So if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter (if not, follow me here on Twitter and Instagram) you'll have noticed I've been really into fitness and health recently, and also in last week's blog post I talked about what I've been doing to stay fit/train - if you haven't had the chance to read that post, read it here!

The other day I was really hungry for something that was tasty but also healthy and I did some research and eventually I decided to make these - Banana and Oat Protein Pancakes. Now I'm sure there are loads of different or maybe the same recipes all over the Internet, but I thought I'd share with you what I did to make mine.

Equipment:
Blender
Frying Pan
Spatula

Ingredients:
Pancakes:
1 OR 2 bananas- you be the judge
Oats- I like to just guess, because life is too short to be perfect #preach
1 egg
Half a teaspoon of baking powder
Cinnamon - as much as you like, although you don't want to go overboard!
Toppings:
Strawberries
Honey
Chocolate Sauce

Step 1.) Blend the banana, oats, baking powder, egg and cinnamon together in a blender until it's a creamy consistency.

Step 2.) Heat up your frying pan and put some oil in it.

Step 3.) Spoon out some of the pancake mix and put it in the frying pan in circular shapes (well, you know what pancakes look like). The mix I made this morning was enough for 4 little pancakes, the perfect amount and they all fitted in the frying pan at once.

Step 4.) Flip them when they have started to go golden brown on one side. Keep doing this step until both sides look nice and golden!

Step 5.) Pile up the pancakes on a plate.

Step 6.) Drizzle some honey in between the layers of pancakes or just over the top if you like.

Step 7.) Cut up some strawberries and place them around the outside of the pancakes or on top!

Step 8.) Drizzle some chocolate sauce on for a bit of naughtiness.

Step 9.) Make yourself a beverage, maybe a cup of tea because every day should start with a brew.

Step 10.) Eat the pancakes and feel amazing!

So I hope you find this recipe useful. It's super easy and actually rather healthy because it contains lots of fruit! It's a much healthier alternative to normal pancakes and yet it tastes amazing. It's a fabulous breakfast to have before a big day or a big workout! So try it out and let me know how it goes!

Speak soon

So I promised you all I would write lots of blog posts over Easter break and have I done that? Have I ever... I'm so sorry, this has possibly been the busiest holiday I have ever had, and all for good reasons.

Let me update you.

I've been super motivated to get fit over the past couple of weeks and, I know, how many times do I say that, right? But this time feels more serious, I've gone jogging every morning giving myself the odd rest day where I don't run but I still walk Marvel at least twice a day, so not completely a rest day. I've also been on two bike rides of 14 miles each. I'm actually considering getting a bike as it is a fantastic way to stay healthy and enjoy the beautiful earth whilst doing so. These times I cycled around Pitsford Reservoir. In terms of jogging I usually stay local. I have also enjoyed a beautiful walk around Bradgate Park, the views were fantastic and they have gorgeous deer there.

I've been out and abouts with friends a lot too these hols, including a pizza, beer and movie night and a Mexican themed Come Dine With Me evening. It's honestly been so lovely and almost overwhelming to have so many nice things to do. I've also, of course, had lots of lovely family time, including a couple of Chinese takeaways (our favourite), a trip to Bella Italia and a lovely afternoon and lunch with my mum and Auntie to Heart Of The Shires - a lovely shopping village.

Whilst doing all of that stuff, I've been working hard on my dissertation, which if you recall, was the reason behind my lack of blogging recently.

*Stops for breath...*

Today, I am making some cute Easter cakes (yes, I know, too late.) and yes these will be the classic chocolate crispy cakes, but you can't go wrong with a bit of chocolate and cornflakes!

I am eager to hear what all of you have been getting up to recently, I've missed you all and I will be publishing a few posts this week to make up for everything!

Stay funky

Hey guys,

Today I'm back with a little lifestyle and food post. I was fortunate in that I gave myself a day off (although I feel I do that too much ;) ) and myself and friend Sydney decided it'd be a really cute trip/adventure if we went out for lunch somewhere new.

If you have read previous blog posts of mine, then you may have read a post where I told you all that I was having to go Gluten free. If you want to read that post, click here.

So of course this meant finding somewhere that did Gluten free food. We did a bit of research before hand and came across this little cafe - Southsea Coffee. I didn't end up taking any photos of the outside because it was a bit gloomy and we just wanted to get inside to be honest.

It was very busy when we entered and very hot due to how many people were in there. There were a lot of students on laptop and writers doing work, which actually gave the place character.

We sat down at a little stool area by the front window and perused the menu for a few minutes. We both ordered 'The Plate' which came with Cheddar Cheese, Brie, Chutney, Ham, Rocket, Pickle and bread (I ordered gluten free bread). We also got milkshakes- I got a strawberry and Sydney got a peanut butter one I think.

The service was great and very friendly, and our milkshakes came very soon after ordering. They were delicious and possibly the best milkshakes I've tasted. They tasted fresh and made from real ingredients. I could really taste the strawberry!


Our food came shortly afterwards, and for £7.50 I was impressed by our meals. It was the perfect size for a lunch and it looked so cute on it's wooden block and was presented so carefully. It was lovely to treat myself to good food for once rather than food that is likely to clog my arteries! (haha!). I'd also never had Brie before and I loved it!



It was a really lovely aternoon and it was great to catch up and chat about our TV shows and our lives. I was thrilled with the gluten free bread as it tasted so much nicer than other gluten free breads I've tried. I will write another post about this at a later date, but I have to say that it was nice to find somewhere that was reasonably priced and where the gluten free options were available at the same prices.

I will definitely be going back to Southsea Coffee, whether it be for lunch, or just one of their yummy milkshakes!

Speak soon

Hello my festive friends! Today I have an awesome recipe for you. Now it's not one of my own but it is one that myself and my dad have followed this year, and honestly it creates such yumminess! I got the recipe from All Recipes. I'll post the recipe here too, but please follow the link to the website for more recipes. I love this site and use it a lot!

Ingredients

• 110g (4 oz) butter
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons golden syrup
• 4 teaspoons cocoa
• 225g (8 oz) Rich Tea biscuits, crushed
• 1 handful of raisins
• 225g (8 oz) cooking chocolate - half milk & half dark

This is the easiest thing to make and taste super! So if you're looking for a quick and easy recipe for Christmas, this Tiffin will do the trick!

Method

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter, sugar, syrup and cocoa. Add the biscuits and raisins when melted. Stir to combine.
2. Pour mixture into a Swiss roll size tin and press down. Melt the cooking chocolate and pour over the mixture in the tin.
3. Pop the tin into the fridge and leave for about 1 hour to set. To serve, cut into about 20 pieces.

 I hope you enjoyed this recipe! Let me know if you use it and how it went!

Speak soon
 and MERRY CHRISTMAS!
 

Ingredients:
4oz Butter
4oz Caster Sugar
2 eggs
4oz Self Raising Flour
Vanilla Extract
Icing Sugar
Food Colouring

If you want to make more, you could double (8oz) or do 6oz of everything and 3 eggs.

Recipe:
1.) Measure out the butter.
2.) Measure out the sugar.
3.) Put butter and sugar together in a big bowl.
4.) Mix butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
5.) Crack the eggs. You may wish to beat them first.
6.) Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time. Be careful not to let it curdle.
7.) Stir until light and creamy.
8.) Measure out the flour.
9.) Sieve the flour into the bowl.
10.) Mix the flour in, using figure of  eight motions and add the vanilla extract.
11.) Spoon into paper cases, ready for the oven.
12.) Remove from the oven after 15 minute and leave to cool

To make the butter cream

Mix icing sugar with butter- you have to guess a lot with this as it depends how you like it. Then add the food colouring of your choice and pipe onto the cupcakes.




Speak soon

Ever wanted to make fudge, but worried it'd be too hard? Well think no more and follow my very simple recipe for delicious creamy vanilla fudge! My recipe has been manipulated to make fudge that I like, and I have looked online and gathered bits and bobs from other recipes to make my own.


Ingredients
300ml Milk- can use cream and milk
350g sugar- sorry teeth
100g Butter
2 tsp Vanilla Extract

 Step 1- Mix the sugar, butter and milk together in a saucepan.


 Step 2. Place on heat and stir continuously for about 15-20 minutes. OR until reached the 'soft ball' phase. To test this get a jug and fill it with cold water. Put a bit of the mixture in and if it forms balls (near enough to ball shapes) it's ready.








 Step 3. Take off the heat and mix in the vanilla extract.

 Step 4. Whisk until the glossiness disappears. It should look matte.

Being healthy is something I've always enjoyed. I love buying healthy ingredients and making new foods/meals. I just have one issue- I love food. And I mean the bad stuff. I know I'm not the only one, but I am a sucker for a takeaway. Guilty. In fact as I type this I have a large Domino's pizza sat next to me. Oh how it taunts me,

'Psst. Pssst Laura, are you going to just stare at me? Eat me bitch!'

Yeah that's what it'd say if it could talk. But it can't. It's pizza.

But anyway, I love salads and vegetables and I really do enjoy getting exercise. I do a fair bit of walking and I jog/ do exercise videos from time to time, but I'm never going to be one of those fitness freaks. It's all very good being completely in control of every pound and eating anything green. But sometimes, and I'm going to say it, sometimes it is okay to eat unhealthily. The way I see it is we only get this chance at life *insert some idiot shouting YOLO*. And of course I'm not suggesting we all go out and eat McDonald's until we puke, but all in moderation. I'd much prefer to have a few extra pounds because I've thoroughly enjoyed a burger, than be so self conscious about my body that I fear anything that has more than 30 calories and not enjoy my life.



Live a little. Fast food is not our enemies, it's just not our best friend. I think bad food is just an acquaintance whom we must say hello to every now and again, but not always and that's okay!

Now I don't want people to think I'm supporting eating badly, like I said, all in moderation and with balance. I just feel like life is too short to worry too much about our weight. Everyone is beautiful.

And I love burgers so...