Ginger Cake

I really love ginger it's great for you and tastes great too. When I found this Ginger Cake recipe I had to make it.

It so simple and easy to make and totally lactose free.

Ginger Cake

Ingredients
1 tablespoon margarine
½ cup brown sugar
1 egg
½ cup rice milk
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda


Method
Grease a loaf tin
Cream margarine and sugar
Beat egg well mix in the milk and treacle
Add gradually to creamed margarine and sugar
Lightly stir in the sifted flour, ginger, cinnamon and soda.
Pour into tin.
Bake for about 25 minutes.
Turn onto cooling racks to cool.


Icing

White Icing Sugar
You can choose to ice with icing sugar mixed with a little water to the consistency that you like. I prefer a thicker topping so don't use much water.

Cinnamon & Honey Topping
Melt 2 tablespoon milk free margarine and brush over loaf then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and then drizzle with a little honey. 

Homemade Vegan Chocolate Mud Cake

I got this lovely Vegan Chocolate Mudcake recipe from WhyVeg.com.  I was looking for a sweet treat but something healthy and this hit the spot.

This is a chocolate cake recipes made from scratch which you will definitely enjoy and make again and again.

Chocolate Mudcake Recipe

Ingredients
100g Wholemeal flour
100g Plain flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
30g Cocoa
100g Caster sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
125ml Vegetable oil
175ml Water

Chocolate Icing
1 cup icing sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons milk free margarine
2 tablespoons water


Method

Preheat oven to 160 degrees C.

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Add wet ingredients and mix with a mixer on high for a couple of minutes.

Pour into baking tin.

Cook for approx 40mins or until a skewer comes out clean.

Allow to cool to room temperature.

Ice with Choclate icing by sifting the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Then add remaining ingredients and mix well. Ice cake.
 

Light and Healthy Sausage Rolls

I have wanted to make sausage rolls for ages but don't really like eating pastry because I find it too heavy due to all the butter that it has in it. Then I discovered low fat puff pastry and thought I would give it a go. I am glad I did as it is light and delicious.

I mince my own meat which I prefer to to do as this way I know exactly what type of meat goes in it. No off cuts for me. I got my mincer off eBay for about $40 and it works brilliantly.

Serve these healthy and delicious little sausage rolls with tomato sauce as you can see from above I love my sauce.

Be careful as they are light and addictive. Pace yourself. If you eat too many you will get a stomach ache. Hmmm am I speaking from experience!

Sausage Rolls Recipe

Makes 20


Ingredients
250gm chuck steak minced or your can buy ready minced beef
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/2 zucchini grated
1/2 small brown onion chopped
1 small carrot grated
1 tspn thyme
1 tbsp parsley
1/4 cup melted milk free margarine
2 sheets frozen low fat puff pastry
salt and pepper


Method
Preheat oven to 200C. Line 2 baking trays with baking paper.

Mix together mince, breadcrumbs, zucchini, carrot, herbs, salt and pepper and half of the melted margarine. Use hands and mix well to combine.

Cut each side of pastry in half. Divide mince mixture along the centre of each piece of pastry, shaping it into a log. Brush edges of pastry with remaining melted margarine. Roll up pastry to enclose filling. 

Cut into preferred sizes. I got between 4 and 5 pieces per log. Brush with remaining melted margarine and place on prepared trays.

Bake for 20 minutes until pastry is puffed up and golden. Serve the sausage rolls with tomato sauce.

Pork Wonton Soup

I found this Pork Wonton Soup recipe in that wonderful Woolworths Fresh magazine.  It is very simple and easy to make and very delicious.

I didn't have any bok choy which the original recipe calls for so used broccoli and mushrooms instead.

The wonton wrappers were purchased from a Korean supermarket which was a few blocks away from where I work so easy to get. I couldn't find them in my local supermarket.

Pork Wonton Soup Recipe

Ingredients
200gm pork mince
5 whole chestnuts finely chopped
1 tbsp Oyster Sauce
2 green shallots finely chopped
1 tsp cornflour
24 gow gee wrappers
4 cups chicken stock
4 cups cold water
¼ cup salt-reduced soy sauce
2 tspns sesame oil
4 large mushrooms chopped
¼ broccoli cut into smaller pieces


Method
1. Combine mince, chestnuts, shallots and oyster sauce in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Mix cornflour with 1 tbsp cold water to make a smooth paste. 

 

 3. Place three gow gee wonton wrappers on the bench top. Put a teaspoon of pork mixture into the centre of each wrapper, brush edges with cornflour mixture then bring up corners to form a sack and repeat (as above).

 4. Pour stock and water into a large deep saucepan and bring to the boil over high heat. Add soy sauce, sesame oil and wontons.

5. Cook for 3 then add broccoli and mushrooms and cook for another 3 minutes.

6. Ladle soup into bowls and serve.

Crispy Potato Chips

I found this fantastic recipe for super crispy chips and wedges.

They really do come out crispy crunchy and healthy.

Crispy Potato Chips & Wedges

Method:

Wash potatoes.

Add to saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil cooking for 15 minutes.

Drain potatoes and cool slightly.

Cut potatoes into wedges or slices.

On medium high heat melt some margarine and oil in a large fry pan and sauté wedges until golden brown.

Reduce heat to medium and cook for another 10 minutes or until wedges are crispy and soft inside.

Season with salt.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

I found this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffle recipe a few months ago but have not been game enough to try it until last night. I can't even remember where I found it.

Anyway it's a very naughty recipe but still good. It is for those days when you say to hell with it I want chocolate!

The chocolate coating has a lovely crunch to it when you bite through it to get to the cookie dough centre. They are so fun to eat. Enjoy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles

Makes: 18-24

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups plain flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon bi-card soda (baking soda)
1/2 cup margarine, room temperature
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 tbsp soy milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
200 gms dark chocolate for coating

Method:
Beat butter and sugars in a large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add soymilk and vanilla. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips.

Cover and chill dough for 1 hour.

Form dough into round balls and arrange on a baking sheet lined with baking paper.

Place in freezer and chill for 30 minutes.

Melt chocolate coating in a heat proof bowl over a saucepan of boiling water or as package directions.

Using a fork or a dipping tool, dip cookie balls into chocolate to cover. Tap fork on side of pan to remove any excess coating, and return to lined baking trays. Chill until set.

Store, in an airtight container in the fridge though good luck making them last that long!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Even though I am lactose intolerant I still love chocolate and had a mad craving for Chocolate Chip Cookies. I actually found this recipe on my baking tray from Baker's Secret.

These are soft Chocolate Chip Cookies they don't come out crunchy but they are incredibly delicious.

I hope you will love them as much as I do.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients
1/2 cup margarine
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup & 2 tbsp plain flour 
1/2 tsp bi-carb soda


Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 175 C. Line a cookie tray with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, cream together margarine, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add egg beating well then stir in vanilla.

4. Sift flour and bi-carb soda then add salt and stir into creamed mixture.

5. Stir in chocolate chips.

6. Place rounded spoonfuls onto biscuit tray.

7. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until lightly brown. Then move to cooling rack and enjoy.