Cooking-for-two/5 recipes

In celebration of St Patrick’s day we’ve created this scrumptious colcannon stuffed and shamrock shaped ravioli recipe, that’s accompanied by a delectable saffron and sun-dried tomato oil to top the dish off. You’ll certainly feel like you’ve got the luck of the Irish if you try it. If you’re wondering how the shamrock originally became associated, well according to Irish legend, Saint Patrick used the three-leafed plant as a metaphor for the Holy Trinity when he was first introducing Christianity to Ireland.

Here is a meat-free, gluten-free, nutrition packed recipe, which you can add to your collection in readiness for National Vegetarian Week, which starts on the 15th May. Chickpeas are a high protein alternative to meat, they contain a whole host of other benefits like Selenium (not found in most fruits and vegetables) which helps to detoxify cancer causing compounds and decreases tumour growth rates. The herbs not only provide flavour but each play a part in improving our health from boosting the immune system to lowering blood pressure. Enjoy this healthy, tasty twist on an Italian classic.

This recipe could be fun for the kids to do for a healthy father’s day, Pizza isn’t often considered a healthy meal but this option definitely is. Let’s look at the base – Cauliflower – high in Choline which helps liver function, brain development and nerve function, and Oats – contain beta-glucan, a soluble fibre that reduces blood sugar and LDL Cholesterol levels. Now for the cheese topping – Cashews contain Magnesium, older people can quite often be deficient in Magnesium and this is linked to Osteoporosis, Coronary Heart disease and Insulin Resistance. A last look at the sauce and topping – Oregano – a potent anti-oxidant and a good source of fibre that binds toxins and removes them from the body while Tomatoes contain Lycopene that has been linked to Prostate Cancer prevention and also protects the eyes from age-related Macular Degeneration. We think this is a great way for kids to show their dads’ how much they care. Happy Father’s Day.

A nutrient packed, winter warmer to be enjoyed over the festive period and all through the year. Nuts contain several important B vitamins necessary for enzyme metabolism inside the body. Introduce a handful of pecan nuts into your diet to ensure you are getting a good supply of vitamins, minerals and protein. Bananas contain fibre, potassium and have 33% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin B6. Enjoy this fruit and nutty treat!

Chocolate is usually thought of as a guilty pleasure but for the Maya civilisation and their ancestors it was a daily staple; the Mayans murals and ceramics capture the abundance of chocolate available to them. Chocolate is made from the seeds of the cacao tree which flourished in southern Mexico. Recent studies found that cocoa extract, Lavado, could have a positive effect on cognitive decline, other studies indicate chocolate could help lower the risk of developing heart disease. Let’s celebrate the history and the benefits of chocolate with this enticing, vegan, recipe on the 13th September – National Chocolate Day.

This recipe is ideal for any get together but maybe bear it in mind for your New Year’s Eve party, easy to make and so healthy too – just in time for those resolutions! Cashews may be small but they have huge benefits. Studies have shown that eating a fistful of nuts may reduce the risk of heart disease, cashews contain powerful antioxidants called Lutein and Zeaxanthin which are absorbed directly by our retina and help prevent age related macular degeneration, they are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, they have a great percentage of dietary fibres and have many more positives. We know one New Year’s resolution you’re going to make!

A healthy vegan recipe, ideal for using up leftover Christmas day vegetables on Boxing Day. It’s a light dish perfect after the indulgences of Christmas day. Chickpea flour is naturally gluten free, chickpeas are a super source of protein, fibre and iron. The skin of vegetables and fruit are quite often a good source of nutrition in itself, the dark skin of the Zucchini/courgette is high in soluble fibre which slows digestion and stabilises sugar levels. The dark skin of the Eggplant/Aubergine is full of fibre, potassium, magnesium and antioxidants, Tomato skin is full of antioxidants too so before removing skins bear this information in mind.

The power of pears is boundless, we’ll spell it out for you. P for Potassium which lowers blood pressure and takes pressure off the cardiovascular system. E for Eyes, the lutein and zeaxanthin help in the reduction of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. A for all the Antioxidants and their anti-carcinogenic activities which are linked to the prevention of some cancers. R for the Red blood cell count improvement because of the copper and iron content. S is for the synthesizing of new tissue in various organs and helps to keep the metabolism working efficiently.

An alternative sandwich that’s full of fibre due to the plantain and lentils. They are both great sources of fibre which, as we know, aids digestion. This sandwich is healthy for everyone, but pregnant women especially will benefit from the iron and high quantity of folate in the lentils, one cup (200g) provides 358 micrograms of folate and considering the daily requirement is 400 micrograms it doesn’t take a mathematician to know this adds up.

The recipe is perfect for World Diabetes Day, it not only looks good, it does you good. Blueberries definitely deserve the accolade of being one of the ‘Superfoods’. It is considered that they contain one of the highest antioxidant capacity of all of the more well known fruits and vegetables. The main antioxidant compounds belong to a large group of polyphenols called flavonoids, one group of flavonoids are called anthocyanins, it is this group that have the impact on diabetes – several studies show that insulin sensitivity is improved and blood sugar levels are lowered when Blueberries are included in the diet. You will enjoy this delicious dessert even more in the knowledge that it’s a ‘Superdessert’.

We can be sure that these little cookie people don’t have joint inflammation or digestive problems. Ginger, Cinnamon, Cardamom and Cloves all have anti- inflammatory properties as well as many others, studies show that chronic inflammation and oxidative stress speed up the aging process that play a large part in age-related cognitive decline. It’s amazing to think that Coconuts are the stones of the Coconut fruit, similar to an Avocado stone. The white Coconut meat is rich in fibre which aids digestion, Ginger too is renowned for relieving nausea and sickness. Adults and children alike, will love these flavoursome cookies.

This recipe not only looks fantastic, but it is fantastic for you in many ways. Let’s look at your heart, grapes contain phytonutrient resveratrol which is great for heart health, strawberries, heart- shaped for a reason, contain anthocyanins which are associated with heart health as well as being what gives fruit and flowers their colour. Pecans contain monounsaturated fats that help prevent coronary heart disease. All this and more, vitamin C, folate, manganese, potassium, fibre to name just a few.

Give a warm welcome to this cool smoothie. Mint has traditionally had a role in welcoming guests throughout history, and by many different cultures. The ancient Greeks rubbed mint leaves on the dining tables to greet guests, mint tea is offered to guests in the Middle East and many cultures boil the leaves to freshen the air. This is also the recipe to say goodbye – to stomach problems – mint has a soothing effect on the digestive tract, relieving symptoms of indigestion, cucumber too is high in fibre, also good for digestive health and pineapple contains a digesting enzyme that is unique to pineapples, Bromelain. Bromelain is know to be good for brain health, also, when you are cooking one of our delicious meat recipes, the meat can be tenderized with pineapple because the Bromelain breaks down the meat proteins. Cucumbers are cool too, they are mainly water, 95% in fact, making them ideal for hydration. Cucumbers contain polyphenols called lignans which are considered helpful in lowering the risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancers. Be prepared to be bowled over by this smoothie!

You don’t want to supersede these Super seeds with anything else, they provide you with so much nutrition. Flaxseeds have been eaten for thousands of years, they are a plant-based source of omega-3 fatty acids which according to various studies help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, support heart health and help to prevent some cancers, not to mention protecting against cognitive decline. Flaxseeds contain high levels of mucilage gum, this is a gel-forming fibre that is beneficial for intestinal health, this gum keeps food in the stomach for longer allowing more absorption of the food’s nutrients. Fennel seeds contain dietary fibre so these also benefit intestinal health. Both seeds have antioxidants that fight the harming free radicals as well as many vitamins. Enjoy a super Chanukah.

A healthy flavoursome take on an Italian classic. Nutritional yeast has a nutty cheesy flavour making it a good alternative for a vegan diet, especially as it is a complete protein. Other benefits are all the B vitamins which are important for everyone’s health but more so for those on a vegan/vegetarian diet. This yeast is rich in Selenium which helps to repair cell damage therefore helping to reduce the risk of cancer. It has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, it improves digestion and as it is rich in folate pregnant women should include this in their diet. Just a few reasons to get familiar with this cosmopolitan dish.

This is a really simple recipe to make and all the prep and cooking can be done in under half an hour, so there really is no excuse not to give it a go. They will last for up to 7 days, if stored in an airtight container, so are perfect to make in batches and snack on throughout the week.