pearls and peanuts

Now the summer's here (ish) I've been getting into making nice fresh salads, I used to enjoy cous cous but because of my weirdness with wheat I tend not to have it now, so instead I've been using either quinoa or pearl barley, and spelt grain is a new favourite what my house mate usually makes.

Its super duper easy to make and you can throw anything in..veggys, nuts, seeds..owt!

In this little salad I made pearl barley with chopped beetroot, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, lemon juice and some fresh mint and parsley. I made a big bowl so it lasts for almost a week and is there to get out the fridge whenever i fancy it, and its great for when I'm on the go so I don't have to worry about buying lunch out.

Just bring the barley to the boil for ten mins and then let simmer until all the water has dissolved..quite similar to how you make quinoa.

I had this for my lunch yesterday and then some juicy melon for afters!..

And then I had a second afters not too long after..a slice of home made peanut butter bars which I made the other day. I find I'm usually buying these protein bars quite a lot and the cost does add up, I have been quite busy lately so I haven't had the time to make my own snacks but finally managed and hour or so dedicated to making these beauty bars..and I got to snack on peanut butter whilst doing so too..yum!

Ingredients

4 tbsp peanut butter

1 cup dates

2 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tbsp agave syrup

1 cup oats

2tbsp chopped fresh ginger

Soak the dates in warm water and then mash until softened, mix in the peanut butter, cocoa powder and agave syrup and ginger, then transfer to a blender and wizz for a couple of minutes until all combined, add the oats and wizz a little more.

Transfer the mix to a well greased square baking tin (or whatever you prefer) and pop in the oven for 15-20mins. You can also serve these bars raw, just pop them in the fridge to set for an hour or so, I did intend to do mine raw but the mix was a little too sticky so it needed some warmth!

When the mix had cooled, I pondered it a little and decided that it looked a little lonely, so I came up with a deeeeelicious topping!

Ingredients

2 bananas

1 cup cashews

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

vanilla pod

2 tbsp creamed coconut (or coconut oil)

2 tbsp plain tofu

Firstly, soak the cashews and seeds for an hour or two in water. Then mix the banana, cashews and seeds, add in the vanilla and wizz up in blender. Melt the coconut (if using creamed) on a low heat and then pop in the blender, add the tofu, and wizz until all combined.

Pop this mix onto the cooled peanut mix, put in the fridge to cool and then slice into your preferred shaped size.

Tis a really nice treat in the afty and a good pepper upper too, full of protein goodness and will last a good while and save you some pennies instead of buying shop bought bars. You can get really creative with the ingredients in these too..adding different nuts and flavours. Think I shall always go for the peanut butter option though!

Peace and pearls and peanuts :)

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