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!

One For The Sweet In Your Life

Whether it's your partner, family or even yourself why not indulge this weekend with these homemade treats? 
Honey and Apple Cranach 


All you need is the following key ingredients:


1kg baking apples, make sure you peel, core and cube them


3tbsp running honey

2 pots Cane Sugar porridge

2-3 tbsp demerara sugar (depending on how sweet you like it)


240ml double cream

150ml natural yoghurt

What to do:

Start by cooking the apples in a very small amount of water until they are soft and you're able to mash them until smooth with the honey, then allow to cool.  

Then gently toast the oats in a dry frying pan until they are a golden colour. Allow them to cool and then mix them with the demerara sugar, once mix, then whip the cream until it is thick and fold in the yoghurt. 

In a large glass dish or whatever you would like to serve them in, layer some of the apples into the bottom of the glass and sprinkle some of the oats over them, then spoon in some of the cream mixture. You should repeat this in layers until all of the mixture had been used, finishing with a layer of cream. 

Before you should serve these allow them to cool, then sprinkle over a little more of the demerara sugar. And the added bonus? There isn't even that much washing up to do! 

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!

Oat Crunchies...

By the time you have finished reading this blog post, you will 100% want to make these little a squares of joy! There is no need in buying sweets this year for the trick-or-treaters just hand out these... although we can't guarantee that they won't come back for more! 

All you need is... 

180g hopper pot cane sugar porridge

250g dark or milk chocolate 

100g unsalted butter - cut them into small cubes

150g digestive biscuits 

1.  Break the chocolate into small pieces, put them in a heat proof bowl and add the butter. Melt gently over a pan of hot water, making sure to stir it now and then. Once the chocolate mixture is completely smooth, carefully lift the bowl off the pan and place the heatproof bowl onto a safe surface. 
2. Put the biscuits into a plastic food bag and use the rolling pin to break the biscuits, no smaller than you thumbnail, add the oats to the bashed biscuits. Then add both the biscuits and the oats to the melted chocolate and mix well so all the oats and chunks of biscuits are covered well. 
3. scoop all of the mixture into a greased tin and spread evenly. Cover with cling film and the leave to chill in the fridge for about 2 hours. Then cut them into equal size squares. Then sit back, relax and enjoy!! 

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!

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!

A Treat For Everyone...

October is here and we all know that it means one thing... Halloween!! Even if you're 13 or 33 we know that everyone looks forward to the endless amount of unhealthy treats. Well... here is a slightly healthy recipe (it's not very healthy at all)  that you should love! Don't believe me, you'll have to try it out - wont you? 

Let me introduce you to our  "Oaty Moments"

What you need...

• 200g/7oz butter, softened
• 100g/3½oz caster sugar
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 250g/9oz self-raising flour
• 140g/5oz oats
  
  
  
  
  What you do...
  Preheat the oven to about 180C/200F and make sure you line the baking tray with greaseproof paper. 
  Cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl until it is light and fluffy.
  
  
  Then you should beat the egg until it is well combined, stir in the vanilla and flour until well combined. 
  Separate the dough into 12 equal pieced and roll the ball s in the oats then put them on the baking try. Gently squash the balls with the palm of your hands.
  
  
  Bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes or until they are a golden brown. 
  
  
  Get the kids or the better half to do the washing up whilst you put your feet up and enjoy your oaty moments. 

Homemade Granola- what's not to love?

Are you a kitchen goddess? Well get your apron on... you're going to LOVE this recipe! Even if you're a man, let your inner-goddess shine, you have no excuse not to try this!

This granola recipe is one that all the family can get involved in (maybe not the animals - if you have any) 

Your ingredients -

125ml of maple syrup
2 tbsp of honey
1 tsp of vanilla extract
3 pots of coconut and date porridge oats
100g of flaked almonds or chopped 
100g of dried berries (find them in the baking aisle)


Method - 

First, make sure you preheat your oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.
Then you should mix the maple syrup, honey and vanilla extract in a large bowl. Once they are fully mixed together- add the 3 pots of coconut and date porridge oats and mix well.

Add the granola to two baking trays and spread them evenly... bake these for 15 minutes. Then add the almonds and dried berries to the mix and bake for another 10-15 minutes. 
Once golden brown remove from the oven and leave on the tray to cool down. 


And voila, you have some delicious homemade granola!

Porridge for gold!

Firstly, we would like to say congratulations to Laura Trott on winning her gold medal! Well done, you've done us proud!
When asked what her secret was she said "I've been living of porridge". So we have decided to give you are Golden Oaty recipe containing porridge oats, so that you to can win gold (in the kitchen maybe)

Golden Oaty Crumble:

Ingredients:
3 eating apples
2 Bramley apples
350g of blackberries, you can use frozen if they are not in season!
100g of Demerara sugar
1 pot of cane sugar porridge
175g of plain flour
140g of soft brown sugar
185g of butter

What you do:

1. Before you do anything, preheat the oven to 170 degrees.

2. Core and quarter the apples, then put half of them into an oven dish and sprinkle with half of the Demerara sugar. Ad d the blackberries to the dish and cover with the remaining apples.  Put the rest of the Demerara sugar onto the apples. 

3. For the crumble topping,  pour the flour into a bowl and stir in the sugar and the porridge oats. Cut the butter into small squares and add them to the mixture. Rub it all together with your fingertips until the mixture has the texture of breadcrumbs. Lay the crumble mixture on on top of the fruit.

4.  place your dish into the oven and leave for around about 40 minutes, you will know when its ready its it will be a lovely golden brown colour.

Im sure this will go down a treat, you could even add some ice-cream or custard!

A summer smoothie even the sun would worship

With all this summer weather, we thought we'd share with you one of our delicious smoothie recipes!  Sound tempting? It does to us at Hopper HQ!

Ingredients -

• 1/2 of the pot of porridge with cane sugar 
• 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt
• 1 banana, cut into thirds
• 1/2 cup of fat-free milk
• 2 teaspoons of honey
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon 
Directions - 

It's so quick and easy you will not believe your eyes, put all of the ingredients into your blender all at once and blend until smooth. This recipe is best severed immediately! 

This recipe is so healthy you won't even feel guilty if you were to freeze it to make a tasty frozen treat! 

Don't wait around, the sun never does. So hop onto our website you grab the most important ingredient! 

Food for Feet!

Wow. The Tour de France starts this weekend, so now is the perfect time to join the cycling revolution. It's fun, healthy, cheap, liberating and good for our planet. And you know what all the pro cyclists live? Porridge.

Team GB are big fans of oats... we're not surprised as they help the body to release energy slowly, keeping you feeling fuller for longer, ideal for a long ride. And don't be fooled by their size, as these little oats are packed full of benefits. They are low in saturated fats, high in fibre and rich in traditional nutrients!

Our porridge Hopper Pots are packed full of goodness and perfect for those on the move. Their petite size makes from the go-to instant meal! Simply bring along a flask of hot water and you're ready to tuck into a pot whenever you want!

Are you getting your oats?

Did you know... (4)

So, Summer is coming... and we are all probably on a crazy rampage to shift the extra weight! Well look no further as our porridge can help!!

Even though the warmer weather is here and Summer is approaching, don't let it stop you from tucking into a delicious pot of porridge. The oats we use are all natural, which makes them 100% natural so they are the perfect breakfast solution, especially when on the move.

A spanish climb!

Photograph by Sam Bié

We're all about exploring the great outdoors here at Grasshopper, whether it's the British countryside or somewhere further afield - we are always up for an adventure.

Looks like these guys are too. Sam Bié and his friend climbed Monserrat - an iconic mountain in Spain that has inspired many Spanish artists - during the climb, a roll of fog moved in swiftly, making visibility difficult. Sam managed to capture this stunning picture and you can see how thick the fog was... definitely scary, but at least you can't see what's below, right?

Hopefully the pair stocked up on Grasshopper Porridge in the morning to keep their strength up, looks like they definitely needed it.

Kick start the day with a pot of fibre!

Today, new studies reveal that eating a bowl of breakfast cereal daily can increase a heart attack survivors' chances of living longer! 

Researchers found that diets with a fibre increase - especially cereals - was the link with lower death rates, and those who ate the most fibre had a 25% lower chance of dying in the nine years after their heart attack, compared to those who ate the least.

But remember this isn't the only benefit of fibre, as is also helps reduce blood cholesterol, improve glucose levels and lower blood pressure, just to name a few. 

A fibre based breakfast really is a great way to kick start the day... take our Porridge for instance, it's quick and easy to make, extremely tasty and packed full of fibre! 

Want to read more about the research and studies found? Click here to do so.

Did you know... (3)

Porridge, Soup & Noodles?! Oh my!

Whether you're heading out on a brisk walk with the family or heading out on an adventure with friends... take along a Hopper Pot too! 

Guaranteed all that walking/exploring will build up quite the appetite and there is nothing worse then being hungry in the middle of no where... so, grab a Hopper Pot and a flask of hot water and you will have a delicious, healthy meal instantly! 

And for the rest of April, if you buy any two cases we will throw in a third for FREE!! What you waiting for, head to the website, shop away and finish by entering VIP04 at the checkout.

Did you know... (2)

Did you know that porridge can help fight osteoporosis?
Grab a pot of our delicious oats and tuck in - a great way to keep your bones strong and healthy!

Be a winner!

The Grand National has officially kicked off!
It's time to dig out those smart clothes, head to the races and place your bets... but don't forget to fuel yourself for this big day with a delicious, warming pot of porridge!