Quinoa love

Quinoa has become a real staple in my diet lately. It is amazing, really and truly. This super grain is packed with loads of goodness, most importantly protein, fiber, and iron. I know it's not fashionable to talk about constipation but lets get real. There is not a woman who has been pregnant who doesn't know. Quinoa is your cure. And iron is important because you have so much more blood in your body and anemia can lead to preterm labor.

So, here are my 5 favorite ways to eat the stuff:

Greek quinoa salad

Quino, avacado, and feta

Quinoa scramble

Warm berry quinoa

Southwestern quinoa and beans

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My favorite American Christmas cookie

Us Americans love peanut butter, especially when it's paired with chocolate. You don't have peanut butter M&M's in the UK and Europe so you don't know what perfection really tastes like. It's not your fault.

My mother makes peanut butter blossoms every Christmas. They're a staple. Since I am too pregnant to fly home, I've decided to treat my in-laws this year. I've had to make some sight adjustments due to personal preference and availability, but honestly, they are better this way. My mother makes them with Hershey's kisses which are gross. I make them with +Cadbury UK buttons; BIG improvement.

125 grams unsalted butter (sometimes I substitute about half of this with coconut oil)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup +Nutella
1 teaspoon vanilla
the zest of one orange
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 bag of buttons, or whatever chocolate you have that isn't Hershey's

Cream the butter and sugars together. Add the egg, Nutella, peanut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest. Slowly add the flour and then the bicarbonate of soda. Put the dough in the fridge for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Roll the dough into balls and place on a baking pan (I usually cover mine in parchment paper). Bake for 9 minutes; until they start to slightly crack. Take out of the oven. Press chocolate pieces into the center of each cookie. Let them cool for a minute on the baking sheet, and then remove.

nom nom nom

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Smoothie Breakfast: the best part of my day

Since becoming pregnant I have developed a bit of an obsession with my morning smoothie. There are so many reasons that a good smoothie is the best way to start your day.  

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It's a delicious way to use up fruit that is bruised or getting on

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You can add healthy things that you don't actually want to taste

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Depending on what you add, it can be a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber

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2 of your 5 a day

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As recommended by my midwife, I try to eat a large variety of fruits and vegetables. When that fruit starts to look a bit tired I get excited: I get to try a new smoothie. I cut it up, ration it in little bags, and stick it in the freezer. The next day I toss it in the blender with a few staples and I get a filling, tasty, and nutritious refreshment.  Most of the time.  

My smoothie staples:

Frozen Fruit (pretty much any thing I've got laying around)

Oats (for the fiber)

Ginger (tasty and calms the stomach)

Spinach (source of iron and you don't even taste it)

Cinnamon and Turmeric (just a dash for natural pain relief...again, you don't taste it)

Natural Yogurt (helps digestion)

Apple Juice (adds tang)

I also like to add in sweet vegetables from time to time, such as peppers, carrots, or beet root.  Experimentation is fun, but can sometimes lead to disaster. 

Things I would not recommend in a smoothie:

Apples

Broccoli

Rocket or other strong flavored greens

I got my food processor from amazon.  It's a Kenwood FP731 Multi Pro Food Processor and it works like a dream.  I've used the blender attachment for all my smoothies and I have no complaints.

Food Processor - £79.00

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