No Bake Energy Balls ~Secret Recipe Club Challenge 18th January 2016

This is my assignment with the Secret Recipe Club.The aim of the club is that you are allocated a blog from which you have to select a recipe and try it and blog about it. For the month of January my assigned blog is Happy Go Lucky The blog is written by Kara, not only does the blog have lots of recipes  but it also has lots of DIY ideas that are fun to create. I really enjoyed browsing through her blog and wanted to try out all the arts and craft posts but since the secret recipe club is about food I have book marked and will try out the craft ideas at leisure.
Having over indulged over the festive period it is time to get back into shape for the new year.This means eating healthy regular meals. Kara's No bake energy balls were the perfect  for on the go breakfast idea. I recreated them using similar ingredients that I could get in the UK.

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No Bake Energy Balls

by Nayna Kanabar January-18-2016

Delicious cereal and nut balls that are perfect for snacking.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Dried strawberries chopped
• 1/2 cup Dried Papaya chopped
• 1 cup Quick organic Oats
• 1 cup Maple and Pecan crisp (Cereal clusters made with oats, crisped rice & maple flavoured syrup, garnished with chopped pecans and almonds)
• 1/3 cup Honey
• 1/2 cup Almond Butter

Method:

1. Add the honey and almond butter in a large glass bowl and microwave on medium for 30 seconds.2. Add the oats, dried fruits and the maple and pecan crisp into the melted honey and butter and mix together till it all sticks together.3. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and keep aside.4. Pinch walnut sized balls of the mixture and form round balls. Place them on baking tray and make all the balls.Store in an air tight container.

Details

Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 1 mins Total time: 16 mins Yield: 18 Balls

An InLinkz Link-up

Swede Soup ~5-2 diet

The weather has taken a turn and it's really wet and cold.On nights like this I love to enjoy a heart warming bowl of soup. This soup is simple to make very very economic, vegan, low in calories but absolutely delicious.

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Swede Soup

by Nayna Kanabar January-12-2016

Creamy and delicious swede soup.

Ingredients:

• 1 Medium Swede peeled and diced
• 1 Medium Potato peeled and diced
• 2 Spring Onion finely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon Salt
• 1/2 teaspoon White Pepper
• 1/3 teaspoon Ground Cumin
• 250ml Water

Method:

1. Add the diced swede and potatoes into the ThermoCook and add 250ml water. (Alternatively you can cook the soup in a pan on stove top)2. Set the thermocook on smooth soup setting and cook on auto.3. Once soup is cooked stir in the salt, pepper and ground cumin and adjust seasoning to required taste.4. Transfer the soup to serving bowls and garnish with finely chopped spring onion.

Details

Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 20 mins Yield: 2 servings

Suitable for 5-2 diet

Calories per serving	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
92	18	1	3	589	7

I cooked my soup in the ThermoCook which I have been trialling. I love the versatility of the ThermoCook.

What is the ThermoCook?

ThermoCook is a multi-function cooking appliance that has loads of functions. It consists of a large 2 litre stainless steel power blender that blends as well as cooks and steams.  It has over 20 functions that include stirring, steaming, kneading, cooking, blending chopping, whipping, mixing, emulsifying and milling.

The Optimum ThermoCook includes auto-programs that are pre-set to make Smoothie, Quick Soup, Thick Soup, Chop, Sauté, Stir, Steam, Stew, Warm, Reheat, Boil, Yoghurt, Rice, Porridge, Kneading. You can also use the ThermoCook to create your own recipe and save the programme to come back to it again and again.

If you like the sound of the ThermoCook this is what it comes with:

• 30 Day Money Back Guarantee – Includes Return Postage

• 2.0 Litre detachable stainless steel jar for blending and cooking 

• Butterfly and kneading blade 

• Stainless steel blade assembly 

• Large 70x50mm LCD screen 

• Separate Precise Glass Scale 

• Soft silicon rubber spatula 

• Simple pre-set auto programs and unique DIY program 

• Adjustable timer and temperature gauge 

• Dishwasher proof (non-electrical parts only) 

• Comprehensive recipe book 

Currently the ThermoCook is on special offer at £495.00, it may sound steep for a gadget but trust me it really does do everything it states and much more. You can actually prepare your whole meal using this one gadget.Think of all the washing up you will save.

If you want to take advantage of this awesome gadget you can check it out here.