At Anna’s Kitchen Table

So, I don’t finish work usually until around 11pm, I’m tired, hot and cranky, I need time to wind down before jumping in to bed. Flicking through the channels one night I came across an old episode of the ‘Oprah’ show, I can’t remember clearly which one it was now, but it could have been one of those amazing Christmas episodes where Oprah delights in giving free gifts to the crazed, ecstatic audience. That was all I needed to rope me in, that and Sky’s ‘series link’ where I can make sure I don’t miss an episode.
Another episode involved Oprah and her staff going vegan for a week and it was this episode which really got me thinking on my bad eating habits, the main one being no breakfast, or if I do get time for breakfast it usually involves toast made with white bread – not the healthiest choice.
I have a book at home which always gets pulled out when I’m going through a ‘healthier’ phase:

Superfoods RX by Steven. G. Pratt and Kathy Matthews.

It’s a great little book, informative and easy to understand, but also really, really interesting.
Did you know that simply adding spinach, blueberries and wild salmon to one’s diet, regularly, there can be a huge jump in the right direction health-wise?

I’ve always wanted to enjoy porridge, a great way of enjoying oats, another superfood, but I’m not good with lumpy, milky, warm textures.
Lumpy and warm I can do.
Milky and warm? I can do that too.
But lumpy, milky and warm? Eeuuuuuuuughhhhhhh. Gross.

Then, the other night, speaking to my friend Nicky, she mentioned Sophie Grigson’s Bircher muesli, which I ‘googled’.
I’ve read about Bircher muesli quite a few times. Bircher muesli consist of soaking oats, preferably over-night in liquid- this could be water, milk or apple juice, then adding yoghurt, fruit, nuts and seeds and either honey or condensed milk if you like it sweet(er)

I soaked the oats last night, and this morning, after adding the other ingredients this is what I ended up with:

I can’t tell you how good it tasted, it was fruity, nutty, milky and sweet.
A perfect way to start the day! Chock full of ‘superfoods’. And 2-3 of one’s daily fruit and veg quota. Each spoon had me feeling virtuous, angelic, and yes, healthier! And a BIG plus point- filled up for hours!

(Adapted from and based on) Sophie Grigson’s Bircher Muesli:


2 heaped tbsp rolled oats, soaked overnight in 3 tbsp water.
2 tbsp Greek yoghurt (Or any other plain yoghurt)
1 tbsp honey
1 apple, grated, with skin on.
2 dried dates, roughly chopped into tiny pieces
half a banana sliced
small handful of chopped nuts, I used a mixture of macadamia, almonds and pecans.

Marks out of ten?   11.

Would I make it again?   This is going to be a regular breakfast from now on!

Would I do anything differently?  I’m going to try condensed milk as a sweetener next time, and soak the oats in milk to see what difference it makes.

**I’m also going to add ground flaxseed and wheatgerm, to make it into a truly SUPER breakfast!**