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Sweet Potato and Apple Loaf (sugar free)

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I had it in my head that come my blogs second birthday I would try to create something special. I was thinking I still had a couple of weeks left but it turns out my blog turned two last month *Happy Birthday to Me!*  How did I miss this? 2 years have flown by. I feel I have come a long way since my first blog post (and I cringe at that photo)! But I am currently struggling to find time to create and share with my dear readers. I read this post recently and it completely sums up my feelings about blogging. I love blogging and the opportunities it brings me, but I feel so much pressure to put all my time and energy into it if I want to make it ‘big’. Trying to juggle a full-time job and a blog is HARD, unless you want to sacrifice any leisure time you do have. I wanna hang with my friends, I wanna laze on the sofa at the weekend, I want to explore the land on these short winter days. I don’t always want to plan my day around daylight hours and how much time I have to get a photo in the perfect light. Posts will still be coming, so bear with me, some may have one image, some may have seven. I think keeping things different is the key to a long, happy life. So here’s to slow blogging, slow living and a long life.

Sweet Potato and Apple Loaf - sugar and dairy free // roughmeasures.com

I’m currently not having any type of sugar apart from whole fruits, not even my beloved maple syrup. Due to some health reasons and also to see if I could snap out of some very bad snacking habits *hello office cake table 3 times a day*. It’s going ok, the headache has gone and I am into my third week. I want to see if I can keep it up for as long as possible. When Costcutter asked me to come up with a baking recipe using their new Independent range, I thought it was a good opportunity to try some sugar free goods. This sweet potato and apple loaf is a hearty, dense loaf to keep you satisfied. I like to toast a slice and spread with almond butter.

I’m always wanting to hear your opinions and feedback, or got a recipe idea you’d like me to make? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Sweet Potato and Apple Loaf
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A comforting slice of this loaf will keep you going in these long afternoons. I like to toast a slice and slather with almond butter. Stay cosy.
Rough Measures:
Recipe type: Baked goods
Serves: 10 slices
Ingredients
  • 115g / 2 cups wholemeal spelt flour
  • 150g / 1 cup grated sweet potato
  • 60g / ½ cup grated apple
  • 60ml / ¼ cup organic extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 free range eggs
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
Method
  1. Pre-heat your oven to 180 C / Gas 4
  2. In a large mixing bowl, sift in your flour and all the dry ingredients. Mix well.
  3. Add the grated sweet potato and apple and mix through.
  4. In a mug, whisk the oil and egg together, then pour into the loaf mix.
  5. Stir everything to combine, be careful not to over mix the mixture.
  6. Pour into a greased, lined loaf tin.
  7. Bake in the oven for 35-45 minutes until a knife or skewer comes out clean.
  8. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
 

Independent, the brand owned by Costcutter, offers a range of quality, affordable products across all categories including fresh vegetables, baking supplies and cupboard stables. I am always on the hunt for ways to keep our food bills down, and these products are great quality at low value. Independent is available from Costcutter, Mace, Kwiksave, SuperShop and SimplyFresh stores across the UK. You can find more about them here costcutter.co.uk and find them on Twitter and Facebook. 

Want to see some more Independent creations?

Simple Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake – Thinly Spread

Disclosure; this post was sponsored by Costcutter. All opinions are my own.

 

The post Sweet Potato and Apple Loaf (sugar free) appeared first on Rough Measures.


An Evening Soirée at River Cottage

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Last week saw another trip to Devon, to attend an evening soirée at River Cottage. It has been just over a year since my last trip there, and I was excited to explore the place once again. River Cottage, was of course made famous by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his famous Channel 4 show. Hugh has a wide range of cook books, and has been vital in promoting reducing waste. At his River Cottage Canteens, nothing goes to landfill!

I travelled down with some local bloggers; Chris from Thinly Spread, Kate from Veggie Desserts and Diana from Little Sunny Kitchen. We all live within 30 minutes of each other, and it was good to have a natter and catch up on the way down. We arrived and rain welcomed us. We ran into the shelter and huddled around the wood burner until our chauffeur driven tractor ride arrived to collect us. The ride takes 10 minutes, down a bumpy mud track, but the views across the Devon landscape and down onto the farm were stunning.

River Cottage // roughmeasures.com

River Cottage // roughmeasures.com

River Cottage // roughmeasures.com

We managed to have a quick wander around the gardens, checking out their autumnal crops, before heading into the main barn to watch a cookery demo from one of the chefs. Unfortunately it was a rather meaty one, so I took in the surroundings and had a nosey around. After the demo, we headed into their yurt, to play some foodie games around a large fire. A selection of items were placed into a box, and we had to stick our hands in and guess the item. I thought I had done pretty well but missed out some key items (persimmon, chestnuts!). After the games, we all sat down in the cottage and had a discussion on blogging, and collaborative blogging.

We were called into the main barn for dinner. We were welcomed with apple brandy and a selection of canapés. I was sat next to Tara from Tara’s Busy Kitchen, and Ceri from Natural Kitchen Adventures. We had a good natter about produce and our favourite ingredients. Dinner consisted of a roasted romanesco amuse bouche; celeriac ravioli with with mushrooms starter; parsnip rosti, poached egg, pan-fried cabbage with carrot puree, with a side of Hodmedod’s haricot beans in tomato, fennel and onions. I ended the meal with a small platter of local goat’s cheese with pear and apple (and watched in envy as everyone else tucked into their creme brûlées… damn this no sugar malarky!) It was a beautiful, seasonal feast. The chefs at River Cottage have no set menu, and decide on the day what to make, using the veg and produce that are picked from the gardens or from nearby farms.

The evening had flown by and all too soon it was time to say our goodbyes. We ran through the rain and hopped back on the tractor, to head back up to the car park and then home.

Do you fancy getting festive at River Cottage? You can find more information and details on their events here.

River Cottage // roughmeasures.com

River Cottage // roughmeasures.com

River Cottage log pile // roughmeasures.com

 

Thanks to Foodies100 and River Cottage for inviting me on this trip. All opinions are my own.

The post An Evening Soirée at River Cottage appeared first on Rough Measures.

Honey Ginger Bundt Cake

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This weekend saw a celebration. A rather big one in fact. My big brother married the girl of his dreams in a wonderful ceremony in Surrey. I feel like we had been waiting an age for their special day to finally roll in, and all of a sudden it was over too soon. We cried, we laughed, we danced, we possibly had one too many glasses (or pints in my case) of Prosecco, and our hearts were full with happiness for this amazing couple. I had the honour of being a bridesmaid, and getting to walk down the aisle watching my brother’s face light up as he saw his bride-to-be walk in was a moment I will be sure to treasure forever.

I always feel that bundt cakes are cakes for a celebration. Something about their shape and curves is a thing of beauty. I finally got myself a bundt tin last week and knew I needed to bake something special. This honey ginger bundt cake is sweetened with natural ingredients, costcutter.co.uk‘s Independent Honey. The soft flavours of the spelt match the honey and ginger so beautifully, I knew I was onto a winner. I was all out of any sort of natural icing ingredients, so dusted it with some coconut flour, but I bet a cashew icing would set a slice of this cake of beautifully. Happy celebrating friends.

Honey Ginger Bundt Cake // roughmeasures.com

Honey Ginger Bundt Cake // roughmeasures.com

Honey Ginger Bundt Cake
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A honey ginger bundt cake for everyday baking or to celebrate. Pair with a honey cashew cream, plant based yoghurt or simply dust with coconut flour. Dairy free.
Rough Measures:
Recipe type: Baked goods
Ingredients
  • 250g / 1½ cup wholemeal spelt flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
  • 2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 3 free range eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 125ml / ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 125ml / ½ cup Costcutter independent honey
  • 2 tablespoons grated ginger
  • Zest from 1 large orange
  • 130g plain dairy free yoghurt
Method
  1. Preheat your oven to 180 C / Gas 4 / 350 F
  2. Grease a bundt tin with olive oil
  3. In a bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together
  4. In another bowl, beat the eggs, add in the vanilla, oil, honey, grated ginger and orange zest. Fold in the yoghurt.
  5. Add the wet mix to the dry and mix gently until combined and no lumps.
  6. Pour into the bundt tin and bake for 35-40 mins, until a skewer comes out clean.
  7. Leave to cool for 10 mins then turn out onto a wire cooling rack.
 

Honey Ginger Bundt Cake // roughmeasures.com

Independent, the brand owned by Costcutter, offers a range of quality, affordable products across all categories including fresh vegetables, baking supplies and cupboard staples. I am always on the hunt for ways to keep our food bills down, and these products are great quality at low value. Independent is available from Costcutter, Mace, Kwiksave, SuperShop and SimplyFresh stores across the UK. You can find more about them here costcutter.co.uk and find them on Twitter and Facebook. 
Disclosure; this post was sponsored by Costcutter. All opinions are my own.

The post Honey Ginger Bundt Cake appeared first on Rough Measures.

Rough Measures Foodie Christmas Gift Guide and Hotel Chocolat Giveaway

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I am never one to be organised around the Festive season. Instead I seem to find myself running around on Christmas Eve eve frantically trying to get everything I need. This year I am trying to be a little more prepared. I also know that I am pretty difficult to buy for. So I decided to put together Rough Measures Foodie Christmas gift guide. Here you’ll find small gifts to larger ones, and hopefully something to please even the fussiest loved ones.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

GIFTS FOR… THE FOODIE

Christmas in my family always involves gin, good quality and lots of it. House of Elrick hand crafted, artisan gin is liquid beauty. Flavours of juniper, coriander seeds, angelica root and citrus peel, are built around a core of heather, pink peppercorns, sweet fennel and rose petals for a wonderful flavour. This one is not going to last long.
If you’re looking for stocking fillers then check out Gourmosa. Their range of revamped authentic sub continental snacks are great for Asian food lovers. The samosa leaves are great for parties, the chana chaat is perfect for a busy lunch-on-the-run, and they’ve even got a fab range of sweet vegetable based pots too – the carrot halwa is gorgeous.
Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without something mulled. I adore Steenbergs Christmas crackers filled with mulled spices for wine and cider, a great way to warm up during these cold evenings.
I go through cacao powder at an alarming rate. I have tried a fair few brands but Choc Chick has to be one of my faves. Their cacao butter is so smooth and is my go to for when I make raw chocolates.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

GIFTS FOR… THE TEA AND COFFEE LOVER

In my eyes, the world would be a sad place if we didn’t have tea and coffee. Hot, cold, green, fruit, decaf, the variations are endless. I’ve whittled down my long list of favourites to these. Hackney Coffee Company claim to be Hackney’s finest specialty coffee house, and they sure aren’t wrong. Their Dr Strangelove extract coffee has subtle notes of almond biscotti and cherry compote; dessert in coffee… why not?!
I do try and limit my coffee intake, but if I’m craving something hot later in the day I reach for the green tea. Tg Green Tea ginger and lemon zest is what I need this time of year. Punchy and zesty these organic tea bags need a place next to every kettle. Their range of chilled green teas offered a variety of flavours, all natural and low in sugar.
T-tox have done something clever with matcha, they’ve combined additional powders to make the special brews; Health, Energise and Recovery. With additions like moringa powder (health), ginseng (energise) and spirulina (recovery) there is one for every eventuality.
With all these hot drinks floating around, you’re going to need something to carry it around. The use of cardboard beverage cups is insane, and only 17% of all take-away cups are recycled. Ecoffee are passionate about reducing the 100 billion coffee cups that end up in landfills each and every year. I love their William Morris range, and my personal favourite is ‘seaweed’. Do your bit for the planet AND carry your beverage in style.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

GIFTS FOR… THE SMOOTHIE LOVER

I have a whole kitchen cupboard dedicated to smoothie and protein powders. From ashwagandha to wheatgrass, it’s all in there. Herbal, plant and protein powders make great additions to a daily smoothie or shake. For gym days, I alternate between Bio-Synergy Lean + Green vegan mint chocolate chip protein powder, with 20g of protein per serving and the most delicious peppermint taste, and Vivo Life; Perform raw cacao plant protein; with 25g of protein, BCAA and amino acids for growth and repair.
I jazz up smoothies regularly with Indigo Herbs great range of powders. Their Super Vital Powder makes a great addition to any smoothie.
Moringa is also something that I love to chuck in my blender or stir through porridge. I use Aduna, they work with rural small holders and create sustainable livelihoods for their small-scale producers in Africa. I adore their new range of printed tins, perfect for storing powders and potions.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

GIFTS FOR… THE DIFFICULT TO BUY FOR

A kitchen is not a kitchen without a good set of scales. Having always been limited to small kitchens with minimal worktop space, I love these Salter scales that also double up as a chopping board. Now you can weigh and chop all your items. It can weigh up to 15kg, it’s also nice and slimline, so it packs away into a drawer neatly. Plus, it also doubles up as a handy thing to weigh your small furry friends!
Gut health should be on everyone’s radar by now, a healthy gut will help all manner of issues. Fermented food is great for gut health. I have been making kombucha regularly these last few months, and have recently started fermenting other food items. This nifty fermenting crock from Mortier Pilon makes making a big batch of sauerkraut or kimchi easy peasy. The 2L crock pot means you can make a big batch at a time, and is easy on the eye too.
Natural, cruelty free skin care is important to me, and I love discovering new bits to add to my washbag. Faith in Nature shampoos, conditioners, face creams and other beauty items are organic, natural and cruelty free. I’ve been lathering on their pineapple and lime shampoo and dreaming of the tropics.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

THE GIFT FOR… THE FRUIT LOVER

Known someone who guzzles juice like no tomorrow? How about Breville’s Pro Kitchen Whole Fruit Juicer – the extra large feeding tube takes whole fruit, no need for pre – chopping, the parts disassemble easily and are dishwasher safe, and the jug holds 1.25l of juice. There’s also a large pulp container, which will hold 2l of fruit waste.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

THE GIFT FOR… THE KEEN BAKER

Long have I oggled various stand mixers. High end to lower budget, drooling over their stainless steel bowls and soft pastel colours. But many of them are large and bulky, and too big for smaller kitchens. Breville have found a solution to this with their Pick & Mix Stand and Hand Mixer – with a detachable hand mixer, this is perfect for every bakers needs. The bowl is large at 3.2L, but the mixer is surprisingly compact. With 10 mixing speeds, 2 bowl speeds and dough hooks, I know what I’m going to be asking Santa for this year.

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

THE GIFT FOR… THE ONE WHO IS ALWAYS LATE

I am not a fan of lateness. A good time piece will help your loved ones stay on time for every appointment or train. I find a lot of watches a bit too bling for my taste. But when I discovered Wood Watches, I knew these were the time pieces for me. With their natural wood straps and subtle accessories, they are pieces of beauty. The Franke 35 in dark sandal wood is my personal favourite. With sapphire crystal glass and built with a Swiss Ronda Normtech Caliber 763 motor, there are no more excuses for those not on time. Their JORD range offers a variety of looks, from zebrawood and navy, to sandalwood and slate, there is something for everyone. Hurry now and grab $25 off your order (until 28/1/2017).

Rough Measures Christmas Gift Guide // roughmeasures.com

THE GIFT FOR… THE CHOCOLATE LOVER

And finally, because Christmas isn’t Christmas without an abundance of chocolate… Hotel Chocolat‘s festive range comes highly recommended from me. Delicious dark chocolate is my bag, and who can resist a little chocolate reindeer in front of your favourite Christmas film (hello Home Alone 2!). Hotel Chocolat grow all their cocoa on their plantation in St Lucia. The festive chocolate wreaths would look great around the tree, and the snowflakes are a perfect stocking filler. You can be in with a chance of winning some Hotel Chocolat goodies yourself – just enter in the Rafflecopter form below. What’s your favourite chocolate treat at Christmas time?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was sent some of these items to include in this Christmas gift guide. I was not paid to write a positive review and all festive opinions are my own. Christmas cheer and all that. Some links are affiliate links. Information correct at time of writing – November 2016. 

The post Rough Measures Foodie Christmas Gift Guide and Hotel Chocolat Giveaway appeared first on Rough Measures.

An Evening at Demuth’s Cookery School

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Last month I was invited to an evening at Demuth’s Cookery School for one of their popular courses ’20 minute suppers’. If you’re from the South West, or if you’re vegetarian, you have probably heard of Demuth’s. Rachel Demuth owned award-winning Demuth’s Restaurant for 26 years, she sold it to focus on the cookery school. Now she is joined by an experience team of chef tutors who teach beginners to experienced cooks a varied selection of vegetarian courses. There are longer diploma courses, to weekend, day and evening courses. Demuths is located in the centre of Bath and has stunning views out over the city.


Rachel Demuth // roughmeasures.com
Rachel Demuth  – photo courtesy of Demuth’s

I was excited for my ’20 Minute Suppers’ evening course. Since starting my current job, I have struggled with weekday dinners, as I get in late and all I want to do is veg on the sofa. So this course sounded like something to help inspire me get back into my cooking during the week. The course was 3 hours long, and we made a variety of dishes. We started with a tea and chat from Rachel, who ran us through the itinerary of the evening. There were 8 of us from all over the country, all at different cookery levels. We soon headed down to their group kitchen to meet with Helen and Jan. Helen is a trained chef and also trained in classical French cooking. She was head chef at Demuth’s for 5 years. Jan has been with the cookery school since the beginning, she is an accomplished food stylist and her specialities are desserts. We settled in front of Helen while she ran through the menu for the evening.

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com
S
panish stew with eggs

Throughout the evening we would be enjoying:

  • Spanish pepper stew with eggs
  • Squash filo parcels with mint yoghurt dip and a ribbon salad
  • Roasted cauliflower with haloumi and sumac
  • Sweet potato and sesame balls with a herby freekeh tabouleh and a tahini dip

Before we’d even had a chance to read over the menu fully, the Spanish pepper stew was ready for the eggs, which we helped add into the mix to poach. Once cooked, we served the eggs and stew with some local sourdough. Then it was our turn to get hands on. We huddled around the central preparation island and mixed up the squash with some chilli and feta, we added herbs and seasoned with salt and pepper. We filled the filo sheets and folded them into parcels. We set them aside to bake later. Next we chatted about roasted cauliflower and batch cooking some vegetables at the weekend to have ready for any speedy weeknight dinner. This is something I do if I remember, but often forget! We made a ribbon salad with chicory, fennel, carrot and pomegranate. Then it was time to get messy again. We took some baked squash, and scooped out the filling into a bowl, we added blitz chickpeas with garlic, tahini and some herbs and spices. Using our hands, we rolled these into balls and into sesame seeds. Then we popped them into the oven to bake.

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com

Time had flown by and it was soon time to sit down and enjoy all of our recipes. My favourite recipe of the evening was the sweet potato balls, they were filling without being too heavy, with protein from the chickpeas, I know these are going to be a regular recipe made in our house. Helen and Jan were great tutors, and answered questions with ease and knowledge.

What I also loved about Demuth’s Cookery School was their sustainability and environmental policy. They use non-GMO products, support fair trade, recycled, organic and eco-friendly products, and they buy from local producers within a 30 mile radius of Bath. They are 100% vegetarian friendly, with many of the ingredients used also vegan friendly.

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at Demuth’s Cookery School and it was good to discover some more recipes that are easy enough to do after a long day in the office. This course was suitable for all cookery levels, even the very novice cook.

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com

An Evening at Demuth's Cookery School // roughmeasures.com

For more information on Demuth’s and all their cookery courses and diplomas, head to their website.

Disclaimer; I was invited to review the course. All opinions are my own.

The post An Evening at Demuth’s Cookery School appeared first on Rough Measures.

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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I miss smoothies and smoothie bowls in the colder months. Opting for something more comforting like baked oats or pancakes/waffles if time allows. But the other day I was craving one, and a friend of mine gave me an awesome idea, a hot smoothie bowl. Think hot chocolate, but with more goodness and flavour, think a peppermint hot chocolate smoothie bowl. There is no reason why you can’t make those lovely bowls warmer. This one has been a life saver the last week. We have had hard frosts and cold, clear nights. When I crawl out of bed before sun rise and need some fuel for my pre-work gym class, this is the thing for me.

This comforting drink is packed with protein, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and fibre. Almonds, chia seeds, raw cacao and some awesome mint chocolate protein powder are pretty much all that’s needed for this bad boy. My beloved Froothie Optimum G2.1 blender blitzed this up in no time, 30 seconds or so is all it needs, just enough to crush the chia seeds down. I used a mint chocolate flavoured vegan protein powder in this, there are plenty available but this one has to be a favourite of mine. It’s got me feeling all festive!

On another topic, you may have noticed that there’s a few more non-recipe related posts popping up. As Rough Measures grows, I am finding and discovering new opportunities. I am not sure where this blog of mine will take me, but so far it’s been a pretty amazing couple of years. I want to fill this space with snippets of my explorations, fill it with words of passion for life. There will always be recipes, and these will hopefully be developing and changing too. I want to develop my skills, meet new people and see new places, so expect to see some reviews and lifestyle things thrown into the mix here. I hope you’ll stick with me on this journey.

Now, let’s make this peppermint hot chocolate smoothie bowl shall we?

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl // roughmeasures.com

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl // roughmeasures.com

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl // roughmeasures.com

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl // roughmeasures.com

Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl
 
Prep time
Total time
 
A warm smoothie bowl to give you all the cosy feels on these colder days. In summer, just use cold water. Vegan and gluten free.
Rough Measures:
Recipe type: Smoothie
Ingredients
  • 1 banana - peeled
  • ½ cup / 60g ground almonds
  • 1 scoop mint chocolate chip protein powder
  • 2 tablespoons raw cacao powder
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds
  • 250ml hot water
  • Optional toppings; chia seeds, slithered almonds, goji berries
Method
  1. Add everything into a blender
  2. Blend for 30 seconds
  3. Pour into bowls
  4. Sprinkle with toppings such as chia seeds, slithered almonds and goji berries.
 

Disclaimer: Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie. Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures!

The post Peppermint Hot Chocolate Smoothie Bowl appeared first on Rough Measures.

An Dinner Party With a Twist – La Belle Assiette Review

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Now, while I love to cook, and cook often at home. I have yet to brave a dinner party. The thought of having a group of people sit down and eat food I have made, whilst looking at me, scares me a little! I used to cook for a huge, hungry crew when working at festivals, but a dinner party, in my own home? No, that’s a little too scary. Plus, who would do all that washing up!? When La Belle Assiette got in touch to see if I’d like to host a dinner party with a twist, I was a little apprehensive, until they explained they would send a chef in.
They offer a directory of chefs across the UK, each with their own menu options. You pick a chef, a date and select the menu that takes your fancy. Prices start from £39 a head. They suggested Mike as our chef, and explained he would come and cook up a feast, wait on us and also clean up afterwards! I agreed and a few days later Mike gave me a call to discuss menu options. We chatted about my food preferences and dietary requirements for the group. I warned Mike of my small kitchen, and we agreed on a time and date.

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com

Mike arrived a couple of hours early to start setting up. I immediately felt relaxed around him and showed him around the kitchen. He soon got to work preparing our 3 course feast. Charlie and I had to dismantle our oak dining table to get it into the living room, but it was soon back together and we set the table. We chatted to Mike whilst waiting for our guests, and he showed me photos of his INCREDIBLE kitchen renovation (one day I will have something like that!).

Soon our guests arrived and we sat down ready to see what Mike had prepared. We started to nibble on the lovely bread from The Thoughtful Bread Company (my favourite bakers in Bath) and sip on some organic wine. Mike came out and ran through the menu with us, he also explained where he had sourced lots of the ingredients from. It was good to hear him mention lots of local producers and suppliers.

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com
Celeriac soup with lemon oil and candied walnuts

We started with a gorgeous celeriac soup, topped with lemon oil and candied walnuts. Celeriac has to be one of my favourite vegetables, and I was not disappointed with the soup. It was creamy, rich and flavoursome. The focaccia croutons and candied walnuts gave the perfect crunch. Soon the bowls were clean and we were smelling the woody mushrooms from the kitchen.
The main was a delicious mushroom, spinach and thyme gratin with carrots, fennel and braised red cabbage. The gratin was full of flavour, and a lovely hearty dish. I was stuffed by the time the mains were over, but Mike called me into the kitchen to take a sneak peak at dessert, and I knew I could probably make room for it.
The salted caramel and chocolate mousse with blackberries was the perfect end to a lovely meal. The blackberries cut through the rich mousse wonderfully. The mousse was chocolatey and rich, and we finished them off in no time. We all commented how contently full we were.

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com
Mushroom, spinach and thyme gratin

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com

La Belle Assiette review // roughmeasures.com
Salted caramel and chocolate mousse

I loved having a private chef cook us a meal in the comfort of our home, I felt relaxed and it was an experience I will happily be doing again. It would be great for birthdays, anniversaries or any celebration. Even a special dinner for 2, La Belle Assiette can cater for everyone. I’m pretty sure Mike left our kitchen cleaner than it was before he arrived!

Disclaimer: This meal was complimentary as a ‘validation’ meal for chef Mike. All honest opinions are my own.

The post An Dinner Party With a Twist – La Belle Assiette Review appeared first on Rough Measures.

A Very Veggie Christmas – 30+ Festive Recipes

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I have been vegetarian on and off for around 10 years. In that time we have had a few Christmases. My sister and brother are now both vegetarian, so it is a very veggie Christmas affair. Every December, my mum will send us a message asking what we want to eat on the big day. We will ping her some recipes over and then make a selection from that. I would happily have all the trimmings, without a show stopper. This year I fancy something different, I have yet to pick from my every extending shortlist. I’ve gathered here some of my favourite recipes, some show stoppers, some easy makes, to please meat free friends far and wide. I’m sticking savoury here, because there’s enough festive desserts on the internet to keep you going for another 100 years or so. Enjoy the festive season friends, may yours be merry and bright.

A VERY VEGGIE CHRISTMAS

Starters / A veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

TO START

Roasted Squash and Lentil Soup with Dukkah (vegan and gluten free)

Curried Parsnip and Coriander Soup – Fab Food 4 All

Kabocha Squash and Nut Balls (vegan and gluten free)

Easiest Vegan Cream of Mushroom Soup – The Lazy Broccoli (vegan)

Honeynut Risotto + Sprout and Chestnut Sauté – Faring Well (vegan and wheat free)


Hearty Veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

HEARTY

Roasted Aubergine Cabbage Rolls

Goodwill Pie – Anna Jones

Cauliflower Lentil Loaf – Strength and Sunshine (vegan, gluten/soy/nut free)

Best Ever Nut Roast – Anna Jones

Maple Parsnip & Chestnut Wellington – The Tofu Diaries (vegan)

Shepherds Pie Savoury Mini Cakes – Vegan Chickpea (vegan + gluten free)

Asparagus, Chard and Mint Buckwheat Tart

Brie, Potato and Mushroom Tart – Tinned Tomatoes


SHOWSTOPPERS / A Very Veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

SHOWSTOPPERS

Festive Butternut Roast – The Veg Space (vegan)

Chestnut and Cashew Christmas Roast – Thinly Spread (vegan)

Nut Roast Pie – Domestic Gothess

Stuffed Squash with Broccoli Rabe and Quinoa – The First Mess (vegan)

Deluxe Butternut Macaroni and Tease – My New Roots (vegan)


Sides / A Very Veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

SIDES

Brussel Sprouts with Pomegranate and Toasted Nuts (vegan and gluten free)

Mini Bundt Chestnut Roasts with Sage Gravy – Veggie Desserts

Honey Roasted Sweet Potato with Halloumi – Supergolden Bakes

Spiced Carrot and Cashew Salad (vegan and gluten free)

Salt + Vinegar Roasted Potatoes with Turmeric Honey Mustard – Happy Hearted Kitchen (vegan option + gluten free)


Extras / A Very Veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

EXTRAS

Simple Vegan Stuffing – Minimalist Baker (vegan)

Beetroot and Butter Bean Hummus (vegan + gluten free)

Light Brie and Cranberry Cups – The Petit Cook

Roasted Red Pepper, Toasted Almond and Harissa Dip – Happy Hearted Kitchen (vegan and gluten free)

Fig and Black Olive Tapenade – A Virtual Vegan (vegan + gluten free)


SALADS / A very Veggie Christmas // roughmeasures.com

SALADS

Beetroot and Orange Salad with a Creamy Mint Dressing (vegan + gluten free)

The Best Shredded Kale Salad – Oh She Glows (vegan + gluten/grain/soy free)

Healthy Broccoli Salad with Apple, Blue Cheese and Pecans – Happy Kitchen Rocks (gluten free)

Holiday Kale Salad with Spiced Cider Dressing – Happy Hearted Kitchen (vegan + gluten free)

Coconut Quinoa Spinach Salad – Sprouted Kitchen (vegan + gluten free)

 

Feel free to pin these to Pinterest, or tag me in your creations on Instagram

The post A Very Veggie Christmas – 30+ Festive Recipes appeared first on Rough Measures.


Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate + a Healthy Supplies Giveaway!

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Hey 2017! How ya doing? We’ve been waiting for you! Thanks for showing up, let’s make this year a cracker, yeah?! I hope everyone had a banger of a Christmas and a sparkly new year?! I spent some much-needed quality time with my family, hanging out, playing charades and eating ALL THE sprouts. I had to work between Christmas and New Year, and I’m not gonna lie, it bummed me out, but hey, I like my job and there are worse things to be doing. We had a very quiet evening on New Years Eve, curled up on the sofa under some blankets and watching films. I know everyone has been saying how sucky 2016 was, but amidst the political nightmares, the deaths and the woes, 2016 was really good to me. Continuing this blog has opened up some amazing opportunities for which I am so grateful. We bought our first (non-floating) home, settled into our new suburbs and played house. We even got 2 gorgeous cats that I have fallen head over heals in love with. Yeah, 2016 had some bumps, but it was good to me. I’m excited to see what 2017 will bring.

So I am celebrating the new year with this Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate. I know, my last recipe was chocolate based, but what can I say, I’m a chocolate fanatic. Some of you may have heard of Veganuary – launched in 2014, Veganuary is a global charity that encourages people to go vegan for January. It’s a great idea to help raise awareness of the benefits of becoming vegan. This recipe is an ode to the great cause. If you aren’t ready to go vegan yet, how about committing to Meat Free Monday instead? Small changes make ripples which can spread and grow.

Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate // roughmeasures.comThis Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate is rich, creamy and nutty. Made with hazelnut milk and butter for extra nuttiness, it’s a chocolate nut lovers dream. I’m also offering one lucky reader the chance to win a selection of goodies from Healthy Supplies – worth over £50! Healthy Supplies stock a whole array of items from dried fruits to nut butters to superfood powders and more. Many of their products can be bought in bulk and will save you £££ in the long run.

The lucky winner will receive:

  • Raw Cacao Powder
  • Organic Chestnut Flour
  • Organic Millet Grain
  • Organic Golden Millet Flour
  • Organic Pumpkin Seeds
  • Freeze Dried Cranberry Powder
  • Freeze Dried Blueberry Powder
  • Hazelnut Butter
  • Organic Cacao Nib Cashew Butter
  • Organic Date Syrup

Healthy Supplies Giveaway! // roughmeasures.com

One of my favourite gifts this year was these gorgeous hand-made mugs, a gift from my brother and his girlfriend. I can’t stop using them! I love the speckled glaze and texture to them. I want to steadily fill l replace my old dinner plates and crockery with beautiful pieces like these mugs. Now, let’s drink and get cosy shall we?

Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate // roughmeasures.com

Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate // roughmeasures.com

Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A rich and nutty drink to sip curled up on the sofa. Makes 2-3 mugs.
Rough Measures:
Recipe type: Drinks
Ingredients
  • 500ml / 2 cups hazelnut milk
  • 40g vegan dark chocolate - broken into pieces
  • 1 heaped tablespoon raw cacao powder
  • 2 tablespoons hazelnut butter
  • 1 tablespoon date syrup (maple or agave would also work)
Method
  1. In a pan on a low heat, gently simmer the milk. Stir in the chocolate pieces.
  2. Once the chocolate has started to melt, whisk in all other ingredients.
  3. Whisk until hot.
  4. If the mixture looks a little bumpy (from the hazelnut butter) then add to a blender and blend for 20 seconds.
  5. Pour into mugs and enjoy straight away.
Notes
I have used home-made hazelnut milk here, there are plenty of recipes online. You can use store bought too. If you don't have hazelnut milk handy, something like hemp or oat milk would work too.
 
To win, just tell me what small change you are going to make this January (minimum 8 words please).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions:

Only open to entrants from UK mainland over the age of 18.
There is one prize of the selection of Healthy Supplies goodies, listed above. There’s no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 5 days then another winner will be picked. The prize will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have e-mailed your delivery address.
I am running this giveaway on behalf of Healthy Supplies who will be responsible for sending the prize to you if you win.
Please don’t say you have done something eg followed me on Instagram if you haven’t, all entries are double checked.

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Healthy Supplies who sent me the selection of ingredients, all opinions are my own and I was not paid for this post.

The post Vegan Hazelnut Hot Chocolate + a Healthy Supplies Giveaway! appeared first on Rough Measures.

Juicy January; Persimmon, Carrot and Turmeric & Pineapple, Grapefruit and Ginger plus a L’Equip Juicer Giveaway!

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So far, January is looking pretty juicy, don’t you think? I do! We’re over a week into 2017 so far, David Attenborough is still alive and so are we. Not bad ey? So far 2017 is strutting its stuff. It’s a good month for us too as we are off to Whistler in 3 days time. Excited doesn’t even cut it. OHMYGODIAMBEYONDECSTATIC is a little closer. Having never been to Canada before, we are like two kids in a the biggest toy store you can think of. Except our toy store will be the mountains. 2 years since our last snowboarding trip, and 2 years since our last holiday together, this break is so needed. Snow keeps falling in Whistler, and I hope it keeps coming the next 2 weeks. 2 more days, my out of office will be on, and I’ll be an annoying bundle of energy as we make our way across the pond.

Keen to be in tip-top condition for our 14 day shred session, I’ve been upping my fruit and vegetable intake even more. Now, I may be a little behind on the juicing craze, but fear not, I’m catching up. I received the L’Equip 215 XL Juicer, voted the ‘Best Buy’ juicer in The Independent in 2012 and again in 2016, recently. This juicer performs just as well as some much pricier models. With an extra-large feeding tube and a 600w motor, this little number will pulverise and extract all that goodness from your 5 a day. I’ve rustled up not one, but two refreshing juice recipes to see you through January. I’ve loaded them up with turmeric and ginger, perfect for the anti-inflammatory benefits. Ginger is also a great immune booster and gives digestive support.

Juicy January - anti-inflammatory juices // roughmeasures.com

Want to hear more awesome news?! The lovely people at Steamer Trading Cookshop are giving away the L’Equip 215 XL Juicer to one lucky reader! I have mentioned my love for Steamer Trading before. They have a vast range of kitchen cookwear. Set up in 1985 by Liz and David, they opened their first store in Sussex. Now with multiple stores across the UK, they’re firmly established as one of the nation’s favourite cookshops. Now, let’s get juicy.

L'Equip Juicer Competition // roughmeasures.com

 

JUICY JANUARY; PERSIMMON, CARROT AND TURMERIC & PINEAPPLE, GRAPEFRUIT AND GINGER JUICES!

Juicy January - anti-inflammatory juices // roughmeasures.com

Juicy January - anti-inflammatory juices // roughmeasures.com

Juicy January; Persimmon, Carrot and Turmeric & Pineapple, Grapefruit + Ginger
 
Prep time
Total time
 
2 citrus juices to get your year off to a good start. I use organic fruit and veg here, no nasties. The juices will keep in a sealed bottle in the fridge for up to 3-4 days
Rough Measures:
Ingredients
  • PERSIMMON, CARROT AND TURMERIC JUICE
  • 2 persimmons (sharon fruit)
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 orange
  • 2cm piece turmeric (or 1 teaspoon ground turmeric)
  • 1cm piece ginger
  • -----------------------------
  • PINEAPPLE, GRAPEFRUIT AND GINGER JUICE
  • ½ pineapple
  • 2 red grapefruit
  • 1 orange
  • Thumb size (around 2 inches) piece of ginger
Method
  1. First, wash all fruit and veg thoroughly.
  2. Roughly chop each item so it can fit through the chute.
  3. For the first juice, cut the rough tops off the persimmons.
  4. Add all the ingredients to your juicer, using a jug to catch the juice.
  5. Second Juice;
  6. Roughly peel the grapefruit (the juicer handles it easier then)
  7. Add everything into the juicer.
 

To be in with a chance of winning, comment below (and use the Rafflecopter widget) and tell me what your favourite juice is!

———–

Don’t have a juicer yet? I’m a little bit obsessed with Pip Organic juices at the mo. Also, Feel Good Drinks Co have a fab selection of natural soft drinks in a variety of flavours, perfect for a January refresh!

Juicy January - anti-inflammatory juices // roughmeasures.com

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T+C’s
Only open to entrants from UK mainland over the age of 18.
There is one prize of the L’Equip 215 XL Juicer, listed above. There’s no cash alternative and the prize is not transferable. No part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
Instructions form part of the terms and conditions. Entries using any software or automated process to make bulk entries will obviously be disqualified. The winner will be picked at random using software and then contacted by email. If you win and then don’t respond to this email within 5 days then another winner will be picked. The prize will be delivered to the winner as soon as possible after you have e-mailed your delivery address.
I am running this giveaway on behalf of Steamer Trading who will be responsible for sending the prize to you if you win.
Please don’t say you have done something eg followed me on Instagram if you haven’t, all entries are double checked.

Disclaimer: Many thanks to Steamer Trading who sent me the juicer, all opinions are my own and I was not paid for this post.

The post Juicy January; Persimmon, Carrot and Turmeric & Pineapple, Grapefruit and Ginger plus a L’Equip Juicer Giveaway! appeared first on Rough Measures.

Comptoir Libanais – Bath

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We’ve had a wave of new eateries open up in Bath over the last few months, some exciting, some not so much. Sometimes I feel that Bath is becoming a city of restaurants and not much else. We have coffee shops galore (I’m not complaining!) and every week a new food hang out is opening. When I heard Comptoir Libanais was coming to town, instead of my usual roll of the eyes at yet another chain restaurant, I was excited. Comptoir opened their first branch in London in 2008, and up until 2015 only had branches in London. They are slowly expanding to other areas of the UK; Manchester, Leeds, Exeter and now Bath. This was one chain I would be welcoming with open arms.

Comptoir focus of Lebanese and Middle Eastern food. Their ethos is ‘fresh, healthy, honest and affordable’ – I can get on board with that. They offer a selection of mezzes, wraps, salads, Lebanese style pizzas, tagines and more. Their venues are bright and colourful and decorated with interesting details of decor.

Comptoir Bath review // roughmeasures.com

Compotir Libonais Bath review // roughmeasures.com

We visited back in November for a mid-week meal. The venue had been open a couple of weeks, and was busy and bustling when we arrived. Every staff member we encountered was friendly, attentive and we felt like they really cared about their customers needs and wants. Our server raved about the falafel and encouraged us to try a dessert, even when we insisted we were full. She was not wrong, it was divine.

We perused the menu and chose some drinks, a fruity Lebanese red wine and an Almaza beer. We couldn’t decide what to eat so took advice from our server and went for the Dip Platter – a selection of hummus, baba ganoush and labneh, served with pickles and warm pita. The hummus was the smoothest hummus I have ever tried, with just the right amount of tahini taste coming through. The baba ganoush had a lovely texture, with aromatic flavours cutting through the slightly charred aubergine notes. The labneh was light and soft and didn’t seem to last very long on the plate. I would have been happy with this dish alone but there was more to come! We chose one of the traditional Lebanese flatbreads – mana’esh – and a tagine for our mains. Charlie’s tagine was a huge portion, and I could smell the spices used were authentic. My halloumi and zaatar flatbread was a lovely sized portion, and came with a side salad to off set some of the saltiness of the halloumi. I preferred the starter to be honest, but mainly because it was incredible and I love having a selection of small things, rather than one big main. That’s not to say my flatbread wasn’t tasty, I’d order it again any day! We were well and truly stuffed after this meal, but were encouraged to go for a dessert. We chose to share a frozen yoghurt with halva and roasted pistachios. It was just the right level of sweet, with a delicious nutty flavour from the pistachios. We left with full bellies and positive affirmations of this new chain venue.

Comptoir would be a great place for a gathering or get together, the venue is bright and spacious, with a view of the chefs too. The staff cater well for everyone’s needs, and the menu offers a range of options for even the fussiest of eaters. For more info, visit their website.

Comptoir Bath review // roughmeasures.com

Comptoir Bath review // roughmeasures.com

 

Disclaimer; I was invited to review Comptoir Libanais, Bath in return for a review. I was not paid for this post and all my opinions are my own. 

 

The post Comptoir Libanais – Bath appeared first on Rough Measures.

Spicy Root Veg Fries with Three Vegan Dips for #Organicunboxed

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Hi readers! Welcome to this organic focussed recipe post! When I was asked if I would be willing to create a recipe for this months #Organicunboxed campaign, I said yes straight away. As you know, I am a big advocate for bringing more organic produce into your diet and reducing intake of any nasty chemicals etc. I was sent a fab selection of produce to create a recipe, I couldn’t quite manage to incorporate everything, but tried my best! So today I bring you a fantastic organic recipe for spicy root veg fries with not one, not two, but three delicious vegan dips!

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Here’s some reasons why I love organic

It’s better for nature
Organic farming works with the environment as it uses fewer pesticides. It’s a way of farming that protects and encourages wildlife whilst looking after the health of the soil. Instead of relying on chemicals, organic farmers work with nature to feed the soil and control pests. They use crop rotation and clover to build fertility in the soil. Organic farming uses mainly natural methods, developing a good soil and healthy crops which have stronger natural resistance to pests and diseases, and encourage natural predators to avoid the need for almost all pesticides. Organic farming releases less greenhouse gases and can significantly reduce your carbon footprint.

Organic farmers are helping to look after our wildlife by managing and maintaining habitats, which is a vital part of a successful organic farm. This helps organic farms support up to 50% more wildlife– that’s more of our great British bees, birds and butterflies for us all to enjoy!

More natural food
When it comes to organic, you know exactly what’s in your food. GM crops and ingredients are banned in organic farming as are hydrogenated fats, artificial pesticides and it does not allow aspartame, tartrazine and monosodium glutamate to be used. Put simply organic food is a more natural choice.

Better tasting food
Organic farmers rely on developing a healthy, fertile soil to grow a mixture of crops that are bursting with flavour. So you can rest assured it tastes great too!

Find more info on why going organic is a great choice here

Now, let’s get dipping shall we? I was inspired to create some vegan dips as it is currently Veganuary, a campaign to go vegan for all of January. I didn’t fully take part due to our snowy holiday to Whistler (more on that later!) but am going to make a positive effort to reduce (or completely omit) all dairy products starting today! A while back I found THIS fab vegan aioli recipe from Kellie’s Food To Glow, and have been chosing this over normal mayo ever since my first taste. I have tweaked Kellie’s recipe to my own versions.

If you’ve never used aquafaba before, it’s an egg replacer using the liquid from a tin of chickpeas (that you would normally pour down the drain) – if you don’t have aquafaba stored in your fridge, then you will need to add a tin of chickpeas to your shopping list for this recipe!

Spicy Root Veg Fries with Three Vegan Dips for #Organicunboxed
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Crunchy, spicy root veg fries with three vegan dips - mustard mayo / sundried tomato mayo / coconut raita. To get aquafaba - drain a can of chickpeas (or reserve the cooking water from cooking the beans), and use the liquid in the recipe.
Rough Measures:
Ingredients
  • FOR THE FRIES
  • 3-4 carrots
  • 1-2 parsnips
  • ½ sweet potato
  • 1 potato
  • 2-3 tablespoons aquafaba - see notes above for aquafaba.
  • 3 tablespoons brown bread flour
  • 2-3 teaspoons chilli powder
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
  • FOR THE VEGAN MAYOS
  • 6 tablespoons aquafaba
  • 2 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 150ml mild olive oil
  • For mustard mayo: 1 teaspoon wholegrain mustard
  • For sun dried tomato mayo: 5 sun dried tomatoes and 2 tablespoons passata
  • FOR THE VEGAN RAITA
  • 100g coconut yoghurt
  • ¼ cucumber - diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove - minced
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Method
  1. Get all your ingredients ready and scrub all your vegetables. Have 2 baking trays read to place your fries onto.
  2. You also will need a stick blender and a tall jug, to make the vegan dips in.
  3. Preheat your oven to 220 o C / Gas Mark 6
  4. First, start with the fries, slice all the veg into thin strips
  5. Place the aquafaba in a shallow dish
  6. In another dish, add the flour, chilli and tumeric powder, give them a mix to combine
  7. Take a slice of vegetable, dip it in the aquafaba, and then toss in the flour mixture. Lie the veg on the baking tray.
  8. Repeat this with all the veg you have, you may need to make more chilli/flour mix or add more aquafaba
  9. Place the fries in the oven and bake for 20-25 mins, keeping an eye on the veg as you cook it, as some ovens will vary.
  10. While the fries are cooking you can make your dips;
  11. For the vegan mayo's;
  12. Add all ingredients except the oil
  13. Using the immersion blender, blend for 10 seconds
  14. Grab the oil, continue to blend, adding a slow steady stream of oil into the mix. It should start to thicken as the oil is added.
  15. Blend to your desired consistency (I like it nice and thick)
  16. Scoop into jars - these mayos will last a few weeks in the fridge
  17. For the vegan raita;
  18. Add all ingredients into a bowl and give it a good mix
 

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

Fiery Root Veg Fries with Vegan Dips / roughmeasures.com

A big thank you to all the fab organic producers and suppliers that provided goodies;

Abel and Cole / Rebel Kitchen / Marriage’s Flour / Plenish / Vinceremos Wines / Pip Organic / Biona /


Here’s some other fab Organic Unboxed recipes;

Beetroot Falafel from Thinly Spread

Butternut Squash, Chickpea and Coconut Curry from Rebel Recipes

Miso Mushroom Gyozas from Emily’s Recipes and Reviews


I’m adding this recipe to some fantastic round ups;

Meat Free Monday – Tinned Tomatoes

CookBlogShare – Hijacked By Twins

 

This post is in collaboration with the Organic Trade Board, thanks for supporting Rough Measures. All opinions my own.

The post Spicy Root Veg Fries with Three Vegan Dips for #Organicunboxed appeared first on Rough Measures.

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny – A Review

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Abergavenny is one of those quaint places that I often hear people talking about. Nestled at the edge of the Black Mountains in Wales, it is a small market town a mere 6 miles from the English border. Back in November, I finally got to explore the town and stay at the wonderful Angel Hotel. I was invited to come and stay for the night, and experience their amazing afternoon tea, check out their pop up apres-ski chalet; where we would have fondue and also get to try lunch at their Chapel Cafe.

The Angel Hotel is located in a former coaching in, dating back to the nineteenth century. Inside are 35 beautiful guest rooms, their Oak Room restaurant, Foxhunter bar and Wedgewood Room where they serve their famous high tea. The Angel has won many awards, including the AA Hotel of the Year Wales for 2016/17 and Top Afternoon Tea Outside of London 2011.

I arrived after a rather difficult train journey, and was shown to my room. The rooms are large, airy and the bed was possibly the comfiest bed I have ever slept in. Snuggling down in the duvet felt like wrapping myself in a big marshmallow cloud. The room came with all mod cons, it was just a shame I didn’t have longer to enjoy it.
As I was running late, I rushed down into the Cellar Room, where I was greeted by our hotel hosts and offered a glass of bubbly. The table was laid beautifully, and I sat down to browse the menu. The Angel High Tea comes with a range of classics like egg mayo sandwiches and scones. Then some gorgeous savouries like ricotta, feta and pine nut samosas. My absolute favourite had to be the strawberry and white chocolate cheesecake. Of course, the tea selection was vast and I loved my jasmine tea.  There were a range of fish and meat options also, and they were happy to cater for all dietary needs. The High Tea is priced at £27.80 per person and is served every day of the week in their Wedgewood Room.

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

After High Tea we went for a short stroll to grab some fresh air, then all headed up to our rooms to refresh and get ready for the evenings activities. Although suitably stuffed from the huge afternoon tea, we needed to make room for an evening of alpine-themed activities in the Apres-Ski bar, namely fondue! The apres-ski bar has been kitted out in full alpine-ski-lodge style, and was created especially for the Christmas party season. A total hit for this winter, I am sure it will be back in Dec 2017.
The fondue was a generous feast with ample wine flowing. We got the chance to chat to more of the Angel staff during dinner, who clearly have a special place in their heart for this venue and their jobs here. We chatted over cheese and wine and all too soon it was rather late and my bed was calling.

The next morning we burned all the indulgence off with a walk to the Brecons – namely Sugarloaf. 2 miles north-west of the town, it’s easy to get to and explore. The lovely guys at Drover Holidays were to be our guides for the morning, and we set off on our frosty walk. Unfortunately we didn’t have time to get all the way to the top, but we got some breathtaking views over the Brecons, and I have made a promise to head back and get to the top.

After our walk, it was time for more food! The Angel Hotel has a sister venue, The Chapel Cafe, located in the centre of Abergavenny. Sitting in the basement of a chapel, it is a cafe, an art gallery and a shop in one. They had a great selection on their menu, and I was pleased to see a variety of vegetarian and vegan dishes. Lunch was a gorgeous dish of broad beans on toast with halloumi, something fresh and a little lighter after the previous days heavier choices. The cake selection also looked dreamy but I could not squeeze another bite in.

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny - roughmeasures.com

It is clear to see why The Angel has won so many awards, my stay was a delight and I have to say the staff were some of the friendliest I have encountered during a hotel stay. Their double rooms start at £85 per night.

Read more reviews of The Angel;

Love the Angel – Munchies and Munchkins

Review; Afternoon Tea and Apres Ski at The Angel – Hungry City Hippy

Winter Staycation – A La Jode

I was invited to stay at The Angel and food and drink was complimentary. I was not paid to write a positive review and all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Rough Measures and it’s ventures.

The post The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny – A Review appeared first on Rough Measures.

Chocolate Cashew Spread

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Hey folks. Here I am! How’s things? I know things have been a little quiet around here, I won’t bore you with the details because we’ve all got our own things going on! Things happen, ya know. I read THIS great article over the weekend, and it hit home a lot. So I’ll keep it short and sweet tonight, so we can all have some happy heart time with our loved ones, plus I’ve got an overdue hot date with my sofa this evening. Hold onto those happy hearts.

A long time nut butter fan, I was craving some suitable spread for an upcoming pancake recipe (stay tuned for that later this week!), cashews were on my mind, but I wanted something a little thicker and less liquid than most nut butters. I decided to try to create this chocolate cashew spread, the same way you would make any nut butters, only with a little less time/effort (win/win right?) This resulted in a spread just as tasty, but with a little more volume, and would hold its own more than butters. I took inspiration from Kellie’s fantastic Espresso Peanut Butter recipe; chocolate, coffee, nuts, in one fantastic mouthful? Yes please.

Chocolate Cashew Spread // roughmeasures.com

Chocolate Cashew Spread // roughmeasures.com

 

Chocolate Cashew Spread
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A nutty chocolate lovers spread.
Rough Measures:
Ingredients
  • 250g / 3 cups plain unsalted cashews
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 3 tsp raw cacao powder (cocoa will work if you don't have cacao)
  • 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
  • Optional - 2 tablespoons strong black coffee
Method
  1. Optional - roast cashews in oven at 200 C for 10 minutes, leave to cool.
  2. Add all ingredients into a high speed blender and blend for 5 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides, until you have a soft, gooey spread.
  3. Should you wish to have a more liquid consistency, simply blend for longer.
Notes
Ideally you need a high speed power blender like the Optimum G2.1 for this recipe, other high speed blenders will work.
You can also make this in a food processor, but it may take longer than if using a high speed power blender. I would guess it would take 10-15 minutes using a food processor.
 

Chocolate Cashew Spread // roughmeasures.com

Chocolate Cashew Spread // roughmeasures.com

I used my trusty Optimum G2.1 high-speed power blender for this recipe, it literally takes less time than making a brew to pulverise these nuts. Theres a whopping £230 OFF right now – just follow the link. The fab people at Froothie are offering you lovely readers FREE DELIVERY too (for a limited time)! Just use this code 3414 FREE AMBASSADOR DELIVERY in the comments box when making your purchase, the delivery charge will then be refunded.


Disclaimer: Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie.  Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures! 

The post Chocolate Cashew Spread appeared first on Rough Measures.

Vegan Chestnut Crepes

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Growing up in the Davy house, Pancake Day was a big event. I remember coming home and watching as my Mum whipped up a huge bowl of batter, ready to fry. We would watch with eager eyes as she carefully spooned out the mix, whirling it around the pan to get a nice, even pancake. We would take turns trying to flip the pancake, many ended up on the floor, some a wrinkled mess, one even stuck to the ceiling once, but most would be good. She would stack them up on a plate and store them in a warm oven until it was time to eat. As we were a family of 6, it took a while to make enough for everyone. I remember spooning golden syrup onto the warm pancakes, rolling them in a hurry and shoving them into my mouth. On this one day we were allowed to have a four course meal of sweet pancakes, only choosing to introduce savoury options many years later. 

Fast forward 20 or so years later and I am that same pancake-loving girl. These days I opt for whole grain variety, omitting the eggs and sugar for ingredients like flax seeds, bananas or maple syrup. I had some chestnut flour that’s been sitting in my cupboard for a few weeks, and figured it would add a good flavour to some vegan crepes.

Vegan Chestnut Crepes // roughmeasures.com

Vegan Chestnut Crepes // roughmeasures.com

Breville sent me THIS fantastic gadget to make batch cooking a stack of pancakes even easier. Their traditional crepe and pancake maker boasts a large 12″ cooking plate with 5 heat settings, it comes with a handy wooden T-stick for ensure even batter spreading. You can even use it for quesadillas, omelettes or even blinis.

Top these vegan chestnut crepes with what ever takes your fancy, how about my Blueberry Chia JamChocolate Cashew Spread, or some Chocolate Almond Butter? Happy flipping!

Vegan Chestnut Crepes // roughmeasures.com

Vegan Chestnut Crepes // roughmeasures.com

Vegan Chestnut Crepes // roughmeasures.com
A little behind the scenes shot – this is what it really looks like!

Vegan Chestnut Crepes
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Go flipping nuts for these vegan crepes. Vegan + gluten / refined sugar free!
Rough Measures:
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 65g / ¾ cup chestnut flour (I used Shipton Mill)
  • 45g / ½ cup oats
  • 440ml /1¾ cups nut milk + a little extra to thin out batter mix if needed (I used cashew milk)
  • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed
  • For sweet pancakes; 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • Toppings;
  • Sweet; maple syrup / agave / date syrup / nut butters / coconut jam etc
  • Savoury; sautéed mushrooms / spinach / hummus / baba ganoush
Method
  1. In a blender, blend the batter ingredients.
  2. Turn on the pancake mixer and leave to heat up for 3 mins, I used temperature setting 3. If using a frying pan, heat a little coconut oil in a pan and let the pan get hot.
  3. Ladel a spoonful of the mix onto the crepe tray. Use the wooden T-spatula to spread the mix evenly.
  4. Cook for 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip over and cook for 3 more minutes - cook until nicely browned.
  5. Serve with toppings of your choice
 

I used my trusty Optimum G2.1 high-speed power blender for this recipe. Theres a whopping £230 OFF right now – just follow the link. The fab people at Froothie are offering you lovely readers FREE DELIVERY too (for a limited time)! Just use this code 3414 FREE AMBASSADOR DELIVERY in the comments box when making your purchase, the delivery charge will then be refunded.

Want more vegan and gluten free pancake ideas?!

Maple Pancakes – Nadia’s Healthy Kitchen

Vanilla Purple Sweet Potato Pancakes – Strength and Sunshine

Raisin Pancakes – Harriet Emily

Chickpea Flour Pancakes – Planet Veggie

Vegan Crepe Style Pancakes – Bit of The Good Stuff

Spicy Buckwheat Pancakes – Give Me Some Spice

Savoury Chickpea Crepes – Wallflower Kitchen

Pea Protein Pancakes – Tin and Thyme

Apple Pie Pancakes – Kellie’s Food To Glow


Disclaimer: Thanks to Breville for sponsoring this post. I was not paid to write a positive review. Thank you to you kind readers, for your continued support.

 

Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie. Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures!

The post Vegan Chestnut Crepes appeared first on Rough Measures.


Higgidy – Beauty of Imperfection

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Weekends to me, call for comfort food. Lazy lunches grazing and catching up on the past week. Sometimes I cook and create during my days off, some days I want to unwind and opt for convenient options. I believe in the 80/20 rule, sometimes it’s better to let someone else do the hard work, so you can enjoy some quality time with your loved ones. I needed convenience this weekend, and Higgidy came to the rescue.

Higgidy (so-called because the best things in life are a little higgidy) believe in the beauty of imperfection.
They (and I) believe that ‘perfect’ has it’s place, but the best food always looks a bit ‘Higgidy’. That’s why each of their pies looks a little different from its neighbour. I am drawn to imperfect things, wonky veg, mismatched pottery created by hands, rather than a machine. What imperfect things do you like?

The new packaging is a treat for the eyes, featuring illustrations that are inspired by an eclectic collection of ceramics. Their vibrant and arty designs can now be spotted on shelves in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, the Co-op, Booths, Budgens, Boots, Tesco, Asda and other participating stores.

What’s your Higgidy pie? Having tried a few, I have to say their Cauliflower Cheese Pie with Oat Crumble is a winner for me. It’s also National Pie Week this week, have you been enjoying some much-loved pie?!

Higgidy - Beauty of Imperfection // roughmeasures.com

Higgidy - Beauty of Imperfection // roughmeasures.com

 

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Higgidy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love.

The post Higgidy – Beauty of Imperfection appeared first on Rough Measures.

Spring Green Spaghetti

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Just a fleeting message this week to say hello and sorry for being rather sporadic recently. Life’s been a bit chaotic and I realised I was pulling myself in a few too many different directions. Last week’s down time was spent properly resting, and catching up with my loved ones.

Today is the first day of Spring (yay!) – we started off with grey skies here but soon the rain cleared and we were blessed with a gorgeous spring evening and sunset. What better way to celebrate than with this vibrant, seasonal Spring Green Spaghetti. Easy it throw together and make, meaning more time outside to dance with the cherry blossoms and daffodils.

Spring Greens Spaghetti // roughmeasures.com

Spring Greens Spaghetti

An easy dish celebrating all that Spring has to offer.

  • FOR THE PESTO : 1 handful spinach
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 50 ml extra virgin olive oil
  • juice 1 lemon ———
  • 100 g spelt / wholemeal spaghetti
  • 1/2 head of broccoli – de-stemmed and chopped
  • handful kale – de-stemmed and chopped
  • small sprinkle hazenults / pumpkin seeds (optional)
  1. Put a pan of water onto boil. 

  2. While it comes to the boil, make your pesto. Add all ingredients into a blender (or use a hand blender) and blend until just combined.

  3. Add the spaghetti to the pan. Cook for 10 minutes.

  4. After 10 minutes, add the broccoli into the pan and cook for 1 minute.

  5. Then add the kale and cook for another 1 minute. The spaghetti should be al dente by now.

  6. Drain the spaghetti and veg into a colander over the sink. Add back to pan and stir through the pesto.

  7. Serve into bowls and sprinkle with seeds / nuts if using.

Vegan.

 

I’m adding this Spring recipe to some awesome link-ups this week:

 

Cook Blog Share and Recipe of The Week

Hijacked By Twins

 

Link up your recipe of the week

 

The post Spring Green Spaghetti appeared first on Rough Measures.

Roasted Squash Hummus

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Guess what, we (in the UK) are into British Summer Time. Longer evenings, alfresco dinners and sunshine! The online downside to this is winter veg will be out of season. I thought I’d make the most of these last wonderful squashes that are around, and whizz up this roasted squash hummus. Dips are my go to, I like to make sure there’s always a pot of some variation of hummus in the fridge. Ready and waiting for when I get in from work and need something stat, ready to dollop on my packed lunch to give me some energy through the day.

Charlie has gone away to Austria for 2 weeks, and I am feeling a little lazy with my eating habits. I made a big batch of this roasted squash hummus last week, it’s been spread on toasted sourdough for dinner at least three times since then. But hey, still veggies in my belly! This recipe is vegan and gluten-free too! Quick dinners mean more sofa and chills with my cats, anyone else talk to their pets more often than they’d like to admit…no? Just me then…..

Roasted Squash Hummus - a quick tasty hummus using kabocha squash // roughmeasures.com

Roasted Squash Hummus

A nice simple but oh so flavoursome hummus. Vegan and gluten free.

  • 1/4 large kabocha squash ((any squash will work but kabocha has a wonderful flavour))
  • 1 tin organic chickpeas ((drained and rinsed))
  • 1 clove garlic ((chopped))
  • 35 ml Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 juice lemon
  • 2 tsp tahini
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • pinch himalayan rock salt
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 200 C / Gas 6

  2. Peel, de-seed the squash. Dice into cubes. Spread onto a lined baking sheet. Rub coconut oil through the squash. 

  3. Sprinkle the paprika over the squash. Roast for 30 mins until soft.

  4. Once the squash is cooked, pull it out of the oven and leave to cool for 10 mins.

  5. Add all to a high speed blender and blend until smooth

 

I used my trusty Optimum G2.1 high-speed power blender for this recipe, it literally takes less time than making a brew to whizz up this hummus. Theres a whopping £230 OFF right now – just follow the link. The fab people at Froothie are offering you lovely readers FREE DELIVERY too (for a limited time)! Just use this code 3414 FREE AMBASSADOR DELIVERY in the comments box when making your purchase, the delivery charge will then be refunded.


Disclaimer: Expect to see lots more Froothie Optimum G2.1 posts as I am now an Ambassador for Froothie.  Any links to their site in this post or future posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through these links I will earn a small commission, it won’t cost you any extra though. I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support Rough Measures! 

 

The post Roasted Squash Hummus appeared first on Rough Measures.

Chai Banana Bread

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Spring (well, we like to call it Summer here in the UK) has been dancing around in full force for the last few weeks. I have relished the time outdoors, exploring new places, watching the trees become green again and breathing in the crisp air. Time outdoors keeps me sane, and I often forget how important it is to me. Winter can make me cranky and irritable, Spring gives me hope again. We are lucky enough to live right next to some woods, where we often go for a quick explore. If you need me, I’ll be wandering. 

With wandering comes eating, snacking and all that refuelling. Refuelling with baked goods like this Chai Banana bread. Exploring wouldn’t be half as fun without the supplies, remember? We are lucky to live in Bath with an abundance of fine, independent producers. Once a month there is a brilliant market in the centre, with some of Bath’s finest showcasing their goods. One such company is Henny and Joe’s. Using the finest natural ingredients, they have produced a fantastic quality Masala Chai. Over the years, I have tried a variety of different chai blends, many often laden with additives and excessive sugar, to say I was excited to discover Henny and Joe’s was an understatement. It works beautifully in this Chai Banana Bread, and I am already tinkering with some summer dishes to test it in.

Chai Banana Bread // roughmeasures.com - a fragrant twist on a classic bake.

Chai Banana Bread // roughmeasures.com - a fragrant twist on a classic bake.

Chai Banana Bread // roughmeasures.com - a fragrant twist on a classic bake.

Chai Banana Bread

A twist on a classic bake.

  • 75 ml melted coconut oil + greasing
  • 3 + 1 ripe bananas
  • 25 ml agave / brown rice syrup
  • 50 ml Henny and Joe's Chai syrup
  • 100 ml almond milk (or other dairy free milk)
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • handful cacao nibs
  1. Preheat oven to 170 C / Gas 3

  2. Add 3 of the bananas, agave, milk, chai syrup and melted coconut oil into a food processor – blitz until mixed

  3. Add spelt flour and baking powder cinnamon and blitz again
  4. Stir through cacao nibs
  5. Pour batter into a lined loaf tin and spread evenly around tin

  6. Slice a banana down the middle in half and push down into batter slightly

  7. Bake for 1 hour 10 mins, or until a knife comes out clean.

  8. Leave to cool for 10 mins, then turn onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely.

A vegan bake! Add more chai syrup if you prefer a more fragrant taste. 

 

Love chai as much as I do?! Here are some more chair recipes!

Pumpkin Tarts with Chai Hazelnut Crust – Veggie Desserts

Chocolate Chai Masala Fairy Cakes – Tin and Thyme

Chocolate Chai Bread and Butter Pudding – Tara’s Busy Kitchen

 

Disclaimer – Thank you to Henny and Joe’s for providing the Chai syrup featured in this recipe. All opinions are my own. Support your local suppliers!

The post Chai Banana Bread appeared first on Rough Measures.

Chocolate Quinoa Nests – Gluten Free Easter Treats

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Popping in to give you lovely lot a bonus recipe to celebrate this Easter break. I present you Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Nests. Think a healthier version of chocolate rice crispy cakes. Because what better way to celebrate a few extra days off than with chocolate? I’ve loaded these up with pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds and a little coconut oil. Meaning these little bites of awesomeness have the added punch of amino acids, protein, magnesium and omega 3’s! Hip hip hooray for Easter ey?!

This was my first time using quinoa flakes and I just love their versatility. They work so well in these gluten free Chocolate Quinoa Nests and I know I’ll be hitting up porridge with them tomorrow. I get these flakes and a lot of my other cupboard essentials from Healthy Supplies. They have a fantastic range of stock, in small quantities and also in bulk, at really reasonable prices. They also offer pretty darn speedy delivery! This makes re-stocking our kitchen so much easier, and I get to avoid the crowds at the supermarket.

Do you have plans this Easter break? Will you be cooking anything special? Do let me know in the comments below. Don’t forget you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram! Tag @roughmeasures if you make anything from my recipe archives!

Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Nests - Rough Measures - An easy Easter treat.

Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Nests - Rough Measures - An easy Easter treat.

Chocolate Quinoa Nests

A gluten free Easter (or all year round) treat!

You will need about 6 normal sized cake cases or 12 mini ones.

  • 250 g dairy free dark chocolate
  • 1 tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 tbsp almond butter (optional)
  • 1 cup quinoa flakes
  • 1/4 cup (30 grams) sesame seeds
  • 1/4 cup (30 grams) pumpkin seeds
  1. Bring about an inch of water to a simmer in your saucepan. Set a heatproof bowl in the mouth of the pan, making sure the water doesn’t touch the bottom of the bowl. 

  2. Add the chocolate and coconut oil. 

  3. Stir chocolate occasionally as it softens. When you have just a few small unmelted chunks, stir in the almond butter if using. 

  4. Remove from the heat once all the chocolate has melted.

  5. Stir in the quinoa flakes, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds.

  6. Divide mixture evenly into cake cases.

  7. Push an almond or a few goji berries into the top of each one.

  8. Chill in the fridge for 2 hours.

These are super easy to make and only take 10 minutes plus chill time. 

Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Nests - Rough Measures - An easy Easter treat.

Gluten Free Chocolate Quinoa Nests - Rough Measures - An easy Easter treat.


Disclaimer – I was sent a selection of products from Healthy Supplies to feature in this post. I was not paid to write a positive review and as always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting Rough Measures and it’s partners!

The post Chocolate Quinoa Nests – Gluten Free Easter Treats appeared first on Rough Measures.

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