Tag: oats

Cranberry & Choc chip Digestive Biscuits

Today I’m sharing a recipe for Digestive Biscuits with a twist, using Cranberries and Choc chips.

I recently saw a recipe for old-fashioned oat & spelt digestive biscuits and I thought I would make some. Previously I have written about the health benefits of oats, I also prefer not to use wheat in my baking if possible. So, in keeping with the idea of good ‘digestion’, I decided to use buckwheat flour.

Both oats & buckwheat are very beneficial for gut health.

I also decided to add a bit more texture and flavour to my biscuits with cranberries, dark choc chips and pepitas.

Cranberry & Choc chip Digestive Biscuits

Makes approx. 20 biscuits

Ingredients

150 g butter (soft)

70 g Coconut sugar

2 tbsp Maple syrup

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

180 g Oat flour

220 g Buckwheat flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp Cinnamon

2 tbsp rolled oats

3 tbsp dried cranberries

2 tbsp pepitas

2 tbsp dark choc chips

 Method

Preheat your oven to 200’c and line 2 biscuit trays with baking paper.

* Mix the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer till creamy

* Add in the Maple syrup and the eggs, continuing to mix well, followed by the cinnamon, salt and baking powder.

* Add in the flours a spoonful at a time.

I added in the cranberries, pepitas and chocolate chips after mixing in approximately 1/3 of the flours. This helped them to be distributed more evenly through the mix.

As you get towards the end of the flours, the dough will get quite stiff.

I used my tablespoon to portion the dough into mounds on the trays. I then squashed them with a fork.

Bake the biscuits in the middle of the oven for 10 minutes.

These biscuits are a drier consistency so they are best enjoyed with a glass of milk or cup of tea.

 Hope you enjoy them.

Till the next post,

Live clean n Prosper

Sharing an Oatmeal Biscuit recipe

Today I am sharing a recipe for Oatmeal biscuits. After my last post on Oats, my mother shared her biscuit recipe with me. I made some very minor changes to it and have shared it with you here.

I made the recipe using quinoa flour for a wheat free biscuit, and I added nutmeg.

The rapadura sugar gives the biscuits a richer colour without being overly sweet. The result is a mildly sweet biscuit that pairs well with a cup of tea.

 Oatmeal Biscuits

Makes approx. 20 small biscuits

 Ingredients

220g Spelt flour  
(I used Quinoa)

60g rolled oats

1 ½ tspn ground cinnamon

½ tspn ground nutmeg

1 tspn salt

1 tspn baking powder

60g Rapadura sugar

60g butter (melted)

20g Maple syrup

1/3 cup milk of your choice

 Method

Process oats to fine breadcrumb like consistency

Add flour, salt, baking powder, spices and sugar and pulse to combine, add butter, syrup and process till combined.

Add milk one tablespoon at a time until a smooth dough forms and starts to ball up and feel slightly tacky . (the amount of liquid required can vary depending on the type of flour you use)

I put all the dough onto a large piece of cling wrap and rolled it into a sausage shape. Then using a sharp knife I carefully cut off slices to create the biscuits. I then used a fork dipped in water to press the biscuits into shape.

Bake in preheated 175 C oven
 for 15 min

If you like a crisp biscuit –

Let them cool completely, then bake a second time for 10 mins at 170 c.

 I hope you enjoy these biscuits.

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