The box of Ferrero Rocher I bought for Christmas is still singing to me, but I am trying to ignore it as I won’t just eat one – I’ll eat them all. I know they are desperately unfashionable chocolates, but I adore them. Creamy Nutella and crunchy nutty coating – delicious. I’ll open the box once I get my willpower back (if that ever happens).
The first week of the new year has been hard: I have been pretty much hungry ALL THE TIME as I transition from eating constantly (Christmas) to eating three sensible meals per day and three gym sessions per week. Of course, I am not really hungry, but I am forever thinking about food. Drinking plenty of water each day has helped, but I found porridge and soup didn’t really cut it for me this week, so I have had a bit of a rethink.
So for week two of 2015, I have decided to have Greek yoghurt with homemade granola for breakfast, and couscous (bulked out with a cauliflower which needed using up) with roasted vegetables for lunch. Let’s see how I find food with a bit more texture …
As my first Cookbook Challenge of the year saw a glut of Mexican delights, we’ll be finishing those off on Monday night. On Tuesday I’ll be making a beef stirfry, and on Wednesday spaghetti bolognaise (sauce for which I have made today – you can see it in the blue Le Creuset pan in the top photo).
Thursday will be chicken breast Korma with some butternut squash which needs using up (not for Andrew – he’ll insist on rice), and some fishcakes from the freezer will suit us on Friday night. At the weekend it’s my next Cookbook Corner challenge – Vietnamese. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll make that on Saturday or Sunday (or both!).
I have pored through the latest cookbook to be chosen by Andrew, and decided to make salt and pepper prawns to start, followed by beef noodle soup. I’ll let you know how I get on with that very soon.
Today has been a super busy day, as I have made my Mexican feast, granola, roasted vegetables and bolognaise sauce. Everything I made today can be seen on the top photo – it took a few hours of hard work in the kitchen to get everything finished! You’ll be reading about my Mexican Cookbook Corner very soon, so for now here’s my granola recipe.
Tracy’s granola – makes one jar
I have based the approximate proportions on the marvellous Felicity Cloake’s ‘Perfect …’ series, but here are my tweaks.
40g coconut oil, 120ml honey, large pinch of sea salt, 170g jumbo rolled oats, 100g rye flakes, 75g spelt flakes (you can use any combo of grains you fancy), 100g cashew nuts, 50g almonds, 50g hazelnuts (but choose any nuts you fancy), 50g pumpkin seeds (guess what, choose any seeds you fancy), 1 egg white, 50g goji berries, 5 medjool dates (or basically 100g of yes, you’ve guessed it, fruit of your choice)
Pre-heat the oven to 150c. Melt the coconut oil, honey and salt together until they are well combined. While that’s happening mix together the dry ingredients, excluding the dried fruit. Stir the honey mixture into the dry mix until well distributed. Then stir in a beaten egg white.
Pour the whole mixture onto a baking tray which has been lined with greaseproof paper. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every now and then so everything browns evenly. Leave to cool and crisp up on the tray, then mix in the fruit. Store in an airtight container … if it gets that far – I couldn’t resist eating mine from the baking tray – it tastes AMAZING!
I also am trying to eat better this year, but I find it very difficult to continue that goal through a couple of months, much less a year. I found this article that suggested something very wise – instead of going full force (right away), try just one healthy day a week, and then maybe up it to two, then three……I thought that seemed very sensible and doable for someone as obsessed with eating as I am. I’ve done one health day so far: no sodas (yes, I still occasionally drink soda, I know it’s horrible), no straight fruit juice (it must be cut with soda water), no dessert, no cheese,severely limited dairy, only fish for meat, no refined grains, only whole grains, and a focus on fruits and veggies. It really wasn’t that hard. This is something I think I can keep up and eventually I think I can definitely increase my weekly healthy days. I need to branch out and start making more adventurous stuff, but I didn’t mind it at all. The only thing I am unable to give up is sugar in my coffee and tea. Seriously cannot do it. Good luck to you in your quest!
How are you getting on now? Hope you are still feeling successful at your healthy days – I am still eating a few too many naughty things! I gave up sugar in coffee last year and I won’t say I don’t prefer coffee with sugar, but I think I am over the cravings now. Thanks for commenting, and good luck with the healthy eating 🙂
granola recipe looks great, may give it a go!
Let me know how you get on Niamh – it really is delicious so I recommend it!
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