TWO HEALTHY RECIPES FOR THE NEW YEAR

SUPERFOOD BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE

This deliciously healthy breakfast smoothie is a wonderful way to start your day full of goodness. Packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and disease fighting power-foods, there is no better breakfast for those of you who, like me, want a quick and easy meal that is not too heavy but will leave you satisfied until dinner.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 MEDIUM BANANAS

• 1 CUP BLUEBERRIES

• SPINACH (AS MUCH AS YOU PREFER, I USUALLY ADD ABOUT 4 CUPS)

• 1 CUP OAT MILK (OR MILK OF YOUR CHOICE)

• SQUEEZE OF LIME

METHOD

Starting with the milk, add all the ingredients to an upright blender and blend until smooth.

SPAGHETTI SQUASH WITH SPINACH SAUCE

Spaghetti squash is a fairly new discovery for me. I was shopping in my organic whole-food store when I spotted them and decided that I must try it. After quickly researching how best to cook the squash, I came up with a very easy and delicious dish that is just perfect for those of us who are looking to go a little lighter on the carbs for the beginning of the new year.

One of my favourite sauces to add to pasta dishes is a spinach sauce. Spinach is one of my favourite foods - I just love the versatility of this vegetable - the fact that it is also super easy to cook only makes me love it more.

I decided that I would pair my spinach sauce with the spaghetti squash and see how it compared with a regular pasta dish. The result is wonderful! This is such an easy meal to make - the squash roasts in 45 minutes and the sauce has just 3 ingredients that once cooked can be added to a blender with some vegetable stock and blended to give a rich and delicious result.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 SPAGHETTI SQUASH

• OLIVE OIL

• SALT AND PEPPER

FOR THE SPINACH SAUCE

• 4 CUPS OF ORGANIC SPINACH

• 1 YELLOW ONION

• 3 STICKS OF CELERY

• 150ml VEGETABLE STOCK

• FRESH CORIANDER FOR GARNISHING

METHOD

• PREHEAT THE OVEN TO 220ºc

• CUT THE SQUASH IN HALF, LENGTHWAYS.

• WITH A SPOON, REMOVE AND DISCARD THE SEEDS

• RUB A LITTLE OLIVE OIL INSIDE THE SQUASH WITH YOUR FINGERS.

• RUB IN A LITTLE SEA SALT AND PEPPER

• ON A BAKING TRAY TURN THE SQUASH SO THE INSIDE IS FACING DOWN AND ROAST IN THE OVEN FOR 45 MINUTES.

FOR THE SPINACH SAUCE

• FINELY DICE THE ONION AND CELERY AND FRY IN A LITTLE OLIVE OIL UNTIL SOFT AND TRANSLUCENT.

• IN A COLANDER, POUR BOILING WATER OVER THE SPINACH UNTIL IT HAS WILTED (YOU MAY NEED TO DO THIS TWICE)

• IN AN UPRIGHT BLENDER ADD THE ONION AND CELERY, AND THE SPINACH WITH THE VEGETABLE STOCK.

• BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH AND CREAMY

• POUR A LITTLE OF THE SAUCE OVER THE SPAGHETTI AND GARNISH WITH CORIANDER.