Friday, 17 July 2015

Bob's Bake Shop Paris

After my quick trip to Bob's Juice Bar in the 10th arrondissement I really wanted to go and try out the food at the Bake Shop. It's in a bit of a weird area, in the north of the 18th, but when I finally made my way there I was pleasantly surprised by the big outdoor eating area and cute deck chairs. There is also seating inside but it was so sunny when we went so we took a seat at the picnic-style tables under the parasols. Lurrrrvly!






I got a cold pressed green juice filled with spinach, cucumber, fennel, spirulina, lemon and celery to give me a much needed energy boost.


Then we got these delicious poppy seed bagels. Mine, on the left, was vegan with roasted carrots, organic hummus, red onion and rocket. Tom opted for the salmon and avocado bagel, which he said tasted great - I'll have to take his word for it as a non-fish-eater.






As many people know, I have an incurable sweet tooth.. So I insisted we get a little dessert. We shared the vegan berry crumble and it didn't disappoint!



Bob's is great because it obviously serves lots of amazingly fresh and healthy food, but also provides some not so healthy treats such as cheesecakes, lemonades etc. It's all about balance after all! It also means its still a great place to take friends who would normally moan about going to a typically 'healthy' or vegan restaurant (we all have them), because there's something for everyone.

Thanks Bob!

Friday, 10 July 2015

Super Datey Flapjacks

Lucy and I have always had a major love for flapjacks. They’re just so simple but so sweet and yummy too (I have a serious sweet tooth..). They’re also so so easy to make and great for popping in your packed lunch or as an afternoon treat with your cup of tea.

These beauties that I whipped up last weekend are free from refined sugar and taste amazing. They’re packed with oats to give you a natural energy burst and the dates make them so sweet and sticky. Although dates are a completely natural and unprocessed sugar source, they are high in fructose so I wouldn’t recommend eating these everyday. That being said, a treat now and again won’t kill you and if you’re going to have sugar, it’s best to keep it as natural as possible, so in my opinion these datey flapjacks are the perfect treat!



Ingredients:
150g medjool dates (remember to remove the stones!)
2 tbsps coconut oil,
3 tbsps date or pure maple syrup,
1 tbsp almond butter, 150 g rolled oats. Feel free to add any extra dried fruit/seeds you want, I just kept mine simple.

Method:

Pre-heat the oven to 170°C. Line a baking tin with baking paper or spread on some coconut oil.

Put the dates in a food processor and blend until they stick together to form a sort of paste.

Heat the coconut oil, almond butter, syrup and blended dates together in a saucepan over a low heat, stirring until the coconut oil and almond butter have melted and the blended dates have mixed in well with the syrup.

Add the oats and any dried fruit/seeds you're using to the pan and stir them in so that everything is mixed in well with the liquid.

Spoon the mixture into the baking tin and spread evenly.

Bake for 15 minutes. Take them out of the oven and slice into squares.

Then leave them to cool for half an hour or so, so that they Harden into crunchy but sticky bites of datey heaven. If they're still a bit soft when they've cooled down, put them in the fridge for another half an hour to harden up.


Happy baking!!!

Monday, 6 July 2015

Breakfast Beauty Bowl

Breakfast bowl of green goodness


Having a green smoothie is a great way to nourish your body with loads of goodness all at once, but often I feel like a green juice in the morning just doesn't feel like breakfast. It may sound silly but actually sitting down and properly enjoying your green smoothie rather than downing it in one will make you feel so much more satisfied for longer - promise!

This particular smoothie bowl I have named the Breakfast Beauty Bowl because 1) The ingredients are packed with vitamins and minerals that are great for your skin, eyes and general glow and 2) It looks quite pretty which makes it all the more fun to eat. 

Recipe 

1 Apple
contains antioxidants called 'flavanoids' that can help lower your chance of diabetes and asthma
1 Pear
Good source of fibre (Great for regulating bowel movements) and of vitamin B, C, E (Pear juice is great for building up the immune system!)
Handful of Spinach
Spinach is packed with amazing nutrients such as vitamin K, A and C as well as Folic acid, magnesium and iron - all these are excellent for maintaining healthy skin, hair and bones
Handful of Kale
This 'Super Green' is full of nutrition. Its amazing for hair, skin and bones (packed with Vitamin A and C)  It also aids good digestion and lowering blood pressure
1 Carrot 
Carrots are packed with Vitamin A which is amazing for your eyes. Its also great for anti-aging and promotes healthier skin! Carrots are great for cleansing your body as Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out toxins!
1/2 Teaspoon of Whole Earth Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Almond Milk
Ice 

There you have it ! How amazing is it that you can get all that in one meal. Whats more is its delicious and so so easy and quick to make. Just pop all the ingredients into a blend and pour into a bowl. 

I top mine with some nutty granola and bee pollen just to add that extra crunch! Be creative and top yours with whatever you want. 

Happy Breakfast-ing! 

YUM!



Saturday, 4 July 2015

Bob's Juice Bar

I didn't come across a huge number of great juice bars in Paris - I don't think the juice trend has quite caught on there just yet - but Bob's Juice Bar is one of them.


It's a really tiny place on rue Lucien Sampaix in the 10th arrondissement (just down the road from HolyBelly).


I loved the cute and cosy atmosphere and the staff are really friendly. They serve salads, soups and bagels for a light lunch, as well as delicious cold pressed juices.



And some slightly less healthy snacks because why not!


I had a massive carrot, apple and ginger juice. It tasted sooo good and was so refreshing on a hot day in Paris.