Willy’s Apple Cider Vinegar

I’ve been using ACV for various different uses on and off for a couple of years now and when I came across Willy’s it just sounded so lovely I needed to try it. I got in touch with them and they sent me out some to try, a bottle of their original ACV and a case of their new energy drinks too! Apple cider vinegar has a huge list of uses from cooking, to skin care, using it as a weight loss aid to being an active ingredient in a plethora of home remedies. For your ACV to have all of its benefits is must be raw, unapsteuripsed and with ‘the mother’, the mother is the fermented bits of apple that you will see in your bottle which may look bitty and add to that cloudiness of your ACV. Theres an interesting article on the site for The Academy of Culinary Nutrition about the many different and amazing uses for ACV, check that out here

I use ACV to mainly promote digestion and weight loss and the way that I take it is by using a generous splash diluted in some water and I drink it first thing in the morning before I go about my day. The key difference between Willy’s and other brands of ACV that I have tried is that it tastes more of cider with a real apple taste than it does of vinegar with that real sharpness of other ACVs. It is extremely palatable and no nasty gag faces over here!

Willy’s apples are grown in 300 year old orchards on their own farm and they see through production from start to finish and see that every bottle is live with ‘the mother’ and all her goodness!

I have recently been using this one on a cotton pad as a toner too as my skin has been dreadful and I have found it’s really good for drying out spots and clearing them up a little faster, however obviously your face will smell of vinegar.

I did a previous post on ACV as a new user a couple of years ago which tells you all about my first thoughts and experiences, you can check out here

To sum it up I’m extremely impressed with this ACV, I actually can’t quite believe the difference in flavour to all the others I have tried in the past. They have also launched a brand new energy drink so watch out for a review of that coming soon!

If you fancy trying some of Willy’s products, here’s a link to their shop so you can buy! 

Thanks so much for reading!

Hx

The Cultured Collective and Exploring Fermented Foods

Fermented foods are a subject hot on peoples lips at the moment in the health and wellbeing circles and I’m here to look a little further in to why as a newbie to fermented foods myself. I’ll be exploring the full what, why and how! Fermented foods are an important addition to all diets and are something which I would recommend to consider if they are not something that you may have already been eating for sometime now without even knowing! They have been available for longer than we have been around but their amazing health benefits have made all types of fermented foods more trendy and talked about in the current health and wellbeing revolution. These probiotic heavy foods are amazing for a number of different health benefits from promoting good digestive health, to help balance and maintain a good gut bacteria, helping to achieve a healthy weight, boost you immune system and more! So what are fermented foods? The most common and the ones which I am going to be using are sauerkraut and kimchi but theres also kombucha, tempeh, miso, kefir and more! You’ll start hearing about these more and more as they are becoming very popular here in the UK. The process is…Fermentation promotes the growth and life cycle of good bacteria to transform the flavour and shelf life of ingredients.

So its pretty simple! They are packed with flavour and full of all the goodness to promote, maintain and develop good gut health!I’m using in my kitchen The Cultured Collective ferments and I have 3 Sauerkrauts and 2 Kimchi’s to add to my daily eating routine and experiment with. The Cultured Collective are a UK based brand of premium ferments available to buy jarred and infused with a number of different flavors so they are ready and good to go to top a dish a pack more than just the usual pickled punch of other similar products. The Cultured Collective say-

“All our kimchi and sauerkraut is handmade in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside using only the highest quality, natural ingredients. Never pasteurised, each jar is packed to the brim with good bacteria, which can help to keep your digestive system healthy. “

Sounds good to you but not sure what you would eat them with? Keep reading! Because Sauerkraut and Kimchi are cold one of the easiest ways to eat it is to use it as a salads topper, add it to buddha bowls-you get the picture, quick and easy but with their flavour infusions its nice to theme your dish to suit your ferment. I tried tacos with the chipotle sauerkraut, I did a ramen bowl with my white miso and turmeric kimchi, I had a falafel wrap, open deli sandwiches and of course just the humble salad. Here’s a few snaps of my favourite meals!

I’ve used them with at least one meal every day for one week! Some of the things that I have noticed are reduced bloating of my stomach, certain foods that I eat often aggravate my stomach and I bloat easily. Hand in hand with that, my digestion has been much more regular and has become very routine, I have been like clockwork as soon as I get up each day. I know that your gut bacteria can also affect your sleep and general feeling of wellbeing and I have been sleeping much better and less restlessly the last 3-4 nights. Which was just after the first few days of using the ferments and I definitely feel lighter and less sluggish too!

I’ve really enjoyed introducing these new foods into my diet over the last week and its something that I’m going to continue for sure, I would like to share with you my favourite recipe I tried which is an Easy Asian style ramen/pho bowl with white miso and turmeric kimchi.

Easy Asian-style Ramen/Pho bowl

Prep time- 5 minutes

Cook Time- 30 minutes

Serves – 2-4

Ingredients-

  • Cultured Collective White Miso and Turmeric Kimchi
  • soy sauce
  • turmeric
  • ginger
  • fish sauce
  • vegetable stock cube
  • beansprouts
  • stir fry veg
  • mushrooms
  • sweetcorn
  • spinach
  • Noodles- whatever your chosen
  • fresh chillies
  • coriander
  • spring onion
  • Egg (optional, remove if vegan)

Directions-

There’s 2 ways that you can do this recipe, in a saucepan on the hob or in a soup maker if you have one. The soup maker option is very simple and you just literally throw in all of the ingredients you want to be cooked (except the egg) and cook on chunky for about 15 minutes. So with both methods step one is to prep your ingredients so slice your onions, chillies and mushrooms and get all other ingredients portioned and to hand to chuck in the pot, this is a quick and easy recipe so I opted for many things pre prepared but do whatever suits you best ingredient wise. If you are cooking on the hob you want to get your stock going first, so start by bringing your water to heat and then add in the miso paste, soy sauce, fish sauce, turmeric and ginger and a vegetable stock cube, once you have all your ingredients simmering away it’s time to add in your ingredients, so thats your noodles of choice- I go for ‘straight to wok’ rice noodles but any noodles work well in this dish, add your veg, spring onions, sweetcorn, beansprouts, fresh chillies, mushrooms and carry on simmering on a medium heat for about 15 minutes, after around 15 minutes I like to add the greens as they take less time to cook so that’s the mangetout and the spinach (if you are cooking in the soup maker add a few minutes before the end to soften), if you’re lucky enough to be able to get  your hands on pak choi in your area this works perfectly but not always available at all stores. At the same time as cooking your stock get a small pan of boiling water on the hob ready to boil your egg, I like them soft boiled so I cooked for 6.5 minutes with a little salt and white vinegar in the water to ease shelling, after the 6.5 minutes plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and leave until cooled and ready to shell and serve. Whilst you’re waiting for your soup to cook I like to prepare my raw, fresh toppings so I thinly slice some more spring onions, some fresh coriander, red chillies and beansprouts and have my kimchi ready to add too. By this time your egg should be ready to shell, place to one side and serve your soup into a large bowl, then add your egg and your fresh toppings and you are ready to eat! This is an easily adapted recipe! I’ve tried it also with king prawns, tofu, chicken! The options are endless and you can add different spices and flavours from your favourite corners of the world which inspire you!

Thanks so much for reading! Who’s trying fermented foods? Who already eats them daily? Fancy giving The Cultured Collective ferments a go? Where to buy here!

 

H x

 

 

David Lloyd Clubs Autumn/Winter Menu

So the cold season is upon us and whilst you’re digging out your winter favourite chunky knits and an hats and scarves your local David Lloyd club has been revamping its menu ready for those cold early starts and nights when you just fancy something warm and filling and it’s coming to a club near you at DLicious this Wednesday the 3rd of October.

Alongside the standard menu which has had a more dishes to cater for vegans and veggies there is also a specific gluten free menu too which is really useful for those additional dietary requirements. Don’t worry my fellow meat eaters, the meat isn’t taking back seat, theres even new appearances to the usual chicken and beef like wild boar and venison!

The menu has added the new seasonal dishes to its existing classics and bestsellers so don’t fret if theres something you really loved it could well still be featured (I’m an omelette addict myself and happy to see its still there)

So last night I had the pleasure of attending a tasting of loads of the brand new dishes and am here to share my faves with you guys and to make you really hungry!

My absolute top choice is the sausage and mash which was 2 amazing venison sausages served with sweet potato and carrot mash and a little steamed kale and red wine gravy! Coming in at a modest 396 this healthier twist on a British classic won’t leave you feeling guilty after a workout, I’ll definitely be ordering this very soon on a cold evening!

The other winner for me was the brand new vegan breakfast, this was made up of grilled asparagus spears, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, wilted spinach with omega seeds and baked beans, a lovely vegan dish to appeal to all the senses with a host of flavours and textures.

I was well and truly spoiled with all the different dishes I got to sample and travelled across breakfast, lunch and dinner, tasting veggie, vegan, fish, meat and gluten free!

We had wild boar tortellini- very meaty and full of flavour, grilled sea bass with new potatoes and spinach- light and fresh, veggie breakfast- featuring new vegetarian sausages, 2 different types of the flatbread one veggie one meaty- lovely thin bread packed with fillings and served with a really lovely little salad, the new beetroot and goats cheese veggies burger- for the vegetarian cheat day and the new Brunch burger- egg, cheese, mushroom, bacon in a brioche bun, so naughty and delicious, this will definitely be a favourite for my fella and I’ll be nicking a bite for sure!

All in all theres some really nice new additions and plenty more than I’ve listed here (the new Goan fish curry is quite high up my list to try too!) and in true fashion for a restaurant at a gym all calories are still listed too so you know exactly what you are eating and how it fits into your diet plan!

So I hear you say…I’m not a member of David Lloyd! Well answer 1- you should consider becoming one, its a wonderful club group and welcoming to everyone, but if you don’t fancy signing up but know a member you can get them to get you a social pass to use the restaurant anytime for free so tap up your mates who are members and have some good healthy grub in a lovely, newly refurbished setting.

Thanks for reading!

H x

Homemade Turkey Burgers Recipe

 

To celebrate national burger day I decided to experiment and knock up some homemade turkey burgers! 

Serves- 4

Prep time- 10 mins 

Cooking time- 20 mins 

Nutrition – 210 Kcal per burger

24g Protein, 9g Fat, 2g Carbs

 

Ingredients-

500G turkey mince 

Onion

Garlic (I didn’t add as my partners allergic but let’s face face it it makes everything taste good)

Fresh chillies

1 egg

Cumin 

Paprika 

Oregano

Turmeric 

Salt

Pepper

 

 

 

Directions- Finely chop your onion and chillies and put into a mixing bowl with your mince. Season the with the desired flavouring and whisk up an egg and add to the mix.

Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty because you’ll need to get your hands in their to mix it all together. Once all of your ingredients are mixed then shape into burgers patties (or use a burger mould press if have one) then put into the fridge to set together until you’re ready to cook. 

 

To cook I cooked my burgers for 12 minutes on 180 degrees to get them cooked through and finished them off on a griddle this prevented drying out or cooking the outside too much, you can pan fry all the way but I find this works better. No oil or butter required! 

Then serve as you like! For Jamie I added cheese and bacon and served with the usual garnish in a brioche bun with fries, I served mine bunless on a bed of baby gem with a thin slice of cheese and bacon and served with roasted vegetable “chips” I.e courgette, aubergine and mushrooms in bite size chunks to fill the chip void! 

 

 

 

Bon appetite! 

Bimuno Review

I applied for a blogger assignment to test out and give an honest review of Bimuno Daily, IBAID and Travel-aid. After reading numerous studies and articles and seeing the outcome of test results proving that in many cases healthy gut bacteria can be linked to weight and weight loss specifically in how your body can burn fat and its ability to I was very keen to try it! Gut bacteria has many more benefits than just what I have already mentioned, its also linked to a general sense of well being, can reduce anxiety, improve poor sleep patterns too not to mention relieving many symptoms of IBS and digestive discomfort such as bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.

I was sent 3 different products!

First up- Bimuno Daily- Bimuno daily is a sachet which is something that I believe all people could happily fit in to their routine and benefit from. I have many IBS symptoms, regular discomfort after eating certain foods, irregular bowel movement (apologies if TMI) and frequent bloating. I was sent 1 months supply off Bimuno and in this time of taking as religiously as I could (I did miss a few days where I forgot etc) I really noticed a difference in the regularity of my digestive system. In addition to this I have been on a weight loss journey for 4 years now and had recently stagnated my loss. Since starting these my metabolic age significantly dropped (from 39 to 26 FINALLY lower than my actual age) and in addition to my regular calorie controlled diet and regular work outs I shifted the most stubborn half a stone of weight that I had been really holding on to and reached my goal weight. The amount of comments I received about how different my shape looked was unbelievable too considering the lack there of for the first 4 stone it was crazy how many people started commenting. Unfortunately I have no real way of proving that it is solely down to this supplement but it really was the only change that I made to my routine which is and has been quite regimented for some time. I’m 100% going to reorder the daily sachet. Whether it has been responsible or not for the new ease in shifting weight it undoubtedly helped my digestive system which has been a thorn in my side for years. I used it in loads of different ways, by adding it to my overnight oats, by mixing it into my protein shakes, just adding it to water! The only advice they said is to aim to take it around a similar time each day- I opted for morning. Also just a little note these are vegetarian and gluten free however the contain lactose so are not vegan.

 

IBaid- IBaid is a pastille chewy type sweet which specifically target those with more IBS related symptoms and diagnosed IBS. They are easy to administer into your routine being a tasty chew but unfortunately I didn’t notice a huge difference and I was already experiencing the amazing benefits to the daily sachet! My dad suffers really bad from IBS so I’m going to pass them onto him and see how he gets on!

 

Travelaid- Travelaid is also a pastille which is designed to help keep your digestion comfortable when traveling abroad when different ingredients and water PH etc can seriously mess with people. You can start taking 7 days prior to travel or when away if necessary. I have just returned from Turkey and did the 7 days before and carried on with my sachets when I was there. Zero issues to report in the toilet department so this one gets a thumbs up from me and is one to consider if your tummy is sensitive to foreign introductions to the diet.

 

To conclude, Bimuno is a great brand of supplements carefully thought out and although its great the have the IBaid and Travelaid pastilles the daily powder sachet is such a fabulous product that it should cover such a cross section of issues anyone can benefit from it! Find out more on the brand or order yours HERE

 

Has anyone else tried these and got any thoughts?

 

Thanks for reading,

 

H x