::The Myrabev Life::

::The Myrabev Life::

Saturday, April 18, 2015

{Healthy Eating} Breakfast an important meal of the day


They say breakfast is an important meal of the day but in this day and age most of us do not even have 5 minutes to sit down in the morning and eat breakfast (whether healthy or not) later on prepare the meal. I have a 9-5 job so you could say I really should have time to sit and eat my breakfast but in reality I do not. By the time I wake up, shower and dress it's time to run out of the house and walk to the station to catch my bus to work. When I do get to work I am pumped up on adrenaline that I just get stuck right into my work until 10ish when my stomach starts to remind me how hungry I am sometimes to the point of collapsing. Would you believe me if I told you that I forget to eat more times than I eat a week? I am just that bad when it comes to eating and because I am a social butterfly I kinda need people around to eat with me otherwise I only eat when I see others eating hence why I watch too much TV (story for another day).

Over the course of the week I stumbled upon a post on overnight oats, I am bummed that I didn't save the link so I could share it but then I didn't think I was actually going to do it myself. But Tuesday night I started to write in my diary things to do for the rest of the week when I remembered that I had run out of my porridge sachets and desperately needed to pack something for Thursday as I had a lot of meetings from 9-6 with a few 10-15 minute breaks. Then I remembered the overnight oats and I consulted doctor Google who brought about so many ideas. I looked at what I had in my cupboards and went to work on it. Thursday morning I topped my overnight oats with Nutella and went to work. I enjoyed it so much that I have been making my overnight oats since then and just mixing it up to my liking.

I have been using a few ingredients which I have in the house always and had to purchase some cute bowls to be making sizeable portions.


Ingredients: Granola oats (from my March Degustabox), unsweetened Almond milk, natural yoghurt (the first time I used strawberry yoghurt) and mixed fruits. For my topping I am using Nutella but you can use anything or nothing at all.



Directions: Mix all together and keep in fridge overnight, in the morning either eat as is or top up with your choice of topping as I mentioned above I am using Nutella. 





What do you think of my overnight oats? Do you make overnight oats? Do you ever have time for breakfast?

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posted by Anosa @ 06:54   18 Comments

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Meal Plan ~ Chicken and Eggplant


Last week I shared with you why I started my meal plan and some of the foods that I cook, my favourite being chilli beef. On Saturday I went food shopping for the month and I picked up some diced chicken fillets which were on sale and a few other things including my mince, eggplant and pork for my all time home made delicacies. Today I wanted to share my meal plan for this week (Monday and Tuesday) since I won't be home rest of the week until Sunday.
I can not recall the last time I ate eggplant so much that I was not sure how I was going to cook it, after some research (maestro google) I decided I was going to bake them. Several recipes has mentioned just putting straight in the oven but I wanted to some how cook them a bit before the oven. I found a recipe that suggested I soak the chopped eggplants into slightly salty water for half an hour then slightly fry or grill them until brown (I chose to fry).
As I have mentioned previously I am not good at writing out recipes so I will add captions to each photo as a way to explain what I did.

Step 1: Chop onion and asparagus, then diced the chicken fillet. Fry both on either side of the pan on low heat for 10 minutes or until fairly cooked.

This is how it should look like, almost cooked but not yet.

Step 2: Add tomato puree (I added some chopped tomatoes as well), salt, pepper (and chilli if you want) then add water and simmer for 10 minutes
Whilst I was cooking the chicken I had already soaked the eggplants in the salted water for 30 minutes, I then removed from the water and heated a pot with olive oil (just a tablespoon)
Before and After frying the eggplants for 3 minutes.

Step 3: In the baking tray layer the eggplants then top over with the chicken sauces cooked earlier, then sprinkle some oregano and cover with foil before baking for 20 minutes.

Serve with choice of side dish, I felt like some rice so I had mine with rice.

I can promise you, you will be licking your fingers all day. I love how simple and easy this is to make and could probably be done faster than me but it was first time so I was happy to take my time. Cooking has become something I enjoy and is very therapeutic and it's my me time so this is awesome to recreate something I will enjoy.

So what do you think of my cooking? How do you cook your eggplants? I have some more in the house and need more recipes for next week so please do share.

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posted by Anosa @ 02:00   38 Comments

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Meal Plan


A few months ago after I returned from my trip to visit my friends and family in Zambia I decided to make a change in my life. I got tired of spending almost £30 every week to buy ready meals for the week since I could not be bothered to cook. I now spend about £30 a month of food and since it's just me its a good amount. I buy meats in bulk and buy fresh veggies every week for my salads which I surprisely eat daily to accompany all my foods or by themselves.
My meal planning is pretty simple since it is just me, myself and I. I spend a few minutes every month and decide what meats I want to eat and sometimes what other veggies I want to try out and that's it. I do not have a specific day during the week when I cook loads of food and freeze them, for me it all depends on my mood and level of work plus how much energy I am left with when I return from work.
I have made my meal planning as painless as I possibly can, I cook my favourite delicacies and I cook these in huge amounts to last me a week or two. And I have days where I feel like eating cereal or having my jacket potato with cheese and sauce for me it's really simples.


My favourite all time recipe to pull out is my chilli beef recipe, I can not remember the last time I bought ready cooked chilli or chilli beef con carne or anything along those lines as I really do believe mine tastes much better than the store bought. I will share a few steps but I am not that great at explaining recipes so I hope the pictures will be enough but if not when I do get a chance I will update this post with the recipe details. 
Step 1: Add 2 teaspoons of oil to the pan and fry onions until tender then add mince until brown

Step 2: Add  tomatoes, spices (and as much chilli as you want) and cook for 3 minutes then add tomato puree and water and cook for 10 minutes

Step 3: Add the beans (this is optional) and cook for 2 minutes

Step 4: Cover and simmer on low heat for 10 minutes

Done

I portion my food out into small lunch boxes and carry one to work. I made a salad to go with this chilli beef

Portion control is very important so I usually use this size ball to measure.



Because I do not want my meals to look dull I always switch it up, I sometimes have the chilli beef with nachos, yoghurt and cheese. It's so delicious you really should try it if not done so already.

So how do you do your meal planning?

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posted by Anosa @ 02:00   17 Comments

Monday, February 16, 2015

{Food Box} January Degustabox










For the last 7 months I have been receiving the Degusta-Box and I think the January box has definitely tipped of my last favourite box. The January box has everything that I love and use and currently left with the cake mix only which I am preserving for a night-in I am planning with the Mr. I honestly love each and every single product, some new and some old favourites that I had tried and tasted way before Degusta included into the box and still just as happy.
For those who are not overly familiar with Degusta box I will give you a quickie run down.
Degusta is a food box that costs £12.99 every month (payment taken around the 10th and you receive the products around the 25th). Every month you are sent between 10-12 items which can range from snacks to big meal ingredients. Not only do you get this amazing products to try each month you also get coupons for some of the products in the box which I think is awesome. 
The charge includes delivery, this food box is available for Europe and UK only but heard they might be branching out to more countries in the near future.
To find out more about Degustabox and how you could start receiving some goodies as good as mine check out their website. I will not list the products I received but you can find out more on them HERE.
You can check out my other reviews on the Degustabox HERE, HERE and HERE.

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posted by Anosa @ 00:30   13 Comments

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

oh.. Not so wordless wednesday

Hi there and welcome to my oh..so not wordless wednesday, part of this post will be filled with manly pictures and widgets but partly wanted to remind everyone of the 2 ongoing giveaways I have on the blog (unfortunately only open to UK residents) and they close in exactly 4 days. If you in the UK or know someone who is don't hesitate to share this post with them. Please also note the giveaway prizes will be sent by the sponsors and not me, for the books giveaway I will send the winner details to the sponsor.

Meal Planning - cooking my chilli sauce in advance

Chilli beef with cucumber, cheese, natural yoghurt and doritos


Salami Baked breakfast pots

Baked for 20 minutes: Bread, then put salami, drop raw egg in and top with cheese and bake.
New found favourite snack bar

Can't remember the name but was yummy - had them at a blogger event


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posted by Anosa @ 06:05   19 Comments

Saturday, November 29, 2014

{WIAT} A look into my food day



A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on




Hi there and welcome to the 2nd post in the What I Ate Today series, y'all know I am not exactly sharing what I ate today because I am choosing my different 'Today's' to cover the meals I want to share with everyone. My day (food wise) starts with either porridge or cereal which for me is GRANOLA (love this stuff). It usually depends on what time I wake up too because with my insomnia I could sleep at 9pm and be up at 4am which is so not cool when I could have slept three more hours before I need to get busy anywho, if I am up at 4am I will have porridge then when I get to work around 8am I will have some granola to help sustain me through the morning. My lunches usually depend of what I have cooked for the week or what I made that morning, sometimes I am happy to have a light meal like mackerel salad or I will have something heavy like lasagna with a salad on the side plus dessert which is usually yoghurts but when at work I am not a dessert fan any time outside I totally am. When I get back home I usually check my freezer to check if I need to cook new meals or could just defrost the ones I cooked earlier in the week or over the weekend but there times when I just feel like a salad and mackerel usually comes to the rescue or if I don't feel like eating I will bake a small cake for the week and have a piece (I told you I was a dessert fan outside work). And ladies and gents that's a typical day for me these days and I love. The idea of meal planning is so amazing that when I get back home and I am too tired to cook I will just defrost a meal I made already or snap up a quick salad and sometimes just soup with a bread roll is all one needs.


I know we have all different schedules and/or meal plans but what does your typical day look like?

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posted by Anosa @ 00:30   22 Comments

Monday, November 10, 2014

{WIAT} plus Giveaway



As most of you know since I returned from my vacation I made a decision to start cooking again and no more takeaways or eating out every night. This is the best decision I have made in a very long time, I am enjoying cooking so much that its become 2nd nature to me. Today I made my very first lasagne and its yummy I have enough left to carry to work tomorrow. I also baked my first cookies (kinda just mixed things up and added some raspberries and they are too yummy.
I have noticed it is not as hard as I thought to eat healthy, it is so simple and I do not really have to spend an arm and a leg to buy healthy foods. I have noticed Sainsbury actually stock healthy foods on reasonable prices, I have always depended on Aldi and lidl for healthy but cheap foods.

Breakfast -->  I am now a changed person, I eat breakfast at home before I leave for work and if I am rushing I pack either the granola with fruits or the porridge with banana, raisins and honey.
Lunch --> My lunches vary these days but mostly contain some sort of salad, today at work I had beef stew with salad (I know very original but thats how I wanted it).
Dinner --> This also varies, sometimes I feel like eating warm foods and other times I just have a salad which mostly is mackerel salad.
A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on
This giveaway is ongoing until the end of the month, to be in with a chance to win enter my rafflecopter.  a Rafflecopter giveaway


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posted by Anosa @ 20:39   60 Comments

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

{Health Tips} Top 3 Healthy Habits

When you think about healthy habits, what comes to mind? Do you think about your eating habits and question if you are eating healthy enough? Or do you think about the last time you exercise or went to the gym? Or do you completely ignore it because being healthy is different for everybody? I am guilty of these three, I check what I eat when I am talking about being healthy and also ask myself the last time I exercised and not necessary going to the gym but any simple exercise at home. When all else fails then I feel its important to think about my needs and I think 'being healthy' it is different for everyone. Today I will share with you my 3 healthy habits which I am still improving every day.

Cooking 
A long time ago I used to enjoy cooking and creating small but cute little meals in the kitchen, then things changed as I mentioned I went to university and moved in with people who enjoyed cooking and I wanted to take a seat back to be the one that enjoys someone else's cooking for a change. But now that we no longer living together and I am tired of eating ready meals (even if I picked the 'healthier options) I have decided to call upon my old love and start cooking again. My loyal readers remember and have seen me throw up a couple of simple and easy going recipes for the last few weeks and I am just growing stronger.

A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on
Walking
Ever since I left my parent's house for university then for my job I have always lived at least 15-20 walking distance away from the nearest bus stop or train stop to work. This has been a personal decision because I work in an office 9-5 and hardly have time to do any exercise so I figured a 15-20 minute walk to and from work is very beneficial for my health. Obviously at work I do not just sit without moving around but that is more to the kitchen, ladies or photocopier and that is all so I needed to incorporate more into my daily routine.

A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on
Drinking water and sleeping
Those who know me personally know that drinking water is a real struggle, I would rather drink orange juice, Fanta etc than drink water. I will drink water if the meal I am having calls for it or if the water is flavoured, I love flavoured water. Sleeping is very important, especially in this technological era we live in. I have noticed lately that if and when I switch off all my electronics 30 minutes to 1hr before bed I do get a very good nights' sleep and feel refreshed in the morning. If i am refreshed in I have the urge to cook and I am even happier to take the longer route to my bus stop than normal, the opposite is true if I don't get a good nights rest or my insomnia starts to act up.

A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on
Last night I read this article 'Healthy habits aren't just for January' and I think that is so true, every January we make all these resolutions on how we are going to change for the new year and how will start exercising to which most do but by march most have burnt out. This article talks about benefits of walking when you can, planning meals in advance and cutting down on processed foods. What caught my attention was the mention of being 'office active' and what kind of problems you might suffer otherwise 'list not exhaustive'. I work in an office and I always try to spend 5 minutes every hour looking away from my computer screen, I will admit there are times when I forget because I am so caught up in whatever I am doing but is ok once in a while not constantly cause this could lead to eye problems, I know someone who is suffering with this 'looking at computer causes this person's eyes to go red and become painful'.

Being healthy is a personal choice, you only get one body treat it properly and care for it dearly. Only you know what healthy means to you and your body, there so many diseases in the world do not give them the upper hand work and fight for your body's well being. Being healthy does not need to be expensive, buy produce from farmers if possible they are normally cheaper than stores.

What are some of your healthy habits? Do you exercise or eat healthy?

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posted by Anosa @ 08:04   46 Comments

Friday, October 31, 2014

{Recipe} Jacket Potato Lunch + {GIVEAWAY}










You know how you seat and think about lunch way before you meant to like an hour after you just had breakfast? Well that happened to me AGAIN, I was sat enjoying my work busying myself when my tummy was saying lady we need to know what we gonna eat and since I had breakfast late it somehow threw me off balance. Even though I had the time I didn't feel like making my Granola Breakfast or trying any of my Many recipes for breakfast and/or lunch so I had a bagel with herbal tea instead. I wish I was having my Avocado/Banana bagel meal but that was not to be instead my stomach grambled and cried bloody murder.
A photo posted by A July Dreamer (@myrabev) on
Whilst sad contemplating what to have for lunch I remembered I had boiled some eggs this morning for breakfast but forgot to eat then so carried them to work with me as well as some cheese I was gonna use on the jacket potato. I had also on a whim carried my tomato and basil soup which expires today to work with me with the intention of giving it away only to find I was in the office alone AGAIN. Anyway I put on these items together and it hit me I was gonna eat it all so that's how this recipe was born.

Items: Baking Potato, Tomato soup (you can make yourself but I had a bought one), 2 boiled eggs & cheese
Cooking: Microwave the potato for 6 minutes on high, then warm up the soup. Cut the baked potato in 4 and sprinkle the cheese onto whilst the potato is till hot (to allow it to melt) then top it up with the hot tomato soup and add the eggs (descaled ofcourse) as you please and wala you are done.

Let me know what you think of my Jacket potato lunch, also do you get chance to fix up lunch at work?

Now onto the giveaway, I am giving away £15 amazon gift card and 2 medium sized Ad spaces on this blog and A July Dreamer for a whole month. Enter my raffle below, also if you create an account with AliExpressUK you might just be in for a treat. I will be randomly choosing 5 people to receive coupons from  AliExpressUK, all you need to do is register for an account on their website and drop me your e-mail address associated with that account and I will send you the code which am sure you can use to purchase that Christmas present you want to get for that special someone.

Post by Myrabev.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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posted by Anosa @ 00:00   65 Comments