Yummy Hot Chocolate....

I am tired today. It was a late night last night, and I am midway through a working weekend. So to reward myself and have a break, I am going to have a special hot chocolate.

Made with  1 Cup of semi skimmed milk and 4 heaping Tablespoons of semi sweet organic hot chocolate I will add a sprinkling of cinnamon and nutmeg, lots of whipped cream and some marshmallows.

It’s just the treat I need before I get back to work!

Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies In The World!!...

Well it’s that dreaded time of year…. tax time! Tonight I will be sorting through receipts and paperwork which isn’t the best way to spend a Friday night. So, to make the task more enjoyable I have made some chocolate chip cookies.

I am not much of a baker but this recipe for the best big fat chewy chocolate chip cookies is quick, simple and foolproof.

Some top tips for extra chewiness;

• After mixing the wet and dry ingredients allow the mixture to rest for at least 45 minutes to an hour. This allows the hot melted butter to cool.

• Half way through baking take the cookies out and bang the oven tray once on a heat proof surface before placing back in the oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

When making these I like to substitute half the chocolate chips for some chopped walnuts or pecans .

If you like cookies then give these a go – they are simply delicious! Now to put the kettle on, I think it’s going to be a long night!

Grilled and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Gorg...

Tonight was a night for trying something new. A few weeks ago I saw one of my favourite chefs from the food network, Giada De Laurentiis, prepare a wonderful looking meal for her friends.

Mushrooms have always been one of my favourite foods and Giada’s recipe for Grilled and Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms with Gorgonzola looked too yummy to pass up. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get all the ingredients so I did have to make a few compromises.

Instead of turkey or chicken sausages, I used plain pork ones. I also didn’t have any mascarpone cheese. The mixture did need some moisture to help blend everything together so I added just a touch of double cream.

I served the mushrooms with a simple watercress salad on the side. The peppery flavour of the watercress complemented the gorgonzola nicely. This was a huge hit and I will definitely be making it again.

Late Night Snacking: A Healthy Option...

Sometimes, even after a good dinner, I can feel a bit peckish in the evening. It’s important not to eat anything too heavy or sweet so close to bedtime as it can affect your sleep, but I have found the perfect night time snack for me.

When I get a late night food craving I reach for a piece of whole wheat toast and spread it with some organic all natural peanut butter and a mashed up banana. It has that perfect salty sweet combination that I love and also has the added benefit of promoting a deep and restful sleep!

Bananas are known for being one of the top foods for helping you get a good nights sleep. They are rich in melatonin and serotonin which have soothing qualities. They also contain magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant.

Whole wheat bread is another good late night food choice as its great for balancing your blood sugar and it’s also rich in serotonin.

If you get a late night craving, try this healthy snack!

Smashed New Potatoes with Garlic and Dill...

Tonight we are having fresh organic salmon fillets. I like to put a little bit of butter, a squeeze of lemon juice and some crushed garlic on them before I wrap them up in tin foil and bake them in the oven. I always find this keeps the fish really moist and flavourful.

My favourite side dish to have with oven baked salmon is Smashed New Potatoes with Garlic and Dill.

I boil up some new potatoes (usually about 5-6 potatoes per person). Once cooked, I drain them and put them back into the saucepan. I then add a knob or so of butter, 2-3 minced garlic cloves (depending on how much you like garlic) and add some chopped fresh dill. I give the saucepan a vigorous shake and if needed toss the potatoes around with a spoon.

They do get smashed up this way – but that adds to the flavour as all the buttery garlicky goodness seeps into the flesh of the potato.

It’s an easy side dish and a perfect match for the lemon garlic oven baked salmon.

….and yes those are creamed leeks on the side!

Fruit Smoothies: A great way to start the day...

One the best ways to start the day is with a healthy fruit smoothie. My husband has a very early start to his day and he struggles with his appetite so early in the morning. For awhile he was going to work without eating anything at all for breakfast. Skipping such an important meal is not good for your health or wellbeing – and he was beginning to suffer. Headaches, unhealthy weight loss, mood swings and tiredness were all results of him not having a good start to his day.

Fortunately we discovered the one thing he can stomach early in the morning: a smoothie.

We use plain organic yoghurt and also add about ½ a cup of semi skimmed organic milk. Then we add some fruit. You can really have fun and experiment with different fruit combinations. The great news is that you can easily get at least 1 portion of your 5 a day. Some fruits that work really well in smoothies are:

• Bananas
• Mangoes
• Peaches
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Apricots
• Melon
• Kiwi Fruit

If you really want to add an extra special dimension to your smoothie you can also try adding one or more of the following:

• Peanut Butter
• Runny Honey
• Cinnamon
• Porridge Oats

Here is one of our favourite recipes.

Combine the following in a blender.

¾ cup Organic Plain Yoghurt.

2 Bananas.

1 cup of Strawberries.

3 Tablespoons of Crunchy or Smooth Peanut Butter (depending on your preference)

½ cup of Semi Skimmed Milk

Sprinkling of Cinnamon

Have a go and see what amazing combinations you can up with. I would love to hear what you create so please feel free to share your recipes!

French Onion Soup A Delicious Vegetarian Version....

French Onion soup has to be one of my all time favourite lunches. It has everything you need; sweet caramelized onions in a rich broth, crispy garlicky croutons and lots and lots of Gruyere cheese. Comforting, nourishing and flavoursome – it always scores 11 out 10 with me!

It’s the perfect meal for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Check out this great recipe for the vegetarian version I used.

The only changes I made to the recipe was using 1 cup of grated Gruyere cheese rather then the Swiss cheese she used. I also used a small baguette and cut 3 pieces for each bowl of soup. I lightly grilled them with a garlic butter mixture before placing in the soup and topping with the cheese.

Delicious!

The Lemon Posset Has Landed!...

Well here it is, my first ever lemon posset. I decided to garnish it with a bit of whipped cream and a few glace cherries. An experiment with making my own candied lemon peel ended disastrously – I will save that story for another day.

As for the actual dessert I still can’t believe how simple it was to make.

Now to get stuck in!

Here is the recipe I used, kindly shared by MARLENE28 at All Recipes.

Ingredients

750ml (1¼ pints) double cream

200g (7 oz) caster sugar

3 lemons, juiced

Directions

In a saucepan over medium high heat, stir together 750ml cream and sugar. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. Pour a little more cream over the tops just before serving.

Organizing Your Weekly Shop....

Saturday is the day we normally do our weekly shop. It’s a good day to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables as there is farmers market nearby. For the other bits and pieces we need we visit our local supermarket.

During the week I make a note of items that need to be restocked. This helps to make sure I don’t forget anything (believe me I need all the help I can get!). I also always check that I have the ingredients for some simple no fuss suppers. Things like;

Pasta: for macaroni and cheese or another simple pasta dish.

Butter Beans or Pot Barley: for soup.

Rice: for egg fried rice.

Baked Brown Beans: for beans on toast.

Self Raising Flour and chocolate chips: for easy bake cookies.

I also like to research at least 2 new recipes and buy the ingredients for them. That way we have the option of either cooking something new OR  if we are feeling tired we can put together something tasty and homemade very quickly.

One of the recipes I am going to make this week is from All Recipes. It’s for a wonderful looking dessert – Lemon Possets.

I will let you know how they turn out!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

750ml (1¼ pints) double cream

200g (7 oz) caster sugar

3 lemons, juiced

3 tablespoons additional double cream to serve

Preparation

In a saucepan over medium high heat, stir together 750ml cream and sugar. Bring to the boil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the lemon juice. Pour into serving glasses and refrigerate until set, about 5 hours. Pour a little more cream over the tops just before serving.

COOKING. A GREAT WAY TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH LO...

Although we sometimes may feel tired and uninspired when it comes to cooking, my husband and I do our best to make the preparation of our meals a special moment in our day. Sometimes we will have a glass of wine or sherry as we do our prep and we always put on some music. It helps to liven our mood and gently eases us away from the mundane worries and stresses of the day.

The meal doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s more about working together and spending time together. We laugh, joke and lose ourselves in the cooking. After we have enjoyed eating our meal, we share the kitchen duties. This means it’s done faster so we can settle in to a good film while the night’s still young. More importantly though it helps share the work load rather then have one person feel like they are always doing everything – which can become overwhelming.

Get out of the mindset that cooking is a chore. It is actually a wonderful way to relax, unwind and spend quality time with those you love.