Gluten-Free Chickpea Coconut Curry Recipe

Gluten-Free Chickpea Coconut Curry Recipe

Sunday 29 January 2017

I love a good curry and being a studentI have found that this one is easy to make and fairly cheap as well. You could also add broccoli and potatoe if you wanted more variety.

Chickpea Coconut Curry

Serves: 4

Time: 20 Minutes

Ingredients:

2 cans of drained chickpeas

1 cup shredded coconut

1 onion

3tsp garlic

3tsp ginger

4tsp coriander

2tsp fennel seeds

1tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp turmeric

2 tomatoes

1 can tomatoes

1tsp salt

¼ cup water

1 can coconut cream

Method:

1   Heat a frying pan over medium to high heat. Place all of the shredded coconut into the pan lightly toasting, stirring occasionally to ensure it doesn’t burn. Add the water eventually the coconut will break down although this does take time (if you are impatient like me, you can just use the toasted shredded coconut.) once

  

2 Add the onion, garlic, ginger and cook until translucent.

3 Add the ground spices and mix together, for about a minute for everything to be mixed together. Add tomatoes and a splash of water and cook until the tomatoes are tender, this will take approximately five minutes depending on how hard the tomatoes are. If there are still bits left mash them with a fork.

4 Add the shredded coconut mix, and chickpeas giving them all a stir around then add the coconut cream stirring to ensure it is all mixed together.

5  Let simmer for 5 to ten minutes and serve with rice.

What is your favourite curry recipe? Have you tried this one?

Let me know in the comments below.

Defining My Faith // January 2016 | New Year, Same Me

Defining My Faith // January 2016 | New Year, Same Me

Wednesday 25 January 2017

I am taking a deep breathe as I start to write this post as I don't know how it is going to go. I have no structure or plan. I do know roughly what I want to talk about but that could honestly go in any direction so please bare with me.

I am not religious. I feel like that is a bold statement especially because thats the main topic of this pot but hear me out. I don't define myself as religious in any way, shape or form. You may disagree but i don't care. I don't define myself as religious because to me that sounds cult like and to be honest something I don't want to be apart of. I do however have faith, 100% believe in God. Don't get me wrong I have my moments of doubt but we all do. None of us are perfect and I definitely at times have doubt that God is real.

If you had asked me 2 years ago if i believed in God or had faith I would have black out said no. 8 years ago i would have said yes and now I also say yes. So why the shift from yes to no and back to yes. I was bought up as Christian and as I got older I didn't agree with some of the idea that were bought up around me, I also had events occur in my private life that I didn't understand why God would let that happen. After a lot of education and developing my own thoughts about certain topics I have come to the decision that I do have faith and I do believe in God.

In the last 6 months my faith has got stronger and it is stronger than it has ever been. I have had interactions that have made my faith stronger, I have also attended 'events' that have made my faith stronger and that is something I will never be ashamed of. This year I want to expand my faith more, I want to start going to church which is another topic that is more complicated than it may seem from the outside but it is something I will potentially do a blog post on.

What is your stance on religion? What are your beliefs? 

Let me know in the comments below. (Please be respectful of other people)

Mental Health Goals // January 2016 | New Year, New Me

Mental Health Goals // January 2016 | New Year, New Me

Sunday 22 January 2017

My Mental Health is obviously important, as is everybodies! This year I want to continue to kick ass with my mental health and continue to improve it. This year I said goodbye to depression, while I am sure that I will at some point have depression again, I am currently depression free. I also have my PTSD under control which is excited. Don't get me wrong though there is definitely some things I still won't do and other things I struggle to do but in 2016 I definitely achieved things I didn't think I would in terms of my mental health.

This year I want to continue to talk to you guys about mental health and how it can effect people. Mental Health education is super important and therefore something I want to be talking about more. Last year I posted a depression post that I worked with the mental health foundation on. I want to continue to work with them to release more blog posts educated you all. I also want to talk publicly about my own struggle with mental health both on my blog and other public platforms, I want to do this because I feel as though hearing other peoples stories has helped me and could potentially help others.

My own personal mental health isn't really something I talk about. This is because I am a fairly private person and don't like going into details it is also something that is obviously hard to talk about. I want to talk to you guys about the things I have struggled with and continue to struggle with. I will talk to you all about my diagnosis, and what my mental health means in terms of my feelings and all that. I also want to open up to you all about why i don't talk about it, and why I find it such a taboo subject. I feel like there is some obvious reasons however there is also other personal things that I don't talk about often and I only once publicly spoken about (which I have since deleted the instagram post). My mental health has improved an amazing amount in 2016 ad is something I want to keep improving. I am currently seeing a therapist and I have that funded till November which I will definitely keep going to because it has helped me in ways I never thought possible. I also want to talk to you all about going to therapy and my opinions on it because it is a little more complicated than it may seem.

What is your stance on mental health? Is it something you have struggled with?

Let me know in the comments below.

Getting Fit and Healthy

Getting Fit and Healthy

Wednesday 18 January 2017

Follow my blog with Bloglovin This is going to be a series of 'New Year, Same Me' so you will be able to find all my resolution and goal posts under 'New Year, Same Me' tab under categories.
You can check out the post that I talk about my new years resolutions here and my 2017 bucket list here.

Getting fit has been something I have wanted to do for a while. I use to be fit, play sport, go running and all of that crap, but I got depression and all of that stopped and that is literally my only excuse. Fitness to me is being able to do what you want when you want. Going on a run Sunday Morning because you can and want to. Just being able to do shit without thinking will I die? (Sorry, just being real).

This is complicated, okay not really but whatever. I want to start eating whole healthy foods. I also want to cut out red meat (eventually white, and seafood etc.) and slowly eventually making my way to plant based. I don't know if that will happen but it is something that I at this very moment in time want to do. In a year or 3 months if I don't want to anyone I won't but at the moment I am heading that direction. I am currently full of dairy and meaty goodness, and am taking SMALL steps. For example I am attempting to make the rest of January a red meat free zone (bare in mind I am writing this on the 7th so don't go saying its only a week) I will see how that goes then carry out or change or whatever I decide. I have already cut out junk food (homemade pizza doesn't count, so shut up). Good things take time and changing my diet overnight isn't something I plan to do.

In terms of fitness I am starting to walk a few times a week, I also have plans to do a 12km walk or run (haven't decided yet) this year which gives me something to work towards. I am excited to be at the same fitness point I was at  a few years ago. I want to go out and explore different places by foot and just live life and be happy and all that crap. I am also going to start at home yoga and pilates to help with that whole thang.

I feel like people that know me are going to be like it also wouldn't kill you to loose a few kgs. Yes ok I know I have gained weight in the last few years. I KNOW. Obviously, this is something that will happen as I get healthy and fitter but in all complete honesty it's not something I am like this is what I want to do. I want to be happy, healthy and fit. I want to feel good and I would be happy loosing weight but at the end of the day just because I loose weight doesn't mean that I will instantly be happy. Happiness I think will come with being healthy and fit, which to me is more important.

If you have any advice or are on a health and fitness journey as well feel free to flick me an email at paigemargaretblog@gmail.com and pop HEALTH AND FITNESS, NEW YEAR in the subject thing.

Do you have any health and fitness goals for this year, if so what are they?

Let me know in the comments below.

Creating A Cruelty Free Make Up Bag

Creating A Cruelty Free Make Up Bag

Sunday 15 January 2017

Another one of my goals this year that I haven't spoken about on my blog is being cruelty-free, in terms of beauty products (eventually vegan, however, good things take time and isn't something I plan on doing straight away). I have no idea what of my current beauty products are cruelty-free, but I definitely want to make my beauty a little less cruel. While I'm not going to throw any products out when it comes to needing to buy new stuff I am going to buy cruelty-free. I thought I would share with you a list of the brands that I currently use and whether they are cruelty-free or not.

If they have YES next to them they are cruelty free, and if NO they are not. If there is anything else written next to them they also have an explanation.

Chanel - NO this one I'm really sad about because I use their CC cream and I love it my favourite eyeshadow is also a Chanel (which have about two uses left) thus, I am going to have to find a new favourite make-up brand.

Elizabeth Arden- SORT OF, I am also really sad about this one! While Elizabeth Arden is cruelty-free they do state that they test on animals where required by law, they also sell in China which means they do test on animals. I won't be repurchasing this brand. I love the eight-hour cream and some of my favourite products are from Elizabeth Arden but it isn't worth it!

Real Techniques - YES! I was so pleased about this because I love the brushes so much!

Nutrimetics- YES

Natio - YES

Rimmel London- NO

Australis - YES

Formula 10.0.6- YES (Thank Goodness)

ColourPop- YES

Covergirl- NO

Revlon- SORT OF, This is another brand that claims it is cruelty-free however they sell in China where it is required by law to test on animals, so no it isn't.

e.l.f.- YES

Za - YES

Tanya Burr Cosmetics- YES

These are just some of my beauty product brands that I currently own and in all honesty I am pleasantly surprised while there are companies I am extremely disappointed in *Cough* Chanel *Cough* and others I was disappointed that they sold in China, although Elizabeth Arden is working with organizations they still sell in China which they can't really defend themselves on. You can check out their statement here.

**After writing this post I have decided to get rid of my beauty products that aren't cruelty-free (bye, bye Chanel), I am however keeping my Elizabeth Arden products until they are all used. This is because of the amount of Elizabeth Arden and the cost of Elizabeth Arden I have. I will NOT be repurchasing Elizabeth Arden until they are cruelty-free. I am also going to be getting rid of the products that I am not sure of.

For a list of products that are cruelty-free visit logicalharmony.net

Did any of these brands surprise you? Are your beauty products cruelty-free?

Let me know in the comments below.

Healthy Summer Breakfasts with Recipes

Healthy Summer Breakfasts with Recipes

Friday 13 January 2017

Here are my five delicious, cheap and healthy breakfasts that are great for everyday!

Pink Summer Smoothie

1 Cup Strawberries

3/4 Cup Frozen Berries

3/4 Cup Coconut Water

3/4 Coconut Milk

1/2 Cup Chopped Pineapple (Frozen works, but fresh is better)

1 Small Beetroot (Tinned works)

Blend them altogether and enjoy!

Fruit

A great quick and easy breakfast is different fruits all sliced up together. It's also a super refreshing and light breakfast which makes it great for every day.

Christmas Oats

Ingredients:

¼ tsp Cinnamon

¼ tsp Ground cloves

¼ tsp Allspice

¼ tsp Ground Ginger

¼ tsp Nutmeg

1 tsp Vanilla essence

1 Cup Oats

Directions:

1.     Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or container, and soread evenly on a baking tray

2.     Bake on 250C for 20 minutes

3.    Cool, and place in a bowl adding milk and toppings (if desired) these can include berries, fruit, seeds, or nuts. A special treat can include grated dark chocolate. Then, enjoy!

Pancakes:

Ingredients:

2 eggs

½ tsp Cinnamon

½ cup ground oats

1 small banana

1 tsp almond butter

Directions:

1.     Blend all the ingredients together, adding more water if needed.

2.      Then heat a skillet or frying pan to medium heat with almond butter and cook.

3.     Plate, add desired toppings and enjoy.

Smoothie:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut water

½ cup water

½ cup oats

150gm Berries

Directions:

1.     Blend together all the ingredients.

2.     Pour in a glass and serve!

What are your favourite summer breakfasts? Have you tried any of these?

Let me know in the comments below.