Kitchen capers.....

After a night of good, soaking rain we awake to a winter's day snug under a blanket of cloud, drizzle deepens the colours of the landscape and I decide to try my hand at a couple of cooking ideas that have been tormenting me! :)

First up is an egg and processed sugar free wholemeal chocolate & banana bread based on a recipe found here.

Health food made tasty?

Egg free Wholemeal & Chocolate Banana Bread

Dry Ingredients:
2 1/4 cups wholemeal plain ( All Purpose) flour
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder ( unsweetened)
3/4 teaspoon bi-carb soda ( Baking Soda)
1/4 teaspoon salt


Wet Ingredients:
1/4 cup plain yoghurt ( could be replaced with non-dairy)
1/4 cup maple syrup ( could be replaced with honey)
1/3 cup oil
1 teaspoon vanilla 
3 overripe bananas-mashed well
1 tablespoon psyllium husks -mixed with 1 cup water.

Method:
Preheat fan-forced oven to 170c. Grease & line a large loaf pan.
Mix together dry ingredients.

Mix wet ingredients together really well-you may need to "squish" the psyllium to blend with the wet ingredients.

 Add wet ingredients to dry and mix together- if you think the mix is too dry then just add a little more water...it should be a "sticky" mix but not really wet.

Place in pan, smooth top and cook until skewer inserted in middle comes out clean-approx. 30 - 40 mins.

 Leave in pan for 5 or 10 mins then turn out and cut the end off to taste.......

 I think that slices of this bread will toast well for breakfast. :) Next time I'm going to add cinnamon or cardamom to the dry ingredients.



Next up was quinoa. I love the taste & texture of quinoa but have never prepared it before. After a little research on the Net I decided to use my rice cooker and prepare it for my lunch.

Sorry about the fuzzy photos!

Tomato, cheese and spinach quinoa
Serves two as a main.
 
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 tin diced tomato
1 good handful of freshly picked and chopped spinach
Favourite cheese-chopped or shredded
Herbs (fresh or dried)

Method:
Place quinoa in rice cooker and pour over 1 3/4 cup water.
 Swish around until mixed. Put lid on and set rice cooker to cook.

When cooked take lid off and allow to steam dry for a minute or two. Turn rice cooker off and pour tomato over, throw in spinach, herbs and most of the cheese. Stir well.

Place in bowl, top with rest of cheese and devour!



Whilst in the kitchen I had a startling visitor when I went to wash the dishes......

 

maybe it's a sign that I should give up doing the dishes?