Beauty Boosting: Super Nutty Energy Bars For Healthy Hair & Nails

It’s never too early for Christmas. And that's a mantra I live by.

Watching Elf in June? Perfectly acceptable, it’s a half-Christmas after all. 

Personally, I’m yearning to get that Michael Buble Christmas album on in my car, but I nearly had a panic attack myself when I saw mince pies being sold in Sainsburys. And if you work in retail and Christmas just isn’t your jam, I genuinely feel for you, because even though it’s only October, it’s happening and there’s nothing quite like retail at Christmas…

Now the party season gets me a bit nervous too, though. So many events and parties are approaching and glowing skin and shiny hair doesn’t just happen overnight, and if I dare want to get my legs into a little glittery number, I’m going to actually have to shave my legs and moisturise (like, more than once a month). So I’m saying start now and you’ll thank yourself after the photos.

This time of year, I love to incorporate lots of skin loving foods to counteract the bitter cold weather that wreaks havoc on our hair and complexions. Almonds are chock full of antioxidants that help to eliminate toxins and free radicals from our bodies, and also being a major source of vitamin E, they will nourish the skin to keep it smooth and glowing. They are an excellent source of biotin (for strong hair, nails, skin and muscles) too.

These Nutty Energy Bars are jammed packed with almonds, so whether you’re seeing yourself through a long lecture lecture, powering your workout, or fuelling yourself for that Christmas work party, it’s easy to get a little skin-loving hit on-the-go. Ditch the expensive store-brought granola bars and do your wallet and skin a favour this Christmas - surely that money could go towards a little treat for yourself under the tree…

No baking required, these bars are easy to make and only 5 ingredients. Refined sugar free!

Ingredients

Makes 12 Bars

(Last for up to 3 days refrigerated in an air-tight container)

135g/1 Cup Dates (pitted)

135g/1 Cup Almonds (roasted unsalted)

100g/1 1/2 Cup Oats

60g/1/4 Cup Almond Butter

40ml/1/4 Cup Maple Syrup

Toast your oats for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown, in an oven set to Gas Mark 6. 

Meanwhile, in a food processor or high powered blender (I find my nutribullet works perfectly fine), process the dates into a soft dough.

Place aside your oats, almonds and dates together in a bowl.

Over a medium-low heat, warm up your maple syrup and almond butter. Once incorporated, pour over your oats, almonds and dates and stir until well combined. 

In an 8x8 baking tray lined with cling film or baking parchment, transfer your mixture and press down until it is evenly distributed. Be quite firm, otherwise the bars won’t hold together.

Leave to set in a freezer wrapped in cling film for 15 or so minutes.

Cut into bars and enjoy!

Nut butters are a bit of a fiend in my house, so much so, they are hidden and locked away so I’m not tempted to shovel the jar into my mouth. Yes, it’s about as unattractive as it sounds. But with the amazing benefits of almonds for your hair, skin and nails, dipping a spoon into the almond butter jar is perfectly acceptable, right?

Kay’s Kitchen Playlist

Not going to lie, Michael Buble was playing during the making of these.

Beauty Boosting: Chilli Chocolate Truffles For Radiant Skin

You’re not alone - the arrival of the colder season in the UK brings with it a deep-set fear of dull and dehydrated skin to many.

I adore the Autumn and Winter months. Lighting candles, wrapping up in lots of layers, and finally cracking out the Christmas pyjamas. But if like me, you strive for a positively radiant and blemish-free complexion that screams ‘I just got married and it was the best day of my life!!’, it seems like an unachievable goal that no amount of moisturiser can rescue. And well, I’m not getting married, so I can't even pray that I’ll get that magical ‘I just got married’ face of pure happiness.

But one thing that does bring me a lot of happiness (and I don’t say that lightly) is chocolate and I feel like these months really are a reason to indulge. Luckily, it’s as great for the skin as it is delicious. Yes, you heard that right, so the arrival of Autumn needn’t be a fear anymore.

Now I’m not suggesting you go out a buy Mars Bar everyday, I’m talking about dark chocolate and raw chocolate. Cacao contains high levels of antioxidant flavanols that protect the skin from free-radicals, that can lead to premature ageing, skin diseases, as well as helping to keep the skin hydrated, soft and youthful. It’s also a well-known mood-booster too, keeping hormone in-balances at bay that can lead to angry breakouts.

The combination of the chilli in these truffles, which is high in capsaicin, also helps to fight any inflammation. But don't fear the medjool dates and the cinnamon help to give these melt-in-the-mouth truffles a sweet, caramel taste.

Ingredients

Makes 24 Truffles

2 Cups Medjool Dates (pitted)

1/2 Cup Walnuts

2 TBSP Coconut Oil (melted)

2 TBSP Cacao Powder

1/4 TSP Salt

1/4 TSP Cinnamon

1/4 TSP Chilli Powder

To Top (optional):

Dark Chocolate (melted)

Chilli Flakes

Blend down your medjool dates until they form a smooth paste.

In a high powered blender or food processor, pulse the chopped walnuts with the coconut oil, cacao powder, salt, cinnamon and chilli powder.

Then add in the date paste and blend together until combined. There will still be little chunks of date and walnut, but thats okay.

Simply roll the mixture into even balls about the size of a grape and leave to set in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Optional:

I then melted down some dark chocolate and topped with chilli flakes before letting them be devoured.

Kay's Kitchen Playlist:

Ariana Grande - Breakfree (It's a guilty pleasure)