Healthy Dried Fruit and Seeds Snack

I've recently discovered a perfect healthy snack. A simple mixture of dried fruit and seeds quickly became such a hit in our house.
There are days when I have a strong desire to nibble on something here and there. It helps to have a healthy snack on hand to help reduce craving for naughty food. Chocolate is my guilty pleasure. I must admit I love to enjoy a piece or two of a good quality dark chocolate. Having this delicious seeds and fruit mixture ready to nibble on makes me feel less guilty when I want to satisfy my sugar cravings.

This snack is so simple to make that you actually don't need a recipe. You can easily create your own mixture using any of your favourite nuts, seeds or dried fruit. Here is my favourite combo. Enjoy!







Dried fruit and seeds snack

150g pumpkin seeds
100g sunflower seeds
100g golden raisins
50g cranberries

Mix seeds and dried fruit together in a bowl. Store in airtight container.

Ayran Yogurt Drink

It's been a month since P. and I've returned from a holiday in Lebanon and Turkey and I'm still in the process of editing 2000+ photos capturing a lot of amazing memories. We arrived back home with not only many photos, but also a strong longing to go back and explore even more of the wonders and beauty of Lebanon and Middle East. You can imagine my excitement when only a few weeks later, I was invited to take part in a press trip organised by Taste Lebanon and hosted by Lebanese Ministry of Tourism in honour of British Week. Needless to say I've taken another thousands of photos. So it seems that it will take a bit longer to wrap it all up.

In the meantime, I wanna share one simple recipe of my favourite yogurt drink which I've been drinking so much in Lebanon and Instanbul. Strangely enough I tasted Ayran for the first time in London. I used to buy it at a local Turkish store before I realised it's so easy to make my own. Ayran is a yogurt drink very popular in Middle Easter and South-eastern European countries. It's simply a yogurt mixed with water and salt. It's more refreshing than any soda on a hot summer day and goes so well with almost any food, especially spicy food.





Ayran drink
Serves 2-4

250ml greek style yogurt
250ml water (or more if your yogurt is too thick)
1/2 tsp sea salt
fresh mint leaves (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl, and whisk together until well incorporated. Alternatively put all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth and creamy, adding more salt or water to reach your desired consistency.
Serve chilled with fresh mint.