Tag: apple

Turmeric Zing

After a few days of over indulgence this is a perfect low calorie glass of guilt free brekkie. Full of zingy energy combining turmeric, ginger and apple.  You can make this the night before and leave it overnight in the fridge or just whisk it up quickly in the morning. Simple but full of flavour.

Turmeric Zing

  • 100ml coconut or almond milk
  • 1 apple
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
  • nice chunk of fresh ginger (peeled)

Grate half the apple and put this in a small bowl or glass.  Put the coconut milk, rest of the apple, the ginger and turmeric into a blender and blend well. Pour this over the grated apple. Easy!

You can also add a tablespoon of chia seeds to make this a bit more substantial – although it’s still a light dish.  If you add chia seeds then leave overnight or for at least 1/2 an hour after making to enable the chia seeds to soak up some of the juice.

turmeric and chia zing

 

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Apple, cardamom & pistachio Mug Crumble

I was browsing in a National Trust bookshop a couple of weeks ago and came across a book dedicated to Mug Crumbles – a crumble in a mug!  I was hooked and have been trying out various recipes ever since. I loved the cake in a mug concept, so this is taking it to a ‘slightly’ healthier level and what better for an indulgent brekkie than a crumble.

This is my first own recipe attempt based heavily on some of the book suggestions – just a fabulous way to enjoy fruit and nuts at brekkie.

Apple, cardamom and pistachio Mug Crumble

apple card and pistas crumble

For the filling

  • 2 apples chopped into pieces (I left the skin on)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 1 teaspoon caster sugar (other sugar is fine too)

For the crumble

  • 2 tablespoons plain flour
  • 1 tablespoon ground pistachios
  • 1 tablespoon soft brown sugar
  • 15g butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • pinch of salt

In a large mug, mix together the filling and cover the mug with cling film.  Pierce the cling film a few times.  Microwave for 1.5 – 2 minutes – the fruit should be soft but not really squishy.   The fruit does cook down quite a bit – so there will be room for the crumble on top.

Make the crumble by mixing all the ingredients together in a bowl and then rub in the butter with your fingers to make a soft dough like texture (like a soft crumble mixture).

Put this on top of the filling and cook in the microwave for 1 – 1.5 minutes (you don’t need to cover the mug).

Leave to cool a little before you get stuck in.  Very nice with some yoghurt on top as well.

Apple maple overnight oats

I love overnight oats – so easy and convenient. This is a quick easy put together option – making use of all the lovely apple choices out there at the moment. I made a batch last week so it’s easy to double or triple the recipe and it keeps in the fridge for a couple of days. I like to eat mine either at room temperature or after a couple of seconds in the microwave to take the chill off.  But you may prefer it straight from the fridge.

These are great to have pre or post a run too.

Apple maple overnight oats (one portion)

apple-maple-overnight-oats

  • 150ml Almond milk (any milk will do)
  • 1 medjool date
  • 1 apple – grated with skin on
  • 50g oats
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • Grating of nutmeg (I find nutmeg a strong taste so whilst I like quite a lot – around 1/3 teaspoon, you may prefer some trial and error here)
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup (or more if you fancy a little more sweetness)

Blend the milk with the date.  Add this liquid to the oats, grated apple and spices.  Mix well and put into a bowl.  Pour the maple syrup over the top and sprinkle on the pumpkin seeds.  Cover and put in the fridge overnight.

PS – Thank you to Joe Delucci ice cream – the ice cream is wonderful and the containers very useful!

 

Brown Rice Apple Porridge

I first tasted brown rice porridge at a yoga retreat a couple of years ago. The rice from the previous evenings meal was re-cooked for breakfast with delicious results. Whenever I cook brown rice for dinner, I always make extra so that I can have this breakfast a couple of times over the following days.  It does take a bit of stirring and infusing of flavours and liquid so it’s an ideal weekend filling breakfast when there is more time to enjoy the wait.

Brown rice apple porridge (serves one)

Created with Nokia Smart Cam
Created with Nokia Smart Cam
  • 120g of cooked brown rice
  • 100ml water
  • 100ml Almond milk (or other milk) – plus a bit extra if the rice gets too dry
  • 1 apple – grated
  • 25g sultanas or raisons
  • Cardamom – I crushed around 5 pods
  • Cinnamon – liberal amount – this dish can take a lot of spices
  • Cloves – small sprinkle as it’s quite a strong flavour and easy to overpower the other spices
  • Demerara or other brown sugar to serve

Put the rice and water into a saucepan and boil for around 4-5 minutes until the water is absorbed – keep an eye on it and keep stirring it.

Then add the almond milk, grated apple, sultanas and spices and simmer for 8-10 minutes – keeping an eye on the liquid levels. You want the apple to be really squishy and almost dissolving into the rice so don’t simmer for less time, if it’s getting dry add a bit more milk.

This is lovely with the added crunch of some demerara sugar to serve.

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I managed to do a spinning class and dog walk before enjoying some time in the kitchen to cook and eat this dish, which I really felt I had earned – a lovely feeling.  I did have a banana before heading out to spin – I needed something to keep me going.

 

Apple Crumble Poragie

I love the mixture of spices, fruit and sweetness in an apple crumble and I especially like the crumble toppings, so having a variation of it for breakfast is a real treat. I love nutmeg so tend to sprinkle quite a lot, but it is powerful so take it easy if you’re not sure.  The freeze dried apple I found recently in Tesco when I was looking for dried apple and it does add some lovely sweetness to the crumble topping, but you could use diced dried apple or leave it out completely.  I always have ice cream with my crumble but not for breakfast!  So I added a side of crème fraiche which adds a little more richness.  Natural yoghurt would work as well, or you could push the boat out and use cream.

Apple Crumble Poragie (serves one)

apple pie poragie

  • 1 apple – cored, but you don’t need to peel
  • 4 blackberries
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • A sprinkle of nutmeg (I grated around 1/2 tsp)
  • 1 tsp maple syrup
  • 200ml Almond milk (I used unsweetened)
  • 40g porridge oats
  • 50-100ml tap or filtered water

Topping

  • 4-5 hazelnuts – crushed
  • 1 tsp brown sugar (I used demerara for it’s coarse texture)
  • few bits of freeze dried apple – crumbled up
  • A few blackberries
  • Crème fraiche or yoghurt or cream

Method

In a good blender, blend the apple, 4 blackberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup and almond milk.  Once blended tip into a saucepan and mix in the oats. Bring to the boil and simmer for 2-3 minutes.  Add as much water as you need to stop it sticking and get the consistency you like (or you could add more milk for a richer poragie).

For the topping – mix the crushed hazelnuts, sugar and apple together to make the crumble topping. Sprinkle on top and add some blackberries.

Add some crème fraiche, yoghurt or cream on the side.

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Today’s dog walk was very wet, cold and windy so this was a warming treat once i’d dried out. I ate it in front of the fire with the dog snoozing peacefully.