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Recipes

25/01/15

Raw Butternut Squash Smoothie

raw butternut squash smoothieI love this quirky new smoothie recipe. I’d never have thought of using raw butternut squash in a smoothie but it tastes amazing and it is so filling. The cinnamon tops it off.  I have been eating it recently post my early morning run and swim when the body needs a tonne of nourishment to recharge.

Low in fat, butternut squash delivers an ample dose of dietary fiber, making it an exceptionally heart-friendly choice. It provides significant amounts of potassium, important for bone health, and vitamin B6, essential for the proper functioning of both the nervous and immune systems. So with all this goodness what is not to love!

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09/10/14

raw cashew blueberry cheesecake

This dessert is a feast for the eyes. I love the contrast in colour and the more fruit you add the more intense the rich purple colour becomes. It is a wonderful way to surprise people with a lovely dessert that is raw, vegan, dairy free, wheat free and the only sweetness is a little bit of honey. Everyone on our retreats asks for this recipe and I am certain your friends and family will de doing the same. (more…)

07/10/14

Chick Pea Tagine

This tagine is a must for cooler autumn nights when you crave something warming and wholesome. Its a great meal to share with friends and family, easy to make and it will keep for a few days in the fridge. The taste actually intensifies after a few days rest. Serve with our jewelled couscous, a leafy green salad and a good dollop of tatziki. (more…)

Jewelled Couscous

This is such a beautiful salad to make. It turns couscous from a very plain, bland grain into a delight for the taste buds. I love cooking with pomegranate seeds, they are so magical, it’s like working with little rubies and when you taste the salad, it transports you to some far away corner of Morocco. It is perfect served with a tagine and a huge green salad, or it can be eaten on its own as a light lunch. I know there are a load of ingredients in this recipe, so if you don’t have all the nuts or all the herbs simply add what you can and it will still be delicious. (more…)

Goddess Powerfood Salad

1455166_10152305339926436_6201080336838635357_nZestlifeThere are so many amazingly wonderful ingredients that I couldn’t pick one for the name of the salad, which is why I have chosen the name ‘The Goddess Powerfood Salad’, which sums up this salad just perfectly. On purchasing a spiralizer i have been inspired to create a number of wholesome salads that quite simply make you go ‘mmmmm’. One friend said ‘this is one fit salad’. It’s a winner. It’s very light yet filling and it puts a smile on peoples faces when you tell them they are eating raw courgette not spaghetti. Fuel your body with goodness, feel light, fit and free with our favourite salad.
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08/09/14

pinto & red kidney bean chilli

There is something so very comforting about a chilli, especially on late summer evenings when Autumn is on the horizon and we start to look for comfort where ever we can. I love all the extras that go with a chilli, the guacamole ( you can never have enough guacamole), the cheese, the natural yoghurt…. Every mouthful a differnt delight for the taste buds.
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sesame seed spirulina balls

10368186_697096003713180_6572824129104377047_nZestlifeI first made these balls on our dive into yoga retreat, where we spent most of the weekend wild swimming in beautiful lakes of north wales. I was looking for a quick energising snack to sustain us when we came out of the water, tired and hungry. These were perfect. Neither sweet nor savoury. Ideal with a hot herbal tea. (more…)

24/06/14

Banana & Apple Cookies

10459147_658322620923852_7454100450128375764_nZestlifeWe love these cookies here at the zest life. We made them for our latest retreat “Yoga Rocks” where we hiked up Snowdon. It was these cookies that gave us the energy to get up to the summit. (more…)

21/04/14

black bean dip

10155126_622895731133208_1032836193189084873_nZestlifeWe found this recipe in a great newspaper supplement, its taken from “Light Bites and Tasty Treats” by Jenna Zoe. Black beans are crammed with antioxidants and are a great source of fibre an protein, so its now wonder we love this dip so much. It makes a welcome change from humous too. Dip some slices of red pepper or brocolli florets for a well rounded snack. Or spread onto a wholegrain wrap and top with filling of your choice. (more…)

courgette, rocket & feta slice

1424411_622313984524716_7936400009881313567_nZestlifeWe think this tasty cheese slice is a cross between a quiche without the pastry and a  fancy omlette. We are always looking for healthy treats for when we head out in the hills, either walking or out on the bikes. The snacks need to be energizing, protein rich and also able to withstand being squashed in a ruck sack too. These slices are a winner for this. They also make for a delicious savoury breakfast brunch, or serve with a large green salad and crusty bread for a lunch to share with friends. (more…)