The January cold calls for hot chocolate and cuddles!
I’m a total chocolate lover and I am totally in love with this recipe! I like how I can enjoy a creamy hot chocolate that’s fulfilling but still healthy! With as secret ingredient.. Maca powder! It gives you an extra health kick as well as lots of energy! Which means, more energy to get back in the snow for a snowball fight!
These Banana Bread Protein Bites are filled with natural goodness and of course are packed with protein!
I have been training for a marathon and these bites really are a winner when it comes to getting enough protein in and fuelling my body. I simply make a batch and snack on them throughout the week!
They are amazing to have as a pre or post workout snack, giving you that extra energy kick and helping your muscles recover! All that and they also taste absolutely delicious! Win win!
Start by placing the almonds in your food processor and blend for about one minute until it forms a flour like texture.
Then remove the pits from the medjool dates and peel the banana.
Now simply add the dates, banana, chia seeds, flaxseeds, vanilla powder and Raw Plant Protein to the almond flour and mix until it forms a sticky substance.
Once thats done grab a teaspoon and scoop out a spoonful, then roll it in your hands to form a ball. Repeat this until you finish the mixture.
As a topping you roll them into chia seeds or hemp seeds, which will stick nicely!
You can place them straight into your fridge to let them set or to simply store them.
Padella is one of my favourite places in London that I religiously visit every time I visit this beautiful city. Its a small restaurant in Borough market that’s always buzzing with people creating the most energetic atmosphere.
Inside this rather small but beautiful restaurant you’ll immediately feel cosy and welcome. The passionate chefs are cooking away behind the bar creating the most delicious plates of home-made pasta. These plates of pasta are served just like la nonna would serve them to you – a good portion, full of deep flavours and extremely comforting. After all a plate of pasta is supposed to comfort you, tell you everything is okay and make you feel so good that by the time you put your fork down you’ll be skipping through the rain with a smile.
When visiting Padellamost of the time you’ll find a queue going around the corner. But don’t be afraid to get your spot at the end of the line, as their service is so quick you wont even queue for very long. And nevertheless, once you’re inside digging into your plate of pasta you’ll quickly realise that it’s definitely worth queueing for.
Padella
Padella
What to have
I definitely recommend to order a few different plates so you can share with your pasta date and this way you can try as many of all the delicious flavours as you can!
As a starter I recommend trying their amazing sourdough bread by dipping it in their Fiorano olive oil. It’s so simple but yet so amazing. I believe in Italian food thats what really makes a dish, simplicity and high quality is what makes flavours stand out.
Other plates to share are the fresh Radicchio, oak leaf and rocket salad as well as the Bruschetta with cannellini beans and salsa rossa. They are both amazing starters preparing you for more deep flavours to come.
Now we get to the main of your feast. I cant help myself but order way too many plates which I somehow manage to lick clean as even the last bite is as magical as the first. My two absolute favourite pasta’s are both the tagliarini with dry chilli, garlic and pangratatto(£5) and of course the classic tagliarini with slow cooked tomato sauce(£6.5) – which is an absolute must try. The flavour of the tomato sauce is so deep and extremely rich. It’s incredible how a tomato sauce can have so much flavour that even though every bite is the same, you will never ever get bored of the flavours.
Padella
Padella
I am honestly in love with this place and if I could I would come for breakfast, lunch and dinner. What’s also amazing is the fact that every plate is extremely affordable. Just like in Italy a plate of pasta is the most basic but delicious and comforting meal that should be affordable to anyone. And unlike normal restaurants in London at Padellayou will get multiple plates creating an absolute pasta feast for under £20. Plus this really is the most authentic and best pasta you will get in London – so its a win win! I mean..its a pasta dream right?
Where to go
You’ll find this piece of pasta heaven located in Borough Market and their address is 6 Southwark St in London.
They are open from Monday to Saturday at 12–3:45pm and 5–10pm. And on Sunday from 12–3:45pm and 5–9pm. You can’t make any bookings, however I suggest you to try visit just before or after the typical lunch or dinner time as it gets very busy. Nevertheless, if you do have to stand in line it won’t be for too long and it will definitely be worth it! Buon appetito!
I have always been a huge fan of Rebel Kitchen and would always carry one of their small bottles filled with organic coconut chocolate milk around when I lived in London. So when I found out about their large cartons filled with organic plant based milk I of course had to try it! And I am so happy I did – because this milk is really something special.
How does it taste?
As soon as I picked up the carton it already made me smile as you really feel like you are picking up a cows milk carton you’ve just bought at your local supermarket. Now for my fellow vegans, it almost feels weird as I haven’t experienced picking up a proper milk carton in a while! I poured it in a glass and the pure white mylk looked just as delicious as it tasted. Drinking it cold really makes you taste every single ingredient. The creaminess hits your lips first, then a sweet flavour kicks in, which is then being taken over by a little saltiness. It really is delicious and an amazing cows milk alternative if you are new to a vegan diet.
What is it made of?
Just like cows milk you can choose between whole, semi skimmed and skimmed mylk. They are all made out of a combination of spring water, coconut cream, himalayan salt, brown rice, cashew, and nutritional yeast. However, what makes the difference between the whole, semi skimmed and skimmed mylks are the amount of coconut cream added. Thats why the whole mylk is extremely creamy as it has the most coconut cream, making it perfect to cook with and to create kick-ass creamy desserts with! Whilst the skimmed mylk is made with the least coconut cream. Being a total coffee freak I find that the skimmed mylk is the best to make a cappuccino with as it tastes amazing and leaves a great foam layer on top!
I honestly fell in love with this healthy plant based mylk and I am positive you will too! Enjoy a great foamy cappuccino, creamy pudding or hot chocolate made with the perfect mylk! Click here to get your own mylk!
As soon as you take a bite and you hear the iconic sound of chocolate breaking into two pieces you can already start to taste the first hint of pure dark cacao.
Being an absolute chocaholic I have tried many, but many different vegan chocolates. But when I tried this small bar I had no idea that it could have so much in store. Ombar’s chocolate bars are made of 100% plant based as well as natural ingredients. I find that lots of vegan chocolate is either too sweet, has an oily after taste or it might taste way too healthy and bitter for some people or children. Whilst I noticed straight away that Ombar’s chocolate has a very honest, dark and pure chocolatey flavour. Not too sugary, not too bitter, natural and no nasties – just real raw chocolate bars that taste amazing!
The pure cacao flavours are rich and the texture is firm and crunchy. I’m writing this as I sit next to the fire and I just broke another square of chocolate, I can honestly say that this is the best plant-based chocolate I have tasted so far. And as I am enjoying it, so will the little ones. I love how this chocolate is raw, plant-based, Fair Trade, natural and organic but it still tastes great and honestly the little ones will love it too!
I do a lot of baking and I’m sure that everyone is tempted to get their apron on a little more often whilst the days are getting colder and darker. Apart from enjoying a square with my coffee I also find that this chocolate is great to cook with. Put a few squares on your hot porridge as it melts into the oats, shave some chocolate on top of your hot coco with whipped cream or melt it and mix into cakes and brownies.
I highly recommend you to try all the different chocolate bars from Ombar and let yourself indulge in some chocolate delight! Whats a better way to enjoy the cold winter days with a hot coco and a piece of chocolate in your hand whilst cuddling up in your big jumper. Sounds like pure perfection to me!
When you thought pasta couldn’t be any more dreamy – let me introduce you to Pasta Rosa! I absolutely love making this pasta as it’s healthy, delicious and it’s the perfect way to impress any pasta lover! It’s extremely easy to make too, all you need is a pan to boil your pasta and a blender for the sauce – which means you’ve got this impressive dish whipped up in no time! I sometimes like to make a little extra sauce to then keep in an airtight container in the fridge. It’s great the next day for a different type of pasta (like penne) or even as a dip or spread.
Ingredients
3 medium beetroots
1 onion
1 garlic clove
2 medium tomatoes
Splash of red wine vinegar
Olive oil
Pinch oregano
Salt and pepper
Fresh basil
80 grams spaghetti
Method
Peel and cut the onion, beetroot, garlic and tomatoes into small pieces.
Once everything is chopped place the onion, beetroot, garlic and tomatoes in a food processor. Then add a splash of red wine vinegar, pinch of oregano, a splash of olive oil and season with some salt and pepper, now blend until smooth.
When your sauce is done boil some water with salt for your spaghetti and prepare as instructed on the package.
Once your spaghetti is done and drained place the spaghetti back into the pan and add your pink sauce – mix well.
Grab a hand full of fresh basil and cut them into long strips (julienne).
Place your Pink Pasta on a plate and finish off by sprinkling over the fresh basil, a little splash of olive oil and a little more salt and pepper if it needs it!
