Natural NourishmentSauces, Dips & Spreads

RECIPE: Sticky Toffee Cake with Oppo Bros Caramel Sauce

Oppo - Sticky Toffee Cake II.jpeg

Some time last year (my apologies the exact time eludes me, there have been A LOT of recipes between now & then) I began a series I fondly titled ‘Cleaning Up The Classics’.

Now to be honest I could probably umbrella a good 50% of my creations under this as my ongoing inspiration is to provide healthful re-vamps of the dishes we love so they fit snugly into a health/nutrition conscious lifestyle with no need to feel we have to avoid anything we enjoy.

So yes as this introduction would suggest today’s recipe is exactly that, & as the words ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ tumble from my lips I’m sure MANY of you will feel your tastebuds stand to attention as most of us will have some form of emotive memory of this sweet, spongy dessert.

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Just Call Me The Jammy Dodger: Turning The Tables On Toast Toppings + RECIPE: Rose & Raspberry Chia Jam

I would like to think people don’t actually refer to me as ‘The Sugar Police’ when I’m not looking, but I might be fighting a losing battle….Oh well there are worse things I suppose!

Anyway in terms of all things in moderation, today I wanted to shine my foodie spotlight onto the world of preserves, conserves, jams & jellies (delete as appropriate depending on your location & preference).

This issue I have with these products is unlike something like a piece of fresh or dried fruit which will also contain significant quantities of naturally occurring sugars, these things will be pure refined sugar, concentrated down through the cooking process, & presented to you in the absence of the balancing elements of fibre, fat & protein.

And such a severe whack of glucose straight into the bloodstream is nobody’s health friend.

Continue reading “Just Call Me The Jammy Dodger: Turning The Tables On Toast Toppings + RECIPE: Rose & Raspberry Chia Jam” →

RECIPE: Pumpkin & Hemp Seed Butter

Pumpkin & Hemp Seed Butter

In recent years our passion for nut & seed butters has grown exponentially & for jolly good reason as they are absolute powerhouses when it comes to nutrition.

Now all will provide varying levels of plant based protein & fantastic unsaturated fats but the micronutrients within them will range slightly more, & that is why today I am shining a light on this gorgeously green spoonful in particular.

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Plant Power: Turning Leaves & Stems Into Muscles & Bones

Plant Power Bowl

Plant based diets continue to grow in popularity & I am all for people making specific lifestyle choices & changes based on their beliefs, indeed the necessity for us all to be increasingly conscious of our impact on the world is not something we can deny. Personally I don’t choose to follow an entirely plant based diet, however I am incredibly aware of limiting my impact by choosing high quality, organic animal products (ensuring the highest possible welfare standards for the animals in question & as few negative consequences on the planet as can be) in addition to being as mindful as I can in terms of my waste & things like that.

The one thing that does concern me however is the potential for some to go down this path & end up doing themselves a health disservice because they aren’t aware of the potential pitfalls when you choose to remove aforementioned animal products from your diet.

So what are these?

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Sensational Sesame

I’m going to give you all a little insight into my love life today……I am truly & utterly besotted with…..tahini.

(What can I say, I tried but I am just incapable of being serious 100% of the time!)

But yes my adoration for this sumptuous silky siren runs VERY deep & not just because it literally tastes like heaven on Earth!

Long before we all went head over heels for almond butter, tahini was gracing hundreds of tables around the world as an integral ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisines, it’s natural bitter-sweet flavour offering the perfect compliment to savoury & sweet dishes alike. Continue reading “Sensational Sesame” →

RECIPE: Kohlrabi & Black Bean Purée

If you were feeling in a childish mood & I said the word ‘beans’ where would your thoughts go…..

Honestly for many it doesn’t need to be a particularly childish day for this to be the connotation that comes to mind & that is because these wonderful foodstuffs can play absolute havoc with an inefficient digestive tract!

Now this is for a couple of reasons – the first being that they are fantastically fibrous – absolutely brilliant but also a flying leap for many if they don’t already consume a fibre rich diet. The second is the fact that they need to survive the digestive systems of animals in order to be spread far & wide so they coat themselves in anti-nutrient compounds that we really struggle to break down if we eat them.

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