Best Ever Choc Chip Cookies – AND they’re gluten free. Win! 

Sunday nights have become my bake sale marathon, except there is no selling these baked goods, we need them all for eating. So tonight I made my (paleo) Banana Chia Pancakes and carrot cake muffins, but husband always needs a sweet treat so I whipped up some choc chip cookies. He does get a little annoyed that the recipe is slightly different every time, and these ones turned out freakin good, so I thought I better document it. 

Get this in a bowl and mix together:

125g soft butter

1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 cup almond meal

1/2 cup tapioca starch

Splashes of vanilla

As many chocolate chips as you see fit. 

Roll in balls and flatten, they might spread a little so give them some space. Bake for 14 minutes on 180 degrees, they come out that perfect mix of soft in the middle and a bit of crunch on the outside, with an overall delicious chewy texture. 

Now, go hide them from the kids. X 

   

Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Muffins (GF, low sugar)

Sometimes I’m a terrible parent. It’s only been in the last few months that I’ve introduced the girls to “happy boxes”. Because some days, in the midst of stress, madness and a million things to do, all you can do is drive through. It doesn’t happen often. It will come and go as a desperate solution for feeding my children, it’s definitely not ideal, but it happened. Don’t judge. And please note I say “terrible parent” very facetiously, because I think most parents are too hard on themselves. Me included.

Then there’s other times where I’m kicking ass at making awesome healthy and delicious food for my family. Like today. Started with Banana & Chia Pancakes, plenty of fruit and vege in between and it’s ending with these amazing Fudgy Brownies. I also whipped up some ice blocks out of banana, avocado, strawberries, coconut cream, maple and vanilla in my Magic Bullet. Kicking goals today! So it’s balance right?

Miss 5 just started prep, so I’m trying to give her healthy fuel for learning and playing. And if you’re familiar with my recipes you’ll know it’s a “fly by the seat of your pants” style, with a focus on quick and simple. So…Here’s the recipe for a nutritious lunchbox treat.

FUDGY CHOCOLATE BROWNIES

2 small sweet potato grated (approx 500g grated)
3 eggs
100g butter melted
1/3 c cocoa
1/2 c brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 c gluten free flour (could switch for almond meal for full paleo version, let me know how you go with that!)
splashes of vanilla

Blitz all of this in a food processor until smoothish. Pour into greased muffin trays, this made 12 X 6cm diameter muffins. Cook at 180degrees for around 20 mins. They should get a nice crusty outer and be a bit gooey and Fudgy in the middle. Yummo! I hope you enjoy x Jade

Spiced Pumpkin Chia Seed Pudding 

What started out with intentions of becoming pumpkin pie, has ended up being a most decadent, yet healthy, treat. It’s almost Halloween, so it seems right to be eating spice and pumpkin, despite it being 30 degree weather! This would make a great breakfast, dessert, leave it in the fridge and snack on it whenever you feel like it! 

SPICED PUMPKIN CHIA SEED PUDDING

400g tin of pears

400g cooked pumpkin

1 cup coconut cream

3 tbsp  rapadura sugar (or your preferred sweetener)

Mixed spice (to taste)

Vanilla (I use a good swig of vanilla, none of this 1 teaspoon nonsense)

1/4 cup chia seeds.

Blitz all of these things into a purée in the food processor. Remove into a bowl and stir in chia seeds. Let it set overnight for the best pudding consistency, or you can dig in straight away. Get it in your belly! Yum. 

Best Chocolate Cake – GF, DF

As far as GF cakes go, they have come a long way. This recipe is the most cake like texture though, that I think I’ve encountered. And as always, it’s super easy. I reckon this would be a great consistency to make a layered cake extravaganza out of, should the occasion arise that you’d need one!

  

Best Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

1 can chick peas, washed and drained
1 cup almond meal
2 tsp baking soda

3/4 cup cocoa

3/4 cup brown sugar (or your preferred sugar equivalent)

4 eggs

1/3 cup orange juice

vanilla

Blend all this in a food processor and cook for about 30 mins at 180 degrees. I’ve served mine with lashings of CoYo and fresh strawberries, and it’s delicious. Enjoy 

Apple & Ginger Stewed Rhubarb 

Well, finally some kind of winter has descended upon Brisbane. But, don’t be fooled she says, I’m only going to make a portion of your day worthy of warm dressing, the other part of the day you’ll probably be able to have a swim.  In celebration of the temperature possibly getting below 20 degrees celcius, I am eating a lot of stewed rhubarb. (more…)