Honey, Lemon, and Ginger Drink, natural cold/flu soother

It's that time of year again, lots of colds and sniffles about, tickly sore throats too.  Having four children at three different schools, and a husband who travels to and from work on the bus, there's lots of potential for us all to catch the latest cold/flu/cough that is doing the rounds.

I've been making this drink for my family for years, so simple and tasty, yet so soothing for those with the lurgy.

You can chill the drink and have it cold, or drink it warm, whichever you prefer.  Don't pay for special cold/flu relief drinks, this mug of goodness costs pennies and contains only natural ingredients..

Honey, Lemon, and Ginger Drink

Makes 2 generous mugs

Juice of 1 lemon, or 4 Tblsp lemon juice

2 pinches of ground cinnamon (optional)

2 pinches of ground turmeric

1cm piece ginger, very thinly sliced or grated

2 Tblsp honey, or more to taste (substitute for vegan alternative, if necessary)

Boiling water, cooled for 5 minutes

A few fresh mint leaves (optional)

Divide the ingredients between two mugs, add enough hot water to fill each mug, then sip slowly to soothe. Alternatively leave the mixture to cool, chill in the fridge and drink chilled.

  

Leave a Comment Basics, Drink, Make it yourself, Vegan, Vegetarian

Boozy (or not) Cherry Fizz

I love Summer! I dread the gloomy Winter months of endless grey skies and rain.  Having said that, the great British Summer can be a real mixed bag weather wise and you can bet that it will either be a scorcher or a washout - there never seems to be an in between.

When Waitrose asked me to develop a Summer recipe as part of their Taste of Summer Campaign, I immediately thought of a thirst quenching drink with the fruity flavours of the season that can be either a mocktail or cocktail for casual picnics or special summer gatherings.

Boozy (or not) Cherry Fizz

250g frozen or fresh pitted cherries

handful of fresh mint leaves

4 Tblsp/60ml lime juice (I used 3 limes)

zest from one lime

3 handfuls of ice, if using fresh cherries

500ml sparkling water/soda water or lemonade

sugar to taste, I used 2 Tblsp

150ml - 250ml rum or vodka (optional)

I used my Froothie power blender to make this drink.  If you're using a normal blender, just be sure to break the ice up a bit before adding it to the blender and add it gradually.  Blenders can be damaged by trying to blend too much ice at once.  

Put the cherries, mint leaves, lime juice and zest and half of the ice along with the sparkling water/soda water.  Blend well until completely combined.  Add rum/vodka if using, the rest of the ice and the sugar if needed.  Blend until mixed, then serve.

Throughout the summer months, Waitrose are asking people to share their favourite summer flavours on social media.  Whether it’s an ice cream at the seaside, burgers on the BBQ or a cold crisp glass of wine, they're are going to be celebrating the nation’s diversity of tastes this summer and providing inspiration all summer long.

Waitrose will be rewarding lucky members of their community for sharing their favourite tastes with a number of exclusive food experiences – including an invite to a barbecue event with Heston Blumenthal at one of his pubs in Bray, a cocktail and canapés course at the Waitrose Cookery School in London and a complete summer party menu catered for by the Waitrose Entertaining team.

All you have to do is tell Waitrose about your favourite #TasteOfSummer on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the chance to win one of their exciting summer food experiences.  Happy sharing, and enjoy the summer!

* I was compensated for my time, expertise and ingredients used when creating this recipe *

6 comments Dairy free, Drink, Party, Vegan, Vegetarian

Credit Crunch Munch Round-Up for April

I was delighted to host Credit Crunch Munch in April, there were so many deliciously frugal recipes and ideas for thrifty meals.

Many thanks to those who joined in, Credit Crunch Munch this month is being hosted by BakingQueen74.

Here are the 24 fabulous entries:

Beetroot And Jerusalem Artichoke Boulangere (Gratin) - Food to Glow

Cinnabunnies - The More Than Occasional Baker

Chana Masala with Wild Garlic - Tortillas for Tea

Pecan and Vanilla Coffee Cake - Coffee and Vanilla

Cheese and Leek Pudding - Tin and Thyme

Vegetable Croquettes with Cheese  - My Little Italian Kitchen

Chhole Bhature - Herbs, Spices and Tradition

Banana and Berry Muffins - The More Than Occasional Baker

Jamaican Saltfish Fritters - Food Glorious Food

Parsnip, Carrot and Mango Chutney Soup - Lancashire Food

Slow Cooker Apple and Raspberry Oaty Crumble - Baking Queen74

Potato and Leek Soup - Jo's Kitchen

Slow Cooker Goulash Soup - Onions and Paper
Strawberry and Coconut Milkshake - Fab Food 4 All
Sunshine Loaf - Utterly Scrummy Food For Families
Quick and Easy Pizza Dough - The More Than Occasional Baker

Pan Con Tomate - Roast Chicken and a Country Walk
Carrot and Ginger Soup - The Taste Space
Cheese and Onion Oemlette Muffin Bites - Family, Friends, Food
Apple Marzipan Dumplings - Fab Food 4 All

Homemade Tomato Soup - Cooking By The Sea
Citrus Curd - The Gluten Free Alchemist
Magic Chocolate Mousse - Food To Glow
Breakfast Apple Oat Muffins - Free From Farmhouse

Thanks so much to Camilla and Helen for asking me to host the linky.  If you would like to guest host Credit Crunch Munch please get in touch with Helen via email: Helen (at) fussfreeflavours (dot) com.

2 comments Breakfast, Budgeting Tips, Dinners, Drink, Lunches, Muffins, Puddings, Snacks, Soup, Vegan, Vegetarian

Froothie Optimum 9400 Blender - My favourite kitchen gadget!

A while ago we were sent a fab Froothie Optimum 9400 blender.   We've always had cheaper, much less powerful blenders.  This blender is the best I have ever tried by far!  It is really powerful and very easy to clean.  It is also quieter than some of the cheaper models we've had in the past.  

You can see how the Froothie compares to the Vitamix here.  You can also check out how it compares to the Nutribullet here.

We have used the Froothie to make smoothies, soups, nut butters, dressings and sauces.  It came into it's own when bubs started weaning as I could whip up super smooth purees very quickly.  The Froothie is also fab at making a quick and healthy soup for my lunch, everything goes into the Froothie and gets whizzed for around on high speed until you have a piping hot soup.  You can check out my 5 Minute Soup recipe here.

Speaking of recipes, you do get a fab recipe book supplied in the box and it gives a lovely range of recipes that will get you started with your blender  Very handy if you're new to power blenders and are unsure what they are capable of.  I’ve also used the Froothie Optimum 9400 to make fruit couli, caramel and chocolate sauces, passata and other savoury sauces such as a smooth hidden vegetable lentil Bolognese, Hollandaise and cheese sauce.  A great tool to have in the kitchen when a quick dinner or lunch is needed.  

Here's a clip showing just what the fab Froothie Optimum 9400 is capable of:

Leave a Comment Drink, Review, Sauces, Soup

Beetroot Smoothie - Jumpstart January

My daughters have been eyeing up the smoothies I've been having for breakfast and usually have a small serving each.  Having 3 others taste test my creations can be a mixed blessing, sometimes I have to make an extra batch after school so they can have some because it was tasty.  Other times they are less keen, as long as it tastes good to me I'm happy - especially as it means I don't have to share.

They were very curious when I whipped up this beetroot concoction, the colour is lovely and bright and cheery.  I had to make another batch as it was rather popular.

Beetroot Smoothie

2 cooked and peeled beetroot
2 apples
2 oranges
1 dollop vanilla bean paste
water/milk/coconut milk as necessary

Put all of the fruit and vanilla into a power blender.  Blend until smooth then add water or milk  and blend again.  Add more water/milk until smoothie is a consistency you are happy with.

Serve chilled.

As I mentioned previously, I am joining in with Jumpstart January and enjoying a smoothie for breakfast and soup for lunch.  Lots of other lovely bloggers are also part of the campaign, here are some of their latest posts:

Tinned Tomatoes
Slim down with Jumpstart January
Jumpstart 2015 – A Diet and Health Plan
Orange, Carrot and Goats Cheese Salad with Pumpkin Seeds
What I Ate and What I Lost

Fuss Free Flavours

Ren Behan
Healthy Pasta Dishes | Guest Blog Event: Pasta Please January 2015

Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
Jumpstart 2015 – Juices, Smoothies & Soups
Roasted Tomato and Garlic Soup
Skinny Creamy Celeriac and Apple Soup

Smarter Fitter
An Easy 3-Day Juice Feast to Jumpstart 2015

Veggie Desserts
Jumpstart 2015 – Squashing Vegetables and Feeling Healthier

Franglais Kitchen
Happy New Year! A healthy jump start and our pick of food trends for 2015

Maison Cupcake

Jumpstart 2015: I quit sugar too

Food to Glow
Jumpstart 2015 – Eat Smart, Feel Great
North African Winter Vegetable Soup with Toasted Freekeh
Happy Tummy Tonic

4 comments Breakfast, Dairy free, Drink, Vegan, Vegetarian

Vegan Mango Smoothie

 As I mentioned, I'm joining in with Jumpstart January which means I shall be having a smoothie for breakfast and soup for lunch in an effort to incorporate more vegetables into my meals and feel healthier.  

I needed to use up a couple of very ripe mangoes that we purchased for 10p each in the reduced section of the produce department of our local supermarket.  I decided to use coconut milk for another tropical taste and also add tofu for protein and to thicken the smoothie.  

This recipe made five thick smoothies, a delicious start to the day for us all.

Vegan Mango Smoothie

2 large, very ripe mangoes
400ml can coconut milk

150g silken tofu 

juice of a lime (optional)

ice (optional)
Maple syrup or agave nectar, to taste

Peel the mangoes and roughly dice the flesh.  Put all the rest of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.  Thin with some water or more coconut milk if you wish.  Pour into glasses and chill before serving. 

4 comments Breakfast, Drink, Snack, Snacks, Vegan, Vegetarian

No Waste Food Challenge - June Round-up

I was delighted to be host the No Waste Food Challenge in June on behalf of Elizabeth's Kitchen. I cannot stand food waste and we ensure we use the food we buy wisely and waste as little as possible. There were SO many delicious and inspiring recipes shared which use up ingredients that may have gone to waste.

English Girl made a Slow Cooker Vegetable Broth, a healthy and thrifty recipe, great for those chilly summer days or as a base for so many other dishes.

Madhouse Family Reviews used up some of the exotic spices in her spice rack when cooking these Turkish Kofte Meatballs, a fast and delicious family supper.

Searching for Spice used up some bunches of herbs when making her Tomato and Coriander Soup, such a vibrant colour, great for a light summer supper.

Fab Food 4 All baked a delicious Rhubarb and Marzipan Cake, perfect for a lunchbox or afternoon tea treat or equally lovely as a pudding with cream or custard.

The Taste Space baked these delectable healthy morsels, Maple Sesame Crackers, which would be perfect for snacking on any time of day.

Creator of this challenge, Elizabeth's Kitchen made this fab Spinach and Mozzarella Stuffed Meatloaf.  A great family dinner or dinner party main course and perfect for using up cheese and greens lurking in the fridge.

Chocolate Log Blog baked this delectable Eton Mess Chocolate Cake, oh my goodness it looks so good.  An impressive centre piece for an afternoon tea and a great way to use up some strawberry yoghurt.

Lancashire Food made some Rhubarb Anise Syrup and Jam, a delicious solution to a glut of rhubarb which most vegetable gardeners seem to experience. 

Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous cooked a tasty Dal using Quinoa and Lentils, a healthy way to fill tums and use up pulses lurking in the cupboard.

Chris from Cooking around the world made Filé à Osvaldo Aranha from Brazil and Fritule from Croatia in honour of the Word Cup, great ways to use up pantry ingredients.

Elizabeth's Kitchen entered another delicious treat, Chocolate Strawberry Pavlova, oh my goodness it looks SO delicious.

My Little Italian Kitchen baked Cherry Clafoutis, a fab way to use up fruit and other ingredients from the fridge.

I'd Much Rather Bake Than . . . made a vintage fruit cake recipe, Vinegar Cake, perfect for using up packets of dried fruit lurking in store cupboards and better still the recipe is egg free so perfect for when there are no eggs about or for those allergic to eggs.

Green Gourmet Giraffe cooked a delicious and vibrant Greens, Beans and Potato Soup.  Perfect for using up vegetables and herbs past their best, and a healthy supper too.

Sarah from Maison Cupcake made a super healthy Spicy 'Kermit' Soup in 5 minutes using her Vitamix.  A fab way to use up greens lurking in the fridge.

 

Kavey made some White Cherry Rum Liqueur which sounds divine and would be fab for gifts or a delicious drink to unwind with.

Gluten Free Alchemist created a Chocolate Hazelnut Coconut Milk Ice Cream, a delicious way to use up some homemade Chocolate Hazelnut butter.

Leeks and Lemoni baked some fab Strawberry and Orange Muffins for an alfresco breakfast.  I'm sure they would be great with a cuppa or a very welcome lunchbox treat.

Eat Your Veg made a delicious and nutritious Easy Peasy Vegetable Noodle Stir Fry which is great for using up vegetables and a super quick family supper.

Spicy, Quirky and Serendipitous cooked Almond Meal French Toast which is a delicious breakfast treat and a fab way to use up bread past its best.

The Lass in the Apron baked Date Cashew Chocolate Drops, perfect for a lunchbox or afternoon tea treat and a great way to use up unusual flour which may be hiding in a cupboard.

The Lass in the Apron also baked these delicious and delicate Rose Almond Petit Fours, perfect for an afternoon tea or cake sale. 

The Baking Explorer made Gluten Free Cola Cupcakes which taste as good as they look and are a great way to use up soured cream lurking in the fridge.

Fab Food 4 All cooked this delicious Roasted Tomato, Red Pepper and Chorizo Soup, perfect for a chilly summer evening, freezable and a fab way to use up tomatoes and peppers.

Thank you so much to all those who entered No Waste Food Challenge this month, great recipe inspiration to help us all love our leftovers and use up food languishing in fridges and store cupboards.

6 comments Biscuits, Breakfast, Budgeting Tips, Cakes, Dinners, Drink, Lunches, Muffins, Party, Puddings, Slow Cooker, Snacks, Soup, Vegetarian

Warm Drinks for Chilly Days

My girls and I love a hot cuppa to warm up after a chilly walk in Autumn or Winter, especially after coming home from school.  I've been experimenting with alternatives to hot chocolate, which is delicious but high in calories so I try not have it too often.  Hot homemade cordials and juices are a great way to warm up without a milky chocolate brew.  Here are a few ideas I have tried so far:

Warm Spiced Juice

1 litres of juice, I used apple and raspberry juice
1/2 a cinnamon stick
1/4 tsp mixed spice
2 Tblsp brown sugar
2 or 3 whole cloves

Pour the juice into a large saucepan and add the spices.  Warm gently for around 15 minutes then serve hot in mugs.     

Lemon and Ginger Syrup

3 large lemons, juice and zest
25g fresh ginger, grated
750g caster sugar
1 1/2 tsp citric acid
500ml boiling water

Put all the ingredients into a large heatproof bowl.  Stir the mixture until the sugar has completely dissolved.  Cover and leave overnight to infuse.  Strain the syrup through muslin.  Pour into sterilised bottles or jars and seal.

Make a hot or cold drink with one part syrup to four parts water.  This would also make a fab Christmas gift or 'pick me up' pressie for a friend with a cold.

Raspberry and Vanilla Cordial

375ml boiling water
225g sugar
1 vanilla pod
zest of 1 lemon
2 large handfuls of frozen raspberries

Put the water and caster sugar into a small saucepan. Stir over a low heat until the sugar has completely dissolved.

Split the vanilla pod, scrape out the seeds and add to the sugar and water mixture along with the lemon zest.  Bring to the boil then simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the raspberries then leave to cool.  Strain the cordial through muslin then pour into sterilised bottles. Store in the fridge.  Add to hot water for a refreshing and warming drink.

Leave a Comment Drink, Gift Ideas

Taylors of Harrogate Coffee Visit

How far would you go for a decent cup of coffee?

I have a confession to make, I am a coffee snob.  I don't drink instant coffee and much prefer a cup brewed from freshly ground beans.  Coffee keeps me going, I cannot and will not function without a decent brew.

When I was invited by Taylors of Harrogate to a coffee event I was very excited to go along, even when they told me it would be a 4hr train journey each way.  I am that fond of decent coffee.  And besides I hadn't been that far up North in the UK so I thought why not go on a bit of a journey.  It was all I expected and much more!

The visit to Taylors was fab!  We had a gorgeous lunch followed by a coffee tasting session led by the extremely knowledgeable and friendly Emily who wasn't in the least but phased by some tricky questions posed by us bloggers.

Typical bloggers, despite being ravenous we have to take pics of lunch before we eat it! LOL

Taylors ensure they pay fair prices for their coffee from suppliers with many varieties certified as Fair Trade and we were shown a presentation detailing the production of coffee and how it is grown, processed, transported and prepared.  It is a very labour intensive and time critical process.



Emily talking us through the coffee growing, processing and transportation process



We were all instructed on the art of the slurp in order to properly taste the coffees on offer.  I found the citrussy flavoured coffees to be too weak and not to my liking at all.  I loved the Rich Italian (don't we all!) and Hot Lava Java varieties, both were strong and full bodied coffees.



Tasting the many and varied coffees on offer

We even got a tour of the factory, it was fascinating and well worth having to wear paper hair nets and coats.  We watched the coffee being roasted, ground and packaged.  It was like a live "How It's Made" programme, great fun!

Taylors have produced a handy Selection Pack of four coffees in exactly the right measures to use in an 8 cup cafetiere.  This means you can try a few different coffees without having to buy a whole bag of each one.  Genius!

The Selection Pack would be a great gift, along with an 8 cup cafetiere, for a coffee lover in your life.  Give it a go, the coffee is fab!

Many thanks to Taylors for their hospitality and for a brilliant and informative visit.  Everyone we met at the company was lovely, we were fed really well and I had a great time.

** Taylors of Harrogate paid my travel expenses to enable me to attend this event. **

1 comment Drink, Gift Ideas, Masterclass, PR Event

Utterly Scrummy Snippets

Welch's Grape Juices

I was sent a huge package of 16 cartons of Welch's Grape Juices to try which was a mixture of cartons containing 100% Pure White Grape Juice, 100% Pure Rose Grape Juice and 100% Pure Purple Grape Juice.  I gave some to friends, froze some in the cartons, made loads of ice lollies and put some in the fridge.  The 100% Pure Rosé Grape Juice was our favourite and is made up of a blend of White and Red Grapes which was very refreshing and a fab compromise if the Purple Grape Juice is too strong for you, as was the case with my 3 daughters.  Welsh's Grape Juices are fab for lovely summer days, makes a brilliant alternative to wine (if you are not drinking for whatever reason) and the juices also make delicious mocktails.  You can find mocktail recipes and find out more about the health benefits of drinking grape juice here.  All juices are available from leading supermarkets for RRP £2.59.

LOL Drinks

LOL Drinks are a lightly carbonated fruit juice drink made from 75% fruit juice and 25% carbonated water.  A can of LOL contains enough fruit juice to be counted as one of  your ‘five a day’.  LOL contains no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no preservatives, no artificial colours and no caffeine.

LOL is available in three flavours:

RAZZ BRI – Apple and Raspberry Juice Drink

O RANJ – Apple and Orange Juice Drink

B CURRENT – Apple and Blackcurrant Juice Drink

Available in most supermarkets in 250ml cans for 99p.

Maggi So Juicy

The So Juicy range from Maggi is a packet of spice mix with a roasting bag for your coated items to be cooked in.  Simply put meat, fish or vegetables into the roasting bag, add the spices, seal then bake.  What could be simpler?  There are a range of So Juicy packs to suit beef, chicken and pork.  The chicken I coated with the mix was indeed juicy and flavoursome.  t was a big hit with my family too.  I would use this occasionally if we wanted a low mess, quick to prepare, flavoursome meal. Including a roasting bag in the pack is a great idea as it cuts down on mess and makes it easier to cook meat in the same oven as a vegetarian meal whilst keeping them separate.

Leave a Comment Chicken, Drink, Review