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Fresh As A Daisy, Belfast (2025)

17/01/2024

“Snow Day’s “are the kind of day’s that are made for creating comfort food classics. I haven’t made a Shepherd’s pie since last winter, so it was the first meal I wanted, when the weather man predicted snow. It is the ultimate, indulgent, winter dinner.
This is an easy recipe to create but it is not a fast meal, there are a few hour’s cooking in this meal, & the results are worth every minute. I have noticed a trend towards quick, minimal effort, 5 ingredient recipes, under 500 calories & I understand why these types of easy & fast meals would be popular to people. I can make a meal in 15 minutes myself out of the basics.

But I love the depth of flavour & satisfaction that I get from taking the time to make a “Back to My Root’s” traditional meal. Like this Shepherd’s pie that my sister loved me to cook for her, bringing back precious memories of family time at the kitchen table. She would have turned 50 today & yesterday was a day for me to slow down & remember her in the best way I know how, in food memories. She loved her food, but refused to cook. That was her big Sister's job & all of my best memories of her involve food. ❤

This recipe makes 4 hearty servings & I always serve it with a selection of greens.

500g Beef
1 Large Onion finely diced
3 Cloves of Garlic, Grated.
1 Bag Diced Carrots & Swede
Cup of Frozen Petits Pois
2 tbsp Tomato Puree
2 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce (or more according to taste)
200ml Red Wine
1 tsp of dried mixed herbs/ 1 dried bay leaf
1 Knorr Beef Stockpot
1 Beef Oxo Cube
1 Tbsp of Olive Oil
Handful of finely chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper to season.

For the Cheese & Onion Mash
1 Kg of Maris Piper Potatoes peeled and quartered.
250ml of Full Fat Milk
2 tbsp’s of Lurpak Butter
6 spring onions, washed, peeled, & finely diced.
200g’s of grated Mature Cheddar Cheese.
Sea Salt.

How To:
Start by browning the mince in a pot and draining any excess fat into a colander. Clean the pot add the olive oil, heat medium & soften the onion. Add the garlic & cook for a minute, on a low heat.

Add the mince back into pot, & mix ingredients together. Add red wine & simmer for 5 minutes. Add the diced carrot & swede, mixed herbs, bay leaf, tomato puree, Worcestershire sauce, & beef stock pot. Stir all the ingredients together and top with warm water, bring the temperature up to a simmer & cook for 15 minutes. Add the beef oxo cube and top up with more water, season with salt and pepper & simmer gently for 20 mins or until the stock has reduced.

Meanwhile, add the potatoes to a large pot, top with water, & sea salt. Cover the pot & bring the potatoes to the boil & simmer until they are tender. Add the milk, butter, & spring onions to a small pot and heat on low until the butter has melted. Add ingredients to the drained potatoes & mash until smooth.

Preheat the oven to 180* & add the peas to the mince mixture. Transfer the filling to a casserole dish, I used a 10 x 8 inch, deep filled pie dish. Allow the filling to cool a little, before adding the mash in small batches across the filling with a tablespoon. Sprinkle with the cheese and fluff up the mash with the tip of a fork. This will give you the crunchy topping, this is the winning at life part!!. Add the chopped parsley & any extra diced spring onions. Transfer the dish to the oven & bake for 20 mins until golden & bubbling.

Serve warm with seasonal greens & take all the credit you deserve from your family & get someone else to do the dishes 😊 ❤

06/12/2023

It is officially Festive Season & I have some availability left for Christmas Graze Boxes. I have been taking pre-orders for these boxes of deliciousness from September. I have added some pictures to show the excellent quality & high standard of presentation they include.

I combine all the best flavours of the Mediterranean, along with the finest locally sourced produce. Every element of the Graze Boxes are created to bring customers the best quality, with stunning flavours that marry together perfectly. So, whether you need a large box for a big family or work celebration, or a small gift box to treat a friend, you can rest assured no one will be disappointed. Graze Boxes come in 3 styles, Picnic Graze Style, Classic Charcuterie & Cheese, & Vegetarian.

Gourmet Festive Picnic Graze Contents:

Salami Milano & Spanish Chorizo Slices, Mixed Hard & Soft, Gourmet Irish & Continental Cheese Selection. Honey Glazed Cocktail Sausages, Mini Pork Pies, Sundried Tomatoes, Feta Stuffed Peppers, Artisan Crackers, Farmhouse Bread. Caramelised Red Onion & Roasted Tomato Chutney’s, Italian Pesto, Mixed Nuts, Mini Pretzels, Fresh Grapes & Berries. Festive Chocolate Truffles, Irish Fudge, Chocolate Orange Popcorn & Decorated with Fresh Thyme Leaves.

Small £30 (Serves 1-2)
Medium £35 (Serves 3-4)
Large £60 (Serves 4-6)
Xtra Large available, price on request.

Classic Savoury Charcuterie Graze Contents:

Salami Milano & Spanish Chorizo Slices, Mixed Hard & Soft, Gourmet Irish & Continental Cheese Selection. Sundried Tomatoes, Feta Stuffed Peppers, Artisan Crackers, Caramelised Red Onion & Roasted Tomato Chutney’s, Mixed Nuts, Pretzels, & Fresh Grapes & Berries.

Small £25.00 (Serves 1-2)
Medium £30.00 (Serves 2/3)
Large £50 (Serves 3-6)

Festive Vegetarian Graze Contents:

Chargrilled Peppers, Sunblush Tomato’s, Varied Selection of Gourmet Hard & Soft Cheese, Mixed Olives, Mixed Fruits, Artisan Bread & Crackers, Pretzels, Mixed Nuts, Irish Fudge Bites, Chocolate Truffles, Popcorn & includes a selection of Chutney, Relish & Pesto Dips.

Small £25.00 (Serves 1-2)
Medium £30.00 (Serves 2/3)
Large £50 (Serves 3-6)

Grazes are available from Friday the 8th of Dec, 48 hours’ notice is required for orders. Christmas Day and Boxing Day grazes are collected Christmas Eve, however there is limited availability left for Xmas eve, so book early. New Years Eve & New Years Day Boxes are collected Sunday 31st of Dec.

Collection times are strictly between 12pm-3 pm on Christmas Eve & NYE, most delivery slots for Christmas weekend have already been booked but ask if there is delivery available in your area if you need one. A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking, to confirm your order. Just drop me a DM with your choice of graze box, the size and collection/delivery date.

Many Thanks & Merry Christmas X ❤🌼

12/11/2023

When your Mummy is a wee sick note and all she wants is “Sunday Soup”, also known as Chicken Broth, & the tradition in our house was to add quarters of boiled Irish white potato. This was the first soup I learnt how to make, along with most daughters in Belfast. It took me many years for it to taste as good as the one my mummy made, every weekend in winter. I still be nervous making it for her, as she will be the first to tell me, if it needs more seasoning, longer cooking time on the soup mix, more leek’s etc. I respect that, it’s her recipe & my granny’s before that. Though, I sneak in a few cloves of grated garlic, she hasn’t complained yet. A bowl of broth in winter, makes everything better. This is what I love about food, cooking & nutrition, the healing power, the shared memories, the family tradition’s, the simplicity & the love.

EDIT: For the people asking for Mummy’s soup recipe.

Recipe:
1 Measuring Cup of Buchanan’s Soup Mix (Steep Overnight in a large bowl of cold water)
1 Large Bag of prechopped Vegetable Soup Veg (Rinsed in Colander))
2 Large Leeks, washed, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Diced Chicken Breasts or 4 Chicken Thighs, skin on. (Thigh on the bone adds more flavour)
Sea Salt & Ground White Pepper

Optional:
4 cloves of garlic grated
1 Knorr Low Sodium Chicken Stock Pot
Boiled white Pot’s cut into quarters.

Method:
Rinse the soup mix in a colander under cold water for around 15 mins to remove any excess starch.
Add the soup mix to a large pot, I used a 4 litre size. Add cold water, up to the middle of the pot & add salt to taste. Bring to the boil and simmer on a medium heat for around an hour.
Add the Chicken, Vegetables, Leeks & Garlic & top up the water so that all the ingredients are covered. I add more salt & a good dash of the white pepper at this point. Simmer on low for 1 ½ /2 hours, topping up the water if needed. If you are adding the pot’s I cook these separately around 30 mins before the end of cooking time.

Thanks very much for the comments, Mummy is delighted. X

🌼

10/11/2023

When your memories remind you that your Pop UP deli was Top Tier. I remember testing these for 2 weeks to perfect the perfect flavour combo’s and texture. I also remember the day after they went up on my Insta Story, 2 guy’s walking in during the lunch time rush, and ordering 6 Festive Clubs and 8 Festive Wraps. My face, thankfully they were happy to come back in a half hour to collect them. Good times.

The Festive Club contains all the usual's, Sliced Turkey, Pork Sage & Onion Stuffing, President Brie, Smoked Maple Bacon, Ballymaloe Relish, Heirloom Tom’s, Romaine Lettuce & Mayo. There is no reinvention of the wheel here, just simple & delicious Christmas Flavour's we all love. The Beetroot, Carrot, Apple & Orange Juice was the perfect pairing to accompany the rich flavours of the sandwich.

This Festive Club is so easy to create at home, without the hassle of what we did in the deli, like cooking turkey crowns & making stuffing from scratch. Though, premium bread is essential, I used The Yellow Door Bakery Sundried Tom Bread in the deli. But at home I use the M&S Farmhouse White loaf for the toast.

I would also recommend using M&S sage & onion stuffing, maple cured streaky bacon & their sliced smoked deli Turkey for convenience. All you have to cook is the stuffing and the bacon, do that the night before, so all you have to do the next day is slice your tomato’s, & brie, toast the bread and assemble. The key is to have all the ingredients ready for when the bread comes out of the toaster.

• Toast Bread until golden and butter 1 side. Spread Mayo onto the 1st & the 3rd slice, adding a generous spread of relish to the middle slice. Add sliced lettuce, tomatoes, and stuffing to the first slice.
• Top with the 2nd slice of toast and add the turkey and smoked bacon, top with the last slice of toast.
• Using a sharp knife cut into quarters and serve.

It’s that’s easy & well worth a little pre-prep to create the perfect Festive Sandwich at home.

❤️❤️❤️

23/10/2023

It’s that time of the year, when most of us start thinking about Christmas & the dinner has always been the main event in my house. I roasted a chicken yesterday using a method I picked up many years ago, from a Jamie or Nigella, Christmas cooking series. Turkey can be a dry meat, as it’s low in fat, so keeping it moist & packing in flavour is essential. This method is so simple & effective, it creates succulent meat with a crispy skin and the flavours from the bacon, garlic, herbs, and lemon infuse through the meat, perfectly. I also use the stock from the roasting tray to make a gravy & again the flavours in the meat, bring a delicious dimension to that.
Give it a test run with a Roast Chicken before Christmas, the butter stuffing can be made up 2/3 days in advance of cooking the Turkey, saving on preparation time.

For a large chicken I used:
¼ Cup of Lurpak Butter
The Zest of 1 Lemon
4 Peeled Garlic Cloves
2 Slices of Smoked Back Bacon
A handful of Fresh Thyme Leaves

I added all the ingredients to a mini processor/chopper and pulsed for 30 seconds. This blends all the ingredients & flavours together to make a smooth flavoured butter.

To stuff under the skin of the Chicken/ Turkey, I used a sharp knife to loosen under the skin of the breast. Next using a dessert spoon, I added small pats of the butter up into the skin pushing the butter up into the breast using the back of the spoon. I had a little extra, so I just add that to the outer skin. This will take a little while with a large turkey and you will also need to adapt the ingredients as well. Normally with our Turkey I would use a half a pack of Lurpak & add more garlic cloves, thyme and bacon. I still use smoked streaky bacon layers on the outside of the skin on the Christmas Turkey as well.

Remember, when we are talking about Christmas Recipes, Calories don’t count 😊
Let me know if you try it & don’t forget to share it with the main person who cooks the Christmas Roast.

Much Love, 🌼

31/08/2023

End of Summer, was the perfect time to bring this slow-cooked Ragu back to the meal prep. One of the most popular grab & go meals in my Deli as well, used to sell out in an hour.

Cooked the slow & fresh way, with Irish Beef, French Red Wine, finely diced onion, carrots & celery, lots of Fresh Garlic, tomatoes, & fresh herbs, served with De Cecco Spaghetti No 12 & Pecorino Cheese.

It's a hug in a bowl, and meal prep portions come in at 500 Cals.

Autumn, what's not to Love ❤🌼

16/08/2023

Mid week Chicken Fajita Bowls on the Meal Prep 🌼 Secret Blend of Spices, 24 hour marinade, firecracker rice, taco beans, mixed peppers, 2 ounces of mature cheddar, chive sour cream. It wouldn't be a Fresh As A Daisy Meal without some fresh greens. In under 500 Cals, ample protein & fibre & essential nutrients & Fresh As 🌼❤️

11/08/2023

It's not too often we can say, we "Perfected" a recipe, but I have this Chilli locked in. Many many years of serving it to my family, followed by many years of making it in large quantities, for my meal prep Client's. It's always a Winner 🌼

18/06/2023

How do you like your Summer Salad on a Monday? 😊 Personally, I like mine Protein Rich, Nutrient Dense, & packed full of Fresh Seasonal Ingredients. Being Pre-Prepared is always a bonus, No lunchtime Q's.

“The Fit Italian” is part of the summer salad collection on the meal prep. We have Basil & Garlic Baked Chicken Breast, diced, and added to mixed leaves, topped with Feta, Asparagus, Ripe Tomatoes, Organic Micro Greens, & Organic H**p Seeds, & dressed with a pro-biotic Garlic and Herb dressing.

If it looks like Summer, it usually tastes like Summer, seasonal eating at its Best. 🌼

Cals: 323 P: 39g C: 17g F: 11g

When calculating daily calorie intakes also consider the “Quality” of the calories you are consuming as this detail matters, in relation to both long-term and short-term, health outcomes, a LOT.

I have a few spaces for next weeks meal prep come available, due to clients heading of on holidays. DM for more info & I will get back to you, Tuesday as Monday is my day off. ❤

16/06/2023

“Thank You, Teacher”, Gift Vouchers.

If you are searching for a unique gift for your favourite teacher, I have beautiful gift vouchers here.

A £20 Voucher provides six cold pressed fresh juices.

The teachers that got these as gift’s last year, loved them. They have all become returning customers for the fresh juices & gift vouchers for their friends and family. It is exactly what they need to feel fresh and energised at the end of the academic year.

Just DM: to place an order & confirm collection or delivery.

🌼❤

26/05/2023

Just want to wish my friend and long-term nutrition client Anto Cacace, current IBO Super-featherweight Champion, all the best of Luck at his homecoming fight tomorrow night.

He is the only person in this City that could have persuaded me out of meal-prep retirement. It's been a thoroughly enjoyable 3 weeks helping him manage his energy and weight during his camp. And thankfully he made weight this morning! I am glad that's over for him. :-)

I have been testing a new meal prep programme with my Juice clients this last few weeks & the feedback's been great. The food pic will give everyone an indication of the style of nutrition I am focused. High Protein, High In Veg & Plants, Light & Fresh and perfectly macro balanced for great health results. The details on this will go live next week, so keep an eye on the page or hit the love button to register your interest.

C' Mon Anto we are all behind you. 🌼❤

28/12/2022

Hope Everyone had a lovely Xmas & are ready to welcome in the New Year, there are a few spaces left for New Years Eve & Day Graze Picnics. Collections are on Saturday between 1pm & 3pm. Just drop me a message if you would like to book in.

Small Picnic serves 2/3 £25
Medium Picnic Serves 4/6 £35
Large Picnic serves 6/10 £50
Vegetarian Graze Picnic serves 2/4 £25

£10 deposit required to secure booking.

And finally, Thanks so Much to all my customers for the many orders, love and support shown to me & the business in 2022. It is greatly appreciated. Back to healthy normality next week, when the Reset & Revive Programmes Restart 🌼

02/12/2022

Hello December, it is officially Festive Season & my book is open for Picnic Graze Box bookings right through to New Year's Day. I have been taking pre-orders for these boxes of deliciousness from September. I have added some pictures to show the high quality and contents of the picnics. So, whether you need a large box for a big family or work, celebration or a small gift box for yourself or a friend, you can rest assured no one will be disappointed. 🥰

I combine all the best flavours of Mediterranean cured meats, with locally sourced artisan breads, gourmet soft and hard cheese’s, chutney, Ballymaloe relish, pesto, mixed fresh fruit, Sunblush tomatoes, feta stuffed peppers, honey glazed cocktail sausage's, mini pork pies, mixed nuts, seasonal chocolate truffles, Irish shortbread, and fudge. Every element of the picnics are created to bring customers the best quality & stunning flavours that marry together perfectly. Remember there is a Vegetarian Option available also.

To say thank you to all my loyal customers, I have managed to keep the price of the picnics the same as the previous 2 years, without compromising on quality. They truly are the best value in the city. Just PM to order and select your date and time.

Small Picnic serves 2/3 £25

Medium Picnic Serves 4/6 £35

Large Picnic serves 6/10 £50

Vegetarian Graze Picnic serves 2/4 £25

Christmas Day and Boxing Day grazes are collected Christmas Eve, however there is limited availability left for Xmas eve, so book early. and New Year's Day orders will be collected New Year's Eve. Picnics are available all month.

Collection times are strictly between 9pm-2pm on Christmas Eve & NYE, most delivery slots for Christmas weekend have already been booked. But check in with me if you need a delivery to see if we can accommodate you. A £10 deposit is required at the time of booking, to confirm the order.

Much Love, and Ho, Ho Ho, Colette. ❤🌼

30/10/2022

There is 3 spaces left for Halloween Picnic Grazes for tomorrow, if anyone would like to book in advance, just send me a PM. everyone delighted with these all weekend. Pls don't leave it until 5pm tomorrow 😂 I really will have none left not even for "Best Customers" ❤🌼

Picture features a £30 box serves 4/6. there is also a smaller box for £25

26/10/2022

Hello everyone, I spent yesterday sorting through the bookings for the Halloween Picnic Graze Box’s. I hope I have got back to everyone! There are spaces left for both Saturday, Sunday & Monday. I have added some pictures to show the high quality and contents of the Picnic’s and all boxes this weekend will be decorated with a Halloween Theme. So, whether you need a large box for a big family celebration or a small or medium, you can rest assured no one at the party will be disappointed.

I combine all the best flavours of Mediterranean cured meats, with locally sourced artisan breads, gourmet soft and hard cheese’s, chutney, Ballymaloe relish, roasted red pepper hummus, with mixed fresh fruit, piccolo tomatoes, feta stuffed peppers, chargrilled peppers, honey glazed cocktail sausage's, mini pork pies, mixed nuts and there’s always a few mini traybake bites for a sweet finish. There's a Vegetarian Option this year as well 😊

Every element of the picnics are created to bring customers the abs best quality & stunning flavours that marry together perfectly.

Collection times are strictly between 1pm-3pm and local delivery is also available for a small fee. Payment is required at the time of booking to confirm the order and select collection time or confirm delivery.

Much Love, and Happy Halloween ❤🌼

Small Picnic serves 2/4 £25
Medium Picnic Serves 4/6 £35
Large Picnic serves 6/10 £50
Vegetarian Graze Picnic for 2/4 £25

11/10/2022

It’s a Chicken Fajita weather, a warming, comforting and an easy to make way to enjoy a well-balanced supper. The chicken fajitas on my meal prep menu lasted 5 years, they were always a favourite of my customers. I have simplified this meal for convenience by providing affordable supermarket alternatives to the from scratch seasoning and dips I make, less of a recipe and more of a cooking method. Saving you time and money on shopping list ingredients. Price per portion works out around £2.30 and comes in at approximately 510 Calories for 2 filled wraps. What’s not to love

The key component in any meal is flavour and getting the best flavour into the chicken, is important. it took me a few years to perfect the seasoning for our fajitas until I discovered Spanish smoked paprika, and it was a game changer for us, just the right balance of smoky with a soft sweetness hit in the background. it balanced out the spice of the chilli, cumin, and cayenne I was already using in my seasoning mix. The closest packet seasoning that I have found is Tesco own brand, “Smokey Fajita Seasoning” about 80p a packet and will save on time if that is an issue. The same with the Sour Cream Dip & Salsa, for saving time and money they are perfectly ok. However, I have never enjoyed any supermarket brand of guacamole. Not even from M & S the consistency is never fresh enough for my taste. So make your own Avo Dip, its so easy, cheaper & tastes so much better.

I love this meal for sharing with my family and friends. We eat with our eyes first, this is why the presentation of even small family dinners is important to me. Hope someone tries it out, if you do let me know

Ingredients Serves 2

2 large chicken breasts

1 Red Pepper

1 Red Onion

2 Tbsps. Olive Oil

½ Pack Tesco “Smoky” Fajita Seasoning

2 Ounces Grated Mature Cheddar

1 large ripe Avocado

Juice of a Lime

Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Dried Chilli Flakes

4 Tortilla Wraps

½ Tub of Tesco Sour Cream & Salsa

Method

Start by slicing the chicken breasts into strips, add to a bowl, add a small dash of olive oil and the fajita spices. Mix well, ensuring that the chicken is evenly coated. Cover with cling film and allow to marinade for 30 mins at room temperature or get ahead and leave them in the fridge to marinate overnight.

Prepare the vegetables on a clean chopping board, by peeling and slicing the red onion, and deseeding and slicing the pepper. Peel and destone the avocado, dice and add to a bowl, add the lime juice, a sprinkle of chilli flakes, and some sea salt & black pepper and mash together with a fork until you get a paste like consistency. Put the Avo dip in the fridge until you are ready to serve.

Add a non-stick pan or wok to the stove and add a little Olive Oil, heat to medium and add the onion and pepper, soften the veg for around 5 mins. Grate your cheese and add to a serving bowl and get the sour cream and salsa portions into dip bowls.

Remove the veg from the pan, and add your marinated chicken, cook on a medium heat for 10 mins stirring regularly. Add the onion and pepper back into the pan with the chicken and mix all the ingredients together and cook for another 2 mins. Check that the chicken is cooked thoroughly before all the ingredients to a serving bowl or plates.

Quickly warm your tortillas for 30 seconds each side on a dry frying pan & add to plates or sharing platter. Get all the ingredients to the table share and enjoy.

Cals: 510 Carbs: 44g Protein 39g Fat 22g for a 2 wrap portion.

Much Love, Colette.

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Fresh As A Daisy

17/01/2024

06/12/2023

12/11/2023

10/11/2023

23/10/2023

31/08/2023

16/08/2023

11/08/2023

18/06/2023

16/06/2023

26/05/2023

28/12/2022

02/12/2022

30/10/2022

26/10/2022

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