Choc Chip Banana Muffins

Chocolate in a lunchbox is bound to keep kids happy..... but it doesn't have to be an unhealthy type of chocolate! Try this treat to keep them happy :-)

CHOC CHIP BANANA MUFFINS
(Makes 12)

2 Tablespoons ground flax
3/4 cup plant milk
1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 overripe bananas
1/2 cup applesauce
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup dairy free chocolate chips (I used Sweet William - cacao nibs would work too)
2 cups wholemeal SR flour

Whisk together the flax seeds with 6 Tablespoons boiling water - set aside to thicken.
In a measuring jug combine the milk with the apple cider vinegar - set aside to thicken.
In a large mixing bowl mash the bananas. Add the applesauce, vanilla, milk mixture & coconut sugar. Whisk until well combined, then stir through the flax seed mixture.
Gently fold the flour and chocolate chips into the wet ingredients until just combined - do not overmix.
Using an ice-cream scoop - pour a scoop full of mixture into a muffin tray. 
Bake in a preheated 180C oven for 30minutes or until golden and cooked through.

Eggplant Bean Sauce on roasted potatoes

Our family LOVE having roast potatoes for dinner....
And we also love eggplant meals....
And we also love bean sauce!
So this dinner is always a winner.
It's a little bit fiddly with all the different parts but it's not difficult. And it's well worth the effort.

EGGPLANT BEAN SAUCE on ROASTED POTATOES

To serve 4:

Wrap 4 large potatoes in foil & bake in a 200C oven for one hour or until soft in the centre. While the potatoes are cooking prepare the eggplant & bean sauce.
 
Chop:
1 eggplant
1 onion

Put the eggplant and onion in a large frying pan and dry fry til the eggplant is tender.
You can add stock or water to stop the vegetables from sticking if needed.
Cook until the eggplant is soft

In a blender combine: 1 tin borlotti beans, drained
1 roasted red capsicum
1 teaspoon minced garlic
350grams passata
Blend til smooth.
 
Pour the blended bean mix over the cooked eggplant. 
Mix together and warm over medium heat until warmed through. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Italian herbs and freshly chopped basil.

Serve over the cooked potatoes.

Want a quick alternative - make the eggplant bean sauce and serve it over brown rice or couscous.


Question of the day:
What is your favourite topping to serve over roasted potatoes?

Bubble & Squeak Patties

Bubble and Squeak...
A classic and a favourite for many!
And yet it is made in so many different ways. I have seen people make a whole fry pan and slice it up. I have seen many different vegetables added. I have seen them done with different types of potatoes and coated with different things too.
This is my version.

BUBBLE AND SQUEAK PATTIES 

You'll need:
6 medium sized potatoes (1kg)
2 cups frozen carrots, peas & corn
1/4 cup chickpea flour
1/2 teaspoon onion flakes
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Fill a large pot with water and place the chopped potatoes and vegetables in. Bring to the boil and simmer until the potatoes are very soft.
Strain and return to the pot.
Mash, focusing on the potatoes so that the vegetables aren't too broken down.
Add the flour, onion flakes and pepper. Stir well.
With wet hands shape approx 1/2 cup mixture into patties and use your hands to round the edges.
Place on a lined baking sheet.
(If you have time to cool them first then they will hold together better - if not go ahead and bake them but they will be more crumbly.)


Bake in a preheated 200C oven for 30 minutes (gently flipping once) until golden and slightly crispy on the edges. 
If you want these more crispy you can dry fry them in a frying pan.



Makes 10 patties.

  We love taking these on a picnic! 

Question of the day:
What do you usually add to your "bubble and squeak"?

Melting Mocha Pudding

I have been having a bit of a pudding fettish lately! I guess it's just the weather for it - and let's face it, pudding is really comforting both to make & to eat!

MELTING MOCHA PUDDING

You'll need:

1 cup wholemeal self raising flour
1/3 cup coconut sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
2 Tablespoons dairy free chocolate chips (optional)
3/4 cup plant milk of choice (I used vanilla soy)
1/4 cup apple sauce
1 Tablespoon ground flax mixed with 3 Tablespoons boiling water

1 Tablespoon instant coffee
2 Tablespoons muscavado or brown sugar
3/4 cup boiling water

In a small mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, cocoa and chocolate chips (if using). Stir until well combined and no clumps left in the cocoa. 
Gently stir in the milk, applesauce and flax mixture. Stir until the dry ingredients are just wet - do not over stir. 
Lightly spray a pudding dish with non-stick cooking spray. Pour the pudding mixture into the dish and tap til evenly distributed.
In a measuring jug combine the coffee and sugar and pour over the boiling water & stir until coffee and sugar have dissolved.
Then pour the coffee mixture over the pudding.


Bake in a preheated 160C oven for 40 minutes until pudding is cooked through & coffee mixture has soaked through to the bottom creating a 'sauce'. You will see it bubbling out the sides when the pudding is cooked.

 It may appear 'uncooked' but that is just the sauce. A skewer poked into the center will still come out clean.

Now admittingly these are not the greatest pictures! This is definitely not a 'pretty' pudding - but then again not too many are! None the less, it is still delicious! 
In the picture below I wanted to show the 'sauce' that is on the bottom of the pudding.

You can substitute coffee essence in place of the coffee if you are willing to share this with your children ;-)

 
Submitted for Meatless Monday - Xocolato: 
which is the Aztec word for Chocolate.

Baked Quinoa Pizza Pie

This is neither a pizza nor a pie really..... but rather inspired by both pizza and pie!
Either way - it's totally delicious :-)

BAKED QUINOA PIZZA PIE

Pie:
3 cups cooked quinoa
1/2 green capsicum
1/4 cup corn kernels (or other pizza veggies of choice like mushrooms)
1 spring onion
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup nutritional yeast
1/4 cup tomato paste 1 teaspoon garlic flakes
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon chili

Chop the veggies and basil leaves.
Place all the ingredients in a bowl and stir until well combined.
Press into a lightly sprayed casserole dish. Press down well.

Next make the topping.

Cheese sauce:
2 generous Tablespoons nutritional yeast
1 Tablespoon cornflour
1 cup plant milk of choice

Whisk together all the ingredients in a microwave safe jug.
Microwave for 1 minute or until thicken.
Spread over quinoa mixture.

Bake 30 minutes in a preheated 180C oven.

Slice and serve.
This will slice better if it has had time to cool first. 

 Submitted for Healthy Vegan Fridays.

Add your healthy vegan recipe on these blogs:

Herbivore Triathlete 
Hello Veggy 
Rock My Vegan Socks



Question of the day:
What dishes have inspired you to be creative with their flavours but in an alternate way?

Kale Attacked Minestrone Stew

The reason for the name of this stew:
My husband came home from work, walked into the kitchen to see what I was cooking and commented: "What happened to the dinner? Did it get attacked by kale or something?"
I chuckled!
Kale doesn't tend to wilt down quite as much as other greens in cooking. Though thankfully for the sake of my husband, it does a little.... so when you throw a whole bunch into your stew although it takes over at the start, by the time it's cooked down a little bit, it seems like a much more reasonable amount!!!!! lol
Then again, I think being attacked by the "super hero" power of kale isn't such a bad thing after all ;-)
And so I bring you....

KALE ATTACKED MINESTRONE STEW

You'll need:
1 large onion
1 large zucchini
1 large carrot
2 cloves of garlic
1 can cannelliini beans (drained)
1 can tomatoes
1 bunch kale
3 stalks of both basil and parsley (fresh)
4 bay leaves
1 litre vegetable stock (I used home made)
1/2 cup soup pasta

Chop all the vegetables and herbs. In a large pot brown the onion using a bit of water to prevent from sticking. Add all ingredients to the pot and bring to the boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down and simmer for 30 minutes until the vegetables are soft (and the kale has wilted down lol).

Most of the stock will be absorbed by the pasta - making it more the consistency of a 'stew' and not a 'soup'. If you prefer this more 'soup-like' just add more stock (or water).
Remove the bay leaves prior to serving.

 
I am linking this to Meatless Monday: Watercress.
I have to confess that I can't find watercress in our regular store and I didn't have the time to look for it in other places! Any greens can be substituted for the kale in this recipe.

Apple Wonton Fold-overs

When I was younger we used to make apple fold-overs that we called "treats for Daddy". I still make "treats for daddy" but now with my daughter and also without thick pastry.

These are a super easy and delicious treat. 
Great for when visitors pop over or for a quick dessert.
They are very quick to make.

APPLE WONTON FOLD-OVERS

You'll need:
wonton wrappers
pie apples (either store bought or home made)
cinnamon
sultanas
plant milk of choice
Optional: whipped coconut cream for dipping

Lay wontons out on a bench.
Place a few pieces of pie apples on one half of the wonton wrapper. Add a few sultanas in each wonton and sprinkle with cinnamon.
Fold over to make a triangle shape and press the edges together firmly.
Place on a lined baking tray and brush the tops of the wontons with plant milk.
Place in a preheated 200C oven for 10-15minutes until lightly golden brown.

Question of the day:
Did you have a childhood treat that you still make now but in a different way?


 
Submitted for Healthy Vegan Fridays.

Add your healthy vegan recipe on these blogs:

Herbivore Triathlete 
Hello Veggy 
Rock My Vegan Socks