Apple & Peach Poach with Sweetened Natural Yoghurt

Apple & peach = a pretty strong marriage! They are both as sweet as a sunny day but have completely different textures. The crunch of the apple Vs the smoothness of the peach is just as good as watching a scene from your favourite film! (I’m not over reacting! I was going to use the all-time ‘match made in heaven’ line but didn’t want to ‘over cheese’ the situation ;) ha ha) 

Trying to think on the lines of using fruits and being extra healthy ;) I came up with this simple poached apple & peach breakfast mix! It’s a layered glass (or however you like) of the fruit & natural yogurt with toasted flaky almonds scattered on top. It’s easy to make and takes about 20 minutes.

 

It’s a great recipe if you’re trying to stay in shape and be that little bit healthier!  The fruits offer a great source of vitamins, the natural yogurt gives you the calcium kick-start to the day while the toasted almonds give you that extra hit of fibre which is all good in the general running of the body!

This breakfast recipe can easily be turned into a dessert favourite. Mixing the almonds with a crumbled digestive biscuit & toasting in the oven will leave your guests warm and yummy inside!

Ingredients:

1 apple (I’m guessing the best would be a crunchy & slightly bitter Granny Smith but I just used a Pink Lady as it was what we had laying around!)

1 fairly ripe peach

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon water/ orange juice

2 pots of natural yogurt + 2 teaspoon brown sugar for a sweeter flavour

Handful of flaky almonds

Method:

• Cube the apple & peach, add to a saucepan (for presentation: thinly slice some apple and peach, leave until the end)

• Add the tablespoon of brown sugar + the tablespoon of water

• Poach until soft

• In the meantime, mix the natural yogurt with 2 tablespoons of brown sugar

• Toast the almond flakes on a low heat. Just until brown. When they go dark brown they become bitter and we don’t want that!

• Get a glass of your choice and start to fill with a dessert spoon of the fruit mix, then a dessert spoon of the yogurt. Do this twice.

• Sprinkle the top of the mixture with the toasted almonds.

• For the wow factor stick thinly slices of apple & peach onto the side of the mixture.

If you are a Marvin Gaye fan like me, blast this out of the stereo while preparing this recipe! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdIF1lrIxXc 

  

He has the power to wake up any kind of sleepyhead and get your day on the right track!!! ;) 

Enjoy & Bon appétit,

Bella :) x

                         

An Italian Classic: Tomato & Mozzarella Salad

Tomato & Mozzarella salad... An Italian classic, need we say more? Its simplicity is luring! So many people think simple is heading off to buy some take out from the local 'chip shop'.

Well I am here to tell you that this is not the case! This dish is tasty, yes.. But also quite healthy! Yeah I know your eating a whole mozzarella ball (YUM!). But isn't it better than scoffing on a 'Big Mac' or ' Taco Frie'?! I think so...

So this little beauty is easy to make. Having fresh basil is essential. It will leave a fresh taste and make you want more and more when it's finished! It literally takes 10-20 minutes to make and leaves you feeling yummy inside.So get your chef aprons out and start cooking a storm of Italian freshness!

PS... If your in a stinker of a mood, the tomato crushing works a treat ;)

Per person
1 mozzarella ball
6 cherry tomatoes
3 basil leafs
Sea salt
Coarse ground pepper
Olive oil

Method

o   Wash tomatoes & dry with a tea towel.

o   Cut the beautiful cherry tomatoes in half & add to a mixing bowl.

o   Add sea salt and coarse ground pepper to the mixing bowl.

o   With all your might, squeeze and squish the tomatoes! (We want the sweet juicy flavour!) When you see a pool of water you know your up for a delicious snack!

o   Leave the tomatoes on the counter top to rest for about 20 – 30 minutes: this allows for the juices to mix together.

o   Wash basil leafs and carefully tare into little pieces.

o   Drain the mozzarella and dry with a piece of kitchen paper.

o   Cut into 1cm slices or slightly bigger or smaller, depending on your liking.

o   Plate up the mozzarella.

o   Go back to the tomatoes and give them a mix. Add the pieces of basil and mix together.

o   Plate the tomatoes just beside the mozzarella.

o   Sprinkle sea salt and coarse ground pepper over the mozzarella.

o   Drizzle olive oil over the dish.

o   Scatter ‘helicopter basil leafs’ and neatly arrange basil leafs over the creamy mozzarella.

To serve

Break off a piece of your favourite bread, tuck in & don't forget to suck up all those precious juices ;)

Bon appetito!

Bella :) x 

Bolognaise - French Style !

This is a beautiful little dish, know worldwide. It's delightfully scrumptious. Comforting!

This French style recipe is surprisingly good. I had it a couple of weeks ago and ordered it again today! With a bit of courage I asked the French chef to give me the recipe... To my surprise he was more than willing!

The owner of the restaurant asked it I wanted the chef to show me how to prepare the dish at my place or his... Laughing like no tomorrow, I said the recipe would be enough!

Elbows plumped on stainless steel counter tops we laughed and shared cooking tips. With a scruffy order docket book I took down 'his beauty' - Des Pates Bolognaise!



French Style Bolognaise:

Ingredients -

500 grams minced beef
1 can tomatoes
1 onion
Tsp Provencal herbs
Handful fresh basil
2 garlic cloves
Tbsp white sugar
Tsp salt
Tsp pepper
Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Method -

1. Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a big frying pan.
2. Add the onions and fry until soft and translucent.
3. Add the 500 grams of minced beef and fry until completely brown.
4. Add the can of tomatoes and mix well with the beef mince.
5. At this stage you can add the Provencal herbs and mix thoroughly.
6. Finely chop the fresh basil and scatter over the beef mixture.
7. Mix the beef every now and then.

This goes great with spaghetti or tagliatelle.

Feeds - 4 people

Serve with freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil leafs.



Also if your feeling cheeky and having a lazy day in the sun, why not add a glass or two of white wine? Chilled of course... ;) 

Bon appetite!

Bella :) x