Broccoli biryani

Indian food is one of my favourite cuisines as it is so full of flavour and surprsies, that I am actually entertained by the food I eat! I used to focus on heat rather than flavour and just go for the spiceiest option, but now my tastebuds enjoy a tasteful jalfrezi or balti over a fire burning vindaloo. So why not embrace the culture and give my own recipe a try? Well that is what this bizarre creation turned out to be :)

Ingredients:

Salad

• 1 head of broccoli
• punnet of mushrooms (chestnut are my favourite)
• 350g of spicy cherry peppers (or you can use one red bell pepper)

Sauce

• 4 large vine tomatoes
• 1/2 zucchini/courgette
• 1 very hot chilli
• 2 spring onions
• 1 heaped tsp garam masala (this is what provides that indian flavour sensation)

Instructions 

1. Begin by making the base of your salad, chop and food process the whole head of broccoli until it forms a rice like consistency (sometimes I prefer it fine, sometimes chunky, so just follow your tastebuds!) and place into a seperate bowl.
2. Chop the mushrooms and peppers into bite sized portions and mix with the broccoli 'rice'.
3. Now move onto the best part...the dressing! Finely chop the tomatoes, zucchini, chilli, onions and place into a blender and add the garam masala, simply let your blender do the work! Unfortunately, I do not have this privilege as my blender is in blender heaven ;)  So, I had to hand blend in a bowl, but it is definitely worth it! 
4. Add the dressing to the salad mixture and stir thoroughly until it is all coated with the delicious sauce. You can be civilised and use a spoon to do this, but I personally like to get involved with my food and mix my hands (you get the added bonus of licking your fingers this way!)
5. Et Voila! Enjoy as it is or put in lettuce or collard leaves and make indian tacos (if that even exists.)

Hope this satisfies your indian cravings and you enjoy the flavours! Let me know what you think by joining the google crowd and commenting below, and please inform me what else you would like me to post about! I would love to hear your thoughts and interests. 

10 fun facts about me :D

I thought it was time to do more of a personal post as there is nothing more hypocritical than sharing my opinions without you actually knowing me, I feel I would be unrelateable and unbelivable. So I hope that these silly facts will bring me closer to all of you wonderful human beings that I admire and adore so much. 

10 RANDOM FACTS

1. My full name is Chelsea Louise Little but my nickname is 'Smiley', somehow I am not sure where they got that one from (grin). My mom was actually going to call me 'Summer' which I think is such a beautiful name and is quite appropriate considering I despise the cold and could bathe in the sunshine forever.
2. I have been on a 'Yorkshire Tea' commerical on the television dressed as a teabag, you can youtube it my face is unmissable. I personally think I rock the teabag outfit (not!)
3. I used to have really goofy teeth, then at the age of 10 I was given braces for a year, my teeth aren't perfect but I love them for what they are, and believe me it is a huge improvement from before.
4. I want to go to drama school and study BA Honours in musical theatre, I just love being on the stage singing, acting and dancing the experience is indescribable and just brings me alive. It is the one true place I feel utterly free and indestructable.
5. I once went to 'Nandos' with my best friend painted blue and dressed as a smurf...it was halloween however it was so fun I might do it again!
6. I never used to eat raspberries because they were furry and made me imagine an old wrinkly person in my mouth, strange but I am still struggling to remove that mental image. 
7. I love seeing and experiencing new countries and cultures, I just find it so soul nourishing and invigorating for the mind. I am actually tempted to just leave the pressures, stress, rigidity and commerciality of the generic world and live in an exotic country as a yoga instructor with an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies.
8. If you follow me on instagram you will know that my current addiction is persimmons/sharon fruit. I literally cannot get enough, however I am very impatient and eat them when they are imbetween super squishy and firm. I can managed 2kg in one sitting now :P
9. I am awful with crying at films. I hate to see anyone sad or distressed and it just breaks my heart, I have only watched 'Bambi' once as it literally made my soul weep.
10. I carry vaseline and hand gel everywhere, it is my OCD. Smoothe lips and clean hands are essential!

Well there is a cheeky insight into the strange and random character that is me! I hope you enjoyed reading this post and please keep commenting and emailing, I love to keep in contact with my followers. I also have a postal address if anyone is interested <3

Lots of love and smiles! Be you, it is what makes you so great!

The master curried corn salad

I used to hate salads, but after experimenting with different dressings and flavour combinations, I can't get enough! And this is my all time favourite meal that I have at least 3 times a week because I love it so much. Just call me a corn addict :)

Ingredients

Sauce

• 4 ears of corn (frozen corn works too)
• 1/2 red pepper
• 1/2 zucchini (courgette)
• 2 spring onions
• handful of fresh dill
• 1 chilli pepper
• water to blend (add a bit at a time)

Base

• 1 iceburg lettuce
• 350g cherry tomatoes

Directions

1. I always make the dressing first (but that's because I like to eat it as I make the rest :) If your using the fresh corn then using a sharp knife remove from the cob and place in the blender. If your using frozen then soak required amount in luke warm water to defrost without cooking it.
2. Chop the pepper, zucchini, spring onions and chilli into smaller chunks and add to corn.
3. Simply tear the dill off the stems so you don't have huge strips.
4. Add 1/4-1/2 a cup of water before blending to ease the process and create a sauce consistency (you can add more if needed but it's best to start of with less.)
5. I use a food processor to make my sauce because I like it a bit chunky, but you can also use a blender to make it thinner depending on your tastes.
6. The base is simple, chop the lettuce into chunks and place in a bowl with the cherry tomatoes which I cut in half (the juice oozes out and adds extra flavour).
7. Voila! You are done.

I enjoy a lot of sauce so this may to be much for you but adapt the quantites to what you desire. This sauce is so easily manipulated you could create a variety of dishes:

• on top of zucchini noodles with your favourite veggies
• as a raw soup, let's call it 'corn chowder' raw vegan style
• as a healthy dip for potato wedges, veggies, tortilla chips whatever you fancy

This is my favourite recipe and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Comment below on your thoughts and tag me in your picture on instagram if you try it @smiletohealth.

My Epiphany

For the entirety of my life I have been in pursuit for perfection, whether that was full marks on my spellings test or being the best at making a cup of tea (which, not being biased but I most certainly am. It's all about the technique.) At first this appeared to be ambition, a self drive for the best in life, little did I know that it would lead to my own destruction.

PERFECTION...does it really exist? I used to think so, and still struggle with this perpetual need to achieve sometimes but the difference is I have learnt. I now know the truth. Perfection doesn't exist, there is no perfect mark, no perfect weight, no perfect pathway in life; that allusive word is false and misleads our minds onto a path of disappointment as we never reach that finishing line and always strive for live.

So why does the word exist? Let's call it an idealism, a method to give people motivation to strive for the best rather than hover in contentment. Don't get me wrong, I am all for striving for the best, but why does life have to be a competition? Not only with each other, but with the world and ourselves? Why don't we instead, strive to achieve our personal best, and what makes us happy and healthy in life rather than what someone else says is 'perfect'? Each of us were created as an indivdual being of light, possibility and beauty, our individual quirks, talents and personality defining the unique and wonderful creatures we are! So instead of punishing yourself and focusing on what you lack or struggle with in life, let us join together and appreciate what we do have! 

How does this apply to me? Recently I have really been struggling with fear of the future, I have missed out on so many opportunites and enjoyment in life down to a horrible disease that I was unfortunate to succumb too, and for four years I have allowed that disease to define and overtake me and my life. As I struggled with mental anxiety, self criticism and a battle between a disease and the desire to lose weight, life lost all of its enjoyment to the point I lost all reason to strive for health. 

But NOT anymore! 

It took all those tears, all those missed opportunities all those self destructions for me to learn and understand that there is no perfect way to do anything in life, and that 'perfect' is doing what is best for you in order to be happy and healthy and living your dreams. Ofcourse it is challenging and I constantly compare myself to others, and fear that I am not things the 'correct' way, but then I remind myself I am doing what my body and soul desire and that is perfection in my eyes. Live your own perfect life not anyone elses. 

I am 18, and currently taking a sebatical from college until September, when I will finish my A levels and then go on to drama school which is what I want to pursue. Does it make me stupid? Does it make me a failure? NO! I am taking the time to find myself, regain weight and health and learn to control my anxiety and enjoy my life rather than using it as a self punishment. And do you know what? I have never been happier! Ofcourse it can be soul destroying feeling like a couch potato sat around stuck in the house all day, or that your lazing around not doing work 24 7, but I have my own work to do at the minute and that is finding myself. And today and the next day, that is my mission! I am going to return to college happy and healthy and strong, and perfection? Well perfection can go back to that illusionary cloud it fell off because I don't need impossibility in my life. I am all about possibility!

Negativity...who needs it?

Recently I have been struggling with a wave of negativity which has sent me into a state of misery and 'blues', as I battle with accepting myself and making decisions, losing faith in all that I know and believe. Why is this? Because I allowed other people's negativity and criticisms to bring a raincloud onto my day rather than radiating through and pentrating their darkness, continuing to enjoy my own light which has taken me so long to develop. I am not the kind of person to name names, or to return the negativity because where does that get us in life? Negativity will always be around us and it is about learning how to cope with and use it to your advantage rather than succumbing and allowing it to control your life.

Over the years, after constantly and still to an extent struggling with low self esteem and severe self criticism, I morphed from a glowing, smiley girl into a mechanical, miserable mannekin (my english teacher would be proud of my alliteration there, sorry english literature nerd aha ), losing all enjoyment from the pleasures and opportunities the world has to offer. However, I have developed a series of coping mechanisms I would like to share with fellow sufferers to bring that sunshine back to your day! It takes commitment and it is hard work, but it is definitely worth it! Ofcourse we are allowed to be miserable but why should we spend our lives that way? Let us see the best out of a bad situation! 

Coping mechanisms:

• start a positivity journal, filling it with things that make you smile or inspire you. This could be a family photo, a quote you like, a message from a friend, anything that you can turn too to remind you that life isn't as bad as it seems.
• physically write down your negative thoughts and evaluate them. This is for all the critical thinkers out there. List your negative thoughts on one side of the page, then next to them in a different colour (more visual and exciting like life itself) write a postive twise on that negativity e.g. NEGATIVE= someone said I have a big nose POSITIVE= I love my nose, it is unique to me and makes me beautiful.
• distract yourself! Take a bubble bath, phone a friend, watch a film, whatever helps you wind down, relax and think more logically because in a state of anxiety it is impossible to think properly. 
• laugh! as silly as it sounds just laugh. You will feel ridiculous which will make you realise how ridiculous the situation is and return to your normal self.

And most importantly...

Y.A.K

You, Always, Know

One of my dearest friends who has helped me so much in establishing the positive, stronger me that lives my life rather than fearing it, said this to me and at first I just laughed. It sounds ridiculous but it is my new mantra for life!

What does it mean? Have faith in yourself and want you feel is right, 'listen to your gut' as they say and don't ever change for anyone, do what you love, live the life you want to live and those who are your true supporters will love and encourage you along the way.

I hope this post was beneficial to you all and please create a google account so that you can comment with feedback on the blog, if not head to my 'get in touch' page and you will find my contact details there. 

Lots of love and smiles you to all and don't forget to keep smiling <3

Magic minty pea dressing

Being new to eating more raw food, my knowledge of raw food creations is pretty limited so I tend to make the same recipes as they are what I feel comfortable with. But not anymore! I've decided to be more rebellious and free spirited and stumbled across this wonderful dressing that goes great with anything but I particularly love with zucchini noodles.

 Ingredients

• 2.5 cups peas (mine were defrosted from frozen but you can cook if you prefer)
• 5-8 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 red onion chopped
• 1 large hot chilli (alter according to how much spice you like)
• 1/2 lime juiced

This recipe is so quick and simple it is ridiculous! You simply place all the ingredients in a blender and whizz it up! I like to leave it slighty chunky but you can make it into more of a puree. 

Hints and tips

• to defrost the peas quickly simply place in a bowl with luke warm water for a few mins it works a charm.
• to prevent your eyes running when chopping the onion dab underneath your eyes with a damp cloth.
• DON'T touch anything sensitive i.e. your eyes after chopping the chilli it will burn!

 Et Voila!

One of my favourite ways to enjoy this dressing is over zucchini pasta! Simply julienne 4-6 large zucchinis and mix with 2 cups of plum tomatoes, mix in the dressing and your done!

Other ideas:

• make it a starter as a soup, adding chooped tomatoes and zucchini to create that rustic effect
• makes a great dip for vegetable crudites
• goes well in a giant salad with lots of lettuce and all of your favourite vegetables
• try it with a rawtill4 meal on top of jacket or steamed potatoes, or an alternative dressing for noodles, rice or pasta

Experiment, have fun and enjoy! Comment below on your thoughts of this recipe and tag me on instagram if you try it my name is @smiletohealth. Don't forget the 'get in touch' page, I'd love to recieve more emails from such a wonderful opportunity and I am always up for any post arrivals :)

 

Lush product review!

When I first transtitioned to a vegan lifestyle I only applied it to my diet and was unaware of how much of our daily lifestyle it actually involves. A particular aspect of this is cosmetics, and when I looked on the back of my foundation bottle the long list of chemicals was appaling! How can I be living naturally if I was putting all these chemicals on my skin? Not to mention the horrific ways in which they were tested!

So I began looking around for all natural vegan products and stumbled across 'LUSH', a place I had always loved for their creative and natural bath bombs but little did I realise they did makeup too! On enetering the store I had never met more friendly people who were so willing to help, and we actually began disccusing our passion for animal protection as everyone who works in store is vegetarian and vegan. It was heart warming to be surrounded by people with a pride in their products and the world around them.

Anyway... (I babble a lot sorry, I guess I like to write)

All products are free of harsh chemicals, sensitive on the skin and naturally fragranced to leave you feeling beautiful! I was so gratefull they were able to recommend products they have used themselves as well as what works best for my skin type. Plus, it was far more affordable than your usual makeup, I only spent £30 on the foundation, mascara, blusher and tooth tabs when I used to spend that much just on my foundation! 

So what do I think?

Foundation: I mix a bit of this with an all natural mosituriser I use every morning (I suffer from dried skin due to having severe eczema as a child) and it gives a light but even coverage that blends perfectly with my complexion and doesn't give that 'caked on' look. They had so many different shades so it will be easy to find the right one for you!

Mascara: Often mascara was the only thing I used to wear as I take pride in my eyes and like to exaggerate them, however typical mascaras left my eyes itchy for days or always used to clog up on the ends of my lashes. Not this one! I have honestly never used a mascara that doesn't give me that horrid discomfort! It gives a lovely all natural look but you would have to layer it on thick if you desire a bolder look.

Blusher: Don't you just hate that grainy effect? Well this blusher is a cream that you rub into your cheeks and get an adorable little rosy glow. However, be careful how much you apply you don't need much and on my first attempt I looked like a clown aha :) 

Toothy tabs: I have always been super paranoid about my teeth since having really goofy teeth and braces when I was younger, so this all vegan toothpaste is brilliant. It's so easy to use and I no longer have to use mouthwash! They have loads of different flavours but I played it safe with the minty one as didn't want to risk a cinnamon one first thing aha! All you do is bite one tab between your two front teeth then brush with a wet toothbrush, simple!

I'm not sure if you can purchase Lush products in all countries but it is definitely worth taking a look! And I will keep you updated on what other products I try, I am definitely tempted by the all natural shampoos and conditioners. 

What produtcs do you love? Comment below I would love to hear about them and maybe trial them myself x