Sweeten up your Monday morning with our easy to prep Apricot Pistachio Overnight Oats 😋! Packed with lots of fruit, nut and oaty goodness, these Overnight Oats are just so tasty! Simply prep in advance and chill overnight in the fridge (or chill for a minimum of 2 hours in the morning) and then you’re ready to tuck in and enjoy! #flahavansoats#oatspiration#overnightoats
Serves 2|Takes 120 minutes
INGREDIENTS: 90g Flahavan’s Progress Oatlets 3 tbsp Desiccated Coconut 200ml Coconut Milk 260ml Water 1 tbsp Chia Seeds 400g Fresh Apricots, halved and stone removed 2 tbsp Golden Caster Sugar 40g Pistachios
METHOD: To make the bircher, place the Flahavan’s Oats into a bowl along with the desiccated coconut, coconut milk, 200ml water and chia seeds and stir to combine. Leave in the fridge for min. 2 hours or overnight if you can. Meanwhile, place the apricots, remaining water and golden caster sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook gently over a low-medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until soft and broken down. Remove from the heat and leave aside to cool. Crush the pistachios into a fine crumb using a pestle and mortar. To assemble, spoon the bircher into two glasses adding in a layer of the apricots and sprinkle over the pistachio crumb to serve.1d
I never tire of a bowl of steaming hot stew. It’s the attention to detail that makes this dish one of the world’s great classics. This is my version that I have developed over the years. It’s a meal in itself, but for a special celebration, try serving it buffet style with bowls of turnip mash, colcannon and maybe even some glazed parsnips and carrots and watch your guests’ faces light up!
SERVES 6–8
900g (2lb) boneless lamb neck or shoulder, trimmed and cut into cubes
900ml (1½ pints) lamb or chicken stock
50g (2oz) pearl barley, washed
225g (8oz) potatoes, cut into chunks
225g (8oz) carrots, thickly sliced
225g (8oz) leeks, well trimmed and
thickly sliced
225g (8oz) pearl onions, peeled
100g (4oz) rindless piece of smoked
bacon, diced
2 fresh thyme sprigs
sea salt and freshly ground
black pepper
chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley,
to garnish
turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion, to serve (optional)
colcannon, to serve
1 Place the boneless lamb pieces in a large heavy-based pan or flameproof casserole and pour over the stock. Bring to the boil, then skim off any scum from the surface and then stir in
the barley. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 50 minutes, until slightly reduced and the lamb is almost tender.
2 Add the potatoes to the lamb with the carrots, leeks, pearl onions, smoked bacon and thyme and simmer for 30 minutes, until the lamb and vegetables are completely tender but still holding their shape. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
3 Put the stew straight onto the table and scatter over the parsley. Serve dishes of the turnip mash with crispy bacon and onion and colcannon alongside and allow everyone to help themselves.
Oatmeal, Cranberry and White Chocolate Cookies
This recipe was given to me by Mary Flahavan. I like it so much that we now make it up in batches and keep them in Kilner jars in our rooms for guests in case they’re feeling a bit peckish after a long journey but don’t want to ruin their dinner.
275g (10oz) Flahavan’s
Progress Oatlets
225g (8oz) butter, at room
temperature
150g (5oz) caster sugar
100g (4oz) plain flour, plus a little
extra for dusting
½ tsp baking soda
100g (4oz) dried cranberries,
roughly chopped
100g (4oz) white chocolate,
finely chopped
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F/gas mark 6). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Blend the oatlets in a food processor until quite fine. Add the butter, sugar, flour and baking soda and blend again until the dough just comes together.
Tip into a bowl and beat in the cranberries and white chocolate. Shape into 12 even-sized balls and arrange on the lined baking sheets well spaced apart, then squash them down with the palm of your hand to about a 4cm (1 ½in) thickness. Bake for 15–20 minutes, until they are a pale golden colour and soft to the touch. Remove from the oven and leave to cool and harden on the sheets for a minute, then transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool for a few minutes before tucking in with a nice cup of tea.
Sharon Hearne Smith’s Sesame Seed Porridge Bread from Today with Maura and Dáithí.
Ingredients
This is an unusual bread recipe, based on porridge oats and yoghurt instead of flour and water. It is quick, easy and virtually foolproof to make.
Use any selection of seeds you prefer instead of sesame seeds, or omit them altogether for a plain bread. Alternatively, add other flavours like nuts and dried fruits or sundried tomatoes and basil or a swirl of pesto would be delicious too. This bread stays quite moist and fresh for a few days stored in an airtight container.
Makes: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
Sunflower oil for greasing
500g tub natural yoghurt
100ml milk
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp sesame seeds + extra for sprinkling
2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 x 500ml yoghurt tubs of porridge oats (or 400g)
butter for serving, optional
Method
Preheat the oven to 200C (fan 180C), 400F, Gas Mark 6. Grease a 1Lb loaf tin (approximately 3 x 5 x 7 inch) with parchment paper and grease again.
Scoop the yoghurt into a large bowl. Add the milk, oil, sesame seeds and bicarbonate of soda and mix until well blended.
Fill a clean and dry yoghurt tub with oats and tip them in. Repeat with a second tub of oats. Alternatively, weigh out 400g of oats on a scales.
Mix everything together until well blended.
Spoon into the prepared tin, spreading the top level. Scatter a small handful of sesame seeds on top.
Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown and a skewer comes out clean when pierced in the middle.
Remove from the tin and return the loaf to oven, directly on the shelf, for another 5 minutes to dry out the crust.
Remove and leave to cool on a wire rack. Cut into slices and serve spread with a little butter if liked.
This tomato, cucumber and avocado sandwich is the perfect light and easy lunch. With just a few fresh ingredients, you can have a satisfying meal in just 10 minutes. Creamy avocado and hummus provide plant-based protein and healthy fats, while juicy tomatoes and crisp cucumbers bring refreshing crunch and flavor. Layer it all on whole-grain bread for an extra boost of fiber, and you’ve got a quick and wholesome sandwich at the ready!
Refreshing, light and satisfying, our Cucumber-Avocado-Tomato Sandwich is an easy and delicious lunch that will really hit the spot. Every sandwich starts with and needs a good condiment. For this one, we amplify store-bought hummus with the sweet tang of honey mustard and fresh dill for a hit of herby brightness. Then we stack on the fiber-packed veggies: cucumbers and onions give a nice crunch and contrast to the creamy, heart-healthy avocado and the juicy tomato; the alfalfa sprouts add great texture. Cheddar cheese adds bone-boosting calcium and a salty, sharp flavor that complements the fresh veggies perfectly, and hearty toasted whole-wheat bread is the perfect vessel for all these wholesome toppings. Keep reading for our expert tips, including recommendations on swapping out hummus flavors.
Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen
These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too!
Experiment with different flavors of hummus for your spread. Try garlic hummus, dill pickle hummus or even make your own. To prepare a batch of our Classic Hummus, use a food processor and add a handful of ingredients: garlic, chickpeas, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini and salt. Best of all, this flavor-spiked hummus takes just 10 minutes to make!
While a chef’s knife can cut cucumbers, a serrated knife is more effective for slicing tomatoes. The serrated edge easily cuts through the skin and flesh without damaging the soft interior.
Nutrition Notes
Cucumbers aren’t brimming with the typical vitamins and minerals that you’ll find in many fruits and vegetables, but they are an important vegetable because they contain antioxidant phytonutrients that can help protect against inflammation. They are also more than 95% water, which makes them a hydrating vegetable—great for your skin.
Avocados are known for being high in fat, but it’s the type of fat that your heart loves: monounsaturated fat. Avocados are also brimming with fiber, which has been shown to improve the health of the microbiome, and impacts your health in many ways, including strengthening your immune system, improving cognition and lowering inflammation.
There are few things tastier than a really good tomato, and they are really good for you. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C, which is essential for healthy immune function. They are also high in a carotenoid called lycopene, an antioxidant that helps maintain healthy cells throughout the body, and eating foods with lycopene regularly can help lower your risk of heart disease.
Whole-wheat bread is a heartier choice of bread for this sandwich and you’ll get the benefit of more nutrients and more fiber. Eating more fiber can lead to better digestive health. Whole-wheat bread is also a source of important B vitamins—essential for your working metabolism.
Ingredients
¼ cup plain hummus
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
1½ teaspoons honey mustard
2 thin slices whole-wheat bread, toasted
1 (1-ounce) slice sharp Cheddar cheese
½ small tomato, thinly sliced
¼ medium avocado, thinly sliced
¼ cup alfalfa sprouts
¼ cup thinly sliced English cucumber
1 tablespoon thinly sliced red onion
Pinch of salt
Directions
Stir ¼ cup hummus, 1 tablespoon dill and 1½ teaspoons honey mustard together in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the hummus mixture on 1 side of each of 2 toast slices. Layer 1 cheese slice, tomato slices, avocado slices, ¼ cup alfalfa sprouts, ¼ cup cucumber and 1 tablespoon red onion over the hummus on 1 toast slice; sprinkle with salt. Top with the remaining toast slice, hummus-side down. Cut the sandwich in half diagonally.
flahavans If you (or someone in your house!) is sitting exams this month, think smart about snack time and try to choose healthier options in between meals to maintain energy and concentration levels. Oats are the perfect ingredient when preparing healthy snacks ahead of time. Try our recipe for Peanut Butter Protein Balls – easy to prepare, tasty and ready-to-hand whenever you need a healthy energy boost! ✨ #FlahavansOats
INGREDIENTS:
150g quick oats 100g mixed nuts & dried fruit 3 tbsp. chia seeds 2 tbsp. Honey 2 tbsp. peanut butter, melted 2 scoops of whey, vanilla or chocolate Few drops of milk, about 50ml 100g dark chocolate, chopped 1 teaspoon of coconut oil
METHOD:
1. Add all the dry ingredients (except the chocolate) to medium sized bowl and mix well, then add honey, melted peanut butter and mix well. 2. Vital step, add the milk bit by bit slowly and mix well until the mixture becomes clumpy. Don’t allow it to get too wet. 3. Then using a table spoon and your hands form the mixture into medium size balls. 4. Place on a plate then when you have formed all the balls. 5. Melt the dark chocolate with a tsp of coconut oil then roll each protein ball in the chocolate and place on a lined plate. 6. The last step is to put into the fridge to allow the balls the to set 👍 Tip – if the mixture gets too wet then add some more oats, it will make it less sticky!
No Friday would be complete without a seriously delicious pizza. Check out how easy these gorgeous pizzas are to re-create at home (using our very own Progress Oatlets), and you’ll be making your own Italian fakeaways every Friday night. Ciao! #FlahavansOats
Serves 2 pizza bases|Takes 15 mins
Ingredients: For the Pizza Bases: 85g Progress Oats 1 large egg white ½ tsp salt Optional – 1tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1tbsp grated parmesan or 1tsp nutritional yeast For the tomato topping: 400g tin chopped tomatoes 2 tbsp tomato purée 1 tsp dried mixed herbs 1 tsp honey 1 tsp sea salt flakes Couple of grinds of black pepper
Method: For the Pizza Bases: Pre-heat the oven 200C Combine the oats, egg white, salt and season in a high-speed blender and blitz for 2 minutes until completely blended. Heat a small heavy based frying pan over a medium heat. Add one tsp of vegetable oil. Spread half the oat mixture over the pan and cook for 2 minutes until the mixture firms up. Move the oat base onto a lined baking sheet and spread over the toppings and bake for 5 minutes until the pizza is cooked through
For the tomato topping:
Drain the tinned tomatoes through a sieve over a bowl, pressing with the back of a ladle until about most of the juice has drained. Tip the sieved tomatoes into a bowl and stir in the tomato purée, herbs, sugar and plenty of salt and pepper. Pour the tomato mix into a high-speed blender and blitz for 1 minute.
2 – 4 Thai Birds Eye chillies – depending on your spice tolerance!
50ml fish sauce, plus extra to season
3 cloves garlic
pinch ground turmeric
6 chicken thighs, cut into bite sized pieces
500g cooked white rice
pinch white pepper
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 red onion
Sesame oil, to serve
Handful of coriander leaves
Handful of mint
Method
First, get the chicken stock into a pan. Slice half of the ginger, chilli and lemongrass and add to the pot. Peel the zest off a lime then bring to a boil, and season with the 25ml of the fish sauce. Turn down to a simmer whilst you prepare the rest of the dish.
Finely chop the remaining ginger, chilli and lemongrass and place into a bowl. Grate in the garlic and add the remaining fish sauce. Chop the chicken thighs into inch pieces and add to the bowl along with a pinch of turmeric and mix everything together.
Get a wok over a high heat and add the oil followed by the chicken pieces. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
Scoop the aromatics from the broth and discard then add the rice to the broth and warm through for at least 5 minutes.
To finish, slice the red onion finely and season the broth with some white pepper, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice and some extra fish sauce if needed.
Add the rice and broth to your bowls then top with the chicken, followed by the sliced onions. Garnish with extra sliced red chillies, if you can handle them!, and lots of coriander and mint.
Sea spinach is at its sweetest and most delicious at present…. I absolutely love it and really want you to know about it so if you live near a rocky strand, look out for it – the shiny green leaves are unmistakable. It is, in fact, the ancestor to most cultivated varieties of beet, from beetroot to spinach beet. It can be cooked exactly like garden spinach and used in the same way, for example, try serving it in Middle Eastern style with raisins and pine kernels and a touch of cinnamon. Not surprisingly, because sea spinach is washed by the tides, it is full of iodine, minerals and other trace elements and it has an addictive salty tang. Sea spinach is tougher and slightly stronger in flavour than garden spinach, so it takes a little longer to cook.
The trick with these green soups is not to add the greens until the last minute, otherwise they will overcook and the soup will lose its fresh taste and bright green colour.
50g (2oz/1/2 stick) butter
110g (4oz/1 cup) onion, chopped
150g (5oz/1 cup) potatoes, chopped
600ml (1 pint/2 1/2 cups) homemade chicken stock, vegetable stock or water
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. When it foams add the onions and potatoes and turn them until well coated. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover and sweat on a gentle heat for 10 minutes. Add the boiling stock and milk, bring back to the boil and simmer until the potatoes and onions are fully cooked. Add the sea spinach and boil with the lid off for about 3-5 minutes, until the sea spinach is tender. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh green colour.
Liquidise and taste and add some freshly grated nutmeg. Serve in warm bowls garnished with a blob of whipped cream and some chopped parsley
Heat a little of the olive oil and sauté the mushrooms for a minute or two and season.
Set aside. Bring a shallow pan of water to simmer, add the vinegar and salt. Break one egg onto a saucer, stir the water to create a whirlpool, tip in the egg and leave to cook for 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, lift on to a plate. Repeat with the remaining eggs. Keep the water hot.
Heat the grill to high, arrange the mushrooms on the untoasted side of the bread, cover with the tomatoes and then the cheese, grill for 5-6 mins until the cheese has just melted. Place the toast on warmed plates. Slide all the eggs back into the hot water and leave for 30 seconds, lift out and drain on kitchen paper, then put one on top of toast. Season and serve.
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