Tag Archives: dried fruit

Superfoods #1: Cacao Powder

June 8, 2013
Choc Chip Uru
115 comments
brownies, cacao powder, dates, dried fruit, healthy, no-bake, nuts, organic, raw, superfoods

Before I begin this post, this is way too long overdue, so I apologise! Do you remember a long time ago, when we were still wearing loincloths and feeding pet dinosaurs, I hosted a giveaway, and then the dinosaurs got extinct, man developed fire and you were still waiting to hear the results?

Well, wait no more thousand years longer, as officially, I would like to announce the winner:

Ladies and gentlemen, randomly chosen from our wonderful commenters waassss….. *anticipation*

ASHLEY FROM WISHES AND DISHES!

Ashley, you have full permission to do this 🙂

Yessireee this classy, upstate New Yorker will be the new, lucky owner of Ms Lorna Foreman’s one of a kind, Gluten-Free Cookbook, Wheat Watchers!! Congratulations 😀

I have emailed you a notification for your details, and then the book will be on its way!
And a big thank you to all of you for all the support you showed during the giveaway – I was overwhelmed as was Lorna!

Now… moving on to the post for today…

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How lucky am I? A couple of days back, Justin from Cheap Super Foods Australia, contacted me, asking me to try some wonderful up and coming raw, organic ingredients from their huge range. As if I could turn down a huge opportunity like that! I know many bloggers, especially Vegan, focusing on all these new foods, so I knew I had plenty of inspiration to start making recipes.

But what are superfoods? Why is using them considered ‘super’ but using caster sugar, isn’t? We are not being ingredient-ist here, but the term ‘superfoods’ means that particular ingredient has been classified as “Food with high nutrient and phytochemical content that may confer health benefits. It has few negative properties if any, considering it is highly unprocessed (natural), does not contain contaminants, saturated fats, artificial ingredients or food additives.” – Wikipedia

When I say ‘phytochemicals’, I mean naturally occurring beneficial chemical compounds in plants, such as antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and polyphenol. I used this think anything ‘organic’ equated in some way, to marijuana and hippie food, tasting like dirt despite any ‘benefits.’ Since I started food blogging, I have learnt a heck of a lot about all of it, and am glad to learn that is not the case! 😀

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I ‘Oat’ To Get Into Shape

February 28, 2012
Choc Chip Uru
80 comments
cereal, dried fruit, fruit, microwave cake, nuts, oats, quick

Sorry about that pun, but with all the oats I have just used over the past couple of days, it was really coming 😉

You remember my post from Sunday, also known as my last post to date?
You remember how it was all about my new love affair with cranberries? Well, Valentines may have come and gone, but nothing will extinguish how I feel about this gorgeous red fruit. All dried and pink, all red and round – either way, it is my new favourite 😀

Sorry that really had nothing to do with this post – I was just once again putting out there how much those wonderful berries mean to me 🙂

Anyways let’s go back to yesterday, when all my troubles seemed so far away (that’s a lie, I am talking about Saturday ;)). I had an epiphany after seeing a post on the wonderful Averie’s site and it lef to me making a revamped version of her wonderful Blueberry Banana Microwave Oat Cakes. Why?

Because I epiphanised (it is not a word mind you)

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A Third Liebster + A Super Chewy, Super Tasty, Super Sugarless Treat

February 12, 2012
Choc Chip Uru
80 comments
banana, cereals, dried fruit, healthy, muesli bars, nuts, oats, quick, seeds

Firstly, I would like to say thank you for the support shown in regards to my last post. I feel much better now and know that there were a couple of slightly off points in that post. But you (and cheesecake) always make me feel better 🙂
For now, it is touchwood and good thoughts all the way.

Secondly, I am very very very happy to announce that I have received a third Liebster Award 😀
This time from the wonderful Little Housewife – This lady is the epitome of perfection. All her posts make me want to devour the computer screen but I really doubt I would get the flavour of her wonderful baking that way. Kind, sweet and with a fantastic sense of humour, she is like a baking idol!

To see the rules of this award, you can go to my first award post – not because I am lazy but it is actually quite a bit to rewrite out and my copy and paste is a little hazy on my computer (I actually did not know a problem such as that was possible ;))

So here are 5 people I would like to recognise as winners in blogging 😀

The Unorthodox Epicure – Funny, awesome and a brilliant chef – there is really nothing else to say when it comes this guy’s fabulous blog 🙂
Pasta Princess And More – I don’t know about you all, but ‘Pasta Princess’ is one of the coolest blog names I have ever heard 😀 – and on top of that, she can cook savoury and sweet to the boot!
Simple Gluten Free Kitchen – Balvinder is one of the sweetest bloggers around – one of my first and top blogging friends, she is absolutely a delight and her recipes are truly made to fall in love with!
Sunday Morning Banana Pancakes – Heather is one very talented chef – her ideas are unique and delicious and each time I visit her blog, she inspires me so much!
Eliot’s Eats – I am not sure how many times I have sat and gone through the wonderful recipes on this blog – Sweet, savoury, delicious, more delicious – This wonderful couple make everything!

Congratulations to all you fantastic bloggers, it is much deserved 🙂

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Now this will be a short post with a recipe that I made myself. *Applause* *Applause* 😛

I was looking all over for a healthy muesli bar recipe. I was looking for something filled with nuts, oats and cereals which could fill me up while I was studying and keep me focused (are you not proud) – I researched brands initially but I can eat all those preservatives in store-bought pastry and be healthier! And looking around on the web, I was not interested in recipes containing 1/2 cups of brown sugar and butter. Emphasis on the healthy aspect. So I decided to make my own. And I am pretty happy.

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Feeling Healthy Pre-Formal

December 14, 2011
Choc Chip Uru
6 comments
breakfast, dried fruit, easy, fruit, healthy, muesli, oats, pancakes, quick, strawberries, sugarless

Two nights ago was one of the most anticipated events of my young life so far – my year 10 formal. The night was amazing at the beginning I have to say with all the fluttering and giggling and the ‘oh my gosh, you all look so utterly fabulous’ talking! Then, when we actually were inside, we were wowed by the decor – Vegas casino theme = martini glasses on tables, silvery balloon arch, gorgeous star themed light and a scattering of cards, poker chips and dice. Just try to picture it and I promise you, the hall we were in would look at least 10 times nicer (depending on the strength of your imagination of course :p)

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