Tomato and lentil soup

As you can see from the soup recipes on my blog I eat soup quite often. ,out weeks I'll make a couple of different soups at the beginning of the week to last me for lunches or light dinners.

This week I made a tomato and lentil soup.

I always start by sautéing the vegetables in a little oil before adding the liquid and lentils. You could jump this step to reduce the fat but I think it improves the flavour and is good fat so worth it for me.

I also add a little Parmesan which again could be omitted but as its a hard strong cheese you don't need much.





Tasty!

Here is the recipe

Check out How to Make Tomato and Lentil Soup #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

Chicken Broth

This is a great tasty and healthy lunch or light dinner.

If you don't have these veg add what you do. I like broad beans and a handful of kale.





Start by making a sofritto by gently sautéing finely chopped onion, carrot and celery. Add crushed garlic, chicken stock, black pepper and beans and cook for 30-45 mins. Once everything is soft add leftover roast chicken, parsley and a splash of white wine vinegar. Check for seasoning and serve.

Here is my guide.
Check out How to Make Chicken Broth #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

How to avoid temptation and eat healthy snacks

When I'm out and about it can be hard to make healthy choices. I also find that if I'm really hungry I will just eat whatever is available and in many places it is hard to find healthy snacks. Even the so called health options at work are covered in sugar and fat masquerading at yoghurt.

So I try to make sure I always have snacks with me in the office and also snacks in my handbag for throughout the day.

Starting at home I have ready cut crudités in the fridge at eye height so when I open the door looking for something to eat there is an easy healthy option. You could do the same with fruit.





I also bag up the same mixture to take to work





I like to take oatcakes or Dr Karg's to work with me so I have something as a starting point for a healthy lunch or to have as a snack







These are good spread with nut butters





Nut butters are also good with slices of apple. Try different ones as you might like some more than others. I love hazelnut butter. Think a healthy Nutella! It's also great with a little unsweetened cocoa power and vanilla or (and you're going to have to trust me on this one) hazelnut butter with prunes or dates is perfect to help with a chocolate craving.

I also love Total 0% Greek yoghurt for work. It's higher in protein than standard yoghurt, and so creaming considering it's fat free. Apparently many people find it easier to digest as well. It's lovely on its own or with a few berries.





In my handbag I always have roasted nuts and seeds







And an apple as its such a portable fruit




Finally, I always have herbal tea bags so I know I can enjoy a caffeine free hot drink when people or places don't have any options





My snapguide can be found here

Check out How to Avoid Temptation With Snacks #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

Bircher Museli

I start the morning most days with some form of oats. This is one of my favourite ways and is so versatile as you can use whatever you have in.

Basically, you soak the oats overnight in your chosen liquid. I used almond milk and then stirred in grated apple and topped with berries, cranberries, flaked almonds and seeds.

The method can be found in my guide

Check out How to Cook Bircher Museli #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.




Enjoy!

Porridge with Spiced Apple

On a cold day like today a steaming bowl of porridge is a great start to the day.
I try not to add any sugar and also use non dairy milk so have to be fairly inventive with the toppings so it doesn't become bland and boring.
The recipe can be found in my guide

Check out How to Cook Porridge With Spiced Apple by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

Here is the finished result




Tasty!

Lemon and Ginger Tea

I drink a lemon and ginger infusion every morning. I even take a lemon away with me when I'm working away.

It's so simple to do and has great health benefits as this article explains.

I try to drink it as soon as I get up and if possible about half an hour before I eat my breakfast.

The method can be found in my guide.

Check out How to Make Lemon and Ginger Tea #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese on Rye Bread

As everyone I'm trying to get back to normal eating after Christmas. I try and eat clean during the week and then have an evening off during the weekend where I enjoy whatever I want.

Over the next few weeks ill be trying to share some healthy but easy recipes with natural ingredients - minimum processed food, low sugar, unrefined carb and so on.

Today, I came back from the gym earlier and was starving, but still wanted to eat healthily, so this was a perfect quick lunch. It's more of an assembly job than a real recipe but gave me chance to try out Snapguide and hopefully will give you a new lunch idea.

Here is the finished article.




The full recipe can be found here.

Check out How to Make Smoked Salmon on Rye #Healthyeating by Sarah's Kitchen Diary on Snapguide.

Enjoy!

The last of the summer produce and Christmas gifts

In my previous post 2013 A Year of Progression . I promised to catch up on a long over due post.

This year (as I may have mentioned once or 300 times) I attempted to grow some salad, herbs and vegetables. I was ridiculously proud when (most) of them grew into things I could actually eat and cook with. Simple things really are great.
I had quite a few tomato plants and with the mild weather they soldiered on into October. When they stopped ripening I was left with green tomatoes.




This brought back memories of my nan's green tomato chutney. She had the greenest fingers and could bring a twig back from the dead so her tomato plants each year were impressive. Unfortunately this was one of her recipes I haven't been able to find, so I relied upon Lisa Faulkner who has a recipe in her book Recipes from my Mother to my Daughter which seemed quite similar. She only said to cook it for a few minutes but I decided to boil it down for much longer in the traditional manner of making chutney as I don't like the taste of raw onion and I was worried about whether it would be preserved enough to last.
Combined in a box with some oat cakes from a James Martin recipe and some fabulous cheese I bought at my mums local deli it made a perfect present for my friend who always loved my nan's green tomato chutney.
After it was cooked I also blended some to a fine purée and found it made an excellent alternative to tomato ketchup.




Recipe
Finely chop 750g green tomatoes, 500g cooking apple and 750g onions.
Boil them in a large pan with 600ml malt vinegar and 750g soft brown sugar for about an hour. In a small bowl mix 25g fresh ginger, 1/2 tsp turmeric, 1 tbsp of salt, 3tbsp corn flour and freshly ground black pepper. Add to the mixture and continue to boil until it is thick and glossy and has the texture of chutney. Pour into sterilised jars and seal.

2013 A Year of Progression

I actually make my resolutions in September each year rather than the new year so these aren't brand new. I've always felt September seems like a time for fresh beginnings. Maybe it's because my birthday is in that month, or the summer is fading or memories of the start of new school years. I also find that the dark days and miserable weather typical of January makes it hard to stick to anything other than curling up under a duvet with a good book.
In slight contradiction to this one of the goals I set myself in September was to refocus my attention on food and my blog. I could sit here and list excuses as to why I wasn't great in 2012 (mainly renovating a house and travelling too much with work) but I want to focus on what I'm going to do to change it.
This year I am going to post more, focus on the way I eat and cook and try and share that with you, improve my photography (by dusting off my DSLR) and try out Snapguide. I have to say I'm quite excited about it all!
In 2012, when I did have time to cook, I still religiously took photos (admittedly more often than not iphone snaps but still better than nothing) so please forgive me if I write posts a year later.
Now to start as I mean to go on I'm going to write an article which I intended to post last year...