Angie's Recipes . Taste Of Home

Browse » Home » All posts

Tahini Puffed Quinoa Bars - Vegan, Gluten-Free

Thursday, February 22, 2018

If you adore classic puffed rice bars, then these sweet, chewy, and seedy puffed quinoa bars are for you too. Not only are these bars great for kids, they are perfect in your lunch-box for an extra energy boost during the day. They are vegan, naturally gluten free, super tasty and contain no refined white sugar.

180 g Tahini
250 g Maple syrup
100 g Puffed quinoa
200 g Sunflower seeds
200 g Pepitas
30 g Black sesame seeds
30 g White sesame seeds

Grease a 20cm x 30cm baking pan. Line base and sides with baking paper, extending paper 5cm above edges of pan.
Place tahini and maple syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes or until syrup has melted and mixture is combined.
Combine puffed quinoa, sunflower seeds, pepitas and sesame seeds in a bowl. Add tahini-syrup mixture. Working quickly, stir until combined. Spoon mixture into the prepared pan, pressing with the back of a spoon to level and compact. Refrigerate overnight or until set.
Cut into 16 - 20 bars. Store the rest in an airtight container in the fridge.

Read On 60 comments

Coconut Green Tea Tart - Dairy Free, Refined Sugar Free

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Similar 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
240 g Spelt pastry flour 10 g Green tea leaves 30 g White sesame seeds 1/3 tsp Salt 2 tbsp Erythritol granules 100 g Coconut oil, lightly softened 4-6 tbsp Ice water	2 Eggs, large 100 g Erythritol granules 1 tsp Vanilla essence 50 g Spelt pastry flour Pinch of salt 65 g Desiccated coconut 50 g Dried cherries

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!

Read On 59 comments

Onion Jam Spelt Bread Rolls

Thursday, February 08, 2018

These chewy yet soft golden dinner rolls are filled with a homemade onion walnut jam. They smell incredibly delicious and make the perfect accompaniment to a bowl of steaming hot soup or a hearty stew on a cold winter day.

7 g Dried yeast
2 tsp Coconut sugar
160 ml Buttermilk (or water), lukewarm
200 g Spelt bread flour
100 g Whole spelt flour
1/3 tsp Sea salt
2 tbsp Olive oil
180 g Onion jam, homemade or storebought
1 Egg, lightly beaten

Place yeast, sugar and warm buttermilk or water in a jug. Set aside in a warm place for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Add bread and whole spelt flour into a large mixing bowl. Stir in salt, yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix to form a soft dough. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough for 10 to 15 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
Place in a large, lightly greased bowl. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and set aside in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Using your fist, punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2 minutes or until smooth. Divide dough into 6 even portions. Roll each portion into a ball. Place on lightly floured oven tray. Set aside for 10 minutes to rise.
Meanwhile preheat the oven to 200C/400F. Grease one maxi muffin tray well with olive oil. Roll each portion of dough into an oval. Slice the dough 6 times all the way to the center of the dough. So you have 6 strips at the bottom. Place 30 grams of onion jam on upper side of the dough, then roll up to seal the filling. Coil the length of dough roll into a snail shape and place in the prepared muffin tray. Repeat with the remaining dough portions.
Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap. Set aside in a warm place for 30 to 40 minutes or until dough has almost doubled in size. Brush the top with egg. Bake for about 20 minutes. Turn rolls onto a wire rack to cool. Serve at room temperature.

Read On 61 comments

Blood Orange and Fennel Salad with Bacon Bits and Macadamia

Thursday, February 01, 2018

Refreshingly crunchy Romaine lettuce leaves, sweet tangy blood oranges, and fennel bulb with its unique mildly licorice-like flavour are topped with honey roasted macadamia nuts and crispy bacon bits, then dressed with black cumin oil and lemon juice.

4 Blood oranges
1 Fennel bulb, fronds reserved, trimmed, thinly sliced
50 g Bacon, finely diced
2 Baby romaine salad, separated
150 g Honey roasted macadamia nuts
1 tbsp Black cumin oil
1 tbsp Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt and pepper to taste

Peel and cut blood oranges into rounds or wedges. Set aside.
Strip the fronds from the stalks and finely slice the fennel bulb lengthways. Reserve the fronds for the garnish.
In a heavy large non-stick skillet, cook the bacon over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown. Transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels and cool slightly.
Separate the romaine salad leaves and arrange them in a serving platter. Scatter the fennel slices and top with blood orange, bacon bits and macadamia nuts.
Drizzle over the black cumin oil and lemon juice, then season. Garnish with the reserved fronds and serve.

Read On 59 comments

Harissa Carrot Ribbon Salad with Roquefort

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Create an amazing side dish with this simple carrot salad with blue cheese and fresh herbs. A simple vegetable peeler turns carrots into beautifully thin ribbons, then marinated in a hot, garlicky, lemony and mildly sweet dressing. Try it with roasted chicken, fish or even tofu if you prefer a meatless meal.

750 g Carrots, peeled into ribbons
2 tbsp Olive oil
50 g Harissa paste (homemade or storebought)
2 Garlic cloves, minced
Juice and zest of 1 organic lemon
1 tbsp Maple syrup
Sea salt to taste
Fresh herbs chopped
120 g Roquefort

With a vegetable peeler, thinly slice the carrots into long ribbons and place into a bowl.
Heat the olive oil in a small skillet. Add in the Harissa and minced garlic. Stir until fragrant. Add the lemon juice, maple syrup and salt and fry for another minute.
Pour the Harissa mixture over the carrots and toss well. Add the chopped herbs and Roquefort cheese. Allow to stand for 30 minutes and serve.

Read On 65 comments

Refined Sugar Free Spelt Banana Loaf with Streusel

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Use the natural sweetness of very ripe bananas to sweeten this delicious banana bread. It's perfect for those who are avoiding refined sugar. The thick streusel topping, lightly sweetened with coconut sugar, is an integral part of the banana bread, and provides a flavourful crunchy texture, so don't skip it.

Streusel Topping	Batter
150 g Whole spelt flour 80 g Coconut sugar Pinch of salt 1 tsp Vanilla extract 100 g Cold butter, diced	2 Very ripe large bananas, mashed 2 tbsp Pumpkin seed oil 190 g 3.5% Plain yoghurt 2 Eggs, medium 1 tsp Vanilla extract 150 g Whole spelt flour 100 g Almond flour 1 tsp Baking powder 1 tsp Baking soda 1 tsp Cinnamon powder 1/4 tsp Nutmeg powder Pinch of salt 100 g Raisins or chocolate chips

Combine flour, coconut sugar, and pinch of salt in a bowl. Add in vanilla and butter. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour mixture until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Store in the fridge until ready for use.
Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Lightly grease a 30-cm loaf pan and line with baking paper.
In a mixing bowl, mash the bananas and add in pumpkin seed oil, yoghurt, eggs and vanilla extract. Stir to combine. Sift in spelt flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt. Stir to combine. Fold in raisins or chocolate chips.
Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the surface with prepared streusel. Bake for about an hour or until a skewer inserted in centre of bread comes out clean. Stand in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack top-side up to cool completely.

Read On 54 comments

Tri-coloured Quinoa Rice Paper Rolls

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Create a simple, healthy and flavourful lunch with these rice paper rolls which are low-cal, low-fat and gluten-free. Use the roasted chicken and cooked tri-coloured quinoa leftovers to make this time-saving, delicious meal.

100 g Tri-coloured quinoa, rinsed
200 ml Water
1 tsp Gluten free tamari plus extra to serve
10 Rice paper sheets
200 g Leftover roasted chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 Sweet pepper, deseeded and thinly sliced
1 Fresh red chilli, thinly sliced diagonally
Fresh parsley, cilantro or mint leaves

Place quinoa and water in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer. Cook, occasionally stirring, for 10-12 minutes or until quinoa is tender. Cool slightly. Toss with the tamari.
Soak a sheet of rice paper wrapper in hot water for 10-20 seconds. Transfer to a clean tea towel to absorb excess water. Place a little of the quinoa in the middle of the rice paper. Top with sliced chicken, sweet pepper, chilli and fresh herb leaves.
Roll up firmly to enclose the filling. Cover with a slightly damp cloth to preven drying out. Repeat with remaining sheets. Continue with remaining rice paper and fillings. Serve with extra tamari, if desired.

Read On 71 comments

Vegan Persimmon Pear Salad with Walnuts

Thursday, January 04, 2018

Lamb’s lettuce (or arugula or baby spinach) combines perfectly with sweet juicy pears and crunchy walnuts in this simple classic winter salad. If you prefer, apples can be used instead of pears. This simple salad is complimentary to a variety of meat dishes or pan seared tempeh if you want to keep it vegan.


70 g Lamb’s lettuce (aka mâche or corn salad) 2 Pears, sliced 1 Small zucchini, sliced 1-2 Persimmon, sliced Handful of candied walnuts	50 ml Olive oil 15 ml Walnut oil 3 tbsp Red wine vinegar 1 tbsp Maple syrup 1 tsp Paprika flakes, mild 1 tsp Dijon mustard Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place corn salad, pear, zucchini, persimmon slices in a large serving platter.
Place olive oil, walnut oil, red wine vinegar, maple syrup, paprika flakes, and mustard in a screw-top jar. Secure the lid. Shake to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
Drizzle with dressing and gently toss to combine. Top with candied walnuts and serve immediately.

Read On 67 comments

Vegan Orange Cardamom Spelt Bread Rolls (Dairy-free, Egg-free, & Refined sugar-free)

Thursday, December 28, 2017

A slightly sweet, aromatic bread (sweetened with maple syrup and erythritol) flavored with the unique scent of cardamom and orange peel for the New Year or for a mid afternoon snack or lunch-box treat. You can bake this braided or in a cake pan. For a more traditional cardamom bread, use walnut instead of the raisin filling.

Dough	Filling
4 g Dried yeast 200 ml Coconut milk, warmed 1 tbsp Maple syrup 100 g Whole spelt flour 200 g Spelt bread flour 1 tsp Cardamom powder 1/3 tsp Fine sea salt 2 tsp Finely grated orange rind 75 g Coconut oil, melted 1 tbsp Hemp seeds, for topping, optional White chocolate, melted for topping, optional	150 g Raisins 100 ml Freshly squeezed orange juice 1 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder 1/2 tsp Cinnamon powder 3 tbsp Erythritol granules

The night before preparing the rolls, soak raisins in orange juice or rum in your refrigerator.
Whisk the dried yeast, coconut milk and maple syrup in a jug. Set aside for 10 minutes or until frothy.
Combine the flours, cardamom powder and salt in the mixing bowl of your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Make a well in centre. Add the yeast mixture, melted coconut oil, and orange rind. Stir at low speed until the ingredients roughly combined, about 3 minutes. Increase speed to medium, and knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
Place in a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside to let rise for 60-90 minutes or until doubled in size. Punch the dough down and let rest 10 minutes.
Combine cardamom, cinnamon and erythritol granules in a small bowl. Drain the soaked raisins and reserve 1 tablespoon of the soaking liquid.
Roll the dough out to approximately a 36cm x 24cm rectangle. Sprinkle the rectangle with the spice mixture and raisins.
Roll up, starting at the long side, and pinch edges firmly to seal. Cut the roll into 8 slices. Place the slices, cut side down, in a 26-cm round pan lined with parchment paper. Let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about an hour.
Preheat oven to 190C/375F. Brush the top with reserved soaking liquid and sprinkle the hemp seeds over. Bake for 25 minutes or until light golden brown. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over warm rolls. Enjoy!

Read On 62 comments

White Chocolate Coconut Ganache Cookie Cups

Thursday, December 21, 2017

White chocolate coconut ganache cookie cups made with a special spelt black sesame cookie dough and garnished with holiday sprinkles. You can use your favourite cookie dough and coconut cream also can be replaced with whipping cream.
Warmest thoughts and best wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. May peace, love, and prosperity follow you always.

Cookie Cups	White Chocolate Coconut Ganache
160 g Spelt flour 30 g Black sesame seeds, ground into powder 1/4 tsp Baking soda A large pinch of sea salt 110 g Butter, softened 50 g Coconut sugar 2 Egg yolks, room-temperature	1 tin / 400 ml Coconut milk 200 g White chocolate, chopped

Place spelt flour, black sesame powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Whisk to combine. Cream butter and coconut sugar until fluffy. Add in egg yolks, one at at time, beat until combined. Sift flour mixture over butter mixture. Using a wooden spoon, stir to combine.
Divide the dough into 24 portions and shape each into a ball. Place one ball into each muffin cup. Bake 12 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately use the bottom of a shot glass to press firmly down in the center to create a well. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then place on wire rack to cool completely.
Open the can of coconut milk and scoop the firm cream at the top into a saucepan. Bring it to a simmer. Roughly chop the white chocolate and place them in a mixing bowl. Pour in the hot coconut cream and and let stand for 5 to 10 minutes. Stir continuously until it is shiny, smooth, and completely melted. Set aside to cool thoroughly.
Beat the mixture until smooth and fluffy. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe the ganache into the cookie cups and if desired, garnish with sprinkles.