Showing posts with label Breakfast Ideas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breakfast Ideas. Show all posts

Delicious Low-Fat Cheese Cake [wheat-free and refined sugar-free!]

Friday 21 March 2014

This light baked cheesecake has won a golden medal in my family! Being low fat yet nutritious and filling, not too sweet and not too sour, having soft texture and delicious flavors - all of that makes it a perfect breakfast idea. It is a safe dessert alternative for those who watch their weight, follow a low-sodium diet, healing a stomach from gastritis, have irritated stomach lining or other abdominal distress. And kids love this cake too!


I am happy to say straight away that preparation is very easy and no advanced or even intermediate baking skills are required!

INGREDIENTS:
♥ 500g of low fat cottage cheese or quark
♥ 4-5 large ripe bananas (4 for a thinner filling as on the second picture above)
♥ 130g of rolled oats
♥ Optional: 2-3 tablespoons of sugar-free low-salt peanut butter or cashew nut butter
♥ Optional: 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla powder
♥ Coconut butter to smear a baking tin

METHOD:
♥ Preheat an oven to 180C degrees.
♥ Very lightly smear the inside of your pie tin with a thin coating of organic butter or coconut butter (no margarine)

Cake base:
♥ Take a standard coffee mug of steel-cut or rolled oats (not 'easy-cook' or instant oats)
♥ 2 large ripe bananas
♥ Optional: If you don't suffer from nut allergies and if you are not prone to migraines - 2-3 tablespoons of organic sugar-free low-salt peanut butter. If you add peanut butter, you can safely reduce the amount of butter or coconut butter you smeared your pie tin with
♥ Process the base mixture in a chopper or anything else that does the same job - chopping and blending everything well together :) Any food processor will do! Here's a picture of the one that I use and it came within a hand blender set. By the way, it's better to process ingredients in parts if they don't all fit into your food processor's container at one time.
Hello, I'm a chopper! :)
♥ Now line the bottom of a pie tin with the base mixture ans smooth it out with the back side of a tablespoon. Bake it for 12 minutes.
♥ Clean the chopper or food processor's container as you'll need it again to make the filling.
♥ After 12 minutes have passed, take the cake base out from the oven and let it cool down a little. It need not be too soft of too crusty, just somewhere in between is perfect!

Cake filling:
♥ Take approx. 500 g of low fat organic cottage cheese
♥ 3 large ripe bananas (or 2 for a thinner filling, see 2nd picture from the top)
♥ Optional: 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla powder (if you can get it organic - that's great!)
♥ Blend it all together in a food processor. I just use my good old chopper you now are introduced with. :) In the UK cottage cheese usually comes a bit watery and grainy, so if you are using a dry/drained cottage cheese, you might want to add some water (about 7 tablespoons) or organic plain yoghurt or kefir, so that a consistency or your mixture resembles a pudding.

Raw mixture before cooking: 

♥ Pour the mixture over your base and bake for 30 - 35 minutes at 180C degrees.
♥ Take it out, let it cool until room temperature and then unclip the sides of your pie tin to serve.

You can also do a layered version with blueberries.❤



1. Bake your oats & banana cake base (instructions as above) for 10 minutes.
2. In a food processor or chopper process 140g of frozen or fresh blueberries with 80g of cashew nuts. The consistency should not be too watery, but should look rather like a thick yogurt. Pour the mixture over the base and bake it for another 20 minutes.
3. Follow the instructions above on how to make a cake filling and pour it over the blueberry layer. Bake for another 30-35 minutes. Let cool and enjoy! 

 Bon Appétit!

Perfect Morning Wake-Up Smoothie! Hello Sunshine, Au Revoir Coffee!

Sunday 16 March 2014

Some of you may know that I am not a fan of cleansing diets or strict detox regimes as these can cause great complications on your health an put your body under unnecessary stress. So instead I suggest a mild and natural way that purifies your blood, strengthens your liver and promotes healthy digestion - nourishing smoothies and fresh vegetables salads high in fibre vitamins and minerals.
I want to share with you several recipes that me and my family love, so that you can pick and chose which ones you like best.  ❤   

Why it is good for you:
I love this morning smoothie for its waking-up, hydrating, invigorating and refreshing properties! It does it job so well, you'll forget about your morning coffee. ;)
      ♥ It strengthens your stomach lining and cleanses your digestive tract too.
      ♥ It is also perfect if you have a sore throat and it greatly boosts your immunity to keep those colds and flu away!
      ♥ This smoothie does not spike your sugar level (therefore doesn't make you tired or sleepy!), but at the same time being rich in fibre, vitamin C and beta-carotene (when adding carrots), water and potassium it kick starts all processes in your body to get you ready for the day!

Ingredients:
      ♥ 1/2 large green apple
      ♥ 1 tablespoon of fresh peeled ginger
      ♥ Optional: 1 heaped tablespoon of kale
      ♥ Either half a pear or 1 kiwi or few slices of any citrus fruit or any berries of your choice -  Whatever your heart desires on that particular day! :) If you suffer from stomach problems, add a half of a medium size banana.
      ♥ Filtered water to fill in your glass in between the fruit pieces
      ♥ Blend everything in your smoothie / milkshake maker for about 10-15 seconds. Shake well and enjoy!

Or a second option:
Another variation of this smoothie is to add carrots and kiwi. 
When you add carrots, slice them into small bits so that the blades of your drinks maker can go through them easier. ;)
 
As always remember - add citrus fruit if your stomach can tolerate them, otherwise if you have a sensitive stomach - add half of a medium size banana. ;)

With Love,
Natalia xx

Easy breakfast or snack for kids (or for yourself) in 5 minutes - Warm Fruit Sandwiches

Friday 24 January 2014

If your kids love fruit or if you feel like heaving a light breakfast, and you are short of time - this option is for you!

BENEFITS:
♥ Plenty of dietary fibre and complex carbohydrates that
  • help feel full longer
  • increase physical stamina
  • promote mental alertness
  • help with weight control*
  • keep gastrointestinal tract clean.
♥ Potassium for vitality, optimal water balance and functioning of organs and muscles. Speeds up all processes in the body.
♥ Magnesium for formation of bones, teeth and proper functioning of nervous and muscular systems. It promotes good mood and healthy metabolism.
♥ Calcium and Phosphorus for healthy growth in children, strong teeth and bones, proper muscle contraction and nerve signals transmission, optimal fat metabolism and healthy weight control.
♥ Manganese for formation of bones, skin (collagen formation), healthy metabolism and immunity.
♥ Chromium for healthy sugar level control in blood.
♥ Vitamin B6  for good mood (helps produce serotonin), immunity and healthy metabolism and healthy heart.
♥ Vitamin C for healthy growth, tissue repair, stamina and it fights again free-radicals and infections.
♥ Easy and quick to prepare
    ♥ Delicious - your kids WILL love it!

PREPARATION:
    ♥ Wholegrain bread (preferably with bran) from integral/wholemeal flour) something like this:
If you can get organic bread - fantastic!
Sprouted bread is particularly beneficial (e.g. Essene/Ezekiel bread).
     
     ♥ Slice organic apple and banana
     ♥ Put sandwich on top (not inside) of toaster to serve warm sandwiches :)
     Sprinkle cinnamon on top of apples for a delicious flavour!
  
SERVE WITH:
Glass of warm organic semi-skimmed milk for kids to maintain healthy growth
Warm almond drink or oat drink if your kid is lactose intolerant (preferably unsweetened)
Small pot of organic low-fat plain yogurt 
♥ Vegan option: Spoonful of organic sugar-free low-salt peanut butter or almond butter
You can also alternate between wholemeal bread and organic wholegrain oatcakes (wheat-free).
*Skip the banana if you are trying to lose weight. Bananas are OK though in moderate quantities if you are maintaining your weight.

Enjoy!
Love,
Natalia xx 

Homemade Organic Fermented Milk Drink

Friday 22 November 2013



I'd like to share a very simple recipe of a very popular fermented milk drink in Russia and all former Soviet Union states ! It is very similar to yoghurt, but is much better for drinking.

There are loads of production ways, but I want to share a very easy way of how to do it at home!

1. Bring to boil organic semi-skimmed milk. Cool it down. Pour it into any glass container.

2. Take a small piece of organic dark german wholegrain rye bread (like a Schneider Brot / German Vollkornbrot) and put it into the milk. For 1 pint of milk you'll need a bread slice only 4х4 cm big.

3. Close the container or cover with a saucer. Leave to stand for 1,5 or to days.

4. Enjoy with fresh cucumbers seasoned with dill and rye bread! It is suitable for any part of the day and your kids will love it too.

Bon appétit!
Natalia xx

In Russian / По-русски:
 
Всем любителям простокваши посвящается!
Если вам в Англии тоже сложно найти кефир или простоквашу по душе, вам очень понравится такой способ! Вам не понадобятся специальная грибковая закваска, которую используют для приготовления кефира. Зато такая простокваша домашнего приготовления совсем не уступает по вкусу настоящему кефиру!

1. Берем натуральное Organic Semi-Skimmed Milk (полуобезжиренное), доводим до кипения. Снимаем с огня и остужаем. Когда молоко стало хотя бы комнатной температуры, разливаем его с стеклянную баночку.

2. Чтобы молоко прокисло, добавляем в него маленький кусочек черного хлеба (примерно 4х4 см на 560 мл / 1 пинту), обязательно корочку. Я брала Organic German Wholegrain Rye Bread - плоский Schneider Brot / German Vollkornbrot. Можно добавить ложку Organic Probiotic Yoghurt для более "кремовой" текстуры.

3. Закрыть баночки и на 1.5-2 дня поставить на подоконник. И ГОТОВО!

Для последующего приготовления хлеб уже не понадобится - достаточно будет добавить в кипяченое и остуженное молоко две-три ложки уже готового напитка.
 
Только вот весь свой я уже выпила - очень уж соскучилась по кефиру с огурцами!! :)

Всем приятного аппетита! 
Наталия хх

Simple Vegan Banana & Oat Cookies [High-Fibre, Low-Fat, Wheat-Free, Refined Sugar-Free]

Thursday 21 November 2013


Great as a morning nibble for you and your little angels (i.e. your kids! :))) )


INGREDIENTS: 
♥ 2 medium ripe bananas
1 mug of oats
♥ Dried fruit and seeds to taste
♥ Organic ground cinnamon or ground vanilla powder 
Organic coconut butter to brush the pan you'll be cooking with

DIRECTIONS:
STEP 1: Preheat the oven to 190C.
STEP 2: Puree bananas with a hand blender or chopper. Add dried fruit of your choice and blend lightly. Chopping dried fruit with a knife works just as well!
STEP 3: Stir in oats, seeds and either ground cinnamon or vanilla powder and mix everything well.
STEP 4: Grease your baking tray with coconut butter. Then using a tablespoon and your clean hands, form little flat cookies and put them one by one onto the baking tray.  Turn down the oven temperature to 180C and bake for 12 minutes.
STEP 5: Let them cool down on a plate and ENJOY!

And here's a picture of my favorite version made of dried figs and desiccated coconut:



With love,
Natalia xx