Raspberry chia coconut porridge

This morning I found some frozen raspberries in my freezer. Yum I thought and perhaps I shall warm them up with yoghurt, for an indulgent post run & yoga morning workout. Then I remembered  I have a super busy day running around London for work and then finish my shift late today and thought perhaps no. I need some thing more. So I made this amazing new recipe I choose to share with you all. I call it the Raspberry Chia Porridge (no oats though), Its full of fibre and coconut to sustain you for many hours on the run. Delicious hot or cold! :)

Raspberry Chia Porridge

Ingredients

1/ 2 Cup frozen raspberries

1/2 Cup coconut milk (I used Eco Mill unsweetened)

1/3 Cup desiccated coconut

3 Tbs Chia seeds

Method

Gently defrost the raspberries in the coconut milk on low heat. Let absorb and simmer for 5 mins. Add the chia and coconut and let simmer for another 5 mins. Stirring occasionally. When all the milk is absorbed and the chia are swelling remove from heat and let sit for another 5 -10 mins. 

Serve with banana, or kiwi and a dash of coconut yoghurt or greek yoghurt. Add homemade granola for added crunch or flaked almonds and goji berries. 

Enjoy!

Green Monster Smoothie

Good morning! 

After a long day yesterday I felt my body needed a huge health boost. Where I work we make the most delicious protein shakes, however I am a lover of clean smoothies. So I warmed up the Vitamix and plugged in my favorite things. It turned out to be rather delicous.

My best advice when it comes to smoothies is be very aware of your ingredients and how much! My rule of thumb is always, if I can't eat all the ingredients as they are in the amounts I use, then I don't add them. How many times have we ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice and loved it, unknowing it can take up to 7 oranges to make that little glass. Too much. 

So my best advice is be careful with everything being juiced, pressed or blended. Have a think, and always question what is in there. 

The Green Monster Smoothie 

For 1 person

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

1 handful rinsed kale 

4 cubes pineapple

5 leaves basil

2 cm banana

1 Tsp hemp powder

1/2 green ph alkaline super blend ( I use terra nova) but use any other blend of super greens.

1/2 avocado

Place all ingredients in a powerful blender and blend for 20 sec. Don't over blend, or under blend. Simply turn off when a smooth consistency is formed. 

Alternatively, add more avo to make it thicker, then transfer it to a bowl and top with bee pollen, gluten free oats or hemp seeds to make a smoothie bowl. 

I hope you like it! 

Enjoy 

Happy Hummus!

Good Morning! Happy Monday and hope you all have a great start to the week. This morning I woke up and started my Elimination Week. What is this? Well, after weeks of late nights, more than enough wine, and amazing food I decided to start eliminating certain foods from my diet this week. Which means, no meat. Only fish and vegetables. I would love to try a vegan week but I need a little more know - how to be able to pull it off and stay sane. 

As I was planning my meals, I plan two days at a time. (Sitting down planning an entire weeks worth of meals just seems uninspiring and tedious. Rather just take it as it comes and see what I feel like rather than for the sake of it.) I flicked through some old recipes and decided to try and make my all time favourite. Hummus. How I love my vitamix and the wonders it can blend to. However, I got carried away and pureed rather than blended. The taste is fantastic though so in the fridge for a few hours to set and it will be super for snacking on. Never again store bought. Super easy and will try a few alternatives soon! 

Happy Hummus

Ingredients

1 can of Chickpeas (I use Mister Organic) 

1 1/2 Tbs Tahini 

Juice from 1/2 Lemon

2 Small Garlic cloves

120 ml Water.

Method

Rinse the chickpeas and drain them. Rinse and drain till water runs clear. Place the chickpeas in a blender with the garlic cloves,  lemon juice, tahini and water. Switch on your blender and pulse. That way you get a lovely chunky consistency. If you like it creamier, blend for 15 seconds.

Place in a bowl and garnish with parsley. I like my hummus chilled so place it in the fridge for at least 4 hours. 

Enjoy! 

Smoothies

Rarely have I been a smoothie person. I completely overdosed on them when I was living in Prague and would simply throw every possible ingredient in and with a scoop of protein powder and call it breakfast. Although they were delicious they were also full of the wrong nutrients for my body. Therefore I gained a few kilos and swore them off. It's a dangerous game juicing and smoothie making. You start blending and blending and sometimes you don't really think of measure what exactly it is you are mixing.

Today I did just that! I threw in a banana, a whole orange, an apple and 1/2 cup raspberries. All well until you have a towering glass full of 4 large portions of fruit in liquid form. I am a firm believer of when you have some fruit you should have some nuts with it. Anything really to slow down the fruit sugar from hiring your bloodstream quickly. Sounds weird perhaps but it's something I once read in a physiology book. 

So today I just poured half a glass and sipped this dream of a smoothie. 

I will be trying many more versions so keep you updated! Looking to make the most nutrient dense but also tasty smoothie/ juice I can dream up. Watch this space! 

p.s - Did I mention I love my Vitamix?