Salad roll-ups

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Salad roll-ups

Madness or genius

It’s another one of those moments; it could be madness or genius, turning the salad roll inside out and removing the need for an actual wrap, wheat or otherwise. Bear with me; I promise it not only works; it is a fantastic little lunch that will make everyone happy. 

No cooking required

I do love a lunch that doesn’t need any cooking. This recipe doesn’t need any cooking at all, just a little bit of time to cut your veggies into sticks and then the rolling. They are so easy to make it is ridiculous. The beauty of this recipe is the flexibility around the fillings if you want to add something different you can, take something out, of course, you can. If the mood strikes, you can even dress the salad leaves before you use them. 

Salad roll-ups

Salad roll-up ingredients

Ingredients 

  • 450g sliced meats – prosciutto or salami or ham
  • 3 cups salad leaves
  • 4 cheese slices, cut into sticks
  • ¼ cucumber, cut into sticks
  • 1 carrot, cut into sticks, 
  • ½ avocado, cut into slices, 
  • ½ pepper, cut into sticks
Slice the vegetables.
Lay the meat on a chopping board.
Add the lettuce to the meat.
Add the sliced vegetables.
Add the cheese.
Fold the end of the meat over the vegetables.
Roll the meat up.
Enjoy

Salad roll-ups

  • Servings: 4
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

I do love a lunch that doesn't need any cooking. This recipe doesn't need any cooking at all, just a little bit of time to cut your veggies into sticks and then the rolling. They are so easy to make it is ridiculous.


Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 450g sliced meats prosciutto or salami or ham
  • 3 cups salad leaves
  • 4 cheese slices, cut into sticks
  • 1/4 cucumber, cut into sticks
  • 1 carrot, cut into sticks,
  • 1/2 avocado, cut into slices,
  • 1/2 pepper, cut into sticks

Directions

  1. Take a clean chopping board and lay out a few slices of meat.
  2. At one end place some of the salad leaves, pepper sticks, cucumber sticks, carrot sticks, cheese sticks and avocado slices.
  3. Starting at the end with the salad roll the meat up to create a roll.
  4. Some meats will hold together; others may need a toothpick to hold the roll together.
  5. Serve.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 186 calories; 10 g fat; 14 g carbohydrates; 9 g protein.

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Primal fudge

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Something naughty but nice 

Fudge, yes, it is an excellent replacement word when you are around the kids, but I have another fudge alternative for you to enjoy. 

Fudge is one of those fantastic sweet treats I remember from childhood, my Dandy often had fudge and toffee for Christmas, and I loved to share it with him. 

In the past I probably could have happily munched a packet of fudge easily, nowadays I do not think I could deal with the sugar coma.  

Sweet without the sugar 

This recipe was born from a desire to enjoy the flavour of fudge without the truckload of sugar. When we made a move to remove sugar from our lives as much as possible, I noticed a change in my taste buds. What once was just a sweet treat is now so sickly sweet, I can’t eat it. 

I like to look for alternatives that mean I get all the flavour without any of the adverse effects of ingredients that don’t agree with me. For this recipe I swapped out the sugar for honey, this created a delicate balance of sweet but not too sweet with all the rich flavour you get with original fudge. 

Kid approved 

The final hurdle I usually have any new recipe is if the kids will like it. Sometimes they like a recipe, but the response can be lukewarm, they eat what I have made, but it takes a few days for them to work their way through everything. 

This is not one of those recipes. This fudge didn’t last the weekend; the fudge was nabbed out of the fridge after lunch, as a refuel when they got back from the play park and after dinner. These treats are little boy (and big boy) approved. 

Primal fudge recipe 

Primal fudge ingredients
Primal fudge ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil 
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder 
  • 1/2 cup seed butter 
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup 
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean powder 
Place the cacao powder in a large bowl.
Place the cacao powder in a large bowl.
Add the melted coconut oil and honey to the bowl.
Add the melted coconut oil and honey to the bowl.
Mix well with a spatula.
Mix well with a spatula.
Add the seed butter to the bowl.
Add the seed butter to the bowl.
Mix well.
Mix well.
Take a silicone cupcake pan.
Take a silicone cupcake pan.
Pour the mix into the cupcake pan.
Pour the mix into the cupcake pan.
If you want to add something for some crunch put it in the bottom of the cupcake pan.
If you want to add something for some crunch put it in the bottom of the cupcake pan.
Primal fudge ready for eating.
Primal fudge ready for eating.

Primal fudge

  • Servings: 24
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

Fudge, yes it is an excellent replacement word when you are around the kids, but I have another fudge alternative for you to enjoy.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil 
  • 1/2 cup cacao powder 
  • 1/2 cup seed butter 
  • 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup 
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla bean powder 

Directions

  1. Melt coconut oil either in the microwave or in a saucepan. 
  2. Don’t overheat the coconut oil, it should be liquid not bubbling. 
  3. Place all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend them together.
  4. Alternatively you can mix by hand.
  5. Add the cacao powder in a large mixing bowl
  6. Add the melted coconut oil and mix with a spatula.
  7. Add the seed butter to the bowl.
  8. Mix well.Mix well.
  9. Pour the mix into paper-lined muffin tin cups /silicone muffin cups.
  10. Fill each cup halfway.
  11. Place the muffin cups in the fridge for 30 minutes or freeze for 10 minutes. 
  12. Pop the fudge out once it is set.
  13. Store in a sealed container in the fridge. 

Nutrition

Per Serving: 89 calories; 7 g fat; 5 g carbohydrates; g protein

Equipment 

  • Saucepan 
  • Food processor 
  • Muffin tin or silicone muffin cups
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Spoon

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Porkips

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Meat chips 

You may have already figured out that meat is a huge deal in our house; our family motto may need to be meat with everything. Protein-rich snacks are a firm favourite for everyone including the cat. 

We all know chips and dips are awesome, the downside is the bloating and carb coma. Enter the salty alternative to standard chips – porkips. 

Pork whats? 

These chips are just meat. They are crunchy and salty goodness. I usually break out these bad boys for special occasions like birthdays and Christmas. They last about 5 minutes once they are done, they are easy to make and if you can stop them being eaten as is go great with dips. 

Porkip recipe

Ingredients

  • 10 slices of prosciutto di Parma

Porkips

  • Servings: 20
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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salty alternative to standard chips - porkips.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 10 slices of prosciutto di Parma

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking tray with baking paper; layout slices on the baking paper
  3. Bake for 10/15 minutes until crunchy then allow them to cool (if you can)
  4. If they get to a point where they have cooled they are good to eat (you have also managed to get much further than we do), if they survive the day you can store them in an airtight container for about 4 days in the fridge.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 122 calories; 7.5 g fat; 0 g carbohydrates; 13.5 g protein

Equipment

  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner 
  • Cooling rack

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Pre workout bars

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Refuelling on the go 

One of my biggest challenges is eating enough food, crazy but true. I do a lot of activity, and that often means I need to get more calories in to make sure I have enough energy for the day. When you don’t eat processed foods, it can be hard to cram in calories that, you need to keep your body ticking over. Having snacks that I can keep in my bag and eat on the go have been vital in keeping me going recently. 

Protein bars that don’t taste like cardboard 

I’ve tried some protein bars and have to say most of them taste like cardboard, snacking on cardboard isn’t something I want to make a habit of so I came up with my own bars. These bars are a perfect mix of protein, fat and carbs without too much of any one thing; they are the ideal pre or post workout bars. 

https://youtu.be/c87eTfDzERY

No fridge needed 

It might be winter down here in New Zealand, but winter in Auckland isn’t freezing, which means keeping snacks safe to eat can be a challenge. I like to keep my snacks in my bag, so they are always close by and ready to be munched. This can be an issue when you use eggs in baking, that was a primary driver for using chia seeds in this recipe. These bars don’t need to be kept in the fridge, I pop one in my bag in the morning, and it is still perfect for eating on my way to yoga after work. I keep the batch in the fridge to make sure they don’t get funky, but they survive nicely for a day in my gym bag. 

They are easy to make; don’t have any added nasties and they even pass the little boy taste test. If you want a balanced snack that will keep you going gives these bars a go. 

Workout bars recipe

Pre workout bars ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 cup cooked steel cut oats 
  • 1 cup ground pumpkin seeds 
  • 2 scoops protein powder
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds, soaked 
  • 2 tbsp. cacao powder 
  • 1/4 tsp. salt 

Pre workout bars

  • Servings: 12
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

bars. These bars are a perfect mix of protein, fat and carbs without too much of any one thing; they are the ideal pre or post workout bars. 



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 2 cup cooked steel cut oats 
  • 1 cup ground pumpkin seeds 
  • 2 scoops protein powder
  • 1/4 cup chia seeds, soaked 
  • 2 tbsp. cacao powder 
  • 1/4 tsp. salt 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 160 degrees C/ 320 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl mix together, all of the ingredients to form a thick paste, if the mixture is too dry add a little coconut water to bring it all together. 
  3. Line a baking pan with some baking paper, add the mix to the pan and press it down. 
  4. Alternatively use a muffin pan and divide the mixture between the muffin pan.
  5. Bake the mixture for 20 minutes.
  6. Cut into bars or remove them from the muffin tin.
  7. Allow the bars to cool on a cooling rack.
  8. Store them in the fridge in an airtight container. 

Nutrition

Per Serving: 128 calories; 5 g fat; 13 g carbohydrates; 8 g protein

Equipment

  • Bowl
  • Spoon
  • Spatula
  • Baking pan/ Muffin tin
  • Cooling rack
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Chocolate Drops

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My family love chocolate, when I say love I mean it, they will eat chocolate multiple times a day if I let them. I don’t mind them eating chocolate but like to make the chocolate as healthy as possible.

Chocolate drops ready to eat.
Chocolate drops ready to eat.

Slightly better for you

If you are looking for a sweet treat that doesn’t leave you feeling guilty, this could be the treat for you. The combination of chocolate, seeds and berries is perfect. You can make these up and keep them in the fridge (if they last that long), so you have a treat on hand when you need one.

Chocolate drops recipe 

Chocolate drops ingredients
Chocolate drops ingredients

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 3 tbsp. sunflower seeds
  • 3 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
  • 3 tbsp. goji berries
  • 2 tbsp. coconut chips
  • 1/4 cup homemade chocolate
Chocolate drops with some white chocolate drizzle.
Chocolate drops with some white chocolate drizzle.

Chocolate drops  

  • Servings: 10
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Chocolate treats that don’t make you feel guilty



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp. chia seeds
  • 3 tbsp. sunflower seeds
  • 3 tbsp. pumpkin seeds
  • 3 tbsp. goji berries
  • 2 tbsp. coconut chips
  • 1/4 cup homemade chocolate

Directions

  1. Melt the chocolate so that it is easy to pour, I like to use a saucepan.
  2. In a bowl mix the seeds and dried fruit.
  3. Line a baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  4. Pour the chocolate onto the baking tray.
  5. Sprinkle the seed and fruit mix over the top of the chocolate and press it in slightly.
  6. Put the chocolate into the fridge and allow it to set.
  7. Once the chocolate is set cut it into squares.
  8. Store the chocolate in a jar or an airtight container in the fridge.Store the chocolate in a jar or an airtight container in the fridge.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 90 calories; 6 g fat; 8.5 g carbohydrates; 3.9 g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Saucepan
  • Spatula
  • Baking paper
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner 
  • Knife
  • Chopping board

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Kale chips

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Revisiting family favourites

I’ve been revisiting recipes that have been some of my old school recipes and family favourites that were our staples when we got started as clean eaters. I first posted this recipe in 2015, at that time, the kids were fussy, vegetables had to be hidden and disguised, and there was no potential for intense flavours or spice.
Times (thankfully) have changed, the kids have grown (like man-sized grown), and they now enjoy a wide range of foods. Things like vegetables are enjoyed, spice and chilli are consumed without complaint, and new ingredients are tried without tantrums. As the kids have grown my recipes have changes organically to meet their palates and preferences, I’ve updated this recipe because of that, but fear not, all I have done is make it a little bit better.

Kale chips fresh from the oven and ready for eating

A surprise request

I like kale, I have for a very long time, but green vegetables haven’t always been a favourite in our house. Can you imagine my surprise when Liam, the child that hated all vegetables, one weekend asked out of the blue if he could have some kale chips? I was glad I was sitting down when he asked otherwise I may have fallen over. When Liam asked for them, I was more than happy to make him a nice healthy snack.

A family staple

Since that first request, kale chips have been something of a staple when it comes to snacking. Over the years we have experimented with different flavours for the family, here are a few of our favourites

  • paprika and chilli
  • ginger and lime
  • chipotle and coriander

Kale chips recipe


Ingredients

  • 1 bunch of kale, washed and dried
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt to taste

Kale chips

  • Servings: 4
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

These kale chips are a healthy snack option that will keep the entire family happy.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 bunch of kale, washed and dried
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • Salt to taste

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C/ 300 degrees F
  2. Line a tray with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  3. Remove the centre stems and either tear or cut up the leaves.
  4. In a bowl put the oil and salt then add the kale.
  5. Toss everything together in the bowl, so all the leaves are coated in oil.
  6. Spread on a baking tray, you may need to use two, depending on the amount of kale.
  7. Bake at 150 degrees for 15 minutes or until crisp.
  8. Eat them when they are fresh out of the oven otherwise, they get a bit chewy.Eat them when they are fresh out of the oven otherwise, they get a bit chewy.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 94 calories; 7.3 g fat; 6.7 g carbohydrates; 2.2 g protein


Flavours

Here are the ingredient for some alternatives. You can add the extra flavours when you toss the kale in the oil.

  • 1 tsp. paprika and 1/2 tsp. ground chill
  • 1 tsp. ground ginger and 1 tbsp. lime juice
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander and 1/2 tsp. ground chipotle

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Mixing bowl
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper or silicone liner
  • Tongs

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Breakfast crunch

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Nut-free please

I am one of those unfortunate people that is allergic to not only peanuts but also tree nuts. When it comes to food options, not having nuts on the menu can be challenging at times and frustrated at others. There are so many foods I would love to try or eat regularly but won’t get the chance thanks to nuts. Not eating nuts doesn’t have to be the end of the world; there are always replacements and alternatives that mean you can have a nut-free option. This recipe is my attempt to create a nut-free version of a usually nut packed recipe.

Nut-free breakfast crunch

My take on granola

I don’t always want a protein shake or eggs for breakfast, at times I want something with a bit more texture and some crunch to start my day. This recipe is ben a staple in our fridge for a long time now, I recently updated this recipe to add in some more variety with the addition of hemp hearts and buckwheat groats. I like to add it to the top of my smoothie bowl or some coconut yoghurt.

Nut-free breakfast crunch

Nut-free breakfast crunch ingredients
Nut-free breakfast crunch ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup coconut threads
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup buckwheat groats
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/4 cup figs, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil
Toast the hemp hearts
Toast the hemp hearts
Toast the coconut
Toast the coconut
Toast the buckwheat groats
Toast the buckwheat groats
Add the toasted seeds to the chopped figs
Add the toasted seeds to the chopped figs
Toast the sunflower seeds
Toast the sunflower seeds
Add the sunflower seeds
Add the sunflower seeds
Toast the pumpkin seeds
Toast the pumpkin seeds
Mix everything together with the melted coconut oil and honey
Mix everything together with the melted coconut oil and honey
Spread the mixture out on a baking tray
Spread the mixture out on a baking tray
Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar.
Transfer the mixture to an airtight jar.

Breakfast crunch

  • Servings: 15
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This seed packed breakfast crunch is an ideal option for breakfast or sprinkled on top of ice cream.


Credit:Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 cup coconut threads
  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup buckwheat groats
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts
  • 1/4 cup figs, chopped
  • 2 tbsp. honey
  • 2 tbsp. coconut oil

Directions

  1. Over a medium heat lightly toast the seeds and coconut.
  2. In a small pan heat the coconut oil and honey and mix them together.
  3. While the honey and oil are warming start toasting the seeds.
  4. Take a frying pan and warm it over a medium heat.
  5. Toast each kind of seed individually so you get an even toasting.
  6. Add the toasted seeds and coconut to the oil and honey mixing well.
  7. Add the figs and stir well.
  8. Pour the mix onto a lined baking tray and let it cool.
  9. Break into chunks and store in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 204 calories; 11 g fat; 21 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein

Equipment

  • Saucepan
  • Frying pan
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking tray 

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Beef jerky

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All of the meat 

As snacks go, I don’t think you can get better than beef jerky. The little meaty treat is hard to say no to and more so when the alternative snacks are loaded with sugar or soy. I initially decided to make my own beef jerky because the store-bought stuff didn’t agree with me. The beauty of homemade jerky is the different flavours you can make in one go and that it is so much cheaper. 

Simple to make 

You don’t need any special equipment to make your own jerky. If you have a sharp knife and an oven with a low heat setting, you have everything you need. If you have access to a dehydrator, it is an easier tool to use, and you can make more jerky in one go. 

More meat-lovers 

Recently the youngest member of our house joined the beef jerky lover group with a vengeance. My coconut amino teriyaki jerky seems to be a firm favourite with him (and the cat). The big bag of beef jerky that we get out of each beef roast is impressive. Keeping it in glass jars in a cool, dry place means that we have beefy treats on hand for a couple of weeks. 

Beef jerky recipe

Ingredients

  • 1kg Beef roast 
  • 5 tsp. paprika 
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder 
  • 1 tsp. salt 
  • 4 tsp. basil 
  • 2 tsp. thyme 
  • 300ml water

Thinly slice your meat; you want it to be no more than 5 mm in thickness.

Take a large sandwich bag you can seal up and place the meat inside or a bowl that can be covered.

In a bowl mix together the ingredients for your marinade, whisk to make sure it is well combined. 

Pour the marinade over the meat and massage it around in the bag or in the bowl.

Seal the bag or cover the bowl and put it in the fridge for at least 12 hours but preferably 24 hours.

There are two ways you can dry the meat to make into jerky, you can use your oven or a dehydrator. 

Lay out all of the meat onto the dehydrator trays making sure the pieced of meat don’t overlap.

Once the meat has dried out it is ready to be stored, I keep my in bags in the fridge or in an airtight jar.

The time it takes for the meat to dry will depend on how thick it has been sliced, the temperature you are drying the meat at.

“Beef

  • Servings: 35
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1kg Beef roast
  • 5 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 4 tsp. basil
  • 2 tsp. thyme
  • 300ml water

Directions

  1. Thinly slice your meat; you want it to be no more than 5 mm in thickness.
  2. Take a large sandwich bag you can seal up and place the meat inside.
  3. In a bowl mix together the ingredients for your marinade, whisk to make sure it is well combined.
  4. Pour the marinade over the meat and massage it around in the bag.
  5. Seal the bag and put it in the fridge for at least 12 hours but preferably 24 hours.
  6. When it’s ready drain the marinade off the meat and remove any excess moisture with a clean tea towel.
  7. There are two ways you can dry the meat to make into jerky, you can use your oven or a dehydrator.
  8. If your using the oven you need to have it set around 50 degrees C/ 120 degrees F.
  9. Lay out all of the meat onto wire trays, you need to make sure that the pieces of meat don’t overlap, you can put multiple wire trays on top of each other but the needs to be space for the air to get between each tray.
  10. Put it in the oven on the low heat with the oven door slightly open if you can, if not just open the door every now and then to allow the moisture to escape.
  11. If you are using a dehydrator it needs to be set to around 65 degrees C/ 150 degrees F.
  12. Lay out all of the meat onto the dehydrator trays making sure the pieced of meat don’t overlap.
  13. The time it takes for the meat to dry will depend on how thick it has been sliced, the temperature you are drying the meat at.
    14. 14.Once the meat has dried out it is ready to be stored, I keep my in bags in the fridge or in an airtight jar.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 64 calories; 2.1g fat; 0g carbohydrates; 10.4g protein

Equipment

  • Scales
  • Measuring jug
  • Measuring spoons
  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Ziplock bag
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Dehydrator or wire racks

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Cookie dough yoghurt

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Buy local

I am a big fan of The Collective dairy products, their Straight Up Yoghurt is one of my favourites, it is probiotic and completely free of added chemicals and additives. I like yoghurt as a dessert, the boys can’t get enough of the nommy banana suckies so while they enjoy their banana yoghurt I like to make some cookie dough yoghurt for dessert.

Sweet treat

There are times when we all want something sweet without eating a sugar filled craps snack or something swimming in chemicals. When I find myself craving something sweet, I head to the fridge and make myself a bowl of cookie dough yoghurt. The combination of sun butter, yoghurt and chocolates crimps is easy to put together and has just enough sweetness to satisfy my cravings and fill me up.

Flexible treat

This treat is extremely flexible, it can be adapted to suit your dietary requirements. If you don’t like to eat dairy products this recipe can be used made using coconut yoghurt without too much change to the flavours. If you are fortunate enough to be able to eat nuts you can easy swap out the sun butter for almond, cashew or peanut butter. I use my homemade chocolate chips because they are low sugar and high fat, if you don’t want to make your own Choc chips you can use any kind of choc chips you like.

Ingredients

  • 250g plain yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp. seed or nut butter
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla paste
  • 1 tbsp. 70% cocoa chocolate chips

Cookie dough yoghurt

  • Servings: “1
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print


Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 250g plain yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp. seed or nut butter
  • 1 tsp. maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. vanilla paste
  • 1 tbsp. 70% cocoa chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Put all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips into a large bowl, mix well until completely combined and smooth.
  2. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and serve

Nutrition

Per Serving:143 calories; 6.1 g fat; 13.6 g carbohydrates; 8.5 g protein

Equipment

  • Spoon
  • Bowl

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.

Sun butter

2 Comments

Nut-free option

I am one of those unfortunate people that is allergic to not only peanuts but also tree nuts. When it comes to food options, not having nuts on the menu can be challenging at times, and frustrated at others. There are so many foods I would love to try or eat regularly but won’t get the chance thanks to nuts. Not eating nuts doesn’t have to be the end of the world; there are always replacements and alternatives that mean you can have a nut-free option. This recipe is my attempt to create a nut-free version of a usually nut packed recipe.

My version of peanut butter

I often feel a little cheated when it comes to nuts; because of them there is a huge amount of foods I don’t get to eat, and nut butters are on the list. As nut allergies are common alternatives are available but not always well known. Sun butter is a nice alternative as sunflower seeds have a slightly nutty taste and are packed with nice fats. The downside is that it can be hard to find and much more expensive than the nut versions. 

Make your own

If you are like us and you try to avoid mass-produced processed foods, the best option is to make your own. When you make your own, you get to control which ingredients you use and how much or how sweet you want it to be. Once you have a go at making your own and you realise how easy it is you will never go back to store-bought again. After a little trial and error, I came up with this recipe. This sun butter is simple to make, easy to store and can be used in lots of different ways.

Sun butter recipe 

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 tsp. salt
Lightly toast the sunflower seeds
Lightly toast the sunflower seeds
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute
If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Continue to blend the seeds
Scraping the sides of the processor down when needed.
Add the oil part way through processing and continue blendingAdd the oil part way through processing and continue blending
It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency
It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency
Sun butter ready for the fridge
Sun butter ready for the fridge

Sun butter

  • Servings: 30
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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This homemade sunflower seed butter is my perfect alternative to peanut butter



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sunflower seeds
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 1 tsp. salt

Directions

    . Lightly toast the sunflower seeds over a medium heat for about 5 minutes.
  1. Remove seeds from the heat and place them in a food processor or spice mill some with salt.
  2. Process the seeds until they become a little powdery, this takes about a minute.
  3. If you have used a spice mill move the seed powder to a food processor.
  4. Continue to blend the seeds, scraping the sides of the processor down when needed.
  5. Add the oil part way through processing and continue blending.
  6. It takes about 15 minutes to get to a buttery consistency.
  7. Depending on if you want chunky or smooth you may need to add more oil or blend a little longer

Nutrition

Per Serving: 50 calories; 4 g fat; 2.5 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein

Equipment 

  • Frying pan
  • Spatula
  • Food processor
  • Jar

Try this with

Nutritional disclaimer

Nutrition information is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients used and available in my area (New Zealand). The nutritional information is here to help you understand the recipe; I use MyFitnessPal to generate my estimates. For more accurate nutritional information, please use a nutritional calculator with the ingredients in your area.