Narna Smoothie

Hello!

I have been struggling with the weather - like everyone else. It plays havoc with my eating habits. All I want is carbs and fat. Toast and butter with extra pnb. Pasta, slathered with thick cream sauce and cheese a lot of cheese. Cheese makes life sunnier. I believe this to be true.

None of this scoffing is doing my waistline any good - and it is also adding to my feelings of sluggish meh-ness. The woman with the massive arse - can't be. Arsed that is... oh keep up!

So this week - I have put in some serious effort to eat good things, yummy things, healthy things. 

This morning I managed a carb wonderment that is both delicious and nutritious. All hail me and the humble narna.

Here we go...

2 ripe bananas (super useful recipe if you are one of those pussies that won't eat properly ripe bananas)

10 pecans (more if you are not counting calories)

5 dates (omit if you are counting calories) - they are not essential but make the smoothie taste caramelly good.

500ml whole bean soy (You can use any type of non dairy milk - tbh you can use dairy if that is your thing - I am a woman of a certain age - so soy milk is a thing now). 

2 desert spoons of 0% Greek Yoghurt (again full fat if you wish - this is the only reduced anything product that I have any truck with).

Put the lot in a high speed blender and whiz until smooth and creamy.

This makes plenty - you could easily share this with your lovey dove. Or if yours is like mine and would prefer to eat his own shoe rather than drink a creamy breakfast bevvy - then you get to consume the lot all by your self! 

I haven't worked out the PP for this - I will return with the information directly. Enjoy x

Green Deal Muffins!

I've just made these little marvels. So lovely and easy peasy. I've been taking a look at The Leptin Diet - I won't bore you with the deets: if you want to find out about the hormone leptin and how important it is to your weight loss campaign then you can find oodles and poodles on line about it.

One of the five simple rules of the Leptin Diet is to eat a high protein brekky - in fact this turns up in lots of advice from trainers, dieticians and all manner of trained experts way WAY more fancy and clever and qualified than I. So I'm not going to witter on about it. I'm just going to share this brilliant little eggy bake.

We'll be having them for breakfast tomorrow - or possibly for lunch. I'm loving oats, almond milk and a teaspoon of pnb at the moment for my protein rich start up - with a fresh juice loaded with ginger against the ridiculous weather we're having.

ONWARDS.... to the pots and pans my dears.

Happy Glow Juice

My very expensive, and jolly fancy juicer has been packed off to the supplier after the second one in 3 months failed. Which leaves me with my old faithful Kenwood - 20 years old and still managing to make great juice. It isn't as efficient, struggling along with a 250w motor as it is - but it has a new blade and if you don't mind the froth - job's a good 'un.

I made a great juice this afternoon - thought I'd share it. It's one of those - lob in what you've got in the fridgey cupboard and trust to the Juicy Gods that it will be drinkable.

Turns out - I'm good at this mixology game!

Sunshine Happy Juice

Yoo Hoo! I'm nearing the end of a Big Summer Juice Detox. 7 days of juice only deliciousness -and in this heat, turns out it's the perfect way to stay cool, hydrated and well fed. Hooray for Summer. Hooray for Juicey Highs and Hooray for Me!

There is a fully worked out plan that you can follow and if you are interested and fancy a go. I warmly recommend www.juicemaster.co.uk (there's an Australian site too). You don't have to buy the book, although if you are new to juicing then Slim4Life or the 7lbs in 7 Days books will set you up really well. Or you can simply follow along using the app or the wall chart - both are pretty cheap.

This is not the juice you are looking for**

You do need a juicer and a decent blender. Other than that - it's a trip to the fruit and veg shop & you're off! Expect headaches and some detox symptoms if you are a dedicated sugar and caffeine fiend - by day 3 or 4 you'll be over the worst and jumping about like a toddler!

Now then - I'm not as excited by the juices on the 7 Day Plan as I am a fan of Jason Vale's other juice plan recipes  so I have gone off piste with a few of my own - using the fruits and veggies that are good and cheap in my local grocery shops.

(I live on the longest street of independent shops in the UK - so I am a lucky duck. Throw a grape and you'll hit a grocery store. Then there are the deals on at the local supermarket and several local organic box suppliers not to mention the Sunday fruit and veg market! 

Yesterday on my way back from yoga, I scored a huge bag of nectarines and some baby gem lettuces for a song. I don't mind if the nectarines don't soften as they ripen - because I'm planning on slinging them in the juicer!)

To the recipe!

Power Oats | The Breakfast of Queens...

I've been on a bit of a journey lately - and in my quest to pack my day with delicious and high value nutritious food, I've tweaked my beloved oats to deliver some serious extra 'ooomph'!

I promise you if you try this - you'll sail through your morning to lunchtime without one single snack machine drive by... Terrue!

There are a few ingredients in it that you might not have kicking around your kitchen, but you can get the lot at Holland and Barrett and if like me you prefer to buy a little more cheaply - then try online. I have a cupboard full to bursting with seeds, and nuts at 1/3 of the price of high street 'health food' outlets!

Sacreligious Porridge

I eat loads of porridge, and I don't have the time or the inclination to stir stir stir every morning - or the will to deal with the pots mid morning either. So I do it like this - and I implore you to have a go before you dismiss it out of hand.

All those of faint heart or traditional sticklers turn away now...

In a microwavable bowl (oh yes!) put:

• 1/2 cup porridge oats - any will do but I like to use big organic flakes 
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 x teaspoons raisins

Now sling it in the microwave for 2 mins on high. You can adjust the proportions of juice and water once you get the hang of it. I do it all by eye now. If you like a creamier porridge then just use milk and water or all milk.

After you fish the porridge out of the machine, you can add more stuff. Please take care of your paddy paws - it'll be hot and hot things first thing can be tricky.

I chop in bannana or blueberries and sometimes some toasted sunflower seeds and pine nuts. Toasted sesame would be lovely and you can use honey too if you like - then there's yoghurt, fromage frais, creme frais to consider.

Porrige is excellent stuff - and it will keep you going until lunchtime. 

In the summer I soak my porridge overnight and dispense with the microwave - which makes it super quick and easy before work. 

Make a big pot of good coffee or your favourite tea and you are ready for ANYTHING I tell  you...