Raspberries, Cream and Oats… YUM

We thought we would treat you with a deliciously indulgent desert, but there is a healthy element in there too… the raspberries. 

All you need are the following ingredients:

Half a pot of Cane Sugar porridge

A good sprinkle of light brown sugar

250ml double cream

Tbps of honey

1 punnet of fresh raspberries

All you need to do is the following:

Make sure you pre-heat the grill to a high heat. Scatter equal amounts of the porridge oats onto a backing tray. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the oats to help crisp, place under the grill for 3-4 minutes. Make sure you watch them carefully though as they can burn easily. Remove then when crisp and leave to cool slightly.

In a bowl whisky the double cream, then add the honey by gently beating it into the cream. You should then fold two-thirds of the warms oats through them cream.

When you are serving these divide half of the raspberries between two serving glasses, then you should top them cream and add the remaining raspberries. Finish with the reaming oats and a drizzle of honey if you fancy.  

It's a very berry thing.

Why not change your morning routine, leave your cereal in the cupboard, it's time you became adventurous.

This oat berry smoothie is so simple you can't go wrong. All you need is plain yogurt, mixed with 1/3 of a punnet of berries, with a handful of oats, splash of milk and one small banana.

Add all of these into your blender and mix well, and that's it, done.
Let us know how you get on!

Maybe...Porridge Is The Answer To A Longer Life?

It is said that if you start your day with a bowl of porridge or even a a slice of brown toast it is quite possible that you could be eating your way to a healthier and LONGER life!

We question it too… but just a small amount of wholegrain food in your daily diet will lower the risk of you dying, to put it bluntly - especially from heart decease.  Research conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health In Boston, US, is believe to be the first to institute to look into whether eating wholegrain foods including brown rice, corn and quinoa has an impact on a longer life spam. Are you thinking how? Well, apparently they can reduce the risk of heart disease by a compound called avenantramide, which can stop fat from forming in the arteries.

It sounds good doesn't it? Eat porridge. Live longer. Why wouldn't you? So check out our delicious AND healthily porridge range here!

My,My, My Fibre

Well what can we say, we keep telling you that fibre is the way forward... and this is why. There are two main types of fibre which are Soluble Fibre and Insoluble Fibre. Not to man people no the difference between the two and that is why we are here to help! Lets start with soluble fibre, it's mostly found in fruit, veg and of course OATS! The benefits of this are that it will form a gel in the intestines that is thought to slow down the digestion which will allow it to absorbs the carbohydrates.  Where as insoluble fibres are found in wholemeal flour and bread ect. This type of fibre is vital for a healthy digestive system. Well there you go, lesson one in fibre!

Do You Want A Healthy Heart?

Well... Did you know that oats are key to having a healthy heart?
It is said that if you have a daily heaping of fibre that is found in oats, particularly our porridge oats... it can help to prevent diabetes and also cut down your cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
What can we say... everyone here at Hopper HQ has healthy ticker, they eat their porridge!

Do You Love Jelly

Do you have lots of empty Hopper Pots? Well... don't throw them away, we have so many different ways to recycle them and our favourite is... the D.I.Y jelly mould. It’s so simple. All you need is a packet of flavoured jelly and some delicious fruit and, of course a empty Hopper Pot. Make the jelly as per the instructions the packet... allow to cool slightly before adding fresh fruit. Our favourite is pineapple and blueberry, but any combination is going to be delicious and healthy.

 Stir gently to ensure that the fruit is evenly distributed. Place into the fridge to set. If you pop the lid back on, you can put it in your child’s lunch box and send them to school with a healthy treat - guaranteed to make the teachers love you! What do you think? Good tip hey?

Spook-Tacular Tips

October holds cold nights and the one thing that adults look forward to more than the kids... Halloween!

So we thought we'd give you a few of our favourite top tips for all-out Halloween fun!

1. Here at Hopper HQ we live by the rule "You are never to old to go trick-or-treating" 

What do you have to lose? 

2. Make sure you buy an extra bag of sweets to give to all the trick-or-treaters, the more that's left, the more you have all to yourself! 

3. Don't throw away your seeds - If you are a regular pumpkin carver that throws away their pumpkin seeds but keeps the flesh then you need to STOP! 

Pumpkin seeds are packed with protein and fiber and not to mention that they are very tasty, you can gently toast them in a frying pan or even in the oven and you have a healthy salad topping or even a light snack. 

We'd love to know if you have any other spook-tacular tips...

Autumn Is Officially Here

Put your shorts away and grab your wellies... autumn is here, and it looks like it's staying.

Well... after plenty of summer adventures its finally time to put away the barbecue, although this doesn't mean that you can't still explore the British country side, just make sure you pack your gloves and of course... your hopper pots!

There are so many places to explore that are right on our door step not many of us know about them. The National Trust are holding plenty of guided walks throughout the autumn months you have no excuse to stay in doors and hide form the cold!

Add some nuts!

Porridge... it's a great meal for breakfast. It is healthy, filling and leaves you feeling warm - what's not to love?

If you love fruits then our Cinnamon & Raisin porridge is perfect for you... and why not pimp your porridge by adding in some chopped nuts for an added crunch!

Let us know how you pimp your porridge in the morning.

Time for lunch!

The Autumnal weather has definitely arrived - it's time to add on more layers, wrap up warm and cosy up in front of the fire... but in reality we all have things to do and places to be.

Research shows that most of us working Brits are eating lunch al desko, which is fine as we all have work to do, but as it's important to keep fueled throughout the afternoon, choosing junk food is not the best option. Our splendid Grasshopper soups are the perfect healthy option for lunch. Just add hot water, stir, rest for a couple of minutes and eat! Yummy. If you need a carb fix, then why not add a wholemeal bread roll to dip in.

As it's wild and woolly out there, and we want to fill you up... how about a case of our tasty soups for just £5. Enter code aldesko at checkout. Be quick, the offer is only on until November 6th 2013.

Head to our website now! 

Good Health

Have you seen today's Daily Mail?

We have and there's some great information about keeping healthy. Whilst looking through something caught our attention... porridge! As you all know we are always being told to increase the friendly bacteria in our gut, but in the article Dr Christoffer Van Tulleken says "forget those trendy probiotic drinks - just eat more porridge'!

If you haven't seen the article then you can read it here.

National Porridge Day!

It's national porridge day - hurray! 

Great timing as well as the weather has turned a lot cooler - it's time to start getting those wooly jumpers out and don't forget your pots of porridge! Warm up and eat up with these delicious oats. 

Check out our Porridge's over on our website, grasshopper-foods.com

Porridge Love

Have you seen the latest article on the Daily Mail?

We most certainly have and so should you - it's all about Porridge!

Why not go take a look at the article? It has some facts and figures about Porridge but also tells you all the health benefits that go along with eating a bowl (or pot) of delicious porridge for breakfast!

Students and Noodles!

We all know students and noodles is a great combination!

If you know someone going to University or even already there - why not send them some Grasshopper Noodles. They are super yummy and healthy, meaning mum's will be happy!

We have delicious flavours available Chinese 5 Spice, Green Thai Curry and Teriyaki - pop over to our website and take a look!

Guess what! We currently have a giveaway on Facebook and Twitter - you could WIN a pot of our Chinese 5 Spice noodles for free!! Why not head over and enter.

Foodstufffinds Part 2!

Guess what our noodles have been featured on foodstufffinds.com... again!

This time our extra tasty Thai Green Curry and Teriyaki flavors were up for review - why not go take a look at what was said here.

Daily Mail Weekend

Did you see us featured in John & Gregg's Side Dish column?

Mr Gregg Wallace had plenty of nice things to say about our noodles - one being that our noodles are well flavored. His favorite one were the Chinese Five Spice - which are your favorite? Do you agree with Gregg?

Pregnancy & Oats!

about.com

With a number of celebrity babies due over the next several months, we thought now would be a great time to give you a number of tips and tricks to keep you and your unborn baby healthy until the joyous arrival. Did you know that eating porridge oats is especially good for you whilst pregnant?

Yes! It’s true! Oats are an excellent potent source of vitamins, minerals and complex carbohydrates, all of which are needed to ensure a healthy pregnancy. They contain high amounts of vitamin B1, B2 and E which all work together to release energy and keep the body healthy.

Porridge is also a great source of folic acid which is very important to ensure healthy development of the foetus during the first trimester. Add variety to your breakfast by having a Hopper Pot of Fruity Coconut & Date or Cinnamon & Raisin or even keep it simple and sweet with just an added touch of Cane Sugar.

Not only is this beneficial for you it also will be for your baby as well.

Fruity Smoothie

What is it that they say about the simple things in life being the best?

Our gorgeous fruity smoothie with a hint of coconut - a healthy, quick & filling breakfast option fill of fibre!

Ingredients:
A pot of Coconut & Date porridge
250ml skimmed milk
1 banana
10 frozen or fresh strawberries
1/2 teaspoon of honey

Method:
Blend all ingredients until it has reached desired thickness (if too thick, add water/milk).

Best served cold.

Perfect for summer!

Fantastic Flapjacks

lavenderandlovage.com

What is it that they say about the simple things in life being the best? In this case it's definitely true... Here at Grasshopper we pride ourselves on being very quick and convenient to prepare, but if you have 5 minutes to spare, there are plenty of delicious goodness recipes that can be made using out porridge pots.

Did you know you can make classic, chewy and good for your soul flapjacks that are so easy to do... and hard to beat!

Ingredients:

4 pots of Grasshopper’s Cane Sugar Porridge
175 grams butter
100 grams soft brown sugar
1 tablespoon golden syrup

Method

1. Preheat oven to 150C. Lightly grease a 20cm baking tin.
2. In a large pan, melt together the butter, sugar & syrup, while stirring. When melted, remove from the heat and stir in the porridge oats.
3. Pour into tin and smooth the surface with a spoon. Bake for 35-40 mins or until the edges are brown and the surface has turned golden.
4. Place the tin on a wire rack. Cut into squares after 10 minutes, but leave to cool completely before removing from the tin.