This is a tribute to Ivan, my twinkly eyed, wild white curly-haired godfather. He would delight me on many a birthday by baking a fresh loaf of ‘elioti’, the beautifully rustic olive bread he learned to make while living in Greece. Golden & crisp on the outside, while slick & moist with olives & onions inside, I used to savour the oily saltiness with great relish. I set out to create a gluten free version & I’m delighted to share the result….
Salted Peanut Choc Chip Cookies
Chunky, nutty, vegan, spiked with chocolate chips & salty peanuts! These little cookies are quick to make, full of goodness from nuts & seeds – and of course, chocolate is the ultimate goodness, right?…
Wild Rice & Quinoa Loaf
No yeast, no raising agents, no oil, just a mountain of seeds & pseudo-grains united in golden loaf harmony! As you can see, it’s dense, chunky, hearty, filling & nutritious, a veritable door-stop of superfoods: chia, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed……
Grain-free Coconut Raisin Loaf
This is a soft & springy little loaf, gently sweetened with a touch of cinnamon, citrus zest and a hearty sprinkling of raisins. No sugars of any kind. I love it toasted, then served with a smear of coconut yoghurt & berry jam….
Soft & Light Grain-free Bread
Just what the name says! Soft & light, satisfying & nourishing, this lovely little loaf is studded with seeds & packed with goodness. It’s soft & springy when fresh, slices like a champ, toasts beautifully & even freezes well. I love the simplicity of this recipe – mix everything in a big bowl then bake it. No waiting round for yeast to rise, no blender or blitzing, just the enjoyable art of mixing by hand….
Toasted Almond Cakes with Creamy Almond Frosting
These are light & creamy little cakes with a hint of sweetness. Smooth coconut milk & the lightness of brown rice flour & almond meal are a lovely complement to the crunch of toasted almonds. These are wonderfully low fructose treats – a smidge of maple, alongside bursts of sweetness from the raisins.
I’ve included two frosting options – one using ricotta, the other dairy-free – both creamy & delicious, the perfect compliment to these delicate wee cakes….
Super Simple Plum Tart
I impulse-bought a big box of organic omega plums – beautifully dark-fleshed with enough acidity in their speckled skins to make you shudder with tart delight. So for the last couple of weeks, we’ve been munching merrily on plums, but our family favourite is this super simple pudding (is it a tart? Is it a cake? You decide) The first time I created it, we wolfed the lot in one guzzly sitting. The zing of the plums is offset by a very basic & not-too-sweet soft base….
The Protein-Packed Tart of Green Goodness
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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Super-Seed and Rice Loaf
“I couldn’t live without bread” is the cry from many non-coeliacs. Well here’s a nutritious loaf to delight every wheat-eater. Dense, hearty and chunky, this is a gorgeously hard-core bread that packs a protein punch. It’s moist, nourishing, slices well, and contains no yeasts or sodas….
Crunchy Caraway Crackers
Grain-free, crunchy, laden with good oils and protein, these crackers are perfect on-the-go snacks, lunchbox fillers, cheese-board champions, chips-alternatives…lovely on their own, delicious with a dip. Caraway isn’t a spice I use often, but I’m loving the hints of aromatic anise in these crispy little crackers.
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