Wheat Free

WHA? Pizza minus the carbs?!

December 8, 2011 0 Comments

Is it possible? Pizza thats not so bad for you?!

Of course it is!

Stuff you’ll need

1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1/8 cup water
1/8 cup olive oil
1/2 cup hazelnut or almond meal
1/2 cup flax meal
salt & pepper to taste

Cheese
Tomato base sauce ( i like to use the recipe as mentioned in this post)
Mushrooms (pre fried)
Chicken breast
Roasted Capsicum
Olives
Onion

How i did it

Simply place all the initial ingredient into a bowl and combine – it should form a dough like mixture. If it is too moist add more hazelnut meal and flax meal (even qty’s of each). Once the mixture forms a dough ball sprinkle some of the flax on your bench and kneed a little. Place ball of dough on some baking paper and using a rolling pin roll out to about 1mm thick. This base is better ‘thin and crispy’.

Place in a pre heated oven at about 180 deg cel for about 20 minutes making sure it doesnt brown too much.

Take it out and make the pizza as you would any other pizza…

Place back in the oven for as long as it takes for the toppings to warm and the cheese to melt. I like to place the toppings all the way to the edge of the base so that the base doesnt burn…

Once cooked – enjoy!!

Filed Under: Cooking, Everyday Foods, Fifteen to Eighteen Months, My Miracles Life Begins, Wheat Free

The Cookies That you will just HAVE to make!

December 5, 2011 0 Comments

Ok so my wheat free baking continues and well i have had yet another success!

I guess once again just like my carrot cake, this one can be converted into whatever kind of cookie you love best of all… I used rasins in this one, but you could easliy chuck in some nuts or choc chips or even make them into jam drops if you like…

I have plans to test it using some of the jam i made and making it like a shortbread jam slice, but i guess that is another post!!

Anywho back to the recipe…

Stuff you’ll need

115 grams of nut butter
1 egg yolk
1/2 cup honey
1 cup almond meal
1 cup coconut
1/2 cup raisins

How i did it

Fairly simple really. Beat the nut butter and honey together until smooth add the yolk and beat again, add the almond meal, coconut and raisins and fold through. Roll into balls place in a preheated oven at about 180 deg cel for about 20 minutes (depending on the size of your cookies). Once baked allow to cool and eat! Obviously like any other cookies the more you bake them the crunchier they are… So if you like soft cookies – less time, if you like uber crunchy cookies – more time…

ENJOY!

Filed Under: Cooking, Fifteen to Eighteen Months, My Miracles Life Begins, Sweet, Wheat Free

Nuts bout Nutbutter

December 2, 2011 0 Comments

If you know me, which i am sure you all do by now, you know just how much i love peanut butter… And well my obsession has gone one step further…. Not just peanut butter, but nut butter.

The other week i had an inkling to buy a heavy duty food processor… I was just about to write dont ask me why, but truth be told i have been dying to buy myself one for ages i just havent had the balls to spend the money on such a ‘luxury’ item. Anywho to cut a long story short i found one on special and just couldnt help myself…

And so began the nut butter EXTREME obsession.

Last week attempt number one left me in awe of my fancy new machine… You see i bought some raw almonds roasted them, chucked them in the food processor and 15 minutes later – ALMOND BUTTER! No added oil, no added sugar, no added preservatives, no added crap at all! And boy oh boy was it yummy!

I told a friend about it and when she asked what i spread it on she just looked at me crazy cause i said i ate it straight from the jar!

Anywho today i bought some raw organic mixed nuts – they were on special i think it was a combination of pecans, almonds, brazil nuts, cashews and some hazlenuts and thought i would attempt nut butter again… Yes i know that i will eat it all from the jar but you know what? ITS YUMMY!

Stuff You’ll need

500grams raw nuts of your choice
an awesome food processor

How i did it

Roasted the nuts for about 10 minutes tossing so they dont burn. Then place them in the processor and just keep processing until it becomes butter

Doesnt it just make you want to stick your spoon in it and eat it like icecream?!

Filed Under: Cooking, Fifteen to Eighteen Months, My Miracles Life Begins, Sweet, Wheat Free

Fruit Cake, Carrot Cake, whatever you want to add to it cake!

November 27, 2011 0 Comments

So it seems that while technically i may not be medically intolerant to wheat i am beginning to think my belly has taken a stance against it! Last weekend after indulging on some granola (ok a lot of granola) a sandwich for lunch and pastry for tea i completely regretted it – and not only because i gained weight, but also because i ended up with terrible tummy aches all night!

Anywho whatever the case i decided to come up with a cake recipe that could be converted into whatever flavor you choose while still being wheat free… And this one while not sugar free IS processed sugar free – in other words i used honey instead of sugar much better for you (sort of)

I made two variations this afternoon and i think that it would pretty much work no matter what flavor you were feeling like!

Stuff You’ll Need

4 eggs separated
1/2 cup honey
1 cup coconut
1 cup almond meal

1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups dried fruit of your liking (i had dates and saltanas in the pantry)

3 carrots grated
1 tsp all spice
1 tbs honey

How I did it

Place the honey and egg whites in a bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold in coconut, almond meal, and egg yolks. Separate in to two batches if you are making two variations, if just making one variation keep in one bowl.

Fold in the remaining ingredients depending on which variation you are making. You could also use some chopped apples to make an apple cake. You could add sultanas or raisins or walnuts to the carrot version… Ummm you could swirl in nut butter or soften dates, or top it with melted jam. I guess this one will take you as far as your imagination can!

Place in a lined & greased cake tin and bake in a preheated oven at 150 deg cel for approximately 30-45 minutes depending on how large the cake tin you have used is…. Basically do the knife test and if the top is browning too much cover it

YummyYumYum…. Enjoy!

Filed Under: Cooking, Fifteen to Eighteen Months, My Miracles Life Begins, Sweet, Wheat Free

Sesame Peanut Butter Balls

October 31, 2011 0 Comments

I actually dont know what to call these, but i guess sesame Peanut Butter Balls are appropriate as that is what is in the

So basically as you all know my oven broke – BOO! So i had to figure out something that was semi good for me and required no cooking that would satisfy my sugar craving for the weekend.

And i have to tell you that this one actually tasted good, and quite awesome for a hot summers night as it was last night. This one is another wheat free treat – all natural and not too sweet!

Stuff you’ll need

1/3 cup sesame seeds
2/3 cup coconut
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup dates (the photo shows saltanas but when i used dates it worked better)
1/3 cup water

How i did it

So like almost all of my wheat free treats this one is uber simple! In a saucepan place the dates and water and bring to the boil / until the dates are softened. Dry toast the sesame seeds in a pan, lower the heat and add the peanut butter and honey. Add the coconut then the dates. You should have a moist consistancy. Roll small portions into balls and place in the freezer for an hour or so – until they are firm, it would work in the fridge its just i like super cold stuff.

Oh and if you were feeling fancy you could dip them in dark chocolate… Or replace the dates for dried apricots if you like.

Filed Under: Cooking, My Miracles Life Begins, Sweet, Twelve to Fifteen Months, Wheat Free

Lemon Slice… Of sorts

October 24, 2011 0 Comments

I have been experimenting again… A lot of wheat free treats this weekend! I have been looking at the Paleo Diet cookbooks and believe it or not they have some interesting and yummy little ideas!

The problem is… They dont look very appetizing… They taste good, they taste great and without wheat while high in fat they are great for a low carb diet or simply for something more on the natural and lower sugar side!

Stuff you’ll need

1 cup walnuts
1 cup almonds
1 cup dates
1 egg

1 cup coconut milk
1/3 cup lemon juice
rind from 2-3 lemons
1 1/2 tbs honey
6 eggs beaten

How i did it

Preheat the oven to 180 deg cel.

In a food processor place the nuts and dates and process until somewhat combined. Add the egg and combine until soft and sticky. Place in a greased and lined shallow tin and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.

In a saucepan place the coconut milk, lemon rind, lemon juice, and honey. Set on a low heat and stir for about two minutes – until the honey is disolved and the ingredients combined. Slowly while stiring continusly add the beaten eggs. Keep stirring over a low heat until slightly thickened, i believe i was stirring for about 15 minutes. Pour over the “biscuit” base and place back into the oven for about 15 minutes or until set.

Leave to cool, slice and keep in the fridge!

Enjoy

It is a simple nutty treat that brings a variety of textures and flavors to your pallet… Very yummy, worth a try if you are after something less sickly sweet!

Oh and i guess if you want it to look a little better, maybe add some berries on top or some icing sugar sprinkled…

Filed Under: Cooking, My Miracles Life Begins, Sweet, Twelve to Fifteen Months, Wheat Free

Its madness i say, madness!

September 8, 2011 0 Comments

So chicken… How much chicken can one eat is the question i am posing to you today…? 6 meals a day? WHA?! I know MADNESS! So, no no i am not eating 6 meals of chicken a day, close but not quite…

Anywho apparently chicken and green veg is the bomb for loosing those kilos off your aahhhhh-ssssssssssssss which is really what i need to do in preparation for the coming bikini season… Or maybe just what i want to do depending on who you are and what you think of body image and dieting…

Right so back to the topic… What was i talking about again? Oh thats right the madness of eating chicken 5 million times a day….

So this week to escape the monotony that chicken is i came up with a lunch recipe of chicken meatballs and zucchini pasta, i am not sure if i have lost weight yet this week, but it is low fat and high in protein so i mean – how can you go wrong right? RIGHT?!

Chicken Meatballs & Zucchini Pasta

Stuff you’ll need

150grams raw chicken breast
At least one cup of cabbage
seasoning of your choice
One egg
One zucchini

How i did it

(now i prepared a week in advance so i did this with about 700 grams of chicken and about a quarter of a cabbage and be rest a sure it freezes and reheats well)

Dice the chicken and place it in a food processor with the cabbage that you have chopped up. Add the seasoning of your choosing and the egg and give the food processor a whirl until the chicken is minced and mixed with the cabbage and season. Take out and make into about 50-60 gram size balls. Heat oil in a pan and fry the meatballs until just cooked.

While the meatballs are cooking use a vegitable peeler and peel strips of the zucchini onto a plate and give it a zap in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes. Do one minute at a time cause you dont want the zucchini going soft and squishy… Just so its warm.

Place on a plate with the meatballs and enjoy… The first day i ate mine with some low fat gravy, but the other days i didnt, and it really didnt need it! If you wanted to make it more like a dinner meal you could create a low fat tomato sauce and add that to it also

Enjoy… And remember, the more herbs and spices you add the more the flavors will come out!

Filed Under: Cooking, Everyday Foods, My Miracles Life Begins, Twelve to Fifteen Months, Wheat Free

Simply Delish Salmon

September 6, 2011 0 Comments

Sometimes i have this thing where i find something i like and i obsess about it, maybe a little too much… But you know, thats my thing… So right now i am absolutely OBSESSED about grilling fish coated in Flaxmeal… Yes flaxmeal, and once again before you screw up your noses, it really is quite nice… What is it? Well have a lookski over here and there is a little more info here as well. Basically its low carb a little nutty tasting and great for your digestive and immune system… AND when you coat your fish in it and stick it under the grill it tastes like crumbed fish – no oils

Stuff you’ll need

Golden Flax Meal
Salt & pepper
Salmon or other fish of your liking
Broccoli to serve

How i did it

Place some of the Flax meal on a plate and season with some salt and pepper, if you like a little spice add some cayenne pepper as well…

I couldnt last night because a certain someone (to the left there) decided to get into the pantry!

Now cut your fish into even portions, or leave it whole completly up to you. Then stick the fish in the seasoned flaxmeal and push down, both sides of course.

Turn your grill on, stick the broccoli in the microwave…. Then when the grill is red stick the fish under it and cook for about…. Well however long fish takes to cook, turning half way, making sure it doesnt burn. I could have done my salmon a little less, but it would have only been in there for 10 minutes, not even…

And, there you go. Not only do you have dinner done in 10 minutes, but its healthy as well! Who would have thunk? Oh and if you have big beefy men who dont eat broccoli – give em a spud to shut him up!

Filed Under: Cooking, Everyday Foods, My Miracles Life Begins, Twelve to Fifteen Months, Wheat Free

That is it… I am obsessed…

August 21, 2011 0 Comments

With wheat free experimentation… Its like i havent gone wrong yet, so why not keep pushing the boundary’s with what you can do with honey, peanut butter and almond meal?!

Last night i was once again feeling experimental… So i got out my left over peanut butter, honey and almond meal from my pear crumble, and started thinking…

Date and Saltana Slice

Stuff you’ll need

3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup honey
1 egg, plus 1 egg white
1/2 cup coconut
3/4 – 1 cup almond meal
1.5 cups dried fruit chopped

How I did it

Cream PB and honey together for a minute or two, add the egg and egg white and beat mixture until smooth. Add the almond meal and beat for a few minutes until combined. Add the fruit and mix again until combine. Place in a lined shallow baking tray and place in a preheated oven (about 180 deg cel) for about 20 minutes or until golden. Serve warm or cold, either way it is D-E.. LICIOUS!

Filed Under: Cooking, My Miracles Life Begins, Nine to Twelve Months, Sweet, Wheat Free

Wheat Free Pear Crumble

August 14, 2011 0 Comments

On a quest to create something wheat free i came up with the idea of a pear crumble. Now i am not a massive sweet tooth, ok so that is a lie, but i do enjoy on occasion something that is not sugar on sugar on sugar on sugar like last weeks cake… So this week i thought i would turn an old winter classic into something a little less sweet and a little ‘better’ for you… I used ALL NATURAL ingredients, and managed to accomplish something that was completly wheat free! And without a recipe i might add as well…

So if you feel like something a little ‘better’ than the standard, sugar on sugar dessert try my wheat free pear crumble (if you dont like pears simply go for apples instead)

Stuff You’ll Need

1 cup almond meal
1 cup hazelnut meal
1 cup nut butter (i used organic peanut butter – the only ingredient being peanuts)
2 eggs
some coconut

6 pears or apples
1 cup water
vanilla essence

1/2 cup almond meal
1/2 cup hazlenut meal
1/4 cup nut butter
1/4 cup honey

How i did it

Mix the almond meal and hazelnut meal together, then rub in the butter using your finger tips – like any pastry you want a crumble type appearance. Add the eggs and form a dough. Sprinkle coconut on the bench and slightly kneed the dough basically just bringing it all together. Roll out the dough, it wont go quite like pastry and you probably wont be able to place it in one large piece, but if you can – your better than me if not it doesnt really matter, so press the dough into your pie dish evenly. Place in the oven for about 1/2 an hour to chill and set, before placing it in a preheated oven (180 deg cel) for about 20 minutes.

Peel your pears and dice. Place in a saucepan with the vanilla and water, if you like fruit a little sweeter add some honey at this point. bring to the boil then turn the heat down and simmer for about 1/2 an hour until the fruit is cooked through and the water has reduced.

For the crumble simply place the almond meal, hazelnut meal nut butter and honey in a bowl and once again use your finger tips to create a crumble.

Once the base and the pears are cooked place the pears in the base and crumble the crumble mixture over the pears… Cook once again for about 10 minutes or until to crumble is golden and crunchy…

Serve with some gluten free cream or ice cream… or like i did with a little honey drizzled over the top… nomnomnom… (its very nutty though, so if your not a nut fan… )