Winter. That time of darkness, cold, rain and gales, snow and hail, ice and shivers (depending where you live, of course!). For many of us, especially the food lovers, comfort food is firmly on the menu, and means something different to all of us. The temptation, of course, is to go for foods that are…
SAD, or seasonal affective disorder, is more common in the UK than we might think. Weak, watery winter sunshine, if we get any at all, doesn’t exactly encourage us to get out and about, leaving us at risk of low vitamin D and serotonin levels. So if you, or someone you know, seems to retreat…
100g almonds, roughly chopped 100g oats 40g dried apricots, chopped small 40g dried blueberries 40g dried cranberries 30g coconut oil 50g coconut sugar 1 1/2 tbsp honey 20g buckwheat flour 150 ml coconut milk 200g dark chocolate Preheat the oven to 170 degrees, and line a baking tray with baking parchment. Mix the almonds and…
This winter, decide to stay off the vitamin C supplements (often containing nasties that have a negative impact on our health) and make your own. Yes, it really is that easy! A great activity for kids, and such a great way to get immune boosting nutrients into their diets without fighting over pills and potions.…
As the season of the flu bug approaches (and there’s always a rash of autumn colds when the schools go back) bump up your immunity by paying special attention to your fruit and veg intake. We should be eating at least 5-7 portions a day, and at least 1 portion with every meal (including breakfast). Are…
Breakfast, we’ve all been told by our mothers or grandmothers, is the most important meal of the day. If you believe what you read in the media, this ‘fact’ has been proved and disproved a thousand times in recent years, as different fads arrive and go out of fashion. The truth? Breakfast is crucial. Our…
You can’t drive anywhere in our beautiful county at the moment without seeing fields of sweet corn ears standing tall and straight, waiting for harvest. As a child, I loved nothing better than freshly picked corn on the cob, hot from the pan, and dripping with melted butter which ran down my chin as I…
We all want good mood, clear thinking, focused concentration and a sense of calmly coping with everything the day brings. Did you know that what and how you eat has a massive impact on all of those brain functions? The creation and balance of neurotransmitters, plus the interplay with your adrenal glands and blood sugar…
There are so many ways to enjoy asparagus while the season lasts and it’s at its best – lightly streamed, in a tart, in a str fry, wrapped in prosciutto or bacon, or just drizzled with butter, or with a luxurious sauce. Try this luscious hollandaise to go with the new season’s asparagus. Gorgeous! Hollandaise…
We’ve made it to February, with spring hopefully just around the corner. I, for one, will be very happy to see more sunshine after an incredibly dreary, rainy winter. It makes me want to hibernate and reach for comfort food, so it’s lucky comfort food can still be very healthy! To me, all good food…