INSIDE MY CUPBOARD

Here's some of  my dried food cupboard essentials:

• rice: wild, brown or basmati
• quinoa: red and white
• pasta: spelt, whole wheat, rice, quinoa, amaranth
• noodles: kelp or soba
• pulses and legumes: puy lentils, green lentils, split peas, cannellini and black beans
• canned sardines and anchovies
• nuts & seeds: cashews, almonds, hazel nuts, pecans, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds
• nut & seed butters: almond, hazel, tahini, hemp, sunflower seed 
• crackers: both dehydrated and baked
• buckwheat flour
• baking soda
• maple syrup
• raw and/or manuka honey
• raw cocoa powder
• dried fruits: dates, raisins, fruit rolls, fruit strips (my kids love these)
• raw chocolate: my favourites 
• superfoods: cacao nibs, goji berries, chlorella & spirulina powder, bee pollen
• shredded coconut

Heidi x

RED SMOOTHIE

This sweet smoothie is a delicious start for the day. It's full of antioxidants and vitamins. I love the frozen Açai purée that you can use for smoothies and bowls. If you can't find frozen Açai you can easily substitute it with blueberries or black currants.

You need:

• 1/2 apple
• 1 frozen açai berry smoothie pack 
• 1 cup frozen rasberries (or fresh)
• chunk of red cabbage (about a handful)
• splash of coconut water or coconut milk

Optional:

• handful of greens e.g. kale, collard or spinach
• 2-3 tbs of coconut yogurt (I like Coyo)
• goji berries on top

Blend all the ingredients until smooth and decorate with few goji berries on top.

Heidi x

NATURAL LEMSIP

I'm sure our UK readers are familiar with Lemsip, the very famous hot drink for cold and flu. Here's a natural version without artificial colours, sweeteners or other nasties.

We were all sick last week one after another so I've been drinking this to the point where it's coming out of my ears .

In the original recipe this is made with a juicer, I don't have one for the moment so I used a blender instead. It makes the drink a little thicker, but the result is pretty much the same and actually you still have all the fibre left from the fruits.

 You need:

• 1 Golden Delicious apple (I only had red apples this time hence the pink colour)
• small chunk of fresh ginger (approx. 2 cm)
• 1/2 organic lemon
• 1-2 tea spoons of Manuka honey
• 1/2 cup hot water

Juice the apple, ginger and lemon in a juicer (or blend them in a blender until smooth). Leave the lemon peel on. Half-fill a mug and top it up with hot water. Make sure the water is not boiling so it doesn't destroy the vitamins and the effect of honey. Add honey, stir and sip.

Heidi x

RAW ENERGY BITES

Raw treat heaven. Here'a a great guilt-free energy snack when you are on the run or craving something sweet. Can dairy-free, gluten-free and refined-sugar free taste any better?

You need:

• 0.4 cup (1 dl) of hazelnuts
• 0.4 cup (1 dl) of pecan nuts
• 0.2 cup (0.5 dl) of almonds
• 2 table spoons of hemp seeds (whole not the shelled ones)
• 2 tbs of chia seeds
• 2 tbs of raw cacao powder
• 2 - 3 tbs of maple syrup 
• 1 tbs coconut oil
• 6 big and juicy pitted medjool dates (if you are using dried dates I suggest you soak them in water for about 30mins to soften a little)

Optional:

• coconut flakes
• goji berries

Blend all the nuts into a crunchy flour. Mix together with hemp and chia seeds, cacao powder, coconut oil and maple syrup. Blend the dates into a sticky paste in a separate bowl. Mix everything together and roll between your hands into small balls. You can cover the balls with coconut flakes or decorate with goji berries. Place them in the fridge or enjoy straight away.

Heidi x

RASBERRY & MANGO SMOOTHIE

I love my morning smoothies. Here's a another simple and delicious recipe for you to try.

You need:

• 1 cup of raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup of mango (fresh or frozen)
• splash of coconut water
• handful of ice cubes

Optional:

• 1 banana (if you prefer yours a little sweeter)
• 1-2 table spoons of aloe vera juice
• your favourite protein powder
• chia seeds 

Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Sometimes I leave a little shot of smoothie in a blender and throw in my supplements and superfoods and drink it separately so I can enjoy my smoothie!

Wishing you all a great weekend!

Heidi x

A TASTY GREEN SMOOTHIE

Happy Friday! As it's January (although you wouldn't believe it looking at the temperatures) and many of us are trying to maintain a healthy diet I thought that I too would share a healthy but delicious recipe, a smoothie one at that. This could be illegal though... because the recipe is not mine! It's from a very popular (for a reason) book Honestly Healthy, which I (and I know Heidi would too) highly recommend purchasing if you're into leading a healthy lifestyle but eating good food. For the smoothie you need:

1 pak choi

1/2 mango

1/2 papaya

250ml of coconut water

125ml of water

1 tsp of your chosen green powder (I use spirulina)

I also like to throw in a few other mixtures such as milled seeds, nuts and goji berries. In addition I often add a table spoon of MCT oil (you could use another oil too, such as Udo's). 

Obviously if you want to keep your sugar intake low mango and papaya are not something you should include in your diet on daily basis but a bit of fruit every now and then won't hurt and let's face it a "half green" smoothie tastes a whole lot nicer than a totally green one. This one tastes delicious and is quite filling too. Mine is always ice cold as I freeze my chopped fruit and keep smoothie size portions in the freezer. A great tip (thanks to a friend of mine) if you find making smoothies too much hassle and / or are always rushing around like me.

What are you doing this weekend? I'm going to see 12 Years a Slave tonight. Last week I saw American Hustle (thumbs down, unfortunately, despite the amazing styling) and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (a definite thumbs up, a great history lesson, which brought me to tears on several occasions). I'm having a bit of a cinema January and loving it!

Oh and also, I'm going to be quiet here on the blog for a few days. My laptop is going in to be fixed today and I'm not sure when exactly I'll be getting it back. Hopefully soon. Have a great one!

Minna x

HOT CHOCOLATE

This velvety chocolate drink is a great substitute for the real deal. It's so creamy and delicious. Now is the season to serve it hot but it's equally yummy enjoyed cold.

You need: 

• 1 large cup of coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
• handful of cashew nuts

Optional:

• 1-2 pitted dates 
• pinch of cacao nibs on top

Put coconut milk, cacao powder and cashew nuts in a blender and blend until smooth. If you have a powerful blender you can heat up your drink by blending it longer, for about 5 minutes or you can just use warmed milk. Sprinkle with few cacao nibs on top. 

I like mine a little bitter. If you prefer yours slightly sweeter throw 1-2 pitted dates in the blender.        

Heidi x

BREAKFAST BOWLS

This recipe is inspired by an amazing juice bar that has fabulous organic, cold pressed juices, superfood smoothies and vegan snacks.

 You need:

• 1 1/2 frozen bananas
• 1 apple
• 1 tablespoon of raw honey
• 2 - 3 tbs of almond butter
• splash of coconut or almond milk 
• 1/2 teaspoon of spirulina
• 1/2 teaspoon of chlorella
• 1-3 ice cubes

Optional superfood toppings:

• goji berries
• golden berries
• chopped cashew nuts
• cacao nibs
• bee pollen
• chia seeds

Place all the ingredients in a blender. Blend with barely enough coconut or almond milk to keep your blender going until smooth. Pour into serving cups and decorate with your favourite superfoods, nuts and enjoy.  

  

 Perfect start for the weekend!

Heidi x

CHOCOLATE CHIA COOKIES

Again another great discovery from Ella's delicious blog. I've been completely obsessed with these crunchy, nutty cookies since I tried them for the first time. I keep making a batch after another.

You need:

• 1 cup of ground almonds
• 1 cup of ground hazelnuts
• 1 cup of buckwheat flour
• 6-8 pitted medjool dates
• 1/2 cup of maple syrup
• 1/3 cup of water
• 3 tablespoons of raw cacao powder
• 3 tbs of chia seeds
• 4 tbs of coconut oil

Mix almonds, hazelnuts, buckwheat flour, cacao powder and chia seeds in a bowl. Put dates, maple syrup, water and coconut oil in a blender and blend until smooth. Mix together with the dry ingredients.  Shape dough into little balls, press them between your hands and place on a baking tray. Bake 15-20 minutes in 180C degrees. 

Heidi x

BOTTOMS UP

When I feel run down I'll have a course of wheatgrass shots. I find it boosts my immune system and gives me energy. It's packed with chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals.

You can find wheatgrass powder in most of health stores and you mix it up with water, juice, smoothies etc. However, my favourite is frozen wheatgrass juice in serving size cups.  

Bottoms up Minna! Ok, so maybe the taste isn't the prettiest but it's so good for you.

Heidi x

INCREDIBLE HULK SMOOTHIE

Like many of you I like to start my day with a smoothie full of vitamins and minerals. Keeps me going all morning. I tried this smoothie not too long ago in an organic cafe. Total addiction. I had to create my own version.

 You need:

• one banana
• large handful of cashew nuts
• handful of spinach
• 6-8 leaves of basil
• 2 table spoons of coconut yogurt (or coconut milk)
• 1/2 cup coconut water
• 2-3 ice cubes

Optional:

• one table spoon hemp protein (or your other favourite)
• one table spoon soaked chia seeds
• one table spoon psyllium husk
• one tea spoon super green powder

Place all the ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Heidi x