Monday, January 21, 2013

Buckwheat, Garlic and Quinoa Focaccia or Flat Bread

This recipe came about as I was trying to create a grain free bread. With the help of 2 websites http://www.elanaspantry.com/ and http://www.grainfreeliving.com/home my knowledge in the grain free cooking world has broadened. I have been using buckwheat, quinoa and arrowroot a lot more as they are not considered grains. I created this recipe as I wanted to replace typical white flour focaccia is traditionally made with. It is a great bread alternative, with a great flavour, but as it is dense it doesn't keep well. So the next BBQ gathering you host give this one a go. Tell everyone it is super healthy and great for there digestive system (it wont leave you bloated like most wheat based breads do), they'll love it.
Enjoy.



Ingredients:
  • 2 1/4 Cups Buckwheat Flour
  • 1 1/2 Cups Quinoa Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Arrowroot Flour
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 350 mls Lukewarm Water
  • 2 Cloves Garlic
  • 1 heaped Tbsp Dried Yeast
  • 4 Tbsp olive Oil
  • 2 Tbsp Sesame Seeds
  • 1 Tbsp Dried Caraway or Fennel Seeds

What To Do:
  • Combine water, 2 tbsp of olive oil, salt and yeast in a bowl and whisk well. Finely Chop Garlic and add to wet mixture. Add flour and mix until well combined. The mix will be quiet wet. Cover with a clean tea towel and allow to sit for 1 hour. Place 1 tbsp of olive oil into a roasting pan and grease well. Transfer focaccia mix to roasting pan. Press bread dough with fingers until approx 1 cm thick. Drizzle the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil on top of the bread. Then sprinkle with sesame seeds and caraway or fennel seeds. Season with salt and transfer to a preheated hot oven 220 degrees for 20 min. The bread is ready when it is golden and crisp and sounds hollow when tapped on top. Cut or break bread apart in to individual serving sizes, enjoy with dips, as a starter or as an accompaniment to soup.

Flat bread:
  • After allowing the bread to sit for 1 hour, section the dough into golf ball sizes. Press with fingers until 1/2 cm thick. Heat a non stick frypan or griddle pan on medium heat. Using a small amount of olive oil spray or regular olive oil, grease the pan and place flat bread in. Sprinkle with a small amount of sesame and caraway or fennyl seeds and salt. when the flat bread becomes golden, flip and repeat on the other side. This may take up to 3-5 min per flat bread and the effort is well worth it.


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Choc Peanut Biscuits (Grain Free)

Lately I have been dabbling in new year, clean eating, detox diets and have come across the paleo diet. A Paleolithic diet consists mainly of fish, grass-fed pasture raised meats, vegetables, fruit, fungi, roots, and nuts, and excludes grains, legumes, dairy products, potatoes, refined salt, refined sugar, and processed oil. I haven't been basing
my recipes around meat as I am a vegetarian, but i have been finding grain free deserts, treats and bread and rice/pasta alternatives. There is a whole new world of eating out there, and there is no reason why we should be eating processed food. Since I have been on my food journey I can really tell when a particular food doesn't agree with me. For example, if I have sugar I instantly get an ear ache and my vision becomes blurry, if I have dairy I have pain in my abdomen and if I have oats or dried fruits I get sleepy. So in saying that I try to avoid these foods where possible. Its amazing the affects food can have on you when you strip it all back.
So here is a grain free lunchbox treats. Sugar free, grain free, dairy free and by leaving out the organic peanut butter they could also be nut free.
Enjoy.

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Ingredients:
  • 230g Arrowroot Flour
  • 4 tbsp Honey
  • 1-2 tbsp Molasses
  • 110g Coconut Oil
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 2 heaped tbsp Cocoa Powder
  • 1 heaped tbsp Organic Peanut Butter
  • 1/2 tsp Himalayan Salt
What To Do:
  • In a saucepan combine honey, molasses, peanut butter and coconut oil. Heat over low heat until simmering and well combined stiring often. Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients, stir until well combined. Roll into small balls and and place on oven trays lined with baking paper. Press down slightly on each ball to the desired biscuit size and place in a moderate oven for 10-12 min or until slightly browned and set. Allow to cool on tray before transfering to a storage container or jar.