Banana Smoothies!

 

 Fruit Smoothies are great for the early morning risers, they can be an easy way to nourish your body with essential nutrients. The best way to know the exact ingredients in your smoothie is to make them yourself. 

All you need is a blender, fruit and a base, such as water, milk or yogurt.I made mine with the following ingredients:

1. Banana Blend 2 bananas, 1/2 cup each vanilla yogurt and milk, 2 teaspoons honey, a pinch of cinnamon and 1 cup ice.

A yummy treat for all the morning commuters!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Harissa spiced chicken/ mint and vanilla mousse

Happy Monday! I am really surprised as to how quick the year is going, it's February already! I know, tell me about it!

Feast your eyes on the picture above, my healthy eating is going down a treat today. A mix of salad with Harrisa spiced chicken. The meat was dry, perfect for how I like it, especially with salad, the spice was just about right. Salad dressings are great, I love adding the "Quick Ranch dressing", you can too:


2 tablespoons well-shaken cultured buttermilk

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar, optional

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional 

1 to 3 teaspoons finely chopped fresh chives, mint, and/or Italian parsley, optional.

Whisk together the buttermilk and mayonnaise. Taste and season with salt and pepper. If desired, whisk in rice vinegar, garlic powder, and herbs.

Today I finished lunch with a cup of mint and vanilla mousse, I had a crunchy apple too. It was divine to say the least.

Happy Mondays,

FOODLOVEGRUB

Persian Palace- Ealing

I have visited this restaurant a few times, it is based in Ealing, London. The popularity of this restaurant, brimming with the Middle Eastern locals is a good pointer to the quality of the Iranian cuisine at Persian Palace.

The ambiance is very authentic, not too posh, not too tacky, or kitsch, yet stylish enough with attention to detail.

 

I love the saffron  rice served at this restaurant, it simply is amazing! I ordered a mix of lamb and chicken to go along with the rice and salad. The portions are huge, so make sure you go on an empty stomach. 

I found the service to be really friendly, the staff were very attentive and happy to serve. The bill came in a cute little box, I found it really pretty- hence why I took a picture! You can't take me anywhere!

Foodie Friday!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Pizza Thursday!

Lunch was great, spent time scoffing this amazing delight! Veggie homemade pizza, filled with red peppers,fresh tomato's and loads of cheese.

Perfect for a Thursday, and don't forget to make garlic bread!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Sun dried Tomato Risotto

Lunching's today was, Risotto. I have never been a fan of Risotto to be honest but today's cooking won me over!

Here's the ingredients and I am sure you can put it all together:

• 4 tbsps butter
• 2 tbsps olive oil
• 1/2 whole yellow onion (diced)
• 3 cloves garlic cloves (minced)
• 2 cups arborio rice (uncooked)
• 8 whole tomatoes (sun-dried, packed in oil drained and minced)
• 1 cup dry white wine (optional)
• 7 cups low sodium chicken broth
• salt (needed)
• black pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan
• 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
• chiffonade (fresh basil, optional) 

FOODLOVEGRUB                            

Green Lentil with sweet potato curry

My food plate so far! Green lentil and sweet potato curry. It had a hint of spice, and the lentil with sweet potato combination was really good.

If you want to make it for your dinner, here's the ingredients:

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 finely chopped onion
• 2 tbsps curry powder
• 1 lb sweet potatoes (peeled and cut into 1 inch chunks)
• 1 head cauliflower (2 12 pounds stemmed and separated into florets)
• 1 cup Green lentils (picked over well rinsed and drained)
• 141/2 ozs diced tomatoes (with juice)
• coarse salt
• plain low-fat yogurt (serving optional)

Happy eating,

FOODLOVEGRUB

Beef burger and much more...

 

I hope you are having a fab Monday, the weekend went too quick as always. Not to worry, there is always lunch to make it better! 

I had a plate of- beef burger (without the buns), chips, corn on the cob and saladings!

I will be at the gym tonight, squating and running off those pounds, wish me luck!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Sky Lounge-London

A great place to go, before heading off to a restaurant, or painting the town red! I came here with a few friends before going out to a restaurant. 

The food selection is limited and overpriced, this is down to it being a bar, so there are many beverages avaible to choose from. Situated high up, you will be able to overlook the glittering lights of the town.

The Mocktail menu is non existent, however you can let the waiter know what fruit mixes you would like. I stuck to orange juice, very boring- I know! There is a whole ray of cocktail options available, a great place to mingle with friends or work colleagues. 

The atmosphere and vibe is really good too, flooding with young people whom are dressed to the nines- this really does add to the whole experience.

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.”
—Leonardo da Vinci

FOODLOVEGRUB

Jerk Chicken and Sweet potato!

The NTA awards were on last night, did you get to watch it? You had a load of celebs looking gorgeous and elegant. Then there was Kelley Brook, I'm all for stylish outfits, but she had everything hanging, cleavage on show- the lot. I wonder if she was aware of her delectable attire, if she was, it surely was bordering desperate.

With that rant over, now on to food glorious food! Today at lunch they had a selection, I chose the Jamaican sweet potato curry and Jerk chicken. I stayed away from the rice option, but went for salad instead.

I loved the tender chicken that was made in the work restaurant, combined with the sweet potato which had a kick of chilli- Sweet with chilli mixed, is such a nice combination.

FOODLOVEGRUB

A plate full of.....

The naughty plate is back! Full of carbs, but there is salad floating around. Today the selection available at work was, vegetable broth, pulled pork and an assortment of sandwiches.

Naturally I went for the most fattening, I mean why wouldn't I? Not the best decision but its winter after all. A plate full of chips, nan bread, vegetable curry mix with salad bathed on top. The vegetable curry mix was rather delicious, a mixture of egg plant, courgettes, onions and carrots.I am sure there are many ingredients available on how to make it.

Right, I'm off to a meeting, have a great hump day!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Creamed Butternut Squash

It’s a right terrible Tuesday, the fog took over London this morning, and my car lights were not bright enough to handle such weather. M.O.T is needed!

My work restaurant put arrest all the climate glitches for that one hour, when I was served with a bowl of warm soup. Creamed butternut soup- to be precise.

This is my favourite for sure, it is mild tasting, but with the creamy texture it oozes sweet lovingness on the tongue. 

It is a true winning formula with homemade bread. Here is a recipe on how to make this bowl of magic:

2 pounds butternut squash, halved, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 1/2 cups diced onion
2 carrots, peeled and diced
3 (13 3/4-ounce) cans chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup light cream or heavy cream
Sour cream, for garnish

In a medium saucepan, combine squash, onion, carrots, broth and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream, if desired.

Have a soup-tastic Tuesday,

FOODLOVEGRUB

Courgette and Mint soup with homemade bread

 It’s not a bowl of monster goo, I promise you! The chef, decided to make this concoction of winter warming's! Some times less is more, having a plate full of carbs can leave you feel really bloated and heavy. Having chosen soup for lunch, was most definitely a good decision.

The flavour was overpowered by the lingering and potent waves of mint, the courgettes were merely a background taste. There were points where I felt like I had toothpaste on my tongue, oh so fresh. Not sure if it should have tasted like that.

It was an invigorating combination to say the least, and if you get a chance to make this, I’m sure there are recipe’s available for this soup.

Oh, and just to mention, the bread! I love the homemade bread that is served at work, it was soft and thick. Full of wholesome goodness!

Bready Bye Bye's!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Creams dessert parlour- Slough

Its winter, everyone is hibernating and not really enjoying the cold breeze. Well, ice cream can be eaten in all seasons, cream cream cream!

I come here every so often to get my ice cream fix, in good old sunny Slough! Creams has a good selection to choose from. 

My choice was chocolate and strawberry crepe with ice cream! The swivvels of laced chocolate syrup was simply not enough! It was devoured as soon as it was placed on my table, nom, nom!

Each and everytime I have come here, they have without fail given me the wrong order. The service previously was diabolical, but for once everything went smoothly.

Winter treatings!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Prawn Salading!!

My lunch today, I had a late one as I didn't wake up till late in the morning. The news about the little man Mikaeel from Scotland did not allow me to fall asleep till early hours of the morning, R.I.P.

It is a grey gloomy day today in London, so I thought I would brighten my afternoon up with a colourful salad. I put in green and yellow peppers, red onions, prawns, loads of sweet corn!

Ciao for now!

FOODLOVEGRUB

Mint Leaf, Restaurant and bar- London

Mint Leaf, situated in London, offers a unique cuisine based on contemporary Indian foods. With a theatrical open grill kitchen on the side of the restaurant and beguiling interiors, Mint leaf is a hot choice for Indian fine dining, for sure.

On a Saturday night, the restaurant was heaving with hungry customers. I found the setting to be beautifully laid out, long polished tables, iridescent lighting along with the style and quality of the furnishing finishes. From the dark wall paper to the exceptional intricate designs, had certainly complemented the trendy and chic restaurant.

The place has a very intimate vibe, especially with the wooden walls separating each section. I certainly enjoyed dining here with friends, the yummy food we ordered was, chicken jalfrezi , chicken tikkas, chicken wings, garlic nan bread, the list goes on! Oh, and the fabulous drinks too, as you can see from the pics! Mocktails all the way!

 

Do not expect big portions, you will be sadly disappointed! Tiny poppadom’s, a small amount of chicken tikkas- It is fine dining afterall.

The only issue we had, was with the service at the beginning, drinks did not arrive until 30 minutes after ordering them. This was due to miscommunications between the waiters.Oh, the drama!

 

 Foodie Friday!!

FOODLOVEGRUB