Mini Apple Tarts

Everything seems to taste better when it's miniature and baked into a muffin tin, and these Mini Apple Tarts are no exception. Easy to make and even easier to enjoy, this dessert will instantly become a household favorite. Beautifully spiralized apples flavored with warm pumpkin spices and nestled into a sweet and nutty oat crust – what’s not to love?

Ingredients

• 3 Medium Apples, cored
• 12 Dates, pitted
• ¼ Cup Rolled Oats
• 1 ½ Cups Almonds, unsalted and toasted
• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
• ¼ Cup All-Purpose Flour
• ⅓ Cup Brown Sugar
• 2 Teaspoons Pumpkin Pie Spice
• 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Chop the dates and, using the Shredding Blade, shred the toasted almonds. Combine the dates and almonds with coconut oil.
• Add flour and rolled oats to the almond mixture and thoroughly combine.
• Using the Spiralizer Blade, spiralize the apples. Combine the apples with lemon juice, lemon zest, pumpkin spice, and sugar.
• Press the almond mixture into a lightly greased muffin tin and bake for 10 minutes.
• Spoon apples into muffin tin crust and bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.
• Enjoy!

• Notes

  1. Don't have a Veggie Bullet? Use a hand spiralizer to spiralize your fruits and veggies, a food processor to shred and chop, and a knife and cutting board to slice. Just expect to add additional prep time and use more counter space.

SOUR CREAM BANANA CAKE

Adding sour cream to the classic banana cake recipe makes it denser and moister

INGREDIENTS

• 5 large ripe bananas, 3 mashed, 2 whole
• 1 firmly packed cup (250g) brown sugar
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
• 250g sour cream
• 2 1/2 cups (350g) self-raising flour
• 3 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/3 cup (45g) pecans, chopped
• 1/2 cup (125ml) maple syrup
• 1/2 cup (125ml) dark rum

• METHOD

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease and line a square 22cm baking pan with baking paper, leaving 2cm above sides.
  • 2
    Combine mashed banana, sugar, eggs, vanilla, sour cream, flour, spices and 1/2 tsp salt in a bowl. Pour batter into pan. Thinly slice remaining 2 bananas lengthways into three, then arrange, cut-side up, over top of cake. Scatter with pecans and bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  • 3
    Meanwhile, combine maple and rum in a small pan over medium-high heat. Cook for 5 minutes or until reduced. Set aside to cool. Drizzle over cake and serve.

Coconut Flour Zucchini Bread

This yummy Zucchini Bread is the sneakiest way to get your kids to eat their veggies without them knowing it! My coconut flour version of Zucchini Bread is a great option for those who are gluten-intolerant and tree nut-intolerant

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Zucchini, shredded and tightly packed
• 4 Eggs
• ¼ Cup Coconut Oil, melted
• ½ Cup Maple Syrup, Agave, or Honey
• ¼ Teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
• ½ Cup Coconut Flour
• 1 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
• ¼ Teaspoon Cinnamon
• ¼ Teaspoon Salt
• ½ Cup Chocolate Chips (optional)
• ½ Cup Roasted Pumpkin Seeds (optional)
• METHOD
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Coat a loaf pan with coconut oil or a similar cooking spray.
• Use the Veggie Bullet Shredder blade to shred 1-2 zucchinis. You can also make "zucchini rice" using the Veggie Bullet Spiralizer blade, followed by the Slicer blade.
• In a large mixing bowl or NutriBullet, combine eggs, coconut oil, maple syrup and vanilla. Mix well.
• Slowly add in coconut flour, making sure to blend thoroughly, followed by baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
• Lastly, fold in shredded zucchini (and chocolate chips, if desired) with a mixing spoon.
• Pour mixture into greased loaf pan (and top with pumpkin seeds, if desired).
• Bake for 45-50 minutes (can be modified to 25-30 minutes for muffins).
• Remove from oven and place on a wire rack. Cool 5-10 minutes before serving.
• Enjoy!

MILK CHOCOLATE AND BEETROOT CAKE WITH OMBRE ICING

 thin layer of ganache fading into orange ricotta cream gives this cake seriously good looks.

INGREDIENTS

• 200g milk chocolate, chopped
• 200g unsalted butter, chopped
• 1/3 cup (80ml) water
• 1 2/3 cups (250g) self-raising flour, sifted
• 200g each brown sugar and caster sugar
• 1/2 cup (50g) cocoa powder
• pinch of salt
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup (80ml) buttermilk
• 1 large (320g) beetroot, grated
• Beetroot leaves and bull’s blood leaves (optional – from greengrocers), to serve

Orange ricotta cream

• 1 1/4 cups (300g) fresh ricotta
• Finely grated zest of 1 orange
• 1/4 cup (30g) pure icing sugar, sifted

Milk chocolate ganache

• 200ml thickened cream
• 200g milk chocolate, finely chopped

• METHOD

  • 1
    Preheat oven to 160°C. Grease and line the base and sides of two 18cm round cake pans with baking paper.
  • 2
    Place chocolate, butter and 1/3 cup (80ml) water in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of gently simmering water (don’t let bowl touch water) and stir until melted and combined. Set aside to cool.
  • 3
    Combine flour, sugars, cocoa and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Using a fork, beat eggs and buttermilk in a separate bowl until combined, then fold in beetroot. Fold chocolate mixture through flour mixture, then fold through beetroot mixture. Divide the batter evenly among pans and bake for 1 hour 5 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean with a few fudgy crumbs. Cool cakes completely in pans.
  • 4
    Meanwhile, for ricotta cream, place all ingredients in a food processor and whiz until smooth. Chill until needed.
  • 5
    For the ganache, place the cream in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Place chocolate in a bowl and pour over cream, then stir until melted and smooth. Set aside, stirring every 10 minutes, for 30 minutes or until thickened.
  • 6
    Spread ricotta cream over the top and sides of one cake, then sandwich with remaining cake. Spread ganache over the top and sides of the top cake layer, blending with ricotta cream to create an ombre effect. Scatter with beetroot and bull’s blood leaves, if using, to serve.
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SALMON DURBAN CURRY

Oily fish such as salmon is rich in omega-3 fats and protein. This delicious curry is the perfect healthy meal to start your week.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tbs sunflower oil
• 11/2 tsp each mustard seeds and cumin seeds
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 tbs grated ginger
• 12 curry leaves
• 2 tbs masala or madras curry powder
• 11/2 tbs tamarind puree
• 2 tbs tomato paste
• 400g can whole tomatoes
• 4 truss tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 800g skinless salmon fillet, pin-boned, cut into 3cm pieces
• 150g sugar snap peas, blanched
• Coriander leaves, sliced small green chilli, coconut akes and naan bread, to serve

• METHOD

  • 1
    Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add mustard and cumin seeds, and cook for 1 minute or until popping. Add onion and cook, stirring, for 3-4 minutes until softened.
  • 2
    Add garlic, ginger and curry leaves, and cook for a further 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • 3
    Add tamarind and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute, then add canned tomato, fresh tomato and 1 cup (250ml) water.
  • 4
    Simmer for 5 minutes or until slightly reduced. Add salmon and cook for 4-5 minutes until just cooked through.
  • 5
    Top curry with sugar snap peas and serve with coriander leaves, chilli, coconut flakes and naan bread.

I love that I don't have to pre-cook the pasta for this Bacon and Beef Pasta Bake

Bacon and Beef Pasta Bake

All Time Best Recipes

I love that I don't have to pre-cook the pasta for this Bacon and Beef Pasta Bake. I have made this a few times now and it's the kids' favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 onion finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 4 bacon rashers chopped
• 500 g beef mince
• 550 g tomato pasta sauce
• 2 cups beef stock (liquid)
• 1 cup mixed vegetables
• 250 g spirals pasta shapes
• 1 1/2 cups cheese grated
• 1/2 tsp salt and pepper *to taste

• Equipment

  • 1 heavy-based oven tray
  • 1 saucepan

  • Method

    • STEP 1Grease a 12-cup capacity ovenproof dish with a lid.
    • STEP 2Heat oil in large saucepan and add bacon, onion and garlic. Cook until onion is soft.
    • STEP 3Add mince, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes, or until beef changes colour.
    • STEP 4Add pasta sauce, stock, vegetables, salt and pepper. Bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
    • STEP 5Add uncooked spiral pasta. Stir to combine and pour into an oven proof dish.
    • STEP 6Bake, covered, at 180C for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, sprinkle with cheese and bake, uncovered, for a further 30 minutes.

    • Notes

      For the vegetables I've used grated carrot, grated zucchini, chopped capsicum or chopped champignons depending on what I have at home at the time. I use the Leggos large spiral pasta with the red wine for flavour and I have also added herbs.

Apricot and Chilli Chicken Kebabs

Apricot and Chill Chicken Kebabs

An easy and delicious way to eat chicken

Ingredients

• 80 g chicken pieces cubed
• 1 red capsicum broken into chunks
• 1 yellow capsicum broken into chunks
• 200 g cherry tomato halved
• 1 onion medium chopped
• 2 tbs parsley chopped fresh
• 2 tsp apricot jam
• 1/2 cup sweet chilli sauce
• 1 garlic clove grated

• Method

  • STEP 1Mix apricot jam, sweet chilli sauce, garlic and 1 tablespoon of parsley, then add in chicken pieces.
  • STEP 2Marinate chicken for 1-2 hours.
  • STEP 3Using wooden skewers layer ingredients 1 after the other until skewer is full.
  • STEP 4Place kebabs on a tray and garnish using the left over parsley.
  • STEP 5Cook for 10-15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.

  • Notes

    I served these with steamed vegetable and baked potatoes. I also cooked them in a fan forced oven but they would be wonderful on the BBQ. Use 7 pieces of chicken per person.
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