Almond and Apricot muesli bars

3 cups (300g) rolled oats

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup maple syrup

 ½ cup diced dried apricots

 ½ cup currants

½ cup almonds, chopped

 ½ cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Method

Preheat oven to 160 degrees.

Combine all ingredients.

Line a 30cm x 20cm slice tin with baking paper and press mixture in.

Bake for 25 minutes or until starting to turn golden.

Nutrition information (per bar): Kilojoules: 949kJ (220cal) Protein: 6g Carbohydrate: 22g Fat: 12g Saturated fat: 2g Fibre: 4g Sodium: 21mg

Choc, date and cashew energy squares

These choc, date and cashew energy squares are easy to prepare providing a boost of energy (from nourishing ingredients) to help fuel any active persons day.

This recipe was inspired by a challenge set by Runners World magazine (where I am a regular contributor) to create DIY no bake energy bars to fuel runners! 

 Ingredients:

2 cups of pitted dates (soak for about 1 hour to help with processing if you have time)

1 cup of rolled oats

½ cup of chopped dried apricots

2 cups of cashew nuts

½ cup of cocoa powder

2 Tbsp. water+ a dash of water for processing dates

¼ tsp. salt

Method

Pulse oats until finely ground then put aside.

Pulse dates in a food processor with a dash of water until they become a smooth paste.

Add ground oats, apricots, cashew nuts, cocoa powder, water and salt and pulse until everything is combined.

Line a 20cm x 20cm tray with glad wrap, leaving enough overhang on one side to wrap over the top of the mixture once in.

Pour the mixture into the tray.

Wrap the mixture with the glad wrap and firmly press into the tray and flatten with the back of a spatula.

Put into the fridge overnight and then cut them up into 16 squares.

These will keep in the fridge for approximately one week.

* Try adding 1 tsp of orange essence or orange oil to the mix to change up the flavour.

 Nutrition per bar: 918 kilojoules, 25g carbs, 4g fibre, 5g protein, 10g fat

Beetroot, chocolate and blueberry loaf with zesty, vanilla ricotta icing

I have a thing for beetroot but unfortunately my husband doesn't. I like to use it many different ways just to see if I can convince him. I have grated it through salads, roasted with some of his faves (think sweet potato and zucchini) and blended it with Greek yoghurt to make a dip. After all that, he STILL doesn't like beetroot....SO, I thought I would make him a cake. Everyone likes cake right?

There are many recipes around for beetroot cake but this is my interpretation. Do you think my husband liked it? 

NOPE....he didn't. But I hope your family likes it just as much as I did.

This recipe is gluten free for those requiring a gluten free diet and packs in the goodness through the beets, blueberries and ricotta.

Ingredients - Serves  12

2 Large beetroots, grated raw with skin

3 Eggs

 1 Teaspoon vanilla essence or vanilla bean paste

 ¼ Teaspoon of salt

 1 ½ Cups ground almond meal

¼ Cup of cocoa powder

¼ Cup olive oil

¼ Cup honey

1 Cup fresh or frozen blueberries (or substitute for raspberries)

1 Teaspoon baking powder

Method

Preheat oven to 180 degrees fan forced.

Combine raw beetroot, eggs, vanilla, ground almonds, cocoa powder, honey, oil and baking powder into a large bowl.

Fold through ¾ cup of the blueberries.

Spoon mixture into a paper lined loaf tin.

Bake for 40-50 minutes or until cooked through.

Remove from the oven and cool for approximately 15-20 minutes in the tin then transfer to a cooling rack until completely cool.

Zesty ricotta icing

Ingredients

250g Low fat ricotta

2 teaspoons of vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract/essence

Zest of a lemon

Lemon juice from ¼ of a lemon – or to taste

Method

While the loaf is cooling, combine the ricotta, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla and spread over the loaf.

Top with remaining berries and some lemon zest if desired.

SANTORINI FAVA

Last year while on holidays, my husband and I made a little stop at Santorini, one of the most beautiful Greek Islands.

Santorini blew us away with the most amazing views and fresh Mediterranean eats.

Most of you will know my love for the Mediterranean way of eating, which I spoke about earlier this week on the blog. A love certainly for the many healthy benefits it provides, but also for its fresh, simple nature and a philosophy that encourages people to share, enjoy and celebrate food and family.

One of my favourite Mediterranean dishes was the Santorini specialty called fava. A dish traditionally made with the broad bean, is now made with yellow split peas and is served as an appetitzer (mezi) with crusty bread or as a feature in a share plate.

Fava from a little restaurant that we visited

This simple dish exhibits some of the features of the Mediterranean way of eating that makes it such a healthy eating pattern for us to follow - legumes and olive oil, LOTS OF OLIVE OIL...

After enjoying a few dishes of fava during my stay I was so keen to come home and try to replicate this dish. So here is my interpretation of Santorini fava.

My version of Santorini fava

Ingredients

1 cup of yellow split peas

1 onion, 2/3 finely chopped and 1/3 thinly sliced

2 bay leaves

2 garlic cloves, pressed and chopped roughly

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil + extra to drizzle once serving (don't use the 'light' stuff)

Sea salt to season

Lemon juice

Method

Rinse the yellow split peas.

Add rinsed split peas, garlic, bay leaves and 3 cups of water to a saucepan.

Bring to the boil, and then reduce heat to simmer for approximately 25-35 minutes – or once tender and mushy.

After about 15 minutes of simmering add the 2/3 of chopped onion, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with a small amount of sea salt and stir until combined.

When the split peas are tender, remove bay leaves and blend until a smooth mixture forms – you can add some extra water if you would like a runnier texture.

Serve in a bowl, top with a squeeze of lemon  (as much as desired – I like about ½ a lemon), a good drizzle of olive oil and the thinly sliced onion.

You can serve this warm or cold.

In Santorini it is served as an appetiser with crusty bread. You could also use it as a dip or spread for vegetable sticks, wholegrain crisp bread, rice cakes or rice crackers.

Enjoy!