Beef and onions

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Ready for those winter warmers

It is feeling a lot more like winter here in the southern hemisphere. I’m feeling it a lot more thanks to some regular trips to Wellington because of my day job. While I’m a way off breaking out the winter coat, I am looking for warmer meals at night to make me feel warm and toasty.

Beef and onions on a bed of cauliflower rice
Beef and onions

Slow cooker meal

This is quickly becoming one of my favourite slow cooker meals because it is so tasty. There is something so satisfying to put dinner in the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a perfectly cooked meal that just needs to be plated up. The bonus is having enough food to cover lunch for a few days; if Jaime doesn’t go back for seconds and thirds.

Sear in the flavour

I spent some time experimenting with this recipe to create a deeper flavour; I finally landed on the seared meat to make this recipe extra special. The extra step of searing the meat adds a beautiful caramelised flavour to the meat and, more importantly, to the gravy. 

Brisket and onions Recipe

Ingredients

Beef and onions ingredients
Beef and onions ingredients
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 onion, sliced
  • 1.5kg beef roast
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef bone broth
  • 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp. coconut aminos
  • Salt and pepper
slice the onions
slice the onions
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat.
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat.
Add the sliced onions to the pan and let them cook for about 15 minutes
Add the sliced onions to the pan and let them cook for about 15 minutes
Be sure to stir the onion now and then
Be sure to stir the onion now and then.
When the onions are caramelised, spread them out on the bottom of your slow cooker.
When the onions are caramelised, spread them out on the bottom of your slow cooker.
Season the beef well.
Season the beef well.
Sear the beef in the pan the onions were cooked in.
Sear the beef in the pan the onions were cooked in.
Sear the beef on all slides.
Sear the beef on all slides.
When the meat is browned all over, place it on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
When the meat is browned all over, place it on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
Pour the Worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos and broth over the meat.
Pour the Worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos and broth over the meat.
Cook the beef on a low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours.
Cook the beef on a low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours.
Serve on a bed of cauliflower rice.
Serve on a bed of cauliflower rice.

Beef and onions

  • Servings: 10
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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This slow cooker meal is one of my favourites and delivers so much flavour.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp. olive oil
  • 4 onion, sliced
  • 1.5kg beef brisket
  • 6 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups beef bone broth
  • 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tbsp. coconut aminos
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

  1. In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat.
  2. Add the sliced onions to the pan and let them cook for about 15 minutes, be sure to stir the onion now and then.
  3. When the onions are caramelised, spread them out on the bottom of your slow cooker.
  4. Return the frying pan to the heat.
  5. Season the beef well.
  6. Sear the beef in the pan the onions were cooked in.
  7. When the meat is browned all over, place it on top of the onions in the slow cooker.
  8. Put half of the onions on top of the brisket.
  9. Pour the Worcestershire sauce, coconut aminos and broth over the meat.
  10. Cook the beef on a low heat setting for 6 to 8 hours.
  11. The meat should pull apart with a fork when it is ready.
  12. Turn off the heat and let the meat rest for 20 minutes before serving.
  13. Use two forks to pull the beef apart.
  14. Using the forks mix the meat and onions together with the juices from cooking.
  15. Serve on a bed of cauliflower rice.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 259 calories; 8 g fat; 6 g carbohydrates; 38 g protein

Equipment

  • Knife
  • Chopping board
  • Measuring jug
  • Measuring spoons
  • Frying pan
  • Wooden spoon
  • Tongs
  • Whisk

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.

Cheese sauce

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Wheat-free option

Cheese sauce is one of the few recipes that I remember learning to make in school, under the supervision of a very mardy nun. A good cheese sauce is something that I struggled to make when we made a move to clean eating. When l came up with a clean version of a traditional recipe, my aim is always to make it as close as possible to the real thing as l can. For some reason, the most simple recipes always seem to be the hardest to get right. This cheese sauce was no exception. After a lot of trial and error, I discovered that buckwheat is the best option.

Buckwheat isn’t wheat

It is strange, but it is true, buckwheat is not a grain. It is actually related to rhubarb, of all things. I’ve been cooking with buckwheat groats and buckwheat flour for a while now. ‘love how diverse it is, and I’m a big fan of the favour buckwheat adds to dishes. While working on this recipe, I discovered that a little bit of buckwheat four goes a very long way. Buckwheat is great to thicken sauces and gravies as it doesn’t clump the way tapioca does. The bonus with buckwheat is you use a lot less than you would with wheat flours.

Put it on anything

If you ask me, there are no rules for cheese sauce; it is excellent over the top of most steamed vegetables and that special topping on a lasagne.

Cheese sauce
Cheese sauce

Cheese sauce recipe

Ingredients 

  • 500ml milk 
  • 4 tbsp. buckwheat flour 
  • 50g butter 
  • 100g cheese, grated 
Cheese sauce ingredients
Cheese sauce ingredients
Take a large saucepan.
Take a large saucepan.
Add the butter to a saucepan.
Add the butter to a saucepan.
Wait for the butter to melt. 
Wait for the butter to melt. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
Slowly whisk in the milk.
Slowly whisk in the milk.
Slowly whisk in the milk.
Slowly whisk in the milk.
Continue whisking until you end up with a sauce consistency. 
Continue whisking until you end up with a sauce consistency. 
Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese.
Turn off the heat and stir in the cheese.
When the cheese has all melted it is ready to serve.
When the cheese has all melted it is ready to serve.

Cheese sauce

  • Servings: 8
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

There are no rules for cheese sauce; it is excellent over the top of most steamed vegetables and that special topping on a lasagne.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 500ml milk 
  • 4 tbsp. buckwheat flour 
  • 50g butter 
  • 100g cheese, grated 

Directions

  1. Take a large saucepan.
  2. Add the butter to a saucepan, wait for the butter to melt. 
  3. Whisk the flour into the butter to form a paste. 
  4. Slowly whisk in the milk.
  5. Continue whisking until you end up with a sauce consistency. 
  6. Turn off the heat.
  7. Stir in the cheese.
  8. When the cheese has all melted it is ready to serve.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 149 calories; 10.5 g fat; 8.5 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein

Equipment

  • Measuring spoons
  • Scales
  • Saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Grater 

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.

Egg wraps

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Egg wraps are a great option for breakfast lunch and dinner; you get to replace your standard wrap which is made with grains and chemicals with something that is just protein and healthy fats. 

I love eggs because they are so versatile and these wraps just reinforce how versatile they can be. 

Egg wraps ready for eating
Egg wraps ready for eating

The key to good egg wraps is using a flat non-stick pan, I have a crepe pan that I use to make my wraps, but any good quality non-stick frying pan will do. 

Egg wrap recipe

Egg wraps ingredient
Egg wraps ingredient

Ingredients

1 egg per wrap

The key to good egg wraps is using a flat non-stick pan, I have a crepe pan that I use to make my wraps, but any good quality non-stick frying pan will do.

Lightly oil the bottom of the pan and preheat the pan over a low to medium heat.

Lightly oil the bottom of the pan and preheat the pan over a low to medium heat.
Lightly oil the bottom of the pan and preheat the pan over a low to medium heat.

In a bowl, whisk your egg with a fork until the egg is smooth.

In a bowl, whisk your egg with a fork until the egg is smooth.
In a bowl, whisk your egg with a fork until the egg is smooth.

Pour the egg into the centre of your pan and use the back of your fork to distribute the egg evenly in the pan. You want the egg as thin as possible without creating holes.

Pour the egg into the centre of your pan
Pour the egg into the centre of your pan 
You want the egg as thin as possible without creating holes.
You want the egg as thin as possible without creating holes.
When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.
When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.

When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.

When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.
When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.

Cook for about 45 seconds on the other side.

Cook for about 45 seconds on the other side.
Cook for about 45 seconds on the other side.

That is it; just repeat those steps for each wrap.

That is it; just repeat those steps for each wrap.
That is it; just repeat those steps for each wrap.
Place the wrap on a flat surface
Place the wrap on a flat surface
Add the filling
Add the filling
Wrap and eat
Wrap and eat

Egg wraps

  • Servings: 1
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Egg wraps are an amazing low carb option that are quick and easy to make



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1 egg per wrap

Directions

  1. Instructions
  2. The key to good egg wraps is using a flat non-stick pan, I have a crepe pan that I use to make my wraps, but any good quality non-stick frying pan will do.
  3. Lightly oil the bottom of the pan and preheat the pan over a low to medium heat.
  4. In a bowl, whisk your egg with a fork until the egg is smooth.
  5. Pour the egg into the centre of your pan and use the back of your fork to distribute the egg evenly in the pan. You want the egg as thin as possible without creating holes.
  6. When the edges of the wrap start to lift, use a spatula to turn the wrap over.
  7. Cook for about 45 seconds on the other side.
  8. That is it; just repeat those steps for each wrap.That is it; just repeat those steps for each wrap.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 72 calories; 4.8 g fat; 0.4 g carbohydrates; 6.3 g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Frying pan
  • Spatula  

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.

Biscotti

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First time for everything

I was unfortunate when I went to Italy, I didn’t get to enjoy a coffee with a Biscotti. Having a nut allergy means missing out on many experiences. I was happy to enjoy the coffee without the almond based treat at the time, but I don’t like to miss out things forever.

What is it?

Biscotti are the Italian almond biscuits you often find served with coffee. The biscotti is a twice baked, oblong, crunchy biscuit perfect for dipping into a hot drink. The traditional recipe uses flour, sugar, eggs, pine nuts and almonds, so basically all the things we don’t or can’t eat. I could give up and say it’s too hard to even try to eat biscotti, but I love a challenge.

Think I made it better

Creating a recipe that aims to deliver the same texture and flavours of the original recipe isn’t always easy. When you add the complication of you have never tasted the original recipe things can get interesting. This recipe was challenging but also exciting. I wanted to get the texture right while keeping the protein and fat content reasonably high. I used a mix of protein powder and oat flour to replace the wheat flour and used coconut milk and maple syrup to replace the sugar. I used blueberries to replace the almond that you would usually find scattered through a biscotti. Each biscuit is crunchy, filling and goes well with a nice mid-morning cup of coffee. 

Biscotti recipe

Biscotti ingredients

Ingredient

  • 4 scoops protein powder
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
Biscotti ready to eat

Biscotti 

  • Servings: 12
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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This biscotti recipe is grain and sugar free and jam packed in with protein.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 4 scoops protein powder
  • 1 cup oat flour
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 cup blueberries

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C/ 350 degrees F
  2. Grease a cake pan and dust it with protein powder
  3. In a bowl, mix all of the dry ingredients
  4. In another bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, maple syrup, and vanilla bean paste.
  5. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together then fold in the blueberries
  6. Pour the batter into the cake pan
  7. Bake for 30 minutes
  8. Remove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completelyRemove from the oven and allow the cake to cool completely
  9. Cut the cake into 12 slices
  10. Line a large baking tray with baking paper or a silicone liner. 
  11. Place the biscotti slices on the baking tray.
  12. Bake the slices for 20 minutes on each side until they are golden brown.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 178 calories; 5 g fat; 23.6 g carbohydrates; 11 g protein

Equipment

  • Cake pan
  • Mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Cooling rack
  • Baking tray 
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner
  • Measuring cups

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.

Chicken cranberry salad

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What a week

It has been a busy week. With the world going insane we had to cancel our holiday plans and opt for a staycation in Auckland. Basically, that meant we hadn’t done any food shopping so our meal options were somewhat limited. I had no intention of going near a supermarket and dealing with the insane humans buying toilet paper. A quick raid of the fridge, I discovered some sour cream that was on its way out, so I wanted to come up with a way to use it up. Some pre-cooked chicken out of the freezer and we were in business.

Chicken cranberry salad

Salad with dressing

Over the last year, there has been a shift in how the family feel about salads. I now have a list of five salads that everyone is on board with eating. The common feature of the salads that everyone likes is a creaming dressing or sauce. With creamy dressings seem to be the ones that are most loved around here so this salad is a winner. The simple combination of mayo, sour cream and lemon juice give the rest of the salad a nice coating without overpowering the other favours.

Chicken cranberry salad recipe

Chicken cranberry salad ingredients
Chicken cranberry salad ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1/2  cup  easy mayo
  • 1/4  cup  sour cream
  • 1  tsp.  lemon juice
  • 1  tbsp.  parsley
  • 3  cups chicken, cooked and chopped
  • 1/4  cup  celery, finely chopped
  • 1/4  cup  apple, finely chopped
  • 1/3  cup  dried cranberries
  • 1/3  cup  sunflower seeds, toasted
  • Salt and pepper to taste
In a large bowl add the easy mayo
Sour cream
Lemon juice
Parsley
Whisk together
Add the chicken, apple and celery.
Mix well
Add the cranberries and sunflower seeds
Mix well
Serve chilled on a bed of lettuce

Chicken cranberry salad

  • Servings: 6
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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It has been a busy week and still far too warm to be spending hours in the kitchen making meals. I had some sour cream in the fridge that was on its way out so I wanted to come up with a way to use it up.'


Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup easy mayo
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. parsley
  • 3 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
  • 1/4 cup celery, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup apple, finely chopped
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, toasted
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, whisk the mayo, sour cream, lemon juice and parsley.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and stir until combined.
  3. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  4. Serve chilled on a bed of lettuce.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 299 calories; 24 g fat; 10 g carbohydrates; 19 g protein.

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • 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.

Reuben slaw

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I don’t want it hot

I’m a fan of the Reuben Sandwich, I love the flavours and would happily fall off the no grain wagon to snarf a grilled Reuben Sandwich. As I try my best not to fall off the wagon coming up with alternatives seems like the best approach. Sometimes it is too warm for a Reuben roast or a Reuben casserole; sometimes I want all the excellent flavour without spending hours in the kitchen or turning on the oven. Enter the Reuben slaw. This slaw brings together the peppery pastrami, creamy mayo and crisp cabbage with some mellow Swiss cheese. A few minutes of chopping and you have a perfect meaty bowl of slaw.

Reuben slaw

Ingredients

  • 450g pastrami, finely sliced
  • 300g Swiss cheese, finely sliced
  • 1/2 head cabbage, finely sliced
  • 1/4 cup easy mayo

Reuben slaw

  • Servings: 8
  • Rating: ★★★★★
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Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 450g pastrami, finely sliced
  • 300g Swiss cheese, finely sliced
  • 1/2 head cabbage, finely sliced
  • 1/4 cup easy mayo

Directions

  1. Mix together all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Chill for 2 hours before serving.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 254 calories; 18 g fat; 2 g carbohydrates; 16 g protein

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • 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.

One tray steak fajitas

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Simple meals don’t have to be boring  

I have been on a mission to make simple and tasty meals. I aim to create recipes that can be prepared and cooked quickly on a busy weeknight. We all struggle to make healthy and delicious meals while keeping on top of everything else in life. So this recipe is designed to be healthy, delicious and easy to make. You can cook this meal on a single tray in the oven. The preparation takes no more than 20 minutes and is portioned to feed four adults.  

One tray steak fajitas ready to eat
One tray steak fajitas ready to eat

Taking a break from tacos  

This recipe was born from a need to take a little break from tacos. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against tacos, I love them, but we have been eating a lot of tacos recently so I thought a little change would do us some good. Still wanting something Mexican and fresh, I thought fajitas would be a good option. The best part of this recipe is eating the rainbow; the mix of peppers always looks fantastic. I’m always happy when I can find a way to get a big portion of veggies with dinner. These steak fajitas are an excellent option for an easy weeknight meal and just as easy to make as tacos.   

One tray steak fajitas video

One tray steak fajitas  

One tray steak fajitas ingredients
One tray steak fajitas  ingredients

Ingredients   

  • 450g steaks  
  • 2 tsp chilli powder  
  • 1 tsp ground cumin  
  • 1 tsp garlic powder  
  • 1 tsp paprika  
  • 1/2 tsp salt  
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper  
  • 1/4 cup olive oil  
  • 1 tsp minced garlic  
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced   
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced  
  • 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced  
  • 1 green pepper, thinly sliced  
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
In a bowl mix together the peppers.
Add the onions to the bowl.
Add the onions to the bowl.
Add the steak to the bowl.
Add the steak to the bowl.
Mix well
Mix well
Ready to spread out on the baking tray
Ready to spread out on the baking tray
Transfer the ingredients to the baking tray.
Transfer the ingredients to the baking tray.
Spread the ingredients out
Spread the ingredients out
Sprinkle over the seasoning and mix well
Sprinkle over the seasoning and mix well
Bake
Bake
One tray steak fajitas ready to eat
One tray steak fajitas ready to eat

One tray steak fajitas

  • Servings: 6
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This one tray meal a great option for busy week nights or an action packed weekend.



Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 450g steaks  
  • 2 tsp chilli powder  
  • 1 tsp ground cumin  
  • 1 tsp garlic powder  
  • 1 tsp paprika  
  • 1/2 tsp salt  
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper  
  • 1/4 cup olive oil  
  • 1 tsp minced garlic  
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced   
  • 1 red pepper, thinly sliced  
  • 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced  
  • 1 green pepper, thinly sliced  

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees C/ 400 degrees F.   
  2. In a bowl, combine the chilli, cumin, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper to make a fajita seasoning.   
  3. In a large bowl, mix together the steak, onions and peppers with the olive oil.   
  4. Sprinkle with the minced garlic and mix again.  
  5. Spread the meat and vegetables out on a baking tray lined with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  6. Sprinkle the fajita seasoning over the meat and vegetables.  
  7. Cover the tray with foil.  
  8. Bake for 20 minutes with the foil on the tray, remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.  Bake for 20 minutes with the foil on the tray, remove the foil and bake for another 5 minutes.  
  9. Remove the tray from the oven and let the meat rest for 5 minutes before slicing.  
  10. Serve.  

Nutrition

Per Serving: 266 calories; 19 g fat; 7 g carbohydrates; 16 g protein

Equipment  

  • Knife  
  • Chopping board  
  • Baking tray  
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner
  • Aluminium foil
  • Mixing bowl
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Scales

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.

Gingernut cookies

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Gingernut cookies ready to eat
Gingernut cookies

Weekend tradition

Saturday morning, a not so small child stumbles out of bed into the living room as is offered a cup of tea. His response isn’t ‘yes please’ or ‘no thank you’ his answer is ‘gingernut?’. He likes to sit down with a nice cup of team and a gingernut to dunk in his brew. I thought I would have a go at creating a slightly healthier version of the gingernut and put it to the little dunker for testing.

As these things go, this recipe was pretty easy to develop. I knew the challenge would be getting the amount of crunch right. Too much crunch and we could be looking for replacement teeth, not enough crunch and you have a terrible cookie with no structural integrity for dunking. The key to a good gingernut is how long you bake it for. The trick with this recipe is to remove the cookies from the oven on time and then let them sit on the hot baking tray to become crisper and develop the right amount of crunch. If you leave them in the oven too long, you will be looking for new teeth.

Gingernut cookies

Gingernut cookies ingredients
Gingernut cookies ingredients

Ingredients

  • 200g seed butter
  • 3 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 egg
  • 100g coconut sugar
Into a food processor place, the coconut sugar and ginger.
Into a food processor place, the coconut sugar and ginger.
Blend until thoroughly combined.
Blend until thoroughly combined.
Add the seed or nut butter
Add the seed or nut butter
mix until thoroughly combined, it will start to clump together.
Mix until thoroughly combined, it will start to clump together.
Add the egg.
Add the egg.
Mix again until the mixture starts to form a ball
Mix again until the mixture starts to form a ball
Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the cookie dough.
Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the cookie dough.
Place each portion onto the lined baking tray.
Place each portion onto the lined baking tray.
Make sure there is space between each portion so that the cookies have space to spread.
Make sure there is space between each portion so that the cookies have space to spread.
Use the back of a spoon to press down the pieces slightly.
Use the back of a spoon to press down the pieces slightly.
Fresh and crunchy cookies
Fresh and crunchy cookies

Gingernut cookies

  • Servings: 10
  • Rating: ★★★★★
  • Print

This recipe is my take on the traditional gingernut, it is gluten-free but still has all the flavour and crunch.


Credit: Cath @ easycleaneats

Ingredients

  • 200g seed butter
  • 3 tsp. Ground ginger
  • 1 egg
  • 100g coconut sugar

Directions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees c 392 degrees f
  2. Have a baking tray ready with baking paper on it
  3. Into a food processor place, the coconut sugar and ginger blend until thoroughly combined
  4. Add the seed or nut butter and mix until thoroughly combined, it will start to clump together.
  5. Add the egg and mix again until the mixture starts to form a ball if it doesn’t form a ball don’t worry when everything is thoroughly combined stop the processor.
  6. Use an ice cream scoop to portion out the cookie dough, place each portion onto the lined baking tray, and make sure there is space between each portion so that the cookies have space to spread.
  7. Use the back of a spoon to press down the pieces slightly.
  8. Bake the cookies for 15 minutes or until they are golden brown.
  9. Remove the cookies from the oven, let them cool, and crisp up.
  10. When the cookies are hard, move the cookies to a container, they will keep for about a week.

Nutrition

Per Serving: 161 calories; 10 g fat; 15 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein.

Equipment 

  • Food processor 
  • Ice cream scoop 
  • Baking tray
  • Baking paper/ silicone liner
  • Spoon 
  • Measuring spoons
  • Scales

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.

Bacon cake slices

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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 2019, 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.

Who wants bacon? 

Bacon can make everything better, really it can. I love bacon, and for some reason, the mix of banana and bacon works really well. Add some chocolate into the mix, and you have a winner. 

Bacon cake slices, they may not sound good but trust me, they are amazing.

It shouldn’t work, but it does

Sweet and salty treats aren’t new; they have been around for a while. While sugar and salt sit on opposite ends of the flavour spectrum, they work well together just think all those foods you eat

  • Peanut butter and jelly
  • Salted caramel
  • Pineapple and ham pizza
  • Chocolate milkshakes with French fries
  • Bacon and maple syrup

So why does it work?

Bro science alert!!!

Salt, when used correctly, doesn’t make things salty; it brings out the flavour of food. That is why you often see salt in the ingredients for a cake or cookies. We have evolved to be drawn to sweet foods, mainly because they are calorie, therefore, energy-rich. We are also designed to crave salty foods because sodium is an essential mineral for the human body.

A Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study proposes that tongues have additional sweetness receptors. These receptors trigger only when sugar is in the company of salt. So as contradictory as it seems, even just a sprinkle of salt on some fruit can make the fruit taste even sweeter.

All of that could explain why this cake tastes so good.

Bacon Cake Slices Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup 70% cocoa dark chocolate
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or raw honey
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 10 slices of candied bacon, sliced
  • 1/2 cup banana icing

Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/ 375 degrees F

Line a square cake tin with baking paper or a silicone liner.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat together, maple syrup and vanilla.

Beat in the coconut flour then the melted butter.

Stir in the shredded coconut, six slices of candied bacon bits and chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into the lined cake tin.

Smooth over the top with a spatula.

Bake the cake for 15 minutes or until the top of the cake is golden brown.

Remove the cake from the tin and place the cake on a cooling rack.

Allow the cake to cool completely before icing.

Sprinkle the remaining candied bacon over the icing.

Slice the cake into 24 squares

Bacon cake slices

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

Sweet and salty treats aren't new; they have been around for a while. This cake is the perfect mix of sweet and salty.



Credit:  

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup 70% cocoa dark chocolate
  • 1/2 cup melted butter
  • 1 cup coconut flour
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup or raw honey
  • 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste
  • 10 slices of candied bacon, sliced
  • 1/2 cup banana icing
    • 


Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees C/ 375 degrees F
  2. Line a square cake tin with baking paper or a silicone liner.
  3. In a medium-sized mixing bowl beat together, maple syrup and vanilla.
  4. Beat in the coconut flour then the melted butter.
  5. Stir in the shredded coconut, six slices of candied bacon bits and chocolate chips.
  6. Pour the batter into the lined cake tin.
  7. Smooth over the top with a spatula.
  8. Bake the cake for 15 minutes or until the top of the cake is golden brown.
  9. Remove the cake from the tin and place the cake on a cooling rack.
  10. Allow the cake to cool completely before icing.
  11. Sprinkle the remaining candied bacon over the icing.
  12. Slice the cake into 24 squares
    13. 


Nutrition

Per Serving: 157 calories; 10 g fat; 9 g carbohydrates; 6 g protein

Equipment

  • Mixing bowl
  • Square cake tin
  • Baking paper or a silicone liner
  • Spatula
  • Whisk
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • 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.

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.