Life Lately and Make-Ahead Meals!

Hidy-ho friendly friends and Happy SUNDAY!!

Sundays for most might mean a bit more of a sleep-in followed by an easy-going restful day... for others it might mean running 17km before 8am, like I did, today :P

 This is my, I'm finally home face!! ^^

 And this is my; did I actually just do that?? What kind of crazy person am I, face ^^

And these are my legs... they don't really show too much emotion.

Anywho, it was a lovely run, running against the wind was a bit of a battle at times, but luckily the last few km's back were with the wind (honestly, when I was running against it I almost couldn't move!!)

Refueling after my fasted cardio with:

 Utter deliciousness.

 This was the creamiest of creamy green cherry and banana smoothie with a side of warm, crunchy, straight-from-the-oven PB granola :D

 The smoothie was simply chucking a handful frozen cherries, 1 large frozen banana, 3 big scoops greek yoghurt, 1 handful frozen zucchini, 4 chunks frozen spinach and splash of water into the Vitamix and whazzing until smoothie-smoooooth! Into the freezer until required.

And the granola? around 1/2 heaped cup rolled oats, 1 handful wholemeal reduced-sugar cheerios, 1 teaspoon maca powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 heaped tablespoon smooth PB with 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk, heated up in the microwave until warmed through and then mixed into dry mix until combined and sticky- onto baking tray and into the oven at 200 degrees celsius for 15-20mins or until golden brown, crunchy and fragrant- nom!

So that was this morning, but what else has been crack-a-lacking in the life of Steph-2-Chef??

Working.

Lots and lots of working.

Because it is holidays and uni break I have been rostered on almost every single day and whilst I'm definitely not complaining (getting paid definitely makes it worth it) I have had to get a little more creative and organised with planning my meals and creating dishes that can be eaten hot/ cold and made-ahead to sit in the fridge.

Majority of said meals have been dinners but I did have an early shift on one of the days and also wanted to get in a good arm workout that morning...

 Which I totally smashed by the way!

 The baby biceps are growwwwiiinnnggg!!

 Yes.

So, I whipped up a batch of rich, dark choc granola to make a killer yoghurt bowl that could be thrown together in two minutes after I finished assassinating my arms:

 Enjoyed with a frozen banana, greek yoghurt and almond milk- this was so so good!

 To make the make-ahead granola I simply placed 1/2 cup muesli + 2 heaped tablespoons rolled oats + 1 heaped tablespoon raw cacao powder + 1 teaspoon cinnamon  into a bowl and then stir to combine then + 1 tablespoon almond butter warmed up with 1/2 cup almond milk, stirred into the dry mix and baked in the oven at 180 degrees celsius for 20-25 mins or until crunchy and golden!

 Then I just left it to cool and popped it into an airtight container in the fridge until the next morning when I just popped it into a bowl with all the other goodies!!

 Let it soak in the almond milk a little and hey-presto! The besto!!

 And the frozen banana is a must. Because then it tastes like ice cream. Rich chococlate granola ice cream.

 Happiness.

 But mainly, dinners:

 Simple-pimple make-ahead meals that literally have less than 5 ingredients!

 This bad boy was roasted broccoli, purple cauli, brussels and cheese-y baked tofu (hard tofu mixed with garlic, nutritional yeast and water- baked in oven for 15-20mins until puffed and golden)

 And this one was simply steamed greens and curried pumpkin and corn falafel- nom!

 And last but not least... but definitely ugliest! This whole baked sweet potato (so good eaten cold!!) with a side of mixed veggie chili:

Which was basically just sauteed and then bubbled away zucchini, eggplant, tinned tomatoes, mushrooms, blackbeans, mixed four beans, mixed dried herbs and turmeric

Eating healthy doesn't have to be complex and by the looks of these meals- super easy when super busy!! I definitely have a heck of a lot more make-ahead meal recipes so just let me know if you want more ideas folks!

Your turn:
Are you a rester on Sunday or is it just the same daily crushing it??
What's your favourite breakfast of recently?
Best make-ahead meal that saves the hanrgy monster??

I hope, once again, you have a lovely Sunday, do all the things you love, spend time with those you love and as always; EAT SOMETHING DELICIOUS!! Bye for now friendly friends! :D

Minty Green :)

Hello there friendly friends!! And good morning!/afternoon!/evening!!

I hope you're ready for this post.

I hope you're ready to get your socks blown off.

And I hope it's not too cold wherever you are because then you wouldn't be too pleased with having your socks blown off..

Anywho, that's not the point.

The point is I have just created a breakfast that enables you to enjoy the extremely delicious, creamy, smooth, mouth-watering flavours of mint green ice cream with a crunchy, fudgey, chewy peanut butter granola to top it all off with. For breakfast. No I am not kidding.

Presenting to you the utlimate breakfast in deliciousness: The Creamy, dreamy mint ice cream and granola bowl:

I was never a real big fan of mint as a kid growing up. My mum's favourite ice cream flavour was mint choc chip so I always had a little try of hers when we went out for ice cream but almost always fell back on my own favourite- extremely artificial and fake, awesomely rainbow-swirled bubblegum ice cream! (which did in fact mature into cookies and cream later on).

However anything with mint in it just confused me I think. Like, why did I feel like I'd brushed my teeth after eating icecream? Alas, once again, the growing-up-ness of growing up effected my stance on mint ice cream (as it has with mannnny other things like pasta bakes, avocado, mushrooms, olives etc.) and from my most recent trip to the grocery store and an impulse buy of fresh mint, I knew this was something I had to re-create!

And so I did.
This recipe couldn't be simpler guys and is simply:

Ingredients:
2 medium chopped frozen bananas
1/2 chopped frozen avocado
3-4 fresh mint leaves
1 handful of spinach

Method:
1. Pop everything in a food processor/ high speed blender (handy Vitamix to the rescue!!) and whaz until smooth and creamy dreamy!!
2. Transfer to a bowl and pop in the freezer to harden up slightly whilst making the granola!

The granola was simply:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon oat bran
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 handful low-sugar wholegrain cheerios (or other cereal of choice)
1 large tablespoon peanut butter (or any nut butter)
1/3 cup almond milk

Method:
1.Turn on oven to 180 degrees celsius, line a tray with baking paper
2. Mix together dry ingredients in a bowl
3. Place nut butter and milk in a small bowl and microwave until warmed through
4. Add to dry mix, stir until combined (add more almond milk if too dry)
5. Place on tray and bake for 15-20 mins until golden brown and crunchy on the outside- leave to cool slightly

Et Voila!!

A beautifully sweet, minty ice cream with warm, freshly made granola... can you have a better start to a day??

100% natural, vegan, high plant protein, veggies to boot (that I assure you, you will not taste!) and the delicious taste of mint ice cream to leave you daydreaming about for the rest of the day week :P.

Happy, happy days!

Your turn:
Favourite ice cream flavour as a child?
Favourite ice cream flavour now?
Favourite way to use mint in cooking? What should I try next!!?? I was thinking choc mint oats?? Let me know! :D

I hope you all have a ripper of a day, do something you love and as always; EAT SOMETHING DELICIOUS (and maybe minty and smooth??)! Bye for now friends! :D

The Coconut Granola Bowl Recreation!

I had a craving.

'Hi Steph.'- but no you don't understand, this wasn't just a simple craving for chocolates or lollies, or in my case potatoes.

No, this was a craving for a specific dish I've enjoyed on a couple of occasions in the past few months that I woke up one day and just knew I had to re-create.

What is this magical dish you ask? Why it is the House Paleo Muesli from Voyage Kitchen (an awesomely urban/ hipster joint with funky meal options and awesome vegan/ paleo/ gluten free etc. options too!)

So I woke up with the purpose of producing a deliciously fruity, nutty, coconutt-y granola (set in the freezer) on top of some dollops of plain greek yoghurt, banana slices scattered throughout with a side saucer of almond milk to drizzle on top (just like they give you at the restaurant!)

And so I did.

Steph's Raw Coconut Granola Bowl!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup rolled oats
Small handful chopped, mixed, dried fruit
Small handful chopped, mixed, raw nuts
1 heaped tablespoon coconut butter (tutorial here/ can be  bought at certain supermarkets)
1/4 cup almond milk/ other milk of choice
Optional- cinnamon (recommend!)
1 sliced banana
1 cup greek yoghurt/ yoghurt of choice- non-dairy etc.
Extra almond milk to serve

Method:
1. Line a plate with baking paper.
2. Place coconut butter and 1/4 cup almond milk in a small bowl and microwave for 30 seconds (making sure it doesn't boil over- alternately heat on stove until warmed and combined)
3. Combine oats, nuts, dried fruits and cinnamon in a bowl and add warm/ hot coconut micture to bowl. Stir to combine
4. Scatter onto plate and pop in freezer for at least 15 minutes to chill and set.

5. Retrieve yoghurt and banana

6. Dollop in yoghurt to bottom of bowl, follow with some delicious granola, banana slices, granola, banana slices etc. Until you get a pretty bowl of absolute deliciousness!

7. Pour over some almond milk and enjoy!

This was without a doubt one of the tastiest brekky's I've had in a long while and truly hit. the. spot in terms of my craving for Voyage's House Paleo Muesli!

Natural sweet, delightfully coconut-y and filling to boot! This is truly a breakfast of champions that does not taste like it is healthy!!

But being filled with all the fibre, nutrients and minerals of wholegrain oats, dired fruits, nuts, coconut, natural yoghurt and banana- where can you go wrong?

I enjoyed this breakfast thoroughly and would highly recommend trying it out if you're after a home-made restaurant style brekky that truly satisfies (without needing to contain eggs, bacon and sausages!)

Sometimes the lighter option turns out to be the most filling, nutritious and delicious meal of them all (especially with a few tweaks from Steph's muesli recipe!)

Grab your bowl, grab a spoon and dig in! (Or else I'll just have to do it for you!!)

Yum.


Your turn:
What's one dish you could really go for right now from a restaurant?
Do you ever try to re-create your favourite restaurant/ cafe meals at home?
Sweet or savoury breakfasts? I think I have and always will be a sweet brekky person. I have tried savoury brekky's in the past but they just don't do it for me. I guess I'm a desserts first kind of person! ;)

I hope you all have a lovely day/ week, smile lots and... eat something dlicious!! Bye for now friendly friends!! :D

An Oat Bar Recipe... Without Oats!!

Hi friends, happy whatever day of the week it is because I'm too frazzled to even remember!

But thankfully, I have enough brain power to type up a recipe (probably not to create one, what with hot elements and cooking etc.- so lucky for me I cooked this up on the weekend!!) and so get ready because...

This 'granola bar' recipe is oat free, sugar free, wheat free, dairy free, ancient grain filled, extremely delicious, filling, protein filled and quite simple to prep together for a make-ahead brekkie/ snack!

The majority of my make-ahead, convenient recipes are as a result of me requiring a make-ahead breakfast to grab running out the door for a few hours later.. and this recipe is no different!

I had a pre-brekky of plain greek yoghurt mixed with frozen banana slices (so yum!) an then grabbed my frozen granola bar wrapped in foil to enjoy approximately 3-4 hours later for second breakfast!

 Pic

Now, I'm not usually a fan of eating plain quinoa or plain buckwheat on their own, like my usual obsession with plain brown rice. Instead I seem to cook them into delicious, sweet breakfast (enter rich chocolate buckwheat 'porridge'.)

So when I needed a bake and then freeze-ahead recipe (ok, it didn't have to be bake, but the chocolate fudge brownie was getting a little old- though still so, so tasty!!) but wasn't really feeling the oats (I think I'd had oats about every day for the past week!) so instead I rummaged through my pantry shelf and pulled out some quinoa and buckwheat groats. Let's cook!

Quinoa and Buckwheat, nutty, cinnamon-y, coconut-y 'granola' bars!
Ingredients:
2 heaped tablespoons quinoa
2 heaped tablespoons buckwheat groats (add more if you're a hungry beast like me!)
1 cup almond milk
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
sprinkle of chia seeds
small handful chopped mixed raw nuts
2 dates, chopped
1- 2 teaspoons coconut oil

Method:
1. Preaheat oven to 180 degrees celsius, line a mini loaf tin with baking paper (or alternately line a ramekin)

2. Rinse quinoa and place in saucepan with buckwheat, cinnamon and  almond milk in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until absorbed (add some extra water if liquid absorbs and quinoa and buckwheat are still crunchy!)

3. Stir in chia seeds, nuts and dates
4. Pour into mini loaf tin or ramekin, flatten with a spoon/ hands and place in oven for 20-30 mins until golden brown

5. Leave to cool and then cover in foil/ gladwrap and pop in the freezer overnight or until whenever required.

And this is me enjoying my oat-free granola bar during my break at work:

 NOM :)

It may not look like the most vibrantly coloured meal- but boy did it taste good and leave me energised and full for hours!!

All in all, this is such a great, healthy, filling, nutrient dense recipe that I reckon all of you should make when you're in a time-jam and need some awesome food to positively fly through your day!

Your turn:
Are you a fan of granola bars?
Do you make your own homemade versions? What do you put in yours?
Favourite way to use quinoa/ buckwheat?? I'm keen for some more ideas!!

Alrighty! I hope you all have a fabulous rest of your day/ week, nourish your body, love your body! Smile lots, love more and as always; Eat something delicious!! Bye for now friends! :D