It’s time to get ready for SUMMER!

May 15, 2015

Regardless of how summer 2015 pans out weather-wise (though we’re quietly confident it’s going to be a scorcher), we’re still intent on holding a heap of barbecues.

So get in a bag of charcoal; order another cylinder of gas – the great Irish climate hasn’t stopped our love of al fresco dining yet, and we don’t intend to start now.

And for garden soiree devotees looking to keep costs down (sausages, burgers, salads, and skewers can cost a pretty penny, after all) we are seriously impressed with what’s on offer at Aldi.

There are Irish Angus burgers, gourmet bread-buns, lamb spare ribs and rack chops, Irish buffalo mozzarella, jumbo BBQ sausages, and chicken skewers in delicious ginger chilli lime or piri piri flavours.

We also tucked-in to Aldi’s beetroot slaw earlier, and let’s just say after sampling this, you’ll never go back to plain old, regular coleslaw again.

Included below is a recipe for Aldi’s finger-lickin’ BBQ chicken so you can hone your outdoor cooking skills this weekend before the main events really kick-off.

Ingredients (serves 6):

1 packet chicken thighs
1 packet chicken wings
1 packet chicken drumsticks
Olive oil
1 pack of sesame seeds, toasted
Fresh coriander
2 fresh limes
A tub of coleslaw
BBQ sauce

Method:

Remove the chicken from its packaging and place on a plate. Cover with tin foil and let it stand for 30 minutes to allow it to come to room temperature.
Heat the BBQ grill to a high heat. Brush the chicken drumsticks, thighs and wings with a little extra olive oil. Place the thighs and drumsticks in the centre of the grill and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, using tongs to turn regularly.
Place the wings around the thighs and drumsticks, on a slightly cooler part of the grill, and let them cook for 20 to 25 minutes, turning regularly. When the chicken has cooked through, remove from the grill and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Meanwhile, chop the coriander leaves and cut the lime into segments. Serve the BBQ chicken with a sprinkling of sesame seeds, a scatter of fresh coriander leaves, some lime segments on the side for squeezing, a bowl of our Specially Selected coleslaw for extra crunch, and some BBQ sauce for dunking.

Five reasons why you should never skip breakfast

May 1, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Many people tend to skip breakfast because they can be in a rush in the morning. However, it is a very important meal and you should try your best to make time for it. Here are five reasons why you should never skip breakfast.

1. Focusing
Your body was fasting over night so your brain needs a top up of glucose to focus. This will make it much easier to concentrate.

2. A healthy heart
Breakfast can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of getting diabetes. The lower levels of cholesterol mean you are at less of a risk of getting heart disease.

3. Boost your immune system
Breakfast can activate your immune cells and help you fight common colds and flus.

4. Weight
Fasting can increase your body's insulin response, this can increase fat storage and weight gain. It also prevents over-eating and you will not be hungry and picking at unhealthy food throughout the day.

5. Energy
Eating a balance of carbohydrates, fiber and protein in your morning meal can give your energy levels a boost.

5 very good excuses to eat chocolate

Apr 24, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We usually tend to feel guilty after spending an evening munching on endless chocolate bars, but now you don't need to. Chocolate does have it's benefits, so here's 5 very good reasons to keep eating it.

1. It relieves stress.
You may have noticed that anyway, but it's also been scientifically proven. The perfect way to end a bad day.

2. Number skills
Apparently the flavonoids in chocolate help people with their number skills. Pretty handy to calculate how many bars you can eat in one day.

3. It's good for your heart
Eating a small amount of chocolate could help reduce the risk of heart disease. We know, we hated the word "small" in that sentence too…

4. It can protect your skin from sunburn
All thanks to those flavonoids again, we love those little guys. People who have more of them are more protected from UV rays.

5. It's good for your bones
Like any dairy product, milk chocolate is a good source of calcium, more so than cocoa-rich dark chocolate.

The five fruits you should be eating for your health

Apr 22, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Fruit is a delicious and healthy way of snacking throughout the day. A fruit salad with natural yoghurt also makes a yummy breakfast. Here are five fruits you definitely need to be eating because of their health benefits. You'll be glad to know, we usually eat them on a daily basis anyway.

1. Apples
You know what they say..an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples are full of fiber.

2. Blueberries
These little guys are great for your health. They are full of anxioxidants which could help fight cancer and are great for your brain health.

3. Oranges
Oranges are packed with your recommended daily dose of vitamin C.

4. Bananas
Bananas are great energy providers and high in potassium. They can help to reduce your risk of high blood pressure.

5. Grapes
Red grapes can help to fight against heart disease. They're one of our favourite fruits too!

5 very important smoothie ingredients you need to try

Apr 20, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Are you a fan of making delicious smoothies? With summer on the way, there is no better drink option. Here are some foods that you need in there a lot more than others for their health benefits and yummy taste. Try throwing a few of these into your next smoothie, your body will thank you for it.

Grapes
By adding some grapes to your smoothie you are helping to reduce blood pressure. Say goodbye to the wine.

Flaxseed
Flaxseed is great with helping to fight inflammation and boosting your immune health. Anyone suffering with aches or pains? Blenders at the ready.

Broccoli
Broccoli helps to boost your immune system and fight disease. Just be sure not to overcook it beforehand, this can strip it of it's health benefits.

Blueberries
Judging by their size you would not think it, but blueberries are full of fiber and vitamins. They can also prevent against chronic diseases.

Bananas
Bananas are full of potassium and lets face it, you always have bananas in your fruit bowl.

5 superfoods to give your energy levels a boost

Apr 13, 2015

by Amber Saunders

If you’re suffering from low energy levels, your diet could help to improve this. Here are five superfoods that are great for giving you a boost to help you feel more revitalised.

1. Oats
Oats are packed with high levels of calcium, protein, vitamins, potassium and magnesium. Eating porridge for breakfast will definitely help to lift you out of that tired spell.

2. Salmon
Salmon is full of protein which helps to keep you alert. Why not put it in a bagel and bring it for your lunch?

3. Berries
As well as being super yummy, berries keep you focused by controlling your blood sugar levels and prevent your energy levels from dropping.

4. Broccoli
Broccoli is a great energy provider. It is also full of fibre, vitamins A and C, and Potassium.

5. Almonds
Almonds are a small, quick snack to have on the go. They are full of vitamins, magnesium and iron which are great for boosting your energy levels. If you prefer, throw these in with the berries and you’ll have yourself a delicious snack prepared.

Bad bedtime habits: 5 things you should avoid before bed

Apr 9, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Even though we all love sleeping after a long day, many of us find it difficult to drift off. We all know how important a good night’s sleep is, but if you feel like you aren’t getting the sleep you need to keep you well rested and full of energy it could be time to take a look at the food and drink you are having before you go to bed.

1. High-fat foods
Of course we all love the occasional midnight feast, but eating high-fat foods late at night could be keeping you awake because it takes so long for the body to digest them. Avoid eating things such as fried food and ice cream before you plan on going to bed, you will get a better night’s sleep.

2. Alcohol
Even though the Saturday night out, where one drink quickly turned into four can make you feel drowsy and ready to collapse into bed the second you take your high heels off, it is important to remember that alcohol is not good for a peaceful night’s sleep. It disturbs it and you will not wake up feeling fresh and revitalised.

3. Sugary foods
The high sugar levels in foods such as chocolate bars can cause nightmares for many people due to the sugar affecting the brain. We don’t think it’s worth the monster lurking under the bed later on.

4. Dark chocolate
Despite the fact that dark chocolate is probably the healthiest chocolate option on a daily basis, it contains caffeine and theobromine which will keep your energy levels up. Avoid dark chocolate at night and have milk or white chocolate as an alternative.

5. Coffee
It sounds obvious, we know. However, we still drink tea and coffee before bed even though we shouldn’t. The caffeine keeps us on a buzz so if you’re a caffeine addict and need an early night, try drinking your last cup a few hours earlier.

Following these tips is easier said than done but it will definitely be worth it when you wake up feeling totally refreshed.

Want a flat stomach? Here are five foods to beat the bloat

Apr 8, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We all know the struggle of trying to do up our jeans after a day of overeating or comfort eating. As the day goes on you become increasingly bloated and you don’t know which foods have caused it, well, we’re here to help.

Here are a few common foods that cause bloating which you may want to cut down on in future if you’re looking to beat the bloat and show off your new pair of high waisted skinnies.

1. Fried foods
The stomach takes longer to break down and digest foods which are high in fat. This results in bloating due to a build-up of gas.

2. Artificial sweeteners
Similarly to fried foods, artificial sweeteners cause a build-up of gas which leads to bloating. This is due to the fact that the stomach cannot digest the artificial sweeteners. These can be found in foods such as sweets and energy bars.

3. Dairy products
You may be lactose-intolerant if you often feel bloated after eating dairy products. Lactose-intolerant means that your body is unable to digest lactose. When it is not digested it is passed to the colon where gas will be produced while trying to finish breaking it down. This causes the dreaded bloat.

4. Salty foods
High sodium foods can result in water retention in the body which causes bloating. The salt is hidden in many of the foods that we eat on a daily basis e.g. processed food, so always read the label. Just because you are not pouring salt on your food, doesn’t mean that you are avoiding it.

5. Some vegetables
It sounds crazy, but some vegetables can actually cause bloating because of the gases that they produce. These include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and onions so look for other vegetables which do not produce as much gas.

The most common sources of food poisoning revealed

Mar 11, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Food poisoning can be one of the most debilitating and sometimes deadly things to happen to a human.

The Interagency Food Safety and Collaboration in America have released a new report that sheds more light on what foods caused which poisonings most between the years of 2008 and 2012.

E. Coli
The food product found to be behind 46% of E. Coli cases was beef.

Salmonella
Surprisingly, it wasn’t chicken or eggs that were found to behind the highest rates of Salmonella (18%) but actually seeded vegetables. Eggs and fruit came in at the same level at 12% with chicken a cause of 10% of Salmonella cases.

Listeria
Tainted fruit was found to be behind half of listeria cases.

Campylobacter
Dairy amassed a huge 66% of the cause behind Campylobacter food poisoning. Today, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland stated that raw milk increases the development of foodborne illnesses. The sale of raw milk for direct human consumption in Ireland is recommended to be prohibited by the FSAI.

How can you protect yourself from food poisoning?

The HSE recommend using the 4 C’s to prevent food poisoning:

1. Cleaning
By keeping your hands, utensils and surfaces clean and always washing your hands and surfaces that have come in contact with raw meat, poultry or fish, you can avoid contamination.

2. Cooking
Always ensure your food is cooked through properly for the required time in order to avoid listeria and salmonella.

3. Chilling
Always keep food that needs refrigeration in the fridge to avoid harmful bacteria from growing and multiplying. With leftovers, always refrigerate them once cooled.

4. Cross-contamination
It is important to avoid the cross-contamination of raw foods onto other foods. Always keep raw food separate from others and ensure the utensils used are different and cleaned thoroughly afterwards.

Healthy chocolate brownies with a very secret ingredient!

Feb 4, 2015

by Amber Saunders

When it comes to desserts, it can be really hard to find healthy options that won't ruin the clean-eating streak you've (mostly) been on all week.

These brownies, from Irish clean-eating Instagrammer @theirishhealthdiaries, are clean and healthy, meaning if you wanted to have them for breakfast we really don't see a problem with that.

After all, raw cacao has major antioxidant properties, meaning you would actually be doing your body good by eating them.

There's also a secret ingredient that makes the brownies moist and dense – sweet potato! We know it sounds mad, but trust us – it works!

What you'll need:

130g raw cacao or dark cocoa powder
125g plain flour*
1/2 tsp baking powder
130g sweet potato
125g dairy-free spread
125g coconut sugar
Zest of one orange

What you'll need to do:

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a brownie tin with parchment paper.
Peel and boil or steam the sweet potato until soft. Mash until smooth and set aside.
In a bowl, combine the flour,cocoa powder and baking powder.
In a saucepan, melt the spread with the coconut sugar and orange zest.
Add the sugar mixture to the mashed sweet potato and stir to combine. If necessary, blitz with a hand blender to ensure it's smooth.
Combine the wet ingredients with the dry – if it looks a little dry, add some drops of water.
Place into the oven for about 15-20 mins or until the top is set and firm.

* If you are gluten intolerant, try using coconut flour instead.

Exciting news for The Great British Bake Off fans!

Feb 3, 2015

by Amber Saunders

There is really exciting news for fans of The Great British Bake Off as it has been revealed that a great line-up of famous faces are set to take part in a special series for Comic Relief.

Taking part in the charity bake-off will be Abbey Clancy, Alexa Chung, Zoe Sugg, Michael Sheen, Gok Wan, Jonathon Ross and Jennifer Saunders among many others.

Zoe, who was embroiled in controversy following the release of her debut book last year, spoke of her shock at being asked to take part, saying: “Bake Off is one of my favourite programmes so I was genuinely a little shocked and very excited when I was asked to take part.”

Judges Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry will of course be judging the celebrities baking efforts while the show will be hosted by Sue Perkins and Mel Giedroyc.

What a great line-up – we cannot wait for this!

The series will consist of four episodes and will begin February 11 on BBC One.

McDonald’s fans rejoice – your dreams have come true!

Feb 2, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Fans of McDonald’s Big Macs are set to be very happy indeed after the fast food chain has released tubs of the famous ‘special sauce’ to be sold in stores…only in Australia though!

For years and years, the sauce in a Big Mac was a closely guarded secret, however now it is well known, though ratios of the ingredients are left a secret.

Now, Mc Donald’s in Australia are offering customers the chance to bring home the Big Mac special sauce, selling it in 25ml tubs in stores across the country.

However, even if you do happen to live in Australia there’s a good chance you won’t get your hands on the coveted bottle of sauce as there is only 200 available with one 50ml bottle being auctioned on eBay with proceeds going to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Could this be the start of McDonald's selling their sauces in stores worldwide?