A Silky Courgette Pasta Sauce

It’s the time to be sneaky again. Vegetables will be disguised in many forms so that our little ones will eat and hopefully enjoy them through the flavour rather than texture. I feel it is the texture that many children fear when it comes to eating fruit and vegetables. I couldn’t do aubergine when I was younger as it felt rather slimy on my tongue! Now I can’t live without them! Thanks to my Mum’s perseverance in feeding them to me.

Pasta is always a winner and chunks of courgettes are not appealing to our children so blitz it, make it smooth and silky! They’ll be none the wiser!

INGREDIENTS

1 large courgette
1 tin plum tomatoes
3 garlic cloves
1 level tsp dried oregano
Dried chilli flakes to taste
Salt to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
100ml water

METHOD

Blend the courgette, tomatoes and garlic to a smooth paste with the water

Heat up the oil on a low heat in a medium saucepan with the oregano and chilli flakes.  Once the oil starts to sizzle slowly pour in the tomato blend.  Stir in the salt

Keeping on a low heat, allow to simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Whilst the sauce is cooking through put on your penne pasta to boil

Serve the sauce on a bed of pasta with a sprinkling of grated mature cheddar cheese

The Calm Me Down Smoothie!

Recently there has been a lot of change to my daily routine as now my two boys are in school and I find myself alone at home with our pet rabbit Alfie. It’s lovely having some quiet time but mostly I find myself constantly running around like a headless chicken.  This morning I went food shopping which I absolutely adore.  I feel all stocked up and ready to invent more recipes. . I also cleaned the kitchen!

For when I need to calm down and relax I have come up with this wonderful soothing smoothie recipe to help me unwind.  No caffeine, no added sugar just pure peaceful bliss. The chamomile and mint tea does the trick!

INGREDIENTS

200ml of cold mint & chamomile tea
1 small banana
1 nectarine in halves
Handful of frozen blueberries
Handful of baby spinach

METHOD

Place all the ingredients into a blender or NutriBullet and blitz till smooth.  Serve with ice if desired

Grilled Portobello Sandwich

I enjoy stuffing mushrooms with rice, garlic, cheese. However with the Portobello mushroom I wanted it to be the star of the dish.  This healthy and delectable sink in your teeth kind of loaded sandwich has to be my best sandwich creation to date.  The mushroom acts as a meaty substitute and the rest of the flavours are mellow untill you get glorious chunks of crumbly feta that brings a salty and sour taste to your tastebuds!  I could eat this sandwich over and over again!

Come join me, much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

2 Portobello mushroom cups
1 large tomato sliced
1 avocado sliced
Handful of baby spinach
Feta cheese
Chilli & garlic dry mix
Mayonnaise
Toast 4 slices seeded bread
Butter
Salt to taste
Olive oil

METHOD

With a brush lightly oil both sides of the mushroom, having taken out the stalks.  Grill for 7 to 10 minutes until soft and slightly shrivelled

Take out of the the grill and generously season with salt, chilli and garlic powder

Butter the 2 toasts liberally, place the mushroom along with the rest of the ingredients, layer, season and then crumble feta over the top.  and complete with the second piece of toast

(Optional, a peri peri mayonnaise can be made by mixing a peri peri spice mix with a dollop of mayonnaise)

Serve your loaded mushroom toasted sandwich with lots of french fries!

Carrot, Strawberry & Ginger Smoothie

Every morning we have a new flavour of smoothie. Having Mr Shivaay Delights working from home gives me the opportunity to spoil him with healthy breakfast shakes.

If I forget then I will be subtly reminded to make him one. So I guess he is enjoying the smoothies that come flying out of our kitchen.

Keep your eye on more fruity and nutritional smoothie recipes coming up!

Hope you’re all are having a beautiful day. Much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 medium carrot peeled and chopped
Handful of strawberries
2 apples cored and chopped
Dash of orange juice
Fresh ginger to taste

METHOD

Put all the ingredients into your blender/nutri bullet.  Blitz to a fine blend

Add more water if too thick to achieve desired consistency

Protein Chapatis

Ok…So these looks like normal chapatis?!  Soft fluffy Indian flatbreads. To a point they are and then I was sneaky and blitzed some cooked QUINOA in my NutriBullet! And blended to a pulse

Add it to the mix of flour a little sunflower and boiling hot water to firm a dough.  Cooked them on a flat griddle and voila protein filled quinoa hidden into our daily bread…

Loving my NutriBullet!!!

Kale~Alternative To Crisps?…Really??

So I was a bit sceptical about kale crisps! But it had to be done.  I love cooking as you know but I don’t like the prep! That’s why I love my food processor so much!

These days we are so very lucky to get prepped fruit and veg ready in bags and washed too…Okay..I’m not that lazy but was tempted to buy a fresh bag of vibrant curly green kale!

What happens next is so so easy…you’ll kick yourself for not trying it earlier!

If you like crispy seaweed..You will enjoy this.  Let me know how you like them..Have a wonderful day, much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

100g curly kale stemmed, trimmed & washed
1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp taco/spicy chilli powder mix
Salt to taste

METHOD

Preheat oven to 130c. 

Drizzle the olive oil onto the kale

Massage the salt and spicy mix well into the leaves

Lay out on a large oven tray lined with foil and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until crispy but not burnt

The kale will shrivel so if you want more, repeat the above prices again

Sweet Corn and Spinach Curry‏ – Guest Post by Dimple of Shivaay Delights

I am absolutely honoured to write for our dear friend Aruna @ Aharam. Hope you all enjoy this curry! See you soon, much love D x

Butter Bean Quesadilla

I make cheese and tomato quesadillas a lot but I’m trying to up my fibre intake and I thought beans were the way to go. I didn’t want to cook the beans twice over, so prepped a quick filling within minutes. This way the beans remain nutritious and I’ll have a happy healthy me!

They were really yummy that I ended up eating more than I should have. I really have to start controlling my portion control!…Today we are having chilli and mushroom penne. I’m already thinking about our next meal! I am terribly addicted to food! Lol!

See you all soon with the pasta recipe, much love, D x

INGREDIENTS

1 tin butter beans, drained & rinsed
1 onion chopped crescent shaped
2 plum tomatoes sliced thinly
2-3 handfuls of grated cheddar cheese
1 tsp cumin & coriander powder
Sprinkling of chilli flakes and garlic powder
Salt to taste
Olive oil to pan fry

Ready made tortillas

METHOD

Take all the ingredients apart from the oil and mix well, until all is combined and nicely coated/seasoned

Heat a non stick frying pan on a medium heat with a little olive oil. Place the tortilla in the pan, add a few tablespoons of the butter bean mix on one half and fold over

Cook on both sides until the cheese has melted and the beans have warmed through