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Recipes

Mira Manek: Healthy Indian Cuisine

On Wednesday I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Mira Manek the beautiful chef behind Mira Manek Blog and the #HealthyIndian.

Inspired by yoga to return to the food that her mother, grandmother and aunts have cooked over the years: She began her journey on combining own home cooked food with healthy and fresh ingredients to bring about a new concept of Indian food as healthy and not heavy.

I arrived with my BFF, Lucy, to a MasterClass in Healthy Indian Cuisine to be met with a Feast.

I could only describe it as a prequel to an Indian Christmas

Vegetarian and pre-dominantly Gluten-Free: I cannot wait till her book is released new year.

feast

Lucy and I stood in awe as more and more fresh, delicious and enticing food began arriving out of the kitchen

fruit

The platters of fresh ingredients had us salivating!

drinks

We decided to get some non-alcoholic cocktails to distract us as Mira set up her event

drink shoreditch

lucy

 

The Feast was incredible. Mira presented us with Chickpea Flour Pancakes with Coriander Chutney and Chilli Beet.

sweetcorn

Charred Sweetcorn, Grilled Masala Aubergine, Gorgeous Courgette Rolls… the food just kept coming and coming. Fresh, delicious, colourful – at one point I thought my eyes were deceiving me!

mira manek

Spinach, Beet and Chickpea Pancakes, Kale Salad, Aubergine and a Fennel Almond Cocktail…I made my way to a chair to delve in and listen to Mira teach us how to make the delightful feast in front of us.

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Oh I forgot to mention there was pudding too…

mira manek1

Lucy and I shared a plate as our bellies were so satiated from the mains…

We were indulged with Divine Mocha Cake with Nutmeg & Mocha Cashew Frosting, Raw Mocha Flapjacks with Nutmeg, and Almond Cocktails. The main event for me though was the Saffron and Cardamon Cheesecake

I have not given the full menu for the feast that was provided but my goodness this lady is one to watch! Get over to her website and Instagram.
She hosts link ups for yoga breakfast and supper clubs.

She will be the hot new thing of 2016! 

We said our thank you’s and goodbyes to Mira and headed out into the Autumn Evening to sip on a mint tea and enjoy the sounds of City of London Sinfonia.

Orchestra  symphonie tea

Perfect end to a perfect evening.

You can find all the details of recipes on Mira Manek blog http://www.miramanek.com/blog/where all her recipes, dates and more are stored.

Hosted at Shoreditch House

Recipes

Todays Clean Eat – Asian Quinoa Salad x

Asian quinoa salad

 

This little treat you can make in advance and it will last you for about a week! yummy nutritious and full of colour

 

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup quinoa
1/4 cup shredded red cabbage
1/4 cup grated carrots
1/4 cup corn kernels
1 green onion, thinly sliced
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
1/4 cup chow mein noodles, for serving

FOR THE SESAME VINAIGRETTE:
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons STAR Natural Rice Vinegar
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon grated ginger

INSTRUCTIONS
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together rice wine vinegar, garlic, sesame oil, sugar, ginger and soy sauce in a small bowl; set aside.
In a medium saucepan, cook quinoa according to package instructions.
In a large bowl, combine quinoa, red cabbage, carrots, corn, green onion and avocado. Stir in sesame vinaigrette.
Serve immediately, topped with chow mein noodles, if desired.

Balance

Todays London – Sushi Making Course

For my Christmas present – my beautiful beau Nicolas took us on a sushi making course with a Michelin Star Chef

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The Ichi Sushi & Sashimi Bar we went to was beautiful – it looked out on to Big Ben and we sipped latte’s as we waited for our course to begin.

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We were greeted by ladies dressed in kimono’s and were taken to our tables where we were offered edamame peas and sparkling sake cocktails (I wasn’t so sure as just turned 12pm but went for it)

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We were given little aprons and our own stations before our sushi chef began to teach. He threw us straight in there making our first vegetarian maki roll. We then continued to make salmon and avocado maki rolls. Moving on swiftly we were taught dragon rolls – deliciously covered in sesame seeds – which personally are my favourite!

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It was fun watching the people in the class master the art of the sushi roll. The rice was so sticky – and yes I ended up with most of it littered around me – and the rolling a delicate art…Nicolas and I persevered!

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One of the highlights was dressing a dragon roll with fresh salmon then been given a BLOWTORCH to toast it to give it a delicious flavour – my god it was incredible!

We finally completed the hand roll – which to my delight we were told to stuff with as much fresh salmon as possible! Delicious!

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We placed our sushi on trays (you decide who’s design is better) and then the best bit…we got to eat it all!

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We were brought fresh tuna and salmon sashimi (personally my favourite) served with fresh wasabi – still blows your mouth to new levels.

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Once we were sufficiently stuffed – poor effort on both our parts – we tweezed all the last bits of fresh salmon and went for a walk along the south bank to ease our bellys…

Definitely recommend!

Recipes

Today’s Clean Eat – Basil Hummus Recipe

A quick little treat that I made as an afternoon snack before hitting the gym

It was delicious – dipped carrots and celery in (and maybe possibly a finger)

Here are the ingredients you will need to make a big batch 🙂

  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 2 cups sweet basil leaves, packed
  • 3 cloves garlic, smashed then minced
  • 2 15-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), rinsed and drained*
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • Up to 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 to 2 teaspoons salt
  • Several dashes Tabasco
  • 1 teaspoon tomato paste

basil hummus

Blitz them all together using a handheld blender or in a blender and voila – a delicious afternoon treat

basil hummus 1

To make it go an incredible green colour – really go nuts with the basil leaves – unfortunately didn’t quite have enough in the house – but still tasted incredible

xxx

Balance

Freezing Fitness Friday

As a working girl it is HARD  to get in a gym session every day of the week. We are supposed to walk on average 10,000 steps a day – if you have a pedometer this is actually quite a lot! (and anyone who works outside of London who is not forced to use public transport – even more so!)

I am a huge fan of incorporating exercise into your daily lifestyle and part of this I have swapped my tube ride to work – with a walk.

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My commute is 4 miles (including stopping into carter lane coffee house to see my Italian friends – who make the best coffee in St.Pauls) – and that has given me a 300 calorie deficit before I have barely even switched on!

Yes it is freezing but the fresh air combined with the sunshine – it  becomes a winning combination. I listen to TED radio hour (perfect timing for my walk). I make sure I have my sunnies, ear warmth and a decent pair of gloves 🙂3

It saves on the money, its saves on the frustration and it also saves being stuck under someone’s armpit for the morning commute – definitely not the best way to start the day!

So go on – get up – whack on some good walking shoes/trainers and march that booty to work – get your 10,000 steps, healthy glow, peace of mind and save those pennies!

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This Winter the Parka is BACK! From low price range to the highest you can find the perfect number to keep you toastie on your walk to work! Especially those neck’s and ears!

Head to Zara, ASOS and Uniqlo – who have some perfect styles for this season.

http://www.asos.com/Parka-London/Parka-London-Issy-Parka-with-Detachable-Faux-Fur-Trim/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3183763&SearchQuery=Parka&Rf-700=1000&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black

http://www.asos.com/Warehouse/Warehouse-Faux-Fur-Trim-Parka/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=3151174&SearchQuery=parka&Rf-700=1000&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Black

http://www.zara.com/uk/en/woman/coats/coats/combination-parka-with-fur-c499001p1388505.html