The Green Thirst Quencher

Recently my husband and I went out on a dinner date to a lovely Japanese restaurant, where I sampled a green juice similar to the one I have made here. What is so lovely about this particular juice is that you can taste all the different levels of fruit and veg within. Blending the pulp as well keeps all of the goodness in!

I can totally see myself having this drink over and over again definitely a thirst quencher whether in the winter when you need a immune vitamin boost or in the summer when you need something so very refreshing!

INGREDIENTS

2 sticks of celery
8 green grapes
Handful of fresh mint
Handful of spinach
100ml apple juice
50ml water
Dash of fresh lime

METHOD

Add all ingredients into a drinks blender and whizz til smooth

Serve cold, but do stir as the celery will sink to the bottom of the glass

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Avocado, Banana Smoothie

So you know when you first have a baby and the first foods to wean them on are avocado and banana smashed together.  I never tried it until now! But I can see why  babies like it.  I incorporated these two wonderful superpower food ingredients into the smoothie for today with blueberries full of antioxidants but to add a slight kick with a strawberry cordial running through it!

Such a creamy consistency. Blend yourself one…sit back and enjoy your weekend! Much love D x

INGREDIENTS

Half an avocado
1 small banana
Handful of frozen blueberries
200ml diluted strawberry cordial drink

METHOD

Blitz well in a blender or smoothie maker. Add water if you like it more juice like

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

A Minty Fruit Smoothie

We are going to have pizza tonight, so an hour before I decided to line my stomach with a fresh minty and fruity smoothie.  This way I’ll feel a little less guilty knowing that I have fruit in my tummy before I consume huge amounts of pizza yumminess!

INGREDIENTS

1 small banana peeled
7 strawberries
1 pear sliced into chunks
A few sprigs of fresh mint
1 cup pineapple juice

METHOD

Blitz all the ingredients in a Nutri Bullet or blender until smooth

Serve with some ice or add a little water if the smoothie is too thick

Alphonso Mango & Walnut Smoothie

This time last year we were all craving Alphonso Indian mangoes!
Luckily this year we have been able to have them over from India and we are definitely making the most of them.

Extremely sweet in taste and velvety in texture! Allows this particular variety of mango to be a natural partner to acidic strawberries in a smoothie.

The walnuts add nutrition but also gives body to the whole drink. One that goes on my super healthy smoothie list!

INGREDIENTS

1 alphonso mango
Large handful of strawberries
1 clementine
2 shelled walnuts
Water

METHOD

Blitz all ingredients together. For a creamier taste add a tablespoon of natural yoghurt

Blueberry & Super Seed Smoothie

I do not get through much fruit unless its in a cake on a cake or around a cake!

So having invested in a smoothie maker is the best thing I could have done for me especially! I love chewing on seeds but am not partial to the goji berry. Which is extremely good for you.

This way I get all my antioxidant goodness in the one glass first thing in the morning and I’m ready to face the day with a healthy outlook…until I eat the naughty treat I shouldn’t have had at lunch…lol 😉

I’ll be putting up more of my smoothie recipes. I hope you enjoy them friends!

INGREDIENTS

Large handful of blueberries
1 medium banana
1 satsuma
Sprinkling of seeds and goji berries
Water

METHOD

Using the NutriBullet or a blender.  Place all the ingredients in and blitz til desired consistency

If too thick, stir in more water…

My New Shiny Tea Pot!!! SO EXCITED!!!

It doesn’t take much, but I was so excited to buy myself a new teapot to match my new kitchen and one to make lots of tea in for friends and family.  It’s so shiny you can see me taking the picture! Lol 🙂

Will be a great addition to my work top especially when everyone comes round for home made baked cakes and sweet treats!!!

Just had to share it with you all..As I do!! 😉

I’m off to make myself a cuppa x

Fresh Salsa Nachos

Dinner was ready but my husband very cheekily made some fresh salsa with cheese nachos. As soon as I realised he was chopping the ingredients, my camera quickly made an appearance. I captured quite a few pictures to share with you all.

I was soo tempted to eat some of the yummy ingredients as he prepped! But didn’t! It was totally worth the wait. You really can’t beat tangy fresh salsa, the flavours are incredible and with the cheese and crispiness of the tortilla….ummmm I don’t think I will have much dinner now!

INGREDIENTS

1 onion finely diced
1 tomato finely diced
2 tbsp freshly chopped coriander
1 avocado diced
1 chilli deseeded finely chopped
1/2 juice of lime
Pinch of salt

Tortilla chips
Grated cheese

METHOD

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mix slowly together

On a microwave safe plate, place a layer of tortilla chips with cheese, melt in the microwave oven for 1 minute

Transfer into a bowl and add the salsa

Now grab your favourite drink, sit back and munch away! Taking some over to Fiesta Friday…

Chilli & lime water

Chilli and lime work really well together in all sorts of different cuisines. Lime and salt add to a hit of tequila! And I really fancied something different to drink. I stayed away from the alcohol and wanted pure natural paramount flavour with an edge.

My husband was slicing up lime wedges for his bottle of Mexican beer and I thought a lime drink was the way to go. I wanted something salty more than sweet and my taste buds severely craved a new sensation.

I then see, sitting on my glass chopping board ~ chopped thin slices of green chilli that I was using in my Calzone that was being made at the time. I put the ingredients together and hoped that something special would come of it!

It so did! and was an extreme delight that I am now here sharing this drink with you. The lime and saltiness hits your palette first, the sweetness from the sugar kicks in and then a slight hint of chilli lingers on the tongue. Really refreshing and really unique! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

½ juice of a fresh lime
2-3 finely sliced green chilli
½ tsp icing sugar
Pinch of salt
200-250ml of cold water
Lime segments to garnish

METHOD

• Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into a glass, add the chilli and release chilli oils using a spoon against the glass

• Stir in the icing sugar and salt and then pour in the cold water

• Dunk the lime segments in and also squash them a little using a spoon

• Leave aside for a few minutes for all the components to fuse together. It is then ready to be served

Mocha melts

I need caffeine and chocolate! What better way than to combine it into Mocha form. Then to infuse this mocha flavour into a melting cookie. I’m in heaven just thinking about it!
Enjoy these and I’ll see you tomorrow friends!
Much love, D x

Shivaay Delights

I do like a good cup of mocha coffee and wanted to capture this taste in a melting cookie. A bite size soft crumbly, melt in your mouth moment hit of caffeine followed by a hint of cocoa to give you the emotional comfort of chocolate! A very light biscuit that can be easily had as an after dinner sweet. I was really happy as I feel that it has captured mocha in it’s essence!

INGREDIENTS

200g unsalted butter room temp
1 tbsp instant coffee granules
1 tbsp water
140g plain flour
60g icing sugar
110g corn starch
10g cocoa powder unsweetened

For the frosting

140g icing sugar
3 tbsp unsalted butter room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
Milk for thinning
Cocoa powder for dusting

METHOD

1. Mix the coffee granules with the water and combine, cream the coffee mixture and butter together well

2. Add the flour, icing sugar…

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