Kale, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Patties. Vegan, and Gluten Free

 

I have playing around with this recipe, and this one is so tasty.  More and more Hubby is requesting Veggie meals. And for those of you who know him, know this is huge. And I haven’t forced him at all. I still buy him meat, from good farm shops, but more and more, the meat buying has lessened!! And he really liked these. He had his with baked beans. They are nice, and soft in the middle, and lovely and crispy on the outside. And they don’t absorb a lot of oil, so don’t let the frying put you off. You can bake them in the oven, but they come out a lot dryer, and I didn’t like it. These are great in Pita bread with Hummus too. I always double up, and make more to put in the freezer, uncooked. Defrost before cooking.

 Enjoy

Kale, Sweet Potato, and Quinoa Patties

Makes 5-6 large burger sized Patties

I large sweet potato, roasted with the skin on, and cooled

2 cup cooked red, and white Quinoa. You can just use white or red, and 1 cup uncooked makes 2 cups cooked

2 cups finely chopped Kale. I used purple Chinese Seaweed Kale

2 TBSP milled Flaxseed, mixed with 3 TBSP water

½ cup ground gluten free oat. I just whizzed my regular oats in the blender to make them finer

I TSP grated Ginger

2 cloves Garlic

1 TSP Smoked Paprika

1 TSP Garam Masala Powder or paste

1 TSP Himalayan Salt

1 TSP Chilli Flakes (optional)

Coconut oil for shallow frying

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. I like to use my hands. Shape the patties into whatever size you want. Heat the oil, in a frying pan and fry the patties until they are brown on the outside.

Thank you for visiting

Peace Out

Healthy Vegan Breakfast Bowls

Bread addict of the century….that was me. Went from plastic white bread, to wholegrain, then to spelt, but I wanted to stop having it every day. It was so hard, and at first, I gave myself all the reasons why it was ok to eat it, even though it gave me the bloaty, windy stomach that goes with morning bread!!! Hot with butter and jam, or peanut butter, or Marmite, or Marmite, and Peanut Butter…try it it…it is yum!  And my skin didn’t like it at all. The gluten, and yeast aggravated my psoriasis a lot. So it was a fight, do it carry on for my skin or suffer it?!

But I had to break the cycle, and I did do it. I started slowly by replacing the bread with one of my breakfast health bowls. So many people ask me what I put in. So here are some picture, and a list of the ingredients..

And the bloat has gone and a huge improvement in the psoriasis

I am happy to say that bread is still on the breakfast menu but only on Sundays, yet sometimes I don’t want it, so back to my health bowls I go. These really fill me up, and I can do so many variations, and yes I do feel very virtuous., so I end up eating good nutritious food through the day.  Please don’t misunderstand, I don’t ‘diet’ or get obsessed with what not to eat, I enjoy everything I eat, be it a raw salad, or a bag of Cheese and Onion crisps!! I am enjoying the freedom this brings, so liberating!!!! Ohhhhh and the pictures get so many likes on Instagram.

Thank you for visitng, and Peace Out

 Lizi’s granola, Coconut Milk Chia Seeds, Linseeds, Coconut Chips and some of my Raw Salted Caramel slices https://ideservegoodfood.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/raw-caramel-salted-slices/

 This one is Lizi’s granola, Coconut Milk Chia Seeds, Linseeds, Organic Apple, and Coconut Chips

Lizi’s granola, Coconut Milk Chia Seeds, Linseeds, Dates, Cashews, and Almonds

Gluten Free Porridge, Ban Ice Cream https://ideservegoodfood.wordpress.com/2015/07/10/ban-ice-cream/, ( love the hot and cold contrast)Grated Organic Apple, and Hemp Seeds  

Lizi’s granola, Coconut Milk Chia Seeds, Linseeds,Cocnut Chips, Wheatgrass Powder, and Bee Pollen

Gluten free Porridge. Hemp Seed, Bee Pollen, and Ban Ice Cream

Raw Chocolate Caramel Salted Slices

Raw Salted Chocolate and Caramel Slices.

These are so so yummio. Vegan, Raw, and full of good nutrition. I first saw this recipe on Instagram, from 2 sources, but they were using maple syrup, which I find far too sweet. Ever since changing my diet, I find I cannot take too much sweetness, well from food, all other types of sweetness, are always welcome….!l So I have changed the recipe. Please feel free to use maple syrup where I have used Rice Syrup

As you know I am the batch cooking Queen, so this makes enough for me to last about 4 weeks. I don’t eat them every day, so take out of the freezer as i need them. I eat one with a fruit smoothie in the morning, or chopped up on top of my seedy, granola bowl. I also enjoy them with a good cup of Almond Chai tea.

Recipe

For the base

I cup walnuts

I cup flaked almonds

(you can use any nuts you like)

6 tbs coconut oil

4 tbs raw cacao

2 tbs rice syrup

For the filling

2 cups dates

1 cup coconut milk

1 cup cocoa butter ( you can use coconut oil again here)

½ tbs sea salt, or 1 tbs Himalayan pink

For the topping

1 cup coconut oil

4 tbs raw cacoa

2 tbs rice syrup

½ tbs sea salt, or 1 tbs Himalayan pink

Method

Line a 8×8 square tin with grease proof paper.

In a food processor blend all the ingredients for the base. Whizz it all up. This will be sticky. Put into the tin, smooth into the corners, and place into the freezer.  Don’t bother to wash the blender. Place all the ingredients for the filling into the blender, and whizz away until nice and smooth.. Then place this onto the base, and place back in the freezer, Place all the ingredients for the topping into the blender, and whizz once more. Pour the chocolatey goodness onto your filling, and freeze it all for an hour. Cut into squares.. You can keep these in the freezer, and take out what you need as you go.

Enjoy xxx

Ban-Ice Cream

Oh My oh my, I promise you, you will not eat dairy ladened ice cream again!!. I have been freezing bananas for ages. I love putting them on my hot porridge in the mornings. Recently I have been seeing loads of recipes for banana ice cream. And I am hooked. It tastes so much better than ice cream and is so easy to make. And of course low fat

Freeze bananas, as much as you want. Then take out of the freezer, and blitz. You can eat it like that but I divided mine in 2. Added black currents ( so high in anti oxydents, more than blueberries!!) and raspberries to one, and coconut to the other. You can add raw cacao, pineapple, whatever you wish. Have fun and experiment. Then put into plastic containers, place back in the freezer, and consume as and when. 

Enjoy and thank you for visiting
    
 

Vegan Meatless Balls

I really enjoyed making these and eating them. They are dense, and filling, and really tasty. You will not miss the meat! I am not Vegan, and have no judgement whether anyone is or not, but I just don’t eat meat, well apart from fish occasionally, anymore. My choice. I do like eating a mainly plant based diet, with very low diary, and wheat, and it helps with my psoriasis. I know health comes from within, so this whole journey is to clear my skin, and feel healthier, after the toxic effects of having IVF 7 years ago. I will write more about my ‘P’ in another blog

Back to the balls. Came up with this recipe yesterday. I wanted a crunchy outside, and a moist inside, and these are perfect. Served with my versatile Tomato sauce, and spiralled courgettes, this make an oh so tasty lunch or dinner. You can also eat them on their own with a nice salad, or rice.

Lets begin

Vegan Meatless Balls

380g can Cannelloni Beans drained
3 handfuls of Kale ( I am so rubbish at measuring!!)
1 Leek but only the white bit. Save the green bit for stock
1/2 tsp Smoked Paprika
1/4 tsp Turmeric
1/4 tsp Chilli Fakes, although I added 1!!
1/2 tsp Dead Sea Salt
1/2 Pepper
4 tbsp Coconut Butter, or any cooking oil
1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
3-4 tbsp Rice Flour

Heat the oven to 190c.

Put all the ingredients into and blender, and blitz, but dont make the moisture too smooth, you want it quite course. This mixture is a little sticky, but you should be able to take a bit out to roll. If its too sticky add more Rice flour.
Roll the mixture into balls. i got about 12 out of this mixture.
Place on a non stick sheet, or grease proof paper, on a tray, and bake in the middle of the oven for about 15-20 mins. When they are slightly brown, take them out, otherwise they will be too dry. I served mine with my Tomato Sauce ( recipe soon), and spiral courgettes, a fab low carb meal

Chia Pudding for Breakfast anyone?

Chia Pudding with Frozen Bananas, and Dates

This is a fav breakfast pudding of mine. The first time I had this I really wondered if it would fill me up. It certainly did. And so easy to prepare. This is fast food at its best. I can have this ready in minutes in the morning. The frozen chopped bananas are a real treat and taste fab, with the dates. And this time I added my Cashew and Coconut butter, which is just so yummy. You can add any thing you want to the top. I have added blueberries, cacao nibs, almonds, there is so much to choose from. Play around and see what you like

1 cup Coconut Milk ( I use Alpro)

2 tbsp chia seeds

1/2 frozen Banana

1 Date

2 tbsp Cashew and Coconut Butter

Mix and Soak over night. Then add the rest of the ingredients on top

Cashew and Coconut Butter

250g Cashews

25 g Coconut chips

4 tbsp Coconut Oil, melted

Put tall the ingredients into a blender. Now please make sure that your blender is ok to run for about 10 minutes. Start blending. You may need to keep wiping down the sides. At first the nuts go crumbly, and you think its not turning to butter, but believe me it will. As the blades heat up the nuts, they will release their oils, and you will get butter.

Then place into a clean jar, and put into the fridge. This will keep for about 10 days

Ta Ta for now

My Fav Smoothie Right Now

Loving my Pineapple, Avocado and Apple Smoothie

1/4 fresh pineapple

1/2 Avocado

1 Apple

A little water

Blitz it all in the Nutribullet and drink

Sweet Potato and Puy Lentil Biryani

Here is a fab recipe for a healthy Biryani

I love this recipe so much, and cook it regularly. It is filling, and nutritious, and so comforting. I like to serve mine with a huge dollop of hummus, and sprinkle with dried chillies…yummio mow

Sweet Potato and Puy Lentil Biryani

1 cup brown basmati rice
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic
1 inch ginger
1 tsp turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 cinnamon stick
3 curry leaves
1 tbsp ghee (if you are vegan use an extra tbsp of veg oil)
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tomato, chopped
1 tsp chilli powder
1 sweet potato
1 cup puy lentils (washed)
1 courgette
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp pepper
2 cups vegetable stock

Place the rice into a bowl, and rinse a couple of times, and them leave to soak in water for about 30 mins

On a medium flame, heat the oil, and ghee, and add the onions, cinnamon, and curry leaves, and cook until the onions are golden brown. Then add tomato, and cook for about 5 mins. Grate in the garlic, ginger, and add in all the spices, and salt and pepper, ad cook for a further 5 mins. Take care not to burn the spices.
Then add the sweet potato, puy lentils, and courgette, and stir. Then add the rice, and stir.. Then add the vegetable stock and bring to the boil. Cover, and cook for about 15 mins. Take the lid off, and check the rice. It should be slightly soft, but with a bit of a bite. Leave the lid off, and when the water has mostly evaporated, lower the heat, and cover tightly with a lid. ( I use a tea towel in between the pot, and lid, but please make sure you pull the corners of the tea towels up around the lid so it doesn’t catch the flame) and leave to steam for about 20 minutes. Make sure all the water has evaporated. Brown Basmati rice will always have a bit more of a bite than white, but I love this.

And here are some healthy facts about some of the ingredients in my recipe

It is believed that Ghee helps cure ulcers, prevents constipation, and promotes eye and skin health.
It enhances the function of brain cells and promotes learning. It helps increase memory retention.
It triggers and enhances the secretion of stomach acids to help with digestion, whereas other fats, such as butter and oils, slow down the digestive process and can sit heavy in the stomach. It helps improve the digestive health.

Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
 
Sweet Potatoes are very nutritious and rich in some key nutrients like Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Potassium.

Garlic has been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol

Ginger has been used to help digestion, reduce nausea and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few.

Onions are an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, thought to have diverse anti-cancer powers –

Chickpeas are a good source of protein and iron .They contain Garbanzos, which are an excellent source of the trace mineral manganese, which is an essential cofactor in a number of enzymes important in energy production and antioxidant defences. They stabilise blood sugar levels, and regular intake of Chickpeas can lower cholesterol. Garbanzo contain phytochemicals called saponins, which can act as antioxidants. It could lower the risk of breast cancer, protect against osteoporosis and minimises hot flushes in post-menopausal women.
Great for weight loss too, due to high fibre content and low GI. Chickpeas can keep you full longer, controlling the appetite.

I will be posting more healthy recipes so stay close by.

Happy Easter

nubeginnings

Oh my gosh, I cannot believe that its taken me nearly 5 months to get going with writing about my time at nubeginnings http:/http://www.nubeginnings.co.uk

Gosh and that was back in July!

nubeginnings was one of the best experiences of my life so far. My trip here came at a time when I was physically beat up!!! My psoriasis had flared the worst ever, and I was so so tired, I felt like dying….yes really!!! My body just wasn’t coping at all. I had no energy to do anything. Even sleep wasn’t an option because my skin was so bad.

So lets go back about 6 weeks, and I had decided that I wanted to concentrate on my physical. I had been on a huge spiritual journey, having incredible experiences, and meeting lovely people, yet I felt like I needed to get a bit more grounded, and start to look after my Souls home, my body.

But I didn’t want to become obsessed!! Honestly the amount of people I see, who, when they decide to lose weight/get fit, became completely obsessed, to the point where they actually lose themselves. Its like the light goes from within them, and all their whole life is this obsession with fitness, and food!! Life just isn’t fun anymore. And some just look so ill, and are making themselves ill, with this fear of fatness!!! It is just pure punishment!! I wonder how many of them where shiite muslims in a previous life, whipping themselves with blades until they bled!! Then there are those who have a really healthy relationship with food, and fitness, and truly love life. Yes I wanted to be one of those

But how? Where was I going to get the motivation?

I had approached nubeginnings about a discounted rate, and they basically told me that they never did that because they are always in demand. Fudge! It was way out of my budget. Yet, and I believe that things alway manifest when we are truly ready, I got a phone call from them. They had a huge group cancellation, so did I want to go for a significantly reduced rate?…ahhhhhhhhhh hell yeah!!!!

Yet my fear tried to get my to cancel at the last minute, but luckily they wouldn’t have it! I was so scared travelling on the train to Devon , I hadn’t work out in ages, I was so tired, in so much pain, and so had I wasted my money?

I cried all the way on the train!!!

I was heading to Ilfracombe, home of Damian Hurst statue….love it or hate it….I really liked it!

We were picked up at the station by Dave. There were 4 of us in the car, and immediately I felt at ease. At the Mansion, we were introduced to Jenny, and the team, who were so lovely. This was going to be ok. On arrival, after a short introduction, I was weighed, and measured, and BP taken, which was very high…no surprise there!! And the week had began. There were talks, and  long stunning walks, fitness, massages, relaxing, dancing and great food, and lots of laughs. I had a challenging week, yet one of the most precious weeks of my life. I was made to feel so special, and so cherished. It was a fitness camp yes, yet the two PT’s were so lovely. None of this sergeant major shouting, just gentle yet forceful encouragement that didn’t make you feel like a huge useless lump!! And the food, 1400 calories a day, was so tasty. All based on Paul Holfords Low GL diet, which basically keeps your blood sugar level balanced. I learnt so much about what to eat, and when. I never ever felt hungry. The walks where challenging but it was summer, one of the hottest weeks of last year, yet we were in Devon, and the views were stunning. I could not fault a thing!

 

And I lost 10lbs in one week, and yes I cried again, and so did Jenny!!!

And I have not put it back on!

Yes coming home was another challenge, and keeping up with the health way of living was hard, hence the reason for starting this blog.

I am on a journey, and i want you to follow me.

All I know is that I deserve to eat good food. I will be posting recipes, and tips. I have no idea where I am going, but I am surely, and joyously, going to enjoy the journey

Love and Peace Out