If Christmas isn’t your favourite time of the year then maybe these will change your mind. Like wise if you aren’t the biggest choc mint fan… these jingle balls will definitely change your mind! They are my all time favourite protein balls and are a Christmas must! Perfect way to enjoy the silly season whilst maintaining your protein levels and reducing your intake of artificial sugars!
Continue reading “SPIRULINA MINT JINGLE BALLS”
If you follow any health or fitness foodie on instagram you are bound to have come across Matcha Green Tea Powder. Not only does it have the most beautiful green colour and make everything look stunning, it is amazingly good for you too. Just like regular green tea which is packed with antioxidants, matcha is great for your insides and metabolism. Green tea not only speeds up your metabolism and gives you energy, it is great for detoxing and weightloss! Continue reading “MATCHA COCONUT BALLS”
This would have to be my signature and most successful to date raw sugarfree dessert. Firstly if you know me well you will know that I am … how shall i put this… a HUGE fan of (some might say obsessed with) peanut butter. Not only does it taste amazing but it also has amazing health benefits. Peanut butter, and I am talking the natural no added sugar or vegetable oil ones, is chock-full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat which reduces belly fat, decrease your risk of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic health conditions. The combination of fibre and protein fills you up and keeps you fuller for longer, so you eat less overall. One study published in the Journal of the Medical Association found that consuming about 2 tablespoons a day at least 5 days a week can lower the risk of developing diabetes and belly fat by almost 30%. Hell yes!!!
So get your spooning on!!!
CHOC PEANUT BUTTER SALTED CARAMEL SLICE GF SF DF V* P*
CHOC BROWNIE BASE
1 1/4 C rolled oats
1 C pitted dates (soaked overnight in water)
½ C cacao powder
½ coconut oil / olive oil
2/3 C honey or pure maple syrup
PEANUT BUTTER CARAMEL CENTRE
1.5 C natural peanut butter
1 C pitted dates soaked overnight in water
2/3 C honey or pure maple syrup
4T coconut cream Note: don’t shake the tin – use the thick cream from the top
1tsp sea salt
CHOC GANASH TOPPING
Block of dark chocolate or homemade raw chocolate (see alternative recipe at bottom)
¼ C natural peanut butter
1-2T coconut cream
1tsp sea salt
* Salted crushed peanuts for topping
METHOD
The best part about this recipe is that although it has so many nutritious amazing ingredients- it’s really simple!! It’s a whizz layer freeze style of baking.
It is 100% vital to have a food processor (blenders have been known to break in our house in the attempt of blending dates and peanut butter)
and you will need to soak the dates overnight AND it takes atleast 4 hours or overnight for the final product to set!!!! These times cannot be compromised or substituted. I say this now because there is nothing worse than getting to the end of a recipe and planning to plate up in 5 mins and then reading “set in fridge overnight’ Trust me – been there done that and it is totally worth the wait!
1. Blend the oats in the food processor (FP). Drain the soaked dates and blend with oats until combined – about 30 seconds. Add the oil, honey and cocoa. This should form a thick doughy base. Depending on your FP you might need to add more oats if it’s too soft. You want to have to ‘press’ the base into the tin not pour it.
2. Press into a large brownie tin lined with baking paper and refridgerate. If it looks like you have quite a lot (even once the taste testing is perfected) then press some into small patty pans to make little cupcake size peanut butter treats. I use these cute heart shape mini tart tins which make for a super special sweet treat!
3. Now the caramel centre – get those finger licking skills ready. Place the drained dates into the food processor and blitz until a smooth caramel consistency. Add peanut butter, coconut cream, salt and honey and blend for 1 minute until creamy and lump free. Pour over the chocolate brownie base and refrigerate. Now get those fingers into the food processor and lick the thing clean – once the blades are removed of course! This high protein, good fat and fibre rich layer is to die for… and it means less elbow grease in the kitchen sink cleaning!
4. Melt the dark chocolate in a bowl either over the stove or slowly in a microwave. Once smooth (and not burnt) add the peanut butter, coconut cream and sea salt and stir until it is well combined. Pour over chilled peanutbutter caramel layer and top with crushed peanuts. Place in freezer for 3-4 hours minimum or overnight for best results.
5. When ready to serve simply take out of tin and let it thaw on the bench for 10-15 minutes. Cut into slices and enjoy! You can freeze ready to grab slices for up to 8 weeks. Little tip when slicing – if the chocolate ganash is really hard and proving difficult to chop, cut long ways and then turn the slice on its side and cut the fingers/pieces that way. It is easier to cut on a small ‘edge’ side rather than flat chocolate. Little bit of architecture model making knowledge there :)
Goodluck, have fun, taste/sample regularly and let me know how it goes! Put your photo up on instagram and tag me @katie_kale_kettlebell or hashtag #kaleandthekettlebell nom nom nom
K
*ALTERNATIVE RECIPE OPTIONS
RAW CHOCOLATE
1/3 C coconut oil
1/3 C cacao powder
2-3Tbs honey or maple syrup
Melt coconut oil and combine with honey and cacao powder until smooth. Add in place of the melted dark chocolate for the ganash topping.
PALEO: To make this recipe paleo you can simple replace the 1 1/4 C rolled oats with nuts of choice. Almonds or a mix of ABC – Almond Brazil and Cashew would work perfectly.
VEGAN: To ensure the recipe is totally vegan use Maple syrup in place of the honey
Whether it is the fact that Valentine’s Day is this weekend or that people seem to be talking about what they are “giving up” for lent, there’s no hiding the fact that chocolate is in the air. These heart shaped chocolate lemon curd tarts are the perfect raw Valentine treat. Continue reading “CHOCOLATE COCONUT TART WITH LEMON CURD FILLING”
Here is a quick and almighty delicious raw ball recipe for day 6 of Nutritional November! Because it’s the weekend and who doesn’t deserve Chocolate AND peanut butter on the weekend!! This is one of my favourite “ball” recipes! (My mint spirulina ones are joy too >> recipe here!) So easy. So quick! And they are great for the freezer! Make a batch (or two) this weekend!
Okay so I’ve been meaning to get this one up for aggggggges now but have never found the time. BUT whilst sitting on the plane to Spain I have nothing but time so here goes!
It all started back in July in my birthday week. I couldn’t decide what cake I wanted to celebrate my 25th bday with…. Cheesecake or lemon meringue pie? Both of which are my all time favourite desserts! The lemon meringue pie I made for Mother’s Day recipe HERE was an absolute hoot. Oh and the choc base lemon curd tart too recipe HERE, but then cheesecake is my fave. And then boom it hit me. Why limit yourself to one when you can layer them and have BOTH! So I used the ever faithful Sarah Wilson I quit sugar recipes as a base and combined this killer dessert! Fair to say I had a super sweet birthday minus the sugar!! 
CRUNCHY NUT BAKED CHEESECAKE WITH LEMON CURD AND MERINGUE
Serves 8 – GF DF* P SF – 3 hours
BASE
1 cup oats or LSA mix
1 cup almonds or pistachios/hazelnuts (use another but other than almonds here if you used LSA above)
120gms coconut oil or butter
1 cup desiccated coconut
2 Tbs rice malt syrup
pinch of salt
dash of cinnamon
CHEESECAKE FILLING
2 Tbs Greek yoghurt
4 Tbs Full fat coconut cream
1 cup cream cheese
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 Lemon juiced and zest
1/2 cup rice malt syrup
1 vanilla bean
LEMON CURD
1/2 cup coconut oil
2 whole eggs
6 egg yolks (save the whites)
Juice and zest of 2 lemons
3 Tbs rice malt syrup
1 tsp stevia
MERINGUE
6 egg whites
2 Tbs rice malt syrup
METHOD:
Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius.
Line or spray a deep pie / tart tin.
Place the ingredients for the crust in a food processor and process until combined. The more you blend the more the oils from the nuts are released. Add more butter or coconut oil if necessary. Take out and press into a lined cake or tart dish working your way up the sides. Remember it is not just a base but a crust for the filling so make it deep!
Place crust in the oven for 8-10 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
Meanwhile combine the cheesecake ingredients in a clean food processor. Careful not too over process. You just want the lumps gone and watch out for any lemon pips whilst squeezing!
Pour the cheesecake filling into the cooled tart crust. Place in oven for 20-30 minutes until it bakes and goes hard or set like jelly. Don’t over cook!
For the lemon curd, melt the coconut oil on the stove. Add the rice malt and lemon juice/zest. Slowly add the eggs and yolks whilst whisking. Careful not to over boil the curd otherwise you will end up with lemon scrambled eggs! When it begins to thicken lift it off the heat and whisk in mid air. Add back to the heat if necessary. Leave to cool. Pour over the cheesecake layer and set aside.
For the final layer of this epic cake / pie / tart you need to make the meringue. Either with some good old elbow grease or electric beaters beat the egg whites and rice malt until it starts to go white and glossy. You want it to hold its form and make peaks. About 3-5 minutes. Slop the meringue mixture onto the lemon curd layer. When it is covered use the whisk or a spoon to create some peaks for aesthetic purposes.
Place the whole cake into the oven for 6-8 minutes until the meringue has browned at the tips. Careful not to burn or grill it! Just a light browning it will do.
Take out and place in fridge to set for 2 hours or overnight! When it’s time to eat it take it out and sprinkle with some matcha green tea powder if you have it!
Serve huge slabs of this beauty and enjoy! I couldn’t believe how amazingly yum and sweet this cake was. The perfect amount of savoury creamy lemony ricotta and tangy sweet curd, crunchy base and fluffy top ahhhhhhh just make it! You can even freeze any left over slices (left over… Is there such a thing?)
K
It has been a while since I have done a Feature Friday on the blog. Sorry – I have been traveling the world sunning myself for hours on pebbley beaches and cheersing to cocktails at sunset (a lovely way to live for those interested) But it also means that I have neglected a part of me that I am passionate about. My Health, fitness and wellbeing and writing . SO back to the drawing board they say and what better way to start than an Italian style FEATURE FRIDAY. And what better Italian dessert than the ever so famous Tiramisu. This gluten, sugar and dairy free Tiramisu is one to add to the to do list this weekend or the next family affair. An old sugary favourite with a healthy kick thanks to the gorgeous foodie blogger Emily from “This Rawsome Vegan Life” Continue reading “FEATURE FRIDAY – RAW VEGAN TIRAMISU SLICE”
Because I don’t keep things very private or quiet (never have) you probably ALL know that today is my last day at work. It feels like the last day of school. The unknown of leaving high school or graduating university. Anyway enough of that for now… as my last Friday at work I thought it fitting to have en epic Feature Friday. As a kid those Jaffa chocolate balls were my fave! I love the combo of chocolate and orange (thanks to my dad) and have been drooling over a Jaffa cheesecake for a while now. Continue reading “RAW CHOCOLATE ORANGE JAFFA CHEESECAKE – FEATURE FRIDAY”
A couple of weeks ago it was my turn to make something sweet for girls night! I asked the host what her ultimate dessert would be that I could recreate a sugar-free healthy version of. After an almost instant reply of “ummm sticky date pudding??” I was a little stumped because sticky date puddings are usually made of butter and brown sugar – big No No’s! BUT it didn’t take long before I was completely mind blown from the healthy versions of sticky date desserts all over the internet. I decided to go with the amaaaaazing looking Loving Earth recipe because I practically drooled on my screen as soon as I read it. And let me just tell you it blew everyone’s mind and you couldn’t tell that there wasn’t a single grain of refined sugars in sight!!!! This is the real deal minus the nasties. The cake itself didn’t take too long to make either. I chose to make 1 single large cake but 4-6 mini individual loafs would also have been a treat. Dates are packed with fiber and have so many nutritional benefits for you body. They are one of the very best sweet and versatile foods that can regulate the digestive process and are great natural unrefined sweetener whilst also offering a rich dose of several vitamins and minerals. Some health specialists have suggested eating 2-3 dates a day is necessary for a healthy and balanced diet and digestive system. This dessert is the perfect combination of natural sugars, proteins, carbohydrates and essential fats to give you the energy boost you need without the ugly sugar high and crash. Kids will also love it ! and salted caramel sauce?? need I say more!!!
STICKY DATE PUDDING WITH SALTED CARAMEL SAUCE
serves 6 – GF P V SF DF – 50 minutes
CAKE
4 teaspoons Coconut Oil (for greasing)
200g Salted Caramel L.E Chocolate >> SHOP HERE
3 tbsp Coconut Oil
80ml almond mylk
1 cup buckwheat flour or almond meal
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ cup Coconut Sugar
1 cup medjool dates, pitted
½ cup boiling hot water
250ml almond mylk
80–120g coconut cream
SAUCE
1 cup coconut cream
1 cup medjool dates, pitted
100g Salted Caramel Chocolate >> SHOP HERE
2 tbsp Lucuma or Maca Powder (optional)
2 tbsp coconut sugar
½ tsp salt
METHOD
Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease the loaf pan, mini loaf pans or large cake tin with the coconut oil.
Put the chocolate, coconut oil and 80ml almond milk in a double boiler. Gently heat until the chocolate has melted. Stir until smooth, remove from the heat and set aside. (you could do this in the microwave if you wanted to)
In another bowl, put the flour, baking powder, salt and coconut sugar. Stir together.
In a blender or small food processor, blitz together the medjool dates and water until the dates are just broken up. Add 205ml of almond milk and mix until combined. Gently fold in the through the caramel chocolate mixture.
Divide the mixture into the prepared mini loaf tins or large cake tin and place into the oven.
MINI LOAFS: Bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges and top are just cooked – you still want the middle to be slightly gooey as it will keep cooking once removed from the oven.
LARGE CAKE: Bake in the oven for 35-40 minutes until the edges and top are just cooked – you still want the middle to be slightly gooey as it will keep cooking once removed from the oven.
FOR THE SAUCE
Whilst the puddings are baking simply blend in a blender the dates and coconut cream until smooth. Place into a saucepan over a low heat with the caramel chocolate, Lucuma/maca, coconut sugar and salt. Keep mixing until the chocolate has melted and everything is combined before removing from the heat.
Remove cake from oven and gently poke/stab cake with a knife to create holes. Pour 1/2 of the sauce over the cake and let it seep into the holes. This is where the moist ‘pudding’ factor takes place. You want it to be nice and moist.
Place back in oven for 5-10 minutes. (Note: You do not need to place the mini cakes back in the oven)
When ready to serve, gently run a knife around the edge of the pans to loosen the small puddings or cake. Place on serving plates and serve with hot caramel sauce. Enjoy immediately! A blob of vanilla bean or coconut ice cream would be an absolute match made in heaven here. I also shaved some extra caramel chocolate on top.
Thanks Loving Earth for this incredible recipe!!!
ENJOY !
K
I recently got my hot little hands on a box of the NEW Loving Earth chocolate range and COULD NOT wait to dig into the raspberry cashew flavour! Boy was it incredible. Just what I was expecting and more. I decided to whip is a super cheeky afternoon delight using my new products teamed with my all time favourite bare blends. Try this smoothie – it is mouth watering!! Add ice if you like it extra thick and enjoy it with a spoon! Like me! The berries powder is super high in antioxidants and the healthy essential fats and protein from the cashews and powder help decrease the rate of sugar absorption into your blood stream.
RASPBERRY CASHEW CHOC SMOOTHIE
Serves 1 – GF DF R V P SF – 5 minutes
1 frozen banana
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
small handful unsalted cashews
2 squares NEW raspberry cashew Loving Earth Chocolate >> SHOP HERE
1 cup almond milk
1 tsp Bare Berries powder >> SHOP HERE
1 scoop Dark Cacao WPI powder >> SHOP HERE
ice (optional)
METHOD:
Place all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth and creamy.
Top with some extra chocolate shavings and cashews and enjoy
K
Here is why this smoothie is so jam packed with nutritious goodness;
RASPBERRIES/BERRY POWDER; high in antioxidants they are great for all things beauty. Your skin, your hair and that radiant glow are all thanks to antioxidants found in berries. Raspberries are low in fructose (fruit sugars) and can be the perfect ingredient in your next smoothie. They also offer a bounty of health benefits, from helping control weight to possibly helping prevent cancer* (Live Strong.)
GREEK YOGHURT; is a great calcium source which is vital for healthy and strong bones. It also provides the body with added protein and prebiotics for healthy gut bacteria. For people who have intolerances to foods sometimes the problem starts when your gut bacteria is out of whack. So before you cull the dairy and yoghurt why not scull it instead and see if your tummy is happier.
PROTEIN POWDER; double nutritious if you use cacao protein powder too. Protein in smoothies makes them a wholesome healthy light meal or snack on the go. The protein aids in muscle recovery and will keep you fuller for longer
CASHEWS; packed with healthy unsaturated fats cashews can help lower cholesterol levels and improve heart health. They are actually lower in fat than many other nuts which a lot of people do not know. Cashews are also great for reducing diabetes and blood sugar levels, so next time you are having some fruit or sugar – grab some cashews.
CACAO; super high in antioxidants this is the number 1 reason health professionals and foodies eat chocolate. Hint Hint; The darker the better because it contains the most cacao. Cacao is natures energy source and a high antioxidant known for its ability to cross your blood-brain barrier to help protect your nervous system.
KATIE MORGAN 