Almond Apricot Cake

Ingredients:

Corpus

250 g almond flour

80 g brown sugar
50 g spelt flour

140 g melted butter

2 eggs

Topping

50 g melted butter

450 g apricots, halved and pitted

50 g whole almonds, skinless

3 tbsp brown sugar

*

This was another of her weekend baking experiments that worked out pretty nicely. It's been already a while ago at the time of apricot season.

The original recipe included classic flour and crushed almonds that she substituted with the almond flour and a bit of spelt flour. Preheat the over for 200 C, mix all the corpus ingredients together which creates a kind of a paste mixture and place it onto a baking paper in a form. Place the apricot halves onto the corpus, fill them with whole almonds, brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with the brown sugar. Bake in the oven for about 40 minutes until the apricots are nicely caramelized and the corpus has golden color and crunchy rounds. Serve with whipped cream if you wish.

Bon Appetit!

Superfood Breakfast

Ingredients:

4 Atkins Advantage Wheat & Rye Cracker à 10 g

1/2 ripe avocado

50 g President Chèvres doux soft goat's cheese

1 teaspoon chia seeds

Pinch of salt

*

This breakfast has become her favorite option over the working week. Although there was no cooking involved she wanted to share this breakfast option as it contained so called super foods. It can be argued that the rise of so called super foods is nothing but a scam and clever manipulation by nutrition marketeers. It is true that these products are usually pretty costly and come with a fashion hype and promotions in the media and by celebrities. The judgement was on each person to make, but what she personally liked and appreciated about these products was the diversity and new door that opened to whole different life style. Not only she enjoyed the taste but it just made her feel good. The crackers were low carb and full of fibre; chia seeds were wholesome source of mega-3 fatty acids,  protein, manganese, and phosphorus along with vitamin A, B, E and D. Avocado was rich in healthy fats and nutrients - oleic acid, lutein, folate, vitamin E, monounsaturated fats and glutathione among them. 

Goat cheese, like goat milk, was easier on the human digestive system and lower in calories, cholesterol and fat than its bovine counterpart. In addition, goat milk cheese was a good source of calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin K, phosphorus, niacin and thiamin. Given the fact that she was lactose intolerant, this was a better option.

When she combined this breakfast with one of her fruit smoothies, she felt energetic, satisfied but not stuffed until the lunch time. Why not trying something new?

Bon Appetit!

Hearty Brunch

Ingredients:

4 medium eggs

2 slices of cheese eg. Leerdammer

1 cup of fresh mushrooms

Pinch of dried thyme

1 teaspoon butter

Mix of fresh fruit - here galia melon and cherries

1/2 cup Greek yogurt

1 tbsp agave syrup

salt&pepper

*

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. We don't always have the time over the working week, but Sundays were perfect for a long hearty breakfast. Make yourself a cup of tea or coffee. Try this alternative instead of the average corn flakes or bread with ham and cheese. Smear the butter on a frying pan, pour the whisked eggs over, place the slices of cheese and let it cook for a while. Scramble the eggs on the frying pan slightly. Season with salt and pepper. Fry the mushrooms on another pan with pinch of  butter, season with thyme, salt and pepper. Serve the scrambled eggs with fresh spinach leaves and mushrooms. Enjoy a slow breakfast without hurry.

Bon Appetit!

The Green Bomb Smoothie

Ingredients:

Handful fresh baby spinach leaves

1 kiwi fruit, peeled

1/2 banana

1/2 lime juice

100 ml mango and guanabana juice

100 ml water

A few fresh basil leaves

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One more tip for the smoothie recipes as requested. This one felt like an energy bomb, it was full of antioxidants and was very refreshing. Don't be afraid of the baby spinach leaves, they leave practically no taste and add to the texture of the smoothie. Basil leaves go amazingly well with banana. Again, just mix all the ingredients in a blender and if you prefer thicker structure, omit the water.

Bon Appetit!

Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 banana, cut into circles

3 tbsp yoghurt (soy)

1 tbsp peanut butter

100 ml orange juice

100 ml water

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder

*

Another of her smoothie tips, just mix all the ingredients in a blender until smoothie structure achieved. This smoothie is almost like a dessert, a bit more fulfilling than the others and not tot forget, the peanut butter is very caloric, so one spoon should be sufficient.

Bon Appetit!

Papaya Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh papaya, seeded and peeled, cut into cubes

1/2 banana, cut into circles

1/2 orange, peeled

100 ml mango and guanabana juice

100 ml water

1 tbsp chia seeds

*

Another of her smoothie tips, just mix all the ingredients in a blender and voilà, healthy snack is ready.

Bon Appetit!

The Berry Coconut Smoothie

Ingredients:

1/2 cup strawberries

1/3 cup blackberries

1 cup water

2 tbsp coconut milk

70 ml Alpro Soya Mild and Creamy strawberry and rhubarb drink

1 tbsp rasped coconut

*

Smoothies seemed to be everywhere now, on blogs, tumblr, in magazines. She was drinking smoothies in the morning for a long time now. It was her morning routine before she went to work. It gave her the energy she needed for a good start of the day and for her journey to work which took her about an hour. She only had breakfast after she arrived at work. The preparation was super easy, just put everything together and mix with blender. This version was a bit richer and mor fulfilling. She used soya milk products as she was lactose intolerant, but feel free to use yoghurt or alternatively also goat's milk products. Be careful on the coconut milk part as the milk is very rich and oily, it should only add a bit of taste and texture to the smoothie. More of her favourite smoothies were about to follow. 

Bon Appetit!

Dutch-style Pancakes

Ingredients:

(2 pancakes)

1 whole egg
1/2 cup flour
150 ml milk
2 tbsp sugar
1 apple, peeled, cored and cut into circles
2 slices prosciutto ham or bacon
Dutch pancake syrup Suikerstroop or mable syrup
1 teaspoon butter
pinch of salt
*

Let's move away from the exotic and look into something from the traditional Dutch cuisine. In reality, Dutch cuisine didn't have much to offer if we omit Surinamese, Indonesian or Turkish/Moroccan influence. Nevertheless, the Dutch love their pancakes. There are pancake houses all throughout the country and
pancakes are prepared in many ways. The most traditional and interesting one is the Pannenkoek met appel en speck - pancake with apple and bacon. Mix the flour, pinch of salt, sugar and a little of the milk to a smooth paste. Add the remaining milk gradually, while whisking. Add the egg, beating the mixture well.
Melt the butter in a frying pan and wait until it sizzles. Pour in enough of the mixture to cover the entire surface of the pan (spread the mixture evenly by tilting the pan). While the pancake bakes on lower heat, add the slices of apple and bacon (or for lighter version prosciutto ham), turn carefully to the other side after a couple of minutes and bake until pancakes have golden color on both sides. The pancakes need to be served with the syrup otherwise the combination of tastes is not in balance and trust, it is really worth trying :)
Bon Appetit!

Oatmeal Porridge With Dried Fruits

Ingredients:

50 g cut porridge oats

350 ml milk or water

1 tbsp honey

pinch of cinnamon powder

pinch of cardemon powder

Handful dried apricots, chopped

Handful dried cranberries, chopped

Handful walnuts, chopped

Pinch of salt

*

As autumn arrives, the breakfast preferences change. Warm porridge is a perfect start of the day on rainy days. Put the oats in a saucepan, pour in the milk or water and sprinkle in a pinch of salt. Bring to the boil and simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring from time to time and watching carefully that it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan. Once ready, mix in some honey, cinnamon, little bit of cardamon and stir. Add the dried fruits of your preference, here apricots and cranberries, but can be also dried figs, prunes or raisins, along with some nuts, here walnuts, but also can be almond flakes or hazelnut, the options are numerous. Some fresh fruits are also welcome, here bananas, but can be also apples, pears and others. The porridge can be also topped up by some Greek yogurt or creme fraiche. Perfect hearty and healthy start of the day. 

Bon Appetit!

Cherry-Yogurt Crumble Cake

Ingredients:

1 cup of cherries, pitted

2 eggs

1 1/2 cup flower

1 cup sugar

1 cup white yogurt

1/2 pack baking powder

pinch of salt

a bit of butter, flower and sugar for crumb topping

icing sugar

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Super easy cake that can be used with any seasonal fruit - cherries, strawberries, apricots, plums or even rhubarb. Sift the flour and baking powder in a bowl, add pinch of salt, spices, sugar and stir gently. Beat the  eggs into the bowl, add yogurt and mix together until the mixture is soft and compact. Pour the batter into the pan. Top up with the crumb which can be created by squeezing the butter with sugar and flour together until it creates crumbs. Place in preheated oven. Bake for about 30 mins at 180C. If needed, try if the batter is baked inside by using wooden skewer. Once ready, take out from the oven and let cool off for a bit.

Bon Appetit!

Pumpkin Pancakes With Raisins

Ingredients:

1/2 half of small pumpkin, peeled and diced

1 cup of flower

1 egg

1/2 cup of milk

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp raisins

1 teaspoon cinnamon

butter or oil

pinch of salt

*

This was an amazing morning treat from the boyfriend. Try to make pancakes in Caribbean style, they are delicious! Cook the pumpkin until really soft and mash them so they create pure. Add the flower, egg, milk, sugar, raisins, cinnamon and pinch of salt and create a slightly liquid mixture. Smear a tiny bit of butter or oil on a frying pan and fry pancakes one by one until they have golden color. The pancakes themselves are already quite sweet so the best is to serve them with some fresh fruit or creme fraiche, as you like it.

Bon Appetit!