Hello!
Welcome to this weeks Little Gems Blog Post! How are you? Good week?
I don't know if you have been on my Instagram Stories at all this week, but I've been trying to update them quite regular - well pretty much every time I've cooked something!
So many people say to me that they wish they could eat healthier, it's just they don't know where to start or that they don't have the time. I finish work so late I need my dinner to be quick but also to taste amazing. At the end of a long day, you need something that fills your belly but also tastes really good too. It's probably why I eat so much comfort food every week - I need that 'comfort' when I get home to ground me after busy day. If you've seen them please let me know what you think. I don't want to be doing something that nobody wants to see! So, please keep me posted :)
I've been trying to change up my normal eating habits a bit this week and so although I've been eating the same, I'm trying to make everything a little more suited to the season, hence the Autumnal Chocolate Smoothie Bowls...
Autumnal Smoothie Bowl with Homemade Granola & Superfoods
Cutlery is from here
These are just so so good! Such a simple recipe too! I just blend 1/2 a cup of almond milk, a frozen banana, frozen mango chunks, almond butter and a spoonful of raw cacao powder in the Vitamix. Then top it with all my fav superfoods and homemade granola!
I've taken to making some salad at work this week. Just fancied making something a bit tasty for a change instead of having the same soup. I love to use a pre-made M & S salad and then add to it. I find eating a salad out of a plastic container so depressing - especially when its one bite after another just tasting the same! Here I have added some salad leaves, avocado and coleslaw to make it go further.
I had a little extra time on Wednesday night and so made this pasta dish with roasted veggies. I had made the tomato sauce a while ago and then just put it in the freezer and so had it with this red lentil pasta. I then added some beans and olives to the mix too and it turned out really good! Red lentil pasta is different to any other gluten free pasta I've had before. It was okaaay, but I don't think I would buy it again. Buckwheat pasta all the way I think from now on! It has the same texture as normal pasta with a slightly stronger taste, almost nutty. I love it in any case :)
Organic Beetroot, Coconut & Chilli Soup from The Garden Hale
Miso & Teriyaki Soup with Udon noodles & Veggies
Get the recipe here
Tasty leftover soup! I love this miso soup with udon noodles and veggies. It's so comforting with the noodles in as well. This has to be one of my all time fav things to eat!
Second Autumnal Smoothie Bowl of the week - I just can't get enough!
Victor's | Hale Village - See the Brunch menu here
(left) Avocado on toast with a poached egg, toasted sourdough, tomato salsa
Cinnamon Churros with Chocolate Sauce
Eggs Royale - Poached eggs, smoked salmon, hollandaise
Post yoga on Friday I went for a quick brunch with my lovely Mamma at Victor's. I've not been here in ages and considering I used to be in there once a week I was more than overdue a visit! We both had eggs and also treated ourselves to the cinnamon churros too. It was my Mum's first time having them! I think she was rather impressed ha ha! They were so tasty, nice and fluffy. Obviously we had to share but they were a nice accompaniment to the rest of the meal. I always go for Eggs Royale pretty much everywhere. I always have to ask for the sauce on the side too because sometimes it's just a bit too rich.
Common Ground | Altrincham
English Breakfast Tea & a Matcha Latte
From there I went straight to Common Ground for a drinky poo with Princess Pilates! I do love the Matcha Lattes here with almond milk. Well, actually I love everything about this place. I think you're all pretty sick of me rambling on about it, but if you haven't tried the buttermilk pancakes... I swear you haven't lived!
Friday night was a simple night in for me and hubs. I know, this doesn't really look that appealing but it really was. Any kind of food that only needs one utensil is perfect for me! I made a vegetarian Cottage Pie and some Savoy Cabbage and Tenderstem Broccoli.
I like to use green lentils instead of minced meat and it works really well. You just have to get the flavours and gravy rich enough so you feel like you're eating meat. I like to add some dark soy sauce, vegetable stock and a little oyster sauce for depth. Seems to work perfectly as it went down very well! We both had seconds (and possibly thirds!)
Breakfast Potato & Lentil Patties with a Fried Egg & Chipotle Sauce
I know this looks a bit random. This is leftovers from the Cottage pie actually! I made a little too much mash and lentils. So, I mixed the two in a bowl with a beaten egg and then made up these patties! Fried them with an egg and they were amazing! It's great the things that you can do with leftover mash. These were so filling but were really yum! No, they didn't taste like Cottage Pie for breakfast, but worked really well with the fried egg on top.
Caramelised Banana & Homemade Almond Butter Porridge
I decided to try making porridge with caramelised banana and it worked sooo well! I just popper the slices of banana under the grill with a little melted coconut oil and coconut sugar. The perfect start to an early Sunday morning which kept me full all day!
The Con Club | Altrincham - See the Sunday Roast menu here
(top) Roast Beef & All the Trimmings
(bottom) Veggie roast with Baked Halloumi
I was so so ready for this tonight! Been craving a roast dinner for a while and so this hit the spot perfectly! Never had it with a chunk of halloumi before but it was actually really good. I tend to think you can't go wrong with a roast dinner really - if you're hungry it's always a safe option. It's like going out for breakfast... can you really get eggs wrong?? Actually, don't answer that!
Hot Chocolate Lava Cake Popcorn Ice Cream, Toffee Sauce
Wow this was tasty! I am actually still struggling to breathe after all this food but it was so worth it! The addition of popcorn was such a good idea, it adds texture to something that could be a plate of sloppy pudding (in the best way of course!)
Had a lovely week so far and I hope you have too. I hope you continue to watch my Insta Stories and like what you see! If you haven't been on it then maybe check it out. I'm trying to post lots of foodie recipes and inspiration up for you all. Just visit @foodlifeandem for my personal profile
Thanks so much for reading,
Big love,
Em x