Sugar Free Banana Bread/Cake

cuts into 6-8 slices or about 15 little squares

Ingredients

- 125g self-raising wholemeal flour

- ½ tsp baking powder

- 2 tsp ground cinnamon

- 50g walnuts

- 50g butter, melted

- 2 tsp vanilla paste

- 1 egg

- 3 ripe bananas

- 1 tbsp milk

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C. Grease and line a 450g loaf/1lb tin or tray with baking parchment.

Put the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and walnuts into a bowl and mix the ingredients together. Then combine the melted butter, vanilla paste, egg, milk and mashed bananas together into another bowl. Pour the two mixtures together and combine thoroughly. 

Pour the mixture into the prepared tin or tray and bake for 30-40 minutes. Make sure a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool for 10 mins.

To finish, drizzle some honey and add extra cinnamon and walnuts.

And there you have a super easy, sugar-free and super tasty treat!

Strawberry coconut and banana yoghurt shake

serves one big glass of deliciousness

Ingredients

- 250g strawberries

- 150ml coconut water

- 1 banana

- 200ml natural yoghurt

Method

Blend all the ingredients together. You can always add some extra coconut water if it's too thick for your liking.

Big fat breakfast pancakes turned cupcakes...

serves 2 big pancakes or 4 cupcakes

The other day I fancied a big pancake for breakfast, instead of making loads of little ones, like i usually do. As I didn't finish all the pancake mixture I decided to pour the leftover mixture into a paper case and put it in the oven for 30 minutes.. The cake rose completely and it was delicious, obviously quite moist as it has a pancake texture. So when you're not sure what to have for breakfast.. Big pancakes, little pancakes, big cupcakes, little cupcakes.. You can make all with exactly the same mixture!

Ingredients

- 150ml soy milk, or any other

- 2 eggs

- 1 banana

- 4tbsp rolled oats

- 1tbsp cinnamon

Method

Blend all the ingredients together. For pancakes; drizzle some olive oil in a pan and pour in the mixture. Flip when ready. If they are thick pancakes they will need a little more time.

For the cupcakes; preheat the oven to 180C. Pour the mixture into paper cakes. Put in the oven for 30 minutes.

To finish, add greek yoghurt, coconut chips, cocoa nibs, goji berries, cinnamon and honey.

Bulgur salad with lentil, goats cheese, mango and avocado dressing

serves 6

Ingredients

- 200g bulgur wheat

- 400g tinned lentils, drained (approx. 265g)

- 1/2 ripe avocado

- 140ml yoghurt

- 120ml sour cream

- 1 lemon, juice and zest

- 1tbsp olive oil

- 100g toasted almond flakes

- 300g goats cheese, crumbly type

- 75g mixed salad

- a bunch of spring onions

- 1 mango, diced

Method

Cook the bulgur wheat, see instructions on packaging. Once it's cooked drain and rinse through with cold water. Mix the drained lentils and the bulgur wheat together in a large bowl and season well. 

Put the avocado, yoghurt, sour cream, lemon juice and zest in a blender. Season. Add the toasted almond flakes, mixed salad, goats cheese, spring onions and mango.

Drizzle the dressing over the salad to serve.

This is a delicious, fresh and flavorsome salad.

Lavinia Amsterdam

Lavinia Good Food is a cute, edgy and ever so characterful cafe in Amsterdam. They have a lovely selection of vegan breakfasts (including veggie bacon!!) and lunch. 

Everything's made from organic products and there are lots of gluten free options. With delicious pizzetta's, a healthy diverse buffet, sourdough sandwiches, daily soups and home made sweet treats, this is the perfect place to satisfy you and your friends when in Amsterdam.

There's also a choice of gorgeous juices like the cucumber, fennel, granny smith, pear, lemon and ginger... Mmm, mm. Perfect as an energizer after some serious shopping or a night out. 

 Home made chai tea with cinnamon, star anise and almond milk.

 The pumpkin and Gorgonzola pizzetta and the spicy sweet potato curry soup with spelt toast.

  

The gluten free carrot cake.

Lavinia Good Food is located on Kerkstraat 176, 1017 GT Amsterdam and is open 7 days a week! Have a look on www.laviniagoodfood.nl

Roasted aubergine salad with saffron yoghurt

serves 4

Ingredients 

- 2 aubergines

- 150g mixed salad

- olive oil, to brush the aubergines with

- a pinch of saffron

- 3tbsp warm water

- 180g greek yoghurt

- 1 garlic clove

- 2,5tbsp lemon juice

- 3tbsp olive oil

Method

Preheat the oven to 220C.

For the sauce; put the saffron in a small bowl and add 3tbsp of warm water and leave to soak for 5 minutes. Put the yoghurt, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Mix well and add the saffron water. Put in the fridge to cool.

Cut the aubergines into thin slices. Lay them evenly on a baking tray, brush with olive oil and season well. 

Put in the oven for 25-35 minutes. Leave to cool down to room temperature. Put the mixed salad in a bowl and lay the aubergines on top. Add the saffron yoghurt sauce, pomegranate seeds and pine nuts. Then top off with basil leaves.

Pictured is only half the salad. I made two bowls instead of one big one.

Chocolate coconut balls

serves 10 balls

Ingredients

- 100g desiccated coconut

- 2tbsp coconut oil

- 2tbsp spelt syrup

- 100g dark chocolate, 85% cocao

Method

Mix the desiccated coconut, spelt syrup and coconut oil together in a big bowl.

Shape mixture into little balls and put them on a tray with baking paper. Put in the freezer for 15 minutes.

Melt the chocolate au Bain-Marie and pour over the balls. Then put them back in the freezer for another 25 minutes.

Easy, healthy sweet treats you can keep in the fridge if you're feeling naughty.