Domestic Goddess my arse!

These are the recipes I'm good at... quick, simple, out of the store-cupboard and onto the plate fare. I never spend more than 30 minutes faffing in the kitchen. So there.

This will be my recipe & homemadey remedy diary.

If you have those 'OMG! It's lunchtime and all I've got is a parsnip and a packet of boil in the bag rice.' moments, then you're a kindred spirit and you know that bad planning is often the mother of great food. So welcome to fast slurpy soups and 'really?' salads made from what's left in the fridge.


Never, ever believe there isn't something wonderful to make from the last 3 ingredients in your kitchen. Unless those ingredients really are fairy liquid, eggshells and dead flies.

Wednesday 31 July 2013

Outrageous Smoothie!

I needed something quick for lunch this afternoon. Running late for a hospital appointment & needing sustenance that wouldn't sit heavy in my belly, I flung together a smoothie & it tasted so good I came back for seconds mid afternoon! Norty... I was too busy to take a pic, but the first one was a delicate pale pistachio colour, so elegant. In the 80's it would have been called  eau de nil. I had a pair of shoes from Hobbs the exact colour.

God I loved those shoes. I wore them through to the soles of my feet with the perfect dress from French Connection.

Friday 26 July 2013

Sweet Potato & New Potatoes with Fancy Tomato Dressing

Hello!

Enjoying Summer? I am! I made griddled chicken last night and along with steamed broccoli florets & julienned red pepper I made a lovely potato dish with a spikey dressing that started off with an Italian vibe and then wandered off.

If you've got a blender, or a good handheld stick - you can make this quickly - and it will transform spuds and butternut squash - I think it would work as a salad dressing and even a pasta sauce with some shaved parmesan, whole olives & extra fresh ripped basil!

To the recipe and don't spare the horses madam!

Happy Glow Juice

My very expensive, and jolly fancy juicer has been packed off to the supplier after the second one in 3 months failed. Which leaves me with my old faithful Kenwood - 20 years old and still managing to make great juice. It isn't as efficient, struggling along with a 250w motor as it is - but it has a new blade and if you don't mind the froth - job's a good 'un.

I made a great juice this afternoon - thought I'd share it. It's one of those - lob in what you've got in the fridgey cupboard and trust to the Juicy Gods that it will be drinkable.

Turns out - I'm good at this mixology game!


Thursday 18 July 2013

Sunshine Happy Juice

Yoo Hoo! I'm nearing the end of a Big Summer Juice Detox. 7 days of juice only deliciousness -and in this heat, turns out it's the perfect way to stay cool, hydrated and well fed. Hooray for Summer. Hooray for Juicey Highs and Hooray for Me!

There is a fully worked out plan that you can follow and if you are interested and fancy a go. I warmly recommend www.juicemaster.co.uk (there's an Australian site too). You don't have to buy the book, although if you are new to juicing then Slim4Life or the 7lbs in 7 Days books will set you up really well. Or you can simply follow along using the app or the wall chart - both are pretty cheap.

This is not the juice you are looking for**
You do need a juicer and a decent blender. Other than that - it's a trip to the fruit and veg shop & you're off! Expect headaches and some detox symptoms if you are a dedicated sugar and caffeine fiend - by day 3 or 4 you'll be over the worst and jumping about like a toddler!

Now then - I'm not as excited by the juices on the 7 Day Plan as I am a fan of Jason Vale's other juice plan recipes  so I have gone off piste with a few of my own - using the fruits and veggies that are good and cheap in my local grocery shops.

(I live on the longest street of independent shops in the UK - so I am a lucky duck. Throw a grape and you'll hit a grocery store. Then there are the deals on at the local supermarket and several local organic box suppliers not to mention the Sunday fruit and veg market! 

Yesterday on my way back from yoga, I scored a huge bag of nectarines and some baby gem lettuces for a song. I don't mind if the nectarines don't soften as they ripen - because I'm planning on slinging them in the juicer!)

To the recipe!

Thursday 11 July 2013

Betty Boop Beet Berry Heaven Juice

This is heavenly - the colour is the colour of a wicked girl's knickers and it tastes just as naughty. The great news is - it's so good for ya - you can do something scurrilous later and your naughty/nice balance will still be even!

You do need a juicer and a good strong hand blender to make this lovely juice. 

Ingredients:
2 raw boop boop beetroots (don't even think of using cooked)
1 apple
1 nectarine (stoned - oh I'm so resisting the joke... it's killing me!)
1 parsnip (don't panic - you won't taste it, it adds body and goodness)
small handful of frozen mixed berries (or you can use fresh blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, whatever berry you like)
1 large chunk of lemon, rind on (more or less, depending on how zingy you like it)

Method:
Juice the beets, lemon and then put through the parsnip, nectarine and the apple.

Add the berries (frozen or fresh) to the beaker and blend with the hand blender. Add ice if you're using fresh berries and you like it cold.

Find out what's in it...

Tuesday 9 July 2013

Mart's Summer Sunshine Juice

My friend Mart is off on another of his juice odysseys. His first was inspired by the documentary made by Joe Cross - Fat  Sick & Nearly Dead - which is on TV this week. It's a great watch and after stumbling across it on you tube, Mart did a long juice feast himself with the blessing of his doctor - who incidentally has been amazed at his success. He's lost weight, come off any number of pills and improved his health massively. 

So now he's setting out to lose some weight in advance of an important operation in September.  This time, I thought I might support him in a more practical way - than just yipping on his blog* each time he loses a llb!


So here is my first attempt at a lovely juice for lovely mart x.