BIG MAMA BAKED BEANS

BIG MAMA BAKED BEANS

Home made baked beans are simple, delicious, cost effective and full of superb vegetable protein. I used "butter beans" - which are also known as "lima beans". The beans must be soaked over night and then boiled in a large pot with water - but no salt. These beans took about an hour to become soft, keep an eye on your beans though, you don't want them to go mushy. In the mean time I made up a simple chilli tomato sauce using onions, garlic, chilli and whole peeled tomatoes. When the beans are ready drain well and add to the tomato mixture. Let cook for a further 10 minutes.

Serve on mashed potato or whole grain toast. 

BREAKFAST PITA

BREAKFAST PITA

I call this a breakfast pita - but it would be delicious any time of the day. Fill a home made or store bought pita with poached eggs, tomatoes herbs, hummus and a drizzle of olive oil.

Serve with a smile and a hot cup of coffee.

DELICIOUS QUNIOA BREAKFAST

DELICIOUS QUINOA BREAKFAST

This high protein breakfast was full of tasty nutty goodness, I guess it would be best served in winter - but who says we can't eat porridge when it is summer? My trainer will be delighted that I have found an alternative to toast for breakfast.

Ingredients

Quinoa

Water

Mix of seeds and nuts

(I used; crushed almonds, sunflower, almonds, pistachio's sesame seeds, coconut pieces)

Maple Syrup

Milk to serve

Directions

Prepare a mix of nuts and seeds, spread on a baking sheet and toast in a hot oven for a couple of minutes until fragrant. Prepare Quinoa according to the instructions on the pack, then drain, mix through some maple syrup to taste and spread on a baking sheet and pop in the oven to dry out a little - takes about 5 minutes in a warm oven.

Mix quinoa, nuts and seeds and some chopped prunes or other dried fruit

and serve with your favorite type of milk

BREAKFAST BASKETS

BREAKFAST BASKETS

These little tasty breakky baskets are perfect for an easy breakfast, or picnic.

Ingredients

Sliced bread, crusts removed - 1 per basket

Free range eggs - about 1 per basket

Grated Cheese - about a teaspoon per basket

Chopped fresh herbs, salt & pepper

Directions

Use a rolling pin to roll out and flatten the bread

Make bread baskets by moulding in to a greased muffin tray.

Place a teaspoon of grated cheese at the bottom of each basket.

Mix eggs as if you would for scrambled eggs - or crack whole eggs in to each basket,

top with fresh herbs, salt and pepper.

Bake in a hot oven until egg part has risen and has a turned a touch golden.  

It took about 18 minutes in my oven.  

SESAME BERRY BLITZ

BERRY BLITZ

The berries are so beautiful and affordable at the moment, I can't get enough of them! I have also saved some in ziplock bags in the freezer for when the price rises again. 

Frozen fruit makes great icy cold smoothies right through the year.  

Ingredients

1/2 a cup almond or soya milk

1 frozen banana

2 large strawberries chopped

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

10 blue berries

Directions

Throw everything in to a blender and blitz well. Serve with a few fresh berries on the side.

BEAUTIFUL BREAKFAST BREAD

BEAUTIFUL BREAKFAST BREAD

Ingredients

290g Milk

1 Sachet yeast

20g Olive Oil

1 tsp salt

1 tsp brown sugar

500g organic self raising flower

Directions

Throw all ingredients together and knead.... I used my fancy thermomix

to do the kneading on this bread - but it can absolutely be done

in a normal food processor, or by hand,

just take your frustration out on the dough and

knead, knead, knead!

Form the dough in to a ball and let it rest for 30 minutes in an oiled bowl.

When the mix has risen (the self raising flour plus yeast makes it really rise!) punch down, knead a couple more times, then shape in to a fancy loaf - I split the dough in to 3, rolled out long sausages and plaited them. Brush the top of the loaf with milk and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake in a hot oven - 220 degrees for about 25 minutes. Keep an eye on it as you don't want to burn it.  You can test if the bread is ready by poking a wooden skewer in to the middle of the loaf, if it comes out clean, it is ready! Serve the bread hot with organic butter and preserves.

Happy baking everyone.

BUBBLE & SQUEAK

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK

Another fun weekend - another hangover breakfast!

Ingredients

1 Tin Butter beans

2 red potatoes chop in to small cubes

1 Onion

1/2 a cabbage chopped finely

1 tin tomatoes

Spring Onions

Yogurt

Olive Oil

Paprika, salt and pepper

Directions

Saute the vegetables in a little olive oil, sprinkle on some paprika, salt and pepper.  

Cook until the vegetables are slightly golden.
Serve sprinkled with chopped spring onions or other herbs, yogurt and paprika.

BANANARAMA MUFFINS

BANANA MUFFINS

Don't let your banana's go to waste!!!  Make a banana cake or muffins or something.

They are like gold at the moment.

Ingredients

2 cups self raising wholemeal flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons margarine
2 bananas, mashed
2 eggs, beaten
4 Tablespoons yogurt

1 teaspoon vanilla
Black sesame seeds or poppy seeds to top

DirectionsPreheat your oven to about 200 degrees

Mix sugar, margarine, eggs, yogurt, vanilla and mashed bananas

Add flour and mix with a wooden spoon. Fill muffin cups with mixture and bake for about 20 minutes or until you can poke a knife in to one and it comes out clean :)

VEGETARIAN HANG OVER BREAKFAST

VEGETARIAN HANG OVER BREAKFAST

A lot of friends ask me what we eat when we have a hang over...well this vegetarian "fry up" worked a treat on Sunday!

Ingredients

Whole Grain toast - 1 or 2 slices each

Brown or button mushrooms - about 6 each

Tomatoes - about 2 each

Banana's (1 between two)

Olive Oil

Salt, Pepper

Fresh herbs to serve (I used basil)

Directions

The trick is to have a really hot pan and fry each ingredient separately, placing in a warm oven until it is time to plate up. Start with mushrooms, then tomatoes and finally the banana. Pile on toast, grind on pepper, sprinkle on salt and top with a few fresh herbs.

BANANA SESAME & HONEY SHAKE

BANANA SESAME & HONEY SHAKE

Bananas are precious at the moment - so don't waste them! If your bananas are turning brown, peel them, chop in to smallish bits (to make them easier to blend in the future) and freeze in little containers or bags, these are perfect for chilled shakes!

Ingredients

1 Whole Banana (Fresh or frozen)

1 Tablespoon sesame seeds

More or less one teaspoon of honey
1 Wine Galss full of low fat milk (or soy milk)

Directions

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend for 15 - 20 seconds.

BARLEY CORN FRITTERS

1 Can of sweetcorn

1 cup barley

2 eggs

5 tablespoons gluten free flour

salt, pepper and dill (or any herbs) to taste

Mix all ingredients together and fry on a hot pan - I think I over did mine  bit, but they still tasted delish! Serve with sweet chili sauce!

AVO AND CHERRI TOM'S ON TOAST

AVO AND CHERRI TOM'S ON TOAST for lunch, followed by dinner with friends at an Italian - good food but rubbish service! I ate gnocchi which was really tasty but I was not impressed with the serving - I know that I am on diet, but who told the chef????