Carrot & Apple Bites

The Zebra has a thing for biscuits right now, so we whipped up a batch of healthy biscuits that I can also have as part of my breakfast! 

Ingredients:

50g seeds (we used a mix of flaxseed, chia and quinoa)

40g wholemeal self raising flour

35g porridge oats

1/2tsp grated ginger

1tsp cinnamon 

40g chopped dried apricot 

100g grated cooking apple

50g grated carrot 

20g chopped pecans 

20g coconut oil

60g honey 

5g orange zest

1tbsp orange juice 

10g grated coconut 

****preheat oven to 180degs

The best tip I can give for cooking with toddlers is get everything ready and prepared before letting them in the kitchen!

Gently heat the coconut oil until it melts and then stir in the honey, orange zest and juice. Leave to one side.

The best thing about the recipe is its so easy! Apart from the grated coconut, add all the remaining ingredients into one bowl. Mix well and then add in the warm coconut oil and orange.

Split the mixture into 6 or 12 biscuits and place on a greased tray. 6 biscuits mean they have around 200 calories each. 

Sprinkle on top the grated coconut.

Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes until they are golden brown. 

Once they've cooled, all you need to do is enjoy and not feel any snack-guilt! 

Banana & Apple Muffins

Any one who knows me, knows I'm all about healthy living! However, the Zebra likes baking, and loves cakes and this isn't going down well with my waist line...

This week, we had a go at a healthy version of a muffin - The flour is wholemeal, the oil and milk is coconut and the filling is fruit not chocolate!

Ingredients: 

275g wholemeal self raising flour

2tsp baking powder

25g soft light brow sugar

2 bananas 

300g frozen apples

1tsp orange peel

1tsp orange juice

300ml coconut milk

1 egg

3tbsp coconut oil

To decorate:

Honey 

Porridge oats 

****preheat oven to 200degs

Using a juicer or blender, make a pureee from all the fruits. This is the Zebras favourite kitchen toy!

Into a big bowl, pour the flour, baking powder, and sugar, then mix well.

Make a well in the middle and then pour in the milk, egg, and oil. Try not to drop the egg cup in the bowl!

Finally, mix in the fruit purée and stir until the batter is smooth.

Spoon the mixture into muffin cases - we found it made 14 in total with a bit left over to lick from the spoon...

Pop in the oven for around 30 minutes but keep an eye on them!

Once they have cooled, drizzle over some honey and sprinkle on some oats... Delicious and guilt free!

Fruit Sushi

Just a quick post today I'm afraid! Saturday's are usually our baking day, but I'm going to share our breakfast instead...

Fruit sushi is so yummy, and actually healthy - this adults breakfast is just 314 calories. 

Grab some whole grain cereals, such as cheerio's, and blitz in a blender till they are like breadcrumbs. Then grab a banana and cover in peanut butter. Roll the banana in the breadcrumbs until fully layered. Pop on a plate and cut into segments.

Put the left over cereal-breadcrumbs back into the blender and add some yogurt and fruit. Whizz until smooth, then serve with the banana as a dip.

So quick and simple, and goes down a treat! 

Warm Orange Nutty cake

For this weeks bake I am using my fab new cooking book! 

I've been eating healthy for over a year so thought it about time to treat myself to a new read. The recipe was a bit too healthy for me so we made a few substitutes!

Ingredients

1 large orange

125g dried apricots 

70g walnuts

70g almonds

70g Brazil nuts

4 eggs

200g caster sugar

125ml olive oil

85g wholemeal self raising flour

****preheat oven to 160degs

First up, cover the orange in water and boil for half an hour, then add in the apricots and boil for another 15 minutes.

We don't have a food processor, so had to make do with my smoothie maker! The Zebra loved putting all the nuts in the container one by one, and had even more fun pressing the button to whiz them up. 

Tip the nuts and flour into a big bowl and mix together. Pop the bowl to one side.

The Zebra greased up the cake tin with a little oil, she loves anything that resembles painting.

Once the orange and apricots are boiled, cut the orange open and take out any pips. The whole lot then goes in the processor/blender until smooth.

Add the fruit purée in with the oil, eggs and sugar. Mix together really well.

Finally, tip in the nuts and flour from earlier. If you have a processor you can blend it all together, but we did it by hand!

Spoon the mixture into the pre-greased tin and decorate the top with nuts. Remember to lick the spoon clean!

Pop in the oven for an hour to get the perfect, tasty, healthy cake!

It's not chocolate but the Zebra sure does love it!