I have had a busy weekend with four photo shoots today alone. My feet are sore from being on them all day and from our visit to the Food and Wine show yesterday. That was a great experience with food samples and tiny glasses of wine flowing in all directions. From a wide variety of cheeses to thick, rich yoghurts, spicy sausages, crackers and chutneys of all kind. The tummy expanded and the eyes swam as we moved deeper and deeper into the show. We maneuvered through the first pavilion with methodical precision born of a clear head but by halfway through the second, we could have been in the back streets of Italy for all we knew. We had no idea where we were. The limoncello was irresistible, the feijoa wine needed to be tasted in all its varieties from the sparkling to the special reserve, the cold beer called from afar. The tiny cup of Thai curry, the tasty slurp of clam chowder and the toothpick full of vegan sausage didn't manage to absorb the liquid offerings so we bumbled (actually … [Read more...] about Caramel, Chocolate Granola Cups
fat free
Pumpkin, Almond, Chocolate Granola Bars – fat, salt and gluten free
Granola bar day today. The verdict on last week's bars was a little divided. Adriano thought they were too hard and gave him a belly ache. Dario just grunted. You'd think after 21 years, I would be able to interpret his grunts but I guess a chap has to keep a little mystery. The bars agreed with me - no belly ache - but I have to scratch them from all future menus for the sake of my husband's stomach. Today I was determined to add plenty of moisture along with the goodness. Somewhere I saw that a recipe used pumpkin puree along with apple sauce as the liquid and I used that base. I added all the nuts, seeds and dried fruit to make a true granola bar and threw in some healthy wheatgerm for good measure. This was a triumph, even if I do say so myself. They are moist and delicious. No salt or fat either. That has to be good. I am looking forward to morning teas this week. I don't know how to top this recipe. [print_this] Recipe: Pumpkin, Almond, Chocolate Granola … [Read more...] about Pumpkin, Almond, Chocolate Granola Bars – fat, salt and gluten free
Banana, Coconut and Blueberry Loaf – no added fat
I am making a concerted effort to eat a little healthier and consume less calories, most of the time anyway, and so I have been seeking out recipes that come part way towards being low calorie and on the healthy side. This banana loaf has not got any added oil or butter so I thought it was a good place to start. My only worry was that it seemed a little boring so I have added blueberries and shredded coconut. I did think long and hard about adding white or dark chocolate but resisted the urge.I couldn't find any very ripe bananas so I microwaved some in 30 second bursts until they were soft. This sweetens them and they resemble overripe ones. I found this recipe at Cook Republic. I made a quarter more of the recipe to make it fit into my loaf tin and that quantity should keep us going for a while but my Saturday baking never lasts too long and I am one of its major consumers. [print_this] Recipe: Banana, Coconut and Blueberry Loaf Ingredients 185ml full cream coconut … [Read more...] about Banana, Coconut and Blueberry Loaf – no added fat
