Cherry and coconut protein healthy oat flapjacks

I must admit it has been a while since I did any healthy baking, probably because the Boy has been on deployment and he is the main consumer of my healthy treats. But I had a new man in town staying with me on his trip from Cambodia, my dad. And like the Boy, he likes his food.

I whipped up a batch of flapjacks, experimenting with a new flavour combo. I have experimented with flavours before and the basic mixture of oats, a bit of butter, a bit of milk and an egg. Once you have that you are free to experiment with all sorts of flavours.

Lush's fresh face masks - 'love lettuce': review

He might be a big, beefy Marine officer but when it comes to the girly stuff, the Boy has it nailed!

He's often bought me shoes, accessories and helps me pick out an outfit quite happily (well maybe not happily) but he is also pretty good when it comes to knowing what beauty products I like!

I was surprised with a huge box of bath bombs from Lush and also this little treat for the face...

A face mask from Lush's Fresh Face mask range. 

A boozy brunch at Forge and Co Shoreditch

Who doesn't like a weekend brunch?
Who doesn't like a weekend brunch that also involves booze?
Lots of booze at that - unlimited in fact!

unlimited prosecco at Forge and Co 

Boozy brunches are the thing right now. I love it!

I went to one a few weeks ago with the Boy and the girls from home, to Forge and Co in Shoreditch, London. Eggs Royale with bubbles, what's not to love? 

Spinach, flaxseeds and fruity protein smoothie

It's that time of the year... we're slowly working our way through the leftover Christmas nibbles (I reckon that tub of twiglets will still be knocking around in July though) and thinking about our January detox. 

Along with a detox, most of us will be hitting the gym and I know for me, that I'll be trying to fuel my body right... including with post workout protein snacks to aid recovery and repair! 

My latest snack is this spinach and blueberry one! 

Jamie Oliver's breakfast/brunch popover

If like me you had been watching Jamie Oliver’s latest “superfood” cooking show, you would have seen a tasty breakfast treat called “popovers”. I made these for Sunday brunch for The Boy and me. With the surprising ingredient of cottage cheese (which is one of his favourites) I knew this would go down a treat.

I added ham, red onion and tomatoes in to mine (and would have added spring onion if I had any), but you can add whatever veggies, cheese and meats you might have going spare – a great way actually to use left overs up! 

Creamy spinach and coconut soup

It is the perfect time of year to be settling down for lunch with a big bowl of steaming soup. Lucky for me, my lovely friend Charlie bought me a huge cookbook of soups for my birthday - the New Covent Garden Food soup cook book in fact. Which is bursting with 365 recipes, one for every day so you'll never be short. 

This spinach and coconut one is creamy and simple to make and totally delicious, and falls on 24th March in the cook book in case you were wondering. 

True to form, I have amended it slightly!

Palmers cocoa butter formula gentle exfoliating scrub: review

I love the Palmer's cocoa body butter range, especially the one with the hint of tan in it! But I never knew that they did a facial scrub! I randomly stumbled across this when I was in Superdrug looking for everything but facial scrub! 

Feeling overwhelmed??? Gain control with these easy, doable 6 steps

We’re coming to that time of year when things start to get a little stressful. I know it is the season for  crackling bonfires, Christmas parties and mulled wine (my favourite!) but it is also common for it to be one of the most stressful, and stats back this up. Christmas is said to be the 6^th most stressful life event, with divorce, moving house and changing jobs in the running, but probably made worse by the fact it is an annual occurrence (unlike the others).

As we approach the end of the year, it becomes ridiculously busy both at work and at home.

picture from http://masteringtoday.me

It means ensuring the activities on our business plans are complete and we’re already thinking of next year’s projects, plus trying to organise the perfect Christmas for the family (catering for fussy eaters and impressing your mother-in-law) which is no mean feat.

Oh She Glows tex-mex casserole (one pot wonder)

For my birthday, my lovely aunties got me the blogger 'Oh She Glows' cookbook (aka blogger Angela Liddon). It is a vegan cookbook, focusing on real, wholefood ingredients. Sounds right up my street. 

tex mex casserole heaven!

My latest attempt at the recipe is her “crowd pleasing tex-mex casserole” which I must admit I have slightly amended and also de-veganed! Sorry. I added left over chicken and added a little helping of grated cheese on top! But it tastes just as great meat-free!

9 amazing uses of coconut oil you didn't know of!

It was not so long ago that the health world was warning people against oil and condemning saturated fats. However, in recent years coconut oil has been in the spotlight for all the right reasons, being branded as a “good” fat. All kinds of recipes have exploded onto the scene, from cakes to curries, including the oil as an ingredient.

picture from http://coconutbenefits.ca/