Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts

Nut and Seed Crackers

Friday, November 30, 2012

My lovely new cookbook, 'The Sprouted Kitchen' arrived last week and I have become addicted to these crackers.  They are the first ever gluten free and vegan biscuits I have ever been able to successfully make.  I tried them out on my friend SP and they passed the test!  They are really unusual and healthy.

1/2 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup raw cashews
2 tbsp ground flaxseed-or whole flax
1/3 cup sesame seeds
2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp extra virgin coconut oil
1 to 2 tbsp water, as needed

Combine the almond, cashews and flax in a food processor and pulse until evenly ground.  Add the sesame seeds, thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, the maple syrup and coconut oil and pulse a few times more. Add the water a tbsp at a time until the mixture just begins to stick together.  Form the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 325 F and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

Remove the dough from the fridge, put it between two sheets of greaseproof paper, and roll it out as thin as you can (1/8th inch), you want them to be thin but if it's too thin you wont be able to pick up the crackers without them breaking.   Either with a sharp knife or a cookie cutter cut them into the shape you want .  Using a sharp edged spatula to get under the crackers, gently place the crackers onto the baking sheet with a bit of space between them.
Bake the crackers, rotating the baking sheet half way through the coking time, until the edges look toasted, 11 to 13 minutes!

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 tsp of salt on top and leave to cool before serving.

A few good books

Sunday, January 15, 2012

I have read a few really good books recently-generally about food and the food industry.
'Animal, Vegetable, Miracle' - by Barbara Kingsolver is excellent, it's about her family's quest to live on only local produce.  It was inspiring and amusing!  http://www.animalvegetablemiracle.com/.

I just finished reading 'The Omnivors Dilema'  by Michael Pollan http://michaelpollan.com/books/the-omnivores-dilemma/    another book of his I enjoyed was 'In defence of Food'.

I am currently reading 'The New Complete book of Self-suficiency:  The classic guide for realists and dreamers'.  I have always wanted this book and finally have it!  It has a wonderful section on the cultivation of vegetables.  

A few of my favourite things-Dec

Monday, December 12, 2011

A slightly different post from the usual, I am feeling a bit dis-enchanted with my veggie garden at the moment as I have been away a lot and it has not been getting the love and care it needs.  However I did pick my first bok choy today which I am excited about!  Anyway here are a few of the things I am enjoying at the moment:
Beulah London http://www.beulahlondon.com/ Their beautiful Sarai dress which I first wore in India in January.
Ben Howard's album 'Every Kingdom' http://www.myspace.com/benhoward
Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series of books- http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=jo+nesbo&x=0&y=0
My new Heidi Klein swimming costume.
My go to staple for skin care products-especially a fan of the Rose Day cream -http://drhauschka.com/
The beach-Ras Kutani was incredible http://www.selous.com/ras-kutani
My TOMS shoes http://www.toms.com/
Nigel Slater's cook book-Tender Volume 1.  My go to for inspiration!
Anthea Rowan's stunning glass rings and her lovely blog http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com  

I am sure I will keep adding to this as the days go by and we get nearer to Christmas!