Pineapple, Matcha, and Puffed Teff Granola Wedges
Monday, November 23, 2020Give your granola bars a nutritious boost with matcha- a fine green tea powder, packed with antioxidants. These granola wedges are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free. Substitute your favorite dried fruit, nuts and/or seeds for the pumpkin seeds and/or dried pineapple in these granola bars. Puffed teff can be substituted with quinoa or amaranth pops too.
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- Preheat oven to 160C/320F. Combine rolled oats and pumpkin seeds on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes, stirring once or twice, until the oats are lightly toasted and have a nutty aroma. Remove and set aside to cool.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the maple syrup, almond butter, coconut oil, and vanilla paste. Whisk to combine.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooled oats and pumpkin seeds with the dried pineapple, puffed teff, sea salt, and matcha powder. Pour the almond butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir quickly to mix.
- Spread the mix into an 9-10 inch springform pan lined with plastic wrap or baking paper. Press down the mixture firmly. Place in the fridge for a couple hours to firm up, then remove from fridge and slice into wedges. Keep leftovers in the fridge for up two weeks.
Coffee Rubbed Chuck Eye Steak with Mango Salsa / Tomahawk with Lime Cilantro Butter
Tuesday, October 13, 2020Coated in a spiced coffee rub and roasted in oven turns this humble beef cut into something extraordinary. It's naturally gluten free, low carb and healthy! The spiced coffee rub and lime cilantro butter ensure that this bone-in thick cut Tomahawk ribeye cooks perfect medium rare with lots of flavour.
Spiced coffee rub is an easy way to bring a phenomenal flavour and texture to any cut of meat. The acidity of coffee grounds replicate tannins in wine, which work as perfect complements to both protein and fat. They soften the fat found in meat, making it more tender, juicy and flavourful.
Mango Salsa | Lime Cilantro Butter | |
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- Combine all spice ingredients to make a rub. Pat the chuck roast dry with kitchen paper, and rub melted tallow or olive oil into the roast. Evenly season the chuck roast with 2 tablespoons of rub. Store the rest of rub in a jar for up to a month. Cover the rubbed roast with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least two hours, but overnight is best.
- Put the diced mango, red onion, chilli, spring onion, and parsley or cilantro in a medium bowl. Toss with lime juice. Season to taste.
- Mash all the butter ingredients together, then wrap into a sausage shape in clingfilm and chill until ready for use.
- Remove the roast from the fridge and let sit 1 hour to come to room temperature, which will help them cook quickly and more evenly.
- Preheat oven to 230C/450F and place roast in a roasting pan in a sheet pan and roast for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 160C/320F, roast approximately 40 minutes until roast reaches an internal temperature of 57C/125F for medium rare doneness.
- Allow the chuck roast to rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve, sprinkled with a bit of salt flakes and mango salsa. Or cut the chilled butter into discs and serve on top of the rested steak.
Detox Nettle Green Tea Pullman Loaf
Monday, June 15, 2020Braided Loaf with the same dough
Unlike the classic Pullman bread (or pain de mie in French), this butter-enriched Pullman bread with detox nettle green tea and raisins is soft, tender and fluffy with a crisp golden crust. This bread is rather easy to make, but only takes slightly longer because I let the dough rise (2nd rise) in the fridge overnight so the flavours develop. This recipe is good enough for a 13x4-inch pullman pan, but mine is slightly smaller, so I weighted 750 grams of dough for the pan and use the rest to make 2 dinner buns. I have also baked a braided loaf with the same dough, and a lot more raisins.
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- Crumble the fresh yeast in the lukewarm milk in a bowl. Set aside for 10 minutes. Place plain flour, detox tea, sugar, and salt in the bowl of your stand mixer with a dough hook.
- Add in eggs and milk-yeast mixture. Mix on low for 3 minutes. Increase the speed to the second level and mix for about four minutes more. Next, add the softened butter one cube at a time. Once all the butter is in, knead again for 2 minutes until smooth and elastic and soft. Add in raisins and knead briefly.
- Remove the dough from the mixer and shape into a smooth ball. Lightly grease the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Leave to rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in volume. Turn out and punch the dough down. Cover again and let rise in the fridge for 6 hours or overnight.
- Next day, remove the dough from the fridge and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. Gently knead the dough so it became smooth and soft. At this point, I divide the dough into 750 grams for the pullman (26x12x9cm) and the rest I shaped into 2 dinner buns. I have also baked a braided loaf with the same dough, but a lot more raisins.
- Roll out the dough into a rectangle, and roll it up just like you do the jelly roll and pinch the seam together. Place into the greased pullman pan with seam side down. Cover with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours, but not more than 18 hours. The dough should reaches about 1/2 inch from the top of the pan. Next day remove the bread from the fridge and allow it to warm to room temperature while waiting for your oven to preheat. (Or you can just leave the bread in a warm place to proof until it reaches about 1/2 inch from the top of the pan. This could take from 90-120 minutes.) Cover the loaf with the pan lid.
- Preheat the oven 190/375F. Place the loaf pan on the center rack in the hot oven. Bake the pullman sandwich loaf for about 40 minutes until nicely golden brown. Remove the loaf from the pan and let cool on a wire rack. Allow the bread rest for at least an hour before you cut into slices.
Stuffed Braided Loaf with 3 Fillings
Monday, June 01, 2020Using plain flour and whole spelt flour |
Using just plain wheat flour |
A soft, tender braided bread filled with matcha-tahini, nutella (next time I am going to try a poppy seed filling for a better colour contrast) and cherry jam. It might look tricky and complicated to make, but it's actually very simple. Braiding and 3 different fillings help create a impressive-looking loaf that is easy to make! You can bake this with just plain wheat flour or use a mix of plain flour and whole spelt for a nuttier flavour.
Dough | Fillings |
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- Warm up the milk and butter in a saucepan over low heat until the butter melted. Set aside to cool the mixture briefly.
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix together the flour, dried yeast, sugar, salt and vanilla powder. Add in milk-butter mixture and the egg, reserving a tablespoon for the topping. Stir at slow speed for a couple of minutes until the dough comes together. Increase the speed and knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
- Turn out the dough and shape into a ball. Lightly grease the mixing bowl with a bit of olive oil. Return the dough into the bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and set aside at a warm place for about 1 hour until it's double in size.
- Mix the honey tahini with matcha powder until well combined. Grease a 26x12cm loaf pan and set aside.
- Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to a 45cmx45cm square. Divide it into 3 even pieces, 15cmx45cm. Spread each rectangle with a different filling, leaving 2cm free edge of dough free from the filling. Roll each into a log and pinch the edges together.
- Braid 3 logs and form into a braided loaf by bringing two ends together under the loaf. Place it into the prepared loaf pan. Cover with towel and let rise about one hour.
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Brush the bread with the reserved egg. Sprinkle the top with raw sugar if using.
- Bake the bread in the middle of hot oven for about 30 minutes until golden-brown. Bread should have a nice hollow sound when thumped on the bottom. Cool on a rack for at least one hour before slicing.
Using just plain wheat flour |
Using plain flour and whole spelt flour |
Chocolate Pear Cake
Tuesday, December 17, 2019Chocolate and pears make an excellent combination in this irresistibly moist, rich and indulgent cake. It's mildly sweetened with a mix of coconut sugar and erythritol. A perfect cake to entertain or end a satisfying dinner.
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- Grease and line a 10-inch / 26cm springform pan with parchment paper. Sift the cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and spelt flour into a mixing bowl. Stir in ground hazelnut. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
- Cream the softened butter, coconut sugar and erythritol granules together for 5 minutes with a pinch of salt, then beat in the eggs one by one and vanilla extract.
- Add in half of the flour mixture, roughly stir to combine. Pour in whipping cream and mix briefly. Now stir in the rest of the flour mixture until combined and smooth.
- Scrape the batter into the cake tin and level the surface. Peel the pears and place them in the batter. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Check the cake with a skewer. If it comes out clean it is ready, if not give it a few more minutes in the oven.
- Drizzle with melted chocolate and garnish with the sprinkles if desired.
Overnight Green Tea Spelt Loaf with Streusel
Monday, October 01, 2018I am a tea drinker and always try to incorporate tea, either black or green, oolong is my favourite though, into my baked goods whenever possible. This overnight spelt loaf, lightly sweetened with coconut sugar, is soft and tender with a buttery crumble topping--perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea snack.
Dough | Streusel |
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- Place all the dough ingredients in a mixer and mix everything until you have a smooth, stiff dough. Cover and leave it at room-temperature to rest for 2 hours.
- Gently knead down the dough and shape into a loaf to fit a standard-size loaf pan lined with baking paper. Cover and leave overnight to rise in the fridge.
- The loaf will have risen slightly after 8-10 hours. Take it out of the fridge and put it somewhere warm to carry on rising until it reaches the rim of the pan, 1 to 3 hours.
- Place all the streusel ingredients in a bowl and rub everything together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place the streusel on the top of bread.
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Bake the loaf for about 40 minutes until nicely golden brown. Remove and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes before turn it out to cool completely.
Coconut Green Tea Tart - Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free
Thursday, February 15, 2018Similar to a bakewell tart but made with desiccated coconut flakes instead of almonds, this easy to make tart is delicious right out of the oven or cold. The wholegrain crust is made with a mix of whole spelt flour, green tea leaves and sesame seeds and has a mild sweet flavour and just the right consistency.
Coconut Oil Crust with Green Tea Leaves | Coconut Cherry Filling, adopted from here |
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- Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F. In a large mixing bowl, add in the spelt flour, green tea leaves, sesame seeds, salt, and erythritol granules. Whisk to combine. Add in the lightly softened coconut oil and rub the coconut oil into the flour-tea-mixture until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add ice water a couple of tablespoons at a time, and mix just until dough begins to come together.
- Turn dough out onto a work surface and divide into two portions. Wrap one portion in a plastic wrap and store in the freezer for later use. Form another portion of dough into a flattened disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour or until firm.
- Roll the pastry dough between two sheets of baking paper until the dough is about 2mm thick and large enough to fit a 22cm tart pan. Remove the sheet of dough from the baking paper and gently lift and coax the dough into the pan. Lightly press the dough into the bottom and side of the pan. Chill for 30 minutes and line the crust with baking paper and fill with enough dried beans to cover the bottom and side of the crust.
- Bake the crust for about 10 minutes or until any visible dough is slightly cooked. Remove the beans and baking paper. Bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Reduce oven temperature to 180C/350F.
- To make filling, whisk eggs, erythritol granules, and vanilla essence until combined. Fold in spelt flour, pinch of salt and coconut flakes.
- Sprinkle the dried cherries into the tart shell and cover with the coconut filling. Smooth the surface and bake for 30 minutes, or until set and golden brown. Cool to room temperature.
February 16. is the first day of the New Year in Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. This year falls on Friday, February 16th 2018, beginning a year of the Dog. Those born in the Year of the Dog (1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006) are said to be very kind and loyal to friends. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you good health, good luck and much happiness throughout the year. - 狗年大吉, 恭祝健康、幸运,新年快乐!
Fresh Fig Freekeh Chai Bread (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan)
Friday, September 19, 2014Freekeh (green spelt), chai, coconut oil and fresh figs come together in this moist, rustic whole grain quick bread that's easy to make and very delicious. You can make this in a muffin form and top each with a sliced fig or nuts.
Fresh Fig Freekeh Chai Bread (Dairy Free, Egg Free, Vegan)
inspired by this
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- Place chai mix in a large cup. Pour the freshly boiled water directly over the mix and brew approximately 5 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Line a standard loaf pan with parchment paper. Whisk the ground freekeh, baking powder, salt and raw sugar.
- In another mixing bowl, stir together the brewed chai and coconut oil until well combined. Add in flour mixture and whisk until the batter is smooth. Fold in chopped fresh figs.
- Pour the batter into the prepare baking pan. Place the fig slices on the top of the batter and press them down gently. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Remove from oven and cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. Dust with icing sugar if desired.