In My Kitchen - February Food

Is it really February already?!?!?

  

This month In My Kitchen I'm going to share some food items that are new, or relatively new to our home. Most of them I haven't even opened yet or tried before so I can't actually give you an opinion on taste/texture/flavour....... yet!

In My Kitchen is this Black Bean 'Oyster' Sauce.
Of course its not really 'oyster' sauce. Its 100% vegan.

I picked it up at a local Asian grocery store.
I am yet to actually open it and try it - but I'm looking forward to it.

In My Kitchen is also this Liquid Smoke from the Asian grocery store.

 I have never actually tried liquid smoke at all before, and have always just substituted molasses in recipes that call for this ingredient.
No more substitution - bring on the 'tofu bacon' I say!!!

I must admit that I have never actually tried whole buckwheat before. I've only ever tried it as flour or noodles. Don't let the name fool you - there is actually no wheat in buckwheat and it is gluten free. 

Buckwheat is a rich source of magnesium, iron, and of course being a whole grain it is full of fibre. It's very good for helping control blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure.

 I picked this organic pack up from our local Woolies store. Another packet that I'm yet to open, but looking forward to it.

I am yet to source some recipes that I actually want to try so if you have any feel free to share them!

 Inca berries - another unopened packet to try! I also picked these up at Woolies.

I have heard all about them but have never tried them. 

Inca berries are full of Vitamins A, C, B, and flavonoids.

I have a few recipes marked that I'm hoping to try these protein-rich beauties for!

We haven't been buying much bread lately. We find that it goes mouldy before we eat it. We hardly get through half a loaf a week! So when I saw these rice cakes at Woolies I thought I would give them a try. 

The ingredients list looks like this: "Whole Grain Brown Rice".

Now that's what I call convenience without being overly processed! 

They look like they would make a great alternative to a sandwich for my daughters lunchbox on days when I haven't filled it with other delicious food.

They come in thick or thin slices.  

So here's the first food item on my list that I have actually tried before...

Peanut Butter!

I just HAD to add a picture of this HUGE jar that I bought. It isn't opened yet purely because there is about a tablespoon left in our current jar!
I love this macro one that uses only peanuts- no added oil, salt or sugar.

Next stop in my kitchen comes from the Health Food Store.

Here are two types of grain that are fairly new to me. They both cook like rice, and as such I intend to make good use of our rice cooker. 

Amaranth is similar to quinoa in that although it is eaten like a grain it is actually the 'seed' that we eat. It is also full of protein, calcium, iron and potassium.

Farro is a form of wheat. It is also loaded with calcium, iron and magnesium.

Looking forward to trying them both.

Along with the puffed rice that I regularly buy to make various muesli bars/slices for lunchbox snacks, I also thought we would try puffed amaranth too.

Also In My Kitchen is a huge range of spice blends and dip mixes.

I have signed up to be a consultant for Your Inspiration at Home. Its an Australian Company that has a huge range of gourmet spice blends, dip mixes, vinegars, oils, baking spices, dukkahs, meat rubs, flavoured salts and sugars, chocolate powders, coffees and teas.

I love their products and am thoroughly enjoying experimenting with them. They are all free from artificial preservatives, MSG, gluten, colours/numbers, and anti-caking agents.

If you'd like to check out the range visit this website.

Do you have anything new in your kitchen to try this month?

Share what's in your kitchen this month on the Fig Jam & Lime Cordial Blog.
Thanks for hosting Celia :-)

PB Carrot Crackers

Meatless Monday has returned! :-) 

Today we're cooking with oats.

Peanut Butter Carrot Crackers

You'll need:

4 medium carrots

1 cup oats

1/4 cup ground flax seeds

1/4 cup natural peanut butter

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon each: nutmeg, cardamom, allspice

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup raisins

Using a food processor, shred the carrots. Add the oats, flax, and spices. Blend til oats are broken down and not chunky pieces remain.

Add the peanut butter and water. Blend til a thick paste is formed. The mixture will be very sticky.

Add the raisins and blend for a few seconds until they are distributed evenly but not broken into pieces.

Use a spatula to spread the mixture onto lined dehydrator sheets. Number of sheets will depend on the size of your dehydrator, I used three sheets.

Dehydrate for 10-12 hours.

Slice with a pizza cutter! 

 Store in a cookie jar. Will keep for a week. They will get crispier the longer they are stored.

I am also submitting this recipe to I am Vegetarian - Hear me Raw.

Question of the day:
Do you own a dehydrator?
Do you use it for more than just fruit and vegetables?

Peanut Butter Scones

 

Great tasting scones without using butter?!? 

This is how:

PEANUT BUTTER SCONES

You'll need:

2 cups wholemeal flour

2 teaspoons bi-carb soda

2 Tablespoons raw sugar

1/2 cup natural smooth peanut butter

3/4 cup sparkling mineral water

Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl. Use a knife to mix together until crumbly.

Turn mixture onto a lightly floured board and knead for 5 minutes. 

Press out til the mixture is about 1.5-2cm thick.

Flour the edges of a cup and use to press out scones.

Place cut out scones closely together on a lined baking tray.

Brush the tops with soy milk.

Place in preheated hot 220C oven for 10-12 minutes.

Serve with jam of course ;-)

Makes 15

Kids Lunchbox Club - Quick and Tasty Noodles

1 cup udon nooodles (or other noodles of choice)
1/2 cup frozen vegetables of choice (I used carrots, peas and corn)
1 Tablespoon peanut butter
1 teaspoon soysauce
1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce


Place the noodles and vegetables in a bowl that either has a lid or can be covered.
Pour boiling water over the top until the noodles are completely immersed.
Cover with a lid and let stand for 5-10 minutes.

Drain and add the sauces and peanut butter.
Stir well.


Pop into a container for your little one!
Don't forget something to eat them with!!

 

 If your school doesn't allow nut products - you can always replace the peanut butter with tahini for an equally delicious lunch.

Peanutty Noodles

After a quick & easy dinner that is really tasty?

This takes less time than getting take-away - SERIOUSLY!

 

Really great for those nights when you open the pantry and think "We have NO food!"

You only need a few basic ingredients so you can't go wrong! 

Place a section of soba noodles in a bowl with boiling water & cover. You can leave them long or break them into short pieces - whatever you would rather! The soba noodles I buy come in a paper wrap with the set amount of one serve! What a great idea!

Leave the noodles to rehydrate and soften for 3-5 minutes. 
In the meantime, chop one spring onion into little pieces.
Drain the noodles and place back into the bowl.

Add 1 heaped Tablespoon natural peanut butter, 1 teaspoon rice wine vinegar & 1 Tablespoon soysauce. Mix until the noodles are coated. You may need to add a Tablespoon or 2 of boiling water to allow the peanut butter to spread evenly - this will depend on if the peanut butter you use is moisten or not - this can depend on the weather too, so just see how you go & adjust the water as needed :-)
Stir in the spring onions, reserving some to serve on top!


Enjoy!

You can add other veggies if you like - grated carrot works well too :-)

Serves one.

Cereal Bars

Sometimes cereal is popular when its first opened and then it seems to sit in the packet with no-one wanting to eat it!

Does that ever happen in your household?

Here's a great way to use up 'leftover' cereal!

I have used cheerios but other cereals would work equally as well.

You'll need:

          2 cups cheerios (or other cereal)

          3/4 cup craisins

          1/4 cup coconut oil

          2 Tablespoons peanut butter

In a bowl melt the coconut oil and peanut butter together in the microwave. Melt until completely soft and easily stirred. Time will vary depending on your microwave and the coconut oil used.

Stir in the cheerios and craisins. Mix well until all the cheerios have some of the oil mixture on them.

Press spoonfuls of the mixture into a muesli bar maker or a lined small baking tin.

Set in fridge.

If you have made these in a baking tin, you'll need to cut the mixture into bars or slices.

The oil/peanut butter mixture will settle on the bottom - but there is still enough on the top of the bars to hold them together.

Fritters 5 Ways

Fritters make a salad on a cold day bearable!

Here's a few different flavours for you to try out.

Basic fritter mix:

1/4 cup wholemeal flour

1/4 cup soymilk

sprinkle of cracked black pepper

Combine in a bowl & stir well with a whisk.

(You can leave out the pepper if you're not a fan, I just personally LOVE it!)

This is the base to which you can add the varying flavours.

Once combined, just drop spoonfuls of the fritter mix into a saucepan & fry both sides lightly as you would a pancake.

This makes 2 fritters. Perfect lunch for one.

Taste one: Cabbage, corn & chives

Stir into the basic fritter mix 1/2 cup corn kernels, 1 heaped Tablespoon sauerkraut, and chopped chives.
Serve with a salad for a tasty complete meal :-)

Taste Two: Spinach, Mushroom & Onion

Add to the basic mix 1/4 cup drained chopped cooked spinach (either fresh or frozen), 1/4 cup chopped button mushrooms, 1 x spring onions, 1/2 teaspoon paprika.

Perfect partner: couscous

Taste Three: Cheesy Sun-dried Tomato

To the basic mix add 1 heaped tablespoon nutritional yeast, 1 Tablespoon soy cream cheese and 1/4 cup chopped drained sun-dried tomatoes.

 

Perfect partner: a massive mushroom!

Taste Four: Curried Cauliflower

Add to the basic mix 1 cup cauliflower that has been crumbled in a food processor (cooked or raw up to you!) and 1/2 teaspoon curry powder. You could add turmeric if you don't have curry powder.

Taste Five: Carrot, PB & chilli

Grate into the basic mix one carrot. Add a tablespoon peanut butter & a 1/4 teaspoon chilli (more if you're brave!).

 

Delicious with sweet chilli sauce!