Raw Sweet Potato Pie Smoothie

Hold onto your hats mateys - I have got my hands on a high speed blender - Vitamix stylee. Although mine is an Aussy brand and he goes by the name of Optimus Prime. He is big and butch and is laying waste to veggies and fruits with the flick of a chunky switch. I am in lurve... L.U.V! 

So I've made my own cheat's Almond Milk - which is so-oh easy. Pay attention because you'll need this later!

Do this:
Put 500ml water into the jug - add 2 desert spoons of raw almond butter* and switch it on! Whack up to overdrive and let it go until you've got super delicious, raw almond milk with absolutely no added anythings!

This smoothie doesn't look as pretty as some do - but it is really tasty - and it is chok full of the really good gear. It makes a lot of smoothie - and if you like you can adjust the amount of almond milk to get the consistency you prefer.

After mine had been in the fridge for a few hours - it thickened up even more - so watch that!

(*Protein Works - are my go-to heroes)

Weightwatcher Friendly | Lively Butternut Squash Soup

Making soup has got to be the quickest way to a healthy, hearty lunch or supper. If you're a weightwatcher then you'll be after the holy grail - Zero Point Soup. For me I feel, that for the sake of a couple of points saved - you're missing out on some extra, uber delicious, flavour and nutritional wonderment.

So I unashamedly claim that this soup is WWer friendly - but it isn't zero points. To give it a fair shout-out, it isn't high in points - but it does have delicious, nutritious hemp oil in it - and if you are really going to do it justice - a gert big dollop of hummous too!

There I've laid my cards on the table. 

Successful soup is all in the base and the fixings - that said. We can get on with the recipe...

Sweet Potato & New Potatoes with Fancy Tomato Dressing

Hello!

Enjoying Summer? I am! I made griddled chicken last night and along with steamed broccoli florets & julienned red pepper I made a lovely potato dish with a spikey dressing that started off with an Italian vibe and then wandered off.

If you've got a blender, or a good handheld stick - you can make this quickly - and it will transform spuds and butternut squash - I think it would work as a salad dressing and even a pasta sauce with some shaved parmesan, whole olives & extra fresh ripped basil!

To the recipe and don't spare the horses madam!

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!

Allottment Swoop - visiting from a previous tumblr post...

Our dear friend Kath has got an allotment. Most weekends I imagine our Kath can be found happily digging and pulling and planting and kerfuffling on her little veggie patch - helping mother nature make real food. Over the year we have pinned our expressions to ‘mildly interested’ while listening to tales of muck shippments, allotment politics and the correct way to lay out your onions.