Double Almond Berry Smoothy

I'm going smoothy crazy! So, in my quest for a different, tastier smoothy, I'm trying all sorts of variations. 

With this smoothy I'm trying not just one type of almond, but two! Whizzed up whole almonds and almond milk - a smoothy packed full of great things!

The children particularly like this fruity number served in the old-school glass milk bottles. Great with their breakfast or served as a healthy snack (they think it's a great treat, they'll never suspect it's super good for them! Mmmwwahhahah!)

Purple Power Smoothy

I have baby brain at the moment. I just can't retain information without a list. So to combat this excuse for tardiness, I've developed the Purple Power Smoothy. Packed with good stuff, it contains blueberries to help boost brain power and help me function through the day!

Slow Cooker Overnight Porridge

Who said having children is easy? One was tough, two was harder, now three is near impossible! Our newest addition to the family is now three months old. Little baby Edward is a cracker, but family life is a mix of joy, fun and screaming panic (that's me doing the screaming). Of course me and Mr Mean are truly blessed to have our three beautiful children and wouldn't give them up for the world, but daily life has got to get a little bit easier than this?

Overnight Oats

I've got a confession. I've been sneaking around at night. No one knows what I've been up to (they will now). But I've had a breakfast revelation and it starts the evening before - overnight oats!

Now the weather is warming up a bit and it's not the depths of winter anymore, porridge is off the menu. So as a summer alternative to the cooked comfort of porridge, overnight oats are a breakfast essential. And what could be better than just reaching into the fridge in the morning and having a ready-made breaky!

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

After still having some old bananas left that needed some baking wizardry, I decided to opt for a healthier muffin. This is a great treat for breakfast - or even with your morning cuppa. They are packed full of goodies that will make anyone feel good in the morning. I had two for breakfast and didn't even think about food until lunchtime. Okay, that's a lie. I was cooking for most of the morning - but not tasting!

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

Makes 18
Ingredients:
300g (11 oz) plain flour
50g (2 oz) rolled oats
3 teaspoons baking powder
half teaspoon mixed spice
half teaspoon cinnamon
80g (3 oz)raisins
120g (4.5 oz) apricots, chopped
50g (2 oz) sunflower seeds
50g (2 oz) caster sugar
100ml (4 floz) sunflower oil
150ml (5.5 floz) natural yoghurt
150ml (5.5 floz) milk
1 egg, beaten
2 bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 medium carrots, grated

HOW TO MAKE:

1. Prepare the muffin tins with 18 muffin cases.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

3. Mix the wet ingredients in a jug.

4. Add the bananas and carrots to the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture.

5. Combine with as few stirs as possible and fill the muffin cases three quarters full.

6. Bake in a preheated 190C (375F) oven for 20 minutes.

7. Remove and leave to cool on a wire rack.

The Mean Muesli Recipe!

This is a kind of a mix between muesli and granola - purely because I like a bit more crunch and texture in my breakfast than a pile of dusty old oats! And with this recipe, you can pretty much do what you like with it and put in your favourite ingredients. And you can use this recipe in so many different ways - with milk, grated apple, yoghurt, banana - there are so many options. Breakfast will never be boring again!

BABY PORRIDGE

The problem with baby food is it all looks horrid! The little tiny packets of baby porridge are going to set you back at least £2 - I know it is fortified but I find it too expensive, and it always smells like sick! This is simply porridge oats cooked in water with a few slices of banana mashed in and a dollop of Greek yoghurt on top. If your baby likes a smoother consistency, simply whizz down until it's just right!

Porridge with Nutella, Chopped Banana and Yoghurt

This has got to be the ultimate in tasty, filling and healthy breakfasts. It's also cheaper than splashing out on branded cereals or expensive muesli. And with the addition of Nutella - it's a real kiddy pleaser! I put about half a teaspoon on my son's breakfast which is about 20kcal and 2g of sugar. In a 30g serving of Cheerios, there is 6.4g of sugar. The best low GI breakfast ever!


Ingredients: (for 1 adult serving)
30g porridge oats
190ml cold water
1 tablespoon natural yoghurt
1 teaspoon Nutella
Half a chopped banana

HOW TO MAKE:
Put the oats and water in a pan and simmer until the water has been absorbed and the oats are soft. Spoon into serving bowl and add the yoghurt, Nutella and banana.

Oatcakes

You can't beat a lovely oatcake, and I'm not talking about the biscuits. These are oaty pancakes that are lush. They are so easy to make and great to freeze too. Try them with melted cheese and ham in the middle, or with a fried egg and beans, or toast one up with jam or golden syrup - you just can't go wrong!

Ingredients
225g fine oatmeal (or wizz up porriage oats in the blender)
225g wholewheat or plain flour
1 tsp salt
sachet of dried yeast
450ml warm water
450ml warm milk
1 tsp sugar

HOW TO MAKE
Boil the kettle and measure out 450ml of boiling water. Now add 450ml of cold milk to the mix.

Put all the dry ingredients in a bowl and gradually mix in the water and milk until you have a smoothish consistency.

Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour.

Fry the oatcakes in a little oil. Once the mixture forms bubbles and dries out in the pan - turn over a cook for another couple of minutes.