Tabbouleh with Halloumi

I would like to apologies, because the weather is getting cooler, and I'm still giving you salad recipes. Oh, and the theme of salads with cheese, so apologies in advance if you don't like the sight of cheese, but then why are you even reading my blog. Haloumi is quickly rising in the ranks of favourite cheeses, its just so salty and warm and just so good: I've been finding ways of eating with something middle eastern, instead of just eating it on its own. Luckily I love tabbouleh, so I made it to have an excuse to eat more halloumi!!

So, in an attempt to say goodbye the summer weather and salads, i decided to make this salad. If you have been reading my blog for a while then you'll know that the weather won't stop me eating salads, but it certainly slows me down a bit!

It's Definitely one of my favourite salads as it's so fresh and herby. Plus it's super filling too. I personally love to eat it at lunch or as a light dinner, but if want a more substantial meal, serve with lamb. If you don't like halloumi feel free to remove it.

Ingredients

150g bulgur wheat
2 bunches of mint (100g each), stalks removed
1  large bunch flat leaf parsley (150g)
600g large tomatoes
1/2 red onion
2 lemon, juice and zest 
9 tsp olive oil
salt & pepper

Halloumi 


1. cook the bulgur wheat until tender, drain
2. whilst its cooking, chop the parsley and mint
3. add in the chopped tomatoes, and finely chopped red onion
4. add in the bulgur wheat, along with the lemon juice, zest and olive oil. season to taste.set aside
5. meanwhile, on a hot pan, grill the halloumi until golden brown on both sides.
6. once the halloumi is cooked, serve and enjoy

Raw Flapjack Squares

If you wanted a quick and healthy, but filling snack, then nothing fits the bill more perfectly than this. Perfect for making the night before, then chucking it in your bag in the morning. Before eating it as your lunch, on the train home, because people consistently don't give you a break ,and you end up eating lunch at home around 5, which is almost tea time. So this is the perfect snack, to keep back the hunger, without missing tea. 

As you can see in the photos i did two versions of this: One, i left the oats whole, to give more of a bite, and make it more flapjack like; Two, i blended the oats up finer to make oat flour, and make it more like a soft oaty cookie. 

I used chocolate chips in one of the bars, but not in the other, and can't say which i preferred, just what i was in the mood for. If you don't like chocolate, but still want to add something in, dried fruit such as apricot would work well, or if you're on of those extremely healthy types, add in seeds such as sesame or chia.

Ingredients

2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp almond milk or other dairy free milk (i used oat)
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup oat flour (i just blended the same amount of oats up, until fine)
3/4 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup chocolate chips/ chunks 

1. melt the coconut oil
2. stir in the milk and sugar
3. mix in the flour, almonds and chocolate if using
4. press flat between greaseproof paper, and pop in the fridge until firm
5. cut into squares or bars, then keep in the fridge until consumed 

Coconut and Chocolate Balls

Continuing with the recent coconut obsession; Which is healthy right? Perfect, accompanied by (several) an episode of Orphan Black, (the rediscovered unhealthy obsession!); or TV episode of your choice. The dark chocolate, makes them seem extremely healthy, even though they're not really, which may have resulted, in them being eaten extraordinarily quickly; which may, or may not have been consumed at breakfast.

To make them healthier they are coated in dark chocolate, but milk would also work well, especially you prefer things sweeter, as the coconut isn't that sweet. Or if you really want to push the boat out, dipping it half and half, would look pretty. Or if your giving these away as a gift, drizzling them with white chocolate would look great too. 

I kept the dessicated coconut the same size, but feel free to blend it up finer,to make it more like a bounty bar. If you want something a bit different try adding zest of one lime, its really good trust me. Or if you love chocolate, adding cocoa powder would make a healthier version of chocolate rough, add more coconut oil, as it will make the mixture drier. 

Ingredients

1 cup desiccated coconut
2 tbsp honey/maple syrup or similar
2 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
100g dark chocolate, melted

1. melt the coconut oil, and mix in the honey or syrup
2. stir in the coconut, and press into balls( i let the mixture firm up a little, in the fridge before rolling)
3. once the balls are made, place in the fridge to firm up completely, about 30mins
4. once set, dip in the melted chocolate, coating the surface
5. chill until set