The little things

A winter Breakfast to melt the ice

Turning a key that works.

Arriving to a warm and peaceful home.

Hearing the voice of someone you love.

Seeing your child smile with pure happiness.

Listening to your favourite music.

Opening the door to greet an old friend.

Trusting your instincts, and getting it right.

Waking to the smell of a Nutty Sweet Potato Breakfast on the weekend!!!

What's inside?

Ooh, it’s the little things that make each day special and worthwhile. Each year on the 30^th of November I set about filling my eldest sons Advent Calendar. Behind each door awaits a different surprise. For me, the joy is watching his eyes light up and seeing that treasured innocence and excitement, which is so special. That lightness of being is in us all. Life, experience and heartache may dull it and take away the shine, though our job, especially important at this time of the year, is to get the polish out, dust off and dream big! When I say polish, I mean replenishing your inner sparkle, by relishing the little things in quiet times and giving some TLC to your good self.

One of my favourite parts of the week is waking up on Saturday morning, it promises a sense of space and freshness to enjoy and behold. I have a lovely recipe for you today. It’s not what you’d expect of a morning meal, though it delivers on every level. Healthy, warming, fibre rich and deeply delicious, the aromatic spices will tickle your taste buds and sooth tired minds. The warm oven will take away the chill of winter mornings and each bite offers a different set of flavour experiences, from nutty to tangy sweet, to smooth then crunchy, to delight and happy harmony.

A gorgeous combination of textures

Sweet potatoes have a natural creamy consistency, which becomes breakfast beautifully. Also known as yams, they are at their seasonal best between October and March, so now is a great time to eat them.  Vitamins A, C and B6 will set your body into a sunshine celebration. Best of all you’ll FEEL great after eating this and it will keep in the fridge for up to three days, in a tightly sealed container.

Snow-capped sweet potatoes!

So often winter gets a tough wrap. I love this time of year and know it’s the little things that make this so. Looking forward to wearing my favourite wool scarf, that is long enough to fit a giant, enjoying spiced warmed apple juice, watching box sets, burning cinnamon scented candles, reading a good book and snuggling up contentedly. Bliss.

Whatever your little things of joy are, I hope that your weekend is full of them.

With huge winter warmth,

FFX

Nutty Sweet Potato Breakfast

A bowl of beautiful breakfast

SERVES 4

Sweet potato, 300g peeled and diced in 1cm cubes

Porridge oats, 2 tbsp

Pumpkin seeds, 2 tbsp

Dried Cranberries, 1 tbsp

Coconut oil, 2 tsp

Soft brown sugar, 1 tbsp

Pistachios, 1 tbsp roughly chopped

Almonds, 1 tbsp roughly chopped

Ground Cinnamon, a pinch

Ground ginger, a pinch

Nutmeg, a couple of scratches

Salt, ½ tsp

PRE-HEAT oven to gas 5, 190’

MIX sweet potato, porridge oats, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, coconut oil, and spices together in a bowl.

TURN out onto a lined baking sheet and spread evenly.

BAKE for 10 minutes.

REMOVE from oven and scatter over nuts.

GENTLY stir everything to help cook evenly.

SPRINKLE over salt and bake for a further 15 minutes.

REMOVE from oven and cool for 5 minutes.

SERVE with a generous spoonful of your favourite yogurt and some freshly chopped banana and pomegranate seeds for a Breakfast of waking dreams.