A Pocketful of Pomegranate

Azuki bean pasta salad recipe!

2012-02-19T06:14:00.001-08:00

After basking in the patch of sun coming in through my window today, I became inspired to create a delicious pasta salad. This is now my favourite!
Ingredients-
100g pasta
1 tin Azuki (or any other) beans
1 stalk celery
1 avocado
1 tin sweetcorn
3 sundried tomatoes (in oil)
Handful fresh coriander
Handful spinach
1/2 lemon juice
2 tbsp tahini
Glug of garlic olive oil
1 tsp sweet smoked Paprika
Sea salt and pepper
Cook the pasta and mix with everything else (finely chopped ) in a bowl then serve!

Amazing everything super energizing smoothies recipe!

2012-02-02T08:02:00.001-08:00

I've been feeling sluggish this week with moving house and bring super busy, I needed something to perk me up! Here's a few things I had in my kitchen and threw together to make the first of many more smoothies to come...with dates, coconut oil and matcha - super kaboom ingredients to get you going. It tastes fantastic too! I'm going to have one before capoeira tonight and the other for breakfast tomorrow with a sprinkle of linwoods amazing superfood seed mix. Enjoy!

1tsp matcha
6 dates
1 Apple
1 plum
Handful spinach
1/2 glass soy milk
Thumb sized ginger
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 clementine
1 banana
2 stalks celery

Chop it all up and blend together for a truly delicious, addictive & wholesome ( ...three words you rarely hear together) smoothie! Mmm

Vegan decadent chocolate cake recipe

2012-01-31T06:42:00.001-08:00

Here is a recipe I made for a vegan persons birthday!

120g banana
100g oil
Few juicy dates
200 g sugar
100g melted dark chocolate
A double espresso
1 tbsp cocoa
300 g flour
1/2 tsp xantham gum
3 tsp baking powder

Method.
Combine all but last 3 ingredients and mix really well.
Add rest of ingredients then if too dry add soy milk to a wet cakey batter.
Cook til a knife comes put clean when poked in the middle. (180 degrees)

Icing.
Mix 2 tbsp cocoa, 4 tbsp icing sugar and soy milk together til smooth then smooth over chilled cake.

Enjoy! This works well with any milk alternative :)

Tasty, quick and easy sweet carrot snack.

2012-01-24T14:02:00.001-08:00

Here is a delicious healthy snack for those times when you crave a little sweet treat.
Simply grate some carrots, heat in a pan with raisins and cardamon til softened but not mushy.
Dry fry nuts and seeds of your choice.
Combine all together and drizzle with honey or agave!
Enjoy this wholesome tasty snack!

Step away from the tv / phone / book!

2012-01-19T14:47:00.001-08:00

Everyone says it but have you ever actually tried it?
Today I stopped doing things that distracted me from eating. I ate breakfast away from my pc.
I ate lunch without browsing the net on my phone. I ate dinner with complete concentration to the food I wad eating and do you know what? I've not felt that satisfied after a meal in ages. I'm no longer worried about bingeing as I'm eating less because my body knows when I'm full. I'm no longer tempted to snack too. This is a revelation! Listen to this advice for food satisfaction!

Thai prawn and noodle Laksa recipe!

2012-01-15T07:19:00.000-08:00

The other evening I decided to cook this for my auntie and niece.

They were both impressed, its very delicious and full of wholesome ingredients.

♥Fry some onion and green thai paste in a pan. Add more garlic or ginger here if you wish.

♥Add coconut milk, fish stock and noodles and cook til noodles have softened

♥Add prawns and simmer for two minutes

♥Add pak choi, beansprouts and spring onions, wait two minutes

♥Add coriander and lime and serve!

kitchen helper optional but recommended :)

Energibbles!

2012-01-15T06:54:00.000-08:00

My aunt made some of these high energy and protein balls for me!

They are very easy to make and you can find many different recipes for them.

Blend together some nuts of your choice

Add dried fruit of your choice (soak overnight if tough)

Blend together til it becomes sticky.

Roll into a ball! Enjoy!!

Here are some variations I'd like to try:

♥ Brazil nut, orange zest and cacao

♥ Cranberry and coconut

♥ Hemp seed and honey

Have you made these before? Any recipes you'd like to share I'd love to hear them!

Raw chocolate and hempseed spread PLUS matcha!!

2012-01-15T06:36:00.000-08:00

I've been craving chocolate recently and looking for more ways to up my protein intake.
I've stopped eating cake and other sweet foods as they make me come out in spots!
Luckily for me then, that I noticed this jar in my favourite health shop!

To be honest the taste isn't great BUT it satisfies my chocolate craving and it gives me a lot of energy and the protein means a teaspoon of it fills me up straight away!
It tastes very seedy with a hint of sweetness from the agave.
I can go on and on about how great hemp is for you but you probably are already aware. So I'd recommend trying this product out if you are in a similar situation to me.

I recently purchased some macha on amazon as it was reduced from 18.99 to 11.99 for 100g.
I made a green tea cake for my friends birthday using it and thought I'd try a little in my tea. I added about half a teaspoon to my tea and I couldn't believe how much energy I had afterwards! I was so wired, I cycled all the way to my friends and back and was just...buzzing!
This would be great for a night out if you are worried about lasting those crazy parties that go on until the morning! Plus everyone loved the cake!

Green tea update!

2012-01-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

I've been drinking green or herbal teas instead of black recently. I haven't needed to sweeten them at all and noticed that without sugary drinks, my sweet tooth vanished! I no longer crave cakes and chocolate!
I'm so happy about this and decided to share the news with anyone else who can't get enough sweet treats!

Potato spinach and chickpea curry recipe!

2012-01-07T09:13:00.000-08:00

This is a family dish that I grew up eating a lot of. I made it at work the other day and everyone loved it!
Thanks to my auntie for the recipe, this is very authentic home cooking at its best - Pakistani style.
I've adapted the recipe by changing the quantities so you can try it for yourself at home. Great for fighting off a cold.

Ingredients
2 Onions
1/2 thumb sized Ginger
2 Garlic clove
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Coriander
1/2 tsp Chilli
Few Potatoes - cubed
Bag Spinach
1 Tin Chickpea

Method

Chop onions and place in a hot pan of oil (not olive), season with salt.
Whilst the onion is browning chop your garlic and ginger, once your onions are golden, add to pan.
Toast your cumin and coriander then crush together with chilli and turmeric, add to pan.
Cook for 5 or so minutes longer than add the potato, turning occasionally.
Finally when potato is soft, add your spinach and chickpeas.
Check the seasoning and serve! Enjoy

Indian spiced sweet potato vegetable bake recipe

2012-01-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today I made this delicious and healthy vegetable bake. Here is a simple recipe. No measurements, sorry, but its a good guide and you can adjust it to your own taste.

Mash together sweet and regular potatoes.
Roast some slices of red pepper and aubergine.
Toast some cumin, coriander and kalonji seeds.
Blend together garlic and ginger then add the spices
Fry some onions til golden then add the spice paste and fry for a minute more.
Combine the onions with the mash then layer in a casserole tray with the roasted vegetables.
Bake until crunchy on top..Enjoy!

This is a very versatile recipe and it goes beautifully with some mango chutney. Many vegetables could be substituted for the aubergine and peppers, such as spinach, okra or tomatoes.

I'm going to start drinking green tea

2012-01-03T00:15:00.000-08:00

Instead of my normal black tea. This is mainly because I've switched from soya to coconut milk for my cereals and in black tea it tastes pretty awful! Green tea also speeds up your metabolism and its delicious too.

I've purchased a spiralizer!

2012-01-02T11:09:00.001-08:00

I can't wait to use it! These are great for transforming salads and vegetable dishes. Vegetable spaghetti is a great alternative to the pasta variety, not only all the extra nutrients but also for time saving! I'm excited about trying it out.

Does anyone else have one? Got any tips to share??

Raw chocolate brownies - To do recipe...

2012-01-02T10:51:00.000-08:00

I saw this amazing looking recipe over on the Raw food recipes website and I simply have to make them...and soon!! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes and post pictures too so check back often.

Fructose = Poison!

2012-01-02T10:38:00.000-08:00

I recently watched a lecture about sugar and I was shocked by some of the facts and issues raised. Watch it yourself by clicking here. It will change the way you look at sugar, especially fructose.

A simple noodle dinner.

2012-01-02T09:43:00.000-08:00

I purchased these scallop noodles from an international supermarket. They contain real scallop juices and taste delicious, even on their own. Plus they are not fried, like the unhealthy versions, so much better for you. After boiling the noodles I simply tossed in a little sesame oil.
I then steamed some courgette and french beans and dry fried some cashews and seeds.
Once it was all plated up I added a couple of slices ripe avocado then drizzled over some dark soy sauce...Delicious simple meal

Carrot and Coconut Cake Recipe.

2012-01-02T06:18:00.001-08:00

Here's a recipe for this delicious and healthy carrot cake with no added fat or sugar!

Full of tasty little chunks, these are a joy to eat.
Coconut milk is used because the containing oil helps remove excess fat from your body!

This makes a lot - enough for 12 muffins and some left over for a small loaf tin.

Or you could use a large cake tin.

Ingredients
450g grated carrots
100g desiccated coconut
50g seeds of your choice
100g chopped dates
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tin coconut milk
250g agave necter or honey
5 eggs
300g self raising wholewheat flour

Method
Combine first five ingredients in a bowl.
In a seperate bowl, mix the next three ingredients then add to the first bowl of carrotty yumminess
Add the flour, stir well.
Bake at 180 degrees until cooked (various tins require different cooking times)