Blackberry Blues

Berrilicious bubbles of vitamin c,


Bursting life into your cells.


Antioxidants glide in deepest purple hue,


Oh ho! These berries are mightily good for you!!!!

I love blackberries, and I’m learning a lot about antioxidants at the mo, if vitality is a destination you’d like to live, it is in berries and other such like freshlings that you'll find it, not in a five a day way, instead in a fifteen a day a way! 

Think fresh, think rainbows, feel great!

The other day I watched with rapture “Nigellisima”, she oozes food lore and loveliness, her recipes look and sound delicious, but how they configure with the bodies blood sugar levels, is another thing altogether.

There is a school of thought that believes our emotions really are found/ felt in our guts! In fact studies have shown that our cellular memory is held in the gut, the very core of our being. Is it any wonder so many people use food as a means to cope and self medicate, rather than to nourish and heal?

My mantra is “Balance, beautiful balance,” there is of course a time for meatza and cheesecake, though luscious smoothies and fresh juices are simply begging your bodies to dive into everyday. 

SPLASH!

I love nothing more than to sip some lemon water each morning (alkalising is the way forward), followed by a juice and my favourite breakfast, porridge with seasonal berries. Right now, you guessed it – Blackberries!!!

PS – Better than drinking blackberries, picking them with loved ones in the autumnal sunshine and making jam!

Lots of love,

FFX

Blackberry Smoothie

SERVES 4

Blackberries, 120g

Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp

Smooth orange juice, 250ml

Milk, 500ml

Ground flaxseed, 1 tbsp

Honey, 1 tbsp

Vanilla extract, 1 tbsp

Rolled Oats, 1 tbsp

BLITZ all ingredients in a blender for a minute or so.

POUR into a chilled glass for a morning wake up that will bring freshness and plenty of goodness to your day.

Apples in Autumn

The entrance to the Apple Orchard

Hello! I hope you enjoyed a relaxing and restful summer, I'm back now with some yumtastic recipes and restorative thoughts to share. I'm feeling nourished and natures great outdoors has inspired my cooking.

The lovely thing about being healthy, is that LOVE becomes the guiding force, not fear, and as with all things made with love, the result is beautiful, more love! Just like you! There's a song that comes to mind... one of my favourties.

Here is a picture of my two sons, that I took over the summer.

Summer...

A time for quiet and laughter. And a time for cherishing and thinking about, long after.

That’s the best bit about special times; they linger on and transform our outlooks, etching positivity into every moment. Sometimes, it's what we don't say that's most revealing, and truth is not always as clear and pure as we may like, especially when it’s got a motive attached. Summer gave me the time to sift through my thoughts and the break has left me feeling clearer, thank goodness for that! 

Autumn whispers and summer’s relaxed adieu begins - AND - what a summer? Deeply peaceful and calm. The first, in a few years, and very much appreciated. 

I’m sharing a recipe for a healthy yet sweet humble Angel Apple pie, with a hint of citrus and a caramel longing, the softly baked apples  are irresistible.

Think of falling apples, gently landing on soft golden meadows where the freshest of air lulls the senses, and sipping hot sweet tea with your nearest and dearest along with a slice of Angel Apple Pie. It is a celebration of autumn, it is gluten-free, it is fuss free and to the point - it is fresh and delicious, yet crumbly and mouth watering all the while. It is made with fallen apples and dusted with Angel glee, share some with a loved one, it's to good not too.

Love to you, and may autumn bring golden times in abundance to you!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Be true, be you!

FFXOX

Angel apple pie

FOR THE PASTRY

Rice flour, 250g
Fruit Sugar, 1tbsp

Orange essence, 2 tsp

Butter, 150g cut into cubes

Baking powder, 1 tsp

Egg, 1 beaten

Salt, a pinch

FOR THE FILLING                                                                                                                                             

Apples, 5 (a selection of your favourite) cored, peeled and cut into chunks

Butter, 50g

Rice flour, 1 tbsp

Fruit sugar, 3tbs                                                                                                                                                               

Cinnamon, a generous sprinkle, if you like, otherwise leave out

Chai tea or Earl Grey, 60ml                                                                                                                                                  

FOR THE GLAZE

Milk, a dash

Maple Syrup, 1 tsp

PRE-HEAT oven to 220, gas 7.

MAKE pastry by sifting flour and salt into a bowl/ food processor.

ADD fruit sugar and butter, rub between your fingers until the mixture is crumb like, alternatively blitz for a few seconds.

POUR in orange essence and beaten egg into the mixture, work to a soft dough.

CUT pastry dough into two halves, wrap in clingfilm and pat into discs.

REST for thirty minutes in the fridge.

FOR THE FILLING

MELT butter and stir in flour to form a paste.

ADD fruit sugar and Chai tea, stirring all the while, when thickened to a sauce, turn of the heat and leave to one side.

FOR THE PIE

UNWRAP dough and leave sheet of cling film on surface.

ROLL  pastry to line the base of a 25-30cm (10-12in) greased tart pan/ or oven proof dish, take care here, the rice flour makes for a crumbly and more delicate dough, TLC is needed.

SPOON apple and raisins onto the base, to form a little mountain of yumminess.

POUR over sauce and sprinkle with cinnamon, to your taste.

ROLL out second dough ball to cover the apple mixture.

FLUTE the edges of the pie and cut four steam slits on the top of the pie, but don’t join the slits.

BAKE in the centre of the oven at gas 7 for 15 minutes, then reduce to gas 4, 180 for roughly 40 minutes.

BEST served warm with crème fraiche, double cream or vanilla ice cream.
ENJOY