Healthy rice cooker cake!

So this next recipe was inspired by Hemsley and Hemsley and their Cinnamon Banana Bread. I used pretty much exactly the same recipe but changed it slightly and cooked it differently.

My oven hasn't been working for a couple of years now as only the grill works and I don't intend to grill my cakes (I've tried it and it doesn't work!). I haven't been able to bake any cakes and when I do I have to go somewhere else to do it. I then came across the 'dessert' button on my rice cooker and thought...maybe I could try it. I mean worse comes to worse it doesn't work and then I know not to try it again but fortunately it did and turned out spongy and delicious! 

Chocolate and Banana Cake dirzzled with Chocolate Coconut Sauce

I am very pleased with the way the cake turned out. Th original recipe is more loaf like and so I thought that even when cooking it with a rice cooker it would turn out to be a denser like loaf but this cake was light and fluffy, you wouldn't believe it was made with healthy ingredients.

Ingredients

• 4 bananas
• 1/2 cup of coconut flour
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• pinch of salt
• 4 medium eggs
• 3tbs coconut oil or butter (melted) (I used coconut oil)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 bicarb of soda
• 1tbs apple cider vinegar
• 1tbsp of honey 
• 1/2 (100g) bar of good quality dark chocolate (preferably organic)

Method

• Mash the bananas with a fork until all mushy
• In a separate bowl melt the coconut oil or butter in the microwave or a pan (don't overheat it)
• Crack the eggs into the bananas and mix until combined then add the melted coconut oil/butter
• Add the vanilla, honey and pinch of salt to the wet mixture
• Measure the dry ingredients together (coconut flour, cinnamon and bicarb) and sieve into the wet mixture
• Put the bicarb in along with the apple cider vinegar (it will fizz) and then fold everything together
• Break/chop the dark chocolate into little bits and mix into the mixture
• Grease the rice cooker bowl and line the bottom with a bit of greaseproof paper so it's easy to remove the cake
• Pour the mixture into the rice cooker
• Put the rice cooker on the right setting and let it do it's magic!
• This should take about 50 minutes. The rice cooker should beep and just check if it's done as you normally would if you baked it in the oven with a skewer. When it comes out clean, put it on a plate to cool and then drizzle some chocolate on top if you like!

This is such a great afternoon snack if you're craving something sweet. I had a slice with some fresh raspberries and it was just so yummy and light. When you first take a bite, you may not think it's as sweet as it should be or that you're used to but the more you eat it, the more you'll get used to it. Besides if (like me) you have it with some fruit, that naturally brings the sweetness out anyway!

It makes a great pudding too! I melted some coconut oil and dark chocolate together, poured that on top with a dollop of almond butter and a sprinkle of chia seeds and it was just heavenly!

Don't be afraid to experiment with recipes and add things you like or take out things you don't like. Also don't be afraid to test out different ways of baking! I'm definitely going to use my rice cooker as it's so easy and you don't have to worry about it burning!

I do not own any rights to the original recipe. 

Super Simple Banana Pancakes

First recipe of the year...banana pancakes!!

These pancakes are so simple and fluffy, you wouldn't believe they are good for you!

All you need is 3 main ingredients.... banana, eggs and buckwheat flour.

I know many of you won't have access to buckwheat flour or think it's expensive but it really isn't. Just pop into a Holland and Barratt and buy a 500g bag for about £1.99. It will last for quite a while! Buckwheat flour is gluten free so if you're intolerant to gluten, this is the flour for you. This flour is rich in iron and high in antioxidants. If you don't have access to buckwheat flour then you can always use oat flour, oats, spelt flour or any other flour that's right for you.

Ingredients

• 1 large ripe banana
• 1 egg
• 2 tbsp of buckwheat flour (or a flour of your choice)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Dash of cinnamon (optional)
• Coconut oil/butter
• Frozen berries 
• Dash of water
• Honey/Maple Syrup

Method

• Mash the banana with a fork until gooey
• Mix the egg in with the banana until combined
• Add 2 tbsp of buckwheat flour (as this will help the mixture thicken up), pinch of salt to bring the flavour out and a dash of cinnamon (optional).
• Mix it all up until it forms a thick batter
• Heat your pan up with some coconut oil or butter on a medium to high heat
• Lower the heat and put some batter in the pan and flip occasionally until golden brown both sides. This should take about 2 to 3 minutes.
• For the berry compote I used frozen berries. Put the berries into the pan with some water and cook until the berries have softened and thicken up. Pour on top of your pancakes and drizzle some honey or maple syrup over your pancakes to finish if you want some extra sweetness.

This makes about 3 pancakes so if you want more just double the ingredients.

Healthy Eating - Eating What's Right For You

I haven't blogged for over a year now and thought I'd get back to it. My first post of the year is of course, the all round talked about subject - healthy eating.

I do normally eat quite healthily anyway as Chinese cooking is all about stir frying your meats and veg at a high heat and quickly so it doesn't kill all the good nutrients! However, I do and will spoil myself a bit too much and will go for the chocolate biscuit or bag of crisps as a snack. I also don't exercise very much as I find it very boring. I started going for a run for a couple of weeks and then stopped as I didn't like getting up at 10 to 6 every morning and go for a run before work! I would like to go to a dance class but it's a bit too expensive! So I thought I'd start with what I love most...FOOD!

I love cooking! Especially home cooked food. I don't think anything can beat a home cooked meal and you will always know what goes into it.

Salmon and Vegetable Laksa

With healthy eating, I believe you have to eat what's right for you and what works for you. There is a lot of food that doesn't agree with me so I try to cut it out and reintroduce it at times to let my body adapt to it slowly. I eat what's right for me. For example, I know that I can't eat bread that's been pre-packaged as that makes me really bloated so I tend to treat myself at the weekend to a loaf of fresh sourdough or any other fresh bread as that doesn't bloat me. It's all about trial and error. I know it can be a lot of effort but I feel like it's what needs to be done if you want to change your lifestyle.

That's why I love Madeleine Shaw and her recipes and her positive attitude towards a healthy lifestyle. Having bought her books I have tried out some of her recipes but adapted it for my taste and liking. I don't believe in following recipes word for word as everyone's taste buds are different and what the book says may not necessarily be what you like. For example, if you don't like cinnamon don't put it in. It's about what works for you. If you don't have the ingredient(s), don't go to lengths to buy it, use something else!

I have both her books and I think if you want a kick start to your healthy eating journey, her books will be just right. They are simple, yummy recipes and is accessible to vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters.

After starting my glow journey, I do feel much better in terms of my body. I bloat a lot less and my skin has cleared. But be warned...once you start healthy eating, you will break out as all the goodness you eat will force all the toxins out of your body. I had a few cravings here and there but got over it quite quickly after remembering how processed food made me feel.

I am starting to love eating clean and healthy and so I am going to start sharing some of my own recipes here.

Best Beauty Buys

Having been busy with the New Year and my last term of uni, I've finally got the time to blog again! So with January and February's weather constantly changing our skin is also constantly under the weather and becomes dry very easily. I have a few beauty buys that I think have been really good, keeping my skin hydrated and moisturised!

Benefit: Moisture Prep Toning Lotion

£23.50

I was recommended by my mum to use this lotion as at first, I brought a sample of Clinique's toner 4 and she said it has a lot of alcohol in and not that great for you skin. My skin is dry combination and the last thing I want is for the alcohol to dry it out even more. This lotion comes in a nice box and a bottle that contains 177.4ml of the lotion. It is not like your usual toner where it comes out like water but instead it's more like a cream. Only a little on your cotton pad goes a long way. It absorbs into your skin straight away and doesn't leave any residue and it smells so good! After using it for a couple of weeks now my skin does feel more moisturised and my dry skin has gone. It is a bit pricey but totally worth it as it does last a long while. 

Clinique: Beyond perfecting foundation and concealer

£25.00

Clinique is one of my personal favourite brands
as it's very good for sensitive and dry skin. I have many products from Clinique and it has worked my skin wonders. I use the CC cream as well but found myself buying a shade darker than my normal skin colour and having seen this come out I went into a store and asked the consultant to match my skin colour to this foundation. It is definitely one of the best foundations I have used. I have a lot of freckles on my cheeks and it does cover them quite well, fading them out a bit more. It feels light weight and doesn't feel like I have foundation on. The colour blends so well to my skin and don't worry about not getting the right colour as there are 20 shades to choose from! Once again it is quite pricey but it is definitely worth it if you want a long lasting, good coverage foundation.

Soap and Glory: Heel Genius

£5.50

This tube of glory really does do the tricks. No one likes their feet to be all dry and flaky so you really need to get yourself this. I find my heels become all dry in the winter due to the cold and so I brought this and use it every night after I shower. It doesn't just smell good but also leaves the heel repaired and smooth. I never really thought about getting Soap and Glory because the branding looks very 'pretty' but that is just a bonus to all the goodness they put in their products. If you like this, you should also try their hand cream!

Miss Saigon

So for my 21st birthday, my wonderful Mummy took me to The Ritz for some sophisticated afternoon tea and also to see Miss Saigon which I have to say has topped my ultimate favourite musical: Phantom of the Opera as it was utterly amazing. 

It is held at the Prince Edward theatre in London West End with a whole new cast and an 18 year old who plays the main girl Kim! For just 18 years old and her first ever debut on a west end stage, Eva Nobelzada is phenomenal. 

Having performed many Miss Saigon songs at my University's Musical Theatre Society, I never actually knew what the story was about or listened to all the songs thoroughly, apart from the ones we performed but having watched the show, I must say that all the songs were really well written and sounded so nice. I thought it would be a musical with a lot of dialogue and the occasional song thrown in but it wasn't, in fact the whole show was presented through music and song, which I think a musical should be and works better that way as for me, it makes it more enjoyable!

It's a very touching performance as well as the story line. I did have a few tears in my eyes during some parts of it but I don't usually cry very easily, so this show must be good to bring a tear to my eye.

I really do recommend anyone who likes musicals to go watch this show and to those especially who are not keen on musicals as this will change your mind because it was so so good. It even had a helicopter!

        

Food and Coffee in Canterbury

As you probably all know through many of my posts that i'm a big food lover. I have tried some places in Canterbury but never wrote about any as I didn't think it was that great, however, this weekend for my boyfriends birthday we went to quite a few nice places and so if you're ever in Canterbury or is in Canterbury, you will have to try these two places!

Willows Secret Kitchen

This little corner coffee shop is tucked away, out of the high street down Stour Street. Living up to the name of it being a secret kitchen, it really is a very quiet, secretive place to open a coffee shop as I would probably never walk down this street if it wasn't rated 9th on TripAdvisor.

One of the smallest coffee shops I have ever been to but nevertheless one of the smoothest coffees I've had. My favourite type of coffee is cappuccino as I love the froth and chocolate on top but the cappuccino I had didn't taste much different to the flat white my boyfriend had, neither did it have any chocolate on top.

     

They also had quite a few selection of sandwiches/baguettes and we shared a ham and apple cider chutney baguette which was a nice size and came with a small side salad. The apple cider chutney also tasted a bit like apple pie! 

Altogether this place was very nice to relax in whilst enjoying a nice cuppa and talking to friends, read or do work. 

If you love your daily dose of coffee then this cute little secret kitchen is for you!

Rating: 7.5/10

Deeson's British Restaurant

Rated 6th in Canterbury and having walked past this place many times I have always wanted to try it as the menu always looks so yummy. The only downfall is that it's pretty pricey, especially for students, so I only went for a special occasion and it was so worth the money!

The service was quick and friendly, making the dining experience much better. There was a couple that sat beside us who were a bit annoying but in the end treated me and my boyfriend to a bottle of champagne! 

 To start I had the woody pigeon with onion tart, quails egg and parsnip puree and it was one of the best starters I've had as the balance between the sea salt sprinkled onto the just pink pigeon and sweet parsnip puree was just right. 

For main, I had a very posh roast that had roast pork, apple sauce, crispy roast potatoes and sweet roast vegetables, topped with a piece of crackling. The pork was nice and soft, going very well with the apple sauce and the roast potatoes seemed to have been cooked in duck fat making them fluffy on the inside and crispy on the out. However, what I didn't like too much was the gravy/jus as it was just a tad too sticky and sweet making the whole dish a tad on the sweet side. It would have been more perfect if it came with a more savoury jus and a bit more of it too!

Overall we had a nice experience and Deeson's definitely did serve up great fine dining British food.

Rating: 8.5/10

Corfu!

Being so busy in the summer, I haven't had the time to write since May and so I want to talk about the holiday I went to in June as it was a really nice experience and I urge those who have never been to Corfu (a small Greek island) to go at least once!

Me and my cousin stayed at a nice, small and friendly apartment in Sidari, which was around 2 hours away from the airport and the centre of Corfu town. It is only a 15 minute walk into town, the beach and a 2 minute walk to the nearest supermarket! Christina Apartments was reasonably priced and cost us only £370 (booked through Thomson) for flights, hotel and coach transfer. It is also ranked #1 on Tripadvisor!

It's owned by a small family and they are all very friendly and helped out a lot and the food was very cheap! You could get a full english for around €2-€3! The place was kept nice and clean as there was a cleaner that came everyday and every studio had their own balcony which was nice to sit and eat breakfast in with a lovely view! There was always enough sun beds and people wouldn't hog the space with a towel like they do at hotels which is good as it's very annoying when people do that! The only down fall was that you had to buy your own toilet roll and cannot flush it down the toilet and have to put it into the bin as the drainpipes are too small and can get clogged up easily!

Rating: 9/10

We went on a lot of excursions and my favourite was Paleokastritsa as it was such a beautiful place and we even got on a taxi boat and sailed around some of the island and into the blue caves. We also went to Paxos and Anti-paxos (a little beach island with amazing white sand and crystal clear blue sea), corfu town for a bit of souvenir shopping and also got on a local bus to Kassiopi which was situated only half an hour away from Sidari. 

I do not recommend booking any excursions via Thomson as it was overpriced and the excursion I booked was cancelled and they never told me about it until I asked them! There are many cheaper travel companies in the centre of Sidari and the best place is Valeros Travel where I booked mine!

Corfu Town

Anti-Paxos beach

Kassiopi

 So save up and go to this wonderful little Greek island!