Homemade Christmas Gifts

I know it's a little late, but just in case you're in need of some last minute presents, stocking fillers or just some treats to have around the house over the festive period, below are four super simple recipes that are sure make anyone happy. 

Perfect for having with cold cuts or to accompany a cheese board, this Chilli Jam and Caramelised Red Onion Chutney are must-haves over Christmas. They both can be made a month or two in advance to let the flavours intensify.

Raw Chocolate and Cashew Tart

Autumn is finally upon us, so now is the time to stay inside, bake pies and put cinnamon on everything. Today though, I give you this Raw Chocolate and Cashew Tart. 

That you should definitely make, whatever the weather.

Raw Snickers Pie

SNICK-ERS-PIE. 

For those of you who know me well, or maybe just those that have read my blog for a while, it will come as no surprise that Snickers is one of my favourite chocolate bars. Yup. Chocolate, caramel, peanuts - I'll never understand why these bad boys are so under rated. Over the years I've seen so many recipes for home made snickers/peanut butter bars/pies/desserts so I will also never know why it's taken me this long to make one myself.

Wholesome Carrot Cake

For a long time I worked in a cake shop - a shop that just happened to make an amazing carrot cake. As it happens, carrot cake is the one cake that will have me straying from my beloved chocolate cake, so I definitely ate my fair share of it over the years. Along with free cake, working in the shop also meant that I heard people use the line "well of course it's healthy - it has carrots in it!" more times than I can count. 

Vegan Chocolate Chip Blondies

This recipe is on of those great ones that can be whipped up at the last minute with very little fuss. 

It's the kinda recipe that you'll (hopefully) have all of the ingredients for and it's the kind that only requires one bowl to make and 30 minutes to bake. 

All this nifty time saving can really only result in one thing, can't it? Well, er...more time. More time for you, so you can sit down with a friend (+ your batch of Blondie's) and stay there until all the Blondie's are gone and you've somehow watched all off this series of Celebrity Big Brother. 

Or whatever else it is that people do when they have lots of time...

Coconut, Sweet Potato and Spinach Soup

I made this soup at the weekend when I was feeling particularly sorry for myself. My plans to go to Notting Hill Carnival were ruined when I woke up bunged up and snotty (sorry), only to look outside and find torrential rain. So rather than spending the day with my friends and eating lots of jerk chicken; I stayed in my pyjamas, watched endless films and made soup. It seems that not only is autumn already upon us, but I am acting middle-aged (way) before my time. I'm not sure which is more depressing...at least I had the soup to find some comfort in.

Cherry and Almond Tray Bake

Sometimes it's easy to get caught up in current crazes and recently there has been no bigger craze, in certain circles, than that of health food.
When it comes to health food I'm always in two minds - on the one hand I am unashamedly greedy and wholeheartedly believe that life is too short to consistently say no to dessert; though I am also in the mindset that it is definitely possible to create delicious foods that are good for you. Now this is where the problem has arisen recently - as so many have jumped onto the health food bandwagon, so much of what is being created does not actually taste any good. 

Raw, Vegan Triple Chocolate Ice Cream Sammie's

Ice cream (along with pizza, obv.) is pretty much my biggest vice. It can be the coldest day of the year and I can still single handedly finish off an entire tub...although I wouldn't be left feeling too great afterwards. So last summer I tried my hand at making some vegan/dairy free ice cream for the first time and came up with my delicious Bounty Ice Cream Recipe which is still one of my favourites. Ever since then I have wanted to try out some more healthier ice cream recipes; striving for something that was delicious and tasted indulgent, whilst still packing a serious nutritional punch and stayed away from any additional sugars.

Mini Raw Lime Pies

These Raw Lime Pies are the perfect light summers dessert. The filling is creamy, zesty and not too sweet; coupled with the flavoursome crispy base and just a hint of fresh ginger, these couldn't be better. Obviously they are also ridiculously easy to make, only needing a handful of everyday ingredients.  

Banana, Cacao and Maca Bread

My recipe for vegan banana and date loaf is one of my all time favourite (and most popular!) recipes on here. I often re make the old classic, but for a while I've been wanting to make a new version, adding in some cacao powder to make it different, but keeping the same core ingredients that I always have at hand.

Raw Chocolate and Hazelnut Tarts

I actually made these wayyy back when at the end of March before I went away but only just rediscovered the photos! 
After having a quick flick through, it all came flooding back and I remembered just how good these were. I worked on this recipe just after making my raw chocolate pudding so the filling for these tarts is a very similar. They are just as quick, simple and delicious; with the same very green core ingredient.

Vegan Vanilla Cake with Coconut Cream Frosting

I'm bacccckkk! 

Now I know I've been quiet for a little while, but I have big news. 
I have finally perfected my recipe for a vegan vanilla cake! 
This cake also happens to be free from both gluten and wheat, as well not containing any refined sugars. 
Alright, Ok I lied - this not big news - this HUGE news...for me anyhow.

Raw Chocolate Pudding

When you're busy it's great to have a few fall back recipes that are simple, speedy and only call for a handful of everyday ingredients. With my love of avocados we pretty much always have a few sitting in the kitchen so this recipe for me is the absolute perfect thing to use up all that green goodness. Throw in a few dates and some raw cacao powder and you have possibly the most delicious, simple and healthy pudding known to man.

Green Smoothies

Smoothies are a great way to pack lots fruit and vegetables into your diet with very little fuss. They are quick to make, delicious and so easy to take with you when you're out and about, as well as being unbelievably versatile so they can suit everybody's tastes. I've been trying out a few different recipes recently and the 3 below have come out as my favourites. Like with all smoothies, they are very adaptable and can easily be changed depending on what you like and what is available to you. 

Chocolate and Stout Mini Bundt Cakes with Salty Caramel Sauce

Last year around St. Patrick's day I made the most delicious Guinness brownies with cream cheese frosting - the recipe for which you can find here - and ever since then I've been wanting to make another cake that includes Guinness or stout beer. It's still always a shock to some that I'm a pretty big fan of the stuff.

Two Ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce

Two ingredient vegan caramel should be a synonym for a beautiful little pot of gold.

Vegan Oaty Cookies

These cookies may just be a game changer. I've made quite a few variations on vegan cookies and these are definitely one of my favourites. 

For starters - they only take 5 ingredients and are insanely easy to make - now this is pretty good in its self when it comes to cookie recipes. Perfect for a quick batch on a Sunday night.

Banana Bread Pancakes with Coconut Cream

Happy Pancake Day everyone! I'm not entirely sure how we've already reached March...it's a cliche, I know and something I've already said dozens of times this year, but time really is flying by. There are no complaints here though as there's already so much to look forward to this year and Spring is finally (albeit tentatively) starting to show her lovely face. 

SuperFood Granola

We all know how I feel about breakfast - if you're going to do it, do it right. 

In an ideal world, every morning I would sit and relax, read a little, have some tea or coffee and cook up something delicious; all whilst still in the comfort of my pyjamas. Unfortunately I rarely have time to do this and sadly opt for no breakfast at all, always choosing to snooze for a few precious extra minutes when I'm getting up early for work.  

Skinny Nutella

Everybody loves Nutella. That, my friends, is a fact.

Never have I met anyone who doesn't like the stuff - whether they have it on toast or with fruit, use it in baking or eat it just straight out the jar with a spoon (a very dangerous move and a sure way to end up holding an empty jar..) - everyone loves it. 

Raw Banoffee Pie

After the success of the raw caramel slices that I made recently, I was more open minded to raw desserts and felt confident as to how a raw banoffee pie would turn out. Naturally though, I wasn't going to risk taking a dud pie to my friends for dinner so I had to make sure it was up to scratch before anyone else got to try it. 

I cut a slither to test and fell whole heartedly in love! It tasted just like a classic banoffee pie, but with the bonus of only containing the goodness of oats, nuts, fruit and coconut milk. I couldn't believe just how good it was.

Raw Caramel Slices

This was my first venture into the world of raw desserts and I have to admit, I was pretty sceptical.

My very first recipe on my blog was my Granny's Caramel Shortbreads, a recipe that is still a favourite and forever requested by friends and family alike. And though I have tried to create new versions of it - the goal being to create a similar thing but without dairy or wheat, they've been good, but they've never quite beaten the real thing. I've never been one to give up on a challenge; especially a self appointed one, so I've tried and tried and now I think I've finally gotten somewhere.

Chia Seed Pudding

I've been hearing a whole lot about Chia pudding lately. It seems  that instagram is half filled with pictures of beautiful layered breakfasts and desserts - topped to perfection with a mix of fruits, seeds, nuts and other flavourings. 

Quinoa, Kale and Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl with Tahini Dressing

This has rapidly become my go to meal. I made it for dinner one night last week and then took the leftovers for lunch the following two days as well. 

I'm now sitting here staring at the screen and salivating over the pictures, wanting it once more. It's one of those meals that you'll always look forward to and want again and again. Plus it's quick and simple to make, keeps well and is delicious eaten hot or cold. 
Have I tempted you enough yet? 

Lemon and Blueberry Bundt Cake

I'm going to come clean and admit that I originally baked this wayyy back in November for my mums birthday, but as mentioned in my previous post and what is glaringly obvious I've been a terrible blogger and quite simply haven't.