Berry “Icecream” (Dairy free) December 7, 2010

Cut about 4 bananas into chunks and blend in a food processor until smooth. Put in a freezer-proof container and freeze until just frozen. Remove from the container and blend again to make a creamy frozen icecream-like consistency. You can repeat for another freeze-blend step if you like.

Divide the frozen/blended mixture in half, and add about a handful of frozen blueberries to one batch and a handful of frozen raspberries to the other

Blend each one separately to incorporate the berries, then spoon into the container again.  You can swirl the 2 flavours together.  Freeze again, or serve.

Guilt Free Fruitcake January 16, 2009

Ingredients:
750g dried fruit
2c wholemeal SR flour
600mls milk
 
Method:
Soak the fruit in the milk overnight (or at least several hours)… then mix in the flour. Pour into a lined lammington tin, and bake at 170C for around 50 mins.

 

 

Change the types of fruits for different flavoured cakes. Try around 500g of sultanas and 250g mixed fruit, or use dried apricots and apple….
 
You can add cocoa powder to make a chocolate fruitcake.
 
Substitute coconut milk or soy milk for a vegan/dairy free version

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes January 6, 2009

Another recipe I found when looking for cupcake recipes using oil. I haven’t tried it yet.
http://www.chow.com/recipes/10794

Vegan Chocolate Cupcake Recipe January 6, 2009

I found this recipe was too moist (as in fell apart when the paper was taken off), So I’m going to try it with 2 cups flour next time…still, they tasted alright!

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups wholemeal self raising flour
1 cup brown sugar
3 tbs cocoa (or 1/2 tsp powdered ginger + 1/2 tsp cinnamon + 1/2 tsp ground cloves)
1 tsp bicarb soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
5 tablespoons oil
1 cup cold water.

Method:
Put all dry ingredients into the bowl, then add the wet ingredients and mix well. Pour into patty cases and bake at 180C for 15-20 mins.

From: http://forums.naturalparenting.com.au/recipes/15648-cupcake-recipe-please.html#post250295

Slow Cooker Lentil Curry December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
Handful of red lentils
1 onion (chopped)
1/2 butternut pumpkin (diced)
Small sweet potato (diced)
Red capsicum (diced)
Fresh tomato (chopped)
Green beans (sliced)
Spices – cumin, ground coriander, garam masala, tumeric and chilli

 
Method:
Add all ingredients to the slow cooker (Add water – but not sure how much), mix well, put the lid on and allow to cook for several hours.

 
(From http://www.joyousbirth.info)

Vegetable and chickpea curry December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
1 lge brown onion
2 garlic cloves
2 tbl sp curry powder
3 tsp cumin
800g can diced tomatoes
1/2 lemon juiced
300g chickpeas drained
1lge sweet potato
1lge carrot
4 squash
250g broccoli
250g cauliflower

 
Jasmine rice and natural yoghurt to serve

 
Method:
1. You can fry the onion and garlic in a frying pan first, or just put it in the crockpot with all but the last 2 ingredients.
2. cook on high for 4 hours, or slow for 6 hours.
3. Serve with rice and yoghurt.

 
(From http://www.joyousbirth.info)

Vegetarian Curry December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 Clove Garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp Chilli
1/2 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tsp Coriander
1/2 tsp Cummin
1c Lentils
1 litre vegetable Stock
1 tsp Lemon Juice
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Carrots, diced
1c pumpkin, diced
1c potato, diced

 
Method:
Lightly fry the onion and garlic, then add the spices. Add the lemon juice, lentil and stock. Bring to the boil and boil for 5 minutes. Pour this into to the slow cooker and add the vegetables. (You may need to add more water/stock) Cook on high for 3-4 hours (or low 7-10 hours).

 
Slightly altered from the recipe posted by Debbie Lee:
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums/showthread.php?t=17924

Slow Cooker Vegie dhal December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
1 onion, diced
2 medium potatoes, diced
1/2 sweet potato, diced
2 cups of red lentils
2-3 teaspoons each of minced garlic and ginger
1 tablespoon of fennel seeds
1 tablespoon or more of curry powder
About 1 litre of stock
2/3c coconut milk

 
Method:
Add everything to the slow cooker, and cook on high for 3 hours then add in some vegetables of your choice (capsicum, pumpkin, carrot, cauliflower, peas, beans etc.) serve with yoghurt and mango chutney.

 
(Recipe by Brazen: http://members.essentialbaby.com.au/index.php?showtopic=91279&st=120)

Potato and Leek Soup December 13, 2008

This is a recipe for a soup that doesn’t use a cream base. The potato thickens this soup nicely. The Cumin gives this soup a nice flavour, but you can leave it out if you prefer.

Ingredients:
4 large Potatoes
1 large Leek
2 Cloves Garlic
2 teaspoon ground cumin Seeds
1 cup frozen/fresh/tinned Corn kernels
2 teaspoons of cracked black pepper
Salt to taste

Method:
1). Finely chop the Garlic, Thinly slice the Leek and chop the potatoes into quarters. Add these to a soup pot with a little bit of oil. Fry a little, but don’t let the garlic burn.
2). Add approx 4 cups of water (enough to cover the ingredients), the cumin, pepper, salt and Corn and simmer this for around 2 hours.
3). Allow to cool slightly, then mash this with a potato masher to remove any large lumps. You could puree with a hand held blender or food processor – but I like a little bit of substance to the soup, and I like the corn to be whole.

When done pour the soup into containers to freeze or leave in the fridge.

This makes a great soup to have on a cold day. The cumin and pepper adds some warmth. A nice soup to put in a thermos and have on a picnic in colder weather.

Pumpkin Soup December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
Pumpkin
Sweet Potato
Pepper
nutmeg
Onion
Brown Sugar
vegetable Stock

Method:
Chop up pumpkin & sweet potato. Mix up some olive oil, ground pepper & nutmeg, toss pumpkin pieces in the oil to coat thoroughly. Bake pumpkin in a moderate oven for about 40-60 minutes (until really soft).

Roughly chop an onion or 2, coat it in the olive oil (but this time add a little brown sugar to the coating mix as well as the nutmeg). Add it to the oven tray about 15 minutes into cooking the pumpkin.

Heat up some stock in a large pot till it’s simmering. Add the roasted vegetables. Use a hand blender to completely mash down the vegetables & mix until the consistency is right (I start with a little stock & add more if needed). Adjust seasoning if necessary

Red Hot Root Soup December 13, 2008

Ingredients:
pumpkin
carrots
sweet potato
onion
chilli paste
garlic (optional)
vegetable stock
1 tin cannelli or butter beans

 
Method:
Fry up onion/chilli with olive oil in a large saucepan until soft. add the chopped vegies. Add some stock to cover the vegies. Bring to boil with lid on. Simmer until vegies are soft. Add a rinsed can of cannelli/butter beans, then puree/process soup until smooth.

 
Serve with a dollop of cream on top and sprinkled dried parsley or a sprig of fresh for garnish, and some bread.

 
(From joh)

Variation
Leave out carrot and add 1/2 can of coconut milk, ginger and corriander

Vegetable Puffs November 18, 2008

Jam packed with vegies! Can be made in larger batches and frozen.

Ingredients:
Puff pastry
Beaten egg (optional)
Vegies
Seasonings (optional)
Sweet chilli sauce and sour cream for dipping

Method:
Steam the vegies, then mash in a colander/sieve to allow excess moisture to drain away. Add any seasonings you want (curry powder, spices, herbs etc.) and mix well. Allow to cool.

If you want to add some bulk, you can mix in about 1/4 cup uncooked couscous and 1/4 cup of the liquid from the steamer, and it should soften by the time you are ready to spoon it onto the pastry.

Cut pastry sheets into 9 squares. Place a heaped teaspoon of mixture onto the pastry and fold the corners over to make a triangle. Let the kids help by using a fork to press around the 2 open edges to seal them. Prick airholes and “paint” with beaten egg if you wish. Bake at around 200°C for around 15 mins or until golden brown.