Tag Archives: NurtiBullet

Pineapple and Coconut tart – guilt free and plant based

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Here follows a full disclaimer : When the temperature hits 28degrees Celsius and every Capetonian runs to the beach, I retreat back indoors and into the comfy surrounds of my kitchen.

The main cause for excitement is that my number one cooking essential for every delicious dessert that you can imagine; my coconut oil, is in its yummy, runny, lovely to work with natural state. Just looking at the opaque liquid in its glass bottle on my kitchen shelf 

Hmmmmmm my imagination is running wild with pictures of styled Raw Cheesecakes, Raw Chocolate tarts, Raw Avo Lemon tart …. you get the picture , right ?

All naturally plant based and without any gluten or refined sugar. It is summer after all and part of self-care and self-love is respecting your body and everything you put into it.

It is as easy as blending:

3 heaped cups of pineapple

1 cup of coconut oil

1T lemon juice

2T Agave

Pinch of salt

 

and pouring that glorious oozing liquid over a tart base made of:

1 cup of cashews,

½ cup of desiccated coconut

½ cup of coconut oil

Ground to a cookie crumb consistency in your favourite food-processor.

Put the whole lot in the freezer for 4 hours.

This recipe works best when using the small individual metal pie dishes with the removable metal plate, or like I did this time, in one 25cm pie dish with removable bottom.
I normally take the little precious gems out of the freezer 30min before serving to slightly capture the ooze character of the coconut oil.
When last have you been able to have your slice of tart and get right into that swim suit with not a guilty thought in site?
Coconut oil is anti-bacterial , anti-fungal and with almost 43mg of lauric Acid per 100ml you have a built in acne fighter and any microbial infections covered.  Zero cholesterol and zero carbs.

Pineapple, our hero of the moment is packed with Vitamin C, B Vitamins, fibre and Manganese.

Pineapple also contain the active ingredient Bromelain which is known for its function to reduce inflammation, swelling aids with wound healing – particularly burns and also plays an active role in promoting healthy digestion.

Welcome to the world of yummi , healthy , raw baking ! xx

Bookclub Girls | Italian Influence

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So last night was my turn to host my fabulous book club girls.

Hostess me – is one very happy person.

It was one of those evenings when I wish I could record all the conversations and save it in a time capsule for those rainy days.

My Italian friends have a way of making any evening feel like the best evening ever! So I decided to add a little Italian flare to the menu.

It is officially summer in Cape Town , I wanted to make something the girls could enjoy without feeling guilty when they wake up the next morning … you know – food wise – no mention of the wild conversations and copious glasses of bubbles and vino 🙂

..and very important , I wanted to visit with my friends and not get stuck in the kitchen.
pasta

For a lovely starter , a cold gazpacho soup is always a winner – and my blend of fresh tomato, cucumber, black pepper, onion, red vine vinegar and a dash of Chardonnay was a huge hit. Straining the solution through a muslin cloth make for a very smooth silky soup. A little olive tapanade to go a red onion and flax seed crackers had the girls completely satisfied  – and I could relax and be part of all the juicy conversations.

Main course was a big bowl of courgette pasta – drizzled with olive oil and served with a rich , garlicky arrabiata on the side.

My faithful NutriBullet makes sauces a pleasure to prepare – place one cup of sundries tomato, one red onion, 4 dates and three garlic cloves and blend till smooth – you can add water to make the consistency smoother.

arabiatta

Raw pineapple cheese cake, made yesterday – out of the freezer 20min before serving – with fresh lavender to garnish from the garden.

One happy, easy , stress free evening – with all yummy healthy food and even a few minutes at the end for a quick book swap – it is a book club after all !

Carmen xxx