Category Archives: healthy eating

Rhubarb and ginger gluten free cake

Posted in cake, eggs, food, functional food, ginger, gluten free, healthy eating, home baking, recipe, Uncategorized by

20160717_202227

I think this is one of my favourite flavour combinations. Because there are pieces of ginger around the top of the cake it means you get a delicious ginger hit with every mouthful.

This works best with fresh rhubarb which is in plentiful supply at this time of year.

Preheat oven to 180c  / gas mark 4. Prepare an 18 cm round tin. I use Prestige cookware

Ingredients:

170 g gluten-free self-raising flour        150 g light muscovado sugar

170 g softened butter   4 eggs (3 if using non gf fl)

1 stem of rhubarb chopped and each chunk split in half lengthways then softened by roasting in oven.20160717_094255

3 pieces of stem ginger – 2 finely chopped and 1 chopped in to larger pieces for the top of the cake.

Method:

Mix all ingredients (except rhubarb) together until smooth.

Fold in rhubarb half the rhubarb and the finely chopped ginger..

Arrange the remaining rhubarb and ginger around the top of the cake.

20160717_192858

Bake in centre of the oven for about 20-25 mins.

Courgetti, spring onion and cheese frittata 

Perfect for a light supper on a hot summer’s day 🙂 . The wonderful thing about this dish is that it is delicious both hot and cold.

The number of servings depends upon what is served with the dish – serves 2 if on its own or with a small salad or 4 if served with additional vegetables and new potatoes. Gas mark 5 / 190 c   Oven proof pan

Ingredients:

1 spiralised courgette                      6 eggs – beaten and seasoned with pepper

2 spring onions finely chopped         handful of grated cheese    olive oil for frying

Method:

Gently fry the courgetti and onions for a couple of minutes. Add the grated cheese and beaten egg. Put the pan in the oven for 10 – 15 mins until the frittata is just set.

 

Vegetable soup

Posted in food, functional food, gluten free, healthy eating, home cooking, Uncategorized by

20160628_185312

Ingredients:

2 pints of stock – chicken or vegetable

Selection of vegetables peeled and diced – I used 3 potatoes, 3 large carrots, 1 large white onion, handful of frozen peas.

Salt and pepper

Dash of Worcester sauce

1 tsp of dried mixed herbs

Method:

Put everything into a large pan – I use my Prestige Pressure Cooker ( middle weight) to drastically reduce cooking time.

20160627_200432

 

Put on to the heat and stir for a couple of minutes. Lid on and bring to steam for about 10 minutes (in a pan 25 – 30 mins)

Remove from the heat and allow to cool until pressure gone. Blend half of the mixture and recombine with the remaining soup.

 

 

Chicken stock

Posted in food, food is medicine, gluten free, healthy eating, home cooking, recipe, Uncategorized by

20160625_140704

Put the carcass and remains of the chicken in to a large pan – I use my Prestige Pressure cooker.

Add a couple of pints of water. Put on the hob  – Pressure cooker middle weight and stream for 20 mins once pressure reached – only sufficient heat to cause a gentle steam. (in a pan – simmer for 40 mins.

Sieve the contents to separate the stock from the solids – if the chicken pieces are wnted – sift through the solids.

 

 

1 in 8

Posted in beating cancer, breast cancer, cancer, food, food is medicine, functional food, healthy eating, superfood, Uncategorized, vegetarian by

Well it seems that never smoking, drinking very little ( I mean very little) alcohol, never abusing my body with drugs, eating a very healthy and well balanced diet and leading an active life and being a sensible weight just isn’t enough. I found out this week that I have an unwanted companion – of the malignant variety. At this point I then felt I should smoke 20 cigarettes – normal or ‘herbal’, drink a bottle of whisky (don’t even like whisky – sorry all those people I have just offended) and eat a whole rack of doughnuts. Obviously, I didn’t!

After feeling sorry for myself and wallowing momentarily in self -pity I then started to think logically.

Because I have never smoked or done drugs, drink all most no alcohol, eat a very healthy and well balanced diet, lead an active life and am a sensible weight, I am in the  best position to beat the b…er!

My battle commences…

Smoked mackerel, Greek yoghurt,  cucumber,  spring onions and dill

This only took a couple of minutes  to prepare…my favourite sort of meal😀

Serves 3 as a main dish with new potatoes. Would serve 4 – 5 as a starter.

Ingredients:

Large handful of spinach and watercress for each person

4 spring onions – chopped

Large piece  (10-15 cm) cucumber chopped in to cubes

Greek yoghurt

3 smoked mackerel fillets – skinned and flaked

Handful of dill – chopped

Pomegranate seeds to garnish.

Method:

Put prepared onions,cucumber and mackerel in a bowl and add 3-4 heaped tbsp of yoghurt. Mix together. Add most of the dill – keep some back to sprinkle over as a garnish.Serve out on to watercress/spinach  and top with dill and pomegranate seeds.  New potatoes complement this dish very well 😀

 

Water kefir

Posted in dairy free, drink, gluten free, healthy eating, superfood, Uncategorized by

I am really enjoying drinking / eating milk kefir in smoothies or smoothie bowls every day. My husband hasn’t taken to the flavour in the same way as me – if I mix in Greek yoghurt he will then consume it! He does however act as if I he is being punished!!

So…I decided to start fermenting with water kefir grains as well.

Step 1: live grains ordered  from Crave Longevity (conversation point at work when they arrived!)

20160628_155045

Step 2: let the grains settle in – 500ml of boiled and cooled water with 2 tbsp sugar.Left in warm dark place for 24 hours.20160628_192347Strained and process repeated 2 x more.

Then 1L of boiled and cooled water and 4/5 tbsp of sugar.

Step 3: second fermentation. Drained liquid put in to a glass jar with sealable top and left in a warm dark place for 72 hours.20160702_190654I put a couple of prunes in the jar – created a ‘cream soda/ Dr Pepper type flavour.

Step 4: put the drink in to the fridge

Result: a delicious mildly effervescent drink 🙂   – which I am delighted to say my husband seems to enjoy.

20160705_215817

He particularly enjoyed the batch I made without any additions of flavours at the second fermentation stage but instead added a slice of lemon and a couple of drops of vanilla prior to serving.20160709_091829

 

Guacamole 

The perfect companion for a chilli con carne.

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado – coarsely chopped

10 plum tomatoes – finely chopped

4 spring onions – finely chopped

Juice of half a lemon

3-4 drops of tabasco sauce

Method:

Put all the prepared ingredients in to a bowl and mix gently.

 

Quail eggs and halloumi salad

Posted in coeliac, eggs, food, food is medicine, functional food, healthy eating, healthy fats, mains, recipe, salad, specialised diet, superfood, Uncategorized, vegetarian by

So many people still think a salad consists of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber.  Glances of pity are thrown in the direction of my husband when he states we had a salad for lunch!!

This delicious salad was simply a combination of soft boiled quail eggs, chopped avocado, chopped plum tomatoes and grilled halloumi sitting on a bed of watercress 🙂