I may have a slight obsession with roasted cauliflower. I don't know if anyone has said that sentence before... but sue me, you guys know I love veg, so it should be no surprise! I recently spent a week at Cookery School, as some of you may know, and I was over the moon when … Continue reading Turmeric-Tastic Roast Cauliflower
I don't define my 'diet' very strictly, but if people really push for an answer, I say that I'm a plant-focused or plant-based meat-eater. That doesn't mean I eat meat everyday - in fact, some of my favourite recipes are vegetarian. I try to keep my lunches vegetarian during the week especially (more for the … Continue reading Baked Tempeh with a Nutty Honey Glaze
Hummus is quite literally, a vice of mine. It's also one of my weekly meal prep essentials - every Saturday or Sunday, I will blitz up a jar of chickpeas to create my favourite beetroot hummus recipe, and it always makes me so happy to have it at home to scoop on top of dinners … Continue reading Creamy Green Hummus
Oh HEY. This photo is me in one of my favourite places - the egg chairs at Nut Butter, a cheeky little Dublin cafe! I LOVE egg chairs. Anyway. This little article is one that was requested on my Instagram stories recently when I asked you guys what sort of content you would like to … Continue reading My Four Tips To Stay On Track – Even When Life Happens
Chicken fajitas are a crowd favourite in my house, often the Friday feed of choice that we sit down together to have after a busy week! So recently, when it was my turn to cook, I decided to turn a classic on its head a little and make use of a boatload of sweet potatoes … Continue reading Chicken Fajita Sweet Potatoes
One of the loveliest things I have discovered in 2018 has been yoga. I truly began my yoga journey in January, after picking up a bit of a knee niggle/injury from a little bit too much plyometric work in training (the blog post about that can be found here if you want to read more!). I … Continue reading Find Your Flow At Home – My Favourite Yoga YouTube Channels for Namaste Anyday
For the month of June, I was excited to be part of the CocoaVia Blogger Project with Thrive Magazine. Many of you who follow me on social media and my blog http://www.theirishbalance.com will know by now that I love fitness, and that I am a massive advocate for the power of food in health. This 30 … Continue reading The CocoaVia Trial – My Training Experience
Sweet holy mother of vegan deliciousness. This recipe has been a LONG time coming, and I now know there's a reason they say 'good things come to those who wait.' In fact, I'm gonna say GREAT things, never mind good - especially because today I bring you not one, but TWO recipes! Recently, for meal … Continue reading Ciara’s Creamy Vegan Cashew Sauce
To accompany my Creamy Vegan Cashew Sauce, I decided to create a similar but slightly more liquid-based and pasta-friendly version for a Vegan Mac & Cheese! It turned out totally delicious, so I decided to share the happy result with you guys while sharing the vegan sauce recipe! I hope you become as hopelessly addicted … Continue reading Ciara’s Creamy Vegan Mac & Cheese
This is a very simple recipe, but also a little bit out there as a breakfast option! I recently found myself with a butternut squash in the fridge that I needed to do something with before it went to waste - so I just roasted it in halves and then figured it out as I … Continue reading Sweet Stuffed Squash
This recipe is one I didn't originally plan on posting to the blog, but I got enough requests after sharing it on Instagram that I decided it had to be written up! Last week, I was in my 'meal prep' mode for a week of work at the hospital plus two on call shifts, and … Continue reading ‘Chuck It All In’ Cauliflower Curry
Cookies for breakfast? Yes please! This latest recipe on my blog is one of my favourite types of creations - delicious, quick to make, suitable to batch bake, and really easy to grab on the go for busy weekday mornings - a formula I love! Recently, I had a bit of a Baked Oats obsession, which … Continue reading Banana Berry Breakfast Cookies
Sumac is a gorgeous, tangy lemon spice that I've been keen to try in recipes for aaages, and recently when in the West of Ireland I found it in a health store, and decided it was a sign! I absolutely love Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine and cooking, so this spice is one I've seen … Continue reading Sumac Spiced Chickpeas & Aubergine with Tahini Yogurt Dressing
Truth time. I LOVE the idea of 'slaw', but I don't eat it very often. With the exception of when I order homemade versions from some cafes I've tried it at in Dublin - for example, at Wellfest this year, I had a delicious slaw from The Happy Pear stand! The main reason I don't eat coleslaw often is … Continue reading Ciara’s Super Summer Slaw
Oh. Holy. Moly. You know that feeling where you just know you've nailed a recipe? Well, this is one for the books guys. Recently, my lovely friend and fellow blogger Niamh (Shake The Sugar is her fabulous site, have a peek!) and I decided it was high time we put our friendship and mutual love of … Continue reading Chocolate Chip Chickpea Cookies
There's just something about carrot cake, isn't there? I can't describe it, but I'm pretty sure my love for this classic recipe stems from the incredible flavours, like cinnamon and ginger, as well as my obsession with sneaky veggies added into baked goods! Either way, recently I was on an absolute kitchen mission, testing out … Continue reading Ciara’s Coconutty Carrot Cake
Venice. The first trip of 2018 for me, and a really special experience. I took a little holiday there with my lovely mom in the middle of March this year - just after a week of 7 night shifts which ended on the morning of my birthday. With a week off after to rest and … Continue reading The Irish Balance Guide To…Venice
Okay, I might have an obsession with making bean-based protein bars. But hey, you guys have loved all of my creations to date, so here we go with a new one! I recently ran out of my Chickpea Power Bars, so I figured why not get a little inventive again! In this recipe, I've used mixed … Continue reading Pulsin’ Protein Bars
Nothing but smiles all round! Disclaimer: I am a Wellfest addict. I know it, they know it, you know it - and I'm darn proud of it. Last year, in a total high of positive vibes after the 2017 weekend, I wrote about my Wellfest experience, simply because it was just so much fun, and I wanted to share … Continue reading Wellfest 2018 – A Creative, Courageous Community
NOM ALERT. Recently, I was lucky enough to get to go to the Health Blogger's Community Summit event, and I got to try a gorgeous new chocolate by a brand called Nu Cao, and I had been really keen to try a new recipe with it! So, we all know Ciara LOVES dark chocolate, and coffee. Two absolute … Continue reading Cheeky Chocolate Coffee Loaf
'I can't train, I'm injured.' Have any of you ever had to say that out loud? If so - let me ask you this. How did it make you feel? Sad? Angry? Frustrated? Disappointed? I'll bet all four, if like me, you're a person who loves activity and being able to literally try any kind … Continue reading Injuries and Training Mindset – How I Found My Silver Lining
'Move more, eat less.' Sounds simple, doesn't it? In the media, we often hear this phrase said in relation to tips and advice for healthier living, and weight loss. In reality, that sort of broad thinking is neither simple nor helpful, as it doesn't contain any specific guidance for any individual to follow. How MUCH … Continue reading Exercise Is Medicine – One We Need Everyday
Time for a GUEST POST gang! I am so excited to bring you this absolutely delicious recipe from the fantastic, creative and all round SOUND crew at Bowl's Healthy Eating, a personal and group catering company based in Dublin, with an ethos and passion for healthy food made balanced and tasty. Which, as you guys know, … Continue reading Guest Post: Black Bean Fudge Cookies from Bowl’s Healthy Eating
Podcasts Part TWO! I get asked a LOT where I find my podcasts, so I figured, since I've discovered quite a few new series over the past few months, why not put a second list together for you all! My first Podcasts list was so fun to write, and went down a storm with you guys, and … Continue reading Podcasts Part 2: Learning While Listening
Banana Bread. Don't those two words just make you smile? Banana bread is such a classic recipe, and although it has been tried, tested, and shared by many, I don't think it ever gets old. Although I do already have a Turmeric & Cacao Banana Bread recipe on my blog already, I recently just felt like going … Continue reading Ciara’s Classic Banana Bread
If you've been following my blog or Instagram for the past while, or if you know me at all, it won't surprise you to hear me say that I am a) a serious foodie and b) a person who does not do boredom. In early April, I had a week of annual leave that I … Continue reading My Week in Cafe Cooking – A Cookery School Experience
Plant. Power. Two words that I'm making a 2018 regular in my vocabulary. Most of you will have heard of the 'plant-based diet' concept and trend that took hold in 2017, and continues to sky-rocket in 2018. I even wrote a blog post about it this year with my friend, dietitian and all around twinnie … Continue reading Mushroom Magic Stroganoff with Tofu – featuring Alpro
Recently, I found a big bag of puffed quinoa in my cupboard that I had bought from Lidl AGES ago, and I decided to play around with it a little! Enter the idea for a different twist on those chocolate 'Rice Krispie' bites we all know so well from childhood birthday parties. I was delighted … Continue reading Chocolate Cashew Quinoa Bites
You guys will know that I recently took on a one week cookery course in Cafe Cooking at the Dublin Cookery School - and I loved every minute. I left with inspiration, new creativity, and fresh excitement to try the recipes we had tested, and of course get inventive with my own twist on them too! So … Continue reading Oat & Seed Scones
If you've seen my recipe for my Five-A-Day Lentil & Bean Stew, you'll know I am a big fan of the Chicken Bone Broth by Sadie's Kitchen, using it for my curries, dahls, stews, and on it's own as a little mug of comfort! Sadie's are an Irish company, founded by Sarah Kiely, who create healthy, nutrient-packed bone … Continue reading Spinach & Chickpea Coconut Dahl with Sadie’s Kitchen
Truth time. I'm not a big bread gal - with the exception of favourites of mine like sourdough, or the rye breads from Biona Organic, I really prefer to make my own loaves at home. I've made a few variations for my blog, such as my Turmeric Banana Bread and my Sweet Potato Protein Loaf, but I decided I … Continue reading Oats & Berry Bread
Hands up who else loves KindSnacks? If, like me, you're a massive fan of the delicious bars this lovely brand, I've got a serious treat for you - a HOMEMADE version! The gang at KindSnacks are full of those good happy vibes I love, and this year I've been chatting to them quite a bit - … Continue reading Homemade Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt ‘KIND’ Bars
I am a BIG fan of one-pot wonder recipes, and along a similar vibe, one-pan or bake meals. So recently, when trying to decide on a new recipe to test out with the family for dinner, I decided to embrace a traybake creation! This chicken traybake uses some of my absolute favourite spices - cinnamon, … Continue reading Moroccan Chicken Traybake
Okay people. It's time for a one of my rambles - but it's an interesting one, I promise. Today, I'm going to address a topic that I don't think we talk about enough - REST. I'm also going to tell you about a concept called 'movement snacking', which I think is the antidote to many … Continue reading Movement Snacks, Rest Days and Why I Ditched Team No Days Off
Time for a new plant-based meal prep recipe gang! Lately, I've been on an absolute roll of making my Butter Bean Cashew Dahl, which is one of my all-time favourite recipes on the blog, plus it's been a big hit with you guys too - a win win! So after making the dahl for a recent … Continue reading Lentil & Chickpea Cashew Curry
A little variation of my previous recipe for Chocolate Peanut Chickpeas, this recipe is a super quick, super simple plant-based tasty snack you can make for a busy week ahead! I love these crunchy chickpeas on their own, or on top of salads, buddha bowls, and even my yoghurt bowls and porridge (don't judge until you've … Continue reading Cacao & Cinnamon Chickpeas
Nomad Coffee - VERY Hipster with great brews The TRAVEL BLOGS continue!!! I visited Barcelona in June last year guys (2017) with my boyfriend, and I have to say, it was easily one of the best holidays I’ve ever been on, and Barcelona (BCN we’ll say for short) is now one of my favourite cities … Continue reading The Irish Balance Foodie Guide To…Barcelona
