Wednesday 4 February 2015

Cooking the Books - Honestly Healthy










The cold that has been going around for weeks has caught up with me.  I felt really rough yesterday at work and went to bed at 8 o'clock last night.  I'm feeling a bit better today but not much like cooking, so the meal I had planned to make from this book will have to wait until another day.  So this is not technically cooking the books as there is no cooking involved.   I wanted something really simple and healthy so I chose to make this nut and berry layered breakfast.  I think it would be nice anytime of day, I'm going to have mine for lunch to give me a boost at work.  I made it with Greek yoghurt, but if you are a vegan you can make it with raw vanilla cashew cream.  I also just used blueberries.  I eat a lot of nuts and seeds so had the ingredients in my store cupboard.  You could adapt it to your own tastes.





Here's the recipe:

Serves 2 - 4

100g (3 1/2 oz/1 cup) raw walnuts
100g (3 1/2 oz/scant 2/3 cups) raw almonds
50g (2 oz/scant 1/3 cup) raw pumpkin seeds
50g (2 oz//scant 1/3 cup) raw sunflower seeds
50g ((2oz/1/3 cup) raw flax seeds
1 large punnet of blueberries
1 large punnet of raspberries
1 quantity of raw vanilla cashew cream


Soak all the nuts and seeds for 30 minutes to 1 hour and drain.  Then tip them into a food processor and pulse briefly - just enough to coarsely chop, but still retain their wonderful crunchy texture.

To serve, place a layer of berries in the bottom of a glass, place a layer of nut mix on top, and spoon over a layer of the cashew cream (or yoghurt).  Repeat the layers and decorate with the berries.



Raw Vanilla Cashew Cream

100g (3 1/2 oz/2/3 cup) raw cashews, soaked for 1 hour and drained
60 - 125 ml (2 1/2 - 4fl oz/1/4 1/2 cup) purified or filtered water
1 tsp vanilla extract.


Add 60ml of the water and blend, adding more water as necessary to make a smooth cream, then add the vanilla extract and blend for a few more seconds.














I think it looks lovely in the jars, I would even serve them like this as a dessert for a supper for friends.  It would be a little different everyone opening their jars.

The book is Honestly Healthy - Eat with your body in mind, the alkaline way.  It is written by Natasha Corrett and Vicki Edgson, and is full of 'my sort of food' lots of gluten free, veggie/vegan healthy recipes.

Hopefully I will be back to in the kitchen cooking 'proper' meals again soon.

Chickpea xx



















25 comments:

  1. Now that looks lovely and i like the sound of the cashew cream sounds really easy to do :-)

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    1. Not tried making the cashew cream yet, but will when I have more energy.

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  2. Firstly I do hope you feel better very quickly, there is nothing worse than being under the weather. Secondly, this looks delicious! Can it be made the night before? I am just thinking of a work lunch but I don't have enough time in the morning to make anything. xx

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    1. I made a couple of pots, one for today that has been in the fridge overnight. Cant see that there would be a problem with it, Will let you know later.

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  3. I often soak 35g of porridge oats in natural yogurt and fruits of choice (usually raspberries and blueberries) overnight and eat for breakfast. Very filling and satisfying, even for this greedy guts. Hope you feel well soon Chickpea. Alfie has only got over the cold bug doing the rounds. It really knocked him off his feet.
    Leanne xx

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    1. That sounds nice, if that keeps overnight I don't see that there would be a problem with this recipe. I can sympathise with your son, I'm feeling pretty rough.

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  4. oh that looks yummy, i love the jars.

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  5. DO serve them in the jars. Makes everyone feel extra special!

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  6. Hope you are feeling better soon.
    This looks so good but I ate so many blueberries when the children where young, I think I would use a different fruit.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. So do I, fed up with this cold now. Strawberries or raspberries would be nice.

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  7. Looks nice, bursting with goodness, great idea.

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    1. When I saw them in the book I thought it was a great idea :)

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  8. That sounds delicious. Hope you are feeling better soon. x

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  9. That looks great - love the idea of popping open the lid on your very own portable breakfast/lunch! The cashew nut cream is delicious - it also works well as a topping for carrot cake - just add less liquid.

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  10. It sounds delicious and looks very tasty too which always enhances the actual taste doesn't it. Hope that you are feeling better soon. xx

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  11. That looks great, I love the presentation too! It sounds an interesting book. Hope you are feeling better soon x

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  12. I agree,it looks delicious and I'm sure it tastes the same.So sorry you are poorly,wishing you better sooooon.

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  13. It looks yummy and putting it in the jar makes it easy for transporting to work. Wishing you a speedy recovery :)

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  14. That looks delicious! I think I'd prefer it as a breakfast to a dessert but still, so yummy! I am very intrigued by cashew cream, I've never come across that before. x

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  15. That is another book for my list! That looks lovely, get well soon.xx

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  16. That is another book for my list! That looks lovely, get well soon.xx

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