Avocado Choc-Orange Mousse

mmmmmmmm more chocolate :-)

This is a quick and easy one that can be whizzed up anytime you feel like it. My perferences are afternoon tea and dessert, but hey - there's no reason why you couldn't have this for breakfast if you wanted to! ;-)
I love the mix of chocolate & orange flavours together. If you don't - you can easily omit the orange juice & just put in a bit of soymilk to help this blend together. Try other flavours too - mint.... almond..... choice is yours :-)

You'll need:
1 frozen avocado (I've noticed that there are new packs in the freezer section at Woolies now that have avocado halves frozen - what a great idea)
2 Tablespoons cacao (or cocoa if you prefer)
1 Tablespoon agave nectar
1 teaspoon vanilla
juice of 1 orange

Combine all this in a blender or mini food processor.
Process til smooth (this may take some time, and this is also the point where I wish for a Vitamix!!!).

Nutella Waffles

Yes, I'm having a 'chocolate' fettish of late!

My latest edition to my chocolate meals is nutella waffles.
No nutella of course. Just that wonderful combination of hazelnut & cocoa flavours.

Enjoy :-)

You'll need:
3/4 cup wholemeal flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 over-ripe banana, mashed well
1/4 cup hazelnut meal (you can buy this from a healthfood store or else just make your own by grinding hazelnuts in a coffee grinder until no big pieces remain)
2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
1 cup soymilk

Combine the flour, baking powder & hazelnut meal together in a bowl.
Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients and add the wet ingredients to the well. Slowly fold in the dry ingredients until all is well combined.

Lightly spray the waffle oven & pour the mixture in 1/2 cup at a time (or the amount advised in the instructions for your waffle oven).

Bake for 4 mins (or if you have a light indicator until the time required).

Lots of yummy options for serving:
    Berries, Sweet William Spread, banana slices, maple syrup, jam!

Whatever your taste buds feel like really......

Makes 4 waffles

Okara Brownies

Perfect lunchbox snack..... or treat for morning tea..... or afternoon tea...... or really just anytime you want! I did eat half a batch in one sitting :-/ oh dear! But seriously they are soooo moist and tasty & deliciously light & fluffy that I couldn't stop at just one! At least they aren't as unhealthy as regular brownies!

You'll need:
1 cup okara
3/4 cup soymilk
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 Tablespoon applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup plain flour
1/2 cup wholemeal flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 180C.
Mix the flours, sugar, cocoa powder & baking powder/soda in a bowl. Stir until well combined.
In a separate bowl combine the okara, soymilk, vinegar, applesauce & vanilla. Mix well.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients.

Mix until completely combined but do not over stir.
Pour the batter mixture into a square silicon cake tin.

Optional: Sprinkle with dark chocolate chips.

Bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through.

Cool in the cake tin and then remove and cut into squares (or slabs if required!!!).

You can dust with icing sugar if desired for presentation purposes :-)

Measuring cups!

Does anyone else have a kitchen ware fettish???
I love looking at kitchen shops & getting little bits & pieces for the kitchen!

These have got to be the most wonderful measuring cups I've seen!
I know the are so plain & basic but there is just something that I completely love about them!
Maybe I just like them so much because they look like miniture coffee mugs!!! heheheheee

Do you have a favourite kitchen gadget/piece?
If so, what is it ??

Apple Crumble Porridge

I don't know why but something about eating this porridge just made me feel like it was apple crumble!
Maybe it was the fact that there was more apple than oats - but whatever it was, its definitely a must try!

Very easy to make & well worth the effort.
I'm usually not a fan of getting a pot out for breakfast but since it's only one pot I can manage that on a weekday!!!!!

To serve one you'll need:
1 apple of choice (I use gala)
1/4 cup oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon brown sugar
1 cup soymilk

Cut the apple into quarters & remove the core, then slice into thin pieces.
Put into a pot with about 1/2 cup of water and bring to the boil.
Simmer for about 10 minutes or until apples are very tender & most of the water has been evaporated.

Add the cinnamon, oats, brown sugar & milk. Stir until well combined & simmer for another 10 or so minutes until almost all the soymilk has been absorbed but that it is still moist.

Serve :-)

I reckon this would also be really nice with some raisins through it if you desire!

Purple Breakfast!

You know its going to be a good day when its starts with a purple breakfast!

And here's how to do it:

Mash 1 over-ripe banana, set aside
Combine 3/4 cup of wholemeal flour with 1/2 cup purple corn flour (this is available in most health food stores) and 1 teaspoon baking powder.
Stir in the mashed banana and 1 cup soymilk.

Use this batter to make waffles!!!! mmmmmm, make sure you spray the waffle iron as the mixture will stick otherwise because it doesn't contain any oil.

For the purple sauce simple whiz up in a mini food process or blender 1 cup frozen blueberries with 2 tablespoons apple sauce.

~y~u~m~m~y~

Spiced fig & banana smoothie

Try this for a great afternoon pick up:

2 bananas (sliced & frozen)
3 fresh figs (cut into pieces & frozen)
1 cup soymilk
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger

Blend!

YUM

(can you tell why I always keep a heap of frozen fruit in the freezer!)