Libby Bird – Page 15

Light Coconutty Toasted Muesli

November 4, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

There are plenty of gluten-free mueslis on the market now (yay, choices!) but while some are insanely high in price, others are insanely high in sugars & additives. I like making my own because I can add exactly what I feel like & I know exactly how much sweetener went in. This is a pretty footloose recipe – you can easily swap out the nuts & seeds for others of your choice. Try roughly chopped hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts…make it your own! The name says it all: this is light, toasted & coconutty AND nutrient rich. Yum!…

Baked Aubergine and Garlicky Asparagus

October 21, 2015 by Libby Bird 4 Comments

Oooh I love this combo. It screams SUMMER to me, so although it’s not quite let’s-go-nuts-with-aubergine season yet, I couldn’t resist an early purchase of firm eggplants and tender asparagus shoots. Aubergines are foxy. That plump pendulous roundness, smooth skin, that wonderfully rare violet hue… These two recipes are simple ways to celebrate two awesome vegetables. No frills, just subtle flavourings to let the veges shine and sing….

Quinoa & Sunflower Seed Pizza Bases

October 15, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

With only a handful of ingredients, these super-healthy pizza bases are light, thin & tasty, with a pleasing springy bite of elasticity. Quinoa delivers an easily digestible protein, while sunflower seeds are wonderfully versatile sources of vitamins E & B1, healthy fats & minerals. You can also make tiny biscuit-sized bases, load them with toppings & use them as canapés. The ‘dough’ stores well in the fridge for a couple of days – I usually make extra so I can have a quick repeat performance the next day….

Banana Cupcakes with Walnut Cinnamon Topping

October 9, 2015 by Libby Bird 2 Comments

I always get excited by bananas going freckly and darkening merrily in the fruit-bowl – they add such awesome sweetness for baking. This recipe is a banana cake adaptation from my grandmother’s ancient copy of the Edmonds Cookery Book – I’ve made it gluten & dairy free, with about a third of the sweeteners. You can easily serve the cupcakes on their own, or go a bit fancy and make the topping too. This easily adapts to make one large cake….

Hearty Lemony Lentils

October 1, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

I could’ve called these Awesomely Versatile Lentils, because that’s just what they are – awesome, versatile, hearty AND lemony. There’s something wonderfully grounding & robust about lentils, and having a batch ready to go in the fridge gives you an instant flavoursome protein hit to add to all sorts of meals. Stir the lentils through brown rice or quinoa, mix them with salad greens and chunky raw veges, put them in a toasted sandwich, or – and this is pretty spectacular – whip up a breakfast of champions: lentils on toast with a poached egg on top, bullseye!…

Cauli Cumin Fritters

September 24, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

These super-simple savoury snacks are quick to make, light & tasty to eat. The warming earthiness of cumin sparkles with the nuttiness of the cauliflower, all held together by a high-fibre chickpea batter (chickpea is an under-rated flour, I reckon – it’s cheap, protein-rich & brings a lovely depth to savoury dishes). Serve these fritters with a salad for a simple weekend lunch, or slice into wedges as a welcome addition to an antipasto platter. They’re even good in lunchboxes the next day.

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Kumara Lentil Soup with Ginger, Lemon & Cumin

September 16, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

This is thick, nourishing and zesty comfort food – cheap and easy to make, packed with flavour. The red lentils thicken the soup with their wonderful protein, the cumin adds warm, spiced undertones, while the ginger and lemon march in with a wallop of flavour. Enjoy this soup as is, or add a few handfuls of peas for a vibrant pop of colour.

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Lemon Honey Coconut Cake

September 13, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

Light, moist, zesty, not-too-sweet, flour-free & Paleo friendly! This cake is secretly drizzled with lemon juice & a little honey once it comes out of the oven, giving it a fresh burst of moisture & extra hit of flavour. You can also easily transform this recipe into cute little mini cakes which will be loved by all.

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Morning Mojo Smoothie

September 6, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

Chocolate thickshake for breakfast? Twist my rubbery arm, why don’t you! I don’t drink coffee that often so a wee hit of maca and cacao can get me hummin’ in all the right ways, without that jangly caffeinated feeling. My homegrown bananas don’t tend to be that sweet, so I add a wee bit of sweetener to help bring out the richness of the cacao.

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The Protein-Packed Tart of Green Goodness

August 13, 2015 by Libby Bird Leave a Comment

A big whack of veges bound lovingly with free-range eggs and salty feta, baked in a light protein-packed crust? Yeyah! This tart’s foundation is a simple, pleasing mix of almonds, chickpea and buckwheat, which unites deliciously with the creamy dreamy greenie filling. It’s not particularly fiddly to make but it’s not a quick rig either – put on a good jam, merrily lose yourself in the kitchen and you will be rewarded with a taste sensation, a high nutritional profile and – if you’re lucky – tasty leftovers to enjoy in your lunchbox later.

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