Red Velvet Oatmeal

11 05 2013

This has no oats in it, maybe I should have called it Noatmeal…. You can probably use oats if you want. I don’t, I want vegetables for breakfast. Moving on. So, how do you get the red velvet color without nasty food coloring? Beetroot of course! What else!? This tastes like chocolate pudding, it’s amazing.

Few hot tips for new players…
1. Beetroot stains like a ba$tard so do NOT wear white whilst preparing this.
2. No matter how you try, it will end up all over every surface in your kitchen & look like a massacre has occurred.
3. Your hands probably won’t be normal-colored for days after so just factor that in if you have a hand-modeling job coming up or some such occasion. Obviously, not my problem- I have massive man-sized hands that no one should want to photograph.

Cauliflower is from the same family as broccoli and cabbage, it contains many essential B-complex vitamins and loads of vitamin C. Cauliflower contains several anti cancer phyto-chemicals which have proven benefits against prostate, breast, cervical, colon, ovarian cancers. Beetroot contains loads of folic acid which is essential for normal tissue growth, it contains mineral silica which helps the body absorb calcium & decrease the risk of osteoporosis. It is also a great source of antioxidants & provides potassium, magnesium and iron as well as vitamins A, B6 and C.

1/2 cup grated beetroot
1 cup ‘riced’ cauliflower (chop raw cauliflower into chunks, pop it in the food processor and pulse a few times until it has the consistency of rice)
1 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
1 tbs ground flaxseeds
1 heaped tbs raw cacao
OPTIONAL 1 heaped tbs protein powder (flavorless, vanilla or chocolate)
Stevia, maple syrup or coconut nectar to taste

In a small saucepan add beetroot, cauliflower & milk & bring to the boil, reduce heat & simmer for a few minutes. Add all remaining ingredients & stir well to thicken. Spoon into a bowl, top with berries, cacao nibs or a drizzle of coconut cream & dig in.

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Categories : Breakfast

Carrot Cake Porridge

9 05 2013

This is similar to my Oat-Free Oatmeal recipe. This is part of the no-eggs series of recipes, you can read more about my NO EGGS HERE. Yeah, it has zucchini in it but don’t have a meltdown, you can’t even taste it, it just adds goodness.

Zucchini is low calorie and a great source of fibre. It is rich in vitamin A, flavonoid and poly-phenolic antioxidants such as carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. These compounds help scavenge harmful oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species from the body that play a role in aging and various disease process. Carrots are full of beta-carotene which helps to reduce the risk of cancer, low in carbohydrates and full of vitamins C, K and B6. Health-promoting minerals found in carrots include potassium, calcium and manganese.

1/2 cup grated zucchini
1/2 cup grated carrot
1 heaped tbs protein powder (vanilla or flavorless)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Pinch cloves
Pinch nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 cup coconut milk (or milk of your choice)
1/2 cup chopped nuts & seeds (whatever you like)
1 heaped tbs ground flax or chia
Dash stevia (1 tbs honey or maple syrup as an alternative)
Coconut to serve (optional)

Add the zucchini, carrot, spices & milk to a small saucepan & bring to the boil, reduce to simmer & add all remaining ingredients. Cook for a few more minutes until all heated through and it has started to thicken. Pour into a bowl & eat cold or warm. Top with some coconut yoghurt, strawberries, poached pears or grilled figs would be delicious too!

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Categories : Breakfast

Carrot Cake Breakfast Bars

9 05 2013

I’m not sure if you are up to date with my latest body experiment but I had my food allergies tested to try & get to the source of my dodgy gut. Result are in and it’s a pretty dire outcome, though it could be worse…. I could be allergic to bacon or coconut. I will share the whole saga in another post but dairy in all forms is a massive one (adios whey protein), almonds (that’s pretty annoying), mushrooms & bananas & pineapple (not ideal but I will cope), sugar cane (who cares), wheat/gluten (no surprise & don’t care). There are more, but they are the main ones. Then comes eggs. My biggest SADNESS is EGGS!!! I freaking love eggs, I eat them all the time, every day for breakfast at least (perhaps my problem). BUT, it is ok because, if it is going to make me feel better then I am all over it. No eggs for at least 4 mths then we will reintroduce & see how we go. Until then I need some new breakfast ideas.

These protein bars are low carbohydrate, I have snuck some veggies in there to keep me from getting scurvy, high in protein & have some healthy fats as well. I freeze mine as individual bars for the days when I need brekkie or a snack in a hurry. See eggs, I don’t need you.

1 cup grated carrot
1 cup grated zucchini
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated (you could use a tsp or ground ginger instead)
2 cups mixed nuts/seeds (choose whatever you like)
1/2 cup protein powder (vanilla or flavorless)
4 tbs ground flax or chia mixed with 1/4 cup water (or 2 eggs)
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup nut butter, coconut butter or seed butter of your choice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Pinch salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup coconut (optional)
1/2 tsp stevia powder (or 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup)

Preheat oven to 170C. In a bowl (or I used a food processor) mix zucchini, carrot, coconut oil, water, nut butter, ginger & flax, chia mix or eggs and combine well. Add the spices & protein powder & stevia (or honey) and mix again. Add all remaining ingredients and blend to just combine. Line a cake tin or loaf pan with baking paper and pour the mixture in & flatten out. Bake for about 20-30 mins until cooked, sprinkle with a bit more cinnamon, allow to cool before slicing into bars. These can be stored in the fridge or freezer.

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Categories : Breakfast, Cake & Biscuits, Snack

Creamy Pesto

3 05 2013

Fresh herbs are the bomb, they add a flavor punch to any salad, meat or veggie dish with very little effort. They can jazz up the most pedestrian of dishes & make them into something amazeballs and the top news is, they are pretty easy to grow yourself so you always have some on hand. You don’t need much space, just a few small pots and, a hot tip for new players, get the kind of pot that has the self-watering bit at the bottom….. Trav bought me these ones after I kept killing the last lot of herbs because I forgot to water them. Poor herbs.

Basil has been hailed for its excellent anti-inflammatory benefits as well as its antioxidant properties that can protect the body from premature aging, common skin issues, and even some types of cancer. Did you know that dill is a very good source of calcium!? It is also a great antibacterial and contains oils that can help neutralize some types of carcinogens.

1 full packed cup chopped herbs (I used a mix of dill, basil & parsley)
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 heaped tsp fresh grated ginger
1 avocado
Juice 1 lemon
1 tbs tahini
2 tbs olive oil
Pinch salt & pepper

Blend in your food processor the herbs, ginger & garlic until it is as finely chopped as you can get it. Add the remaining ingredients & blend well until smooth. You can add extra olive oil or even some water or green tea of you want a runnier consistency. I used this to dress my super salad concoction of kale, fennel, grated beetroot, grated carrot, chopped apple, baby tomatoes, capsicum, dried seaweed flakes, celery, cucumber & homemade turmeric sauerkraut. I will certainly NOT get scurvy after that meal!

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And here’s my kick a$$ super salad

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Categories : Salads, Sauces, stock and dressings

Thai Beef Meatballs

30 04 2013

And so my meat adventures continue. Shall we call them “Me-ventures”? “Meatures”? I’d like them to have a name so get your thinking caps on please. You might win a prize…. but probably not, I have no prizes. If people gave me prizes I’d probably keep them for myself. Especially if they were food prizes, I’d totally eat all of them & share none. I would tell you about them though if they were delicious, like my meatballs. So, no prize but my eternal gratitude. That should be enough. Please & thank you. **Disclaimer- If someone reading this was wanting to donate me some prizes please disregard this first paragraph & just express post those babies ASAP.

A few things I have decided over my past few months as a meat-eater….1. I love bacon- why the hell have I not had this in my life for the past 15 years? Were you people conspiring agains me!? It was probably the government, or the FBI, or the actual pigs themselves. Anyway, back to bacon. I love it more each time I eat it. If I could marry bacon I probably would. Sorry Trav, but it’s the truth. 2. I really enjoy slow cooked lamb- not so big on cutlets or even just grilled. I like it to be all-fally-apart. 3. Pork is the same- slow cooked or I’m not really interested. 4. Beef I am still working out. I am very ‘meh’ about it, it is still too ‘meaty’ for me but I think I will get there. Beef mince is today’s experiment and I think I like it. Especially with the dipping sauce, I could just drink that gear on its own. Don’t judge me till you make it judgey mcjudger, it is freaking delicious.

1kg beef mince (try & get grassfed or organic)
1 long red chilli, finely diced (seeds removed if you don’t like it too hot)
1 tbs fresh grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bunch coriander, finely chopped including stems
3 eggs
2 tbs coconut aminos (you could use soy sauce or tamari)
1/2 cup almond meal
Coconut oil for cooking

Dipping sauce

1 tbs nut or seed butter (I used roasted almond butter)
Juice 1 lime
1 tsp fresh chopped chilli
3 tbs coconut aminos
Pinch stevia or tbs honey/maple syrup

For the sauce- I added everything to a jar & shook the cr@p out of it until all the lumps were gone. Done.

For the balls- add all the ingredients to a big bowl and mix well to combine everything. I used my hands because that is just how I roll. I washed them, obviously, no-one wants my dog’s hair in their meatballs. Roll them into little (or big) balls and set aside. Heat your coconut oil in a frypan and cook the balls. It’s not rocket science. You don’t really need me from here. You cook the balls, you dip them in the sauce, you shove them in your mouth. You can thank me later. Enjoy.

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Categories : Dinner, Lunch

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