Red as a Beetroot

Beetroot is the tap root part of the beet plant and the beet leaves can be eaten in salad or cooked Iike spinach.  Both parts are healthy; a source of iron, folate, magnesium, vitamin C, potassium, manganese and fibre.

It can be used in many ways; pickled, roasted, grilled, blended into soup or juice, made into a dip, used in risotto or grated in a salad. Beetroot can even be used to make a red velvet cake (with the addition of chocolate).

M&S sell beetroot wraps.

        

I enjoyed an Arcobaleno (meaning rainbow in Italian) pizza topped with tomato, spinach, avocado, chilli threads, purple basil and pink beetroot "beet balls" at Zizzis. 

I won't beet about the bush ... It was delicious!

Given the runaround

Today the London Marathon saw Mo Farrah come 3rd and smash the British marathon record. This has been overshadowed by Watergate; Mo couldn't find his own water bottle, picked up the wrong one and had to run back to the station to find his own. Why he needed his own bottle I'm not sure. Presumably they all have special, individual additives whereas the main throng of runners have, well, just water. 

As the runners were pounding the pavements in London, I was running 5k around my home village. I drank water before and after the run but the real reward was this delicious brunch.

Avocado with lime juice and chilli flakes on oats and ancient grains toast topped with a poached egg

Greek yogurt with muesli, banana, raspberries and chia seeds

Earl Grey tea

A nice meal at the end of a run is a great motivator. Like the donkey and the carrot. Like Mo and Quorn!

V"egg"ing out

Huevos rancheros (Spanish eggs) make the perfect brunch or supper served with toasted sourdough for dipping or soaking up. I tried making my own fairly recently 'tho' I can't remember whose recipe I followed. There was the fruitiness of tomatoes, a warmth from the onions and peppers, a spicy hit from the paprika and then the creamy soft egg with runny yolk. 

This week I went to Alexander's in Skipton, Yorkshire, and ordered the middle-eastern version Shakshuka. Presentation-wise it was so much better than mine although the toast was burnt and had to be redone.

This had a lot of onions and peppers with the tomatoes and was spicier than my home made version.

Either dish can be tweaked to suit. Cooked aubergine would work with the tomato mix as would a sprinkle of feta cheese on top. Eggs may even be scrambled. Finish off with either a sprinkle of salt and pepper, paprika, chilli flakes or herbs such as parsley or coriander.

Currying favour

Another weekend, another dinner party. A casual Friday night dinner with the neighbours called for curry. I decided to cook chicken, fish and veggie curries and actually used the same recipe for each; an abundance of tikka masala.

Chilli, ginger and onions were finely chopped and cooked

Tikka masala paste was added followed by the par-cooked veggies (cauliflower, potatoes, carrots)

Tinned tomatoes and coconut milk were poured in

(Normally I would add chickpeas but on this occasion frozen garden peas worked just as well)

Cook on the hob for 20-30 minutes

Wilt spinach and inner cauliflower leaves

Serve with basmati rice and naan breads and garnish with coriander, lime wedges, natural yogurt.

The left overs were even tastier the following day. You could say I was currying flavour.  

Easter Eggcess

I have to confess ...

I have turned to eating meat!

Haha only joking - it is April Fools' Day after all!

It's also Easter Sunday. A lovely long weekend spent with friends and family eating yummy food and lots of chocolate Easter Eggs. Less stressful than Christmas and with the promise of Spring and Summer ahead. Fab.

Whilst I am an absolute chocoholic and have eaten my fair share of Easter Eggs today, I also enjoyed an eggy breakfast of avocado and poached eggs on toast with a sprinkle of chilli flakes and salt and pepper seasoning. 

Think I'd better do some eggsercise tomorrow. A friend has just sent these alarming statistics ...

Yokes! Sorry, Yikes!