Five fine things in life.. and some healthy home baking

Recipe of the Week...
... Coconut and Raspberry Macaroons
with a Dark Chocolate Drizzle

Ingredients: 150g desiccated coconut, 150g ground almonds, 2 eggs, 50g coconut sugar/nectar, a teaspoon of vanilla essence, 150g pack of raspberries, 50g very dark chocolate (70% cocoa or more).

Serves: 12 modest-sized macaroons

Time taken: Half an hour or so to bake, and then an hour or two for cooling, decorating and setting the chocolate. Start at least two hours before you aim to be eating macaroons.

Hi readers,

How are you this week, lovely people? Is everything good? Are you hanging in there? I hope all is well! Hope you had a fab weekend and now you’re off to a smashing start this week. What do you think? You’re two days in now – is the week shaping up the way you’d hoped? If it is – high five! If it maybe isn’t – fear not! Let’s turn this week around. Just look forwards and keep your chin up, readers. Tomorrow will be a better day.

How am I doing? Goood, I think! Pretty good. I’ve been upping my swimming and yoga lately, readers, and trying to eat more fruit and veg. And I feel really upbeat and full of energy! I’m keeping quite a positive headspace and waking up feeling switched on. It’s nice. June was a busy month and I think I’m enjoying having a little more time and flexibility in July, to mess with my routine and to be spontaneous. It’s fun.

Five things I’m enjoying of late…

1.     Jogging Having spent the past few weeks struggling with shin splints in my right leg, wincing as I walked my commute and taking the stairs facing backwards, it seems I can finally jog again. I made it out on a slow run over the weekend and my leg felt a lot more comfortable than it has done (i.e. felt more like a leg than an instrument of torture). And I’ve never appreciated running so much!

2.     New book I got stuck in over the weekend with the latest book we’re reading for Book Club, ‘Oryx and Crake’ by Margaret Atwood. Bit strange so far – this is a book about a character called the Snowman, living in a dystopian future world. Not the kind of novel I’d normally choose to read! But this is a big book to sink my teeth into and I’m enjoying discovering a new world. It’s nice to give something different a try.

3.     Vibe feel good popcorn This is no paid product endorsement. I was wandering around the supermarket on Friday evening, feeling pretty zen after yoga. Not at all taking my shopping seriously. And happened upon a new brand of popcorn! Bought it in two flavours – coconut and strawberry – and have enjoyed them both. It’s a sweet honey-coated kind of popcorn (like an ethically branded version of Butterkist toffee popcorn). Probs not healthy at all, but packaged in a way that suggests it might be.. which is good enough for me. Tastes sweeet.

4.     New TV show Aside from religiously watching ‘One Born Every Minute’ and ‘First Dates’ each week (and – I’m not ashamed to admit – I quite enjoy singing along to ‘Pitch Battle’ on a weekend), it’s been a bit of a dry patch for me and TV. Nothing’s been taking my fancy! So, I decided to give a classic series a try and have since become addicted to ‘The Bridge’ (/ ‘The Bron’ / ‘The Broen’). I’ve already finished Season One! If you’re a lover of Scandi crime then I do recommend.

5.     Reading a Sunday newspaper I’ve been meaning to do this for weeks but haven’t been able to. This Sunday, at long last, I got the chance to amble down to the local newsagents for a paper. Then return to bed (with crumpets) to read it from cover to cover. And it was so good! That is what life is about at the weekend. I intend to do this more often and enjoy Sunday morning from the comfort of my bed.

Admiring my lovely flowers
as they bloom

How about you, readers? What have you been enjoying lately?? What are the things that you look forward to, and that really make your day? Are these your favourite things you always enjoy? Or has there been any change – maybe you’re losing interest in one thing but you’re really keen on something new? Or someone new?? Hmm!

Whatever it is that’s making you happy, readers, pursue it! Go with the wind and make time for the things you’re enjoying most. Even if it changes every day! How about baking, readers, have you donned your apron recently and mucked in for some baking? Or is your baking kit sat gathering dust? I got back into baking this weekend for the first time in a while, and had good fun in the kitchen!

I baked a batch of healthy, sugar-free macaroons (based on a Fitness Forster recipe found here) to bring into work on Monday.. and they were met with rave reviews! What do you think? Are you overdue some time spent baking, readers?? Yeahhhh! It’s both therapeutic and tasty pursuit – win win! If you're keen, here’s the macaroon recipe in just ten simple steps...

Recipe: Coconut and Raspberry Macaroons with a Dark Chocolate Drizzle

1.     Throw open the windows, pour a chilled bev, get yourself into a Mary Berry frame of mind, and set some music playing to sing-a-long with.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: This week I’ve been listening to ‘HAIM – Ready For You’, ‘Joey Negro – Must be the Music (disco version)’ and ‘Tom Misch – South of the River’. If you’re stuck for a song, maybe give these a try!

2.     Heat your oven to 180C and line a baking tray with a sheet of greaseproof paper.

3.     In a bowl, mix the eggs until they become light and frothy and begin to stiffen.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: You could use a manual or electric handheld whisk. Or if – like me – you lack either of these… you can blend your eggs in your smoothie maker and hope for the best!

4.     Once the egg mix is stiffening, fold in the vanilla followed by each dry ingredient one at a time (not the chocolate).

5.     Once the mixture has come together, and has a doughy / crumbly consistency, it’s time to get stuck in! Use your hands to podge together small balls of macaroon mix and spread these balls evenly about the baking tray.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: Look out for pink flashes of raspberry in the mix and try to make sure each macaroon has some raspberry in it.

6.     Carefully transport your trayful of macaroons into the oven and leave for 15-20 minutes to bake.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: Use this time wisely! While the kitchen fills with a delicious smell of baking, you can be tidying about and getting the dishes done.

7.     Once your macaroons look golden and nicely baked, you can safely remove from the oven and switch this off. Then leave your macaroons to cool for at least half an hour.

8.      Once the macaroons are cool, break your dark chocolate into small pieces in a bowl and microwave until melted.

ChefBeHere Top Tip: It’s a good idea to microwave is short 30 second bursts, then check/stir/repeat until your chocolate has melted, as chocolate can easily burn if left microwaving for too long.

9.     Use a spoon to artistically drizzle the chocolate over your macaroons, and then leave to set for either a few hours on the side or half an hour in the fridge.

10.  Your macaroons are ready to eat! You can tuck in straight from the tray, serve the macaroons to friends and family, or Tupperware for another day.

What do you reckon, readers? Would you give this recipe a go? Are you a fan of a macaroon? I chose this recipe as it looked like it wouldn’t all-out destroy my new health kick. And it looked like a fairly straightforward recipe for getting back into baking, after a while away from my wooden spoon. The coconut nectar required a trip to Holland & Barrett (my home from home) but the other ingredients were all inexpensive and easy to source.

And the macaroons turned out pretty well! A few broke apart in the oven, so I donated them to my Father Bear as a taste-better-than-they-look kind of pudding. Something he could chuck custard on, he’s not fussy. And the rest turned out really well! They looked smart plated up in the office, when I took them into work. Looking at the pics – would you be tempted to give this recipe a try??

Admittedly, when I first tasted a bit of broken macaroon, I wasn’t sure. I was quite unsure, readers, because they aren’t sweet! And they do taste… sort of… ‘healthy’, these macaroons. BUT they grow on you, readers. Once you get a taste for them (and you will because who throws away home baking?!), then they’re really nice. Fruity and coconutty and homely. They look and taste like they’ve been baked with love! And they have.

They won’t bust your diet, readers, and they’re easy to bodge together – so give ‘em a go! Let me know how you get on with this recipe. Do share your thoughts on these macaroons and relay great tales of your antics in the kitchen. I hope they turn out well and you like them! Fingers crossed.

Podge safely,

Hayley

EAT CLEAN MINUS THE COST

Coconana Bran Muffins 

Time taken: 45 mins

Ingredients: 100g self-raising flour, 100g wheat bran, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, a big shake of cinnamon, 2 eggs, 3 bananas, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil (!!!), a little flaked coconut and 4 tablespoons of honey.

Hi readers,

Sooo… it’s the end of the week! The end of the first week back to work / uni for a lot of us. We’ve made it! And ahead of us lies…. The weekend!!! Suddenly, we can appreciate this again. It’s back to being different to weekdays. Notice, all the days just blended before? Well, now, Saturday and Sunday have regained their special statuses as the saviours of our weeks. POWER TO THE WEEKEND.

So, last night in our house spirit levels were low. One of my flatmates has a really bad cough. One has been struggling with her revision schedule. One has to write an essay about teaching when she’s already decided she doesn’t want to teach. My final flatmate tried her first past paper yesterday and couldn’t answer any of the questions. I myself have eaten so many healthy foods that my face is an explosion. Not good.

Get off my face you evil

 

Obviously, with so much woe, baking was called for. Obviously, calories are a sensitive topic right now. Obviously, healthy baking was the way to go.

 

So, yesterday, I handed in my big piece of work I’ve been battling with. Whoo! Then me and Woody grabbed a Costa to celebrate (!!!) and I decided to mosey around town and window shop for a while. Work was off the agenda. Aaaand, before long, I ended up in Holland & Barrett. This always happens. And I was picking up some bargain dried fruit when I saw they’ve made a whole section now for natural baking ingredients! For real!

 

This section has things like malt extract (to make malt loaf), vegan flours and coconut stuff. And I always see coconut oil and butter listed as exotic ingredients on Instagram when people are making smoothies and high-energy baked goods. Along with things like cacao nibs, maca powder and hemp seeds. Ingredients where you’re like… what?

 

But my attention was caught and I was noseying. And saw that coconut oil costs over £15 at Holland & Barrett!! I was like WHAT. No way! This was an ingredient I was definitely outpriced for! I shuffled away quickly. Dejected.

 

Later, shopping in Tesco for regular things, I was back noseying at new shelves of things. They’ve got loads of cool, international foods in now. AND THEY HAVE COCONUT OIL FOR £2!!!

 

It’s like WHAT. How can an ingredient possibly cost £16.55 in one shop and £2.25 in another?? Madness!! But Tesco’s coconut oil was in my basket quicker than you can say ‘Fuck Holland & Barrett’. Read on to hear how I (excitedly) baked up a storm last night using coconut oil!

My new baby <3

 

Readers, here’s how you go about making Coconana Bran Muffins, in ten easy steps:

1. Turn on the radio and heat your oven to 180˚C.

2. Take out a muffin tray and line with 12 jazzy muffin cases.

 

3. Measure your flour, bran, baking powder and cinnamon into a mixing bowl. Stirrrrr!

 

4. Use a fork to mash together 3 bananas in a separate bowl.

 

5. Use your muscles to scoop a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil into a mug, and melt in the microwave for a minute.

 

6. Crack your eggs into another mug and spoon 4 tablespoons of honey in with them. Stirrrrr!

 

7. Add all of your wet ingredients to your dry ingredients. Stirrrrr!

 

8. Then, spoon big dollops of your brantastic mix into each muffin case, so that they’re all almost full.

 

9. Sprinkle a few flakes of coconut over the top of each one for decoration.

 

ChefBeHere Top Tip: You could use desiccated coconut instead or pieces of dried banana. Whatever floats your boat!

10. Safely transport your muffins into the oven to bake for 20 minutes, until they’re golden on top, and when you skewer one a knife comes out clean.

And there you have it! A batch of muffins brimming with goodness.

 

Leave them to cool for at least 20 minutes, then feed em to your hungry flatmates. Stick the remaining muffins in a Tupperware, and these babies can be munched on for days to come! Try heating them up in the microwave for a warming treat if your house gets chilly. :)

 

 

So, these muffins have been a big hit in the house! I really like them. They taste very fruity and they’re a substantial eat. And they feel really natural and diet-approved. Just all-round super. I wasn’t sure what my flatmates would think of the muffins. They’re not as squirrel-minded as I am, so I was worried. But I got positive reviews from everyone!! “Not too sweet” was a regular comment. But in a good way, I think. There were smiles . Some “mmm”-ing. Empty muffin cases.

 

 

Give these a go? Now you know you can get the ingredients for so cheap, you’re almost compelled to. Really. And there’s no butter or sugar in these muffins, so your belly NEEDS EM. And life is better with these muffins! Fill me in on what you think.

And have a peaceful weekend.

 

Bake safely,

Hayley