The Pudding of Peace - Banana Matchia

The 411 on Matcha Powder

1. Matcha originates from Japan and is basically green tea leaves ground finely to a powdered form.
2. So because you're actually consuming the whole tea leaf, it's nutritional benefits are much more potent than that of only green tea.
3. Matcha contributes to lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and is full of antioxidants (~20 times more than blueberries) to fight cancer and ageing.
4. It enhances mood, reduces stress and aids in concentration.
5. It's caffeine content varies with some having as much as coffee but because it's a natural source it won't give you any of those 'jittery' side effects.
6. It's a great metabolism booster providing sustained energy and endurance, possibly aiding in weight loss.
7. The chlorophyll in matcha makes it an excellent body and blood cleanser.
8. When mixed with water it has a slight bitter, earthy vegetal taste, like a glass of full-bodied green tea.
9. Tip: When making matcha tea use hot water at 60-80°C because boiling temperatures will accentuate its bitterness taste. 
10. Oh and did I forget to mention that it improves memory?

Banana Matcha Pudding
Serves: 1 greedy little piggy ready to jump-start their morning

Ingredients
1 banana
3/4 cup coconut milk (do not use dairy milk)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon matcha powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
1. Blend banana and milk together, before adding in matcha powder and vanilla extract.
2. Thoroughly stir in chia seeds and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
3. Serve with extra bananas and shredded coconut.

Sayonara!

Apple, meet Kiwi. Chia, meet Jam.

You know what's amazing? When you can take what you learn from uni/school and apply it to real life. Seriously. And no I'm not talking about calculating how much I'll need to pay for 1 movie tickets if 3 cost $60.

So maybe I am just a bit of a nerd or a bit of a food science lover, but what I learnt - and remembered - is what makes jam, well, jam, and the secret is pectin. While I won't go into chemistry details, it's basically a thickening agent that traps water and sets jams and jellies giving it its gel-like texture.

Generally jam recipes not only call for powdered pectin, which is highly refined and processed, but also a ton of sugar for it to work its magic so it's not the healthiest option out there. A little birdie told me though (aehm, the internet), an all-natural alternative is of course chia seeds, since these little buggers can also produce the similar thickening effect by absorbing liquid. Say what?

Now I wanted to go for something different than the typical raspberry, strawberry or blueberry jam and so .. being economical I used my near-bruised apples and kiwis! Sounds random huh? You won't know what you don't like unless you try it though!

I was definitely thinking on my feet with this one, but this jam came out pretty successful - I'll be damned. Yep, this is definitely my jam. Bam.

Okay I'll stop.

Kiwi Chia Jam
Yields: Just under 2 cups

Ingredients
1½ cup apples, peeled and diced

1½ cup kiwis, diced (around 4 kiwis)

1/4 cup honey/maple syrup

1/3 cup water (or apple juice)
6 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Method

1. Add all ingredients except chia seeds and kiwi in a small pot and stir to combine over medium heat, bringing it to a boil.

2. Cover and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes or until the apples are softened.

3. Add in the chopped kiwis and cook for another 5 minutes over low heat.

4. Mash the apples and kiwi thoroughly together and stir in the chia seeds. Optional: puree or blend if you don't want chunky bits.
5. Cook for another 10 minutes until it thickens, stirring frequently to prevent it from sticking to the pan.

6. Let it cool completely before funnelling into an air-tight container or preserving jar. Refrigerate overnight to let it thicken and set. 

Tomorrow, spread it on toast, mix in your yoghurt, add it to a smoothie or make a PB&K sandwich! I think the last option sounds best doesn't it? 

Au revoir!

Apri-coco-walnut Energy Bars

Dried apricots are never my go-to snack. Like never.

Ahem, dates are so so so much better.

But hey, team it up with coconut and walnuts? And whip them into cute little fun-sized energy bars to pick me up in the afternoon? And make them taste like those artificial apricot squares sold in the shops when it's actually made of unprocessed and unrefined all-natural nutritious ingredients?

Umm .. you had me at hello.

Today's post shall be kept simple, just like this recipe which I am sharing in response to some of my dear Instagram followers' requests :)

Ingredients
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup dessicated coconut
1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup quinoa flakes (or rolled oats)
3 tablespoons chia seeds
2 tabelspoons raw honey
2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
Pinch of cinnamon

Method
1. In a food processor, chop the walnuts before adding in the dried apricots. Pulse for a few minutes until the two begin to blend together.
2. Add remaining ingredients and process until thoroughly combined. Add more coconut oil if the mixture is not dry enough.
3. Press mixture into a lined baking pan and refrigerate overnight, or if you're impatient like me, freeze for a couple of hours.
4. Slice into pieces/bars and eat!

Secret confession: 
My favourite part about making energy bars is slicing them into perfect - or not - squares and shapes.

Jaffa Breakfast Jar

Earl Grey tea, the perfect tea blend of bergamot orange, has always been a favourite to pick me up during those sluggish Winter mornings or warm Summer afternoons. It's a very soothing tea for me and I love the subtleness of the sweet citrus flavours.

One rainy Spring however, I thought, why not combine this distinct flavour with some cacao/chocolate? Because you know chocolate tastes amazing with anything pretty much. 

And ta-da, another weird clean creation by yours truly, somewhat reminding me those Jaffa lollies I used to buy from the supermarket as a kid - you know those round little confectionery balls with a soft chocolate centre and hard red orange-flavoured casing? If in doubt, ask Google.

I've come to enjoy the somewhat bitterness/blandness of tea so the Earl Grey will be quite evident in this recipe, making it less sweet and creamy as ordinary chia pudding. To help you if you're a particularly sweet sweet tooth though, feel free to add in extra sweetener (when serving) to suit your tastebuds, substitute some of the chilled tea with extra milk or maybe even chuck in some mandarin/orange pieces with it to soak overnight!

Earl Grey Chocolate Chia Pudding
Serves: 2 

Ingredients
1 cup brewed and chilled Earl Grey tea
1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/4 cup chia seeds
2 tablespoons cacao powder
2 tablespoons maple syrup/honey

Method
1. Combine tea, milk and chia seeds together in a jar, before adding in cacao and maple syrup/honey.
2. Cover and refrigerate overnight but stir every 20 minutes for the hour so that the chia seeds don't clump up.

Good morning and good day!

Smelly breath? No worries, I've got you covered.

Ever wondered how chewing gums or mint lollies are able to give you that cool refreshing feel in your mouth? 

Well if you didn't .. I'll tell you why anyway.

The prime ingredient in them is xylitol, a sugar alcohol that's 70% as sweet as sucrose (table sugar). Because it's not absorbed by the intestines it's often used in 'low joule' or diabetic-friendly food products. When we chew it, heat is drawn from our mouth as a form of energy to dissolve the xylitol, hence giving us that cool, refreshing feeling we get - neato right? I think so.

Today's recipe is a little treat to fix those chocolate aero bars and mint lolly cravings .. or your garlic breath from lunch. 

The dates keep these guys chewy (even after refrigeration) and they have a nice soft balance between sweet and minty. If you want them more dense for satiety or nutrition content you could also substitute some of the cacao powder with chocolate protein powder. This might reduce it's sweetness and would require some sweetener though.

Chia-ful Chocolate Minty-Breath Balls
Makes: Around 18 bite-sized pieces

Ingredients
1 cup dates
1/2 cup cacao or chocolate protein powder
1/4 cup chia seeds
1/4 cup almonds
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
3-4 tablespoons water, as needed
1 tablespoon honey (optional)

Method
1. Using a food processor, finely process dates, chia seeds, cacao and almonds altogether until combined.
2. Stir in peppermint extract and tablespoons of water at a time until you get a dough-like consistency. 
3. Roll big teaspoons into balls.
4. Coat in extra cacao, coconut, chia seeds and eat straight away or refrigerate.



I felt obliged to take a photo of one bliss ball half eaten to show you its insides .. just kidding. Note to self: never take photos of food when you're hungry - your stomach is too busy distracting your mind from taking proper, good-looking photographs.

Oh and be sure to hydrate yourself with water when eating these because since the chia seeds haven't absorbed any water yet .. they'll end up doing that when they're inside you. Ouch..?

Adios amigos!