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.