Category Archives: Healthy Recipes

[Recipe] Healthy Lemon Flavoured Quinoa

Ah Quinoa - which before I knew how to pronounce it, called it Quin-noa! (FYI it’s pronounced ‘keen-nwa’), It’s such a super healthy grain. Totally gluten free, full of benefits and is bursting with protein and vitamins! It’s no wonder it’s hailed a super food and for those who are sticking to a healthy diet have replaced rice with this funny sounding grain!

Now I’m always wanting to embark on a healthy eating regime but I do so well for a few days then stuff my face with the delightful bad stuff like… pizza, pasta, take away (all gluten free of course) but since I’m due to go on holiday to Florida in a couple of weeks, I was worried I’d look like Shamu the killer whale and get harpooned out of the pool! [fun fact: I’m actually terrified of Whales!]

For the first time ever, I have introduced Quinoa to my diet and I absolutely love it! I’ve had it alongside my curry and with my salads in the evening. Although some people may argue that it’s actually quite boring and tasteless, I have started to cook with a little hint of lemon, which makes it perfect for summer!

So if you fancy trying Quinoa, then here is my super easy recipe for Lemon Flavoured Quinoa

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of dried Quinoa
  • 2 cups of Boiling Water
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1/2 Lemon

 

Method:

  1. Measure out your dried Quinoa 
  2. Rinse the dried Quinoa in a sieve under cold water. Make sure you do this as the Quinoa can taste quite bitter 
  3. Add the 2 cups of Boiling Water and bring to the boil 
  4. Add the salt and reduce the heat until the water simmers. Continue to simmer until all the water has absorbed 
  5. Carefully pour the cooked Quinoa into a bowl, squeeze the 1/2 lemon into the Quinoa and mix to combine 

 

 

 

 

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[Recipe] Tomato and Grilled Halloumi Bruschetta

Well, I was planning on blogging more  but I have had a very hectic couple of weeks! I’ve ended up moving house, moving job and being poorly (story of my life!). My endometriosis is still causing me problems. I’m still having to take super strong ‘zombie-fying’ painkillers and on Tuesday I was admitted to hospital and given loads of morphine - which helped but is the reason why I haven’t blogged as often as I liked!

Anyway, since we have had a wash out start to the bank holiday weekend, today we finally got a little ray of sunshine which inspired me to have a fresh and healthy lunch. I’ve always loved bruschetta and if I could, I would have it every day! But today I wanted to shake things up a little bit and introduce some grilled halloumi to the party- which unsurprisingly turned out pretty delicious!


Ingredients:

  • Halloumi Cheese
  • Handful of Tomatoes
  • 1 Clove of Garlic
  • 2 slices of Gluten Free Bread (I used Genius Brown Bread)
  • Olive Oil
  • Pinch of Salt
  • 1 Spring Onion (optional)

Method:

  1. Put a tablespoon of Olive Oil into a grill pan or frying pan and put it on medium heat 
  2. Slice the Halloumi Cheese into 4 thin slices about 1cm thick 
  3. When the Oil is hot, place the Halloumi Cheese into the pan 
  4. Whilst the Halloumi is grilling, place the bread into the toaster and chop your tomatoes and sprinkle with some salt 
  5. Finely chop the stems of a Spring Onion and mix with the tomatoes 
  6. Once Halloumi has gone ‘golden’ underneath, flip over and fry the other side 
  7. Peel the Garlic, rub on the toasted Gluten Free Bread and drizzle Olive Oil onto the Bread. 
  8. Place Grilled Halloumi onto the Bread 
  9. Pour Tomatoes and chopped Spring Onion on top of the Grilled Halloumi 
  10. Enjoy! 

 

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Gluten Free & Egg Free Mint Lamb Burgers

I was really excited to take part in another Gluten Free Recipe Challenge set by the fabulous Caleigh from Gluten Free[k]. It was all the way back in March, when she set the first Spring Gluten Free Recipe Challenge, where we had to come up with something gluten free, dairy free and nut free - but had to involve oranges! So I made my first batch of Gluten, Nut and Dairy Free Orange Flavoured Cupcakes!

But this time the challenge was to make something Gluten Free and Egg Free but it had to involve - Mint!

And since it’s far too warm to bake [I seem to be melting in this summer heat!] and I’m also not a great fan of mint flavoured cakes and chocolates [trust me, I’m a fussy eater!], I decided to make some Gluten and Egg free Mint Lamb Burgers! The reason why is because it’s the perfect weather for barbecues and these make tasty and refreshing gluten and egg free burgers fit for the barbie!

What’s more, the recipe can be adapted to make Lamb Mint meatballs [to go alongside a summer salad] or moulded round wooden/metal skewers to make tasty Mint Lamb style Kebabs!

If you do decide to make your own Gluten and Egg free Mint Lamb Burgers, make sure you finely chop the ingredients! This will ensure the burgers don’t fall apart when you start cutting and cooking them!

Ingredients:

 

  • 1 Onion [finely chopped]
  • 3 Cloves of Garlic [finely chopped]
  • 1 heaped teaspoon of Ground Coriander
  • 1 heaped teaspoon of Ground Cumin
  • 1 heaped teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
  • A big handful of Mint Leaves [finely chopped]
  • A small handful of Fresh Coriander [finely chopped]
  • 500g Lamb Mince
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Tablespoon of Olive Oil

Method:

  1. In a large bowl, add the finely chopped Onion 
  2. Add the finely chopped Garlic 
  3. Add the heaped teaspoons of Ground Cumin, Coriander and Cayenne Pepper 
  4. Now Add the finely chopped Mint Leaves and Coriander 
  5. Add the Lamb Mince and season with Salt and Pepper  
  6. With a fork or knife [or your hands!] mash up the Lamb Mince with the rest of the ingredients  
  7. With clean hands - make a burger style patty [try and make them all the same size so they cook equally] 
  8. Heat a little Olive Oil over medium to high heat, and carefully add the Lamb Mint Burger to the frying pan 
  9. Cook on both sides till the inside of the burger is cooked through fully 
  10. Et Viola - you’re ready to scoff your face! 

If you’ve decided to cook these burgers on the barbie or under the grill - make sure you brush each burger with a little olive oil.

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