See What U Can Eat.: Snacks

Showing posts with label Snacks. Show all posts

Raw Courgette Pesto

Ingredients:

250gr Courgettes

50gr. Almonds

20 Basil Leaves

Garlic (optional)
Cherry Tomatoes

Pine Nuts

E/V Olive Oil
Salt

How to Make it:

Shred the courgettes, almond and pine nuts.
Pour into a blender, and add the oil, basil leaves, garlic and a pinch of salt.
Once smooth, it's ready to serve. I would suggest adding a bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice as an addition once it's served.

Enjoy! xx

Home-Made Guacamole

I absolutely love guacamole. And it's even better when it's home-made as you can ensure quality of ingredients and avoid preservatives.

It is very high in protein but also unfortunately quite caloric. So please eat in moderation.

Ingredients:

1.5Cup (one can) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1Cup fresh spinach

1Tbsp. of olive oil

Half a large ripe avocado

Juice from 1 lemon

2 cloves garlic

Salt & pepper to taste

How To:

Toss it all in a food processor and whirl away! Enjoy as a dip with crackers or veggies, or as a spread on sandwiches (it's great with with smoked salmon!).

Happy Blending :) x

Baking Amaranth Yeast-Free Bread

Aren't we all fed up of buying broken, crumbled or dry GF bread in our local supermarkets? I for one am tired of it and of the constant disappointment. Which is why years ago, I converted to corn and rice cakes as my alternative to bread.

The other day, I discovered a recipe for Amaranth yeast-free bread and was amazed.

So here it is, please let me know how you get on.

Search for snacks and sandwiches ideas on my blog to perfectly compliment your freshly baked Amaranth bread. Enjoy it! x

Ingredients:

3 1/3 cups of amaranth flour

1 cup plus 2tbsp arrowroot powder

3tsp baking soda

¾tsp vitamin C powder (optional)

½tsp of salt

¼cups of applesauce

2tbsp of olive oil

1½ cups of water

How to:

Combine flour, arrowroot, baking soda, vitamin C and salt in a large bowl.

Mix applesauce, oil and water.

Stir into dry ingredients until just blended.

Pour into greased 8 X 4 loaf pan.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Turn out immediately and cool on a wire rack.

Number of Servings: 14

Happy Baking! x

Interesting Fact: Amaranth’s protein content is about 13 percent, or 26 grams per cup, which is much higher than for most other grains. To compare, a cup of long-grain white rice has just 13 grams of protein.

My Favourite Christmas Present

The holidays are nearly over, we have welcomed 2015 and how much fun we have had!

Now is the time to look through all the presents you have received and find a place for each of them.

In 2014 I believe I have been complaining quite a lot about the lack of freefrom breakfast choices. Ofcourse I always have my smoothie first thing and I am grateful for it as it gives me the boost of energy I need to brave walking out of the door each morning and commute for an hour to work.

However, when I finally reach my office, and it starts getting to about mid-morning, I would love to have cereals with almond milk. Ofcourse, cereals have always been out of the question, but recently I have discovered what has this year become my favourite Christmas present:

Nature's Path Organic Gluten Free - Mesa Sunrise.

Multigrain cereal flakes made with organic corn, flax, quinoa and amaranth.

They are delicious - contain about 250kcal (per 55g of serving plus 100ml of almond milk) - and they seem like a wonderful solution to my mid-morning breakfast.

You can find them in any big UK supermarket (Tesco, Sainsburys etc, as well as most health food retailers). They sell at £2.75 but are worth it.

So, here we are... enjoy them!

Sweetheart Porridge

This Sweetheart Recipe was originally sent to me by 'Mornflake' as part of their 'Great British Porridge Challenge'.

It is a winner recipe. Perfect for breakfast, as a snack or dessert, both warming and filling.

Their original recipe used normal milk. I have swapped it with almond milk and the results are just as delicious.

Recipe details:

This recipe uses the natural sweetness of berries topped with the sweet treat of white chocolate.

Serves: Two

Cooking & preparation time: 6 mins

Ingredients:

15g white chocolate

80g Mornflake jumbo oats

200ml almond milk

200ml cold water

80g frozen berries

1 dessertspoon runny British honey

How to Cook it:

Coarsely grate the white chocolate and set aside.

Into a deep saucepan place the oats, water and almond milk.

Then put the saucepan over a high heat and cook for 2 mins stirring constantly.

Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook the oats for a further 2-3 mins or until you have a nice creamy Porridge.

Pour the Porridge into two bowls.

Swirl the frozen berries into the Porridge (they will be like little frozen fruit pops!).

Top with a swirl of honey.

Finally garnish with the grated chocolate and serve hot to your sweetheart for breakfast.

Enjoy! x

The Morning-After Power Breakfast

The Morning-After Power Breakfast.

Or a perfect office lunch!

Ingredients:

Spelt Bread, Wild Alaskan Smoked Salmon, Mustard, Olive Oil, Lemon.

How to make it:

Toast the bread, add a drop of olive oil to each slice. Delicately lay out the Salmon on the toasts, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top. For added flavour add some mustard to each bite.

Enjoy!

Cut Comb on Acacia Honey

This is really great for snacking!

One spoon of this when you are feeling down, or a little vulnerable to a flu, and it will restore your energy and health.

If possible buy it from your local market, using local bees.

Booja-Booja Free-From Ice-Cream

I have finally found it! The almighty Free-From Ice-Cream!

Over time I have learnt to give up on dessert altogether. Apart from the odd bit of dark chocolate and sliced fruit, I have a profound dislike for the 'Dessert Course' because no one ever has anything that I can have. There is always some 'evil' ingredient. So when eating out I tend to be the 'starters' kinda of girl instead. Nowadays I much prefer it and I have to say that looking at all these cakes and pastries I actually don't miss it one bit. The stomach pain I would have as a reaction to indulging in one of these desserts is definitely not worth the taste pleasure of any third course dish.

You can believe my reaction when...

I couldn't believe my eyes as my mother took this out of the freezer as a surprise.

It is so yummy. Totally guilt-free in calories and ingredients. I'll let you stare at the packaging information in dismay for yourself. Take as much time as you like. It's real. It exist. We can now have Ice-Cream. Dark Chocolate Ice-Cream.

Try it. Enjoy it!

PS: It also come in many different flavours.

Here is their website for more information: http://boojabooja.com/

Ingredients:

Water, Agave Syrup, Cashew Nuts, Cocoa Powder.

PS: They sell it in Waitrose/Ocado and Whole Food Markets. What are you waiting for?

Manjit's Kale Chips

Thank you very much Manjit for sharing such a delicious recipe.

Kale is not only very good for you but if cooked properly can be an excellent addition to your meal. These Kale Chips can be served as a side dish or as ingredients to a main meal.

Ingredients:

kale

olive oil as needed

himalayan pink salt

How to cook it:

Pre-heat the oven at 200 degrees. First wash the kale properly. Then dry it all with a clean cloth and make sure that all the water has dried off. With a knife carefully remove the thick stems and tear into small pieces. Drizzle the Kale with extra virgin olive oil, making sure that all the Kale leaves are soaked in oil. Massage the oil on both sides of the leaves making sure every bit is covered with oil. Sprinkle the Kale leaves with himalayan salt. (Please note that Himalayan salt is a delicatessen. If you do not have access to this, feel free to use any coarse or rock salt instead). Bake in the oven 180 degrees until crisp, it normally takes around 15-20 mins. Please check regularly, as some ovens may cook faster than others, to make sure that they do not burn (Kale leaves are quite thin so they could burn quickly). Once cooked and crispy, Enjoy!

Kale's Health Benefits:

High in Fiber and an excellent source of nutrients especially vitamin A and well-absorbed Calcium (this helps prevent osteoporosis). It is a great source of beta-carotene (a huge means in curing cancer and heart-disease). It also benefits from Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Vitamin B6, Manganese and Potassium.

Sugar-Free Free-From Chocolate Cupcakes

For Free-From people it's a sad truth - we usually cannot have anything deliciously sweet.

Any cakes, treats, sweets are off the menu.

However, after a long day at the office I was researching Free-From Desserts, which could be Home-Made and Very-Easily done, and I came across this little gem.

Super Easy and doesn't contain any "bad" ingredients for our poor sensitive stomach. And it wows all audiences, whether they may be Free-From sufferers or not! Amaze and Surprise your boyfriend/girlfriend's taste buds with this perfect Friday evening treat. It's not too bad visually either!

Ingredients:
1.4 oz (about 1/2 cup) almond meal (I used TJ’s brand)
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon espresso powder
2-4 packets of stevia
5 teaspoons coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract
(frosting) 3 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
(frosting) 1/4 cup natural creamy peanut butter
(frosting) 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
(frosting) 2 packet of stevia

How to cook it:
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Line a muffin pan with 6 paper cups.
Combine the almond flour, baking powder, salt, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and stevia together in a bowl. Set aside.
In another smaller bowl, combine the coconut oil, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
Fill the paper cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Allow the cupcakes to cool for 5 minutes in the pan, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Mix the frosting ingredients together and spread a little bit on each cupcake.

Source: www.chocolateandcarrots.com

Health Foods - Dark Chocolate

How eat it:

Enjoy dark chocolate as is for a mid-afternoon pick-me-up, or use in (healthy!) baking. This superfood should be eaten in moderation – just one or two squares a day is enough.

Interesting Facts: Chocolate contains more antioxidants, gram-for-gram, than most fruit juices. The antioxidants protect the body from diseases such as cancer, and help prevent heart conditions. It also increases blood flow to the brain, and let’s not forget - it’s a natural mood-booster.

Photo Source: Photo by Flickr user Sapheron
Source: www.goodnet.org

Health Foods - Brain-Protecting Berries

How to make it:

Eat on its own or add them to dishes like salads or my

Swedish Specialty Steak with Blueberry Sauce. Frozen berries can also be added to your favourite free-from desserts and pies to be baked all year round, or simply added to a Home-Made Fruit Smoothie.

Interesting Facts: The research about the benefits of berries seems almost too good to be true. They’ve been linked to warding off obesity, lowering insulin and triglyceride levels, and fighting heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Now a new Tufts study finds that berries may help to clear toxins from the brain, to protect it from ageing and diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Source: www.news.health.com

Health Foods - Metabolism-Boosting Mushrooms

How to make it:
You can add mushrooms to anything from omelette and salads to stir-frys, and gluten-free pasta dishes. Herbed oven roasted or sautéed mushrooms over a bed of organic greens is a favourite side dish. Easy breezy appetizer marinade button mushrooms in balsamic vinaigrette and served chilled on toothpicks, or skewer and toss them on the grill.

Interesting Facts: Vitamin D is the reigning nutrition rock star. Adequate levels improve muscle strength and help muscles work more efficiently, by boosting energy from within cells. This key nutrient is not found naturally in many foods, and getting enough can be a challenge. Vitamin D is present in sunrays; Unfortunately, we can’t rely on the sun as your sole source, especially here in rainy London. Researchers from Boston USM, found that in healthy adults, eating sun-drenched mushrooms for 12 winter weeks was just as effective at raising blood vitamin D levels as taking a supplement.

Source: www.news.health.com

Mango - Body-Fat Reducing Health Food

Ingredients:

Mango, Water.

How to make it:

The simplest way is just plain old mango, but it’s also fantastic whipped into a smoothie, or added to hot or cold cereal. It also works well with savoury dishes, like baked or grilled seafood. And for a healthier treat, slather whipped mango onto free-from cupcakes in place of processed frosting.

Interesting Facts: Mangos are rich in immune supporting vitamins A and C, in addition to fiber and unique antioxidants, which have been shown to fight inflammation, a known trigger of ageing and disease. Now new research, from scientists at Oklahoma State University, shows that these delicious gems may also help reduce body fat. In the animal study, mango flesh was freeze-dried, ground into a powder, and added in small amounts to the meals of some mice, but not others. After two months, scientists found that the mango-fed mice had less body fat, as well as lower cholesterol levels, and better blood sugar control.

Source: www.news.health.com

We love Free-From Pot Porridge

Tesco Totally Free-From Porridge Pot - A Great Breakfast!

Just add hot water/ hot almond milk and it's ready to eat in a few minutes. Very handy, quick and healthy. Wrap warm and enjoy the winter this year with a hearty breakfast.

Ingredients:

Gluten Free Oat Flakes (63%), Rice Syrup Powder, Sugar, Rice Starch, Rice Flour.

How to make it:

Just add water/hot almond milk and Enjoy!

Photo Credit: www.tesco.com

Organic Amisa Rice Milk Chocolate Coconut Rice Cakes - A Great Snack!

Check out their website for more amazing snacks: http://www.amisa.co.uk/

Ingredients:

Rice* (50%), 50% Rice Milk Chocolate Coating (raw cane sugar*, cocoa butter*, rice syrup powder*, cocoa mass*, vanilla*), coconut (6%).

Against the Grain Organic Biscuits - A Great Snack!

Against The Grain Chocolate Chip & Hazelnut Cookies

Ingredients Chocolate Chip & Hazelnut Cookies:

Organic Gluten free flour (contains rice flour,potato starch, buckwheat flour,maize flour), Organic Rice syrup (contains rice flour and lemon juice), Organic Hazelnuts 12.1%, Organic Almonds, Organic Palm Oil (sustainably sourced), Organic Sugar, Organic Dark chocolate 9.9% (contains sugar, cocoa mass, cocoa butter, sunflower lecithin).

Against The Grain Ginger Crunches

Ingredients Ginger Crunches:

Organic Gluten free flour (contains rice flour, potato starch, buckwheat flour, maize flour), Organic Palm Oil (sustainably sourced), Organic Rice syrup(contains rice flour and lemon juice),Organic Sugar, Organic Rice Flour, Organic Stem Ginger 8.9%, Organic Ground Ginger 1.2%, Organic Molasses, Raising Agent (Ammonium Bicarbonate).

Against The Grain Almond Cookies

Ingredients Almond Cookies:

Organic Gluten free flour (contains rice flour, potato starch, buckwheat flour, maize flour), Organic Sugar, Organic Palm Oil (sustainably sourced), Organic Almonds 17.6%, Organic Rice Flour, Natural Almond flavouring 0.5%.

Photos Credit: www.againstthegrainfoods.com

Nature's Path - A Great Breakfast Option!

Nature's Path - A Great Breakfast Option!
And there are so many various types of ingredients, and cereals.
These come all the way from the US, but have started to be easily available at our local UK supermarkets. You should now be able to find them even in your local smaller stores.

Please see each product for their separate ingredients. Their main ingredient is shown in their product title. As with everything, if you have extended intolerances or allergies, please always check the back label as they may have traces, or even small amounts of ingredients which you should not have.

Tip: Tried and tested all the above with cold Almond Milk and it serves as a nutritious and yummy breakfast.

Interesting Fact: Millet is more than just an interesting alternative to the more common grains. It is a good source of some very important nutrients, including manganese, phosphorus and magnesium.