Warm Vitamin Bowl with Bite

It's Monday, the weekend was fun......perhaps too much fun.  Lots of bad food that was delicious but probably short of any nutritional benefit.  Drained, tried and begging for the week to go quickly? Well this dish could be just the ticket to replenish the body and fill you up with lots and lots of goodness to see you through the week.

This recipe is not only tasty, but it is full of healing powers due to a carefully selected ingredient list that will boost the immune system and get you re-energised!

Let's go!

Ingredients:                                                      Whats it good for?

• Portobello mushrooms                             B vitamins - for healthy metabolism
• Broccoli                                                    Vitamin C, A, K, calcium, fibre, beta-carotene
• Lemon                                                      Vitamin C - for glowing skin and fighting colds
• Red pepper                                              Vitamin E - for youthful hair and skin
• Sweet potato                                            Too many to name! #superfood
• Cherry tomatoes                                       Lycopene for healthy bones
• Kale                                                          1 of the most nutrient dense foods available!
• Chilli sauce                                               Capsaicin - antibacterial properties
• Spices of your choice

Method:

• Cut sweet potato in half and rub all over with olive oil.  Put on a baking tray and sprinkle with the spices and seasoning of your choice.  I used cinnamon and nutmeg.....but paprika or chilli powder would work too!
• Place in a hot oven (190 ish) and set your timer for 10 minutes! 
• When the timer goes off add to the baking tray your peppers and drizzle them with a little oil.
• Set timer for another 5 minutes.

• When your timer goes off.  Place your broccoli florets onto the tray.  If you have a george foreman grill or similar, put your mushrooms on the grill at this point.  If you dont...... they can go in the oven too. 
• Set time for another 5 minutes.
• In the mean time take your kale and get rid of any really big hard stalks.  Use a lot of kale.....it wilts down a LOT!  Put the kale in a sandwich bag.  Add some olive oil and the juice of 1/2 lime.  Hold the end of the bag shut and 'massage'  the kale, oil and lemon juice! Strange I know but this will help soften the kale!

• When the timer goes off pop the kale in and set the timer for a final 5 minutes.
• Then quickly add the cherry tomatoes, cut in half into a pan.  Add salt, pepper and a good glug of chilli sauce.  Heat quickly so it bubbles away, stirring continuously.  The tomatoes will break down and this will create a spicy, fruity, juice sauce/compote! Taste to check your level of spice and seasoning!

Then time to assemble!

• Start by putting the greens in: kale and broccoli

• Add the peppers and the chopped sweet potato.

• Squeeze on the juice of the remaining half lime!
• Place the mushroom proudly on top of the bowl of goodness!

• Pour the spicy tomatoey goodness all over your beautiful bowl!

And there you have it!!! So many flavours!  So many nutrients and vitamins!  Eat this and feel your body heal itself back to goodness.......setting you up to another weekend of naughtiness!

Meditaranian Sweet Potato

With the weather getting warmer we were looking for a nice fresh summers evening meal.  Initially a baked potato sprung to mind but then I thought.......is there some way to spice up this simple meal idea.  Off to google I went and one of my trusty favourite recipe websites came up trumps..... the good old Minimalist Bakery.

So we decided to make their Mediterranean Sweet Potatoes.  

This recipe is quick and easy to follow.  It uses only a select few ingredients and spices you will already have in your store cupboard.  It is cheap but tastes anything but!

Warm, gently spiced and the perfect balance of being filling yet light.  Exactly what you need on a hot summers day.  It is full of fresh flavours layered upon one another, each mouthful gives you something different!

Why not give this a go?  A great meat free meal that you will want to make again and again!

Let us know what you think!  Remember to post a picture of your meat free meals on our Facebook page!  If you have any good recipes please share them with us! :)

Mexican Feast Flexitarian Style

Picture this......your having a dinner party.......you want to go meat free but you know that would not go down well with some of your guests.  So what do you do?  Cook them a nice meal and you a salad?

No......why not try this Flexitarian Mexican Feast!  This is the best of both worlds.  It involves making two vegetarian Mexican meals that are tasty as they are, and then cooking the meat seperately.  This means your guest have the choice of going meat free, or getting their meat fill.  They can choose which meat they want with which base - its a lovely mix and match situation!

So here is what I cooked:

Veggie Mains

• Sweet Potato and Mixed Bean Chilli (recipe below)
•  Fajita Vegetables (recipe below)

Meat Additions (which can each be served with either veggie main - mix'n'match):

• Honey Chilli Shredded Chicken
• Fajita Spiced Beef

Sides:

• Sweet Potato Wedges
• Black Beans with Tomatoes, Lime and Corriander
• Homemade Salsa
• Homemade Guacamole
• Jalepenos
• Tortillas
• Tacos
• Shredded Lettuce

Recipes

Sweet Potato and Bean Chilli

• 2 x Sweet Potatoes
• 1 x Onion
• 1 x Passata
• 1 x tin Butter Beans
• 1 x tin Kidney Beans
• 1 x tin Chickpeas
• 1 x tin Mixed Beans in Chilli Sauce
• 1 x tbs Cumin
• 1 x tbs Chilli Powder
• 1 x tbs Tumeric
• salt and pepper

Fry the chopped onion until it begins to soften.  Add the sweet potato which has been chopped into bitesized pieces.  Fry for 5-7 minutes.  Add all the tinned goods and the passata.  Add spices and seasoning and mix through.  Reduce heat and allow to cook through until potatoes soft.  Taste - add any additional spices or seasoning according to preference.

Fajita Vegetables

• 3 x Peppers
• 2 x Red Onions
• 8 x Mushrooms
• Pack of fajita spicing / make your own

Slice all ingredients thinly.  Fry gentle in some olive oil for a couple of minutes.  Add spicing and mixed through coating all veg.  Add a splash of water to moisten and to start to create a sauce.  Turn heat down, cook until vegetables are cooked through but still have a good crunch.  You will need to stir frequently to stop any sticking.  Add another splash of water if required.

Black Beans with Tomato, Lime and Corriander

• 1 x tin of Black Beans
• Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
• 1 x Lime
• Large Bunch of Corriander

Drain the black beans and add to a saucepan on a medium heat.  Heat through and stir as required.  Add the tomatoes, continuing to stir for another couple of minutes.  Add in the juice of the lime and the chopped corriander.  Season with salt and pepper.

So with all that done.......it's time to FIESTA FIESTA!!!!

Enjoy, remember to let us know what you think and send us any pictures of the dishes you do!