Tomato and Pepper soup

With nights drawing in quickly and it already feeling a bit like autumn a hearty soup is in order. I made this the day after a wedding so was feeling a little fragile and in much need of something hearty but healthy too!

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of frozen diced shallots
1 tablespoon of frozen diced garlic (can't beat waitrose for these!)
I vegatables stock cube
1 Romano pepper
Small tub of passata
I tablespoon frozen chopped basil
1 teaspoon of sundried tomato pesto
30 ml water (more if required)
1 tablespoon of crunchy onion bits
1 tablespoon oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1. Heat up the oil and soften the shallots and garlic

2. Add the vegatables stock cube

3. Add the chopped peppers

4. When softened add the passata

5. Add in all the frozen basil

6. Add in the sundried tomato pesto and salt and pepper

7. Add a little water to thin slightly 

8. Pour into two bowls and add the onion on top with a couple of whole slices of pepper- so it looks a little less bland

Almond Milk, Strawberry and Oat Smoothie

I have been on a health kick recently after realising I was slowly putting on a bit too much weight! Decided to at least start every day on the right note with a healthy oat smoothie to start the day. The problem with most oat smoothie recipes are they are American and those who have read other blogs on here know I detest recipes which have 'cups' as measures. This is 2015, why we allow such a inprecise measurement amazes me. I have cups in my kitchen sizing between 100ml and a pint, which size is right??

Anyway here is a very simple oat smoothie recipe, with normal measurements, for a nice filling start to the day 

Ingredients:

200g Strawberry (or one Banana. Do not use blueberries at this ratio as turns gelatinous!)

50g Oats

400ml Almond Milk

Method:

1. First get yourself a Brevil blender, a god send with such little fuss or mess for only £30 http://www.breville.co.uk/vbl062-blend-active.html. 

2. Cut up the strawberry into quarters and add these, the milk and then oats into the bottle

3. I like to soak for 10 minutes and then blend. 

4. Two mornings worth of smoothie, enjoy!