#iquitsugar Choc-zilla Smoothie

As part of my eating better, wholesome lifestyle I have been trying out some new lunchtime smoothies.

The latest was Sarah Wilson's "I quit sugar" Choc-zilla Smoothie.....but I didn't have Chocolate Protein Powder so I improvised.

Mine looked like this for an individual serve....

1/2 cup almond milk
1/4 avocado
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/2 tbsp almond spread
2 tsp organic cacao powder (Sarah had "a serve of Chocolate protein powder" instead)

I basically put it all in my smoothie maker - a cheaper version of a Mix'n'Go - and blitzed it.

I had to add some water as mine was a bit thick...probably due to the avocado, as I halved all the other ingredients but kept the 1/4 avocado.

My verdict - extremely nutty, perhaps I should have added more cacao or actually used the Chocolate Protein Powder because Sarah Wilson's definitely looks a lot more chocolatey than mine.

Tried this smoothie? Would you?

{Recipe} Gluten free muesli

I recently found a gluten free mueli on Eat Drink Paleo, so decided to give it a crack and it is delish!

This is how I did it...and I used my Thermomix but you could also use your food processor.

Ingredients

4 cups mixed almonds, hazelnuts, macadamia and brazil nuts

2/3 cups dried fruit (I used goji berries, cranberries and apricots)

1/2 cup pepitas

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2/3 desiccated coconut

1/2 cup coconut flakes

2 tbsp maple syrup

2 tbsp rice malt syrup

1 tbsp vanilla extract

2 tbsp coconut oil

2 tbsp chia seeds

Method

1. Preheat oven to 165 degrees Celsius.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
3. Add the nuts and dried fruit to the TM bowl with lid and MC, blitz for 10 seconds on speed 8. (You can always blitz longer if you want smaller pieces)...
4. Transfer to a large bowl.
5. Add the remaining ingredients to the nut mixture, excluding the chia seeds.
6. Mix well and break down any clumps.
7. Spoon the mixture into the baking tray and flatten out. 
8. Put it in the oven and bake in three stages...
• About 12 minutes and then stir the mixture.
• Then 8-10 minutes and then re-stir the mixture.
• Finally for 4-5 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely in the tray.
10. Add the chia seeds and combine.
11. Transfer the mixture to an air-tight container. 
12. If you refrigerate it, it will last up to two weeks.

Do you have any delish muelsi recipes?

{Gluten Free} Jam-packed Protein Balls

Since becoming gluten free I have found a fondness for protein balls (or bliss balls or whatever you may call them), so thought I would share these delicious ones with you...

100g chopped cashews
100g almonds
2 tbsp linseed, sunflower seeds and/or pepitas
170g dates, pitted and chopped
100g soft dried apricots, chopped
100g prunes, pitted and chopped
1 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp raw cacao powder
2 tbsp honey
Pinch of sea salt
100g desiccated coconut for coating

Combine the walnuts, almonds and seeds in a food processor and whiz until fine crumbs.

Add the dates, apricots and prunes and whiz until smooth.

Add the tahini, cacao powder, honey and sea salt and whiz for two minutes or until the mixture starts to form into a ball.

Divide into golf ball-sized portions and roll into balls between lightly wet palms.

Roll in coconut, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.

Do you have a protein ball recipe you love?

The new favourite...

As I title this post I am trying to think what the old favourite was but can't for the life of me figure it out.

I know what meals have not been the old favourite because they have been met with, "I am not eating that, it is disgusting." Thanks little miss. At times like this I have to explain that it hurts Mummy's feelings when she has cooked a healthy meal for her family and is told that it is disgusting before anyone has even tasted it.

What is with that? Kids!

Anyway, the other night I had some left-over sausages and really didn't want to just BBQ them - as BBQ sausages seem to be at least one of the meals each week in this house.

I turned to my trusty friend and new addiction Pinterest and found a recipe for a sausage casserole. The recipe was all arse about but I had all the ingredients it listed and didn't think it would take that long to cook - a must for me - so I pieced it together and cooked for the family and it was met with enthusiasm!

I couldn't believe it. I thought because it was new it would be poo-hoo'd!

Little miss had three serves and Hubby had two. And that is a winner in my books, so I thought I would share it here....

Recipe for the new favourite Sausage Casserole

Ingredients

3 medium potatoes
1-2 tbsp olive oil
4 sausages, cut into 1cm pieces with the skin left on
2 tin diced tomato
1 red capsicum, cut into strips
1 small onion, diced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 beef stock cube

Method

1. Parboil the potatoes. (If you leave them to cook with the casserole, you could be waiting a while.)
2. Heat oil in a large saucepan over moderate heat, add the onion, garlic and capsicum. Fry them until slightly softened.
3. Add the sausages and cook until browned.
4. Add the tin tomatoes and crumble in the beef stock cube.
5. Reduce the heat to allow to simmer gently.
6. Once the casserole has reduced to a consistency you are happy with, add your potatoes and stir to heat through.
7. Serve in a large bowl.

And there you have it.....watch out Hubby and little miss, you will probably be getting this once a week now ;)

What is your families favourite meal at the moment?