Not everything in my kitchen goes according to plan. You only see the successes; there are many interesting versions along the way.
For example: I was making a Pecan Brittle the other day but didn't let it set long enough before I blended it to make crumbs. Instead of crunchy, toffee nut crumbs I got a gooey ball of unidentified nuttiness (perhaps some might say that is my personality!). As I am determined to not waste food I decided to turn this disaster into Pecan Pie Cookies. The mixture tasted right... but when they came out of the oven the cookies had 'melted' and I was left with a nut 'leather' (that's the only way I can describe it; a protein version of a fruit leather roll up). I thought I had struck accidental genius gold... But alas no. I had baked something that had the ability to pull out tooth fillings with a single bite. It was binned and I chalked it up to a learning experience.
This 'Lemon Butter' did not start out its life with the intention off being a vegan butter option but sometimes when life gives you lemons you find a way to make it taste great! This 'Lemon Butter' is a Vegan and Paleo version of a lemon butter spread. It uses blended cashews and coconut to make a smooth paste which is flavoured by a lot of lemon juice and zest. Spread it on Banana Bread or use it on top of Carrot Cupcakes as a tasty frosting or, as 4 yo H has been doing, eat it by the sneaky spoonful.
I have become quite obsessed with nut butters lately and all the ways you can use them. This 'Lemon Butter' is essentially a flavoured nut butter and later this week I'll show you some tasty ways to use it!
LEMON 'BUTTER'
(Vegan, Paleo)
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Cashews
1 1/2 Cups Desiccated Coconut
1/2 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon + 2 teaspoon Lemon Zest
2 teaspoons Maple Syrup
Optional: dash of Vanilla Extract
INSTRUCTIONS
Place all ingredients into a high powered blender and process until a smooth paste forms.
Place the lemon butter in a seal-able container/jar.
The Lemon Butter will need to be at room temperature when using as a spread or in a cookie/doughnut recipe.
2 year old S has developed a naughty habit of ripping pages out of books. Wiggles books, Mr. Men and Little Miss Books, even the lift up flaps of a Spot book. His literary vandalism knows no bounds! Each time he got a stern talking to and was sent to his room.
Last week I was going through old cooking magazines (I have quite a few) and was ripping out pages with recipes I wanted to keep. S was watching me and was horrified!
"Naughty Mummy!" he yelled at me.
"No rip books! Naughty Mummy; go to room now!". He then took my hand, gave it a pat and made me go my room. So cute; it was hard to keep a straight face! After all the ripped Pooh books he had finally learned his lesson... or so I thought until I found the remains of a Dr Seuss book.
My parenting trophy moment (the one when I thought I had actually gotten through to my child) had been overshadowed by 2yo S's love of vandalism. Just a typical day as a Mum!
Each night I try to serve up healthy, interesting and tasty meals to my family. This Chocolate Lasagne is not what I would normally dish up for dinner, but it does contain vegetables and fruit so it would probably be ok! Chocolate Lasagne would not normally be considered Vegan nor Paleo but it can be done... and it's so tasty no one would ever know they were eating healthier!
CHOCOLATE LASAGNE (Vegan, Paleo)
INGREDIENTS
Brownie (Vegan and Paleo options) (see recipe below)
Whipped Coconut Cream (see recipe below)
Chocolate Mousse (see recipe below)
Chocolate (see recipe below)
INSTRUCTIONS
Take the cooled brownie and spread with 1/2 the whipped coconut cream.
Spread the chocolate mousse over the whipped cream.
Spread the remaining whipped cream over the mousse and decorate with grated chocolate.
Place the Chocolate Lasagne in the fridge until ready to serve.
BROWNIE
INGREDIENTS
230 grams roasted Sweet Potato-measured after roasting (to roast sweet potato, place a whole sweet potato in a moderate oven for 60 minutes or until soft in the middle)
1 Tablespoon Coconut Flour
1/2 Cup Coconut Oil, melted
3/4 Cup Cocoa
1/4 Cup + 2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
3/4 Cup mashed Banana (VEGAN) or 3 Eggs (PALEO)
3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
Dash of Salt
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 175C/350F.
Grease a casserole/baking tray (mine was 30cm x 20cm but any Lasagne style dish would work)
Place all the ingredients in a blender and mix until combined and smooth.
Pour the mixture into the greased tray and bake for 30 minutes, or until cooked through.
Allow to cool completely.
WHIPPED COCONUT CREAM
INGREDIENTS
2 cans Coconut Cream (400ml can), lid removed and placed in the fridge over night
4 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
4 teaspoons Maple Syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
Spoon the thickened cream out of the can, discarding the watery remains.
Place the coconut cream, maple syrup and vanilla extract in a mixing bowl and whisk on high until thickened.The key is to forget about the cream and leave it to whip for at least 5 minute. Place the whipped cream back in the fridge to thicken before using.
CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
INGREDIENTS
3 small (or 1 1/2 large) Avocado
1/3-1/2 Cup Cocoa, unsweetened
1/3-1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
1 Tablespoon Vanilla
2 Tablespoons Whipped Coconut Cream.
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the avocado, cocoa, maple syrup and vanilla in a blender.
Purée until smooth with no lumps or bumps remaining.
Taste the mousse at this stage. If there is still a strong taste of avocado add an extra Tablespoon of cocoa and maple syrup.
Transfer the Mousse mixture or the bowl of a kitchen stand mixer with a whisk attachment.
Add the coconut cream and whisk the Mousse until creamy.
CHOCOLATE
This makes 100 grams of Chocolate.
Store left over chocolate in the freezer for future use
INGREDIENTS
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Cocoa
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
INSTRUCTIONS
Over a very low heat melt the coconut oil.
Add the maple syrup and stir.
Add the cocoa and stir until combined, ensuring no lumps.
Allow to cool slightly before using, or keep in freezer for future use.
I joined a gang.
I hope it’s the cool gang because at school I didn’t have a Sportsgirl t-shirt or tartan shorts which meant I was in the lower portion of the social hierarchy. So far I don’t know of any dress codes, other than maybe an apron.
I joined the Daring Bakers. It’s a community of bloggers from around the world who, each month, are ‘dared’ to make, recreate and personalize a recipe from another member. Awesome group - now to healthify a recipe!
The April Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Wolf of Wolfs Den. She challenged us to Spring into our kitchens and make Easter breads reflecting cultures around the world. I chose the German Easter Bread as my base recipe and tried to traditionalize it. I had already made Hot Cross Buns, which are about as traditional as we get here in Australia at Easter (besides the Chocolate Bilby), so I borrowed the flavors of the hot cross bun and made a Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Professed Sugar Free, Paleo Friendly Fruit Loaf.
Now I know this tasted good as my husband, who detests nuts in baked goods, scoffed it down quicker than the time it took for the popular girls at school to tell me my overalls looked ugly (in hindsight they were right but I thought I looked cool at the time). Spice things up with some Sugar Free Jam or Whipped Cream and make a fancy afternoon tea.
This recipe, just like the Hot Cross Bun, uses yeast. I know, without the gluten using yeast seems pointless but it does change the texture of the dough hence I still preserver with the waiting and the rising! I also created a flour mix to use in this recipe which is made from Coconut Flour, Almond Meal and Arrowroot. I have always found, when Gluten Free Bread and Loaf baking, that having a variety of flours produces a much more ‘normal’ baked product than using 1 flour by itself. You’ll be seeing this mix again soon in other recipes.
FRUIT LOAF
Makes 1 fruit loaf (approximately 16 pieces)
Adapted from German Food
INGREDIENTS
1 cup dried Mixed Fruit (Sultanas or Currents could also be used)
¼ Cup Slivered Almonds
1/3 Cup Milk (of Choice)
Flour Mix:
½ Cup + 1 Tablespoon Coconut Flour
1 Cup Almond Meal
¾ Cup Arrowroot
Sponge:
¼ teaspoon Yeast
2/3 Cup Cold Milk (of Choice)
Dough:
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1 egg
½ Teaspoon Salt
2 Tablespoons Apple Sauce (see recipe below)
1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
1 teaspoon Orange Zest
1 teaspoon Yeast
½ teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Mixed Spice
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
Dash of Nutmeg
Glaze:
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
2 Tablespoons Water
1 Tablespoon Gelatine
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the dried mixed fruit in a bowl and cover with water and let them soak. Soak the almonds in the milk. Drain both well before using (see below) after 1 hour.
Sift the Flour mix ingredients together in a mixing bowl and gently whisk until well combined. This will be used in 2 parts to the recipe.
Mix ½ the Flour mix and the other sponge ingredients (yeast and milk) together until it forms a ball. Do this using a kneading hook on a Kitchen stand mixer or by spoon/hand in a bowl. The dough will be soft and sticky, but have come together to form a ball shape.
Leave in the bowl, covered and at room temperature (or in a warm place if a cold day) for 2 hours. This dough is called the sponge.
After 2 hours place the sponge (as made above), the remaining flour mix, maple syrup, egg, salt, apple sauce, zests, yeast, vanilla extract and spices in a bowl and mix until combined. This can be done using a dough hook on a Kitchen Stand Mixer or by spoon/hand. Add in the drained mixed fruits and nuts.
Knead for a few minutes by hand on a well greased surface. The dough will be quite sticky but try not to add any additional flour. It will be sticky and not easy to knead like ‘normal bread’.
Form the dough into a mound shape and place on a lined and greased baking tray. Let the loaf rest on the table for 45 minutes.
Turn oven on to 175C/350F and place a large, empty baking tray in the bottom of the oven.
Before placing the dough in the preheated oven, use a sharp knife to score the top and make a large X shape. This should be a surface marking and not go deep into the dough.
Fill the empty baking tray with boiling water, and place the loaf in the oven and cook for 35 minutes (this is called ‘cooking with steam’).
After 35 minutes cover the loaf with foil and continue cooking for another 20 minutes (total bake time is 55 minutes). If the bottom pan has become empty refill it with boiling water.
Just before the Fruit Loaf is cooked, place all the ingredients for the glaze in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
As soon as the fruit loaf is removed from the oven, brush/pour the boiling glaze evenly over the loaf.
The Fruit Loaf can be eaten warm or cold and is delightful for afternoon tea when served with Jam and Cream. The X mark in the top can help divide the loaf into pieces (I cut each quarter into 4 pieces so had 16 in total).
APPLE SAUCE
This recipe makes much more than needed for the Fruit Loaf so keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze the left overs.
INGREDIENTS
4 Apples (medium size), peeled and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup Water
INSTRUCTIONS
Place the apples and the water in a small/medium sized saucepan.
Cover the saucepan with a lid and bring to the boil over a medium/high heat
Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 8 minutes, or until the apple is soft.
Mash or puree apple (retain the water in the sauce).
Store in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze.
I cannot 'do' accents. I know this as I just tried to do an English impersonation and sounded like a cockney tramp. My American accent is a cross between a wild cowboy and a cockney tramp... clearly I won't be winning any Oscars anytime soon (as least I'll have Leo DiCaprio for company!).
I find it quite unnerving when you see an actor being himself and they have a completely different voice to the character they play. Take Brody from 'Homeland'; a US marine with terrorist tendencies, who was played by a Londoner (who I thought was a Scotsman - I told you I can't do accents!). Or Hugh Laurie from 'House'; an Englishman who can play the piano. Freaks me out!
Accents are not my forte, but thankfully I can bake.
I can bake these cookies; actually they don't need baking.
I can simmer and roll these cookies (although that doesn't sound quite as poetic).
The original recipe comes from My Heart Beets
I have made some changes to suit a vegan diet.
These are dainty, adult biscuits. Sometimes you want to feel like you’re having High Tea at the Palace with the Queen, dressed in your finery with your best (non-cockney) English princess accent (think Kate not Beatrice), rather than the reality of snot covered trackies, dirty ugg boots and an unwashed hair do. These biscuits will help you to escape to a Disney approved palace... at least until they’re all gone that is - which unfortunately is all too soon.
DATE PINWHEEL BISCUITS
Makes 18 biscuits
(adapted from My Heart Beets)
INGREDIENTS
200 grams pitted Dates
16 grams chopped Pistachios
1/2 Tablespoon Maple Syrup
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
1/2-1 teaspoon Cardamom
16 grams Cashews/Walnuts/Almonds, chopped
16 grams Cashews/Walnuts/Almonds, chopped
2-3 Tablespoons Desiccated Coconut
INSTRUCTIONS
Take the chopped pistachios and mix with the maple syrup in a small bowl.
Chop the dates into small pieces and add them to a small saucepan with the coconut oil and cardamom.
Cook the dates over a low heat for 5 minutes, stirring often to prevent the dates from sticking to the pot and burning.
After 5 minutes reduce the heat to very low and continue to stir until a smooth paste is formed (5-7 minutes).
These steps must be done at a low temperature otherwise the coconut oil will separate.
Add both the types of nuts and stir to combine.
Remove from the heat and allow to cool so it can be handled without burning your fingers (I place the mixture in the fridge to fasten the process).
When the mixture is cool enough to handle, roll it out thinly between 2 sheets of baking paper to form a rectangle. It will be approximately 20cms x 10cms.
Take the pistachio mixture from the bowl and place along the long length of the rectangle.
Roll up the date roll into a long log, like you would a sushi roll or snake cake.
Spread the desiccated coconut over a piece of the baking paper and roll the log in the coconut until it is all covered.
Wrap the coconut log in plastic wrap and leave in the fridge to firm (at least 1 hour).
Slice the log into equal pieces (approximately 18) and serve at room temperature.
Store the biscuits in the fridge between high teas.
