Lighten Up for Summer

On Sunday 26th April, I'll be at Bodnant Cookery School running a course called "Lighten Up for Summer."  Last year's course was a popular one and,  once again, I'm looking forward to creating dishes that are designed to make us feel brighter and lighter for summer. Recently I've been working on a brand new batch of exciting recipes with exactly that in mind.

Most people know that what we eat and drink can directly impact our body.   Too many processed foods, saturated fats, sugar and alcohol can leave us feeling bloated, heavy and lethargic - hardly the way we want feel in the midst of summer!  So now's the time to give our body all the good things to make us look and feel amazing when the warmer weather arrives.

   Lighter, Healthier and Delicious!

I gave up eating meat and animal products a long time ago - thirty five years to be exact - and have never regretted my decision.  I've had plenty of time to learn how to make meals that are both healthy and delicious AND reap the benefit. Thankfully it's much easier these days to enjoy a healthier, more plant-based diet - without being considered the least bit cranky either. In fact, it's actually quite trendy to eat this way now! 

Just recently, Ella Woodward's first book, Deliciously Ella,  became the fastest selling debut cookbook in the UK and it's completely free from meat, eggs, dairy and refined sugar!  The story of how she overcame a serious illness that kept her bedridden by simply changing her diet is inspiring and exciting and gives hope to anyone struggling to cope in similar circumstances. She admits that before her life-changing decision, she wasn't a cook, rarely ate any fresh fruit or vegetables and was a total sugar addict!

Ella is a wonderful advertisement for healthy eating and absolutely glows with vitality.  But we don't have to be ill, unfit or overweight to make healthy changes to our diet though sometimes this can give us just the incentive we need.  Everyone can look and feel better when they decide to eat their way to good health and vitality! 

Creative Cooking with Fresh Ingredients

With the days growing longer and sunnier, now is the perfect time to start planning a healthier diet and lifestyle to take you into summer.  Even doing just one thing differently today can make all the difference to your well-being this summer, whether it's going for a weekly swim at your local pool, taking the dog for a longer walk (which I'm sure he'll love!) or,  better still,  trying out a new recipe!

Having like-minded people around you can make such a difference when you're starting something new.  I've been delighted to meet the lovely people who come along to my cookery days.  For some, it's their first time. For others it's their second or third time! And everyone says how much fun it is, cooking together, learning new skills, being introduced to different ingredients and flavours and chatting with each over over lunch in the amazing dining room that overlooks the Conwy Valley.

New Year Detox    January 2015

I've been thrilled at the growing interest in my "Simple and Natural" courses.   The last one in January was sold out two weeks before the actual day so, if you are thinking of coming in April, don't leave it too late to book.  Numbers are strictly limited to 12 people and quite a few places have already been taken.

Simple and Natural - Lighten Up for Summer

Sunday 26th April, 2015         10.30 am - 4 pm 

£95.00 (same price as last year!) inc all ingredients and lunch

Further details can be found on the Bodnant website here

Moroccan Carrot and Orange Salad

A little while ago, Bodnant asked me to appear in a short video to promote my cookery courses. It was my first attempt at a cookery video so I was naturally a bit apprehensive!   However it turned out to be lots of fun and was all done in one take!  

The brief for the video was to demonstrate how to make a simple dish in just three minutes!  I chose one of my favourite tried and tested recipes - a Moroccan inspired salad that is super quick and easy with very few ingredients.  It's really delicious, flavoured with wonderful spices, and full of natural goodness.  Do have a go at making it - you will find the recipe below.

The series of one day workshops I teach at Bodnant are called "Simple and Natural."  The next one is Lighten Up for Summer on Sunday 26th April 2015 when we'll be preparing some brand new recipes that I've been developing, all completely free from meat, dairy, eggs and refined sugar, and full of fresh, flavourful ingredients - guaranteed to leave you feeling lighter and brighter!  More details to follow in my next post.

Moroccan Carrot and Orange Salad

Ingredients                                                     
 

50g cashew nuts

250g organic* carrots, washed and grated

50g unsweetened dates, chopped

One large orange, washed

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

½ tsp ground cumin

½ tsp ground cinnamon

Sea salt & freshly ground pepper

Optional:   Fresh coriander

Method 

Toast the cashews by spreading them out on a large baking tray. Heat your grill to it's highest setting, then place the tray on a high shelf.  They don't take long to brown so keep an eye on them and turn once or twice.   

Make the dressing.   Finely grate about a tsp orange zest and place in a large bowl.  Then using a sharp knife, remove the peel from the orange and cut into segments removing the membrane.  Squeeze the juice from any remaining membrane into the bowl containing the zest.  Slice large orange segments in two lengthways and set aside whilst you add the olive oil, ground cumin, cinnamon and seasoning to the dressing. Mix until well blended.

Coarsely grate the carrots straight into the dressing, add the chopped dates and toss together to mix.  Scatter the cashews over the top and, if you have some handy, a few coriander leaves too.  Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

*If using organic carrots, there’s no need to peel them.

For more information about Lighten Up for Summer click here

New Year Detox

With the Christmas festivities fast approaching, I just wanted to tell you about the Cookery Workshops I have planned for 2015!  Altogether I'll be teaching four courses at Bodnant over the next twelve months in a Series called "Simple and Natural"  starting in January with the popular New Year Detox.  Here are all the dates to put in your diary!

Sat  10th January       New Year Detox

Sun 26th April            Lighten Up for Summer

Sun 16th August        Health on a Plate

Sat  21st November   Deliciously Dairy Free 

Each workshop will include a variety of appetising dishes which you will make alongside me in the spacious Cookery School.  No experience is necessary so please don't feel you have to be a food expert. I'll be there to guide you all the way.

I develop new recipes specially for my courses and they are always packed full of beautifully fresh ingredients.  They are dishes the whole family will enjoy and are totally free from meat, dairy, eggs and refined sugar and are usually gluten free too.

Each workshop starts at 11am (10.45am for a welcome drink!) and ends at 4pm when you'll leave laden with containers filled with all the dishes you've made.  The price for the day is still the same too - £95 which includes lunch and all your ingredients.

NEW YEAR DETOX

The first workshop in January is almost full (ten have booked so far) so if you are thinking of coming on the New Year Detox course, please don't leave it too long. It's a brilliant way to start the year and you'll meet other like-minded people who are keen to be healthy in 2015.

Detoxing has been practiced for centuries by different cultures around the world as a way of de-cluttering and cleansing the body. It can do wonders for the way you look and feel but it certainly doesn't mean going hungry!  By incorporating detox-friendly foods into everyday living, you can revitalise your body naturally from the inside out. And the food is so delicious, you won't even realise you are eating the healthy option!

BE HAPPY AND HEALTHY IN 2015

If being fitter and healthier is important to you, imagine how you would look and feel in a few months if you chose to be more health conscious in 2015.  It's really not that difficult.  It can even be fun and I'd love to show you how!  

To book online or go to the Bodnant Cookery School website, please click here or phone 01492 651100 

Or if you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me

Hope to see you at Bodnant!

Healthy Eating on the Go

If you have a busy lifestyle (and who doesn't these days!) then eating well throughout the day can be a real struggle.  When you're always on the go, out at work or away from home, finding healthy meals and snacks to buy can be a nightmare.  Even so-called healthy products often contain loads of sugar and very little in the way of natural goodness.  If you don't eat meat, eggs or dairy like me, then it is often impossible.  

So I'm delighted to tell you my next course at Bodnant Cookery School on Sunday 14th September is "Healthy Eating on the Go".  It's all about creating your own lunch box with healthy snacks and treats that are good for you and your body!  With a little forward planning, it's possible to produce delicious food to enjoy at any time of the day and be something you'll look forward to tucking into!

  Fast Food - the Natural Way

I've really enjoyed putting together the recipes for this course.  Maybe it's because I've always loved picnics!  There's something special about eating food out of doors in a lovely location so making up a packed lunch to take out on a walk is pretty normal for me.  I certainly don't want to spend hours in the kitchen though so I've got plenty of tips on making things quick and easy - and fun to make!

For me, the most important thing is to use fresh, natural ingredients that my body thrives on but that certainly doesn't mean living on fruit and a salad!  I'll be showing you some completely new ideas I've been working on as well as some of my favourite recipes that are visually appetising, deliciously energising yet require minimal preparation. Wherever you spend your day, I hope you'll never be tempted to buy an unhealthy snack again!

How to book

If you feel inspired to come along, I'd love you to join me for this brand new course.   You can book your place online at the Bodnant website or by ringing 01492 651100.  

The day starts at 11am (10.45am for a welcome drink!) and finishes at 4pm, costs £95 and, as with all my courses, you'll have lots of goodies to take home!

The Cookery School at Bodnant Welsh Foods Centre is a fabulous place with superb facilities and amazing views along the Conwy Estuary.  The courses are always lots of fun and friendly too with a small group and plenty of space to work and relax.  We make all the recipes together so, however much or little experience you have, you'll be able to enjoy the day and hopefully go away with a new confidence and enthusiasm to eat healthily!

Book online here  or phone 01492 651100. 

These are some photos from my last course in July  ...

 

Health on a Plate

 

 

 

 

 Hope to meet you at Bodnant very soon!

Making Healthy Eating Fun for Children

 

Just to let you know that this coming weekend, 16th and 17th August,  I'll be running some short cookery workshops for children.  Bodnant Welsh Foods Centre in the Conwy Valley are holding their annual Children's Food Festival with lots of events happening on both days and I'm really thrilled to be involved this year.

The focus of my 30 minute workshops, which will be in the main courtyard (under cover!) at 12 noon and 2 pm on Saturday and Sunday, is on having fun and being creative with fresh, healthy natural ingredients.   In the morning session at 12, we'll be making a simple tasty idea for lunch whilst at 2 pm, something sweeter and fruitier will be on the menu, even though absolutely no sugar or dairy will be involved!

If you know any children who love trying something new or who already enjoy helping out in the kitchen, then do bring them along.   You'll need to book their place on the workshops as numbers are limited and there will probably be a small charge (£2 I think, but do check!) 

If you just fancy coming along,  the Welsh Foods Centre is a fabulous place for a day out and is in an amazing location along the Conwy Estuary.  The Festival starts at 11 pm on Saturday and Sunday and finishes at 4pm.  Here are all the details. 

And if you are there, do come and say hello!

 

Health on a Plate

 

At the end of April, I taught my third course at Bodnant Cookery School in the Conwy Valley and here are the six lovely people who signed up for the day designed to "Lighten Up for Summer."  In the morning, we made some fabulous Mediterranean inspired dishes including Roasted Ratatouille with an Olive Polenta topping and a colourful Couscous Salad packed with fresh tomatoes, peppers, olives, artichokes and herbs. 

Just before lunch, I demonstrated a Fennel and Carrot Ribbon Salad with rocket and orange vinaigrette.  In the afternoon, we made a summer fruit kantan (pictured) and scrumptious raw cacao chocolates! 

I thoroughly enjoyed the day and from the lovely emails I received afterwards, I think everyone else did too!  It's wonderful to have the opportunity to pass on some of my favourite recipes and spend the day cooking together in the fabulous facilities at Bodnant.  It feels good just being there!   

I can't remember a time when I wasn't interested in eating for health. To me, whatever we consume each day has everything to do with the way we look and feel. With this in mind, I'm delighted to tell you my next course in July is called "Health on a Plate."  

When I cut out meat and dairy in 1980, there were very few good cookbooks around to help me so I got used to adapting recipes and experimenting on my own.  Nowadays, with access to the internet and an abundance of resources online, there's never been a better time to make eating well a priority.   

Whilst preparing a healthy plateful of food has become second nature to me, it isn't necessarily welcome news if you've just been diagnosed with high cholesterol, diabetes or a heart condition and been told by your doctor to drastically alter your diet.  Or if you've discovered you have a dairy intolerance and had to rethink everything you eat and drink.   

Adapting to these changes not only depends on your willingness to put your health needs first but also on your ability to be adaptable in the kitchen.  Whilst food manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon offering free from and low fat products to tempt health conscious customers, the reality is many of them contain high levels of sugar and very little in the way of natural goodness.    

The solution is to buy "real" ingredients - unprocessed, fresh food as close as possible to it's natural state - and create your own meals from scratch.  However, learning to prepare food in a completely different way can be daunting, especially if you are the only one in your family/household making the changes. 

Whilst my main aim on the cookery days is to demonstrate how to cook delicious, health promoting food,  it is also hopefully to inspire everyone to have fun, be adventurous and enjoy a new way of eating.  So my next course is just as much about the enjoyment of preparing and eating healthy food as creating wonderfully appetising platefuls! 

  HEALTH ON A PLATE:  Recipes for Healthy Living

Saturday 12th July 2014 

 11 am - 4 pm

 

£95 inc lunch and all ingredients

 

• Hands-on practical experience preparing, cooking and tasting health-promoting food 
• Simple guidelines and personal support to make lasting dietary changes  
• Easy to follow recipes that are full of flavour and natural goodness

 

I have no doubt at all that eating a healthy balanced diet can have an amazingly positive effect on both our mind and body and I would love you to experience the benefits and the enjoyment of eating for good health.

 

Contact me on 01286 676838 or email me for more details

To book your place,  go to the Bodnant website or phone 01492 651108.

                                      Look forward to seeing you there!

 

 

 

Lighten Up For Summer

With just a few weeks to go until my next Cookery Course on 26th April,  my mind has been focussed on food recently and, in particular, food that is fresh, light and summery!   I like to take my time planning the day and putting together a collection of recipes that will be fun to make and fulfils the "brief," in this case, "recipes for a lighter, healthier body!" 

I can spend weeks experimenting with different ingredients. Maybe I am a bit of a perfectionist but I know when a finished dish tastes right and looks good too.  As usual, I'm not interested in counting calories. To me, it's far more important to get the balance of fresh ingredients right and make food as exciting and appetising as possible so you don't even notice you are eating the healthy option! Then, preparing food that your body loves and thrives on becomes second nature, not a chore.

Summer is a time of abundant fresh produce that reflects the warmth and radiance of sunny days.   Bodnant Welsh Foods is well-known for it's farm shop and, if you have been on one of the cookery courses before,  you'll know how amazing the quality of the fresh ingredients are.   At Bodnant they always seem to find the juiciest oranges and largest lemons, the lushest of herbs, the earthiest onions and the most gigantic garlic!

 

There will be plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and herbs waiting for us on 26th April and some other treats too!  On previous courses, I've included lesser known ingredients, such as miso, agave nectar, quinoa and agar flakes and this course will be no exception.  Whether you are a complete beginner or a more experienced cook,  you'll pick up some valuable tips for creating fabulous healthy food that's completely free from meat, dairy, eggs and sugar!

With a definitely summery "feel good" theme, this one day course will get you in the mood for long sunny days on the beach. And if the idea of getting shorts, bikinis and summer dresses out of hibernation fills you with dread, I'll be showing you how you can eat really well and get your body in shape!

Lighten Up for Summer

Saturday 26th April 2014

 Bodnant Cookery School,  Tal-y-cafn,  Conwy, LL28 5RP  (map) 

11 am - 4 pm

 

  £95.00 inc. lunch and all ingredients

There will be a break for lunch which we'll eat together in the attractive dining room which overlooks the Conwy Estuary. Lunch will comprise of one of the dishes prepared during the morning and you will take the rest of the dishes you've made home with you.   Don't forget to bring some containers!

This will be my third course at Bodnant Cookery School.  Here are some of the comments I've received:

"Lovely day, lots of interesting dishes. Thank you Rhona"

"Excellent instruction"

"A really fabulous day with Rhona. Great to use only the freshest produce to make some truly delicious detox dishes."

"The venue was first class and no-one could ask for more"

"Super day, made healthy eating fun.   Wonderful food, thank you Rhona."

"The cheesecake was really impressive and tasted gorgeous - definitely a recipe I will use for special occasions."

   "A fantastic day from start to finish. Delicious recipes and lots of great new ideas. Thoroughly enjoyable, thank you."

"Lunch was delicious."  
"Great Day. Would like to do many more classes. Thanks for a good day!"

To book your place,  go to the Bodnant Cookery School website or phone 01492 651108.

Look forward to seeing you there!