Easy Healthy Summer Snacks

As a mother, who has the time and energy to make these all so healthy wonderful and colourful Instagram famous breakfast and lunches!?

Between work, the school run, the night feeds, the nappy changes, we barely have time to breathe. On my worst days where I've woken up late, prepared nothing for the day ahead and the kids are miserable I've snacked on a whole pack of baby bell, crisps and stale biscuits that the kids don't eat (heaven forbid I ate their kinder chocolate). Come the evening to make supper I am too exhausted to cook and end up serving everyone with pizza and can't be bother to even wash the pizza tray until the morning. No wander, I've barely eaten all day. It's amazing how eating right can change your mood, energy levels, skin and way of thinking.



The thing is I've always loved healthy food since I can remember. A tuna jacket potato is more appealing to me than a chippy. I guess I'm just really lucky there. But eating healthy is more time consuming. Don't get me wrong I'm partial to a Chinese take away and a bar of chocolate. But over all I'd say I have a 'balanced' diet.

Since becoming a mother however my eating habits started to go down hill out of pure laziness and exhaustion. The thing is how can I take care of everyone when I can't take care of myself!? Eating right has an enormous impact on my quality of life and it's something I have to do to be the best mother and person I can be. I am constantly browsing Pintrest for easy healthy ideas and have come across a few ideas that are delicious, healthy and most importantly easy. They are a hit with the kids too.

My 'how to' YouTube Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLsCJ-AmOpw&feature=youtu.be

Fruit Kebabs

Now I buy a bulk of fruit every week. My kids eat tones of it. However the thought of washing and cutting up strawberries for myself with a screaming toddler on my arm is too much some days. Let alone cut up a watermelon.Its shameful how many watermelons I have thrown away at the end of the week. A friend once told me to cut up all your fruit and place it in a bowl in the fridge. Easy to grab and all the work is done ahead of time. I've gone one step further. Fruit Kebebs. I can just grab one out of the fridge and eat it as I'm potting about. They look so colourful and appealing in the hot weather to the kids too.  So I just grab one out for them and they can eat it as they are running around outside or as we are heading out the door. And it's so simple to do. Also great when packing a picnic. Pop a few in an air tight container with a little lemon juice and you have healthy lolly pops for the kids. As soon as you buy all your weekly fruit set aside time to cut and wash everything and place them on the sticks. That little amount of effort goes along way with your week ahead. I use lolly pop sticks instead of the kebab skewers for safety reasons with the kids. You can buy these at home bargains or amazon link down below.

Ingredients

Any fruit that you like, I used the kids favourite.

Strawberries 

Raspberries

Blueberries

Grapes

Watermelon

What you will need

Chopping board

Knife

Lolli pop sticks/ kebab skewers

Method

Chop and wash all your fruit into bite size spices (blueberries you can leave as they are, highly recommend chopping a grape in half for safety reasons for young kids).

Place each piece one at a time on the stick. Put as many as you want on each stick (make sure these is room on one end for the kids to hold it as a lolly pop stick) you can get really creative here with the colours. 

Once they are all on a plate  them on a plate and squeeze some lemon juice evenly over them. 

Place in an air tight container in the fridge. 

You could even add a drizzle of melted chocolate, add some marshmallows and sprinkles for the kids.

Crisps and Mango dip

Now who doesn't love crisps and dip? this recipe will give you crisp lovers some satisfaction with no guilt and the mango dip is so refreshing in the hot summer days. If your off to a BBQ, quickly make up this recipe and watch it be one of the first things eaten on the table. You have to give it a try. So you can buy any flavour wraps you like or season plain ones yourself. I love the garlic ones with the mango dip.



Ingredients

Wraps of your choice
Oil spray
Mango
6 Cherry tomatoes
1 spring onion
1 red chilli
Juice of one lime



What you will need



Baking tray and sheet
Pizza cutter
Chopping board and knife



Method



Pre heat the oven to gas mark 6.
Place a baking sheet on a large baking tray and spray with oil
Cut the wraps as if you are cutting a pizza and spray each one with oil.
Place each on the tray and in the oven for 6-8 minutes o until crispy (keep on eye on them they can burn fast).
In the mean time chop up all your other ingredients finely and place into a bowl.
Squeeze of the juice of one lime and stir.
Let the crisps cool when ready a little and serve on a plate with some dip on the side.




Breakfast Tip Tops

I found this recipe from one of my very favourite chef you tubers Gemma Stafford. I will link her blog down below. I urge you to check out her blog and you tube channel. Everything I have ever recreated from her ideas have turned out amazing.
I call these breakfast tip tops because they are so healthy can even eat them for breakfast. On a heat wave you can grab one of these on the way to work, or give one to the kids on the way to school. But you can also eat them any time of day (guilt free). Your kids can eat as many as they want and they wont get that naughty sugar rush. Most importantly is the taste. I cant tell you how good these taste. the combination of flavours really compliment each other. they are delicious please just give them a try! I used these tip top bags from amazon which ill leave the link below. However you can use lolly pop moulds and anything of that sort.



Strawberry and Peach Flavour
Ingredients



1 cup of strawberries
1 peach
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey



Blueberry and Lemon Flavour



1 pack of blueberries
I zest of lemon
1 cup of greek yoghurt
1 1/2 teaspoons of honey



What you will need



Blender
Tip top bags or other moulds



Method



Place all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into mould and place in freezer for at least 4 hours.



Raspberry and Lemon Slush

I can not describe to you enough how good this tastes. It is better than any fancy Starbucks drink and it does not loose his flavour like the slush puppies you buy the kids. The best thing it is easy and healthy. Serve these at your kids pool party in the garden and you wont leave the blender they will want more and more. Mammy points right there. If you add a bit too much water, just add some more ice to get the consistency you want.



Ingredients



Pack of Raspberries
Juice of Two lemons
1 cup of sugar
2 cups of ice



What you will need



Blender
Cups with lids for small kids and straws (I found these in the pound shop over you can by them online)



Method



Put all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.
Pour into cups of serve straight away.


Enjoy x








Tip Top Bags
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zipzicles-Reusable-Plastic-Lolly-Moulds/dp/B00VNDEP7C/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1469253769&sr=1-1&keywords=reusable+zip+top+plastic+ice+pop
Gemma Stafford
http://www.biggerbolderbaking.com/
lolly pop sticks
https://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Plastic-Lollipop-Sticks-Lollies/dp/B008RBNQTG/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1469252051&sr=8-5&keywords=lollipop+sticks

Cooking for Beginners. A what not to do guide.

We all have to eat.


It's survival.


But in this 21st century we all have developed a relationship with food. Our emotions are involved. It's not just about survival anymore.

Guilt or pleasure.

 

 

Me personally I marvel in food. I enjoy it so much I've even dreamt about eating something.
So naturally when I moved out I had to learn how to cook. A ready made meal or a pizza from Asda doesn't quite  hit the spot. Emotionally.
But just like anything you start doing that you have never done before. Mistakes happen. Or in my case award winning FAILS.  

I don't know about you but a well captured picture of a piece of cake on Instagram is so satisfying. When I actually make something that turns out not too bad, of course I'm going to post it on social media, to show off my success. Hell Ive attempt the recipe for the 3rd time and FINALLY it doesn't taste of arse. 

 So before I start sharing with you my fool proof recipes.
You know just to show off.
Let me start by saying I'm no Gordon Ramsey. This is a post about my absolute favourite fails over the years in the kitchen.
In hopes beginner cooks won't make the same mistakes I did. Because as stupid as some of them may seem I just didn't know. You don't know something unless you learn it.
Common sense is something I lack in.
They are all very true unfortunately.
My family find my embarrassing mistakes hilarious. Maybe some of you who have attempt the art of cooking might too and can relate. 

Now you might be thinking why didn't she read a cook book?! 
From someone who had never turned an oven on, to go and read the language in a cook book is like reading a different language.
I would ring my mother and ask her
 "what the f**k does this mean?"
Most of the time I'd read it in my Welshy way as it is spelt. Completely pronounced wrong of course.
She had a good laugh at my expense.
Note, save yourself the embarrassment and use google search engine. Google is your best friend. Asking a customer service assistant in Tesco for a particular item you have completely miss read is too much blushing and burning cheeks for anyone involved. 


1.Try not to set fire to your boyfriends flat




My mother thought it would be a great idea if I cooked my boyfriend a meal in his flat by the time he gets home from work. 
You win the heart of a man through his stomach she said.
I had never chopped and onion in my life at this point.  
Chillie she said.  
Don't worry it will be easy she said. 
Aside from the fact my mother had to talk me through every single step on the phone and I dragged my brother there for moral support, it didn't turn out too bad. 
Except for the fact I set his grandmothers tea towel on fire.

Advise:
Never use a tea towel as an oven mitt on a gas stove. 
Buy the correct equipment. 




2. Try not to poison yourself or your boyfriend

Frozen meat. That's a tricky one for me. 
One day I was planning on cooking half a chicken for tea. Again my mothers idea. 
I forgot to defrost them though didn't I?! 
So I pulled them out about an hour before I was planning on cooking.
I thought it will be ok. 
Well half way through eating it I noticed it was still raw in the middle. 
So for the rest of the evening we just sat there convincing ourselves we were going to die. We didn't. 

Advise:
Allow meat to FULLY defrost. 
Follow cooking instruction don't just take a wild guess when it comes to meat. 




3. Be Careful what you buy. Packaging will fool you.

I saw an advertisement on the TV for this Devon Cream. It was that time of year with the tennis. Strawberries and cream...my favourite.
It was on offer in Asda.
I needed cream for a chicken recipe. So I bought two. One for the recipe and one for the strawberries. When I opened it, it was the colour yellow.
My first thought was NOT this is custard.
It was 'oh must be a new sort of expensive cream.' So I poured it all in the chicken. Only to then realise after a few minutes that it was custard.
No I didn't throw it away.
I was way to embarrass to even mention my stupidly to Tim. So naturally I served him it and said I didn't want any because I was feeling unwell.
POOR bastard!
I didn't tell him what I did until months later. He found the funny side eventually. Although he approaches everything I cook with precaution nowadays.  

4. Don't just think 'this will work' when you don't know. Google that shit.

Making my first Sunday dinner was going great until the gravy. It was a bit to watery for my liking.
How can I thicken it!?
Oh I know flour should do that.
NO!
None likes chewing on flour balls in their gravy. 
Advise: Cornflour added to a bit of water to create a paste. Add that to thicken any sauces. 

5. Please inform your boyfriend what is decoration and what is food

I can't say I didn't find this hysterical and thinking
'Karma for all the socks you left on the floor instead of the wash basket.'
Following a Gordon Ramsey recipe I cooked us some pork chops. He suggested to leave the whole garlic cloves on top on the pork chops as a decoration and flavour of some sort.
Tim thought it was a nut didn't he.
I can safely say he has gone off garlic.
Advise: Inform your eaters when you try to be all Gordan Ramsey.


6. Pasta?!
Easy for some. Now that's a tricky one for me. Undercook it and it feels like your eating sand. Overcook it and it tastes like slugs. DON'T use a slow cooker for cooking anything with pasta unless you like slug pasta or time it perfectly. Get your boyfriend to taste test to see if its ready or throw it at your wall. If it sticks its done.

Through all my fail attempts and disasters I can now cook with minimal mistakes.  I just didn't give up. I wanted to be the mother who makes homemade cookies and impressive lunch boxes.

If I can do it you certainly can. All the best.

Thanks for reading.

Jade


xxx