Chocolate Seed Bars (Vegan, GF, DF, RSF)

I'm baking my way through Monday afternoon after browsing The Healthy Happy Wife this morning. Her blog is filled with ideas and looks particularly great for gluten, sugar and dairy free sweet treats. The 'No Bake Chocolate Bars' were top of my list and I'm itching to try them once I have left them long enough to set in the fridge.

Ingredients (makes around 12 slices)

1/2 cup agave nectar
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup raw cacao
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1 cup shredded coconut
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds

I also then added 1/4 cup of dried apricots cut into tiny chunks - sultanas or other dried fruit would work too!

This recipe took about 5 minutes to make...

• Add the agave, coconut oil and cacao to a non-stick pan on a low heat.
• Let it boil and stir continuously for a minute.
• Add the other ingredients to the mixture and stir until evenly covered.
• Poor into a lined or greased tin and allow to cool.
• Place in the fridge to harden and then cut into desired size squares.

And these age beautifully so make a batch and keep them in the fridge to enjoy as a snack over the next week or so!

Chia Pudding Pots

Chia seeds are so nutritious! I love putting them in smoothies and porridge to add texture and goodness to my breakfast. I decided to try soaking them to make a 'gel' as I had read that it was really easy and delicious. Most recipes I looked at just soaked them in water or coconut water so I decided to attempt a little twist!

Ingredients (makes 3 pots)

250ml coconut water
1 banana
2tbsp chia seeds

This is so, so simple... Just blend the banana and coconut water in a blender until it becomes a smooth liquid. Poor the liquid into pots, leaving room to add the seeds.

Stir in the seeds, dividing evenly between each pot (this can be done before you pour into the pots but make sure you use a spoon and DON'T blend!)
Once the seeds are evenly mixed in, put them in the fridge to soak and set!

Frugal Juicing

I absolutely love juicing. It gives me loads of energy and is a great way to cleanse your body when you are feeling a bit worse for wear. There is a lot of debate around the pros and cons of juicing (a post for another time perhaps) but since I was given an amazing juicer for my birthday in December (replacing a very basic, leaky, time-wasting one that I had before) I have noticed how much goes to waste!

I have decided to experiment with cooking and baking with the left over pulp rather than just composting it because there is still some flavour and goodness left over!

Today was attempt one...

Ingredients (serves 2)

2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp of seeds - I used pumpkin seeds
pulp from vegetable juice - I used:

• 1 carrot
• 2 handfuls spinach
• 3 lettuce leaves
• 1 celery stick

Put a non-stick pan on a low heat and add pulp for 2 minutes

Add eggs and seeds and allow to cook through, turning over once to ensure even cooking. The end result is a sort of fritatta dish that is full of flavour! I would definitely recommend it, especially if you are in a hurry as it takes just a few minutes to make.

I served mine with baked vegetables but salad would do!

I will update with any more successes I find!

Have a SMART New Year

The festivities are over, the countdown to midnight seems long gone and the talk of resolutions is on everyones lips.

I read today that only 8% of people follow through with their new years resolutions - an unsurprising figure considering the cocktail drinking photos uploaded by some friends today who vowed to take part in 'Dry January'. Its the 2nd of December...I didn't think they would crack that early.

But why do people fail? Often it is not to do with will power or forgetfulness, it is to do with the nature of the resolution. Goal setting in itself can be a challenge. Studying marketing, objective setting is discussed regularly and the mnemonic 'SMART' is often used to set the criteria of the goal.

Take the common example of "I'm going to get in better shape this year"

Does it meet the SMART criteria?

Specific - A resolution should be based on a specific change that you wish to make. Nothing too big or too small but in stead of a whole life overhaul where you hope to find your soul mate, lose weight and change your career, focus on one area that you want to improve.

Measurable - You should be able to quantify your progress - what does getting in better shape mean and how will you measure it? Setting a goal body fat percentage is a great way to analyse the progress you make.

Attainable - There is no point saying you're going to 'go to the gym every day' if you are not prepared to dramatically change your lifestyle. Setting a realistic or smaller goal will dramatically improve your chances of achieving it and that positivity can then be used to set the next one.

Relevant - Will achieving your goal make you happy? Does it fit into the bigger picture?

Timebound - Set a goal within a time frame. "By March I will..." Then, once you reach the end of the time frame you can revaluate the goal, measure how far you have come, create a new goal and new time frame in order to continue the progress. 8-10 weeks plans are a great way to get into good routines and keep things fresh.

So break it down into smaller, measurable and achievable goals. Progress is motivating and you are much more likely to achieve your overall goal if you have little boxes to tick off on the way. 

There are 363 days left of 2014. 

That is 363 opportunities.

"Leave no opportunity behind."

Don't waste another day talking about what you want to achieve, just go and start achieving it.

And if motivation is still escaping you, this might help...

Post by Rick Hall.

"Make that dream a reality". 

Be SMART