Simply Scrumptious

Banana Oat Cookies These cookies are so quick and easy to make and are the ideal snack to have between meals.   The oats have a high GI, and the banana a low GI, but putting the two together the banana counteracts the hi GI of the oats, which makes the perfect balanced healthy snack. INGREDIENTS   2 RIPE BANANAS 1 CUP OF PORRIDGE OATS APPROX 1 TBSP OF MIXED SEEDS APPROX 1 TBSP SULTANAS METHOD  Mash the bananas in a bowl Stir in the porridge oats and mixed seeds If you find that the mixture is a little runny just add more porridge oats to thicken up. You may want to add something different than seeds to your mix, you could try -  1/4 cup chocolate chips 1/4 cup crushed walnuts 1/4 cup of raisins 1/4 tsp cinnamon Fudge chunks Spoon cookie size portions of the mixture onto a lined baking sheet and flatten slightly with the back of a spoon or alternatively make one big slab and cut up afterwards Bake 190/170 fan for approx 15 min

Ginger  I've always liked ginger, especially ginger biscuits. Recently I stated baking more with ginger and while in my local supermarket paying for my shopping the lady at the checkout mentioned that the ginger reminded her of her Christmas and her mum. She said that her mum was forever munching on ginger! I like the flavour but I thought not just to eat straight out of the bag, so once home I ripped open the bag and dived in, and my oh my what a mistake, I kid you not it was scrumptious, I am now not only addicted to grapes but ginger also! YES I AM NOW A GINGER ADDICT OF THE EDIBLE KIND Ginger is actually a rhizome, not a root. A rhizome is an underground stem. The ginger plant is an herb. Ginger is a part of the Zingiberaceae family, which also include turmeric and cardamom. Ginger is home to southeastern Asia. You can grow ginger from rhizomes found at supermarkets. Mature ginger rhizomes, ones most commonly sold in supermarkets are generally harvest

WEEKLY ROUND UP After spending a busy week modifying some of my recipes so they become a healthier  was not an easy task, but here in the Simply Scrumptious kitchen I managed it, and without any mishaps!  Some are sugar-free, some are fat-free, vegetarian, flour-free, you name it I've modified it and made it. Below is a round up in photos of this weeks bakes. After a busy week in the kitchen, I was all baked out! Undecided what to have for dinner and I wanted something quick and easy. I put together a favourite dish of mine, it's full of colour, it's wholesome, healthy and the best part is it only requires one pan. The dish is my version of a Vegetable Biryani, it's tasty, inexpensive and packed with vitamins. If you love vegetables then this dish is for you.  Carb-free Fat-free Meat-free Low calorie Vegetable Biryani                                                              Recipe is on blog  

Busy week spent in the Simply Scrumptious kitchen Recipes will follow soon 

Prune & Walnut Slice Ingredients  16 Prunes 2 Tbsp hot water  1 cup of rolled oats  1/4 cup of chopped walnuts Method Preheat your oven to 170 fan/190c  Using a food processor pulse the prunes and hot water until smooth Pulse in the oats and walnuts until a sticky consistency forms Scoop onto a lined baking tray or non stick tray and shape into a large square/rectangle Place in the oven and bake for approx 15 minutes After removing from the oven leave to cool for 10 minutes then cut into your required size, leaving then to fully cool. (you may find if you leave to go too cool before cutting they may crumble upon cutting) Nutritional Information Total Servings 6 generous slices Calories per slice 140 Fat 4.5g Fibre 3g Sugar 10g Protein 3g                      

Banana & Oat Muffins A moist oat muffin that is loaded with fibre and a scrumptious flavour. These can be frozen and are perfect for on the go. 1 Muffin is approx 192 calories INGREDIENTS 3 Cups porridge oats 1/4 cup almond or ordinary milk 5 bananas Optional extras you can try adding, but don't forget to add the extra calories on if counting. Blueberries Strawberries Sultanas Chocolate chips Fudge chunks  METHOD Preheat oven to 180c/160 fan Lightly grease a muffin tin Using a food processor, combine all the ingredients and mix on a medium speed until thick and creamy.  Be careful not to over mix. Fill the muffin tins halfway. Place in the oven on the middle shelf and bake for approx 18-20  minutes or until a inserted skewer or toothpick comes out clean.

Date & Oat Flapjack Slice   Ingredients  1 cup Porridge oats 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground ginger 3 tbsp fat free natural yogurt 1 egg  Approx 10 dates chopped up Prior baking                                                                           Ready to eat                                                               Method                                                 Preheat oven 180c  Mix all the dry ingredients together, including the dates                                                                                                                   Add the natural yogurt and egg                                                                      Mix well and pour into a baking dish (mine is approx 12cm diameter, see photo above to the left) Bake in the oven for approx 30 minutes until the top is golden Leave to cool slightly before transferring to a cooling tray or can be eaten hot from the oven.

Carrot Biryani  Minimal preparation is required for this low calorie, carb free vegetarian biryani, only taking approx 25 minutes. Preparation 10  minutes Cook 15 minutes INGREDIENTS 2 bags of ASDA grated carrot 1 bag of ASDA chopped onion 150g Frozen peas  1 or 2 bags of frozen cauliflower rice, its up to you 1TBSP Hot curry powder Fresh garlic chopped (optional) Fresh chilli chopped (optional) METHOD Heat a little oil in a frying pan, then fry onion until soft. Stir in the curry powder with a splash of water and cook for another couple of minutes. Add the grated carrot stirring well to coat in the curry powder. Tip the cauliflower rice and peas into the pan and stir well, cover and cook over a high heat for approx 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are to your liking.