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.
Florian @ContentednessCooking
Fantastic book! Great recipe!
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
You can never go wrong with beans on toast! Thanks for sharing this!!
Camilla
Exactly Sam:-)
Mandi
The children love beans on toast but I always worry about exactly what is in the can, they would eat them every day given a choice, so this looks like a recipe to try out on them all.
Camilla
There’s a lot more sugar in the form of fructose-glucose syrup in the can in my cupboard!
StressedMum
I have never tried making my own baked beans before, they sound delicious and much nicer than tinned ones, am going to have to try thees
Camilla
They are so much fresher tasting than the tinned version, enjoy:-)
Claire
I’ve never thought about making my own baked beans, this looks like a great recipe 🙂 I will definitely try it 🙂
Camilla
Great Claire, I’m sure you’ll love them:-)
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche
Can’t wait to get stuck into Dannii’s book once I’m back from my trip, love simple healthy recipes like this 🙂
Camilla
Yes something to look forward to Becca:-)
Angela Webster | Cosmic Kick
These beans sound yummy! I love baked beans but have always gone for the tinned versions. I’ll have to try my own one day 🙂
Camilla
You will Angela, just pick up a tin of Haricot beans the next time you’re out shopping and you’re half way there:-)
Helen Clark
I’m slowly changing my diet to be healthier and cleaner so this book seems like it would be great for me. The baked beans look delicious!
Camilla
Yes this book would be ideal for you Helen:-)
Natasha Mairs
I am trying to lose weight, but I love my food. I am not cutting out things I love, like chocolate, just eating less of it and making my portions slightly smaller
Camilla
Good for you Natasha;-)
Emma White
I am anorexic – recovering but still struggle daily with food, I can only eat light foods and small amounts so this sounds like something that could be beneficial to me – the word diet scares me as you can imagine
Camilla
So sorry to hear that Emma but very glad you are recovering!I’m sure you have had advice from your doctor regarding diet so wouldn’t like to pass comment on what was suitable for you.