January 03, 2020
New Year, New Goals, New habits!
We have some incredibly simple tips and recipes to help you kick start a healthier, more balanced year ahead.
We don't advocate everyone change who they are and aim for some impossible ideal of perfection ..... however, new healthier habits and pausing to take time out each day are activities we certainly do encourage!
Our affirmation candle range has proven very popular with the individual cards to encourage focus and awareness of our mind/ body connection.
Here are some lovely recipes put together by our in-house baking lover Chloe. Some come from the wonderful @deliciouslyella and others are recipes that we ourselves have come up with and love! The smoothies are my morning 'go to' as I try to cut back on caffeine and feed my body some of the goodness that it deserves!
We really hope you enjoy these!
Jerusalem Artichoke Salad
Credit: Recipe & Image from @DeliciouslyElla
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We absolutely LOVE @DeliciouslyElla and the fact that her recipes are not only delicious and healthy but also super easy to make!
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INGREDIENTS:
6 Jerusalem artichokes
250g kale, torn into pieces
Handful of raisins
Handful of roasted hazelnuts
Drizzle of olive oil
1 tablespoon maple syrup
Pinch of salt and pepper
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METHOD:
- Preheat the oven to 180c, fan setting.
- Start by scrubbing the Jerusalem artichokes under cols water to remove any grit. Once clean cut them into slices (around 3-4 per artichoke) and place in a baking tray with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Roast or around 30-35 minutes until they’re soft inside and crispy outside.
- Add the kale to the Jerusalem artichoke tray and roast the two together for the last 5-10 minutes, until it’s all nice and crispy.
- Now place the artichokes and kale in a large mixing bowl with the chopped hazelnuts and raisins.
- Make the dressing by mixing together 1 tablespoon of olive oil with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup and salt.
- Stir he dressing through the salad ingredients and give it all a really good mix before serving.
Avocado, Lime and Pistachio Loaf Cake
We all do it! Buy too many avocados and then let them go to waste!
Instead why not try out this delicious cake recipe!
INGREDIENTS:
1 very ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and mashed
85g unsalted butter, at room temperature
200g caster sugar
Zest and juice of 1 lime
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
200g plain flour
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
100ml buttermilk
ICING:
1/2 very ripe avocado, pitted, peeled and mashed
Zest of 1 lime
Juice of 1/2 lime
35g unsalted butter
100g icing sugar
25g chopped pistachios
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METHOD:
- Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line the base of a 900g loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
- Using an electric whisk beat together the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
- Add the lime zest and juice to the mashed avocado, then beat this into the butter mixture. Add the egg one at a time, beating well between each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Use a large metal spoon to fold half into the avocado mixture. Stir in the buttermilk, then fold in the remaining flour mixture.
- Transfer the cake mixture to the prepared tin and smooth over the top.
- Bake for 55 minutes - 1 hour until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. If the loaf is browning too quickly cover it lightly with some foil.
- Remove from the oven then leave to cool for 15 minutes. Remove from the tin, peel away the paper and leave o a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
- To make the icing, mix the avocado with half the lime zest and the juice.
- Cream the butter using an electric whisk, then beat in the avocado mixture. Slowly add the icing sugar, whisking well to combine. Spread thickly over the top of the rolled cake and sprinkle with the remaining lime zest.
Super Power Smoothie
Since I invested in my nutri-bullet, smoothies are my morning 'go to'. After a large mug of warm water, I fix myself a simple green smoothie, filled with lots of vitamins and super easy on the body first thing!
Ingredients:
1. Cup of fresh spinach
2. Thumb 1/2 sized piece of ginger (less if you don't like ginger!)
3. Cucumber (approx 3 inch chunk) chopped
4. Half an Avocado
5. Squeeze of fresh Lime (lemon will do if you don't have lime)
Method
1. Place all ingredients into a nutri-bullet or blender.
2. Add water to line shown (or just below the top of your ingredients)
3. Blend until super smooth
4. Pause and Enjoy!
There are so many easy smoothie recipes, but this is one of my favourite as I love ginger and the avocado gives it a rich creamy texture making it quite filling too!
Green Glow Smoothie
Recipe & Image from @DeliciouslyElla
Another green smoothie, but a frozen option if you like yours extra cold! With both kale and spinach - so also extra green and full of goodness!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ frozen bananas
- 30g frozen spinach
- 30g frozen kale
- 1 tablespoon almond butter
- 150ml fresh apple juice
Method
1. Place all ingredients into a blender or food processor
2. Pulse until super smooth
3. Enjoy!
Mindfulness & Balance
These recipes are wonderful to try, but more importantly we suggest you use this creative time while you prepare these ... in a mindful way. Our bodies benefit just as much when we are present and in the moment as they will from the nutrients and ingredients in each one.
We are all guilty of constantly living in our heads and thinking ten steps ahead to what we plan to do 'next'! This steals the joy of each present moment and enjoying what we are doing 'now'.
So instead of allowing your brain to run through your long 'to do' list while cooking, why not pop on some nice mellow music and enjoy the joy of creating healthy, delicious food for yourself and your family and the process of cutting, chopping, washing and blending! You'll be surprised at the joy it can bring!
(Children love being involved too and are great little helpers!)
