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.  

The Count Down Begins...

It's officially on it's way, with songs on the radio and the decorations in full force, we can't hide from the Father Christmas… especially if you have children. Christmas is here!

BUT… you don't need to be afraid, we are here to help! We are giving you these best and easiest recipes that one could ever wish for! Don't believe me? Check this out…

A few weeks ago we gave you Parsnip soup, this week we are giving you… Buttery Biscuits. They're perfect for a homemade present or a tasty treat for yourself!

All you need is;

100g unsalted butter (softened to room temperature)
00g caster sugar
1 free-ange egg (lightly beaten)
275g plain flour
1tsp vanilla extract

and to decorate;
400g icing sugar
3-4 tbsp water
2-3 drops of your choice of food colouring
and Edible glitter of your choice

What to do;

First, start by preheating your oven to 190C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
Then cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until pale, light and fluffy.

Then you should beat in the egg and vanilla extract, only a little at a time until it is well combined.

Stir in the flour until the mixtures comes together as a dough form. Once you have done this, you should then roll the dough out on a lightly floured work top surface to a thickness of around 1cm.

Using a biscuit cutter of your choice, cut all of the biscuits out of the dough and then place carefully onto the baking try.

You should bake the biscuits for around 8-10 minutes, or until alight golden brown.

Before decorating you should allow to cool. For the icing, sift the icing sugar and then mix it with water until it creates a smooth mixture, you should then add your chosen food colour.

Decorate to your own preference, and allow the icing sugar to harden before you sit back, relax and enjoy your tasty butter biscuits!

P.S We'd love you to send us a picture of what your biscuits look like! 

The Healthy Bake Off

As we have already established many a times, baking doesn't have to just be unhealthy. We have a few tips that can turn your baking into healthy baking.

1. Possibly the most important tip of all... switch your flour for oats. Or you could even mix the both together to boost your fibre intake and lower the glycaemic index, which means that it will release the energy slowly through out the day.

2. you can also replace sugar by adding bits of dried fruit rather than sugar to your recipe  it will help you to increaseyoyur levels of fibre, vitamins ans also minerals.

3. Last but by no means least, to cut down fat and calories you should use cocoa powder if you are making a chocolate based recipe.

We are sure that these healthy tips will come in handy at some point, and if you think of it like this then you can eat more and not feel as guilty, sounds go hey!

Crunchy Granola!

What is it they say about the simple things in life being the best? In this case it's definitely true...

This happens to be the best granola you'll ever taste and the actual making is incredibly easy. You can have it with milk for breakfast; over yogurt; drizzled with honey late at night; or just grab a handful as you pass the jar for an on-the-go snack.

INGREDIENTS:
65g brazil nuts, crushed
35g whole almonds, crushed
25g macadamia nuts, crushed
25g hazelnuts, crushed
2 pots of Grasshopper Coconut & Date porridge
75g unrefined sugar
7 tbsp maple syrup
50g unsalted butter
6 tbsp hazelnut oil (from supermarkets)

METHOD:
1. Preheat oven to 160 C (fan - 140 C).
2. Crush each type of nut and roast on a baking tray separately until they turn golden. Do the same with the oats - bake until golden.
3. Turn the oven down to 120 C and mix the roasted ingredients in a bowl. Put the sugar, maple syrup, butter and hazelnut oil into a pan, melt and then add to the dry ingredients, mix well.
4. Place mixture back onto the backing tray and bake for 15-20 minutes.
5. All to cool, then break into large crunchy pieces.

And enjoy!

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.

Japanese love

Do you love Japanese food?

If you do we have something perfect for you - our Teriyaki noodles!!

The sauce uses traditional and complementary flavours to create a tasty, filling and satisfying snack. It may be in a small, compact pot but it's big in flavour and taste, plus it's all healthy and natural - hurray!

Available in a standard pot and a Hopper pot at grasshopper-foods.com 

Power Foods!

Did anyone see the September issue of Woman & Home?

In the 'Top 10 Power Foods' article, Oats came in top! Hurray.

"Oats. They deliver B vitamins while being rich in low-GI soluble fibre. This means they are digested gradually, helping prevent peaks and dips in blood glucose and energy levels."

Oats are clearly good for you and help to keep your body healthy - whilst releasing energy slowly, which is perfect to keep you going throughout the day! Why not try something from our porridge range for breakfast. Delicious and healthy - what could get better!

Here are the 'Top 10 Power Foods':

1. Oats
2. Lentils
3. Kale
4. Plain Yoghurt
5. Avocados
6. Bananas
7. Salmon
8. Water
9. Steak
10. Eggs

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.