Food Club April 2016
Great News from the Live to Eat Marketplace – the Android App has arrived!
First the good news – ‘Live to Eat’ fans will love our new app. March saw the launch of our android app which will give you access to all our recipes, how to use our ‘hero’ ingredients with step by step instructions, and how to enjoy and have fun whilst cooking in the kitchen. Our philosophy has always been to make cooking a great experience, taking very little time to get your meal to the table (30-60 minutes maximum) and using simple and healthy ingredients. Not many of us have the luxury of spare time in our busy working days, so download the app and make life even more enjoyable! Our app includes all advanced features. For full details: http://adamp.co/1RJ97wK
Sweet Tooth?
At Live to Eat, we guess there was disappointment for some that the Sugar Tax was passed by the Government in the March Budget. There were smiles on the faces of Jamie Oliver and his band of crusaders that this has finally been achieved, but others who love desserts and the anticipation of them at the end of the meal may have seen their delicious and decadent desires go up in smoke. Whilst the principle is good in terms of cutting down obesity in the UK, particularly in children, surely making that choice is dependent on how we feed our children as a whole? This has to be a deeper issue, and if you have something you would like to say about it, we would love to hear from you in our comments section on https://adampittaway.co.uk/food-club-april-2016/
The amount of tax that will be raised is negligible, and we feel it certainly won’t put off dessert lovers – are you really going to notice that your dessert is 10p or 20p more? If you want to eat it, you will! The thought process should be about what is going into your body, not how much it is costing you, so just be wise – there are plenty of desserts out there that won’t cram your body full of sugar and other nasties. Experiment with our recipe for Healthy Chocolate Brownies – the ingredient list may seem long, but everything is usable for other baking.
Healthy Chocolate Brownies
These are quite delicious, considering there is no actual sugar in them, but a substitute. There may be some items you are not used to buying, but you will like the taste of these brownies so you will use up anything you buy quite quickly! This recipe makes quite a thick and unctuous set of brownies!
Serves: 16 – 20 pieces
Preparation Time: 10 – 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 – 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 4tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 4tbsp low fat milk
- 2tsp vanilla extract
- 1tbsp Manuka honey (optional, but it does make the brownies a little sweeter)
- 115g/4oz unsweetened applesauce (if you can’t find it, use any fresh puree without added sugar – bananas, pineapple, pears or peaches)
- 1 egg
- 125g/4½oz unsweetened cocoa powder
- 270g/9oz whole wheat flour
- ½tsp baking powder
- ½tsp salt
- 1½tsp pure stevia extract (or other sugar substitute)
- 140g/5oz sugar free chocolate chips or carob chips
- Optional: 85g/3oz chopped nuts (walnuts or hazelnuts are good)
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
- Line a 20x20cm/8x8inch baking dish with parchment paper.
- Whisk together oil, milk, vanilla, apple sauce and egg.(add honey at this stage if you are using it).
- Add cocoa, flour, baking powder, salt and stevia and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and add nuts if desired.
- Pour batter into pan and top with a few more chocolate chips if desired.
- Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.
- Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Use a knife dipped into water to make slicing easier.
Eat to Live ‘Tidbits’
There are some new kids on the block in the last few weeks, some to tantalise your tastebuds and others to make your life easier in the kitchen.
Talking of sweet things, Propercorn is a healthy, gluten free and delicious popcorn, on sale in most major supermarkets and in several flavours. Every pack of PROPERCORN is made using the best quality, GM-free corn. Only butterfly corn is popped because of its light and crunchy texture. It’s also a brilliant source of fibre and ideal for vegetarians. At the London Fashion Week, Propercorn was the official snack supplier. Both sweet and savoury flavours are available – what’s even better, they are relatively low in sugar!!
The United Nations has named 2016 the International Year of Pulses, to highlight the nutritional benefits of these wholesome foods. If you want to enjoy pulses and seeds, try germinating your own and using them in salads, stir fry’s or casseroles. You can buy effective germinators from as little as £15.00, and by staggering the sowing time, you can have a constant supply at hand. Involve the children, it is fun and may teach them something.
Recommendation: The BioSnacky with 3 trays to allow staggered sowing. Available at www.avogel.co.uk at £17.99.