Paleo chocolate chip cookies - grain free, dairy free, nut free and egg free!

Paleo chocolate chip cookies - grain free, dairy free, nut free and egg free! 

These bad boys are perfect for school lunches as they are nut free and healthy!!!

I made these in my Thermomix but a food processor should do a good job too.

170g sunflower seeds

1. Mill on speed 10 for 10 seconds.

10g coconut oil (or in my case i used macadamia oil)
30g cacao nibs
40g maple
1 tsp organic vanilla (alternatively you could grind a vanilla bean with the seeds in the first step)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda

2. Mix on reverse and a medium speed until combined.

3. Roll into balls and bake on a lined tray in a moderate oven until golden brown.

No bake - Guilt free - Raw brownie: Gluten, dairy, egg and grain free!

No bake - Guilt free - Raw brownie: Gluten, dairy, egg and grain free!

Well, my Hubby has been so good, avoiding his intolerances and really making the effort to eat only whole foods! I am very proud of him. I asked him what he wanted me to bake and he said something sweet.  So this is what i came up with.  

Its sweet but you cant eat too much at a time or it gets sickly :( So a small piece of this per day should be all he can eat and i wouldnt want him to eat any more in one day.  So a bit sneaky i know...but what can i say? I have his best interests at heart!

Base

1 cup walnuts
1 cup macadamias/cashews
Water

1. Soak the nuts in water for at least 6 hours. I soaked mine overnight.
2. After this time, drain and shake excess water out.

55g organic sultanas
100g organic dates (de-seeded)
1 tsp vanilla
30g cacao powder

3. In TM or FP, blend well on speed 7 for around 7 seconds.  You can blend it longer, on higher speed, if you want the base to be of a finer consistency. I left ours abit chunky.
4. Line a square cake tin with baking paper and squash the base mix into the tin.

Chocolate topping

20g cacao butter

5. Chop for 5 seconds on speed 8. Wipe down side of bowl.
6. Melt butter for 2-3 minutes, 100 degrees on speed 3-4. 

30g cacao powder
80g raw organic honey

7. Once butter is completely melted, add the powder and honey and mix on speed 3-4, for 1 minute or until combined.
8. Pour topping over base and use spatula to cover the base with the chocolate mix.
9. Put in fridge for 2 hours and then enjoy!

Nut Free Museli bars - also, egg, dairy, grain and gluten free!

Another one for the school lunch box....Nut Free Museli bars - also, egg, dairy, grain and gluten free!

150g sunflower seeds
150g pepitas

1. Blitz these on speed 7 in TM or FP, for a few seconds. You want the seeds to be partially chopped, you dont want it like flour.

1 tsp cinnamon

2. Add the cinnamon to the bowl and mix until well combined

110g honey

3. Add the honey and heat on 100 degrees for 2 minutes on speed 3.

4. Pour into a lined cake tin and bake for about 40-50 minutes or until golden brown.  My batch were cooked for about 50 minutes and when cooled were hard but not too hard.  If you wanted a softer museli bar, try cooking it for a shorter period.

No Bake Carob Seed Balls - grain, gluten, egg, nut, dairy free!

No Bake Carob Seed Balls - grain, gluten, egg, dairy free!

These are just too yummy!! These are a lunchbox treat for my Daughter, so therefore has to be nut free, for school.

100g pepitas

100g sunflower seeds

120g organic dates

15g organic carob powder

1. Blitz all ingredients together well on high speed in TM or FP.

1 tsp organic vanilla

Water

2. Add vanilla and blitz.

3. Add a little amount of water at a time and blitz again.  You want it to be a 'doughey' consistency so that you can roll the mix into balls.  Add water until you reach this consistency.

4. Roll into balls and store in air tight container in fridge.

Grain free granola - also dairy, coconut, egg and sugar free

Grain Free Granola - also dairy, egg, coconut and sugar free

Recently i discovered that i am intolerant to eggs. I'm going to miss them terribly as they were such a consistent part of my daily diet, but it wont be forever. Anyways....so i am now forced to come up with new egg free breakfast ideas and recipes to ensure i still get enough protein to start my day.

I made chia pudding to go with the granola you see above. I did this by allowing some chia seed to soak in some macadamia milk until it was at pudding consistancy, i didnt measure, just added and allowed to soak, stirring periodically over 5 minutes.

I made my macadamia milk by soaking about 100g of macadamia (unsalted) in water overnight and then blitzing in my Thermomix on speed 10 for about 30 seconds.  I didnt need to strain it. You can use a food processor in place of the Thermomix if necessary.

Granola

220g almonds
90g walnuts
140g macadamia's
50g sunflower seeds

1. I put all these in the TM and blitzed them on speed 7 until they were chopped but not milled.  I like my granola crunchy:)

50g maple syrup
80g macadamia oil (you can use coconut oil if you prefer, i cant tolerate coconut oil, so i used macadamia)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp himalayan salt

2. I added the above ingredients to the TM and used the reverse function (so not to mill the chopped nuts and seeds) and i mixed on speed 3-4 until it was all combined.  It is ready when it resembles a crumbly mix.

3. I then lined two biscuit trays and scattered the mix across the trays.

4. I baked it for about 30 minutes in total (wasnt timing) and i stired it once before baking it again.  Cook it until its well browned but not burnt.  It is normal to have chunky bits in the mix.

5. Once cooled completely, store it in a air tight container and use as needed. 

6. Serve with berries, chia pudding, yoghurt, whatever your heart desires:)

PS: You can also add some dried fruit, shredded coconut, cacao nibs for a different flavor.

I absolutely was blown away with how well this turned out, i will be eating this on a regular basis.

Home-made Laundry & Dishwashing Powders - All BORAX FREE

I decided it was about time that i had a go at making some laundry powder and dishwasher powder.  I think i remember making this goal in January, but at least i got it done before the year is out! I was determined not to let it roll over into 2014, as a job left un-done. 

The cost of living is going up and who really knows what they put in these products that we use everyday in our homes, around our children, so i figured why not try to cut unnecessary costs at the same time and remove some unnecessary toxins from our home. 

So i got to and i found some on-line recipes - many of which had borax as the main ingredient.  I chose not to use borax in mine, so my search continued and the ones i liked the best were these ones.  

http://www.notsomodern.com/2013/02/borax-free-powdered-laundry-detergent.html 
http://myhealthygreenfamily.com/blog/wordpress/homemade-borax-free-dishwasher-detergent-with-secret-ingredient/

Recipes from above sites:

Laundry Powder - Borax Free

1 1/2 cup baking soda                                  (500gm, used 330gm)
1 1/2 cup washing soda                                (1kg, used 360gm)
1/2 cup epson salts                                      (1kg, used 110gm)
2 tbsp cource rock salt                                  (1 kg, i used maybe 5gm)
A few drops of tea tree oil which i had already

I put all the ingredients in a large container and shook them up.  Using a large container give the ingredients plenty of room to mix.  Then i just stored it in that container.

The cost of this mix worked out to be $3.82.  The recipe says you get 58 loads out of it, which works out to be $0.7 per load.  Compared to Surf at $0.14 and Aldi's Alamat of $0.13 per load.  This works out to be almost half of what you would pay at aldi!! Not to mention fewer chemicals.

Dishwashing powder - Borax free

2 cups washing powder                            (1kg, i used 480gm)
1/2 citric acid                                          (2x75g = 140, i used 115gm)
1/2 cup rock salt                                     (1kg, i used 130gm)

I put all the ingredients in a large container and shook them up.  Using a large container give the ingredients plenty of room to mix.  Then i just stored it in that container.

The cost of this mix worked out to be $5.13.  I measured it out and i would get 22 washes out of this batch, keeping in mind though that i havent used it in the dishwasher to see how effective it is, so i might get more or less out of this mix. I compared this with Aldi's Logix dishwasher tablets which is $0.25 per wash/tab. There is a $0.2c saving per load which (assuming you get 22 loads) would work out to be  only a $0.44 saving.  This is a perfect case where you have to decide if you are willing to pay the extra $0.44 and buy it off the shelf, or if you want to know that the products within your home are safe and non-toxic.

PS: i got all my ingredients from woolworths to save some time in shopping around. 

PPS: i also havent tried my new supplies out yet, so its unforseen as to if they are effective or not.

Peanut Butter Blondies - gluten free!

Peanut Butter Blondies - gluten free!

I don't cook this often, but it is Hubby's favourite and he gets it all to himself!

80g TM made butter

140g brown sugar

80g TM peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1. Combine all ingredients in TM or FP and mix on medium speed until combined.

140g gluten free flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp aluminium free baking soda

2. Add to TM or FP and mix on medium speed, ensuring all ingredients combine well.

3. Pour into a lined square cake tin.

Extra peanuts

4. Sprinkle peanuts ontop of the uncooked blondie and push them gently into the mix, so half of the peanuts are ontop of blondie and the bottom half of them are submerged within the mix.

5. Bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Paleo Vanilla Muffins - grain, dairy, gluten free!

Paleo Vanilla Muffins - grain, dairy, gluten free!

410g almonds

1. Mill almonds on high speed in TM or FP and set aside.

2 eggs

45g macadamia oil

150g maple syrup

1 tablespoon organic vanilla 

1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

50g almond milk/water

2. Add all above ingredients (except milled almonds) to TM or FP and process on medium speed, ensuring all ingredients are well combined.

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

1/2 tsp aluminium free baking soda

3. Add almond meal and mix on medium-high speed for 1 minute, ensuring all ingredients are combined.

4. Pour into silicon muffin cases and bake in moderate oven for 30 minutes, or when tops are crusty and golden brown and skewer comes out clean.

Banana & Cacao Chip Cake - gluten, grain, dairy free!!

Banana & Cacao Chip Cake - gluten, grain, dairy free!!

140g raw cacao beans (or use cacao nibs & add them in step 6)

1. Add the beans to the Thermomix or food processor and blitz on speed 7 for 2 seconds. Remove and set aside.

360g raw activated almonds (or use almond meal)

2. Add almonds to TM/FP and blitz on speed 9 for 15 seconds.

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp almuminium free baking soda

3. Add these to TM/FP and mix well on speed 5 for 10 seconds.

40g oil of choice (i used almond oil)

60g maple syrup

3 large eggs

1 tbls vanilla extract

4. Whisk these together in a seperate bowl and once mixed thoroughly, add them to the TM/FP.

5. Mix it well on speed 6 for 20 seconds.

3 bananas (fresh or frozen)

6. Add the cacao chips and bananas (i used frozen) and mix this on speed 7 for 20 seconds.

7. Pour into a lined cake tin and bake for 40 minutes.

8. Allow cake to cool for 1 hour before serve.

Red Dip - gluten, dairy, grain, egg free!

Red Dip - gluten, dairy, grain, egg free!

I just threw this together, and to my amazement the kids loved it! Probably more because of the colour than the taste, but very happy either way!

1 1/2 ripe avocado

1/4 large fresh beetroot (peeled and chopped roughly)

4 leaves of basil

1. Put all ingredient in Thermomix or food processor and blitz on speed 9, wiping down bowl and blitzing several times.

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

2. Add salt and insert butterfly or whipping attachment if using food processor, and whip on mdm speed (speed 4) until its smooth enough for you.

Serve with crackers or vege sticks!

Macadamia & Spearmint Ice Cream - dairy, grain, gluten free!

Macadamia & Spearmint Ice cream

Not only is this easy to make but its also soooooo yummy.

I made this in my Thermomix but if you have a food processor you can make it too! I have only made this once, so my recipe may be abit vague, but you will get the idea!

1.5 cups macadamias (i forgot to measure in grams)
1.5 cups filtered water
80g honey

1. Soak the macadamias in water overnight

Put the macadamias and water straight into TM bowl and add honey. Blitz on high speed for 30 seconds.

10 drops spearmint essential oil (you could add more depending on taste

2. Add butterfly (or attachment to your blender, to whip the ice cream). Whip on speed 4 for 1 minute.

3. Pour into glass pyrex dish and freeze until set.

You could add choc chips or cacao nibs for a different effect!

Crunchy Cinnamon Cookies - grain free, gluten free, dairy free

Crunchy Cinnamon Cookies - 

grain free, gluten free, dairy free

130g Almonds

80g Macadamias

35g Pumpkin seeds

35g Sunflower seeds

1. Chop them.  I did this in the Thermomix, by using turbo x 5.

75g Raisins

2. Add raisins and mix on reverse on low speed, until combined.

95g Macadamia oil

2 egg yolks (you may be able to use whole egg, but Mr 1 is intolerant to egg white, hence i only used the yolks - you may need to add flaxmeal to thicken if you use whole egg, or cut it down to 1 egg)

75g honey

10g cinnamon

3. Add remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly until ingredients are combined. (i used reverse function)

4. Put spoonfuls onto lined tray and bake in moderate oven until browned. 

5. Remove from oven and allow to cool, they will harden.

Lemon slice - gluten, grain, dairy free

Lemon slice - gluten, grain, dairy free

BASE
160g almonds
130g macadamia nuts

1. Add to Thermomix (or food processor) and chop on speed 6, for 8 seconds. You want the mix to be chopped but chunky.

55g honey
40g macadmai oil
2 eggs
Flaxmeal (if needed)

2. Mix on reverse, speed 5 for 10 seconds. If mix is too runny (which can happen if you choose to use different oils), just add flax meal to thicken.

3. Pour into a greased rectangular pyrex dish. 

4. Blind bake in moderate oven until golden brown. 

5. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.

FILLING
6 eggs
160g honey
1 cup lemon juice
65g macadamia oil

1. In Thermomix, add the above ingredients and cook for 7 minutes at 90 degrees on speed 4.  Alternatively, you can use a stove.  You just need these to be combined and thickened to the consistency of lemon butter.

2. Pour filling onto base and refrigerate.  Or if your like me and couldn't wait to try it, put it in freezer until filling is set.

Paleo Brownie - GF, DF, grain free and guilt free!

Paleo Brownie - 

GF, DF, grain free and guilt free!

480g nut butter (i made mine in my Thermomix)
2 eggs
310g honey
45g cacao

1. Mix this on speed 6 for 20 seconds.  If using a food processor, use a medium speed until combined.

1/2 tsp himalayan salt
1 tsp baking soda

2. Mix on speed 6 for 20 seconds.

1 banana

3. Mix on speed 3-4 for 10 seconds.

130g fresh blueberries

4. Mix in on reverse, speed 3 for 10 seconds.
5. Pour into a large lined tin and bake in moderate oven until cooked thoroughly.

Non-Toxic Homemade Toothpaste

Non-Toxic Homemade Toothpaste

1 1/4 tbls powdered stevia

3 tbls bicarb (aluminium free)

3 tbls coconut butter (oil)

1. Mix together in a small bowl until combined and lump free.

50 drops spearmint oil

2. Mix in the spearmint oil, ensuring the mix is free of clumps. 

3. Store in an air tight glass jar.  Its now ready to use.  If you find that its not sweet enough or doesn't have enough flavour, increase stevia or spearmint oil. This mix can be doubled if necessary. It does take abit of getting used to as its not full of flavours and things that store bought toothpaste is, this obviously affects the flavour, however, it does leave teeth, feeling very clean, which lets face it, should be the main priority!

Non Toxic Bathroom Cleaner

Non Toxic Bathroom Cleaner

We know that the chemicals that are in our store bought cleaning products can be detrimental to our health and that of our children.  Asthmatics and people who have sensitive airways would especially benefit from using a natural alternative to the harsh store bought products, that we don't only breathe in, but absorb (to some extent) through our skin. My 4 1/2 Daughter loves to help me clean, and i don't hesitate to give her some cleanser and a scourer and put her hard to work, because its doing her no harm and she's helping me! 

I use this on my bathroom tiles, baths, bathroom sinks, kitchen sinks, laundry sinks etc. It leaves the tiles so clean and smelling fresh! Better yet its so cheap to make!

1 cup of baking soda
Few drops of tea tree oil
Liquid washing up detergent.

Basically, you put the baking soda in a plastic container.  I use a old honey tub which is perfect size.  I add the baking soda and tea tree oil, then i add small amounts of detergent and mix until it forms a consistency to that of frosting.  Then i store it in that container until its needed.  I have one tub in the kitchen and one upstairs in the bathroom.

Paleo Carrot Cake with Nut Butter Frosting - gluten, dairy, egg, grain free!

Paleo Carrot Cake with Nut Butter Frosting - gluten, dairy, egg, grain free!

Now this is an amazing cake! Not sickly like the store bought carrot cakes, and much healthier too.

450g almonds

1 tsp Himalayan rock salt

1 tsp bicarb

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1.    Mill almonds on speed 10 for 30 seconds, then add the other dry ingredients and mix on speed 7 for 20 seconds. Set aside.   (This is when having two TM bowls comes in handy)

240g carrots

2.    Mill carrots on speed 6 for 6 seconds.

50g almond oil

120g maple syrup

5 tbls chia seed, soaked in 15 tbls water

3.    Combine all ingredients to the one bowl (except the walnuts). Mix on speed 6 for 60 seconds, assisting in stirring and wiping the sides of bowl down as needed.

90g chopped walnuts

4.    Add walnuts to mix and mix on reverse, until combined.

5.    Bake in moderate oven until cooked through and scewer comes out clean.  Mine took 110 minutes to cook.

FROSTING

Once cake is cooled, make the frosting like so...

160g home made nut butter

110g maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla essence

10g flaxmeal (optional)

1. Combine all ingredients. Put butterfly in Thermomix and beat the mix for 1 minute on speed 4. Depending on the consistency of the nut butter, you might need more or less flax meal.

2. Lather cake in frosting and enjoy!

Cinnamon Seed Bars – gluten, dairy, egg and grain free!

Cinnamon Seed Bars – gluten, dairy, egg and grain free!

50g macadamia's

1.   Chop macadamia's in Thermomix or Food processor, on speed 7 for 4 seconds.  Set aside.  (This is when having two TM bowls comes in handy)

50g pepitas

270g sesame seeds

2.    Add seeds to bowl and roast on reverse, speed 2, on 70 degrees for 60 seconds.

1 tsp cinnamon

3.         Mix on reverse, speed 5 until combined.

260g honey

4.         Add honey and mix until combined on reverse, speed 3 for 25 seconds.

5.         Bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

Thermomix Spaghetti Bolognaise - dairy, gluten and egg free!

Thermomix Spaghetti Bolognaise - dairy, gluten and egg free!

1 onion

1 garlic clove

1 zucchini

1 large celery stick

1 carrot (optional)

1. Chop these roughly and put into the TM bowl.  Blitz them on speed 6 for 6 seconds.  

50g oil of choice

2. Add oil and sauté on 3 minutes at 100 degrees on speed 1.

500g grass-fed (finished) beef mince

3. Add mince.  Break up the mince initially by hitting turbo a few times until it starts to fall apart in the bowl.  Then cook this for 10 minutes on reverse, speed soft.

400g tomato purée (either tinned or home made)

2 tbsp TM vegetable stock

Salt and pepper to taste

4. Add the rest and cook for 15 minutes, on varoma, reverse and speed soft.

This recipe was derived from the Bolognaise Sauce (RAGU) on page 64 of the Everyday Cookbook.  We don't eat bacon and i would prefer not to use the wine, hence the new version.

Egg Free Almond Bread - also gluten, dairy and grain free!

Egg Free Almond Bread - also gluten, dairy and grain free!

This is a derivative of the previous Almond bread recipe, but this time catering for Egg intolerance.


410g almonds

1. Add almonds into Thermomix (or food processor) and mill on speed 10 for 20 seconds.

2 teaspoons baking powder

2. Add in baking powder and mix thoroughly.

4 tablespoons organic chia seeds soaked in 12 tablespoons of water 

3. Allow to soak for 3 minutes, stirring every minute or so.  Add this when its consistency is like egg consistency.

100g macadamia oil
75g raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla essence

4. Add the wet ingredients and mix on moderate speed til well combined. If the mix is thicker than a cake mix, add some water.

110g water (optional)

5. Pour mix into lined load tin and bake in moderate oven until skewer comes out clean.

NOTE: This would be delicious toasted, with a lather of home made nut butter.

Almond Bread - gluten, dairy, grain free!

Almond Bread - gluten, dairy, grain free!

410g almonds

1. Put almonds into Thermomix (or food processor) and mill on speed 10 for 20 seconds.

2 tsp gluten free baking powder

2. Add and mix well.

4 free range eggs

100g macadamia oil

75g raw honey

1 tsp vanilla essence

110g water

60g flaxmeal

3. Combine remaining ingredients and mix on high speed until thoroughly mixed.

4. Pour into lined load tin and bake for 45-60 minutes in a moderate oven, until a skewer comes out clean and top is browned.

NOTE: This would be nice toasted with home made nut butter! YUMMM...

Anzac Biscuits minus the Gluten! Also nut and egg free!

Anzac Biscuits minus the Gluten! Also nut and egg free!

Another one for an occasional treat.

120g organic butter
50g maple syrup

1. Melt these and mix together well.  I did this in my Thermomix for 1 minute on 60 degrees on speed 2.

1 tsp bicarb (Alum free)

2. Add the bicarb to TM or FP (Food processor) and mix well for 10 seconds.

100g quinoa flakes
150g gluten free flour
70g rapadura or brown sugar

3. Add the dry ingredients and mix on reverse, speed 5 for 20-30 seconds

10g water (optional)

If the mix is too dry and not holding together, add the water and mix thoroughly.

4. Roll into balls and flatten onto lined baking tray and cook in moderate oven until lightly browned.

Nut Butter Bliss Blobs - simple and tasty, also gluten and dairy free!

Nut Butter Bliss Blobs

These are not something i make on a regular basis, but once in a while suits us!

2 eggs
65g macadamia oil

1. Add to Thermomix or food processor and process on speed 4 for 10 seconds.

190g gluten free flour
70g rapdura
130g nut butter of choice 

2. Add remaining ingredients and process on speed 4 for 30 seconds. 

3. Place blobs of mixture onto a lined baking tray and bake in a moderate oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.

NOTE: You could add some cacao nibs for a choc chip effect.