breakfast

Black Forest Fruits and Beetroot Smoothie

TheseNovelThoughts3 Comments

Mornings can be rushed. Particularly weekday mornings. And when you’re trying to eat more healthily, it’s hard to avoid falling into the trap of grabbing something quick and instantly gratifying for breakfast (like a cereal bar). 

If you’ve got two minutes and a smoothie maker though, you have a healthy and nutritious breakfast at your fingertips.

When I first got my smoothie maker, I was a bit put off by the fruit and veg prep – if I’ve got to peel, slice, and de stone then it’s not exactly quick and easy. For this recipe, though, the extent of the prep is pouring – so easy and so delicious!


Black Forest Fruits and Beetroot Smoothie

Serve one

Ingredients 

1 handful frozen Black Forest Fruits

1 handful oats

250ml beetroot juice

1. Put all of the ingredients in the smoothie maker. Top up with water.

2. Whizz. Add more water if it’s too thick. 

You’re done! Simple, quick and so healthy.

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Cheese Scones

TheseNovelThoughts21 Comments

Cheese Scones (3)After a few days off (I was working on Saturday, then yesterday was a lounge in front of the TV with a pizza kind of day), I’m back with a deliciously simple and savoury bake.

If you enjoyed my Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins, then I’m sure you’ll love these. I came across this recipe in an old notebook I’ve had since I was a little girl, where I would jot down all of the recipes I cooked, either at school or at home with my mum. This recipe must have come from my mum, because I remember her cooking them lots when we were younger – the smell of them baking in the oven brought back memories of coming home from school and eating these warm with butter as a snack.

The recipe is very simple, and making the scones is very cathartic. I really enjoy rubbing together the flour and butter – your mind can wander and it’s a very peaceful process. I’m sure you’ll enjoy making them, and they are absolutely delicious – particularly fresh from the oven!

How do you pronounce scone? I’ve always said it so it rhymes with gone – do you pronounce it so it rhymes with moan?

These wil take 30 minutes to make and makes 10 scones.

Cheese Scones (1)

Cheese Scones

225g self-raising flour

Pinch of salt and black pepper

55g butter

50g grated mature cheddar cheese

150ml milk

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees

2. Weigh out the flour and pour into a bowl with the salt and pepper. Cut the butter into cubes and add this to the bowl. Rub the flour and butter together with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs.

3. Stir in the grated cheese and milk. Work the mixture together with your hands until it all comes together, then tip onto a floured surface and knead gently, then roll out until it’s approximately 2 cm thick. Use a 2 inch circular pastry cutter to cut out rounds, and place onto a greased baking tray.

4. Bake in the oven for around 15 minutes until golden and risen.

Cheese Scones (2)

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins

TheseNovelThoughts26 Comments

Courgette and Blue Cheese Muffins

I don’t know about you, but I would always prefer a savoury breakfast to a sweet one. It always confuses me so much when I go to coffee shops or cafes; the breakfasts to take away always seem to be pain au chocolat or sweet muffins, with a tiny range of savoury sandwiches (bacon, sausage, egg, always the same…).

Muffin mixes can take savoury flavours just as well as sweet, and so I don’t understand why more places don’t sell them! But then, they’re so easy to make at home that it’s not too much of a problem.

These particular muffins are made from one of my favourite vegetables, courgette, with some ripe gorgonzola (most other blue cheeses would work well too) and black pepper – simple, but a winning combination.

Give them a go – if you’ve never made your own muffins at home before, you’ll wonder why not when you realise how simple they are!

This takes 30 minutes max and will make 12 large muffins.

Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins

300g self raising flour

3 tsps baking powder

50g cheddar cheese

1 courgette, grated (should be approx 200g)

3 eggs

3 tbsps vegetable oil

3 tbsps milk

150ml natural yoghurt

Black pepper

60g gorgonzola

1. Preheat your oven to 220 degrees.

2. Weigh out the flour, baking powder and cheddar and place in a large bowl.

3. Add the grated courgette, yoghurt, milk, oil, eggs and a grinding of black pepper.

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins (1)

4. With a fork, break the egg yolks and beat gently, then combine the rest of the ingredients together, gently, until it is all combined.

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins (2)

5. Fill a 12 holed muffin tin with 12 muffin cases. Share the mixture out evenly between the muffin cases.

6. Chop the gorgonzola into 12 equal pieces and place one on top of each muffin.

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins (3)

7. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until risen and golden.

Savoury Courgette and Gorgonzola Muffins

Smoked Paprika Baked Eggs

TheseNovelThoughts31 Comments

It was always going to be a lazy day today, after the shock to the system which was the first full week back at work after the Christmas break. I love lazy Saturdays, and the opportunity to cook a nice breakfast (well, brunch) is a rare treat.

The other half’s favourite food is eggs, and so that was his request. To be more precise, his request was three eggs.

The weather isn’t nice today, so I wanted to make something gooey and warming. Baked eggs is perfect for this, with a roll of warm, fresh bread for dipping. I’ve added a touch of chorizo and smoked paprika to mine too, just to add a little extra warmth.

This takes 20 minutes, and will serve 2. (I had one egg and hubby had three, most would probably have two each).

Smoked Paprka Baked Eggs.

Smoked Paprika Baked Eggs

40g chorizo

1 onion

500g smooth passata

1 tsp smoked paprika

4 eggs

10g cheddar cheese

Bread rolls, to serve

1. Preheat the oven for 200 degrees.

2. Chop the chorizo into small chunks. Put in a frying pan over a high heat and cook until the oil has started to run out. Add the onion, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Pour in the passata and smoked paprika; bring to the boil.

3. Pour the tomato mix into 2 small ovenproof dishes. Make a small well in the centre of each using a wooden spoon, and crack 2 eggs into the centre of each dish, being careful not to break the yolks. Grate a little cheese over the top of each, and put in the oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how well you like your eggs cooked. Enjoy!

Smoke Paprika Baked Eggs