A statement on snacking 

I’m a habitual picker, grazer, snacker. If it’s lying around and in my vicinity it won’t be there for long! So I’ve had to make sure I’m much more prepared now with my own ‘clean’ snacks to take my attention away from any potential unclean options. 

This week I tried making sweet potato crisps. I’m not a big crisp eater but every Sunday we have a routine of eating brunch, then a big late lunch and only fancying something light come dinner time, cue the opportunity to eat crisps and catch up on Scandal on Sky Atlantic 😜

There are only 4 ingredients needed but a little bit of patience is required 

First switch your oven on to 140 degrees (fan assisted). Then take one sweet potato and slice it in to rounds as thin as you dare. 

  
Heat a tablespoon of coconut oil in the oven on a foil lined baking sheet. Once the oil had melted, sprinkle over some paprika and sea salt and add the sweet potato slices, toss around in the oil/salt/paprika mix then put it in the oven for one hour. 

  
You should turn them over half way through. Leave them to cool and crisp up on the baking tray and serve – voilĂ - an easy Sunday night snack that is clean eating and will satisfy your ‘hold-on-to-the-weekend’ needs. 

  

Roasted Tomato Soup

Ok so every man and his dog has a tomato to soup recipe but hey, I’ll throw my hat in the ring… I made this today in a bid to stay healthy then ruined it by pairing it with olive stuffed bread…oh well…

Ingredients
800g tomatoes
1 red pepper
œ packet of fresh basil
A few Thyme sprigs if you have them
1tbsp balsamic vinegar
1tsp sugar
1 onion, finely diced
1 stick of celery, finely diced
1tbsp tomato purée
500ml chicken stock
2tbsp mascarpone (optional)

Method

Heat your oven to 220 or 200 degrees, nice and hot. Slice the tomatoes in half and place them in a roasting pan. Chop the pepper any way you like and put on top of the toms. Add the balsamic, herbs and sugar. Roast in the oven for at least 30 mins, longer if you have time (although reduce the temperature if you do).

Meanwhile, sauté the onions and celery in olive oil for 10 mins then add the tomato purée and stock. Season well.

When the tomatoes are nicely cooked, remove from the oven and tip the whole lot in the stock pan. Blitz with a stick blender then add the mascarpone, stir well and serve. Not with olive bread, is far too moreish!!