Paprika Halloumi Skewers

I love halloumi, the Cypriot cheese which keeps it's shape even when cooked and I decided to try a non traditional way to prepare it with more Spanish spicing.  It worked pretty well.

Steak Salad with Mustard Dressing

I love steak and mustard is a lovely accompaniment to it.

I often make a salad dressing with mustard in it.  It's great because it not only helps the emulsification but also adds flavour.  In this, I ramped up the mustard even more to give a powerful punch.  Delicious it is too.

It's too hot to exercise

It's too hot to exercise?  Stop using it as an excuse, there are ways to keep up your fitness when it's hot.  Here are some top tips to keep exercising even when the sun is out.

7 fruits and vegetables a day for 7 days - What did I learn?

The challenge

I'm now at the end of my experiment to eat 7 different fruits and vegetables in the UK Government recommended portion sizes (at least 80g) for 7 days.  In this I only counted fresh fruits and vegetables, pulses (for one portion a day) and frozen fruits and vegetables.

Day 7 of 7 a day

My last day of eating 7 fruits and vegetables in a day.  It's been a journey.  I am thoroughly bored of my kitchen scales and the crushing realisation that, (a rare situation in modern life), my portion sizes were normally too small.

Still it's been a journey.

Day 6 of 7 a day

6 days into my challenge to eat 7 fruits and vegetables a day for 7 days and over yesterday and today I've suddenly got far more energy than I had.  I would even go so far as to say, I'm feeling pretty healthy.

Breakfast

I started the day with my (now typical) breakfast of Skyr, this time with grapes and raspberries so only 2 of my 7.  Honestly, my fridge is looking a little bare.  This is one of the things I'm noticing that I have already shopped for fresh produce twice this week and I'm going to have to do so again.

Lunch

After a food shopping trip I had a simple Buddha bowl of rice, vegetables, prawns and Teriyaki sauce.  Believe it or not, this is only 2 portions of vegetables.  I know!  It looks so much doesn't it?

Day 5 of 7 a day

On the home straight now on my challenge to eat 7 different fruits and vegetables each day over 7 days.

Breakfast

Sorry to be dull but I started the day with my Skyr breakfast bowl again.  This time with grapes, blueberries and raspberries.  After a 6 mile run, I followed this up with a snack of an apple meaning I'd had 4 of my 7 before lunch.

Day 4 of 7 a day

It's day 4 of trying to eat 7 fruits and vegetables a day; seeing if this is even possible and how it makes me feel.

Day 3 of 7 a day

There is something great about tomatoes at this time of year.  Anyway, more of that later.

Day 2 of 7 a day

Day 2 of eating 7 a day and first thing I was sat in my lounge thinking "what should I eat today?"  This challenge is both as interesting as it is daunting.

Breakfast

What to have for breakfast... more Skyr?  Yummy but... variety is key.

Today I've gone for my Bircher Muesli; this is a great way to introduce fresh fruit into a breakfast which would traditionally be made with only dried fruits and nuts.  If dried fruit counted in my challenge, this would be 2 of my 7, however, it's only 1.  Delicious nonetheless and a much better start than opening up a pack of cereal.

Day 1 of 7 a day

Day 1 of 7 a day.  How did it go?

Breakfast

I've recently discovered Skyr (Icelandic style yogurt).  This is really high in protein but pretty low in fat.

7 days of 7 a day

I posted a while back about how eating 5 a day of fruit and vegetables is UK government advice, however that recent research has suggested 5 is not enough and 7 is what we should be aiming for.

I'm never keen on dieting, detoxing or any of that stuff but I occasionally like to set myself a challenge.  This is mostly to have a chance to rethink my diet, be less lazy about it all and actually think about what I'm eating.  So many of us pass life by in a daze of eating the same things we always do.  Well that's fine but if you eat the same things all the time, what makes your lunch today memorable?

Duck with honey and chilli

An odd time to post this considering I've been out in torrential rain this morning for a parkrun but I came up with this delicious recipe a few days ago when the weather was more promising (and I've just seen a glimse of sunshine, all may not be lost!)

I don't cook duck often but with the lovely fatty layer, it's surprising it's not a more obvious barbecue choice.

I chose to serve this with a salad and without a dressing but by all means add a little more soy or a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce if liked.  I thought the duck was flavourful and juicy enough on it's own.

You could serve this as a light or starter sized portion or go for a larger main course.

Is it extravagant to fire up a barbecue for one?  Well maybe but I like barbecues.  If you prefer you could grill (broil) the duck instead.

What's in season in July?

Another great month is already 1 week in.  So what am I eating?

July is a real month of plenty.  Berries are in the shops and at their best and cheapest at this time of year.  Tomatoes are still on song (or still taking blooming ages to get going if they're in my greenhouse.)

A summer stew of chicken and chorizo

I love the flavours of Spain and in a slightly cool summer, using these in a light braise is a way to get a bit of warmth and oomf into your day.