Drink Water!

This is why water is good for you. When you can you can also try using a water conditioner. 

This is a compacted electronic water conditioner. It prevents scale from forming.

It will also save you money!

• Keeping properly hydrated during exercise allows you to have a better and more productive workout.
  
• When your workouts are better, you feel and look better too!
  
• The body is 60-70% water and adequate water intake has great benefits!
  
• Flushes out wastes, transports nutrients, regulates body temperature, maintains acid-alkaline balance and support chemical processes.
• Keeps skin moist, energy levels up and alleviates some headaches
  
• Keeping well hydrated often helps to regulate appetite
• People often mistake thirst and hunger, and eat when their bodies are actually craving fluid.
  
• It adds natural moisture to your skin, giving a fresh glow today and helping the aging process tomorrow.
  
• If you get bored with drinking plain water, try lemon, lime or even cucumber slices in your water (a hot trend).
  
• An easy way to boost your fluid intake is to start the day with a fresh cup or two of water or a cup or two of herbal tea.
  
• You can also mix different types of teas for a new blend of iced teas, the bags steep if you leave in a pitcher of water in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight...
  
• Some foods that are packed with water are of course soups, plus all fruits and vegetables, but especially watermelon, oranges, apples, cucumbers, iceberg lettuce and tomatoes
  
• It is best to drink water on an empty stomach in order to avoid unnecessary dilution of digestive juices, so about a half hour before meals drink a glass of water.
  
• It is preferable to sip water throughout the day rather than to chug it because it will give your body more time to absorb it
  

Try to get into the habit of bringing a water bottle with you when you go out, whether to shop, walk or to an activity, plus water is the cheapest drink we could consume its free!

This post is sponsored by Scalewatcher.

How important is our health?

I have been running this blog for about three years now, exploring health care, exercise, fitness, eating well and mental well being.

To me quite honestly staying healthy is a lot of hard work. With so many unhealthy temptations around like alcohol, sweet things, being lazy - it is like fighting a battle to stay so healthy.

So is it just me who feels this way or are you some one who finds staying healthy a bit of a chore.

Of course we are all allowed the few odd treats and some days of rest, but is it easier to create a healthy routine rather than a health kick?

In maintain a healthy life style I believe you have to intergrate healthy patterns in to your day to day life. 

So here are a few of my stay healthy tips!

* Exercise for 20 minutes a day or every other - exercise videos are a great way to motivate yourself! Or why not try some yoga see my yoga basics?
* Plan heathy meals throughout your day (from Duckeys health corner of course!)
* Walk instead of drive.
* Do more housework - cleans the mind as well as gives you a workout.
* Drink more water - less calories and its good for you.
* Take your vitamins - they give you what you lack.
* Make use of the sun - it puts us in a happy mood (cleaning the car is good)

This post is sponsored by Forest Healthcare.

Duckeys Greek Moussaka

I have recently returned from a holiday in Zante (Greece) and like all countries they have their very own specialist cuisine. I have to confess I adored the food their, and my time their eating it!

Every evening my partner James and I would enjoy the hotels homemade Tsatsiki - which is a dip made from garlic, cucumber and Greek yogurt. I tried to produce the below when we got home - but it wasn't quite as good - perhaps it was the rain outside!

One thing I did notice was that the Greeks cooked a lot with garlic and a lot with yogurt.

As I am not a huge meat eater one of my favourite dishes whilst staying in Zante was the vegetable Moussaka! Which is like a really healthy lasagne (without  pasta & meat.)

So I when I got home I made my Duckey version of Moussaka and heres how to do it!

RECIPE: A traditional Greek Moussaka made with oven roasted vegetables - perfect for summer evenings.

You will need:

• 2 Aubergines
• 2 Onions 
• 2 red peppers
• 2 Courgettes
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 300g fresh Greek yogurt
• 400g chopped tomotoes 
• 2 eggs
• Thyme - salt and pepper
• 55g Feta cheese 

For the roasted veg: 

1. In a roasting pan chop up all of the vegetables (use two tins if you need to) and splash on a little bit of olive oil and roast for 35 minutes in the oven - giving it a good stir from time to time.

For the Moussaka: 

2. In the meantime - crack two eggs in to a bowl and whisk with 300g of Greek Yogurt.

3. Once the vegetables have roasted add one layer to a baking dish.

4. The our over the can of 400g chopped tomatoes.

5. Add one more layer of vegetables.

6. Then add the yogurt and egg topping (you can sprinkle over some Feta cheese if you wish at this point followed by Thyme, salt and pepper).

7. Once ready to cook bake in the oven for 45 minutes.

I bet you didn't think it was that easy!

With my Moussaka I served a Greek Salad which included shredded iceberg lettuce - chopped tomatoes - olives and feta cheese. I also made a dressing from olive oil, lemon pepper, garlic and thyme.

It was a delcious dish and great for dinner parties!

My exercise secret

OK, so I really don't want to admit to this but I will share it with you because it has been working for me! When I have a busy schedule with work exercise can be hard to fit it.

It's been a while since I have been a member of a gym for the main reason I overdosed on it when I was!

So I get up in the morning and do my usual yoga routine. Then when I get time in the evenings I really enjoy doing my 'Mel B exercise video.'

I can choose my workout from cardio, bums, tums, legs, arms, along with a warm up and a cool down. My favourite is bums and tums and I have seen  a really big difference in my muscle tone.

The best part is you can do a 20 minute workout in the comfort of your bed room or living room!

Give it a try!

Here's a clip from the video!

Duckeys Light Key Lime Pie

We were invited to our friends BBQ at the weekend, and I was asked to make dessert (this is usually because I give my recipes a little make over so the girls feel less guilty about eating it!) Well I know I do anyway!

So I thought a hot summer day - pimms being poured - meat sizzling on the BBQ, how about a refreshing dessert? So I made Key Lie Pie.

It is a dessert I have never attempted before, however I believe if you follow your instructions you can't go wrong! Key Lime Pie is very similar to a cheesecake, and now due to the invention of low fat Philadelphia this is my secret ingredient!

RECIPE: A light and refreshingly tangy Key Lime Pie, perfect for summer occasions.

You will need:

• 160g digestive biscuits
• 40g butter (unsalted)
• 250g Philadelphia (low fat) 
• 125ml Lime juice
• 397g condensed milk
• The zest of 1 lime

For the base: 

1. Melt 40g of butter in the microwave

2. Put in a food bag 160g of digestive biscuits and beat with a rolling pin (this is the fun and stress releasing part) until they are in crumbs

3. Add the crumb mixture to the butter

4. Take a pie dish and place the mixture in the center and flatten to create a base

5. Leave this to cool for half and hour or so

For the filling: 

1. Whisk 250g of Philadelphia and 397g of condensed milk together in a large bowl

2. Stir in gradually the 125ml of Lime juice

3. Then add 1 lime zest

4. Place the topping over the base and allow to set for a few hours

5. You may wish to decorate the Pie with some Lime pieces.

The verdict - it was the perfect BBQ dessert, very refreshing after all that meat and very cool straight from the fridge, it tasted just like a cheesecake but much healthier.

I would really recommend this dessert so easy to put together and so delicious!

Duckeys Chocolate owl Birthday Cake

I think my followers will always know when I am having a busy time of things as my blogs will become very spaced out! But I have been cooking none the less it is just a case of getting my posts online! So to make up for it - here is a recipe you will adore (hopefully as much as I do!)

It was my mums birthday last week and I wanted to make her a birthday cake - one to remember... so this is the recipe for my adorable owl birthday cake in chocolate!

RECIPE: A tremendous two tier chocolate and vanilla birthday cake decorated with owl like features!

You will need:

For the vanilla sponge

• 350g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 350g caster sugar
• 6 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 350g plain flour
• 5 tsp baking powder
• 4-5 tbsp milk, at room temperature

For the chocolate fudge frosting

• 350g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
• 225g unsalted butter
• 225ml milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 450g icing sugar, sifted

For the decoration

• chocolate buttons, in different sizes
• chocolate vermicelli sprinkles
• 1 flaked chocolate bar

1. Pre heat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4!

2. Mix together the cake mix - this includes the butter and sugar to start, cream until mixed then add the eggs.

3. Add the flour but make sure this is sifted first.

4. Add the baking powder which will help the cake to rise.

5. Once you have a mixture, butter two cake tins and line with baking paper.

6. Divide the mixture and put into the oven to bake for around half an hour.

7. The cakes will be light and bouncy once cooked.

8. The leave to cool for about ten minutes.

9. While the cake is cooling time to make the frosting!

10. In a bowl melt the butter and chocolate then in a separate bowl mix together the vanilla flavouring, icing sugar and milk.

11. Then mix in the chocolate and allow to set and thicken.

12. Once all have cooled put a layer of the frosting on the first base whilst sandwiching the second on top.

13. The spread the rest of the mixture over the top and sides of the cake.

14. Time to decorate - see the image and use buttons, flake bar and toffee chocolate bar to make the owl come to life.

This cake went down a treat not only did it look very cute, it tasted like heaven!

So if you want to treat someone you love then this recipe is a must! More coming soon - let me know if you like the recipe.

Been busy again...

Hi Guys!

Sorry for the lack of cooking recently.

Those of you that live in the East of England or who know me personally may know that I have been a little busy winning an award!



Last week I gained the title of East of England Young Businesswoman of the year. You can read all about it on my Apparition blog.

I am so proud that at 23 years old and seven months into my company to be recognized for such a fantastic award.

Thank you to all of you who have supported me through everything.

Duckey x