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 Frittersj (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 x 400 g/14 oz tin chopped tomatoes
- 100 ml/3½ fl oz/scant ½ cup vegetable stock
- 1 tsp runny honey
- 1 x 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.
This looks like such a perfect breakfast or s snack recipe. I love baked beans n totally loving the combination of honey with new sauce that you have used.
These homemade baked beans sound delicious! I love baked beans but I’ve never actually made my own! I should definitely try this! Sounds like a really great cookbook too 🙂
You really should try them Nicole and yes the book is fabulous:-)
Ooh I’d love to try making these myself – baked beans are one of my absolute favourites! (I’m a simple girl…)
I love simple food;-)
Lovely and tasty, nothing beats home made baked beans.
I have found this out now:-)
This book is on my to download list, I am so impressed Dannii has her own book x
She has done very well:-)
These pictures are amazing. I am loving the recipe as well. Looks yummy.
Lovely pictures here. I will try these with the kids. Looks yummy and healthy.
Yes the book is full of fabulous pictures:-)
I’ve never really been a fan of baked beans but I totally agree that 2lb is a healthy amount to lose each week x
There are plenty of other yummy recipes I’m sure you’d love:-)
This takes me back to my childhood days, except in those days it was out of a can. House made baked beans, so good!
They really are Mark:-)
Looks amazing, great review!