Wheat-free banana bread

This is real proof that wheat-free can be simple, easy and delicious. If you are just starting out on a wheat-free journey or an experienced cook, this fabulous recipe is sure to become a family favourite.

Ingredients:

125g butter

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 mashed banana

1 grated apple

1 Tablespoon lemon juice and zest

2 Tablespoons milk or water

1 and half cups wheat free flour

1/2 cup wheat-free almond flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon bicarb.

Method:

1. Cream butter and sugar

2. Beat in the eggs slowly and mix well

3. Sift dry ingredients and fold in together

4. Add banana, carrot, and liquids and mix together. Pour into a greased loaf tin.

5. Bake at 180degrees celsius for about an hour, check that it is golden and starting to shrink away from loaf tin edge

6. Turn out and cool on a wire rack

Enjoy darlings!

Breakfast of Champions from Me Organic

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This delicious plateful of Quinoa and flax pancakes with blueberries, banana, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and nuts was one of the things I spotted from Me Organic – I’m going to try it. Delicious!

Healthy, delicious prawn recipe

Thank you all for your kind words and support. They have motivated to write another blog today – this time an aromatic Vietnamese prawns meal. One of my personal favourites!! I can’t remember where I originally sourced the recipe, but it is quick and simple. The standing time in the fridge allows you time to get the rest of the meal done.

Ingredients:

30mls sunflower oil

1 cup coconut milk

2 teaspoons fish sauce (Nam Pla)

Fresh lime juice (to taste)

24 raw, large tiger prawns, peeled and deveined

Marinade mix

1 red onion, finely chopped

1cm piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

1 piece lemon grass, cut finely (remove hardest outer layer first)

2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

1/2 fresh chilli deseeded and finely chopped (how hot do you like it? adjust accordingly)

Pinch of saffron

1/2 teaspoon dry coriander powder

To Taste add at end:

Good grind of black pepper

Pinch salt

Method:

1. Place the marinade mix in a pot (large enough for the prawns too,) and add the sunflower oil to it.

2. Add the cleaned prawns and toss well to coat.

3. Cover and stand in a fridge for an hour.

4. Remove the prawns to a bowl and bring marinade mix very gently to the boil.

5. Add the coconut milk and stir while you gently simmer for a minute or two

6. Add the prawns back to the pot and cook through on medium heat – 3-4 minutes.

7. Add the salt, pepper, fish sauce and lime juice, tasting to adjust the quantities

7. Finally, serve on a bed of steaming jasmine or basmati rice and garnish with several sprigs of fresh coriander

Ohh, be prepared for compliments. This is a heady and fragrant dish popular with prawn lovers.

Salad with figs, pecorino, basil and honey

Fig, honey and pecorino has to be one of the most palatable and sexy food combinations you can get. I just saw a delicious vision of such a salad – and had to share it with you all. As Martetatin says “Its colours are bright and it looks so fresh and festive.” Let me know what you think! Personally, I love rocket and walnuts so I would add these to the salad.

http://martetatin.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/salad-with-figs-pecorino-basil-and-honey/

Yours in good health …..

Who is your thinspiration?

I have 2 girlfriends who are my real thinspiration. Both were overweight at some stage of their lives and at a specific point, decided one day – “This is it, not one kg more!!!!”

My first friend had an event she was going to in the future and decided there was no ways she was going to be anything but her best. Good for her. Giving herself 6 months for the programme, she chose a nutritious, fresh, low GI menu and stuck to it. Yes she had a slice of cake at bridge, but no she did not have a slice of cake, 2 brownies and some delicious quiche like the rest of us. She was just disciplined and consistent, if she had a “Break all the rules” meal, she just climbed back on the band wagon and from her next meal stuck to it again. She did not agonise or fuss – she just simply did it. Well you should have seen the gorgeous dress she wore to her special event and heard all the compliments. She looks fantastic and healthy and 10 years younger. A year later, as it is now, she has not gained one gram. She still is quite observant of the choices she makes regarding what delicious morsel to hang off the end of her fork. Sugar is out and fruit is IN. Quantity is out, BUT quality is IN. Seeing her steady, disciplined, one day at a time, one step at a time approach, makes Jane my primary godess of thinspiration. So thanks and hoping you too find that shining example of something you would like to achieve in your health – and your life!

Power smoothies

Smoothies are so popular right now and every healthy website has examples of recipes for you to try.

Reasons why you may want to experiment with them.

1. These delicious meals feel like you are eating a dessert – they are a treat to eat and easy to make.

2. There is something about eating fresh food blended that makes it so easy for the body to absorb that you can feel the difference, in how you feel after this meal. Energised !!

3. Variety is the name of the game – do I feel like the sweetness of berries or mangoes, vitamin C from citrus or Kiwi fruit. Is the earthy taste of raw beetroot what I desire in this moment to make me feel more grounded and connected! Add a spinach leaf to any smoothie. You can hardly taste it and  there couldn’t be an easier way to get your greens

4. Basic health rules. Use a  low GI fruit such as an apple or a pear as the base.

5. Add a banana for minerals and creaminess

6. Personally, I try to avoid yoghurt in them and make them dairy free. The blended ice allows you to do this and yet the taste is still creamy.

7. I like to add a few scoops of brown rice protein powder to my breakfast power smoothie. Hemp powder is another possibility. There is a range of delicious powders you can add to jazz them up and make them creamy. Explore your local health shop or pharmacy to see what is available.

8. I always add fresh ginger (it’s a natural anti-inflammatory and seems to curb the appetite awhile)

9. Best sweet base:

1 green apple diced

1 banana

3 scoops brown rice protein powder

1/2 teaspoon fresh grated ginger

handfull of frozen or fresh berries (anti-oxidant)

1 fresh spinach leaf

few mint leaves

1/2 cup ice

1/2 cup ice cold water

If I am really starving I add some muesli or cooked quinoa to thicken it and a few raw almonds or walnuts, crushed!

Blend all together and enjoy my darlings – you will love it.

Best Alkali Promoting Foods

All raw vegetables, avocado, corn, dates, most fresh fruit, honey, soy products, almonds, lima beans and millet – can you sense a delicious salad happening. Remember to dress your creative salad with fresh lime or lemon juice, a half teaspoon of honey, virgin cold pressed olive oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds!! YUM!