Admin • 10 January 2024

Five Minute Winter Salad

I am loving this Winter salad, that was honestly thrown together in five minutes and tastes fabulous. The colours are just to die for too! I find it can be hard at this time to eat healthily as I crave warmth and often seek it in food. Do you feel the same? But this salad is so comforting yet light, I feel it ticks all the boxes for a healthy eat and it contains over 11 plants!


There was a time when at this time of year I would restrict myself heavily, drastically reducing my calories in an effort to shift Christmas pounds but now I’m happy to say, things are very different. I know longer count calories, I just count plants instead! Increasing plant consumption feels so much healthier and “normal”. No restrictions but indulgence in the good stuff.


Ingredients


  • Rocket – 1 bag
  • Avacado – 1 sliced
  • Cooked beetroot – 1
  • Broccoli stems – 4
  • Feta cheese – 1/2 pack
  • Canellini beans – 1/2 tin drained and rinsed
  • Red cabbage leaves x 2 – sliced
  • Handful dill
  • Handful toasted mixed seeds
  • Lemon juice
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Method


Combine everything in a bowl then scatter with the following:


Squeeze of lemon juice, drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and then salt and pepper to finish.


Did you know seeds count as plants? So a mix of poppy, sunflower and pumpkin seed toasted and sprinkled on top of any salad (as seen here) counts as 3 plants!

by Laura Bell 7 June 2025
A New Chapter: Yoga, Food & Connection This week marked a beautiful milestone for us. We hosted our very first Yoga & Seasonal Supper Evening and Day Retreat. What a joy it was! Both events were filled with warmth, laughter, movement, and the most wonderful mix of local students, retreat guests, and dear friends. These gatherings felt like more than just events, they were a chance to reconnect, recharge, and simply be. Sharing yoga and nourishing food in a mindful, welcoming space reminded us just how powerful these small moments of togetherness can be. The evening was very mellow, with a relaxed yoga flow with myself followed by a 3 course seasonal meal, where conversation and laughter flowed. Our Day Retreat at The Barn gave our guests time to really settle in. it was an opportunity to show off our wonderful North Wales venue and for us to try out our new business idea. We began with a strong yoga practise to help ground and relax the guests. We walked into the hills, breathed deeply in the fresh air, and even dipped toes into the newly renovated woodland pond, complete with a jetty! It felt like stepping into a secret sanctuary. We also had the pleasure of welcoming chef Kelly Mason, who generously shared some of her favourite cooking tips and seasonal inspiration with us all. And of course, what’s a retreat without something delicious to nibble on? I had the fun job of making energy balls for our guests, and I wanted to share this quick, zesty recipe with you. It’s perfect for busy weekends or a midweek pick-me-up. They're easy, bright, and full of goodness, just like the events themselves. Both events were a great success, and we’ll be offering them every quarter going forward. They’re a beautiful way to honour the changing seasons and to reconnect with yourself, with nature, and with each other.
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