The Sweet Life

Ingredients 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas (roughly 2 cups drained, cooked chickpeas) 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons tahini 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon, plus more to taste) 1 small clove of garlic (roughly chopped) 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon finely ground black pepper Method 1. Drain the chickpeas into a strainer and rinse under cool running water. If you have time pinch the skins from each of the chickpeas, this will make your hummus smoother. 2. Combine the chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper in the food processor or blender. 3. Process the hummus continuously until it becomes very smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to integrate any large chunks. 4. Taste and add more of any of the ingredients to taste. If your hummus is stiffer than you'd like, add more lemon juice or olive oil to thin it out and make the hummus creamier. 5. Scra

Ingredients 1 cup mixed raw nuts 1 cup oats 1/4 cup cacao powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon vanilla protein powder (optional) A pinch sea salt 2 tablespoons rice malt syrup (or honey)  2/3 cups nut butter 2-3 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk Desiccated coconut (for rolling) Directions 1. Place nuts and oats in a food processor and process until coarsely chopped. The mix should be slightly chunky to help hold the balls together. 2. Place nut and oat mixture in a large mixing bowl and stir through the cacao, cinnamon, protein powder and salt. 3. In a separate bowl, combine the nut butter and rice malt syrup. Add this to the dry ingredients, using your hands to rub the ingredients together. 4. The mix should be quite dry and will not stick together. Gradually add in the almond milk, using your hands to work the moisture through the mixture. 5. Once mix starts to come together, shape mixture into balls. 6. Roll in des

Glorious fish pie - an absolute favourite of mine that I just don't make enough. This week I was craving fish pie, so what else would I do but scroll through Jamie Oliver's (he's fab isn't he!) recipes until I found his Sweet Pea Fish Pie recipe, which is basically the recipe below with a few alterations. Since living in London I don't eat half as much seafood as I did when I was living in New Zealand, so this was a great way for me to curb those seafood cravings.  I use fresh fish from the supermarket but you can also use frozen fish (Jamie does) and you can use any kind of fish you like (doesn't have to be salmon and white fish, it could be all white fish or it could be all salmon, and if you don't like prawns then use something else or add extra fish).  This recipe serves 4-5 people.  Ingredients For the mashed potato topping: 1kg potatoes or sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped into large chunks 400g frozen peas 2 tablespoons butter

This recipe is super easy to throw together. Plus It’s gluten, grain, and dairy free. The cake is moist and delicious with just the perfect hint of lemon. A perfect cake to make when entertaining friends or when in need for a sweet treat!  Ingredients: 1/2 cup coconut flour  1/4 tsp sea salt  1/2 tsp baking soda 6 eggs 6 tablespoons raw honey (or  real maple syrup) 1/2 cup coconut oil or ghee (melted) 6 tablespoons full fat coconut milk  1 tsp vanilla extract 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice Zest from 1 lemon 1 cup of mixed berries (I used strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries.  I chopped the strawberries into small pieces) Coconut oil or ghee for oiling skillet Method: 1. Preheat oven to 180  °C and liberally oil a 10″ skillet with fat of choice. 2. Sift together coconut flour, sea salt, and baking soda. Then set aside. 3. Whisk eggs until nice and foamy.  Then add honey/maple syrup, coconut oil/ghee, coconut milk, vanilla, l

These chicken wraps are so easy to make and perfect for when you are limited on time. I often make them for lunch after I have been to the gym or for dinner when i'm in a rush. You can add anything you like to the wrap, I just use whatever I have in the fridge. This recipe serves 1 person Ingredients  See my Healthy Chicken Nuggets recipe for the ingredients & steps to make the chicken for the wrap.  1 wholemeal wrap  A handful of spinach  Cucumber (cut into small pieces) Capsicum  (cut into small pieces) Carrot (I use a peeler and peel slices of carrot into the wrap) Sweet chilli sauce (just a small amount - look for sweet chilli sauces that don't have huge amounts of sugar or better yet make your own) Method  See my  Healthy Chicken Nuggets  recipe for the ingredients & steps to make the chicken for the wrap.  1. Make the chicken - following the link.  2. While the chicken is cooking start to prepare your wrap, I put my wrap

Ingredients  2 small trout fillets ( or salmon) 4 tablespoons butter 1 shallot (finely chopped) 2 garlic cloves  (finely chopped) 1-2 Tablespoons fresh dill/coriander/parsley  (finely chopped) 1 lemon - 1 teaspoon of zest and all the freshly squeezed juice Salt & pepper Method  1. Preheat the oven to 180 ℃ . Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or baking paper. 2. In a small pan, melt the butter. Add the shallot and cook on medium heat for about 3 minutes, until the shallot softens. 3. Then add the garlic and the lemon zest, cook for another minute. Cool slightly. Squeeze in half of the lemon juice. 4. Place the fish on the prepared baking sheet and season with salt and pepper. 5. Spoon the butter mixture over the fish & s prinkle with half of the coriander/dill/parsley. 6. Roast in the oven for 12-15 minutes, depending on how thick the fish is. The best way to check for doneness is to use a fork to gently prick the fish, and i

I’m always interested in new healthy ingredients to include in my recipes and after receiving some information recently from Warburtons I realised that actually ‘new ingredients’, for example the ones trending at the moment, like quinoa and teff, are actually ancient ingredients (also called ancient grains).  They’ve actually been around and used for thousands of years in healthy diets!  I've also heard that apparently Angelina Jolie is a big fan of ancient grains too and no wonder, as an expert nutritionist ‘Nigel Denby’ has said that, “Ancient grains tend to release their energy slowly because more often the grain is unrefined and whole. They retain all their natural nutrients and goodness. This helps keep you going throughout the day and can mean you’re less likely to want to snack.”   So for this recipe I’m using Newburn Bakehouse’s new Mini Wholegrain Wraps with ancient grains, which are gluten, wheat and dairy free and contain the ancient grains like qui

This is such a super simple, easy and healthier alternative to using store brought sour cream! Ingredients Natural Greek Yogurt Lemon Juice Method 1. Add 3 tablespoons of greek yogurt into a dish and add a squeeze of lemon juice. 2. Mix until combined. 3. Serve! Enjoy x

I love chicken! I have it at least twice a week but I tend to get stuck in a routine and cook it the same old way each week. This week I was feeling inspired and wanted to mix it up a bit. I found this recipe and thought it looked delicious so I gave it a whirl...and I am glad I did because it was so good! I literally was so excited about it I dished it up so quickly that I forgot to get a photo once i'd taken it out of the oven, hence the photo dominated by vegetables! Its so easy to make and I didn't need to go out and buy anything special because i had all the ingredients already. It has to be one of the tastiest chicken recipes i have tasted! This recipe feeds 3-4 people.  Ingredients 6-8 chicken thighs (drumsticks would also work) 700g new potatoes (cleaned) 3/4 cup of white wine  1/2 cup of chicken stock 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard 4 cloves garlic (crushed) 1/2 cup of finely chopped herbs (any herbs e.g. rosemary, parsley, thyme and/or sage) 3 t

I am always constantly looking for good banana muffin and banana bread recipes as we always have over ripe bananas in the house. This so far has been my favourite banana muffin recipe.  Here are a couple of handy hints when making this recipe: *Grind down the rolled oats in a food processor for a finer consistency. I place the oats in my food processor and pulse it to make it more like a powder consistency before I add it to the mixture.  This produces a muffin that is less like an oatmeal muffin, and more like a moist banana muffin.  *When using wheat flour, it is important to not over-mix your batter.  Over mixing results in dense, thick dough. Ingredients: 3 medium ripe bananas 2 eggs 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup wheat flour (I use wholemeal spelt flour)  1/2 cup raw honey (maple syrup or rice malt syrup) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Method 1. Preheat oven to 165 ℃. 2. Mash

This vegetarian dish of eggs poached in a spicy tomato and bell pepper sauce is amazing! If you're serving shakshuka for breakfast, as is traditional, you might want the sauce mildly spicy; on those breakfast-for-dinner days, kick the heat up by adding more red pepper flakes, a pinch of cayenne, or even a few shakes of hot sauce. The recipe yields enough sauce for three people. Serve with slices of toasted crusty bread, for mopping up the sauce or by itself. Ingredients 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small onion  (diced) 2 cloves garlic  (diced) 1 large red bell pepper (diced) 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/2 teaspoon mild red pepper flakes 1 small jalapeño pepper (seeds and ribs removed, diced) 2 tablespoon tomato paste 1 400g canned chopped tomatoes 1/2 teaspoon salt Fresh black pepper, to taste 3 large eggs 2-4 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh coriander or  parsley Method  1. Heat the oil in a la

With the blueberry filling and the cinnamon-spiced oat crumble on top, this easy dessert always disappears quickly! If you happen to have any leftovers, eat them plain for breakfast the next morning. I won’t judge! The crumble will last for at least 6 days if covered and chilled in the refrigerator. This recipe makes 9 square slices.  Ingredients  1 1/2 cups oats 1/2 cup wholemeal  spelt flour  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled slightly) 3- 6 cups frozen blueberries (depending on how thick you want the blueberry filling, you can also use fresh blueberries) 3 tablespoons cornflour  Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180 ℃ and lightly coat a 8" square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. To make the crumble - add the oats, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl and mix together with a fork. Then add in the maple syrup and butter, stirring with the fork until completely mixed t

This recipe is one of my new favourites. It’s packed with flavour and so easy to make. I combined a chicken breast, rice, beans, and tomatoes with Mexican spices. It’s so delicious and the best part is, everything cooks in just one pan, even the rice. This one-pot meal is so easy to make and it’s faster than driving to get takeout!  Ingredients 2  skinless chicken breasts (diced into bite sized pieces) 3 tablespoon of olive oil 1/2 of a yellow onion (diced) 1 red capsicum (diced)  1 cup of uncooked extra-long grain brown rice  1 can of diced tomatoes (drained) 1 can of black beans or chili beans (drained and rinsed) 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon of chili powder 1 teaspoon of cumin 2 1/2 cups of chicken stock Handful of grated cheese (optional) Salt and pepper Freshly diced tomatoes Diced spring onions Sour cream and/or  guacamole (optional topping)  Method 1. Sauté the onions in 2 tablespoon of olive oil until

I am continuously looking for banana recipes as we always have over ripe bananas in the fruit bowl towards the end of each week and i hate the thought of throwing them out when i know something delicious can be made from them instead. I really like this recipe, it is no fuss, quick and easy! It also dates amazing and is perfect to curb those sweet cravings.  Ingredients  3 ripe bananas 3 eggs 1/3 cup coconut oil 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 - 3 tablespoons cinnamon 1/4 cup walnuts (chopped) + extra to top the loaf (optional) 3 cups oats Method 1. Preheat oven to  180 ℃ . 2. Mash the ripe bananas in a large bowl. 3. Then add in the eggs and coconut oil, mixing thoroughly. 4. Add in oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and walnuts, continuously mixing. 5. Pour into a greased bread loaf tin, make sure you grease the tin well as the bottom tends to stick (I use coconut oil or cooking spray). 6. Bake for 20-30 minutes or u

This is my new favourite soup recipe! I made a batch this week for lunches and absolutely love it. Its a hearty soup that's full of flavour and definitely fills you up.  Ingredients 2 tablespoons olive oil  1 medium onion (diced) 2 stalks celery  (diced) 1 medium jalapeno or a few pre cut jalapeno slices from a jar  (diced) 4 cloves garlic  (diced) 2 chicken breasts 6 cups chicken stock/broth 1 can diced tomatoes with chiles 1 teaspoon oregano  ½ tablespoon cumin  The juice of 1 medium lime ½ bunch coriander/cilantro (roughly chopped) Method Shredded chicken 1. Dice the onion, celery, garlic, and jalapeno (scrape the seeds out of the jalapeno before dicing) then cook the onion, celery, jalapeno, and garlic in olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until tender. 2. Add the chicken breasts (whole), chicken stock, canned tomatoes with chiles, oregano, and cumin to the pot.  3. Bring the whole pot up to a boil over high heat then