GET ON THE GRAIN TRAIN

Deliciously Ella Quinoa Pizza Crust

VEGETARIAN / VEGAN / GLUTEN-FREE

Ingredients: ¾ mug quinoa, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs, sprinkling of chilli flakes, olive oil, salt, 2 tablespoons tomato puree, a dozen cherry tomatoes, a dozen black olives, and a few artichokes from a jar.

Time taken: Five minutes prep the night before. Then 45 mins to make and cook.

Evening readers,

And congratulations on having made it to the final weekend in January! To those of you powering on with health kicks and marathon training and Dry January and Veganuary, and whatever else you’re possibly putting yourselves through… I salute you! Power on, you warriors, you’re doing a really top job.

As I write, cosied up in loungewear, it’s Saturday night in Sheffield. There’s wine in my glass and a hot water bottle inside my top. Slumdog Millionaire is showing on TV – a film that will always be great, in my eyes. How strange it is to see the Dev Patel of nearly a decade ago, in Slumdog, now that he’s all grown up and starring in Lion, as a tousled man giant.

Have you made it to the cinema to see Lion, yet, readers? Or any of the other fab awards-nominated films that are screening at the moment?? I hope you have, readers, and you’ve been to see something really good! I’m loving the cinema at the moment, as an escape from the cold and dark winter nights.

And an escape from the 9-5, in general! So simple to lose motivation at this time of year, when Christmas is a distant memory, and yet somehow we still have ages to last until Spring comes calling. BUT the bright colours, piano fingers and wicked dance moves of La La Land. The rock bottom bravery in Manchester by the Sea. The search for home in Lion. All the feel good belters in Sing.. so many fab films to get you through.

I hope you’re doing okay, readers, and that the cold isn’t getting you down. You’ve got to keep on keeping on. Run a bath, light a candle, wear tights under your jeans. Jazz up your hot drink selection with some new herbal teas – why not? Invest in a fancier hand cream. Rub Vaseline on your nose, if needs be. Set a summertime photo as your phone wallpaper.

There isn’t long left of January and hopefully we’ve seen the worst of it now. You have to hope. And February will, no doubt, bring many wonderful things and fabulous times. Great tasting food and copious wine. Laughing with friends and catching some top films at the cinema. Films they’ll still be playing on tv in ten years!

Readers, February will be great. I know. But, if you still have hope for the end of January and you’re thinking… why not send this month out with a bang??? I have just the recipe. This week’s Recipe of the Week is one from my Deliciously Ella cook book – for Quinoa Pizza Crust – which I debuted this week as a tasty treat tea, one evening after work.

Basically, you want to eat pizza but don’t want the guilt afterwards? And you want to eat something that isn’t too heavy, and will give you energy?? Unlike regular pizza. SO.. you make homemade cheese-free pizza, with a base that’s a special invention of the very delicious Ella, made mainly from the classiest of grains – quinoa.

To do this, though, you need TWO THINGS. Along with the ingredients (duh) you also need a cake tin with the kind of bottom that pushes up and out. And you need a real-sized blender – not a smaller smoothie maker. Not to exaggerate, readers, but this equipment is of upmost importance when it comes to this recipe.

I’ll explain. I attempted the recipe without those two things and I cooked myself, basically, an Italian stuffing. A tasty but crumbly, messy plateful, of grainy goodness. Didn’t have the blender – so my crust mix didn’t stick together properly. And, didn’t think to use my push out cake tin – so couldn’t serve up the pizza in slices. More of a slag heap.

I will stress, though, that despite the ultimate failings of my quinoa pizza this week – it tasted good. I was inspired to try this recipe after an impassioned talk from by cousin, KatieKat, about the great potential of healthy pizza recipes. But me and quinoa have had a rocky history. This is the first time I’ve ever eaten quinoa and found it to be swallowable.

More than swallowable, even, quite the tasty tea. Tempted to try something new and healthy and take a chance a quinoa pizza crust?? You’ll never know until you try! Here’s how you can whip up one quinoa-based pizza, in just 10 easy steps…

1.     The night before you’d like to eat your pizza, before you go to bed, pour your ¾ mug of quinoa into a mixing bowl and cover with a few centimetres of water. Wrap your bowl with some foil or clingfilm, and leave to rest somewhere it won’t be disturbed.

2.     Then, on the night of pizza, pour yourself a glass of vino and set some smooth tunes playing. Heat your oven to 200C.

3.     Use a sieve to drain away any water left in the quinoa bowl and then spoon your quinoa into a blender, with the apple cider vinegar, herbs, chilli flakes and salt.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: As mentioned previously, don’t try to do this in a smoothie maker. Just don’t.

4.     Blend for a few minutes until a smooth dough forms – according to Ella it should look a bit like a pancake mix.

5.     Grease the bottom and sides of your cake tin with a bit of oil, and spoon in your pizza crust mix.

6.     Podge the mix down so that it fills the bottom of your tin, and then carefully transport the tin into the oven to bake for a quarter of an hour.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: As also mentioned, in my prelude to this recipe, I strongly advise you use a cake tin where you can push the bottom of the tin up and out. Otherwise, you’ve podged that mix down and got it good and stuck.

7.     While the crust is crusting up, take this time to prepare your toppings. Chop your cherry tomatoes in half, chop your olives in half, and chop your artichokes into smaller chunks. Dance around in great anticipation of pizza.

8.     Once your base is firm, safely take your pizza crust out of the oven and spread tomato puree on top to cover.

9.     Decorate artistically with your toppings, and return to the oven to cook for another quarter of an hour. Clear up your mess and get those dishes washed!

10.  Once your pizza looks and smells unavoidably edible, gingerly lift it out of the oven and turn the oven off. Pop the base of your cake tin up and out, and use a spatula to shimmy your pizza onto a plate. Cut up into pizza slices and tuck in!

And that, readers, is all there is to it. So long as you know at least a day in advance that you’re going to need pizza in your life. And you’re disciplined enough to get some quinoa grains soaking – instead of picking up the phone and dialling your local takeaway – then this a really interesting recipe to have a shot at.

Don't be all greasy.. be like Ella!

 If you haven’t tried cooking with quinoa before, or you have but haven’t been convinced by the taste or the texture of the grain, then this recipe could be a turning point for you and quinoa! Because pizza makes everything great, doesn’t it?? Pizza = life.

Readers, wrap up warm. You keep on keeping on. And eat pizza, quinoa-style, as February nears.

Blend safely,

Hayley

Give it a go! Quinoa Pizza (before it fell apart)

A HEALTHY-ISH RECIPE. AND HAPPINESS.

Recipe of the week... homemade wholemeal pizza!

Hi readers,

Good evening! How are you today?? Has it been a big day, today? Or a very little day? A busy day? Or a day for putting your feet up? I hope it’s been a really good day for you.

As I write this now, it’s a Saturday evening mid-October in Sheffield. And many of you might be out partying right now! Having a wild time! But CoolyColey is away this weekend and I’m on an autumn saving spree, and so tonight isn’t a night for partying for me. Instead, I find myself sat on the settee with comfy clothes on. Strictly’s on the telly. I’ve opened a chilled beer and lit a very large scented candle. Cosy times! Whether your Saturday night is a cosy one or a crazy one… I hope you’re having a great time, readers.

So, this week, the week kicked off with World Mental Health Day 2016. The message that everyone seemed to be sharing and giving great thought to on Monday was that “We won’t give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets both support and respect.” A really strong message! And it felt on Monday as though this message had really struck a chord with lots of people.

From the moment I woke up on Monday, the news at breakfast, and the radio in the office, and my social media feeds, they were all filled with people sharing their stories, and talking openly about their struggles and the struggles of loved ones, and speaking so passionately on the topic of mental health. It was moving! It really made me think about how difficult it can be to be happy. And how anyone at all can feel unhappy at any time. And how there are so many things that can lead a person to become unhappy. Big things and little things.

It’s something that I’ve been thinking about through the week. And then, on Thursday night, I climbed in bed at the end of the day and realised that everything had gone right. All day. I'd lived a charmed day. Nothing special had happened, and to a bystander it would probably have looked like I’d lived a really dull Thursday in Sheffield. I only spoke with eight people all day (counted them at the end) and half of those people were just strangers I had insignificant exchanges with. So, very little human contact on Thursday. It rained more or less all day and, in the news, the much beloved king of Thailand passed away.

But ACTUALLY on Thursday...

Getting ready in the morning, my eyeliner went on the first time and somehow it went on quite well. Looking good.

As a result of this fluke, I finished make up earlier than normal. And, as a result of this miracle, I had time to make porridge. And the porridge microwaved without exploding.

I remembered to leave the house with both my lunch and with my swim bag. The walk to work was dry and it wasn't too windy so me and CoolyColey could chat and actually hear each other speaking!

Ian at work asked for a coffee and I managed to use the aeropress correctly to make one without burning myself. Both Ian and Ed later made me cups of tea.

I got to spend most of the morning searching Google Images for inspirational photos. And it briefly wasn't raining at lunch time so I made it outside for some fresh air and daylight.

I was doing van-related work in the afternoon... but it wasn't all that boring. I got to email the printer and he always writes a funny response. His response was indeed funny.

I got out of work on time and gave a homeless person a piece of fruit, which he thanked me for. The pool finally fixed my faulty wristband and it opened the barriers to the changing rooms on the first try! The receptionist gave me a thumbs up.

And the rain must have kept most people away because it was a quiet and peaceful evening swimming in the pool. People were diving from the high boards which is always impressive to see.

I made it from the pool to the supermarket without my umbrella blowing inside out and without any cars splashing me on the way. I bought treats (!!!) and the shopping total was still under £20. Result.

Then, at home, I got all my chores done and still made it on the settee (with treats) by 9pm for The Apprentice. Then me, CoolyColey and KorfKing were all in the livingroom at once and we had some impromptu housemate chatter before bed. Doesn’t happen often.

I climbed in bed and realised that everything all day had gone right. That story might be absolutely unremarkable and not at all noteworthy to anyone in the world but me... but when was the last time you can recall having looked back on a day and thought everything had gone right?? Every last thing. It's pretty cool to say. So I'm grateful for my charmed Thursday.

This weekend, I’m not going anywhere exciting. None of the besties are here to visit from afar. The family aren’t around. As far as I know, there’s nothing much exciting happening in Sheffield. And yet I’m here and I’m enjoying the time to myself. I’m quite happy. Even whipped out a (healthy-ish) ChefBeHere classic recipe for homemade wholemeal pizza, and treated myself to a really great meal! If this sounds like exactly what your belly needs, then definitely check out the recipe HERE.

Readers, I hope that none of you are struggling too much to feel happy at the moment. I hope that you’re enjoying your lives! And if you’re looking at the people around you, wondering whether every one of them is happier at the moment than you are, know that it's likely they aren’t. Just because other people might be flying in their career, might have someone to love, own their own car, have a big ring on their finger, own a house… that doesn’t mean they’re happy. Focus on yourself and your own happiness. You’re the key.

Here's some snaps of my 'Single Girl in Sheffield' weekend so far...

Friday night pizza night!

Getting in bed after an action packed week

Strong coffee to kickstart the weekend

Brunching at Tamper with the girls

Off to the Botanic Gardens for a stroll

Admiring the colours of the autumn leaves

And how the autumn light really sets a scene

Listening to squirrels rustling in the bushes

Autumn leaves crunching under foot

That afternoon light! A delight

Going off-path following a squirrel

Christmas come early with a brazil nut

... maybe not everyone's idea of a top weekend, but I'm happy.

THE POWER OF PITTAS

Mushroom Pitta Pizzas

Time taken: 45 mins

Ingredients: 2 wholemeal pitta breads, 100ml soft cheese, 4 tablespoons of tomato puree, ½ a pack of button mushrooms, a tablespoon of oil, salt & pepper.

Readers,

This is the week that the world lost Lil’ Chris, the BBC sacked Jeremy Clarkson and the boyband One Direction finally broke apart. Capturing the news this week though, is the story of the Germanwings flight which has fallen from the sky in the French Alps, sadly killing everyone aboard.

This tragedy happened on Tuesday and I’ve been thinking a lot since about those who lost their lives. At work at the airport on Tuesday, I got a news update on my phone reporting that the disaster had happened. I got this update along with, I imagine, most of the passengers in the departure lounge with me, waiting to board planes. And so the afternoon passed in a very subdued and quiet way, with worried passengers not keen to fly.

Yesterday, I headed off again to the airport, and everything was back to normal. Sky Sports was on the TV screens reporting the midweek footy scores and a cricket result. If they’d shown Sky News, it would have been reporting that a British mother and baby are among the dead in the Alps. But, rather wisely, we kept up with the sports instead. And there was no mention of the air crash.

But I spent the day thinking… ‘Christ, work’s shit, but at least I woke up today and I’m living to see this day!’ Because one hundred and fifty people didn’t wake up yesterday. They didn’t land safely in Germany on Tuesday, collect their cases and their cars, drive home to turn off their burglar alarms. Buy fresh milk, collect pets from family, and stick the kettle on. They didn’t. And I think this is a terrible sadness.

I’ve read that these poor people plummeted for eight whole minutes before they lost their lives. Can you imagine this?? That being how your life ends?? With eight terrifying minutes spent falling from the sky, among a boxful of panicked strangers, not knowing what was happening. Without your loved ones there.

Eight minutes is nothing, no time at all! We live through eight minutes all the time without doing anything memorable or special with our time. We waste away our eight minutes. And then another eight. And we don’t even remember them! Eight minutes lost.

But, also, in eight minutes you can take a shower. Walk for the bus. You can eat a bowl of cereal. Read a blog post. And, readers, think of all the many, many thoughts that you might have in this time! So many thoughts! Is eight minutes enough time with which to comprehend your own death?? To think about your life and your loved ones? The things you’ve done? The times you’ve had?

Is it enough, readers, to think about the things that you’ll miss? The times you won’t live the see? The future without you? Have you the time to wonder where you might be heading after the plane crashes into the ground? Where you’ll find yourself in nine minutes time?

Eight minutes is so little. But also so long. I suppose that many people don’t see their death approach and so don’t have the chance to take eight minutes for final thoughts. But is a sudden and immediate death a mercy, compared with the terror of plunging to your doom??
Who knows.

I hope that, in the end, those aboard the plane found some peace. And came together to support each other and share their final moments of life. I hope that everything happens for a reason. And that each plane in the sky right now lands safely. I hope I hope I hope.

So. It’s a thoughtful week here in Newcastle, readers. There have been shifts to work and there’s work experience to gain, before I can head home for Easter. I get by. And I’m on a drive to use up foods before I leave. Which is how the following recipe came about. Readers, this was total improv in the kitchen. I had random ingredients and a will to eat pizza. And came up with an alright new recipe. Pretty good, in fact.

Here’s how to rustle up Mushroom Pitta Pizzas, in just ten easy steps…

1. Heat your oven to 200˚C.

2. Take out your pitta breads.

3. Spread evenly with tomato puree.

4. Then, spread with soft cheese.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: You can use an original cheese spread or you can mix things up. I used a reduced fat cheese here with onions & chives in it. Very moreish.

5. Chop your mushrooms into small pieces.

6. Heat some oil in a frying pan, and then fry your mushrooms for a few minutes until they begin to colour.

8. Sit your pitta breads on a baking tray. Top with your pieces of fried mushroom, and then season with salt & pepper.

9. Safely transport your tray into the oven and leave your pizzas to cook for 15-20 mins.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: I left mine just as long as I would a regular pizza. This varies oven-to-oven so just do what you normally do.

10. When your pizzas are hot and your cheese n mushrooms turn golden, serve up your pizzas!

Here are my pizzas from earlier this week…

And, I have to say, I was VERY chuffed with how these came out. They were a stroke of genius. Readers, my expectations of Mushroom Pitta Pizzas were rock bottom. It’s not a proper pizza base or actual cheese, so how could these ingredients make pizza?? The answer is… I don’t know. But somehow this works.

Mushroom Pitta Pizzas are a great healthy alternative to real pizza. They’re also a quick (cheat) way to hash together DIY pizzas, without the hassle of making dough. These pizzas are cheap, easy and fun to throw together, and they don’t taste bad! If you closed your eyes while you were eating one, without first knowing what it was that you were eating, I think there’s a chance you might say it was pizza. Win!

Readers, if you ever find yourself with little food in but with JUST THESE INGREDIENTS then I leave you with no choice but to give these babies a go. Mushroom Pitta Pizzas are really tasty! Let me know if you try them out. I’d love to hear what you think and if you have any tips on how you might change this recipe, or involve different ingredients that you have in?? Send your thoughts my way.

And fly safely,

Hayley