utter pancake perfection!

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Leggero – An Evening of Light & Laughter

March 22, 2017March 22, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ Leave a comment

Yesterday evening I had the pleasure of accompanying my lovely friend Leila, her equally lovely sister Sasha and the wonderful Catrina to the re-launch of a gluten-free Italian restaurant in Soho.

Formerly La Polenteria, Leggero serves delicious and innovative gluten-free Italian food. Italy, with all its pasta, pizza and bread, is pretty much synonymous with gluten, as owner Gabriele Vitali – an Italian with an obvious passion for what he does – joked. Seeing the gap in the market for catering to pasta-loving, gluten-avoiding individuals, the team embarked on a mission to create high quality Italian food for all to enjoy. This idea has gone beyond offering coeliacs an enjoyable dining experience, by making the kitchen and menu accommodating to people with various allergies and special dietary requirements. The fact that, minutes before his talk, we were enthusing about how refreshing it was to have such a restaurant where everyone could find something exciting on the menu and not have to worry about “being complicated”, is surely a testament to the success of Leggero’s mission.

While you certainly can find everything from unrefined sugar-free raw vegan to a meat eater’s paradise in London, it’s harder to find a restaurant where there is common ground for people with different preferences and requirements, i.e. where the carefree omnivore can enjoy, let’s say, lamb meatballs with mint and grilled butternut squash (as was served last night), while the gluten-free vegan can tuck into the courgette burger with mixed vegetables and homemade hemp bread muffin – and all from the same menu. This seems to me more important than ever in this age of ultra-individualism, where you can find all kinds of specific needs catered to, but, in the world of food at least, not necessarily at the same table.

At Leggero last night, we ended up with gluten-free Leila insouciantly dipping handmade artichoke, tomato and olive focaccia into oil and balsamic vinegar, dairy-intolerant Catrina having her (almond and orange) cake and eating it too, my plant-based self delighting in handmade sorghum and hemp tagliatelle (the culinary highlight of the evening for me!) and the omnivorous Sasha being in the happy position of sampling all the delightful dishes.

All this ties in perfectly with the restaurant’s new name – leggero, or light, as it means in English. Gabriele explained that the concept embodies not just “light” food, that makes us feel good, but also a light and happy way of life – something that couldn’t have come across any better in the wonderfully bright, intimate space, filled with the sounds of live music and laughter.

Let me conclude by once again thanking Leila for inviting me along and the lovely people at Leggero for having us. I can’t wait to go back for a big plate of delicious pasta!

(This was the sorghum hemp tagliatelle – absolutely divine!)

Goody Bag Gems – Part 2

March 19, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ Leave a comment

I’m back with more of some of my favorite new foodie discoveries (you can check out Part I here in case you missed it). Once again I am – obviously – not being paid by any of these brands, but just genuinely love these products and find them worth recommending 🙂

Almond Milk Yogurt – Nush

Nush peach melba.png

Thoughts: Where have you been all my (plant-based) life?? This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! The one thing I truly missed while switching to a fully plant-based diet was yogurt. I loved having a pot of creamy greek yogurt as part of my breakfast or an afternoon snack. Unfortunately, soy yogurt didn’t agree with me and while I do sometimes have the odd bit of coconut yogurt, I just find it too heavy to eat much of. I had some Coyo in a goody bag once but I haven’t included it in this list because I simply didn’t enjoy it. (It was as dense as cream cheese and I couldn’t eat more than a few mouthfuls per sitting). So, what to do? For a long time I gave up on having a nice light plant-based yogurt… until now! This almond milk yogurt that I had in a goody bag from a recent Protein Baking Event by Livia’s Kitchen had the taste and texture of real yogurt!I had the Peach Melba flavor one with granola and berries and it was such a treat! I highly recommend it.

While it may not be the cheapest yogurt out there (at around £2 for a 125 g pot), it’s definitely worth it if you’re looking for the “real deal”.

Ingredients (Peach Melba flavor): 80% live almond milk yogurt (almond milk [almonds, filtered water], tapioca starch, carob gum, live vegan cultures), 20% Peach Melba (peach, raspberries, fruit extract).

Tip: also check out the other flavors: Blueberry (can’t wait to try it!), Natural and Caramel & Hibiscus!

Three Cinnamon Tea – Pukka

pukka 3 cinnamon.jpeg

[image from http://www.pukkaherbs.com]

Thoughts: I used to hate all things cinnamon-y (the only time I remember liking cinnamon as a child is with waffles and vanilla ice cream) and one of the most horrific things to me was the idea – and smell – of cinnamon flavored gum. Tea would have seemed just as bad if not a worse offender! While I’ve grown to like cinnamon (especially in Christmas bakes, turmeric lattes and sprinkled on peanut butter covered apple slices), I can safely say I never would have bought it in tea form. However, from my first cup of this I was sold! It’s such a warming, sweet, comforting taste and it’s become one of my favorite ways to end a meal (a square of dark chocolate will always be number one – but who says you can’t have both?).

Ingredients: Vietnamese cinnamon bark (60%), Indonesian cinnamon bark (16%), licorice root, Indian cinnamon bark (10%).

Tip: If you like this, check out other teas from this range. I’ve also tried and loved the Three Ginger and will definitely try the Three Chamomile when I see it.

Extra Tip: the longer you leave the tea bag in, the sweeter the tea gets – after about 10 minutes you’ve got a fantastically, naturally sweet tea that perfectly satisfies post-meal dessert cravings (although I tend to indulge them anyway 😉 )

Organic Fruit Blend – Naturya

naturya fruit blend.png

[Image from http://www.naturya.com]

Thoughts: This is yet again a product I wouldn’t have bought if I hadn’t tried it first. I would have seen the 50% banana powder and 15% hemp protein powder on the ingredients list and put it back thinking: why do I need to add this to my smoothie when I already add banana and hemp? I have to say, though, that the flavor of this powder is fabulous. As you can see below there are some other great ingredients that give this blend an amazing tropical and sunny flavor that will cheer up even the coldest and darkest of mornings. I honestly find it a great way to snazz up my regular smoothie, as one teaspoon of this makes such a difference! I’ve just run out and I think this will be on my shopping list for my next health food haul!

Ingredients: 50% banana powder, 20% goji powder, 15% hemp protein powder, 10% pineapple powder, 5% acai powder.

Chocolate Lip Balm – Hurraw!

hurraw image.jpg

[Image from http://www.hurrawbalm.com]

This last item is not edible, sadly, but I couldn’t help adding it to the list as it was in fact in a goody bag and I absolutely love it! Just lifting the lid and sniffing it – as I repeatedly did just now – makes me simplistically happy. The smell must go directly to my brain and light up happy chemicals. It also feels good on my lips and seems to really hydrate. Just make sure you don’t catch yourself licking it off! (Glad to say that hasn’t happened… yet). Also, I suspect it’s tantalizing for the people sitting near me when I reapply it in lectures – I saw a head turn the other day and someone seemingly sniff the air in an intrigued and puzzled manner.

That’s all for today folks – hope you enjoyed it!

xoxo

Purple Sweet Potato Falafels

March 10, 2017May 1, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ 2 Comments

Having read about their health benefits in connection with the Okinawa diet, purple sweet potatoes have been the object of my curiosity for many months now (for more on this scroll to the very bottom). Once I finally got my hands on these elusive tubers I knew I wanted to make something special. Inspired by the sweet potato falafels from the MaE deli and a sweet potato falafel wrap from Crussh, I set out to create my own, and thus, these purple patties of pure perfection (or so I claim) were born.

These sweet, starchy gems are so satisfying with their soft mushy texture and the lovely flavors of the coriander, garlic and hint of chili coming through. And – as all my recipes 😉 – they’re quick to make (especially if you cook the sweet potato beforehand). Perfect for when you want to try something a bit different, without spending ages at the stove.

So let’s get right to it!

Ingredients:

200 g cooked purple sweet potato
200-230 g chickpeas (drained, rinsed)*; my carton was 380g before draining
ca. 2 heaped tbsp flour (I used wholemeal spelt)/ as much as you need to bind mix
salt
chili powder
half a 30g bunch of fresh coriander, chopped (the rest you can sprinkle on top)
drizzle of garlic-infused oil**
coconut oil, for cooking

* I take the skin off the chickpeas as they’re easier to digest that way, but feel free to skip this step if that’s not something you’re concerned about. (Although, I have to say, there’s something strangely satisfying about popping out the chickpeas!)

**If you don’t have this you should be able to just use regular olive oil and some fresh, crushed garlic. I use it as an alternative because I sadly don’t tolerate garlic (or onion) very well, and infused oils seem to be less problematic, the critical components not being soluble in oil. (See here for more information if this affects you too.)

Method:

Mash the chickpeas in a large flat bowl with a fork (or use a food processor, but don’t over-process; they should still be crumbly and a bit chunky), add the sweet potato and mash as well (or again, if you’re looking for less manual labor just purée – I was lazy and wanted to avoid cleaning another piece of equipment, but it didn’t take very long at all). Add in your flour and season with salt and chili, before adding the chopped coriander and a drizzle of garlic-infused oil into the gloriously purple mess. Mix together with your hands (yes, they will get purple!)

Now, the fun part: roll the mix into evenly-sized balls. I made 11, but this will obviously depend on the size you prefer. I also flattened mine a bit at the end, as I didn’t want them perfectly round. Next, simply heat some coconut oil in a pan and cook the falafels on both sides for a few minutes. It’s basically just about warming them up and getting a bit of a crisp on the outside.

Serving suggestion:

While the falafels are sizzling away in a pan, cook some buckwheat noodles (the ones I use by King Soba only take 5 minutes) in salt water. A minute or two before they are done, add in some courgetti or other quick-cooking veg. Drain and serve with your lovely purple falafels. Drizzle with a nice oil, or create a quick little sauce by combining tahini, honey or maple syrup, lemon juice and water. (I used this lovely black tahini, by Sun and Seed, as it contrasts so nicely with the purple!). Finally, sprinkle with white sesame seeds and more coriander to finish off the dish.

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Feel Good Fact: Like their orange cousins, the purple sweet potatoes are a good source of fiber and vitamins. Additionally they contain anti-inflammatory anthocyanins (notably also present in blueberries 😉 ), which are linked to heart health and improved eyesight, to pick out some of their benefits.

Interesting Fact: Purple sweet potatoes made up a large part of the traditional diet of the Okinawa Japanese, whose life expectancy was among the highest in the world, with a lower occurrence of heart disease and certain types of cancer (e.g. breast cancer and prostate cancer). For more on the traditional Okinawa diet check out this short, informative video.

Goody Bag Gems – Part 1

March 2, 2017March 19, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ Leave a comment

If you’ve had a look at the What I’m Up To section of my blog, you’ve seen that I love attending events centered around plant-based eating and/or fitness. And more often than not I leave them with not just great new memories, but also a little paper bag of exciting goodies. These goody bags are definitely always a nice little cherry on top. (Who doesn’t enjoy, at least momentarily, feeling like a carefree kid at a birthday party again?).

For the companies providing the contents of these bags it’s obviously a great advertising strategy. This way they are ensuring that their products are falling directly into the welcoming hands of the very people most likely to buy them again (as I have) and spread the word about them (as I am about to do here 😉 ).* For me it’s definitely been a fun way to discover and try out products that I probably wouldn’t otherwise have bought. The ones that I’ve been most impressed with I’d like to share with you here.

The goodies in this first part are all from a Christmas Yoga Supper Club that my friend Lauren invited me along to. Besides being a truly lovely event it probably had the most memorable goody bag, as I discovered the following great products:

Birch Water – Sibberi

Sibberi birch water.jpg

[Image from: http://www.sibberi.com]

Thoughts: I’ll be honest, when I first saw this I was more than a bit skeptical. Birch tree water? I’d never heard of it and was unsure why I should be drinking it. Probably just another expensive but overrated product out there clamoring for the attention of health-conscious consumers, or so I thought. While I was right about the first point (at £2 per 250 ml bottle it costs the same as a liter of Rude Health almond milk), I have to say I was genuinely and positively taken aback by this drink. The best way I can think to describe it is that it was like drinking the purest, clearest, cleanest most refreshing water you could imagine – with a slight hint of sweetness. If only regular water tasted this amazing!

While this definitely doesn’t go into my basket every supermarket trip, I like to treat myself to a bottle every now and again.

Ingredients: 100% birch tree sap.

Note: Also check out the sister products, Maple and Bamboo Water.

Tip: Try this at room temperature. The second time, I had it straight from the fridge and I felt like some of the flavor was lost. (Just a personal preference.)

Sweet Potato & Cacao bar – Rude Health

rude health sp cacao.png

[Image from: http://www.rudehealth.com]

Thoughts: How can one not be intrigued by a bar containing sweet potato and cacao?? I’ve tried many different brands of such fruit and nut based energy bars and this one is the only one I know of with this genius combo. Now, you wouldn’t know there’s sweet potato in there, if that’s what you’re wondering, but the addition of this tasty tuber creates a really moreish texture and also intensifies the cacao flavor, making the whole experience truly satisfying. Definitely getting these again!

Ingredients: dates, cashews, sunflower seeds, sweet potato (8%), cacao powder (7%), cacao butter (6%), vanilla.

Note: There is also a pumpkin version – not with pumpkin purée, as I originally thought, but with pumpkin seeds and apple and ginger – which is also highly recommended!

Tip: If you’re craving this combo but can’t get your hands on these bars, check out these sweet potato brownie recipes from Deliciously Ella (original – really delicious, but maybe not quite chocolatey enough, which is why there is now a “new and improved” version).

Wyldsson Promix

[Image from http://www.wyldsson.com]

Thoughts: These little test tubes of goodness are an awesome way to treat yourself if you’re looking for something fun to eat on the go or sprinkle over your food for decoration. They’re little portions of trail mix intended for healthy snacking, but to be honest I mostly just use them for my smoothie bowls, as I find they add a really nice touch (not just aesthetically but also to the taste and texture). I had the Strawberry & Raspberry one in a goody bag and liked it so much that I ordered the sample tube package of 10, which comes with other exciting flavors like Organic Mulberry, Californian Pomegranate, Cherry & Dark Chocolate and even a savory one: Chilly Picante. I was also super happy with the service – the tubes arrived promptly and came with a short personalized message on the box and a free tube of the new Strawberries & Belgian Chocolate mix.

Ingredients (Strawberry & Raspberry mix): Argentinian peanuts, sunflower seeds, cashew nuts, Californian almonds, Greek Zante currants, pumpkin seeds, strawberries (6.6%), raspberries (2.2%).

Tip: sprinkle these over your morning smoothies, porridge or add to your cereal for extra crunch, nutrition and color 😉

Chia Vanilla Protein Bar – Body Me

body me bar.jpg

[Image from: http://www.bodyme.co.uk – seems they’ve changed the packaging]

Thoughts: I love a chunky, generous protein bar with good ingredients and good flavor – and this one ticks all the boxes! I was seriously impressed, as not only was it absolutely delicious, but it also has the highest protein content I’ve yet had in a vegan protein bar: 16g. Not much else to say here except big thumbs up!

Ingredients: [all organic] plant protein blend (pea protein, sprouted brown rice protein, hemp seed protein), cashews, dates, coconut nectar, chia seeds, cacao, coconut oil, vanilla extract, water, sea salt, and – apparently – “a lot of love”! definitely felt it 😉

Tip: check out the other flavors too – cacao mint and cacao orange – as well as the vegan protein blends.

Stay tuned for more recommendations!

xoxo

* It’s almost too embarrassing to add the disclaimer that I haven’t been endorsed by any of these companies, as I should think it’s obvious 😀 but let me just clarify all the same: I have no personal interests tied up with these brands or products and I am recommending them purely because I enjoyed them and think they are worth sharing with people who may not be aware of them.

Turmeric & Ginger spiced Quinoa

February 18, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ 6 Comments

This is one of my absolute staple dishes that I make all the time. It’s so incredibly simple, yet I thought I’d share it since I just made some and it honestly makes me feel great every time I eat it. It takes literally 2 minutes to prepare, 10 to cook and all you’re left with is one pan to clean – almost faster than shoving a pizza in the oven 😉 It’s a very useful little dish to have on your radar for when you’re feeling lazy, uninspired or simply have no time but still want a warm and nourishing meal. I like making a big pot of this and taking some to uni throughout the week, having it as it is or adding whatever else might be in my fridge that needs eating. It would also make a great side dish as part of a larger spread for guests (I’m thinking with some falafel, hummus, salad and roasted aubergine for summer, or a warming chickpea stew in winter…mmm), and you can easily snazz it up by adding some pomegranate seeds, for example, like in the picture below.

Serves 2:

Ingredients

200g quinoa, uncooked
ca 1 tsp ground turmeric
ca 1/2 tsp ground ginger (or even better: grate some fresh ginger)
veg of choice (I’ll usually go for some combination of carrots, peas, bok choy, broccoli and flower sprouts)
salt and pepper
1 tbsp coconut oil

Add the quinoa to a pan and cover with water (sorry for not being more helpful about the quantity here – I just eyeball it. But if you add too little you can always add more while it’s cooking and if you add too much you can drain it after, so you can’t really go wrong! You’ll get it juuust right 😉 ). Add salt and pepper and the spices (feel free to add whatever else your heart desires, like some chili, or coriander is also lovely in this) and leave to simmer for about 10 minutes or until the quinoa is soft and fluffy and no longer has that grainy center. Depending on the veg you choose you’ll be adding it in the beginning (the carrots for example), or in the last few minutes (the peas, bok choy or flower sprouts). Once everything is cooked, stir in the coconut oil – this is so important as it makes the quinoa wonderfully silky and it really brings out the flavor. It also increases your body’s ability to absorb the nutrients from the lovely veggies.

Hope you enjoy!

xoxo

Feel Good Fact #1: Both turmeric and ginger contain powerful anti-inflammatory compounds and are said to have anti-cancer properties.

Feel Good Fact #2: Quinoa is a great source of plant protein – 100g uncooked (as is the serving size here) containing around 13g – and dietary fiber. Both should help keep you full and provide you with slow releasing energy.

A Healthy Af-Fare

February 11, 2017February 11, 2017 ~ blueberrysmiles22 ~ 2 Comments

Last Saturday morning I found myself cold, wet and hungry, standing in the rain in Brick Lane. Pretty gloomy? Oh no – I was queueing to get into the Old Truman Brewery for the first day of Fare Healthy (a “feel good festival of food, exercise and wellbeing”) and inwardly glowing, feeling super excited to be let loose in a fabulous foodie playground and, not least, at the prospect of a good breakfast!

Fare Healthy is an amazing gathering of brands, fans and inspiring people from the areas of health and wellbeing, all somehow involved or interested in what and how we EAT, MOVE and THINK. (Personally, my thinking was mainly geared towards the eating, as was my movement – going from one amazing looking food stand to the next!).

My first stop, after meeting up with my lovely friend and fellow foodie Catrina and getting some skin care samples from Kiehl’s, was: breakfast! I had an amazing coconut banana waffle from Spring Green London (I shamelessly helped myself to all the toppings: coconut yoghurt, blueberries, wild blueberry jam, goji berries, cacao nibs and bee pollen). To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of all things coconutty, but I absolutely loved this waffle and it was the best way to fuel myself for, well, a lot more eating. Because that’s basically what the rest of the day consisted of 😉

Let me just briefly take you through some further personal highlights from the event:

the Pip&Nut energy ball workshop: Everyone received a little bag with some base ingredients, got to process them and choose a station with the desired add-ins. Catrina and I went for the cacao peanut butter version and ended up with insanely delicious spheres of nutty goodness! [If you’re interested in the recipe: 60g raw almonds processed together with 120g dates and 40g dried cherries, mixed with 1 tbsp peanut butter and 1/2 tbsp cacao powder.] Luckily our friend Leila arrived just in time to help us shape the mixture into balls, roll them in various toppings, and, of course, test them 😉

Food Stories: Ella Mills interviewed by Martin Morales – Yes, I’ve been to many Deliciously Ella events already, and, as I sat there waiting for the talk to begin, I did start to question my booking. [Having felt so entirely out of the whole “scene” back in Switzerland has, I guess, made me instinctively book anything and everything involving the people and brands I was following from afar]. Would I just be hearing the same things I’d heard from other events? Well, there were, of course, elements I recognized, but I found it a very inspiring talk that discussed things from a slightly different angle, which was probably due to the interviewer and his choice of questions. Being a chef and restaurant owner he was, perhaps naturally, very much interested in the business side of Deliciously Ella and asked great questions about both the origins and the future of the brand and the delis. This resulted in some amusing anecdotes. For example, three weeks into the opening of the Mae deli, her husband and business partner being sick in bed, Ella found herself in possibly one of the worst positions imaginable to an inexperienced deli owner with, at the time, no management, when the chef informed her that she quit and was off to Barcelona. As horrible as that must have been (!), I love stories like that as they reveal some of the less sparkly reality that is often behind successful businesses. We often just see the result of something and perhaps underestimate or are ignorant to the fact that a lot of hard work went into achieving that result and overcoming countless obstacles. I was also intrigued by Ella’s vision for a restaurant, inspired by one of her favorite food spots in LA, which she’d ideally like to open within the next three years.

Biccy Bom Tasting! Now, if you are a fan of Livia’s Kitchen and their wonderful treats, this needs no explaining to you. For those unfortunate souls who have not yet discovered this brand of divine fully plant-based, refined sugar and gluten free delights: Biccy Boms are little balls of biscuity, oaty goodness with a date-based center in three flavors covered in a milk-chocolate like coating (the milky-ness apparently comes from the addition of lucuma), that are due to be launched soon. I was lucky enough to try two flavors: ginger (very fiery!) and salted maca caramel (one word: wow). If you’re in the UK, definitely keep your eyes peeled for these, as they should be hitting shelves within the next few weeks – can’t wait!

The In the Blog House: with Niomi Smart, Saskia Gregson-Williams and Izy Hossack talk. This was a relaxed interview with three inspiring bloggers and I very much enjoyed hearing a bit more behind how and why they started blogging.

Sampling! I won’t list everything I tried, as I honestly wouldn’t be able to tell you, but the standouts were: Mani Life peanut butter (deep roast!), Pana Chocolate fig and wild orange raw vegan chocolate and The Giving Tree Broccoli crisps! (none of which I took pictures of annoyingly – was too wrapped up in enjoying the taste 😉 )

So, unsurprisingly, I conclude with the warmest praise for this wonderful, inspiring, fun and delicious festival. I strongly hope that it will take place again next year, and that I will still be here in London to enjoy it 🙂

Hope you enjoyed reading about it and maybe discovering some new brands or products!

xoxo