Deliciouso Torta Caprese -translation delicious italian chocolate cake!

Mmmmm this is such a delicious chocolaty treat once the little one is in bed. It is almost like a giant brownie! A little noisy to make but well worth the effort. Though this is an easy version.

250 grms of dark chocolate
250 grms of almonds
120 grams of raw sugar
120 grams of butter
1 table spoon of baking powder
1 table spoon of cocoa
4 eggs

Preheat oven to 170. Process the almonds into almond meal and the chocolate, set aside. Process other ingredients until well mixed, then add back in chocolate and almonds. Bake  in greased tin (aprox 24cm). Bake up to an hour, check after 40 minutes.

Almonds are so good for you and this is a very tasty way to get them. Full of vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and iron. Plus they are extremely anti-inflammatory.

Based on 138 grms of almonds

Vitamins

Amounts Per Selected Serving

%DV

Vitamin A

1.4

IU

0%

Vitamin C

0.0

mg

0%

Vitamin D

~

~

Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)

35.9

mg

179%

Vitamin K

0.0

mcg

0%

Thiamin

0.1

mg

7%

Riboflavin

1.2

mg

70%

Niacin

5.3

mg

27%

Vitamin B6

0.2

mg

9%

Folate

45.5

mcg

11%

Vitamin B12

0.0

mcg

0%

Pantothenic Acid

0.3

mg

3%

Choline

71.9

mg

Betaine

~

Minerals

Amounts Per Selected Serving

%DV

Calcium

367

mg

37%

Iron

6.2

mg

35%

Magnesium

395

mg

99%

Phosphorus

675

mg

67%

Potassium

1029

mg

29%

Sodium

1.4

mg

0%

Zinc

4.9

mg

33%

Copper

1.6

mg

81%

Manganese

3.6

mg

181%

Selenium

3.9

mcg

6%

Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3087/2#ixzz1zZCkKYCN

My lentil stew

This is a delicious winter warmer which will even have the meat eaters in the house asking for seconds. It is also very cheap to make.

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 large cloves of garlic
1 medium onion
1 heaped teaspoon of smoked paprika
12 button mushrooms
250 grams of red lentils
500ml of water
1 tin of tomatoes
1 large tablespoon of Miso paste (the darker the heartier)
150 grams of brussel sprouts (small or halved)
250 grams of cubed pumpkin (butternut or kent are my preference)
(buy organic where you can :)

Roughly chop the garlic and onion saute in oil for 3 minutes. Add paprika and quarter or roughly chopped mushrooms. Fry for a further 3 minutes. Add lentils, miso, water and tinned tomatoes cook for 25 minutes on medium high heat. Add brussel sprouts and pumpkin and cook for a further 10 minutes then let stand for 5 minutes.
Carrots are also great in this but one thing that is expensive organic. Try growing some at home, there are varieties that you can grow in pots, so you don't even need a garden.

Trick- I stir in frozen peas for my little one, to cool it down quickly to baby eating temperature.

Brussel sprouts are a great source of vitamin C, vitamin K and folate. Vitamin K helps the absorption of calcium for bones.

Based on 78grms of Brussel sprouts.

Vitamins

Amounts Per Selected Serving

%DV

Vitamin A

604

IU

12%

Vitamin C

48.4

mg

81%

Vitamin D

~

~

Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)

0.3

mg

2%

Vitamin K

109

mcg

137%

Thiamin

0.1

mg

6%

Riboflavin

0.1

mg

4%

Niacin

0.5

mg

2%

Vitamin B6

0.1

mg

7%

Folate

46.8

mcg

12%

Vitamin B12

0.0

mcg

0%

Pantothenic Acid

0.2

mg

2%

Choline

31.7

mg

Betaine

0.2

mg

Minerals

Amounts Per Selected Serving

%DV

Calcium

28.1

mg

3%

Iron

0.9

mg

5%

Magnesium

15.6

mg

4%

Phosphorus

43.7

mg

4%

Potassium

247

mg

7%

Sodium

16.4

mg

1%

Zinc

0.3

mg

2%

Copper

0.1

mg

3%

Manganese

0.2

mg

9%

Selenium

1.2

mcg

2%

Fluoride

~

Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/vegetables-and-vegetable-products/2363/2#ixzz1zSQTadV0

Lets talk dirty! The dirty dozen that is.

Okay now I have your attention, lets talk dirty. By dirty, I mean vegies that are sprayed a lot and we should try and buy these organic. A general guide is anything with a thin skin but here are the dirty dozen.

Worst to best
Apples
Celery
Strawberries
Peaches
Spinach
Nectarines
Grapes
Capsicum
Potatoes
Blueberries Lettuce
Kale/collard greens

Now we have talked dirty here is the clean fifteen.

Best to worst
Onions
Corn
Pineapples
Avocado
Asparagus
Sweet peas
Mangoes
Eggplant
Rockmelon
Kiwi
Cabbage (I always get this organic)
Watermelon
Sweet potatoes
Grapefruit
Mushrooms

Sometimes people think of organic as being expensive but if you find a good source and buy in season there really isn't much in it. Sometimes my supplier is even cheaper than conventional stuff in the supermarket. I still get the clean fifteen organic where I can.

Okay so I slipped on Saturday night and had a couple of wedges. We are only human after all and it was the least gluten thing available. Needless to say I paid the consequences. Sunday night my little one went down at 7 as usual but then proceeded to wake every hour. Something she hasn't done for more  than a week when I started this adventure. Left over baked beans and banana cake for breakfast...but not together.

Looking forward to going to my green grocer today and seeing what organic produce came in from the market yesterday.

Home made baked beans

So this is a bit of a cheat one but suitable for the whole family. Home made baked beans but using tinned beans and tomatoes so still quick and easy but without the added sugar and preservatives. Great for dinner and have the left overs for breakfast :)

1 tin of organic tomatoes diced
1 tin of organic butter beans
1 tin of organic cannellini beans
1 large clove of organic garlic
1 heaped teaspoon of smoked paprika
1 tbl spoon of organic olive oil
(optional dsrt spoon of whole grain mustard)

Chop garlic saute in olive oil for 2 minutes. Add paprika for 30 seconds. Add tinned tomatoes and cook for a minute reducing the liquid. Add rinsed tinned beans, cook for a further 8 minutes.

Serve over (gluten free) gnocchi for a pasta fagioli with a twist. Or mash or sated potato for a winter warmer.