New Thinking on Food

Deliciously Dairy Free

2015-10-29T20:02:00.000+00:00

Almond Tartlets with Lemon Cream & Summer Fruits

Whilst more and more restaurants and cafes are catering for special diets, eating out can still be a "hit and miss" affair when you don't eat meat, eggs or dairy. So it's a real treat when the majority of dishes on the menu are plant based and there's even a choice of dishes to deliberate over!

This year Eric and I came across three such places on our travels and I can recommend them all.

The Green Rocket Cafe, Bath

Bon Lloc, Palma, Mallorca

Wildebeest, Falmouth, Cornwall

For me, it's a luxury to be served exciting, appetising dishes created by talented chefs and to enjoy them safe in the knowledge that they are totally animal free. There's no doubt that being vegan and eating a plant based diet is becoming trendier each year. When you see queues of people waiting for a table, you know the menu and more importantly the food is going to be good.

These vegan restaurants can be a huge inspiration to us home cooks and offer proof that it's possible to eat well whatever diet you choose to eat. The days of being offered a very basic fruit salad for dessert are hopefully long gone!

Making your own dairy free dishes at home is hugely satisfying and simple too! We made the Almond Tartlets pictured above on my last cookery course in August.

Health on a Plate August 2015

DELICIOUSLY DAIRY FREE

My next course at Bodnant Cookery School is in just a few weeks so I have been preparing some equally fabulous recipes! If you think eating dairy free and egg free means missing out on luscious, creamy desserts and deliciously light cakes and pastries, this course will hopefully convince you otherwise and show that you can have your cake and eat it .... and look after your health too!

"Deliciously Dairy Free" is on Saturday, 21 November 2015. The day starts at 10.45am with a welcome drink and ends at 4pm when you will pack up and take home all your dishes! It costs £95 and includes all your ingredients and lunch.

You can find all the details on the Bodnant website here.

More photos from my last course ....

See you at Bodnant on the 21st!

Health on a Plate 2015

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If you could eat the healthiest meal, what would it be? A bowl of green gazpacho, a freshly made salad with organic leaves picked from your garden, a fat-free Portobello mushroom burger, a fruit filled sugar-free dessert? I'm sure each one of us would come up with a different dish - and why not? The options are endless and eating well has never been easier or more exciting!

I'm particularly thrilled to see so many young people these days getting interested in naturally healthy foods. With so many bright, talented food writers and bloggers spreading the word and offering inspiration and encouragement, there has never been a better time to eat healthily. At last, taking care of our bodies is trendy! Gone are the days when we were considered cranky odd bods who ate nut roasts and lived on salad leaves!

With more and more people diagnosed with food intolerances and allergies too, interest in foods free from dairy, gluten and sugar is at an all time high. The good news is that whatever your reason for trying these foods, your body is likely to benefit in all sorts of ways. You may feel lighter or have more energy, your digestion may improve, you may even sleep better or feel more relaxed but I can guarantee you will feel better!

On all the courses I have taught at Bodnant, it's sitting around the big wooden table together for lunch that has been a real highlight for me. It's here that people relax after a busy morning in the kitchen and discover shared interests, new tastes and different flavours. Eating a meal of purely plant-based foods for the first time can be a revelation. People are often surprised how filling the dishes are and how deeply satisfying it is to make your own food from scratch, using simple fresh ingredients.

Once again this year, I'll be running a one-day course at Bodnant Cookery School called "Health on a Plate." With a set of brand new recipes I've developed specially for this year's course, it will be a full day focusing on the best of healthy eating. As always, the day will be practical and very hands-on. You will be cooking and preparing food all day and receive lots of help and advice, plus you will have some wonderful food to take home too!

The course is on Sunday, 16th August from 11am to 4pm. I do hope you'll be able to come and you will find all the details on the Bodnant website.

Here are some more of the photos from my last course in April.

Inspiration to Eat Well ..... permanently!

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I love eating good food especially when it's as tempting as these little dairy free cheesecakes! Yes they taste just as good as they look and the good news is they are completely free from gluten and refined sugar too.

I've put together the recipe for my next course at Bodnant and I know we'll have lots of fun making them on the day. I've even got some individual containers ready so everyone can take theirs home to share with family and friends!

Delicious, Fresh, Simple

"Lighten Up for Summer" is on Sunday 26th April from 10.30am to 4pm and will be an inspiring day for anyone wishing to eat well ... permanently! If you've ever wished you could put an end to cravings for unhealthy foods and would love to start making your own fabulously tasty meals from scratch, this is for you!

Orzo Pasta with Slow-Roasted Vine Tomatoes,
Spinach and Basil

Mallorcan Tumbet

Eating well has everything to do with good ingredients and, for the course, there will be a colourful range of fresh produce waiting for us to transform into deliciously light and healthy dishes including my low fat, high flavour version of the classic Mallorcan dish, Tumbet.

Courgette & Fennel Salad

We'll also be making a Mediterranean inspired pasta dish that can be eaten hot or cold and a wonderfully fresh tasting Courgette and Fennel Salad with an amazing creamy dressing! All your ingredients and lunch are included so all you have to do is arrive .... hungry!

If you would like to join us at Bodnant Cookery School on Sunday 26th April, there are still a few places left. Contact Bodnant on 01492 651100 or visit the website by clicking here.