Smoothie sundae

Bottom layer to top:

• Blended frozen raspberries with 1 handful of soaked almonds
• Half a frozen banana with 1 nectarine, and maca (optional)
• Blueberries
• 1 frozen banana blended 

Layer in a glass/jar and enjoy as breakfast or a refreshing mid day snack!

Mexican Salad Bowl

Obsessed with this delicious and filling vegan mexican salad! You will need:

• Lettuce (I have used iceburg leaves in one dish and romaine in the other)
• Chickpeas
• Cayenne pepper
• Cumin
• Lemon/ lime
• Guacamole (preferably homemade)
• Sweetcorn
• Salsa (preferably homemade or a store bought one WITHOUT additives)

Mix the chickpeas with as much cumin, cayenne pepper and lemon/lime as you desire.

I've used raw corn but you can use a canned one ( but check for additives, added sugar, salt etc) if you want.

Salsa- chop onion (red works best although I had none at home when i made this), jalepeno, parlsey, and tomato. Olive oil and salt can be added(optional)

Guacamole- 1 mashed avocado, lemon juice, garlic (optional).

It's so easy and so delicious, I hope you try and enjoy it!

Almond Milk Chia and Mango Pudding

This is one of my favourite breakfasts, but I think it would also make a delicious and light dessert. The mango gives a lovely taste and thick texture. Better yet, it is extremely to make.

Serves 1:

What you will need:

• 1 and a half tbsp chia seeds
• 1 cup of almond milk
• 1 small mango/ 1/2 large mango.
• Goji berries (optional)

What to do:

-Pour your chia seeds into a cup, add almond milk and stir with a fork quickly. Ensure that all the chia seeds have covered by the milk, so that they're not just lying on the surface. It's important to use a fork and stir qucikly in order to avoid the chia seeds clumping together.
-Leave to soak overnight - when left in liquid, chia seeds expand and gelatinise.
-Blend mango with a hand blender until smooth.
-In a bowl pour your chia seeds, then your mango puree, garnish with goji berries and enjoy!

Scrumptious sesame granola

I love love love granola but I avoid buying it from the shops as they are usually full with refined sugars and additives. So, I make my own granola and it is soo easy! If you love sesame snaps, I'm sure you will love this simply delightful sesame granola recipe too.

Makes 2 jam jars full:

• 2 cups oats
• 8 tbsp agave nectar
• 1 and a half tbsp coconut oil
• 4tbsp sesame seeds

-Preheat oven 260.
-Mix all ingredients into a mixing bowl, then microwave for about 30secs so that the coconut oil melts. Give it all another mix making sure everything is pretty much coated (not dry).
-Line a tray with greaseproof (parchment) paper, and spread your oat mixture out evenly. 
-Turn the oven down to 180, then place your tray into the oven.
-Leave it in the oven for 20 mintues or so, but keep checking up on it as it will burn if quickly if you leave it to). Also it's a good idea to mix it about after about 10 minutes, to allow different bits to cook (within that 20 mins). When it's turned an even gold colour, it's ready. Leave to stand (this is when it will harden, so don't worry that it's not crispy when you first take it out of the oven).

Enjoy at breakfast or even as a snack :)

Tomato, basil and garlic zucchini spaghetti

Zucchini makes a great low calorie, low carb, gluten free, spaghetti/pasta alternative. Ofcourse, it doesn't taste like pasta but it's filling and when prepared well it can be very delicious. And, it's incredibly easy to make! All you need is a spiraliser or a julienne peeler (which I use), to make the zucchini into a spaghetti like form.

Serves 1:

For the tomato sauce, you will need:

• 6 tomatoes
• 1clove garlic
• 1-2 handfuls basil leaves.
• Sea Salt
• Nutritional yeast (optional)

What to do...

-Wash and place your tomatoes in a saucer with enough boiling water to cover them.
-Leave to boil for 10 minutes or so.
-Whilst waitng for them to boil, peel your zucchini, and place into a mixing bowl.
-Check your tomatoes. Once they are soft, strain and run them under hot water, so that you can then peel their skins.
-Process them in a food processor with basil, garlic, nutritional yeast.
-Blend until smooth.
-Pour the sauce over the zucchini. Taste and garnish with pepper and salt. (I also cut up fresh tomatoes and put them in as we had SO many tomatoes in the house I thought I'd use the oppurtunity to use them up)

I loved this dish warmed up (rather than raw), and I added kidney beans to make it a more hearty meal.

Almond Milk

Making almond milk is so much easier than you may think!

All you need are 2 ingredients:

• 1 cup soaked almonds (soaked for at least 24 hours)
• 3 cups water
• Optional- Dates and vanilla flavouring can be added to enhance a sweet flavour. 

-Add all ingredients to a blender, and mix until it's all white and frothy.

-Then pour everything into a sive lined with a cheesecloth. Use a spatula (or any instrument which will work for this purpose) to push the milk away from the pulp as much as possible. Then use the cheesecloth to squeeze as much of the milk out as possible. You should be left with a dry pulp.

-Store in an airtight jar. 

-Use ASAP as it only lasts for about 3-5 days

Enjoy!

Acai Bowl

When you have the right ingredients, acai bowls are one of the most easy breakfasts to make. Nutritious and delicious, acai berries are a superfood powerhouse, jam packed with antioxidants.

I buy frozen acai pulp pouches from wholefoods, but you can use powder (althought i've never tried the powder).

Serves 1:

• 1 acai pouch
• 2 bananas
• 1 handful of blueberries
• Fresh mint leaves-

What to do...

-Run the acai pouch under some warm water so that it can slide out.
-Process in a liquidiser with 1 banana.
-Pour all into a bowl, and garnish with banana, blueberries, mint and a sprinkle of chia (or any toppings of your desire- granola and strawberries go great too).

Like I said, once you have the right ingredients, it's really too easy!

Favourite Superfoods

Chia Seeds

• Containts all Omega-3 Fatty Acids
• Fiber- reduces inflammation, lowers cholesterol and regulatesbowel function. Chia seeds are an excellent source of fiber, with 10 grams in only 2 tablespoons. That is one-third of the daily recommended intake of fiber per day.
• Antioxidants- help protect the body from free radicals, cancer and aging. Their high antioxidant content also gives them a long shelf life (they can last almost 2 years without refrigeration). 
• Satiety- helps lower food cravings between meals, thanks to the combination of protein, fiber, and the gelling action of chia seeds when mixed with liquids. 
• Gluten Free
• Can Be Digested Whole- Unlike most other nuts and seeds, chia seeds can be digested whole without needing to be soaked or crushed, in order for our body to assimilate all of their wonderful nutrients.
• Blood sugar regulation

Raw Cacao

We all love chocolate. And you can enjoy it guilt free by making your own/ buying raw vegan/ vegan chocolate! I prefer raw vegan chocolate as it uses cacao, rather than cocoa.
It's easy to assume that cacao is the same as cocoa however there's a difference between the two:
Cacoa= the bean which comes from the cacao tress. Cacao powder is raw, unprocessed powder, therefore it remians higher in antixodiants and iron, containt 20 times the amount of nutrients than in cocoa.
Cocoa=the heat processed form of cacao, therefore nutrients are lost.

Maca

This Peruvian derived superfood is not the best in flavour, however can easily be masked in smoothies, but it has superior nutritional properties, making it worth your while...

• Increases energy levels and stamina
• Alleviates chronic exhaustion (fatigue) syndrome
• Improves sexual function in men and women
• Enhances fertility 
• Helps to regulate menstrual cycles
• Can regulate hormonal imbalances
• Reduces anxiety and stress
• Acts as an anti-carcinogen and antioxidant
• Libido enhancer

Broccoli

One of the cheapest and accessible superfoods available.
Eating raw broccoli is the best way to get all its offered nutrients and health benefits, such as:

• It has a detoxifying effect on the body
• It's vitamin C content means that it's an anti-oxidant, an anti-inflamitatory, and helps relieve cold symtoms. 
• Eyes- broccoli and other leafy green vegetables contain powerful phytochemical antioxidants in the carotenoid family called lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are concentrated in large quantities in the lens of the eye.

Although, I can understand that raw broccoli is not the most delightful vegetable to eat raw, but it's really so beneficial, and I reccomend eating it with dips, like guacamole, humus, salsa. Steam or boil it if you can't stand it raw... it's better than nothing!

PS. WASH IT WELL!! Watch out for creepy crawlies.

Great Green Smoothies

Ever since I tried the detoxing green smoothie in Wholefoods, I'm forever making them! They're my favourite way to get my greens in. The beauty of them is, yes, they often include superfoods like spinach and kale, but no, you can't taste them, making them perfect for those who can't tackle their greens. I personally don't have a problem with eating them, but they're so much in a smoothie. I know that to some people green smoothies may seem revolting, but you should try it before you make your judgement. In my opinion they taste just like a fruit smoothie, with extra nutritional benefits. Definately worth a try.

My typical green smoothie includes:

• 2 handfuls of Spinach/Kale/ 1 handful of each.
• 1 orange
• 1 banana
• 1 pear
• 2 kiwis
• Juice of half a lemon
• Add coconut water/ water,  depending on how liquidified/ thick you want it.

That's just one I'd make using fruit which can quickly be cut a bit and placed in the blender.

But, my favourite green smoothie is:

• 1 banana
• 1 and a half cups pineapple
• 2 handfuls kale
• Add coconut water/ water depending on how liquid/ thick you want it.

I also like to add superfoods like maca, chia seeds, goji berries, and hemp seeds to my green smoothies.

The Easiest Nice Cream

One ingredient ice cream- it's too good, and it's true.

-2 frozen bananas- blend with a food processor/ hand blender. It becomes delicious and creamy. Don't think it could be any easier?

What you can add to give more flavour:
-Vanilla flavouring
-Dates
-Cinnamon
-Blend with berries
-Cacao

You can add more or less anything you want. It's healthy and satisyfing and HEALTHY. The perfect ice cream alternative.

Pesto Zucchini Spaghetti

This rawesome dish is so easy and delicious.

For the pesto, you will need...

Serves 4 OR 2 generous portions
-100g pinenuts
-2 clove of garlic (i love garlic so you might want to use less if you're not a fan)
-Nutritional yeast
-1 pot of basil (just use the leaves)

What to do...

-Start by processing your pinenuts in a food processor. Leave it processing, so that it's natural oils release, and it becomes lovely and creamy.
-Then add your basil, garlic and nutritional yeast and process untill it's a smooth pesto.
-Peel your zucchini and place in a bowl, and mix with the pesto.
-Add black olives and cherry tomatoes.
-I leave it to marinade over night, so the zucchini softens and absorbs all the delicious flavours.
-Eat raw or warm if you want.

Bon appetit!