Guilt free chocolate brownies.

 Sweet potato brownies 

     These brownies are super moist and fudgey, I will admit they are not supersonically amazing but when you restricting your diet to mostly rabbit food these are pretty amazing. Plus as an alternative recipe it actually worked cos I've had some dried up disasters haha.. They are not a sweet as a full calorie, full sugar brownie but they are very chocolatey and are delisious accompanied with strawberries or raspberries and Greek yoghurt. 

                     

Ingredients. 

 2medium or 1 large sweet potato

 2eggs

 2tsp vanilla

 Half cup of olive oil

 Half cup of honey

 1tsp baking soda

 1tablespoon baking powder

 2 tablespoon cocoanut flour

 1 cups of organic sugar free coco powder

PREHEAT OVEN TO 180

 

 First grate your sweet potato, I used an electric grater. 

Whiz up your wet ingredients and mix them into your potato. 

 Add in your dry ingredients, mix well. 

Pop the mixture a tin lined with grease proof paper. Cook for 25-30 mins. When they come out after 30mins they will still seem very soft and raw looking but once they cool a bit they or find. Really fudgey. 

  

Don't forget to clean the mess 

Happy cooking, happy eating. 

Sally

Xx 

   

Braid it up!

                       

                                

  My obsession at the moment are plaits, I wear my hair up in a plait most days, dress it up, dress it down, going shopping, going to yoga, working...I'm braiding it up.  The plait I'm doing is the Dutch plait which is the same as a French plait but instead of bring your hair over,over over, your bring each section under. This lets the braid sit on top of the hair and not into the scalp like a French plait does. Whatever plait you maybe rocking even the simple plait to the side, take it really tight and when it's secured with a bobble pull each curve away from each other, spreading the width.Don't be afraid of really dishevelling it, they always look better this way. same applies for any French or Dutch plait, really get your fringes into the braid and shake it to loosen it from the head. 

    

                 My freaky doll head with a Dutch plait. 

          Plaits on the runway. 

 

Work you plaits into a bun. Give the look texture by pulling all your baby hairs out around the front hairline. 

Alexander McQueen used this very severe look.  Plait your hair tight at night and the next day have an 'after plait' look when you take them out. 

Me myself and my braids. 

 Finishing. 

To dishevel and texturise my plaits I use redken a wax blast and pop flowers in around the back that I got in h&m. 

                           

Super grain salad

                               

   I spent the weekend in dublin with my sister and indulged in everything chocolate, alcohol and high calorie based so I'm back to reality today so I started it off with this super salad. Quinoa being the star of this dish is a super super food with a load of health benefits which I googled haha. But I read it all and it sounds great. My original reason for using this is because it keeps me fuller longer with out the calories which means I'll eat less between meals. The key to cooking with quinoa is to pack it with loads of flavor because it quite a tasteless grain, I've added loads of herbs and a chilli dressing to mine. 

    So here we go, zee ingredients: 

Tricolour or regular quinoa.   Sweet potato and red pepper chopped.  Toasted pumpkin seeds and almonds. Stock cube 

        Dressing! (Optional) or if you don't like chilli just replace it with garlic or ginger. A bit of lime juice is great addition here too. Love this dressing, no oil and can be used on all salads. 

    Bunch of fresh coriander and mint, chopped. 

        Zee method

Cook your quinoa to packet instructions, mine was 1part grain to 2parts water. I use a cup measure as 1 part. For this salad I did 2 parts quinoa. This grain is great but super plain so I add half a veg stock cube into my water for extra flavor. So cook away and leave to rest on the pot. 

  While that's on the hob,chop your veg (butternut squash is great here also) and pop in the oven at 190 for bout 15/20 mins, the smaller the chop the less time it takes. I seasoned mine with salt and pepper. 

  Everything is cooking away so make ur dressing as instructed by the picture above. And get your herbs ready, chop everything leaves and stalks. 

   When your veg is nearly cooked threw (check potatoes hardness) pop ur seeds and nuts in for literally 3-4 mins, watch these. They burn so easily. 

Now once everything is done, put them all into a big bowl, mix it up, let it cool and enjoy. For lunch I'll have this on its own, maybe adding fresh salad like cucumber and tomatoes. For dinner I'll serve this with grilled or roast chicken. Yummy. 

  

As always, happy cooking, happy eating.

Sally xxx 

Super filling hazelnut pancakes

                     

I'm a bit of a pancake fanatic but the classic pancakes drenched in Nutella just won't do the job when I'm trying to be healthier. So I've coined myself as the pancake whisperer and I'm coming up with all types of fabulous concoctions on my days off. Here is the latest one that I've demolished. 

Ingredients

   60g of gluten free flour (less gluten, less bloating)

    30g oatbran. (Great for filling you up till lunch time comes around)

     1 egg

 Combine these three in a bowel with a spoon and then add in the hazelnut milk slowly while continuously mixing. I've given no measure for the liquid because I just judged it, more liquid will give you a crepe type of pancake and less will give you a thicker scotch type. I like thick ones but it's totally up to you here. Then add 1tablespoon of your cocoanut palm sugar, mix well. 

   Pop a small bit of oil on the pan and cook them, if doing thicker use a lower heat so they cook through. 

While the first side was cooking I put some slices of strawberries on the none cooked side so that when I flipped it the strawberry cooked into the pancake. 

I served mine with fresh strawberry and blueberry yoghurt 

  

Alternatively, staying on the healthy scheme of things here's another topping I tried 

 Almond butter and agave nectar, yum. 

Happy cooking and happy eating. 

Sally 

Guilt free breakfast pancakes.

                       

                         

     So I made these epic pancakes, no flour or sugar. I saw the recepie on Facebook and added some tastey but healthy toppings. I served mine with almond Greek yoghurt, fig and seeds. 

  

        Ingredients.

  1fig, 1banana, 2eggs, agave nectar, Greek yoghurt or yoghurt of choice, almond butter and mixed seeds 

 

    For the yoghurt: mix 2tablespoons of yogurt with half a teaspoon of almond butter.

    

    Pancake mixing! 

    Super easy, just blitz the 2eggs and banana with an electric hand blender or normal blender or even by hand but it may take a little more strenuous mixing. 

     I put a drain of oil of the pan so they don't stick, but try use a non stick pan, medium-low heat so they don't burn. They are a big tricky to flip, easier if you make them small. 

 

Serve them up!!!

  

Put a nice blob of the yoghurt mix, chop the fig, sprinkle the seeds over and drizzle the agave nectar. 

 Eat them in under 30seconds, lol. 

  

Happy cooking peoples ;)x 

Hair Care: Protein VS. Moisture

 If you look at all your skin, make up and perfume products, you will come to realise that you have invested quite a lot of your dosh on them. Most hair care collections don't get the same attention, it's time to invest in it and improve it as you would if your face was broken out with spots. When most of us complain about our hair it's either that's it's dry or damaged, but what's the difference?

                        

Hair is made up with both protein and moisture, there is a balance of the two. Lack of protein is what we call damage,breakage and split ends. Lack of moisture makes the hair frizzy and hard. Most hair is lacking one or the other and sometimes both, if you colour or use heat in your hair you are lacking protein. Hair needs to be cared for in a way that balances both but before you get to that stage you must determine whether you need one more than the other.

   Neglected hair (lack of cuts, not using heat protector, harsh colouring) causes hair to weaken. To put the strength back into your hair you need to invest in protein based shampoo, conditioner and hair mask.  Regular use of strengtning hair protects will strengthen your hair but will not turn back time. If you want healthy looking hair again the best thing to do is bite the bullet and cut off those ends. This gives your hair a new start and then start your new hair routine. 

    After using strengthening products for a while your hair will feel dry, this is only because you have hardened it up so much with protein. (This is normal) When the breakage has slowed down and the hair is full up with protein you can then introduce moisture, if you went straight in with moisture at the beginning you would have lovely soft hair that looks unhealthy and still breaks. To balance the protein and moisture I would recommend you change to a moistureizing shampoo with your protein conditioner if your hair is still prone to be weakened easily or if you still think you need the protein strength switch your styling product to a moisture based one to give you that softness. 

   Some hair types will naturally lack moisture, course and curly hair need moisture naturally. Course hair needs softening not strengthening. Moisturizing products will give the hair the nutrients it needs to be subtle and beautiful. 

**Below I've given examples of ranges in kerastase, Redken and purology that will give you protein or moisture**

 

A great range that I found amazing for keeping my split ends at bay was the real control by redken. The damage in my hair is not out of control, I simply have fine hair that weakens quite easily. I found this range was perfect to keep my hair soft and strong at the same time. Preventing my slit ends. 

      

    If you are using heat on your hair to prevent the back track of your damage free hair I would definitely recommend that you invest in a heat protector. Kerastase do a great range of three, one for protein, one for moisture and one for colour. Each one has a dual purpose lyk a leave in treatment for your hair while protecting it from heat damage. I've done a test myself with and with out using one, without using one, (as I use heat on my hair every day) my hair has suffered and my ends break quite regularly. 

          

   To some it all up ladies investing in yer hair is worth it, I've tested all these ranges myself and work with them every day in the salon, I've seen the damage and seen the results. So go forth and give yer hair the tlc it badly needs. All questions welcome in the comment section.

Peace out ;) 

   Sally. 

   

Tastes like cookies....It aint cookies

Vegan Cookie dough balls

So basically im feeling super inspired at the moment to be healthy and toned and all the jazz. Did myself a little internetting and came across this recipe on http://www.mindbodygreen.com/ , the website is packed full of great ways to improve your mental and physical health in fun and easy ways. (definitely worth a visit) .

Ingredients

• 16onces (2 tesco tins) of cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained 
• 3tablespoons of organic honey or agave nectar.
• 1tablespoon coconut palm sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon of backing soda
• 4tablespoons of almond butter
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla
• pinch of salt
• vegan chocolate chips. 

Whiz everything except the chocolate chips in a processor till smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips, keeping some back for melting later. Roll of mixture into small bite size balls and freeze. Once they are fairly frozen (i didnt have the patients) roll them in the melted remaining chocolate and pop back in the freezer for extra fast cooling. 

I know this whole chickpea business really sound sketchy but all the ingredients really work together to create quite a pleasant surprise. Happy eating people. 

Getting Carried Away

Over the weekend I was headed to an afters of a Wedding. Myself and my sister took a leaf out of carries book and went full blown Bradshaw. Emily rocked a matching suit and I glimmered in sequins.

I dress myself to have fun in what I'm wearing along with looking good. While I'm young ill wear what I want because I can.  This skirt which I picked up in the river island sales for 30bucks did the job. I love the 1950's vibe of the cut and the amount of glitz made it so much fun to wear. Paired with a plain top glamorous earrings and as I was going out the door I threw a fur collar around my neck. 

My hair was simple! Preped with Aveda pure abundance style prep, blow-drying my hair upside down for maximum root lift. Using my small curling wand i took small sections working from the nape of the neck to the front, Curling away from the face. Gave a good spray of strong hold hair spray and shook out the curls using my fingers.

Emilys look was very daring and she rocked it. The suit was from pennys before Christmas so its gonzo, shirt and dicky bow are from the men section in pennys. 

Emilys hair was a case of alot of backcombing. I started from the front of her head going back, taking small sections and spraying each to really build a base for the bun. Once her head was the size a beyonce's bum i gathered the hair all together and smoothened the other layer and secured with a bobble. The ponytail called for more backcombing. The more the better to give you more of a structure to shape, so take the big pony and working (bending) it around the base into a shape your happy with and secure with bobby pins. Once secured in place you can fiddle with any lumps sticking out. for a final cementing in place, spray the crap out of it, gently pull out baby hairs around the face for softness.