Kids Lunchbox Club - Carrot Cookies

Here's a quick & easy recipe that is great for adding to lunchboxes :-)
I guess since it's Vegan Mofo then grown-ups can be allowed this little treat too ;-)

Bite-sized Carrot Cookies

To make 20 cookies you'll need:
1 cup oat bran
1 cup grated carrot (approx 2 small carrots)
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup ground flax seeds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla 

In a large mixing bowl combine the oat bran, grated carrot, raisins, flax seeds and cinnamon. Stir until well combined.
Fold through the applesauce, maple syrup and vanilla.
Stir well until mixture starts to clump together.

Shape into little bite size pieces & place on a lined baking tray, flatten each cookie with a fork.
Bake in a preheated 180C oven for 18-20 minutes until lightly golden brown.

Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling

In true "bake-off" style, I'm starting with cupcakes!

Well...... kind of cupcakes.

You see, I'm not one to make the very decorative type just for everyday eating. My whole aim in cooking and sharing recipes is that they are practical everyday recipes that we will ACTUALLY cook, not just look at to see how pretty they are!
How pretty is this cupcake that was made for us at a wedding recently! So sweet of the bride and groom to include us in their cupcake tower :D

 

Vanilla Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling

To make 12 cupcakes you'll need:
1 1/2 cups wholemeal flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground flax seeds mixed with 1 Tablespoon water
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 cup plant milk of choice
1/4 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup raspberries
2 Tablespoons agave nectar

Whisk the flax seeds with the water and set aside in the fridge.
 In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar.
In a measuring jug combing the milk and apple cider vinegar. Briskly whisk and the milk will thicken and start to separate.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the applesauce, vanilla and milk mixture.
Stir until just combined. Do not over mix.
Pour spoonfuls of mixture into a muffin pan - either lightly oil sprayed or lined with cases.
Bake in a preheated 180C oven for 25minutes or until cooked through as oven times can vary.

Allow cupcakes to cool and then make the filling.

In a food processor combine the raspberries and agave. Mix until a smooth 'sauce' in made.
Pour the sauce into a piping bag and poke the end of the piping bag into the cupcakes, squeeze the bag to fill the inside of the cake with raspberry sauce.

Serve :-)

VEGAN MOFO

Welcome to Vegan Month of Food

This is the first time I've joined in Vegan Mofo.
For more information you can read about it on the vegan mofo blog. 
You can check out other bloggers who are also participating on this list.

After much debate about if I would have a 'topic' or not, I eventually decided I would.....
I have really enjoyed watching all the "bake off" series, both the British series & the Australian series. I would never apply to go on these types of shows but I decided that I would do my own bake off.

So for Vegan Mofo I bring you........ No judges, no contestants, no time limits, just yummy baked goods!

Cupcakes

Pies

Biscuits

Tarts

Bread

Dessert

Pastry

I aim to make all recipes as whole-food as possible with the occasional treat.... which is largely what our family home does for all cooking anyway.

 I guess there's only one more thing to say then -->

On your marks, get set, bake.......

Meatless Monday - Jelly

Today's Meatless Monday food is Jelly.

Mmmmmmmmmmmm, Jelly! Or as we call it in Australia - Jam!

There is only one brand of jam that I will buy and its St Dalfour.

I love their jam and the range of flavours.

My favourite flavour is Four Fruits.... 

So that is what you'll find in today's recipe!

Chewy Walnut Jam Cookies

You'll need:

1 1/2 cups wholemeal flour

1/3 cup raw sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup walnuts

1/2 cup applesauce

1/2 cup soymilk (or other plant milk of choice)
1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoons ground flax seeds mixed with 2 Tablespoons water

1/2 cup jam (flavour of choice - I used four fruits)

Mix the flaxseeds with the water and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon. Mix well.

Crush the walnuts and add them to the dry mixture.

Make a well in the centre of the mixture and pour in the applesauce, soymilk, vanilla and flax seed mixture.

Gently stir until all ingredients are well combined.

Scoop large tablespoons full of the mixture and place onto a lined baking tray. Use the back of the spoon to make a well in the centre of each cookies.

Pour 1/2 teaspoon of jam into the centre of each cookie.

Bake in a preheated 180C oven for 15 minutes.

Allow to cool before eating as the jam will be bubbling hot.

Makes 14 large cookies

Question of the day:

Do you have a favourite flavour jam?

Easy DIY Cereal

Cereal's these days container many additives, and that's not even the cereal that people KNOW is bad for them!
Here's a great alternative to store-bought cereal. Yes I've used some sweetener - that way it's enjoyable, but with much less sugar than other cereals!

Its really tasty and easy to make.

You'll need:
4 cups rolled oats
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup peanuts
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup ground flax seeds
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup golden syrup

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well combined. 
Spread onto lined baking trays (I used two).
Bake at 160C for 40 minutes stirring every ten minutes.

This doesn't end up as crunchy as granola and its not as moist.
It is definitely more like a 'cereal'.

Of course, you could always make this cereal without baking it - just omit the apple sauce and golden syrup. It just won't have quite the same flavour.

Meatless Monday - Instant Coffee

Today's Meatless Monday food is Instant Coffee.

 I have a confession to make....

I'm a coffee snob!

You see, I can't stand instant coffee! I like REAL coffee!

So I did have to buy a packet of instant coffee to complete this round of Meatless Monday!!!

I guess its handy to have some in the cupboard and when I saw this hazelnut flavoured one I definitely thought it was worth a try.

Now as for taste.... its tolerable, but NO I won't be giving up my espresso anytime soon to replace it with this ;-)

Mocha Mousse for one

150g soft silken tofu
1 teaspoon instant coffee dissolved in 1 Tablespoon boiling water
1 Tablespoon cocoa powder
2 Tablespoons maple syrup

Combine all ingredients in a mini food process or blender. 
Blend til completely smooth.
Serve.

Can be eaten straight away or if left in the fridge for a few hours it will be even thicker.

I was pleasantly surprised how much the hazelnut flavour came through - definitely a winner! 
I might even try this instant coffee for drinking ;-)

In My Kitchen - August Alternatives

Welcome to another month of In My Kitchen!

Link your kitchen up on the Fig jam and lime cordial blog.

I'm very excited about this new cookbook that I purchased recently....

I'm yet to cook any recipes from it though! But it all looks super tasty. I love the pictures - there's something about flicking through a recipe book with pictures that soothes the soul - even if you never actually cook anything from it ;-)

It got me thinking about the actual "study" that took place when writing "The China Study". I wondered about how they crossed the language barrier going into rural villages.
 

As a veg*n it can sometimes feel like we have a language barrier when trying to dine out! It's often believed that we eat 'fish' or that frying things in butter is ok!

Yep - us veg*n's speak a different language.

Let me provide you with some insight..... 

and hopefully a few laughs ;-)

It's never actually cut 'steak' before!

Don't be fooled by the shape of this counting device.... It's never actually timed an egg ;-)

Although this masher is useful for potato, it's more frequently used to mash beans!

I'm sure by now you won't be surprised when I inform you that this 'cup' has never held an egg - its very handy for an afternoon nibble of dried fruit & nuts though.... if you want to make your nibbles portable try these butterfly snacks.

No prizes for guessing what this scoop has never actually scooped ;-)
Very handy for making equal size muffins and cookies.

Stay tuned for a great recipe that will mean you never miss eggs on toast again!

Lots of yummy burgers have been made using this press - no "hamburgers" though!

Great for crushing nuts to add to recipes!

This cutter has actually made its way through many pizzas, no cheese though. Its works amazingly well for cutting up dehydrator cookies (recipe coming soon)!

Do you have alternative names for your kitchen gadgets?

What's new in your kitchen this month?