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Food Blogger Of The Fortnight – Supper In The Suburbs

January 30, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 1 Comment

Today I am happy to introduce to you my eighth food blogger of the fortnight. I’m really enjoying sharing some of my favourite bloggers with you and in the process also giving myself a reminder to have a good roam around blogs that I love.

emma walton supper in the suburbs

Emma is the blogger behind Supper In The Suburbs, another blogger I am glad to have met at River Cottage in September. I have followed the blog for quite a while now and Emma has actually guest posted on my blog previously – remember those lemon thumbprint cookies?? Her blog is a fabulous mixture of all kinds of dishes and desserts with restaurant reviews from London and restaurant tips for places she has visited such as Edinburgh, Nottingham and New York. I highly advise you to pop on and over and have a browse..its worth it I promise! Now over to Emma

Supper in the Suburbs:

Tell us a bit about you and the blog:

I started blogging back in 2011. I can’t believe that that makes my blog almost 6 years old! It started out as a distraction at university. I was living with some people I really didn’t get along with and food became my escape. The more I cooked the more I enjoyed it and I wanted to find like minded people to share my hobby with!

The last 3 years the blog has really taken a turn: I moved to London and have been lucky enough to try out some of London’s finest restaurants, bars and street food. But, the main focus of the blog are still my recipes. I share a combination of cakes and bakes, as well as quick and easy meals that anyone can make at home.

People often tell me I should be doing something with food for a job but I like keeping blogging as my hobby and I certainly don’t intend to start making serious money out of it any time soon. Blogging is still a bit of an escape for me and I have made so many fantastic friends over the last 6 years that it’s become an important part of my life and I know it will be for a long time yet!

Become a part of my little community of readers and I can guarantee tasty recipes, insights into the London food seen and down to earth chatter!

What is your most popular recipe:

My most popular recipe is a bit of a surprising one – Breakfast Detox Smoothie. Ironically the remaining top 10 recipes on the blog are cakes and other naughty treats! I guess my readers need the Detox Smoothie after binging on cake and chocolate.

Rolled oats raspberries and bananas make this Breakfast Smoothie a meal in a glass-1

And what is your personal favourite recipe:

My favourite recipe is probably my Profiterole Celebration Cake. It signifies 3 things: 1.) making one of my best friends smile when I presented the cake to her at work (she had been having a REALLY tough time and cake was most definitely needed, 2.) pride after learning a new skill (choux pastry) and 3.) getting selected to sit in the front row at The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice because the producers wanted to film my cake!!!

Profiterole Celebration Cake

This cake to me is a celebration in more ways than one!

Where else can we find you??

Twitter: www.twitter.com/KitchenGoddess3
Instagram: www.instagram.com/efwalt
Facebook: Like me here

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Filed Under: Food Blogger Of The Fortnight · Tagged: popular food bloggers uk, supper in the suburbs, top uk food bloggers 2016

Feeling The Love – A Valentines Gift Guide

January 28, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

Lumie Bodyclock Elite:

This is a more expensive gift but one which reaps rewards all year around. A clock which can help with SAD ( seasonal affective disorder ) as well as help with sleep issues. It has a number of different features from the original body clock such as meditation, relaxing sounds and the ability to link up your mp3s as well as a built in radio. I’ve been using it for a few weeks and I love it. The calming bird sounds are my favourite, so relaxing!

Lumie bodyclock elite

Homesense UK have such an amazing and varied selection of treats for your loved one (or yourself) I rarely come out from a visit without a stash of products from foodie bits and dishes to candles and homeware. Definitely worth a look to get something a little different.

VDay_News-carousel4

Jules B Pashmina:

This gorgeous red pashmina from Jules B is perfect for valentines. Sumptuous and a vibrant red colour. Its the ideal gift.

pashmina-original-pashmina-scarf-p802531-1929028_image

Feeling a little lazy and don’t fancy going out to eat? Why not try some of these meals from Charlie Bigham? I quite fancy the steak pies!

charlie brigham meals

Wunderbrow & Wunderextension mascara:

I have been a fan of these since their release a few months ago. A brow filler/colour which lasts 7 days and is water resistant it will save you so much time. Seriously you need to get these. The Wunderextension mascara is another great product in the range.

Wunderbrow

Want to send a gift but no time to go shopping? The Swiftgift app is for you. Send real gifts to your friends via your smartphone. It’s simple, lots of choice and you can do it while lying in the bath!

Zippo Candle Lighter:

What is romance without candle light? This candle lighter from Zippo.

Zippo candle lighter

Scentered have a range of herbal fragranced balms. I’ve been trying Escape – Escapism Ritual to stimulate motivation and creativity, and enhance meditation practice. Recharge the batteries in a moment and go!
Oud enhances mental clarity, Frankincense aids balance and visualisation and Sandalwood strengthens and fortifies the mind. I love it. Perfect to keep in my desk drawer.

Scentered balms

Home Bargains have a really wide selection of goodies to suit all prices. My favourites are the super soft monkey and the Mason jar drinking glass, there is a cute mug too for tea and biscuit lovers!

Home bargains valentines gifts

Blade & Rose:

Get your kids in on the act with these sweet heart themed leggings from Blade & Rose.

Blade and rose leggings

Aren’t they just adorable?

Guylian:

I am a long time fan of Guylian chocs and their Valentine options are a delicious treat! Chocolate is the way to my heart. These are my faves:

image

Gillette Fusion Pro Shield:

A great gift for the man or woman in your life, I always find male razors more effective and they seem to last longer too.

image

Green & Blacks Tasting Box:

I love Green & Blacks, especially the original dark. These are the perfect size to pop in your bag or office drawer for when you just need CHOCOLATE!

Green & blacks tasting collection

S Factor Diamond Dreams Shampoo & Conditioner:

I tried this for the first time recently and it contains diamond dust..who doesn’t want diamonds for Valentines??

S factor diamond shampoo

Thumbs Up Nails:

Perfect for that teen valentine or just someone who loves to pretty up their nails with ease. They are mega cute.

Thumbs up nails

Olverum Bath Oil:

This bath oil is so indulgent and smells delicious too. I love it!

Olverum oil

Country Rose Shirt:

This gorgeous shirt from Ediburgh Woollen Mill is the prettiest top to wear on the special day.

Ewm country rose shirt

Sabichi have lots of heart theme items including this dinner set, perfect for you to serve your Valentine’s meal on:

Sabichi

Love My Skin – Anti Ageing Pen:

This pen has 6 anti ageing lights to target areas such as nose, mouth and eyes. Research has shown just a few minutes a day shows results within 10 days.

Anti ageing pen

Just a few ideas to see you through this loved up month!

*Some of these items were gifted for the purpose of this feature.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized · Tagged: Valentines gift guide

Camp Bestival 2016 – What To Expect Part 1

January 27, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · Leave a Comment

It’s usually around this time of year that I start thinking about our summer plans..where we will go and what we will do. Every year for the past four that plan has always included Camp Bestival. You can read lots about what we have thought of previous years and posts about packing tips of going to festivals with babies here.

So what can we expect from this years festival??

Well the theme is:

Outer Space

camp festival theme 2016

Yes Camp Bestivalers..Lulworth Castle becomes Spacecamp Dorset so I imagine there will be rocket ships, shining stars and astronomical …fun.

I think this theme may be my favourite yet, Izzy is just starting to love the idea of astronauts and talking about the planets so I think she will just be in awe of it all whilst Chloe who was just 19 months at last years CB will be much more adventurous and loving the festival/space vibe!

Enough about the theme..who will be there??

Lets start with the music:

The headliners:

Fatboy Slim, Jess Glynne and Tears For Fears are the ahhhmazing headliners we have to enjoy this year!

I’m most excited for Tears For Fears!! Everybody wants to rule the world….

As well as the headliners we have:

Katy B, KT Tunstall, festival favourites The Cuban Brothers, Bananarama and Brand New Heavies are just a few of the many and varied musical acts to choose from. As I type I am listening to Love In The First Degree ( anyone remember the lyrics – yeh you do! I stand accused of … ) .. will be great to hear these 80’s classics live!! If you don’t know any Banarama tunes get googling! I wasn’t born until 1983 but older brothers and sisters meant I knew all of these songs at a very young age.

For the kids:

Mr Tumble:

To be honest I am not sure who enjoys Mr Tumble more… the girls or us. I mean this in a way most parents will understand – seeing their faces as they see the king of CBeebies is an absolute treat! They were even lucky enough to get a handshake from him last year!

camp festival mr tumble

Dick & Dom:

Camp Bestival wouldn’t be the same without these two. The crowds, kids and parents alike love them. They are also super friendly and we spotted them strolling around the festival chatting to everyone as they went.

Art Town:

This is like a dreamworld to any painting/craft lovers and lets face it what kids aren’t?? We spent so many enjoyable hours there last year and in previous years. image

camp festival art town

But Camp Bestival really isn’t just about the planned events, the timeslots you plan to go to on the weekends programme – its the steel band you happen to catch playing Uptown Funk as you stroll across the field and the dinosaur who wanders past as you eat your lunch. Its the various stalls and areas run by brands/organisations and charities where the kids can get their face painted, play games, create create create or just listen to stories or puppet shows. It entrances you in a way not many festivals can. You walk to get somewhere and suddenly you stop as something exciting catches your eye and then you are there for a few hours but you don’t care. Its the unplanned that excites your children and as soppy as it seems it captures your heart. Something about seeing utter glee and shock on your childs face reflected into your own is just special.

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There is so much more for me to tell you about Camp Bestival..the art, the literature and my very favourite part – THE FEAST COLLECTIVE but thats for another post.. I won’t keep you waiting too long. One thing I will say is that Camp Bestival really isn’t just a music festival or a family festival but its a holiday. Not a lie on the beach drinking cocktails one of course but an experience which I guarantee your children will talk about all year around – our eldest likes to say well.. when I went to the festival …at least once a fortnight.

For now..go buy yourself a ticket:

Ticket Info:

Buy tickets here:

Camp Bestival 2016 Weekend Tickets are on sale now via: Ticketline / 0844 888 4410

Camp Bestival 2016 Weekend Ticket Prices:

Adult Weekend Ticket – £197.50*
Student Weekend Ticket – £185*
Age 13 to 17 Weekend Ticket – £118*
Age 10 to 12 Weekend Ticket – £93*
Age 5 to 9 Weekend Ticket – £45*
Age 4 & Under Weekend Ticket – £15*
Babes In Arms (1 & Under) – FREE (but ticket required)*

All tickets include camping from Thursday or Friday.

*NB: please refer to the Camp Bestival Ticket Terms & Conditions

*We have been Official Bloggers for Camp Bestival for the past four years and have previously received tickets to review.

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Filed Under: Camp Bestival, Family, Festivals and Camping · Tagged: camp bestival food, camp bestival reviews, camp festival 2016, camp festival with babies, line up

Easy Cookie Butter Traybake

January 26, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 2 Comments

In complete contrast to my last few recipes this is a bit of an indulgent treat. I was having a bit of a store cupboard blitz and found a nearly full jar of biscuit/cookie butter and an almost empty jar of Nutella so I ended up making this Cookie Butter traybake and it was goooooood. Lets ignore the fact that I am on a health kick and therefore could only have a small square but Andrew and Izzy managed the rest and thats what I enjoy most about cooking.. pleasing others with the food I cook.

This recipe is incredibly simple so definitely something you could make with your little ones or let slightly bigger ones make solo with some oven supervision.

Cookie Butter Traybake

You will need:

400g of biscuit or cookie butter/spread
75g of nutella
80g SR flour
2 eggs
20ml skimmed milk

Preheat your oven to 180c and grease/line your baking tin. Combine all of your ingredients aside from your nutella in a mixing bowl and beat until smooth. Pour into tin and level out with the back of your spoon. Dot your nutella on in teaspoon size dollops. bake for about 20 minutes keeping a close eye as you don’t want to over bake, these should still be slightly squishy like brownies but a skewer inserted should come out clean. Remove from oven, cut into squares and enjoy.

 

cookie butter traybake

 

 

If you like traybakes you may like my Banana, Coconut and Dark Chocolate version or these other easy traybake recipes from my fellow food bloggers:

Lemon Drizzle Traybake

Chocolate Courgette Squares

The Best Flapjack Recipe In The World

Chocolate Fridge Cake

Chewy Cornflake Squares

Easy Iced Lime Cake

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Cakes, bread and all things baking, Recipes · Tagged: biscoff recipes, cookie butter cookies, cookie butter recipes, lotus recipes

Cooking With Kids – Dairy & Gluten Free Jam & Coconut Thumbprint Cookies

January 24, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 9 Comments

It’s been a while since I posted any recipes for cooking with children on the blog, we have still been baking but we do tend to repeat the same recipes over and over. Lots of my normal recipes can be cooked by little ones with assistance from an adult and/or slight adaptations to the recipes.

This recipe would be easily made by children from about 4/5 years plus with a little help. My 4 year old who was just getting over a few days of a really bad chest and feeling very sorry for herself completed most steps of this recipe – I explained what to do and she found her way quite quickly. We had such a fun morning baking and messing about in the kitchen together. After we made this I taught her how to make a peanut butter and banana sandwich and she thought she was so grown up. Her spreading and chopping skills have definitely improved since we last did this.

Our youngest daughter, Chloe is dairy, gluten and soya free so we made these so she would be able to enjoy them also. We still bake cakes and biscuits that contain regular flour and dairy products but not when Chloe is around and we have to ensure everything is thoroughly cleaned afterwards due to cross contamination issues. I shared these with extended family ( my sister also has a gluten intolerance ) and two of my siblings pointed out that they wouldn’t have known they were free from these ingredients if I hadn’t said. Its important to use a good quality coconut oil for this as it really makes a difference to the flavour. This recipe makes about 40 cookies – I like to make them in bulk and I find they freeze ok although between sharing them out with family and friends they don’t tend to last that long!

Dairy, Soya and Gluten Free Jam & Coconut Thumbprint Cookies

You will need:

300g Gluten Free Self Raising Flour
300g Golden Caster Sugar
200g Shredded/Dessicated coconut
200g Melted Coconut Oil ( I used Vita Coco )
2 Beaten Eggs
Approx 100g jam of your choice – (most jams are free from dairy, soya and gluten free but always check if making for someone with an allergy )
Greaseproof/baking parchment – don’t try to make this without it as its a sticky mix

Preheat your oven to 180c.

Grease and line several baking trays – depending on the size of your oven you may need to make these in batches. Melt your coconut oil and add to all of your other ingredients aside from the jam and mix well. Now using approximately a teaspoon of the mixture roll into balls between your palms and place the balls on the baking parchment spaced about two inches or so part – now using the base of your palm squish the balls so they are flat circles.

dairy and gluten free thumbprint cookies

Using your thumb ( a childs thumb is the perfect size ) press lightly so there is a dent but not a hole and fill each space with a small amount of your jam – try not to overfill. Bake for approximately 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden brown but the centre is still pale. Place the parchment on a cooling rack. Leave on the parchment for a few minutes as they are much easier to remove. They are amazing when eaten slightly warm but make sure the jam isn’t too hot. We didn’t fill every cookie with jam as we decided to leave some plain to make them more dunkable!

gluten free kids cooking

dairy, soya and gluten free biscuit recipe

These would be great for a children’s birthday party where they have allergies or someone who has allergies is attending. The quality of the photos isn’t brilliant here as I was too involved with her having fun but she really wanted pics at the end of the biscuits she had made and told EVERYBODY about the new skills she had learnt of rolling the dough and using her thumb to make a dent. These certainly aren’t just for the kids, the chewy coconut cookie along with the little burst of sweet jam is deliciously tasty or as Izzy would say yumscriddlyumptious for everyone.

Try these Oaty Thumbprint Cookies from My Fussy Eater which are also dairy, gluten and soya free or perhaps these Mini Lemon and Almond Coconut Cakes? and these Chocolate Puffs look pretty good too!

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Filed Under: Allergies, Cakes, bread and all things baking, Cooking with toddlers, Dairy free, Gluten Free, Recipes · Tagged: cmpa, coeliac, free from biscuit recipes, gluten and dairy free cookies, soya free

Healthy Sweet Potato Pancakes

January 22, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 20 Comments

I love sweet potatoes and I LOVE pancakes. I was going to try making these in a waffle maker initially but I thought during my initial experimentation that it would be better to test the mixture before letting it get stuck in waffle machine crevices. They worked well as pancakes and were a delicious and healthy breakfast. You could prepare the batter in advance but its fairly easy to whip up on the day using some pre roasted sweet potato.

We eat a lot of sweet potatoes here whether cut into wedges or chips for orange chips as my girls call them or roasted then scooped out for instant mash. I tend to batch bake them as they keep well for a few days afterwards and I love having them on hand for quick, nutritious meals for the girls ( and us of course ). I like to throw them into soup for a delicious creamy thickness and to top bolognese for my twist on cottage pie.

I created these on one of those days where all you want to do is eat. I wanted all the gooey cheese and chocolate as well as pancakes..cakes and bread. I thought it may be nice to try out some pancake ideas that were a little healthier than the ones I normally make and that could also use up some of my leftover sweet potato.

photo

Healthy Sweet Potato Pancakes

You will need:

Approx 115g of cooled roasted sweet potato (skin removed)
1 medium egg
40g Self Raising flour
10ml of either maple syrup, honey or I used Sweet Freedom fruit sweetener (which I love)
1/2 tsp of Vanilla extract
A good pinch of Cinnamon
40ml skimmed milk
2 tbsp of coconut oil or oil of your choice for frying

Firstly beat your sweet potato with your egg until smooth, add remaining ingredients aside from your milk and mix well. Now add your milk a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness of your batter. Place a large frying pan over a medium to high heat and when very hot add your oil. Now in small batches using about a heaped tbsp of batter for each small pancake, slowly lower your batter gently smoothing out the top to create small rounds in the pan. Cook for a few minutes on one side before flipping ( carefully-these are a different consistency to normal pancakes ) and cooking the other side. Remove from pan and dive in.

healthy sweet potato pancakes

These are really good served with a drizzle of maple syrup or choc shot ( a low calorie chocolate syrup made from carob and fruit extracts ). I’ve also enjoyed them with griddled bananas. Yes they don’t taste exactly like normal pancakes and I won’t lie when I say I still appreciate the beauty of buttermilk pancakes fried in melted butter with lashings of syrup and crispy bacon on top but they are a pretty good replacement!

sweet potato pancakes with choc shot

* These could easily be made using a soya/coconut/almond milk to make this suitable for dairy intolerant or vegan guests.

Here are a few more pancakes recipes to whet your appetite:

Strawberry Chocolate Chip Vegan Pancakes

Coconut Plantain Pancakes

Cinnamon Pancakes With Stewed Apple & Caramel Sauce

Banana Pancakes With Ricotta & Chocolate

2 Ingredient Banana Pancakes

 

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Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: choc shot, sweet freedom, sweet potato pancakes

Eating Glorious…ly And Losing Weight

January 21, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 3 Comments

Every month I try out a selection of Glorious soups and then tell you all about them. This month all the soups that I have sampled are perfect for January health kicks from the  Glorious Skinnylicious range. All under 2% fat per portion and less than 150 calories. Cutting down on calories definitely does not mean compromising on taste. I used to find it hard to eat soup without a mound of crusty bread  slathered with butter and that turned a reasonably healthy meal into a bit of calorific one. As much as I still enjoy a bit of bread to dip in I don’t feel the need for it so much with Glorious soups which are filling and tasty enough as a standalone dish.

The new Vietnamese Supergreen is pretty awesome.

Vietnamese-Supergreen.b65aae0f0264190b0b1e47a789412f15

I’m also looking forward to trying the Texas Four Bean Chilli this week.

Did I tell you I have lost 17.5lb since the end of October? I’m still a bit astonished at this myself and I am still struggling to really see where it has gone but yes my clothes are a little looser, my face has lost its roundness which comes so easily when I put on the pounds and I am really proud of it. It hasn’t been easy to keep to it at all times so I haven’t. I took 3 weeks off over the festive period as I had so many meals/get togethers and well cheese boards to get through but I must have restrained myself unconsciously as I only put on a few lb. To be perfectly honest with you the numbers don’t matter that much although they certainly give you a boost but it is my health that this is all about.

The one issue I have with dieting  or healthy eating is my LOVE of baking and creating rather indulgent dishes. You will notice that I am still creating new recipes and enjoying my meals. I am just changing the way I eat. Not all the time of course. I still want a slice of my chocolate salted caramel cake every so often and some of my jalapeño and cheese garlic bread but not for every meal. I put on weight really easily which is frustrating so I always have to be mindful of this and so there will be lots of the healthy dishes I’m currently enjoying like these stuffed peppers.

For lunches I am really enjoying the Glorious skinnylicious soups wth my current favourite still being the New England Butternut Squash.

GLORIOUS!-New-England-Butternut-Squash-Soup.6e297d374a803c48e8588a766a9f3a5a

It tastes really indulgent and fills me up whilst warming me in this chilly weather. I normally eat half a pot as a serving which is just 103 calories. Sometimes with a slice of bread or toast but mostly alone with some fruit to follow.

butternut squash skinnylicious

Whether you are trying to cut down or make a change or if you just enjoy delicious soups I do recommend you try Glorious Soups.

*As a Glorious ambassador I am sent samples of soup/vouchers each month and am compensated for my time. I am not obliged to write positive reviews and as such all thoughts are my own.

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Filed Under: Reviews · Tagged: glorious skinnylicious smart points, glorious soup reviews

Stuffed Peppers & 9 Other Veggie Sides

January 17, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 23 Comments

Last night I made these pretty delicious stuffed peppers. They are low in fat, packed with veggies and finished wth a basil creme fraiche. They were so simple I didn’t plan them as a recipe for the blog so excuse the photos but they tasted so good that I had to share. Along with my stuffed peppers I have some great recipes from fellow bloggers for veggie side dishes to share with you.

First up my stuffed peppers:

You will need:

1 yellow pepper ( or a pepper of your choice )
2 shallots diced
15 cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 red chilli diced
1 tsp Olive oil – I actually used an olive oil spray bottle so it was less than that.
3 tbsp reduced fat creme fraiche
1 handful of fresh basil, torn roughly
Seasalt & black pepper

Preheat your oven to 200c.

Halve and deseed your pepper. Rub the inside of the pepper wth olive oil and place in a roasting dish upright along with your shallots, spritz or drizzle over olive oil and season. Bake for approx 15-20 minutes until starting to brown and soften. Whilst your peppers are in the oven, place a small amount of olive oil in large frying pan over a medium heat, add your tomatoes, garlic and chilli with a little salt and pepper and saute for around 5 mins until softened. Remove your peppers and shallots from the oven. Mix your shallots with your tomato mixture and spoon into the halved peppers equally.

stuffed peppers

Mix your torn basil with the creme fraiche, season and top your peppers. Dive in.

This was one of the nicest veggie sides I’ve had in ages, it would make a great starter or even a lunch or supper dish all of its own with a light green salad to accompany. You could top with cheese if you prefer but this was a healthy, low fat dish which I felt didn’t need anything extra.

stuffed peppers creme fraiche

* If you are following the weight watchers smart point plan these are just 1sp per serving.

Now check out these 9 veggie side dishes from my fellow food bloggers:

Baby Carrots With Parmesan, Roasted Kale & Black Sesame:

baby carrots with roasted kale, parmesan and black sesame

Braised Red Cabbage:

Braised-Red-Cabbage1

Cheesy Spinach Bake:

Cheesy-Spinach-Bake

Pesto Sautéed Potatoes:

pesto potatoes

Baked Paprika Potato Wedges:

baked-paprika-potato-wedges_1

Green Romanesco Cauliflower Cheese:

RomanescoCauliCheese4057_thumb

Baked Parsnips With Lancashire Cheese:

BakedParsnips-3532_thumb

Baked Veggie Polenta:

Roasted veg polenta bake (1)

Broad Beans With Spring Onions:

broad beans with spring onions

Hope you enjoy, what are is your favourite veggie side dish?

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Filed Under: Recipes · Tagged: veggie dishes, veggie food bloggers

Snickers Style Peanut Butter Milkshake – The Healthy Version

January 13, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 28 Comments

I was making a really indulgent snickers style peanut butter milkshake earlier this week when I decided to try out making a healthier version because I can’t be indulgent all the time! It worked so well that I thought I would share it with you guys. It uses just 4 ingredients and is fairly frothy and delicious just as a milkshake should be but without your entire daily calorie allowance. It really helps if you have a high powered blender for this as you will need to blitz the ice cubes and also ensure the peanut butter is distributed throughout.

peanut butter and chocolate milkshake

Snickers Style Peanut Butter Milkshake

You will  need:

1 cup of 1% milk ( or any milk you prefer )

2 heaped tbsp of good quality peanut butter

2 tsp of choc shot syrup ( I used sweet freedom which is completely fruit based and suitable for diabetics )  or a natural sweetener

1 tbsp of raw/natural cocoa ( add more cocoa if you aren’t using the chocolate sweetener)

1/2 cup of ice

*Optional -Additional chocolate syrup for decorating glass –

Blitz all ingredients in a high powered blender until frothy and smooth. Taste and add more peanut butter if required.

This whilst not tasting anywhere near as indulgent as the other milkshake was still full of flavour and frothy so I didn’t feel like I was missing out too much. I tricked myself into believing there was real chocolate in as the cocoa added that hint of flavour and the choc syrup helped too!

I will share the indulgent recipe with you later this week. Which will you choose?

snickers milkshake

I am joining in with the We Should Cocoa linky from Tin and Thyme which this month is run by Lovely Appetite.

weshouldcocoa

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Filed Under: Drinks · Tagged: healthy snickers milkshake, peanut butter milkshake, snickers milkshake

Lazy Cheesy Jalapeño & Garlic Ciabatta Bread

January 12, 2016 · by munchiesandmunchkins · 11 Comments

I have been eating so healthily since October that sometimes I really feel the need to not think about what I’m eating. I think its important to be mindful of what you consume but thats not something I want to be doing 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Last night I found out I had lost 16b in the last 3 months. I’m pretty proud of that. It just proves that indulgences are fine when they aren’t constant ones. Anyway in my lets indulge mood I wanted something which was easy to make, quick and satisfying so I came up with this lazy garlic bread. Its lazy because it uses a store bought ciabatta, jarred jalapeños and garlic paste. Its also not that calorific when you consider that I used low fat spread and also a fairly small amount of cheese.

cheesy jalapeno bread

You could make this and be eating it within 15 minutes. This is also a great way to use up slightly stale bread, this was a reduced to clear m&s ciabatta which I used a day or two past sell by.

Lazy Cheesy Jalapeños & Garlic Ciabatta Bread

You will need:

1 ciabatta loaf
10 -15 jalapeños or more if you like a bit of heat!
75g margarine or butter – I used a light spread
2tbsp of garlic puree
50g grated extra mature cheddar

Preheat oven to 220c.

Place your loaf onto a large sheet of tinfoil. Make about 6 cuts into your loaf, slice about 2/3 of the way through. Mix your butter/spread with your garlic puree well and divide between the slices and roughly spread it about. Now distribute your jalapeños so they poke out between the slices. Wrap in the foil and bake for about 8 minutes then remove from oven and sprinkle over your mature cheddar, place under a hot grill until the cheese is bubbling and your jalapeños look slightly burnished. Now enjoy and try not to eat the entire loaf to yourself..this is SUPPOSED to be a sharing dish.

jalapeno bread

The cheese on top is more about the visual appeal and the string of melted gooey cheese you get when you remove your slice so if you are watching calories you could avoid this ingredient and it would still taste awesome. You could also thrown in any ingredients you like, hams, peppers and sundried tomatoes are just some of the fridge leftovers that would work well.

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Filed Under: Recipe Development, Recipes · Tagged: cheesy jalapeno bread, lazy garlic and cheese bread, leftover ciabatta, leftover stale bread

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