Healthy toast toppers 1

I've decided to do a series of healthy toast toppers. It's so easy just to reach for the butter, marmite or jam but there are so many amazing foods you can have on top of toast which will transform a slice of toast and make it more into a meal. There are loads of fruit/veggies that go great on top of toast, so I am going to do a few posts with a few ideas in each for some healthy breakfast or lunch ideas!
All recipes below serve 1.

 Avocado and salmon

Ingredients

1 ripe avocado

2 slices of smoked salmon

1 lemon

Salt

Pepper

Fresh coriander

Your favourite bread

Using the back of a fork, mash your avocado up. Squeeze in the juice of 1/2 to 1 lemon depending on preference, add in some salt (ideally pink himalyan salt or a good quality rock salt) and pepper. Finely chop your fresh coriander (or an alternative herb if you wish) and add this in too. Re-mash the avocado to make sure all the new additions are combined.

Spread your avocado mix over your toast and finish with a 1-2 slices of smoked salmon.

Almond butter and banana

Ingredients

1 banana

Almond butter (or any nut butter)
Optional: Cinnamon

Your favourite bread

This one is pretty self explanatory. Chop your banana into discs. Spread your nut butter over your bread and top with your banana! For a little extra flavour, sprinkle with cinnamon.

Tomatoes, garlic and chilli

Ingredients

Olive oil

Approx 15 plum tomatoes

1-2 red chillies
1-2 cloves of garlic
Fresh basil

Your favourite bread

I like to buy mixed colour tomatoes for this one but it's completely not necessary. Use as much or little of both garlic and chilli as you wish, or of course they can be omitted.

Chop up your tomatoes into different sizes, some havles and some quarters. Finely chop your garlic, chilli and basil.

Add a tablespoon of olive oil into your saucepan on a medium heat and add your tomatoes. After 5 minutes, your tomatoes should start going squishy. Add in the garlic, chilli and basil and cook for a further 2-5 minutes.

Look out for the next healthy toast toppers post (that's a bit of a mouthful to say!) and meanwhile, I hope you enjoy experimenting with what you put on top of your morning slice of toast!

Superfoods: Hemp seeds / Seed crackers

Today I wanted to post another superfood post and I chose to write about hemp seeds. The recipe I will be sharing with you in which I use hemp seeds is one of my favourite things to make. I make a batch of this once a week as I'm addicted to it. It's such a great snack to have a stash of available and will stop you reaching out for biscuits and chocolate! 

Homemade filled chocolates

Now no matter how healthy you may be, you cannot deny that we all get chocolate cravings from time to time. And here is your solution - home made healthy chocolate. Two of the ingredients are superfoods - cacao butter (contains no sugar or dairy) and cacao powder. I have written a post all about cacao previously, so if you want to find out more be sure to check that out. 

Pesto, broccoli and quinoa salad

This salad is heavenly! There are so many flavours in there and it's a great way of using pesto opposed to the usual pesto and pasta combination! The pesto from this recipe could be combined with an abundance of other foods though so definitely try come up with some other inventive pesto recipes! One thing I love about this salad is the combination of hot and cold. The entire dish could be eaten cold if you prefer, or if you have leftovers. 

Shop bought pestos are not very healthy as they are absolutely packed with oil. This pesto recipe only uses 1 tbsp oil for 2 people and absolutely does not compromise on taste. It really is a much healthier option.

Healthy Easter Nests!

 These little Easter nests are a healthy alternative to the usual chocolate coated rice crispies/cornflakes nests that most people are familiar with. They even contain two superfoods: cacao powder and chia seeds! Granted they require a few more ingredients, but if you're into healthy eating then you will probably have the majority of these already in your cupboards! There is no shop bought chocolate in the nest recipe (just cacao powder) and you would not be able to tell. They truly are delicious and you do not have to feel any guilt in munching down on these. The mini eggs are the only naughty part, however if you really do not want to have them there are lots of healthy alternatives which I mention later. And how could I not mention how cute these look too!

Jaffa cakes

If you are a fan of jaffa cakes, you have to make these. They are spot on and yes, definitely better - but what isn't better home made? I have added a slight twist to the standard jaffa cake and came up with lemon jaffa cakes! But don't worry, if lemon doesn't appeal, I have also included the usual orange version!

Lemon and poppy seed loaf

Lemon always make me think of summer. I guess it is the citrus taste and lovely yellow making me dream of beautiful sunny days. This loaf is so light and fluffy with the lovely citric flavour coming through whilst not being too sharp, and the poppy seeds adding a slight crunch. I know this is a popular flavour of cake to make, and I can see why. These two ingredients really do work well together and compliment each other perfectly. And what's better is that it's a super easy recipe too.