Browsing Tag

maple syrup

Caramelized Pear & Hazelnut Porridge

March 7, 2013
caramelized-pear-and-hazelnut-porridge

You might not have guessed it from reading this blog, but I get into a routine with recipes that I make for us at home. I will get stuck eating the same thing over and over, for breakfast especially. It is usually a green smoothie or some toast and a fruit bowl. I’ve been trying to break it up by doing something different one or two days out of the week.

Recently I decided I was going to make some porridge. You see, believe it or not I never had a bowl of porridge before moving to Europe. I was always a cold cereal kind of gal. I’ve been missing out. Porridge is super easy to make and also an easy way to switch up my routine.

I have never seen or made a fancy porridge, so I thought, why not. There is no reason simple ole porridge cannot get fancy. In this recipe, pears are caramelized lightly and infused with cinnamon and nutmeg which takes basic porridge to a heavenly level. It is then topped with warmed hazelnuts and maple syrup just before serving.

This porridge helped break up my morning recipe routine, and then some. Because it is good to break up the routine once in a while.

caramelized-pear-hazelnut-porridge

Caramelized Pear & Hazelnut Porridge

Vegan & Gluten-free

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • 1 pear, sliced
  • 1 Tbsp. hazelnuts
  • dash of cinnamon and nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup fine rolled oats (I used organic gluten-free)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • maple syrup or honey, if desired

Directions:

  1. In a small pan over medium heat add the coconut oil and pear. Sauté the pears until they are soft and caramelized. When they start to brown, add the hazelnuts, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from the heat and cover to keep warm.
  2. Place oats, water and vanilla in a saucepan over medium high heat and stir gently until the porridge has thickened – about 5 minutes.
  3. Spoon the prepared porridge into a bowl and pour the pears and hazelnuts on top. Serve with a drizzle of honey or maple syrup if desired.

Whole Wheat Berry Muffins

January 7, 2013
whole-wheat-berry-muffins

It’s Monday morning and I’m packing my suitcase. I’m heading off to America tomorrow to spend time with my family in Iowa. You can be sure I have my warmest sweaters, scarves and mittens thrown in the mix somewhere. The entire mid-west is under a blanket of snow – a concept I’m come to forget living in Ireland. I’m eager to spend some time outdoors going sledding and chasing our dogs around in the backyard.

If you remember my post from last summer, you know I am always well prepared for long hours of traveling. I never leave home without copious amounts of food and snacks. I think these muffins will make a nice addition to the other homemade in-flight munchies I have packed.

Ever since I started making homemade almond milk, I’ve found myself with an overload of almond pulp. With a bunch of almond pulp and frozen berries in hand, it seemed like the perfect excuse to make muffins. The brilliant thing about this recipe is it works well even without the almond pulp – just replace it with one cup of any flour of your choosing.

These muffins are not monster big or heavy like the American version. They are quite small, very light and filled with a wonderful berry flavor. They totally melt in your mouth! I like that they are not overly sweet, so you could have them for breakfast as well as a snack.

whole-wheat-berry-muffins-vegan

Whole Wheat Berry Muffins

Vegan

Makes 12 muffins

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • 1 cup almond pulp*
  • 1/2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp. baking powder
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 3 Tbsp. flax seed + ¼ cup water
  • ½ cup almond milk
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • zest of 1/2 an orange
  • 1 cup frozen berries

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°c). Grease a muffin tin thoroughly or if you prefer, line with muffin cups.
  2. In a large bowl mix the flour, almond pulp, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
  3. Whisk together the maple syrup, flax mixture, almond milk, olive oil and zest until they are combined well. Add them to the dry ingredients. Use a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients until the batter is almost fully combined. Add the frozen berries, careful to not break up the berries too much.
  4. Fill the muffin tins 3/4 full and bake until the muffins are browned and a knife goes through cleanly, about 25 to 35 minutes.

*if not using almond pulp, replace with 1 cup of chosen flour

wholewheat-berry-muffins

I will continue to post on the blog while I’m away. In the meantime, connect with me through twitterfacebookpinterestinstagram and my newsletter! Hope you all have a lovely week!

Vegan Eggnog

December 20, 2012
vegan-eggnog

The holidays are upon us and I felt it fitting to recreate a traditional beverage that can be enjoyed by the entire family. I’ve spent the last few days perfecting a recipe for vegan eggnog that is quick, easy to make, delicious and authentic. I think I got it. I even got the seal of approval from the resident recipe tester (my boyfriend).

It’s incredibly rich, decadent, and will be sure to impress at any holiday parties. Unlike other eggnogs, it’s not too sweet and has a nice delicate nutmeg flavor. It’s up to you whether you “spike” it or not.

christmas-vegan-eggnog

Vegan Eggnog

Raw, Gluten-free & Vegan

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 cups almonds, soaked in water for 8 hours then drained
  • 3 cups pure water
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup (or 4 – 6 Medjool dates, pitted)
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut butter or oil, melted
  • 1 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • pinch ground cloves
  • dash of sea salt

Directions:

  1. Add almonds and water in to a blender for 2-3 minutes.
  2. Strain mixture using a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer to make an almond milk base for the eggnog. Discard almond pulp (or save for almond pulp crackers.)
  3. Rinse out blender and pour almond milk back in. Blend the rest of the ingredients with the milk until smooth and delicious. Place in the fridge until cold and serve.

 

Chewy Macaroons

December 13, 2012
chewy-macaroons

The Christmas tree is up, the decorations are hung and my collection of Frank Sinatra Christmas tunes are on repeat. While many begin the frantic two-step of holiday frenzy I try to remind myself that these cooler months call for a slower, more introspective way of life. Even now as I type and my mind flirts with the notion of a hot bath and warm bed, I sigh with relief that the month of December has arrived. May we remember amongst the gifts, traditions and warm cider what this season truly is about.

This will be my first Christmas spent in Ireland and although I am often hit with pangs of homesickness for my family and friends in America, I am thankful to share this special season with my Irish family. For the holiday we are traveling to the countryside to be with my boyfriend’s family and as the trip nears I’m starting to wrack my brain with ideas for festive sweet treats to bring in hand. I’m thinking these Chewy Macaroons will make a lovely addition to the Christmas dessert selection. A bite into one of these sweet tasting treats and one will enjoy the contrast of a crispy exterior to a soft and chewy interior.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend filled with joy and expectancy of all the good things to come! And may you too find your days refined to a slower pace, leisurely changing from one minute to the next.

chewy-coconut-macaroons

Chewy Macaroons

Makes 12-14 cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup light coconut milk
  • 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
  • ¼  cup maple syrup or brown rice syrup
  • ¼ tsp. sea salt
  • ¼ cup flour (I used spelt)
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).  Boil milk on medium high and add coconut oil, sweetener of choice and sea salt. Whisk in flour. Boil for about 2 minutes and lower the temperature to medium low for another few minutes.
  2. Add mixture to a small mixing bowl and add vanilla. Stir in the shredded coconut.
  3. Drop rounded teaspoons onto a cookie sheet. Bake for about 16 minutes or until golden.