Tag: gluten free

Orange and Coconut Cake

Today I’m sharing an Orange and Coconut Cake recipe.

We have so many oranges that we have harvested from our tree, I decided to use some in a cake.

After all, they are very healthy as researched for my last post. This is another way to make use of this lovely fruit.

I have a recipe for a Coconut and Raspberry Loaf that is really delicious, so I thought that it would easily be adapted to use oranges instead. This recipe is also gluten free with the use of Coconut flour.

The result is really yummy. I really like how the zest gives the cake a lovely colour.

 Orange and Coconut Cake

Ingredients

1 cup coconut flour

½ cup desiccated coconut

1 tsp baking powder or bicarbonate of soda

Zest of 1 orange – finely grated and chopped

4 eggs

1 cup buttermilk (or ¾ cup plain yoghurt & ¼ cup milk)

½ cup honey (or other liquid sweetener) I used rice malt syrup

60g butter – melted

2 tsp vanilla extract

1½ cups chopped orange flesh

 Method

* Preheat oven to 170

* Grease and line a loaf tin with baking paper

* Combine coconut flour, desiccated coconut, baking powder and orange zest in a mixing bowl.

* In another bowl, whisk together eggs, buttermilk, butter, honey and vanilla. When well combined, pour the mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix well.

* Fold in the chopped orange flesh.

* Pour the mix into the loaf tin and smooth the top.

Bake for approximately 1 hour or until cooked. Test with a skewer.

Let the cake cool for at least 10 minutes before removing it from the tin onto a rack to cool.

I hope you enjoy this cake as much as we do.

 Till the next post,

 Live clean n prosper.

All about Oats, are they healthy?

Todays post is all about Oats.

With the cooler weather, many people turn to oats or porridge for breakfast. It has certainly become one of our favourites. There are also many differing opinions regarding how healthy this cereal is. I decided to do my own research and, as usual, share the results.

What are Oats?

The oat (Avena sativa), is a species of cereal grain grown for its seed, which is known by the same name. Oats have been around for a very long time. Researchers have found significant evidence that hunter-gatherers ate oats 25,000 years before the spread of farming.

In Scotland, oats became the staple grain. This is because oats are better suited than wheat to the country’s low temperatures and high humidity. As a result, the cereal grain is held in high esteem, as a mainstay of the national diet.

As a food, oats are most commonly rolled or crushed into oatmeal, or ground into fine oat flour. Oatmeal is chiefly eaten as porridge, but may also be used in a variety of baked goods, such as oatcakes, oatmeal cookies and oat bread. Oats are also a staple ingredient in cereals such as muesli and granola.

Oats are naturally free of gluten. They do however contain proteins called Avenins, which are similar to Gliadins from wheat. Avenins can trigger celiac disease in a small proportion of people. Other gluten-containing grains, mainly wheat and barley, also frequently contaminate oat products.

 Are oats really healthy?

They are generally considered healthy due to containing several essential nutrients.

A 100-gram serving provides 389 calories and is an excellent source of protein, dietary fibre, several B group vitamins and numerous minerals. Research has proven that the consumption of the whole grain, and oat-based products, significantly reduces total cholesterol concentrations.

Studies have also shown other possible health benefits of this cereal grain. These include reduced risk of coronary artery disease, lowering levels of cholesterol, and reduced risk of colorectal cancer.

A unique type of soluble fibre found in oats called beta-glucan, has numerous benefits. It nourishes and restores healthy gut bacteria and helps reduce blood sugar levels.

A few studies also indicate that oats may boost the immune system, enhancing the body’s ability to fight bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites

Oats contain a range of molecules that act as antioxidants; this includes avenanthramides, which are polyphenols. Studies have revealed that Avenanthramides may play a role in keeping blood pressure low.

They also have anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties when applied topically to the skin.

Using oats on the skin.

Oats contain zinc, which is an anti-inflammatory. They also contain compounds called saponins, which are natural cleansers. Oat extracts can also be used to soothe skin conditions, and their emollient properties are used in cosmetics.

It certainly seems that oats are good for us, inside and out.

Till the next post, 

Live clean n prosper

Spiced Pumpkin Muffin recipe

Today I’m going to share a muffin recipe.

This morning I was looking through my recipe collection and writing the week’s menu list when I came across this Spiced Pumpkin Muffin recipe.

Every so often, when I am researching something on line, I come across some interesting recipes. There are many gluten free recipes on the Internet and we have found many are lacking in taste or texture.

I had printed this one out ages ago and forgotten about it. The recipe is easy and I had all the ingredients, so I made a batch.

This recipe made 12 small muffins. They are very light in texture, quite yummy and are gluten free. I think you could make a few variations by swapping out the pumpkin for cooked apple or maybe even mashed banana.

 Spiced Pumpkin Muffins

(makes 12 small muffins)

Ingredients

5 eggs

4 tbsp. melted butter or coconut oil

½ cup mashed butternut pumpkin

½ cup Maple syrup or honey

½ cup dextrose or coconut sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground allspice

Pinch sea salt

1 tsp. vanilla extract or paste

½ cup sifted coconut flour

½ tsp. baking powder

 

Method

Preheat your oven to 200’ C and lightly grease a muffin tin.

– Mix the eggs, butter (or oil), pumpkin, maple syrup, dextrose, cinnamon, allspice, salt and vanilla together in a large mixing bowl. I used a stick blender.

– In a separate bowl, mix the baking powder and coconut flour together then add to the batter. Mix well ensuring there are no lumps and the batter is smooth.

– Ladle the batter into the muffin cups.

– Bake for approximately 18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

 

We ate a couple while they were still a bit warm with a little bit of butter, delicious.

I will definitely be making these again. I hope you enjoy them also.

 

Till the next post,

 

Live Clean n Prosper.