Wholemeal Banana Muffins

DF, Low Sugar

Whipped up a batch of these yesterday, great for lunch on the go, lunch box treats or after school snack. This recipe is dairy free and low sugar, making these a great addition to your weekend baking, as well as using up those overripe bananas!

Makes: 12 Muffins

Ingredients: 200g wholemeal flour, 4 overripe bananas, 2 eggs, 100ml of oat milk, 50g of brown sugar, 1 tbsp. of olive oil, 2 tbsp. of oats, 1 tsp. of baking powder, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1 tsp. of honey.

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 180F
2. Combine all of your wet ingredients except the honey and mix well,
3. Add to all of the other dry ingredients
4. Mix well until smooth
5. Mash your bananas in a separate bowl and then add to the muffin mix
6. Mix well and then finish off by stirring in the honey
7. Fill a 12 hole muffin tray with muffin cases and fill equally with the muffin mixture
8. Pop in the oven and bake for 15 -20 minutes until the muffins have risen and are golden brown
9. Allow to cool and keep in an airtight container until ready to eat
10. Enjoy!

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The Easiest Gluten Free Brownies

Have a go at making the easiest gluten free brownies, using only three ingredients, good for lunch box treats, after school of with a coffee for grown ups.

Ingredients: 400g of Hazlenut chocolate spread, 100g of desiccated coconut, 2 eggs.

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 160F
2. Mix the coconut and chocolate spread together until all combined
3. Add the eggs and mix well
4. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and tip your wet mixture in
5. Pop in the oven for 20mins
6. Allow to cool and then cut into squares and store in an airtight container until ready to eat
7. Enjoy!

 

Check out my other lunch box sweet treat ideas below:

The Lockdown Larder – Chocolate Flapjacks

Easy Oaty, (with a little bit of dark chocolate), and Dried Apple Cookies

Inspired by Madagascar – Vanilla, Banana and Tumeric Muffins with Sea Salt and Vanilla Glaze

Super Easy Gluten Free Nutella Cookies

 

 

Easy Baba Ganoush

Possibly my favourite dip ever…after hummus of course!  Have a go at recreating this recipe at home and let me know what you think.

Serves: 4 as a side dip or more as part of a bigger Mezze Platter, (check out the links below for more ideas).

Cook: 40 mins
Prep: 10 mins

Ingredients: 1 large aubergine, 4 tbsps. of olive oil, juice of one lemon, 2 tbsp. of tahini, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 tsp. of powdered cumin, 1/2 tsp. of salt, your choice of nuts and a little more olive oil to serve.

Method: 

1. Preheat your grill to high
2. Prick the aubergine all over and place under the hot grill for 15 minutes each side, until the aubergine skin becomes sunken
3. Allow to cool slightly and scoop out all the flesh and add to a blender or a bowl if using a hand blender
4. Chop the garlic and add to a pestle and mortar with the cumin and salt and pepper, mix to a smooth paste then add the olive oil
5. Add this mix to the aubergine and add the lemon juice and tahini and mix until smooth
6. Add a little more olive oil if the mixture needs loosening
7. Serve in a bowl with your choice of nuts for a garnish, (I used linseeds, walnuts, pine nuts and black sesame seeds), drizzle over some olive oil and serve with crudités or pitta or both!
8. Enjoy!

Click on the links below to see my other Aubergine, Dips and Mezze Ideas x

Store Cupboard Vegan Green Lentil Hummus…

Hummus…we have a problem!

Inspired by Iraq – Cucumber, Dill and Yogurt Soup

Vegan Oven Roasted Spicy Aubergines with Spicy Green Lentils

Grilled Aubergine, Courgette and Red Pepper Salad with a Tahini, Lemon and Herb Dressing

Inspired by Syria – Garlicky Roasted Courgette and Carrot, Honey, Cumin and Pine Nut Dips

Inspired by Egypt – Courgette and Chickpea Salad with DukkahGrilled Aubergine, Courgette and Red Pepper Salad with a Tahini, Lemon and Herb Dressing

Inspired by the Lebanon – Whole Roast Lebanese Chicken with A Cauliflower, Bulgar Wheat Tabbouleh

Gluten Free Lemon and Almond Summer Meatballs

Love meatballs but looking for a lighter, healthier gluten free option? Then try this delicious lemony almond meatball recipe, with easy peasy tomato sauce!

Makes: 18 meatballs

Prep: 15mins
Cook: 40mins

Ingredients: For the Meatballs – 500g Pork Mince, 1 medium onion, 3 heaped tbsp. of ground almonds, 1 egg, zest of one lemon, 1 heaped tbsp. grated parmesan cheese, 1 heaped tsp. dried oregano, salt and pepper, drizzle of oil.

For the Tomato Sauce – Handful of cherry tomatoes, 400ml of passata, 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp. of olive oil, 2 tsp. of balsamic vinegar.

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 220f
2. Finely dice your onion and add to all of the other ingredients and work well to combine all of the ingredients together
3. Once combined, make into walnut sized balls and pop into a baking dish, drizzle with oil and cook for 30 – 40 minutes until browned
4. While the meatballs are cooking start on your sauce:
5. Finely chopped the garlic cloves and add to a pan with the olive oil
6. Cook for a few minutes on a medium heat then add roughly chopped cherry tomatoes and the balsamic vinegar
7. Cook for 5 – 10 minutes until the tomatoes start to break down, you can break them down a little with a wooden spoon
8. Add the passata and cook on a low simmer for 20mins
9. Serve the meatballs on gluten free pasta and your choice and veg and drizzle over the sauce
10. Enjoy!

Vegan Oven Roasted Spicy Aubergines with Spicy Green Lentils

Friday night is a good excuse for a curry night right? Check out this delicious vegan recipe for some healthy inspiration.

Serves: 4

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 45 – 60 mins

Ingredients: 1 white or brown onion, 2 large aubergines or 4 baby aubergines, 1 cup of green lentils, 2 cups of coconut milk, 1 veggie stock cube, 1/2 tsp of cumin, 1/2 tsp of turmeric, 1 chopped red chilli and 1/2 tsp of dried ginger, 4 tbsp of oil, 1 tsp. of masala paste.

Method: 

1. Preheat the oven to 200F
2. Chop your onion and garlic and fry in a pan with 1 tbsp of oil for a few minutes until softened
3. Add all of your dried spices and chilli and coat the onions and garlic well
4. Add the lentils with 2 cups of coconut milk and 3 cups of veggie stock and give it a good stir
5. Bring to the boil and then turn down to a simmer until the lentils are soft, you may need to add some more liquid and give it the occasional stir
6. While the lentils are cooking, mix the masala paste with 3 tbsp. of oil
7. Cut the aubergines in half lengthways, criss cross the flesh and place on a baking tray flesh side up
8. Brush the masala oil all over the flesh and pop in the oven for 30 – 45 mins until soft
9. Once the aubergines and lentils are cooked serve up on a fluffy bed of basmati rice, lentils first then the aubergines on top
10. Enjoy!

Tip: I used the same cup to measure the lentils and liquids to make sure I get the right measurements. 

Vegan Miso Brown Rice Salad Bowls

Looking for a filling but healthy meat free lunch? Then try my super easy, super delicious vegan rice bowl, if you omit the chilli even kids will love it! 

Serves 4

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins

Ingredients: 1 cup of dried brown rice, 1 large avocado, 1 small can of sweetcorn, small bunch of spring onions, 2 tsp. brown miso paste, 1 tbsp. of sesame seeds (black, brown or white is fine), 1 tbsp. soy sauce, sprinkling of chilli flakes.

Method:

1. Pop the brown rice in a saucepan and add the miso paste, cook as per packet instructions
2. Once cooked, allow the rice to cool (this can be cooked the day before, or even in the morning if you have time)
3.  Drain the sweetcorn and mix in with the rice along with the spring onions
4. Chop the avocado into slices and arrange on top
5. Sprinkle over the sesame seeds and chilli flakes and a little drizzle of the soy sauce
6. Enjoy!

 

Grilled Aubergine, Courgette and Red Pepper Salad with a Tahini, Lemon and Herb Dressing

Looking for a healthy vegan BBQ side this weekend? Then try this…

Serves: 6

Prep: 20mins
Cook: 15 – 20

Ingredients: 4 small of 2 large aubergines cut into thin slices, 4 small or 2 large courgettes cut into thin slices, a jar of red peppers cut into thin strips, large handful of mixed herbs, (basil, mint and parsley all work well), 1 tbsp. of tahini, juice of 1/2 lemon 4 tbsp. of olive oil, 1 tbsp. of pine nuts,  1 tsp. of paprika and a little more olive oil for grilling the aubergine and courgette.

Method:

1. Brush the aubergine and courgettes with a little oil and grill on each side for around 6 – 8 minutes until they start to brown but not burn
2. Allow to cool
3. To make the dressing mix the tahini, oil and lemon juice together
4. Brown the pine nuts in a pan to bring out their flavour
5. Now construct your salad by placing layers of the aubergine, courgette and red peppers on a large plate, pour your dressing over the top and scatter the pine nuts and herbs over the salad and sprinkle over the paprika
6. Enjoy.

Eat Your Greens Super Speedy Stir Fry

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Make sure you eat your greens this week with this super speedy vegan stir fry that you can add to anything, rice, pasta, noodles etc, the sprinkling of brown sugar right at the end really adds something to the greens!

Serves: 2 – 4 depending on what you are serving it with

Prep: 2mins

Cook: 6mins

Ingredients: A bag or bunch of greens such as chard, kale, spinach, watercress, pak choi, (some types of cabbage might work too), 1 garlic clove, 1 red chilli (you can used dried chilli and frozen or pureed garlic), tbsp of oil, sprinkling of brown sugar and sesame seeds.

Method:

1. Chop up your garlic and chilli and heat in the oil for a few minutes

2. Chop or tear your greens and add to the pan, stir well to coat in the oil

3. Stir fry for a minutes more then sprinkle with brown sugar and sesame seeds

4. Enjoy!

Just when you thought Banana Bread couldn’t get any sweeter… Banana Bread with Dates and Chia Seeds

Just when you thought Banana Bread couldn’t be any sweeter… the addition of the chia seeds and dates makes this moorishly good! Don’t worry if you don’t have chia seeds or dates just add some raisins and it will still taste great! 

Makes: One large loaf

Prep: 10mins
Cook: 45mins – 1 hour

Ingredients: 285g of wholemeal flour, 4 ripe bananas (mashed), 200g of sugar, 2 eggs, 100ml of olive oil, 85ml of milk, 1 tsp. of bicarbonate soda, 1 tsp. of baking powder, 30g of chia seeds, 50g of pitted dates (chopped), 1 tsp. of vanilla extract, pinch of salt.

Method: 

1. Preheat oven to 180C
2. Combine the flour, sugar, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder in a bowl
3. Mix the eggs, oil, vanilla extract and milk together then add to your dry mix
4. Mix well, then add the dates, chia seeds and mashed bananas and fold all together
5. Pour into a deep lined baking dish and pop in the oven for 45mins to one hour until golden brown on top
6. Allow to cool…
7. Enjoy with a cuppa

The Lockdown Larder Homemade Tinned Tomato Soup

Remember the taste of the very popular branded canned soup from your childhood…well this is a close second!

Serves: 4

Prep: 5mins

Cook: 25mins

Ingredients: 2 cans of chopped tomatoes (drained weight 240g), 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, vegetable stock made with 300ml of boiling water, 2 tbsps of cream cheese, 1 tbsp of tomato puree and a little oil for frying.

Method:

1. Chop the onion and garlic and soften in a little oil for a few minutes

2. Add the tomatoes and stock, bring to the boil and then keep on a low simmer for 20mins

3. After 20mins add the cream cheese and puree and cook for a few minutes more until melted

4. Blitz in a food processor

5. Slurp and enjoy!