The Lainey Blog

Winter is coming…

Or rather, it’s here already. Thankfully the weather still reminiscent of autumn, has so far been kind. But it won’t be long before the cold and frosty mornings arrive. Level 5 restrictions or not, keeping warm will be top priority. And what better way to warm the cockles of your heart than with a nice bowl of porridge? I’d love to share with you my absolute favourite recipe which includes two of my favourite foods – berries and chocolate!

Oats are a fantastic way to fill our bodies with energy for the day ahead while keeping us full until lunchtime. This reduces the need to mindlessly snack on unhealthy treats in the meantime. (Ahem… guilty!)

I seldom buy fresh berries anymore. I prefer to stick with frozen store bought berries – great for smoothies and for cooking with. I know then that they won’t go off in the fridge or be eaten clean by the kids. As result, I quite often have a ton of frozen berries lurking around my freezer so it makes sense to try and use them up. I use any berries I can find, but usually stick to buying raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries.

It’s a well established fact that berries are packed full of antioxidants and offer great skin benefits (and having officially reached the latter half of my 30’s I’m going to need all the help I can get…). And I think most of us can agree that there really can be no better way to start off the day than with a bit of chocolate – I mean it does release endorphins and give an energy boost, a clear winner in my book.

Good mood food!

When the madness of the morning rush is over and the kids are in school, I like to take some time and enjoy a substantial, luxurious breakfast (À la Nigella). Not that it takes a huge amount of time or effort to make. And you can save on time further by preparing the night before – overnight oats, and simply heat the following day.

This simple recipe is a huge hit in my house and is guaranteed to keep you full ’til lunchtime, whatever thrilling pursuits will be keeping you busy in the meantime!

Ingredients

• 45g Porridge Oats
• 300ml preferred milk (I use almond milk – unsweetened)
• 1 tablespoon Flaxseed
• 1 teaspoon Cacao powder
• Handful of Berries (again – your choice. I alternate depending on what I have)
• 1-2 tablespoon(s) Honey or Maple Syrup
• Toppings optional. Try any of these; Almond Butter, Banana, Hemp Seeds, Goji Berries, Cacao nibs, Chocolate Chips.

Method

Combine Oats, Flaxseed and Cacao Powder in a pot. Mix together before adding berries. Pour over milk and stir. Simmer over low heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until desired consistency. Remove from heat and stir in honey or maple. Transfer to bowl and add desired topping.

Enjoy!

I’d love to know know how this recipe worked for you and what toppings you tried – I love trying new flavours! The Almond Butter is a game changer by the way – and extra energy benefits too!

Happy Cooking!

Lainey 😉