Orange, Mango with Bergamot Sorbet

The last few months I have been taking stock of our families eating habits and I have been trying to cut out unhealthy snacks and refined and fatty foods. I have been making daily meal plans and making sure that the meals I cook are healthy and balanced with the correct proportion of vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates and fats.

Eating healthy does not mean that you can't enjoy delicious food and enjoy snacks. It's all about having a balanced diet adding healthy ingredients to the recipes I cook and eating treats in moderation that give you pleasure.

Incorporating seeds, nuts, energy boosting snacks, plant power shots to nourish and cleanse your body is a good way to add your family's diet.

I recently discovered Erbology an online shop that specialises in energy boosting snacks, crackers that are made with organic plants and activated seeds to create unique flavours that are gut-friendly and energy boosting.  I also liked their plant power shots which are organic, gluten free with no added sugar or additives.

There are so many new interesting and healthy ingredients available on the Erbology website, a few I tried were Milk Thistle Powder, Organic Aloe Vera Juice and Organic Bergamot Juice.

What is Milk Thistle?

Milk thistle is an herbal remedy derived from the milk thistle plant, also known as Silybum marianum.

What are the  health Benefits of Milk Thistle?

• It treats liver and gallbladder disorders
• Promote breast milk production
• Prevent and treat cancer 
• Protect the liver from snake bites, alcohol and other environmental poisons.

How can you add it to your diet?

You can include 7g or 1 tsp of Milk Thistle per day into your daily diet. You can add it to yoghurt, smoothies or porridge or any breakfast bowl. You can also add the milk thistle into cakes, muffins, tarts and even bread.

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera known as Aloe barbadensis miller is a succulent plant used in alternative medicine. 

What are the health Benefits of Aloe Vera?

• Beneficial for the digestive system 
• Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals
• Fights Digestive Disorders
• Flushes our Toxins from the Body
• Helps Treat Anemia
• Balances Hormonal Problems
• Boosts Immunity

How can you add it to your diet?

You can add the 50ml  daily allowance of Organic Aloe Vera juice  to smoothies, breakfast juice or flavoured water and enjoy it as a refreshing drink.

What is Bergamot?

Bergamot is a plant that produces a type of citrus fruit. Medicines are made from  extracting the oil from  the peel of the fruit, and extracting juice from the fruit.

What are the health benefits of Bergamot?

• Reduce inflammation, 
• Lowers cholesterol levels  
• Increase positive mood

How can you add it to your diet?

You can add 50ml of Organic Bergamot Pure Juice to your smoothie, any juice or flavoured water. You can also add it to ice pop mixture, sorbets and fruit slushies.

I have been using these ingredients by adding them to smoothies, smoothie bowls, adding them to salad dressings and making herbal tea. My favourite ingredient by far has been the Bergamot. It has the most refreshing citrus scent and the flavour it imparts to dishes is absolutely amazing. I made this wonderful palate cleanser Orange and Mango sorbet incorporating the Bergamot Juice. It was so lovely that I have made the same recipe time and time over again.

I am sharing the recipe below.The sorbet is delicious as a palate cleanser between courses or even as alight dessert after a heavy meal. The addition of the Bergamot definitely takes it to the next level in taste and flavour.

Yield: 6 Servings

Author: Nayna Kanabar

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Orange, Mango with Bergamot Sorbet

Refreshing and palate cleansing sorbet with delicious citrus flavours and no refined sugars or additives.

Prep time: 20 Mininactive time: 6 HourTotal time: 6 H & 20 M

Ingredients:

• Large Mango Ripe 1
• Oranges peeled and juiced 3
• Bergamot Juice 50 ml
• Maple Syrup 3 Tbsps
• Orange Rind 1 Tbsps

Instructions:

1. Remove the rind of 1 orange 
2. Juice the oranges
3. Peel and dice the mango
4. In a blender add the orange juice, mango and maple syrup and blend to a smooth puree.
5. Add the mixture into an air tight tupperware and stir in the Bergamot juice and orange rind and mix well.
6. Put the lid on the tupperware and place in freezer.
7. After 1 hour take the tupperware out of freezer and break the ice crystals with a fork.
8. Repeat the process two more times at 2 hourly intervals.
9. Before serving the sorbet, remove the tupperware from the freezer and place in the fridge for 5 minutes.
10. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop the sorbet into serving bowls. The texture should be grainy.Garnish with mint leaves.

Calories

156.50

Fat (grams)

0.27

Sat. Fat (grams)

0.06

Carbs (grams)

39.75

Fiber (grams)

1.77

Net carbs

37.99

Sugar (grams)

34.70

Protein (grams)

0.78

Sodium (milligrams)

29.00

Cholesterol (grams)

0.00

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Post in collaboration with Erbology

Aubergine Tagliatelle with Hello Fresh Kit

The last six months during lock down, we have all spent more time in our homes than ever before. Families finally found they were discovering new ways to communicate, learn new skills and take up new hobbies to while the time during this lock down.
Without the option of dinning out, ordering takeaways, people started cooking more and discovering different cuisines around the world to create and satisfy their gastronomical cravings. It's surprisingly how many people have found a hidden passion for cooking that they never knew they had. With the help of supermarket home deliveries, shop and collect, online shopping and food delivery boxes, the task has become easier and more enjoyable. Even those people with limited culinary experience can rustle a tasty, delicious and healthy meal in a short time.

How is this Possible?

• People had more time to spend in the kitchen.
• Statistics show that during lock down, more people started watching cooking shows, referred to recipe books and took part in online cooking classes to brush up their culinary skills.
• Many people with a lack of cooking skills and meal planning found it hard to create home cooked food and this is when their problem was solved by ordering a pre-planned and packed recipe box/ meal kit with the correct ingredients and recipe card delivered straight to your door

Hello Fresh is one such company that delivers fresh ingredients straight to your door, with a choice of 4 different boxes; family box, classic box, rapid quick recipe box and vegetarian box. You can choose from their website recipes that are Classic English, Italian, Indian, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, Chinese cuisine and many more. Each box comes with the complete ingredients to create your chosen recipe with full instructions and recipe card. Do check out their most popular recipes there are so many options.

What are the advantages of ordering a recipe box?

• No need to go shopping.
• Take the stress out of meal planning
• Everything you need to create a healthy and delicious recipe delivered straight to your door.
• The meal kits offer a wide selection of recipe ideas for vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
• Fool proof, easy to follow instructions making it simple to create a enjoyable and tasty meal in less than 30 minutes.

I tried the vegetarian box from Hello Fresh and chose the Aubergine Tagliatelle recipe. The recipe turned out delicious and took less 30 minutes to create from start to finish.

The ingredient prep was minimal and only took a few minutes. It just shows how easy it is to put this recipe together.

I am sharing my step by step pictorial of the cooking stages below to show how easy it is to create this delicious and tasty dish.

 

Vegetarian, Vegan, Cookery, Food, Continental Food, Fusion Cuisine, Healthy Cooking, Indian Cooking, Easy Recipes, Fusion Food, simply Food,  simplysensationalfood, Indian Recipes, Healthy Cooking, Easy Recipes, Learn to Cook, Quick Recipes, cook with me, Easy to cook recipes,

Pasta

Italian Cuisine

Yield: 2 Servings

Author: Nayna Kanabar

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Aubergine Tagliatelle

Delicious and tasty pasta dish with Mediterranean flavours of roasted aubergines, sundried tomatoes in a spicy tomato sauce.

Prep time: 10 MCook time: 20 MTotal time: 30 M

Ingredients:

• Dutch Aubergine 1
• Sundried Tomatoes 20g
• Tagliatelle 180g
• Parsley 1/2 Bunch
• Echalion Shallots 1
• Garlic 2 cloves
• Chopped Tomatoes 400g
• Olive Oil 3 Tbsps
• Salt 1 Tsp
• Black Pepper 1 Tsp
• Chilli Flakes 1/2 Tsp
• Hard vegetarian Cheese  grated 2 Tbsps

Instructions:

1. Peel and finely chop the Echalion shallot.
2. Finely chop the garlic.
3. Finely chop the sundried tomatoes.
4. Cut in the aubergine in half length ways and cut into thin 2mm thick half moons.
5. Layer the aubergine slices in a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil and a little salt. 
6. Grill the aubergines turning them half way through cooking until they soften and edges crisp up.
7. Remove the aubergines from grill and keep aside.
8. Put a pan of water to heat and add 1 tsp salt, bring the water to boil and add the tagliatelle. Cook for 8-10 minutes until pasta is al dente. Drain the pasta and add 1 tbsp of olive oil and toss, keep aside.
9. In a pan add 1 tbsp olive oil , when the oil is hot, add the shallots and garlic and saute for 2-3 minutes until translucent.
10. Add the chopped sundried tomatoes and the chopped tomatoes, 1/2 tsp salt, freshly ground black pepper and chilli flakes and cook the mixture for 5-6 minutes until the tomatoes soften and you have a thick sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning to your taste.
11. Stir in the grilled aubergines and cook the sauce for a further 3-4 minutes.
12. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and mix thoroughly coating all the pasta with the sauce.
13. Transfer the pasta to serving bowls. Garnish with finely chopped parsley and a grated hard vegetarian cheese

Calories 1950.64

Fat (grams) 202.35

Sat. Fat (grams) 28.17

Carbs (grams) 40.50

Fiber (grams) 12.34

Net carbs 28.17

Sugar (grams) 12.76

Protein (grams) 7.17

Sodium (milligrams) 10548.68

Cholesterol (grams) 4.46

https://www.simplysensationalfood.com/2020/08/aubergine-tagliatelle-with-hello-fresh.html

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @simplyf00d on instagram and hashtag it #cookwithsimplyf00d

Created using The Recipes Generator

The Hello Fresh boxes are a convenient way to meal plan and enjoy delicious tasty meals with out the stress of  going shopping. If you have not tried a Hello Fresh Box delivery, I would highly recommend it. Why not book your box today and find out for your self.

 ** Collaborative Post

Orange, Ginger, and Lemon Grass Iced Tea

This refreshing Orange, ginger and lemon grass tea is not only refreshing and perfect to enjoy when it’s hot, it is full of antioxidants which is good for your health. Lemon grass aids digestion, regulates high blood pressure and it helps to boosts metabolism and burns fat. In addition ginger too has many healing properties and it’s beneficial to you in many ways. You can read about the benefits of ginger in a special ginger post I wrote recently.

This refreshing tea is great for combating heat stroke too, the vitamin C in the oranges is good for the body and to help boost the immune system. 

Although I have served this tea iced it can also be served warm in the cooler months. 

Yield: 2 servings

Author: Nayna Kanabar

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Orange, Ginger and Lemon grass iced tea

Orange and Lemon Grass iced Tea, This refreshing tea is really refreshing and the perfect cooler to enjoy on a hot summers day.

Prep time: 5 MCook time: 5 MTotal time: 10 M

Ingredients:

• 4 Oranges
• 1 Stalk Lemon Grass roughly chopped
• Small piece of Fresh Ginger peeled and roughly chopped
• 100 ml Water
• 1 Tbsp Sugar (optional)
• 1 Cup Ice Cubes

Instructions:

1. Juice the Oranges and strain the juice to remove the pips. 
2. Add half the orange juice to a pan with the water, sugar, ginger and the lemon grass and bring to a gentle simmer. The remaining half of the juice keep in the fridge to chill.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the lemongrass to infuse.
4. To serve add the infused orange juice in a jug, add the chilled orange juice and the ice cubes.
5. Pour into tall glasses and garnish with orange slices.

Calories
199.10

Fat (grams)
0.60

Sat. Fat (grams)
0.10

Carbs (grams)
51.00

Fiber (grams)
6.16

Net carbs
44.84

Sugar (grams)
30.06

Protein (grams)
3.24

Sodium (milligrams)
8.33

Cholesterol (grams)
0.00

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @simplyf00d on instagram and hashtag it #cookwithsimplyf00d

Created using The Recipes Generator

Summer Salads made in a jiffy using OXO Mandolin and Nesting Bowls.

We have been very fortunate for the last few weeks to have had mostly good weather. The sunshine has meant that we can do a lot of the outdoor chores that were accumulating.

I have also spent a little more time in the garden growing some tomatoes, chillies, coriander and strawberries. For some one who does not have green fingers at all I am very proud of my self.

Since the weather has been hot, we have been eating mostly in the garden. Our lunches have mainly been quick and easy salads that are healthy and delicious too. 

Salads don't need to be boring, you can add not just lettuce, tomatoes radishes, onions, peppers and tomatoes but fruits in salads too. I love peaches, apricots, plums, oranges, grapes and apples in my salad too. Of course not forgetting the different varieties of melons too. Water melon and feta pair well together  and I love orange and grapefruit in my salads too to give that citrus kick.

With the recent COVIDsitation, I have been extra careful with my fruit and vegetables. As soon as I get my shopping home, I soak the fruits and vegetables in a solution made of  vinegar and bicarbonate of soda in large bowl for an hour, after which I drain the vegetables and fruits and give them a really wash and good rinse in cold water. I then leave them to air dry before storing.

I find my OXO’s 9-Piece Nesting Bowl and Colander Set is really handy in the kitchen. The set has three bowls, three colanders, and three lids in small, medium and large sizes. They bowla with the colanders really handy for washing fruits and vegetables and also for draining cooked pulses, beans, rice and pasta too.

The bowls are also perfect for baking too, the handy non-slip base keeps bowls stabilised when mixing.

Putting a salad together is really easy especially if you have a mandolin to slice the vegetables thinly. The OXO Hand-Held Mandolin Slicer is my best friend in the kitchen. It's compact and fits into my kitchen drawer and is so handy to slice my vegetables uniformly.

The mandolin has a sharp blade with a thickness adjuster to select the thickness you need and it has a special holder that you attach to the fruit or vegetable that you are slicing to keep it secure and protect your fingers from the blade. It also helps you to slice to the last bit of the fruit or vegetable with very little waste.

The mandolin is easy to clean as well, it just needs a rinse in warm soapy water. It just saves getting the food processor out as the mandolin is so quick and easy to use.

You can also add grains like couscous, quinoa and Bulgar wheat to your salads to bulk them up. Adding beans such as black eyed beans, borlotti beans, green lentils, kidney beans and chick peas are a great way to add protein to the salad. If you need some recipe inspiration The Works offers a great range of discount cookery and gardening books such as "Veg in One Bed" and "The Happy Vegan". The books are really useful with lots of lovely ideas. 

Having the right equipment in the kitchen certainly makes prepping food a lot easier. OXO have a vast range of kitchenware that is great for all types of food preparations. Don't forget to check out the OXO UK website for the full range. What is your favorite kitchen gadget that you love? Do share in the comments below.

**Collaborative Post

Chinese Style Fried Vegetable Rice

This is one of my favorite all time recipes to use up left over rice. The flavoursome Chinese style fried rice goes so well with sweet and sour vegetables. It is also just tasty on its own for a light lunch.

Yield: Serves 4

Author: Nayna Kanabar

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Chinese Style Fried Vegetable Rice

Chinese Style Fried Vegetable Rice - A really versatile and tasty dish that can be put together with basic pantry ingredients.

Prep time: 10 MCook time: 15 MTotal time: 25 M

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp Cashew Nuts
• 1 Tbsp Sunflower Oil
• 3 Cloves Garlic finely chopped  
• 1 Onion finely sliced
• 30 g Red Pepper finely sliced
• 30 g  Green Pepper finely slice
• 3 Spring Onions finely chopped
• 1 Carrot peeled and shredded
• 400 g Precooked Cold Boiled Rice
• 1 Tsp Salt
• 1 Tsp Chinese Five Spice
• 1 Tbsp Vegetarian Stir Fry Sauce
• 1 Tbsp Sesame Seeds

Instructions:

1. Add oil in a wok, when it is hot add the cashew nuts and stir fry until golden brown. Remove from wok and keep to one side.
2. In the wok add the garlic and saute, then add the peppers, onions, spring onions and carrots and stir fry until slightly soft on high heat.
3. Add salt and the Chinese five Spice and the vegetarian stir fry sauce and mix together.
4. Add the boiled rice and toss all the ingredients until well mixed and the rice is hot.
5. Add the sesame seeds, freshly chopped coriander and the cashew nuts.
6. Toss together and serve warm. The rice goes well as an accompaniment with all types of Chinese and Indo Chinese dishes.

Created using The Recipes Generator

You can also see the you tube video of this recipe on my you tube channel.

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