Yes, another chicken recipe! You really can't have too many can you!? For me chicken has so many plus points. Its versatility, as well as the ease and speed with which it can be cooked, make it one of the most popular meats around. It's certainly popular in our house! Plus of course it has a high level of good quality protein, as well as B vitamins, iron, copper and selenium... and it's usually reasonably priced too, which is always welcome! This creamy chicken and mushroom dinner is really satisfying but low in calories. Have a look and see what you think. For readers who prefer a veget ..read more

Eddie   ..read more

If you are a May baby your birth flowers are Lily-of-the-valley and Hawthorn. This post is about the Hawthorn, but if you haven't already seen my earlier post about Lily-of-the-Valley, you can read it here Hawthorn is a flowering shrub in the rose family with flowers that bloom in May in small white, red, or pink clusters. Small berries, called haws, sprout after the flowers. The fruit is an important winter food source for birds, and the thorny hawthorns also provide protective nesting areas safe from predators. The hawthorn is a longstanding symbol of hope. Hawthorn are found in Euro ..read more

Make these nifty wraps with avocado mayo as a great low-carb, high-protein lunch. They're packed with omega-3-rich tuna while also being low in salt. Ingredients Serves Two 2 drops oil, for brushing 2 x 140g fresh tuna fillets, defrosted (although you can use canned tuna) 1 ripe avocado ½ tsp English mustard powder 1 tsp cider vinegar 1 tbsp capers 8 romaine lettuce leaves 16 cherry tomatoes, preferably on the vine, halved Instructions 1. Brush the tuna with a little oil. Heat a non-stick pan, add the tuna and cook for 1 min each side, or a min or so longer for a thicker fillet. Transf ..read more

Today I'm sharing an article by Jo Williams a Registered nutritionist, she writes :- What to eat for high blood pressure (hypertension) People with high blood pressure have an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure means your heart has to work harder to pump the blood around your body. A reading of 140/90mmHg (140 systolic and 90 diastolic) is considered to be hypertension. Ideally, aim for a blood pressure reading below 120/80mmHg. However, everyone's blood pressure will be slightly different. What's considered low or high for you may be normal for s ..read more

We do enjoy red peppers in our house, and this mix of red pepper and tomatoes really brings out the taste of the cod... Ingredients Serves Six 600g cod (consider using haddock or pollock if preferred) 6 red peppers 1 small red chilli pepper (optional) 3 tomatoes 1 small bunch of basil 2 cloves of garlic 100ml olive oil 80g grated parmesan Method 1. Cut the tops off the peppers, and carefully remove the core and seeds. Reserve the tops and hulls of the peppers. 2. Wash the tomatoes and remove the stalks. Plunge them into boiling water for a few minutes until the skin starts to detach. Re ..read more

Here we have a vegetarian breakfast, lunch or snack that’s really quick, easy and packed with protein. Ingredients Serves Four 8 (free-range) eggs 2 red peppers, deseeded and finely sliced 80g/3oz chestnut mushrooms, halved and thinly sliced 40g/1½oz spinach, roughly chopped 50g/1¾oz mature cheddar cheese, grated ½ tsp sea salt freshly ground black pepper Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4. 2. Lightly grease a 35cm/14 in x 25cm/10in 2cm/¾in deep roasting tin and line with baking paper. 3. Crack the eggs into a large bowl, add the salt and pepper and whisk we ..read more

If you are a May baby your birth flowers are Lily-of-the-valley and Hawthorn. This post is about Lily-of-the-valley. With its small, dainty, bell-shaped white flowers, it is a perennial groundcover that spreads aggressively given the right conditions. These flowers represent sweetness and purity. It is also known as Our Lady’s Tears, May lily, and May bells. It is native to Eurasia, but has become naturalized in North America, having been planted in home gardens for its simple foliage and lovely flowers. It produces pendulous, bell-shaped white flowers with a strong, sweet smell. It can ..read more

A roast dinner with hardly any washing up, what could be better. This dish features chicken, a firm family favourite, and which even in these days of rising costs is still reasonably priced. Read on for more details ... Ingredients Serves four 1.5-1.8kg/3lb 5oz - 4lb chicken (free-range or organic, if possible) olive oil, for roasting ½ swede (rutabaga), peeled and chopped 3 carrots, cut into chunks 2 onions, chopped 100g/3½oz pearl barley 2 chicken stock cubes 500ml/18fl oz hot water 2 garlic cloves, flattened 1 tsp dried thyme 1 head spring greens, shredded salt and freshly ground black ..read more

In a world which at times seems to be moving ever faster, and many are constantly running to keep up with it, should we perhaps just say 'stop' and take time to chill out, relax, de-stress? I saw this article by Alison Paton, she raised some interesting points. See what you think. "Go for a short walk: We often associate walking with stress, trying to get to work or to the next meeting. We are physically moving forward but our minds are elsewhere; our to do list, the disagreement you had yesterday or what you are having for lunch. Mindful walking teaches you to be in the hear and now. Noti ..read more