Baked Beans from Hungry Healthy Happy
Today I have the pleasure of bringing you Baked Beans from Hungry Healthy Happy by Danni Martin!
I have a pet hate and it is the term “diet” as in the context “I’m on a diet”. In my opinion “diets” don’t work because as someone who has watched people go on and come off diets it just seems to lead to a constant state of yo-yoing.
A healthy diet, treats in moderation and keeping active are not rocket science but to date this concept hasn’t been marketable idea. Until now that is, step up Dannii Martin from the top, award winning food blog Hungry Healthy Happy with her new book of the same name. Finally a book has been published about eating lighter healthy meals without it seeming like a chore or having to rush out and buy a heap of expensive “super foods”.
The book is full of classic dishes like Moussaka, Fish Pie, salad dressings and smoothies as well as Dannii’s own original dishes. The common thread to all of them is that they have been made healthier and lighter in calories using a few alternative ingredients eg yogurt instead of mayonnaise.
Dannii’s healthy eating journey started in her mid-twenties when she realised her excess weight was making her health suffer. Living off store bought meals and takeaways she needed to change and set about creating her favourite meals from scratch using lighter alternatives.
Dannii limited herself to 1,500 calories a day in the early days and together with regular exercise, lost 2lb a week (a sensible amount to lose). In total Dannii lost 98lbs and has continued to maintain a healthy weight. The beauty of Dannii’s recipes is that you may well end up eating more food but taking in less calories as the recipes are packed with fibre and nutrients so you will feel full and less likely to crave unhealthy food.
There is no preaching in this book, Hungry Healthy Happy is all about setting your own goals (if you need to lose weight) and listening to your own body. I think the trouble with fad diets is that people are in a constant cycle of guilt and deprivation and if they feel they have broken their diet they feel depressed and if they feel depressed then they are more likely to want to comfort eat.
The first few pages of Hungry Healthy Happy are dedicated to Dannii’s story, tips about weight loss, motivation, exercise, ways of eating well for less, essential store cupboard ingredients and a meal planner.
When I flicked through the book the first recipe that caught my hubby’s eye was for Baked Beans so I made these for our lunch. I have to say that they were totally delicious and I’m not sure I’ll ever want to eat an ordinary can of baked beans again! So this is the recipe I have chosen to share with you and I do urge you to make it, you won’t be disappointed!
My next planned makes are for the Courgette Fritters (above) and the Pear Crisp (below) and oh so many more!
I would recommend this book to anyone regardless of whether they wish to lose weight as we should all eat a healthy diet, the recipes just ooze deliciousness from every page. As it says on the cover “How to nourish your body without giving up the food you love”!
Here’s my attempt at Danni’s Baked Beans, I didn’t use any Barbecue Sauce and they were just delicious!
NB: Recipe and images extracted from Hungry Healthy Happy by Dannii Martin, photography by Jacqui Melville. Published by Jacqui Small (£20). All opinions are my own and I was not paid to write this review.
Baked Beans
Ingredients
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 400 g/14 oz tin chopped tomatoes
- 100 ml /3½ fl oz/scant ½ cup vegetable stock
- 1 tsp runny honey
- 1 400 g/14 oz tin haricot beans
- 2 tbsp barbecue sauce see page 113, optional
Instructions
- Place a pan over a medium heat and heat the oil, add the onion and
- cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until soft but not browned.
- Add the tomatoes, stock and honey to the pan, season to taste and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Drain the haricot beans and add to the pan, giving everything a stir to combine, and cook gently for another 5 minutes.
- Take off the heat and stir in the barbecue sauce, if using. Spoon the
- beans over toast and serve warm.
Amy Fidler
My go to lunch dish x
A S,Edinburgh
Making baked beans from scratch is another thing on my to-try list that I haven’t got to yet. This recipe looks lovely, and really simple. The addition of the honey is a great idea!
Camilla
They were fab:-)
Paul Wilson
I’d love to try my own baked beans recipe.
Maya Russell
Ordinary baked beans are just so samey and boring. This recipe is different and looks delicious.
Camilla
They are fab Maya:-)
Margaret Gallagher
Wow this looks amazing
Don’t need to diet but I certainly agree with eating healthily and fresh produce where possible
Heather Haigh
I love home cooked beans and those look and sound delicious.
Hannah
These look absolutley delicious how can I go back to the old canned style now! Thank you for sharing I will be looking this book up I think it’s right up my street
Camilla
Great Hannah, it’s definitely a great book:-)