Fruits/26 recipes

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.

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!

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 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.

This healthy and delicious alcohol-free Pina Colada is so refreshing. It makes an amazing alternative to a regular Pina Colada using just fresh fruit and coconut milk – it tastes like sunshine in a glass. Transport yourself to a tropical paradise and give it a try!

This delicious, quick and easy fruit smoothie recipe is super sweet and very tasty, it makes a fantastic healthy breakfast. We’ve used frozen fruit in this recipe as it helps make the smoothie nice and cold, but fresh fruit also works well too. You can add any greens to the recipe if you like, baby spinach or kale is masked well by the fruity flavours of the raspberry and cherry.

No-Cook Apple Raspberry Jam recipe

Brighten your day by using this spread that adds a unique taste to breakfast!

Apple Skewers in almond caramel--Warm fruit delight for the little sweet tooth.

These buns are very sweet and delicious. This is a kid friendly recipe.

It's the weekend but freezing out and I wanted BBQ and fries without all the greasyness. So I grabbed some chicken legs out the freezer and some regular french fries. Realized I had a sweet potatoe left by the fruit and got to cooking. For the BBQ sauce I went with what I had which was a thicker base (Sweet Baby Rays) and a thinner one (Lizard Lick). They were on sale at the time when grocery shopping along with being Gluten free so I went with it. My measurements are definitely just a guide because I just throw as I go lol.

Open Face Apple Tart recipe

Watermelon Sorbet recipe

Glace' Baklava recipe