Decadent Apple and Maple upsidedown cake

Buckwheat and maple do magical things together.  Buckwheat is one of those slightly difficult flavours -- like that person at your party that is hard to get a long with. But pair it with maple, and suddenly everyone will want to be its friend. This apple cake is toothsome and delicious, and so pretty. I know apple usually wants cinnamon -- but with buckwheat, I highly recommend against it. Cinnamon and buckwheat just don't get a long very well.

a)
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil

b)
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 cup maple syrup -- I like to use the darkest I can find for this recipe for more maple flavour
1 tsp vanilla extract

(for a sweeter cake add 1/4 to 1/2 cup coconut sugar/ cane sugar)



c)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp tonka bean powder (or ground vanilla bean) *** leave out if unavailable
1/2 cup tapioca starch

1 tsp ground ginger

2  cups buckwheat four

1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cream of tartar (or instead of baking soda and cream of tartar, use 2 tsp baking powder)


2 apples -- one sliced into thin lovely slices, the other diced (Galas, pink ladies, or your favourite cooking apple) (you're welcome to peel them if you prefer)

1. generously coat a deep round pan with coconut oil
2. lay a round of parchment in the bottom,

3. generously layer the bottom with coconut sugar or brown sugar and lay lovely slices of apple around in a pretty pattern. (don't skimp on the sugar here)

preheat the oven to 345

1. combine the hot water and coconut oil (a)
2. when the coconut oil has melted, add in the other wet ingredients (b)
3. combining  the dry ingredients  together (c)
4. using a whisk, combine the ingredients from c with the wet ingredients
5. stir in the apple chunks
5. pour the batter over the apples slices

bake at 345 for 40 minutes or until the cake is springy and bounces back when lightly pressed


when the cake has  cooled, run a knife or spatula around the sides, put a plate over the pan, and turn over. Remove the parchment.

chickpea flour crackers *

Savoury crunchy little crackers, made with chickpea flour? Yes please. Simple and delicious.

equipment needed:

2 silicone baking mats or 2 pieces of parchment
2 baking sheets
rolling pin
mixing bowl
fork
mixing spoon
measuring cups
measuring spoons
oven


ingredients:

a)
1 1/2 cups chickpea flour
1/2 tapioca starch

b)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp xanthan gum powder

1 tbsp chili powder

1 tbsp mesquite

2 tbsp coconut sugar

c)
1/2 cup coconut oil

d)
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

e)
2 tbsp coconut flour if needed

f)
sprinkle salt on top and bake



directions:

1. mix the dry ingredients together very well (a and b)
2. use a fork to mix in the coconut oil (c)
3. pour in the water and apple cider vinegar and mix well (d)
4. add coconut flour if too sticky (e)
5. roll out on 2 silicone mats using a piece of parchment to keep the rolling pin from sticking
6. using a butter knife, score it into squares, and sprinkle with sea salt
7. bake at 345 for 20 minutes
8. dehydrate further in the oven on 170 for a few hours for very crisp crunchy little crackers
9. store in an airtight container when fully cool

Buckwheat Muffins with Hemp hearts and Ginger **

Buckwheat is one of those tricky flours. The texture makes  for spongey, cohesive baked goods, but the flavour can be strident with certain other flavours. Cinnamon and buckwheat are not a harmonious combination for me. However, vanilla and maple can make buckwheat purr.

Here I was inspired to add a hint of ginger to the mix, and I find it pleasing. We've done these muffins without the ginger, and they are exceptionally yummy. Definitely one of our favourites.

These muffins have just a handful of ingredients, mix up in about 5 minutes, and bake in 30. Definitely an easy recipe to make. The part that takes the longest is scooping the batter into the muffin cups.

equipment needed:
mixing bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
mixing spoon
muffin cups (I use silicone muffin cups on a rectangular baking sheet)
oven


ingredients:

a)
1 cup coconut sugar
2 cups buckwheat flour
1/2 cup tapioca starch

b)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda

c)
2 cups water
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

d)
1 cup hemp hearts


1. combine dry ingredients (a and b)
2. add water, vanilla and vinegar, and whisk
3. add hemp hearts
4. scoop into 24 muffin cups
5. bake at 345 for 30 minutes

muffins -- plain-Jane oatmeal muffins

 Sometimes plain and simple is just what you need. These muffins combine the simple pleasing goodness of oatmeal with the powerful nutritious punch of hemp hearts. Lightly sweet and uncomplicated, these muffins are great for everybody. They mix up in about 10 minutes, and bake in 20. And just like the plain-Jane of apocryphal fame, you may realize that uncomplicated and reliable may not be so plain after all.

equipment needed:
oven
mixing bowl
measuring cups
measuring spoons
whisk
spoon
24 muffin cups (I use silicone muffin cups on a baking sheet)


ingredients:

a)
1 cup hot water + 1/4 cup coconut oil

b)
1 cup cold water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup coconut sugar

c)
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup tapioca starch
1 1/2 cup kamut flour
1 cup large oat flakes
1 tsp baking soda

d)
1/2 cup hemp hearts


directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. mix together the hot water and coconut oil
3. when the oil is melted, add all of b)
4. whisk in the ingredients from c) in the order listed
5. stir in the hemp hearts
6. scoop the batter into 24 muffin cups
7. bake for 20 minutes at 345
8. cool, and store in an airtight container (in the fridge)

Simple Royal Gala apple sauce

We love apple sauce. I like to make a delicate, light tasting apple sauce from sweet apples such as gala or piñata, depending on what is available and what is affordable. You can throw in some pear as well if you like.  The lemon juice will balance the sweetness, and also keep the fruit from browning, giving the applesauce a more pleasing colour. This is delicious, and really easy to eat.

3 lbs organic gala apples, washed, cored, and cut into large chunks
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup lemon juice
pinch of sea salt
dash of vanilla extract


directed:

1. prepare the apples by washing and cutting into chunks. I never peel them. Use organic!!
2. stir well in a large pot so the apples all get coated in the lemon water
3. simmer for around 60 minutes until the apples are translucent and falling apart
4. puree lightly with an immersion blender -- don't puree to smoothness, though, leave it with some chunks.
5. put into jars, label, and freeze


This will make approximately 1 1/2 L of apple sauce. Jar it and store in the freezer if you won't eat it within a week.

Chickpea Vegetable Soup

Well, Papa is coming over for dinner, and we're going to have a houseful for his birthday. So, in addition to eatables such as lasagna and chickpea flour flat bread, we'll rock this vegan crockpot.  Simple and delicious. Old fashioned diced veggies and chickpeas. Super delicious. And since it feels like fall, perfect really. We all enjoyed it.

ingredients:

2 tbsp coconut oil
1 onion, finely diced
1 cup green cabbage, very finely chopped

4 cups soaked chickpeas -- not cooked

1 tsp sea salt

2 cup diced carrots
2 cups diced celery
1 diced kohlrabi

1 tsp sea salt

4 cups diced white sweet potato

1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp marjoram
1 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp chill powder

9 cups water

1 tsp sea salt


directions:

1. turn crockpot on to high, and set for 6 hours
2. layer ingredients in the order listed
3. let cook for 6 hours. I used dry chickpeas that had been fully soaked but not cooked. If you use canned or cooked chickpeas, you can reduce the cooking time
4. stir and taste, add seasoning if needed.

Little Fishy Crackers, and why I'm a crazy lady.

"Mom, can we get goldfish crackers?"
"No, son."
"Why not?"
Why not? Let me count the ways: 1) I'm a controlling food-fascist who won't let my kid eat processed  snacks. 2) there is nothing redeeming about them 3) they are made by 'big food' 4) gross -- bad oil, bad flour, added chemicals ...

Anyway. I made these:

Little fishy crackers.

Good news: my son loves them. He ate about half the batch before they made it off the cooling rack.
Bad news? I'm a controlling food-fascist.

Which bothers me. But at the same time my child has no cavities (unlike many many of his peers), no longer has eczema on his face, gets rashes when he eats treats at people's parties (such as pretzels), gets 'digestive issues' when he eats other people's birthday cakes (I blame the weird oils in the icing), gets rashes all over his body from fruit grown with pesticides ... Is robust and healthy and full of energy on the fascistic diet I make him follow. Whole foods, no added chemicals, no food dye, no processed and packaged food.

So, oh well.

I made these with organic kamut, which is a type of ancient wheat that doesn't have the modifications that modern wheat does. That being said, a our family has a host of inflammatory related reactions to food, we do limit the amount of wheat -- and grain in general -- that we consume. So, these, to my son, are a lovely treat. I used a combination of vegetable bouillon powder and granulated garlic. Next time I think I'll throw in a little mesquite and onion powder. Just for fun.

ingredients:

1 cup kamut flour
1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
1/4 tsp granulated garlic
1/4 tsp turmeric
1 tsp vegetable bouillion (an organic one with sea salt in it)

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup ice water


directions:

1. preheat the oven to 345
2. combine the dry ingredients
3. using a fork, cut in the coconut oil
4. once the ingredients resemble sand, add the cold water and form a lovely dough
5. roll the dough out on a silicone mat and cut it into fish shapes (I did this on the mat that I would bake it on and didn't move them again.) I did this in 2 parts on 2 silicone mats. Or use baking parchment!
6. bake at 345 for about 14 minutes -- let them get crisp and lightly brown


next time:
1 tbsp mesquite powder
2 tbsp nutritional yeast
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp turmeric



I cut these by hand ... with a butter knife. And separated them out after they were baked.

Vegan cookies -- spelt and chia keep it simple

ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil --  a little melted
1/2 cup coconut nectar
1/4 cup coconut sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp ground vanilla bean
1 tsp ceylon cinnamon

1/4 cup finely ground chia seeds
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups spelt flour


directions:

1. combine ingredients in the order listed

3. roll out dough in two parts on lined baking sheets -- I cover the dough with a piece of parchment when rolling because it's a little sticky
4. score into squares, and sprinkle with coconut sugar if so desired
5. bake at 345 for 12 minutes


I rolled out in two parts directly onto lined baking sheets and just scored it with a butter knife before baking into squares, which I  then broke along the score marks after baking.

Simple!!

Banana cookie bars V 2.0

In which banana, oatmeal, and shredded coconut become very good friends! A vegan optional, wholesome cookie with some traditional appeal.

2 cups mashed banana -- try to use very ripe ones
1/2 cup melted butter (or coconut oil -- my personal preference)
1/2 cup coconut sugar (optional) (2 cups banana will make this quite sweet but for something with a rich deeper sweetness, use the coconut sugar too)

1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean (plus 1 tbsp vanilla extract if you are vanilla fiend)

2 cup shredded coconut
3 cups oat flakes


directions:

1. combine the ingredients in the order listed
2. pat out the mixture onto a lined baking sheet (I use a silicone baking mat on my baking sheet, but parchment would be fine, too)
3. score into 36 bar shapes (6 x6)
4. bake at 345 for 30 minutes
5. cool
6. make sure bars are cut fully
7. store in an airtight container in the fridge

kamut butter cookies -- simple nut free cookies

My husband is currently on a restricted diet involving no nuts, no seeds, no spices, no garlic, no onions, no tomatoes, etc. So, I've been modifying my usual way of combining ingredients. For his nibbling pleasure, I have come up with these little cookies. Not too sweet, very buttery, very simple.

ingredients:

1/2 cup butter -- very soft or a little melted
1/2 cup coconut nectar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp ground vanilla bean


1/2 tsp baking soda
2 cups kamut flour



directions:

1. combine ingredients in the order listed
2. chill
3. roll out dough in two parts on lined baking sheets
4. score into squares
5. bake at 345 for 14 minutes


Because I melted the butter a little, I found the dough to be a little too sticky. I chilled it. Then, because I was super lazy, rather than roll out and use cookie cutters, I rolled out in two parts directly onto lined baking sheets and just scored it with a butter knife before baking into squares, which I  then broke along the score marks after baking.

Simple!!

Oatmeal Cookies -- Nut free, Wheat free, sugar free, and vegan optional

Requests are welcome!


A reader asked for a healthy cookie recipe that used oats and didn't use nuts or sugar. She specified that either honey or agave would be fine, and I think you could use either for this recipe. Or maple syrup. Or coconut nectar for something a little less sweet. Basically, any liquid sweetener will work very well.

I made a very small batch -- 1/2 dozen -- so as not to be left with lots of orphan cookies that no one would eat if they weren't delicious. It's also nice to be able to make a very small quantity of cookies if you are just one, and not that much of a sweet eater. I will post the quantities for 2 dozen however :).

Anyway, these are sweet and yummy at the same time as being quite good for you.


ingredients:

1/4 cup warm water
1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil (and if you prefer butter, please sub in an equivalent quantity instead of the coconut oil)
1 tsp egg replacer + 1/4 cup cool water (or 1 large or xl egg)
1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup honey (or use maple syrup or agave for vegan cookies!! or my favourite coconut nectar for less sweet cookies)

1 tsp to 1 tbsp ground vanilla (I prefer 1 tbsp ground vanilla bean because I am a vanilla fiend)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 to 1/2 tsp sea salt (different salts have different levels of 'saltiness', if you'd believe it!)

1/4 cup flax meal
2 cups large flake rolled oats
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup coconut flour


directions:

1. melt the coconut oil in the warm water, and add the honey
2. add the vinegar and the egg replacer mixture or egg
3. add the salt, vanilla, and cinnamon
4. add the oat flakes, and let sit for 5 minutes
5. add the flax meal and the baking soda
6. add the coconut flour
7. if you are a rebel, now would be the time to add a handful of raisins, nuts, chocolate chips, goji berries, pumpkin seeds, or diced dried apricots. I personally wasn't feeling very rebellious today.
8. drop spoonfuls onto a lined baking sheet and flatten them with a wet fork
9. bake in a preheated oven at 345 for 12-15 minutes depending on how crisp you like 'em.
10. store in an airtight container once they have cooled.

makes 2 dozen!