Homemade Muesli Bars

I have such a sweet tooth and I usually dislike all of these 'healthy' takes on naughty treats. Sweet potato brownies were inedible and chickpea cookies were just all sorts of wrong. So you can understand my hesitation when it came to making a new 'healthy' treat. To my surprise this one was actually delicious. So delicious that they were gone within 24 hours. 

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup wholemeal plain flour
1/4 cup pepitas 
1/4 cup flaked almonds
1 cup dried fruit
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1/4 teaspoon sea salt flakes
1/3 virgin coconut oil
3/4 rice malt syrup or honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract


Method:
Preheat oven to 170
Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. For the 1 cup of dried fruit originally the recipe was supposed to have 1/4 each of sultanas, goji berries and dried cranberries. Im not really the biggest fan of those dried fruits so I added half a cup of dates and half a cup of dried apricots (in my opinion this was the better choice) Meanwhile place oil and syrup in a small saucepan; bring to the boil and boil until the oil is melted. Remove mixture from heat and stir in extract
Add the oil mixture to your bowl of dry ingredients and stir. If the mixture seems still use your hands to combine the mixture more thoroughly. Spoon mixture into a prepared pan and press down firmly. Bake for 25 minutes or until golden. Remove from over. Cool on wire rack and then enjoy :D 

Food: Overnight Oats

In the mornings I like to get up early to exercise and meditate; awakening my body and clearing my mind.

Usually by this point my early morning start has flown by and I am frantically throwing clothes on, racing out the door to catch my morning train. Therefore, I need a breakfast that I can grab and take with me; something easy, simple, filling but oh so delicious. 

Overnight oats are the perfect remedy.

Ingredients:

½ cup of oats 

½ cup of milk

½ cup of yoghurt

Tbsp. Chia seeds

Tbsp Honey

Toppings

Grab a cute mason jar and pour the oats, milk, yoghurt and chia seeds inside the jar. Stir until thoroughly mixed through. Place in fridge overnight ready for breakfast the following morning.

When ready to eat top the jar with fruits, nuts, seeds and or coconut shreds. Super easy, super quick and super delicious.

Hint – I use plain Chobani yoghurt (my favourite) as it is extremely high in protein and low in sugar. If you can’t handle the tartness of Greek yoghurt add a little bit of organic honey to your mixture. That way you will get the benefits of protein packed yoghurt and the sweetness that is in normal sugar ridden yoghurt. For those of you lacking in the fibre department I also occasional add All Bran Flakes. Your bowels will love you ;)

Food: Gluten free Carrot Cake

I love food! Not just eating it, but cooking it too. 

However, this self confessed foodie is all about everything sweet and delicious - I looovvve to bake! So on this long weekend I decided to make my roommates a gluten-free Carrot Cake. Don't tell them but I did lick the spoon hehe, enjoy

Xx

Ingredients
5 eggs, separated
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 ¼ cups caster sugar
2 cups finely grated carrot
2 cups of almond meal 
½ cup gluten free self raising flour

Cream cheese frosting
110g packaged cream cheese, softened
80g butter, softened 
1/2 cup icing sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice


Method
1. Preheat over to moderate (180/160C) fan-forced.
2. beat egg yolks, rind and sugar in small bowl with electric mixer until thick and creamy; transfer to large bowl. Stir in carrot, almond meal and sifted flour

3. Beat egg whites in small bowl with electric mixer until soft peaks form; fold into carrot mixture in two batches

4. Pour mixture into pan; back for a minimum of 45 minutes. Stand cake 5 minutes in wire rack to cool. 
5. Meanwhile make cream cheese frosting
6. Spread cold cake with cream cheese frosting; sprinkle with slivered almonds

Cream cheese frosting - beat cream cheese and butter in small bowl with electric mixer until light and fluffy; gradually beat in icing sugar and juice. 

Pretty much wife material. I may need to do a workout now though because this was all that was left of the cake less than an hour later. Whoops.