Vegetarian Whole Foods Made Simple
This Black Forest Smoothie tastes so indulgent, it seemed fitting to name it after the classic dessert… you’d never guess there’s sneaky greens in it! When my tot first started eating solids, he would gamely nibble anything we put in front of him. Smugly I …
This elegant Chocolate Cherry Crisp is 100% whole grain and (almost!) refined sugar free. Oh friends, WHAT A WEEK it has been. We’ve had root canals, cracked fillings, antibiotics, severe allergy to antibiotics (who even knew THAT was a thing?), a blown out tyre on …
This red, white and blue patriotic power salad makes a healthy addition to any July 4th party!
When you’re a displaced Brit residing in the USA, July 4th can be a tricky holiday to navigate. I mean, it’s not like I come across many people who have deep-seated feelings on that whole Independence “misunderstanding”, but my American friends definitely see it as an opportunity to harass me (in a VERY good natured way) all day long.
Last year I spared as I was back in the UK, but this year there is no escape- I will be spending the 4th with ALL of my husbands family at my Sister-in-laws wedding. Oh well, if you can’t beat ’em, join em eh?! I decided I would throw myself into the whole affair in the best way I know how- with food! This salad will make a cheery and colourful addition to any 4th of July party.
So lets talk ingredients:
The Red- Cherries! I don’t know why it has taken me so long to create recipes with cherries, but I’m on quite the kick right now. The fresh cherries in this salad provide a tart sweetness and juicy texture.
The White- Feta! I know, I use feta often, but for good reason! The sprinkle of cheese provides a mild, salty creaminess to balance out the fruit.
The Blue- Blueberries! Another favourite ingredient. Blueberries complement the cherries in their tart sweetness, and provide a delicious pop in the mouth!
The Green- Kale! I love how kale provides a hearty base for salads. I have paired the kale with a slightly sweet lemon basil dressing in this recipe, which balances out the slightly bitter taste.
The Rest- Toasted almonds and a sprinkling of quinoa provide the essential crunch and nuttiness to complete the salad and make it really satisfying, not to mention filling!
Have a very Happy 4th, if you celebrate 🙂
This flourless almond cake is sweetened with maple syrup and vanilla, and topped with rich, syrupy balsamic cherries to create a delicious gluten free, refined sugar free dessert. Let me introduce you to my current favourite Summer dessert- a flourless almond cake with balsamic roasted …
These rich whole wheat Mexican Chocolate Cherry Brownies are spiced with cayenne and cinnamon, and dotted with tart cherries. Here we go again, I know, I am always touting my latest baked good as my new obsession, or the BEST THING EVER, and these Mexican …
Smoky-sweet black beans and rice stuffed into chard with feta and guacamole. The perfect light Mexican fare!
You guys know I love a good portmanteau (Jarfait anyone?!), so here is another for you: The Charrito. What do you get when you replace the tortillas in a burrito with a Chard Leaf? A Charrito! Genius.
At first I was pretty skeptical about eating raw chard. I assumed that the leaves would be tough, bitter and generally unenjoyable. How wrong I was! The leaves are sturdy, but that makes them the perfect vessel for your filling (in this case, a smoky black bean rice mixture with guacamole and feta!), and the slight bitter, earthy taste pairs so well with the smoky-sweet contents.
Obviously I offer this as more of a concept than a recipe- stuff it with whatever you have handy, omit the feta to make it vegan, change the grain or omit grains altogether to make it a super light meal.
Enjoy!
This spinach chickpea cherry salad is a quick and easy way to get your greens! This is one of those “recipes” born out of desperation. You know, when you get to the end of the week, and you haven’t made it to the shops yet …
Last month I decided to commit to a vegan diet for six weeks. Fun, right?! From time to time I like to conduct mini-experiments on myself like this. Two years ago I gave up caffeine, that wasn’t too bad after I had got over the …
I love to run. It’s how I counteract my desk job, it’s how I clear my head, and it always gives me an amazing sense of achievement! I have been running regularly for about four years now, and in that time I have completed four half marathons and one full marathon. I am running my next event in April, a local half marathon called Gazelle Girl, and my mileage is increasing steadily week by week.
After I had a couple of races under my belt, I realised the importance of fueling my workouts correctly with good food. Yes, you can certainly “run off” a donut or a cream cake, (and indeed my friends, family and coworkers are sometimes impressed at my calorie intake!), but running on donut fuel is going to make for a pretty miserable run, for me anyway.
My little running habit requires a supply of healthy snacks on hand at all times, and these little bites are one of my faves. The ingredients are simple and clean, the final result is delicious, and you can make them in just a few minutes. Of course it goes without saying that you don’t have to be a runner to enjoy these! They are perfect for hiking, long bike rides, skiing, any activity that necessitates a healthy dose of energy along the way.
What is your favourite way to refuel after a sweaty workout?!
Inspired by Cookie and Kate’s homemade Larabar recipe
I encourage you to experiment with different dried fruit and nut combinations, let me know if you stumble upon something magical!
