This chocolate ganache or fudgy frosting is a wonderful option for restricted diets. It can be easily Gluten-free and  Nut-free ( check the labels of the ingredients you are using, to be sure). You can have intense and rich flavour or mild and sweet, it all depends on the chocolate you are using.

With this frosting you have different options, you can pour the hot frosting as a glaze or cool the mixture off, which makes this frosting pipeable and spreadable.

This recipe is super easy. I use it for brownies, raw tarts, cakes and cupcakes.  This one is a perfect frosting for cakes that aren’t exposed to warm temperatures. I have made cakes with this frosting in the summer, but I freeze the cake before transporting it (only short distances). It will definitely melt otherwise, but for autumn, winter and spring it should be fine.

There are many ways to melt your chocolate, but I am using mainly this method, which is fool-proof.

Ingredients:

• 400ml Creamy Coconut milk (canned is perfect, with the highest % of fat)
• 600gr Vegan Chocolate (bars or chips)
• 2 tbsp Coconut Oil

Method:

1. Cook the coconut milk until boil
2. Chop the chocolate bar and place it in a microwave-safe bowl
3. Turn off the heat and add the coconut oil, and mix well
4. Pour the hot coconut milk over the chocolate
5. Let it set 2 min
6. Start whisking until you get a smooth shiny chocolate cream
7. You can pour this hot mixture in your pie or tart base
8. For cakes, let it cool off in the fridge or overnight until you get a perfect spreadable /pipeable texture
9. If it’s too solid to work, pop it in the microwave for a 1-min session until you get the right spreadable and pipeable texture
10. Left-overs? you can store it up to a week in the fridge

Orange Curd Recipe

 

I am sure you have heard of lemon curd, but did you try orange curd! It is delicious, it’s a little less tangy, and a bit more sweet, but so yummy.

I kept eating it right from the jar.

I used orange curd for squares, pies, cake filling but also as in buttercream.

It gives more air to the buttercream, making it light and fluffy and not overly sweet and heavy. It is basically like lemon curd but made from oranges.

 

Ingredients

• Orange zest of 3 Oranges
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• Fresh Orange juice of 3 Oranges
•  1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• 5 Tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1. Mix the cornstarch with the milk, water, sugar, zest and Orange juice in a pot.
2. Combine until smooth.
3. Cook the mixture on medium heat, keep stirring until it becomes a thick jam.
4. Turn off the heat, and add the coconut oil

Lemon Curd Recipe

 

This recipe is one of my favourites, especially for cake fillings and buttercreams.

Lemon curd can be used for pies, squares, cakes or to give any dessert a zesty and tangy twist.

Ingredients

• lemon zest of 3 lemons
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• lemon juice of 5 lemons
•  1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 5 Tbsp coconut oil

Instructions

1. Mix the cornstarch with the milk, water, sugar, zest and lemon juice in a pot.
2. Combine until smooth.
3. Cook the mixture on medium heat, keep stirring until it becomes a thick jam.
4. Turn off the heat, and add the coconut oil

 

 

Tropical Cupcakes

I love trying out new things with baking. And this one is a keeper.

It is a Gluten-free & Vegan cupcake recipe, good for any celebration.

 

 

Pina Colada smoothie

My go-to summer drink and especially, when I was pregnant of my second child.

This easy non alcoholic pina colada is heaven in a cup.

 Suitable for approx. 5 people

INGREDIENTS

• 1 fresh pineapple, chopped
• 2 cups ice
• 1 can of coconut milk
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup of coconut yoghurt
• 1 ripe banana
• water to thin, as needed

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Combine pineapple, ice, coconut milk, sugar, banana, coconut yoghurt and vanilla in a blender. Pulse until smooth.
2. Add water 1-2 tablespoons at a time ( if you  want it thinner)
3. Pour into glasses and serve immediately ❤

Sesame Spinach salad

This salad is one of the tastiest salads ever.  This dish is called “Namul” and  refers to  a variety of edible grass or leaves or seasoned herbal dishes made of them.  In Suriname we have a similar dish called “pitjel” and its served with hot spicy peanut sauce! YUM

Sesame seeds has many benefits, one of them is  it contains high levels of zinc, a vital component in the formation of collagen, which strengthens the muscle tissue, hair, and skin.  Sesame seeds are packed with unique organic compounds, such as sesamolin, as well as minerals like copper, calcium, iron, and manganese, as well as vitamins and fiber. These seeds may be small, but they pack a major health punch and can help with everything from digestion and circulation to bone strength and inflammation. And spinach has many benefits too, to name a few. It’s  good for the skin, eyesight, healthy blood pressure, stronger muscles, and boosted growth for infants.

So this salad is  perfect for the body and will benefit you in many ways!

 

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

2 teaspoons soy sauce (gluten-free, not all soysauce’s are gluten-free)

2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil

¼ cup water

500gr baby spinach

 

• Place water in a pot big  and boil on high heat.
• When the water is boiling add the spinach and stir until the spinach leafs are completely wilted.
• This takes up to 3 minutes after drain the spinach and squeeze out the water.
• Chop the spinach roughly.
• Mix the spinach with the toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce and sesame oil. 

Bon Appétit

Vegan cupcakes

A cupcake recipe that is free from dairy!

Easy and yummy that is our motto 🙂

Green lentil soup

 

Every season has it’s ups and downs. Autumn and Winter are for me especially hard, because here in Belgium it can get really depressing cold. In those circumstances, the best thing to have as breakfast/lunch or dinner is soup. A big bowl of creamy soup, and huge croutons. My kids love eating soup with croutons as much as pizza.

Ingredients:

• 250ml green lentils, washed
• 1,5 liters of Water
• 3ml Salt
• 1 tbsp coconut cream
• 30ml Ghee or butter
• 2ml black pepper
• 2ml ground nutmeg

 

Method.

1. Bring the lentils to the boil in the measured amount of water in a large saucepan.
2. Remove any scum that forms.
3. Lower the heat, partially cover the pan and simmer for about 30-35 min. until soft.
4. Then add the salt and coconut cream.
5. Leave the soup to simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. Remove from the heat.
7. In a small pan, heat the ghee or butter.
8. Add the ground nutmeg and ground black pepper.
9. Pour over the lentils the spice mix and cook for 2 min.