Food Glorious Food!

Firstly guys, Thank You so much for the feedback on my last post. I am so glad so many of you enjoyed the read and agreed with my viewpoint. It is something that I care very deeply about and being able to write about it felt so good!

Claim to Fame!!

In even better news, I tweeted a link for that post to Dr Christian Jessen and Emma Woolf from Supersize Vs Superskinny as I really enjoy the programme and they also do a piece on Eating Disorders as Emma is a recovered Anorexic. And guess what?! Dr Christian actually re-tweeted my link! Not only was this a proud moment, getting some sort of celebrity recognition, but it also saw me gain a surge in hits to my page and some new followers and messages from people to give me their praise - it was an amazing feeling!


And Yes, I  want to make a change...something to work on...watch this space!


Right, enough gloating....back to the topic!

I Thought I would do a post dedicated to food in light of the last one. Of course, this will include a good old foodie pic (or 5) and a few quick recipes

Oh yes Leo...I do indeed...!


 

I really have found a love for cooking throughout the time I have followed new eating styles. It allows me to be creative, seek out recipes I wouldn't normally try and adapt existing recipes as I like.

From discussions I have had with friends over the years, it always seems to be the same complaint..... Diets are BORING....Don't you just eat the same thing?......Surely you miss sugar.....

ARRRGHHHH!

Why does food have to be boring or repetitive? It certainly does not! And why should I miss sugar?! OK, yes, I DO miss sugar.....sometimes....when I'm not coming up with paleo ways of getting my sweet tooth fix ;-)


So that's why I thought I would share a couple of my ''boring diet'' food ideas....I hate the word diet....I will refrain from using it from now on!

Let me know how boring you think these are!

Right, so first up we have a lovely Breakfast Loaf I created on Sunday

• 3 ripe bananas
• 170g of nut butter of your choice
• 150g of desiccated coconut
• 6 medium eggs
• 3 tsps cinnamon powder
• Optional ingredients to add in for different flavours; dried cranberries, orange and lemon zest, chocolate / vanilla protein  powder
• 150ml of double cream - half to be poured over, half to be briskly mixed to create a thick mousse like accompaniment. I mixed mine with Cinnamon, but can try it plain or with Nutmeg / Vanilla pods

Method:

• Mix all ingredients in a food processor / blender until smooth
• Line a cake tin (9") with tin foil and pour mixture into tin
• Bake in the over at 180 degrees for 30-40 mins, until golden on top and dry inside (use a skewer to make sure the mix inside is fully cooked)
• Best served warm, but was equally yummy saved for later as a snack!

Up next, Rainbow Courgette Noodles! - Serves 2

• 3 Courgettes
• 1 Large Carrot
• 6 Pieces of Tenderstem Broccoli
• 5 Savoy Cabbage Leaves
• 1/2 Yellow Pepper
• 1/2 Red Pepper
• Tsp of Coconut oil or Butter

 

 

 

Method:

• Heat the oil/butter in a large frying pan
• Thinly slice the carrot, peppers broccoli and cabbage into strips and add to the pan, stirring occasionally
• Whilst the other veg is cooking, prepare the courgette noodles. Do this by slicing them up with a Julienne peeler, so it looks like noodles (can also be done by finely slicing, but this does take AGES!)
• Add the courgette to the pan and stir in with the veg. Fry for just long enough that allows the veg to be crunchy, but the courgette to be soft
• Serve with a Roasted Hoi Sin Duck Breast

Parsnip Chips, Serves 2 - or just you if you don't like to share - they are moreish!

• 2 Parsnips, washed - don't have to be peeled
• Himalayan / Celtic Sea Salt
• Optional - to flavour the crisps, simply add 2 tsps of the following to the mix; Smoked Paprika, Jerk Seasoning, Chilli Powder, Nutmeg, Garlic and Rosemary etc
• Melted Coconut oil

Method:
Preheat oven to 180 degrees

• Top and tail the parsnip. Slice it as thinly as you (safely) can with a vegetable knife. Lay them out on a baking tray and sprinkle salt over them.
• Drizzle as much coconut oil on them as you like and using your hands, make sure each of the slices are coated in oil.
• Place in oven for 10-15 mins or until golden.
• Take out of oven and transfer to a plate / chopping board to allow them to cool and crisp up.

And lastly, two little Treats....Frozen Banana Flapjack and Peanut Butter Cups

 

Frozen Banana Flapjack

• 2 Large Bananas
• 2 tsps Cinnamon
• 2 tsps Nutmeg
• 170g of Nut Butter (I used Almond)
• 100g coconut oil
• 150g desiccated coconut

Method:

• Prepare a Baking Tray by covering it in foil
• Using your hands (as this is the most fun way!) Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until all combined.
• Transfer your mixture onto the foil covered baking tray and spread it out as evenly as possible. Mixture should be about half an inch thick
• Scour the mixture into bite size square pieces and place in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• After 20 mins, the mixture should have set quite nicely. If so, remove from freezer and remove foil and mixture from the tray. Cover the tray in cling film.
• Whilst the mixture is still on the foil, deepen the scours and break the pieces apart and transfer to the cling filmed tray. Place back in the freezer for 2-3 hours.
• When ready to consume, remove from freezer and defrost for 5 mins, they will be ready to eat. They tend to defrost really quickly so be sure to eat quickly....!

Nut Butter Cups - makes roughly 20 cups

• 200g of chocolate  - I used a mix of Dark and Milk Chocolate. (100g each)
• A jar of Nut Butter - Almond works best I have found
• 150ml double cream
• Petite fours cases

Method:

• Set out your petite fours cases
• Boil a pan of water and cover with a pyrex lid, upside down. Place chocolate in the lid and stir with a wooden spoon until completely smooth
• Stir in half of the cream
• Take the chocolate off the heat and using a teaspoon, transfer some of the mixture into each case to line the bottom of them
• Again, using a teaspoon, place some nut butter on top of the first chocolate layer in each cup. Almond butter works best as it is naturally more runny, therefore easier to transfer into each cup!
• Mix the remainder of the cream into the remaining melted chocolate and ten cover each nut butter layer in a layer of chocolate.
• Transfer the cups onto a plate / tray and place in the fridge for at least 2 hours
• Serve from the fridge with Strawberries

Alternatively, use no nut butter and instead, add peppermint essence, orange zest or even small pieces of chopped fruit and nuts to the chocolate and cream mixture to create all different kinds of chocolate treats!


Well, that's a few recipes to keep you all going for a while! If you try them, Let me know what you think! Enjoy!


*UPDATE*

Competition Prep

All is going well on this front so far. I am getting nervous now as I know there will be ladies who are much stronger than me competing - and some who will weigh in up to 10kgs heavier than me in my weight class...eeek! But hey, I already knew this...I will go and give it my all and hopefully hit some PBs! What's that cheesy saying...It's not winning, but taking part that counts...?! Yea....THAT!!!

One of the events is a log press of 35kgs for reps...and considering I hit a 1RM of 45kgs yesterday, I'd say I'm pretty confident I'll do well in this event!

I know I can do the Farmers walk with 47.5kgs comfortably, so in tomorrows 5:30/6am (?!) session, I will focus on a 50kg run, along with arm over arm pull practice - but again, feel pretty good about this event.....So fingers crossed!!!

In other news....

I'm still giving Yoga a go too with some at home practice with my trusty little app!

 

 

Seeing some increase in my flexibility, and stamina which is great! Georgie and Zuz both do DDP and Bikram Yoga respectively, so these may soon appear on my "To Try" list!!

Hope you are all on track with your goals....anyone up for trying a new challenge? Any yummy recipes to share? I'd love to hear from you!

As a side project, I have started #100happydays on Instagram...everyday, post a picture of something that made you happy / smile.... you'll be shocked, I'm sure, to know that most of mine are of FOOD!

Anyway, have a great weekend all, I'm off out tomorrow to watch Ben Compete for the English Weightlifting Title...and then on for a few Vinos to celebrate my Dear Mothers 50th Birthday!!!

Franki x

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