JulieBhosaleAchive

This was a late night creation of mine! Had some old bananas to use up and hubby felt like some banana cake so I thought I would try a bit of a different twist making one with no sugar!! I did warn him that there was a high possibility it would not turn out and would not be very sweet. He went back for seconds which says enough really! In this recipe I have used dates as a natural sweetener. Dates have surprisingly high amount of essential vitamins and minerals, plus have that extra fibre which helps with your gut health. Although still high in natural sugar (fructose and dextrose), dates are a better alternative from raw sugar. I first made this in a loaf tin as I was not sure how it would work out but the end product you will find light just like a cake. The second time I made it (as the first one just disappeared in our house) I made it in a cake tin and as you can see it worked perfectly!! Made from simple ingredients that you will have at home this is perfect to make in the evenin...

This is one of my favorite salad creations using only three base ingredients. It is packed full of nutrients especially some good green stuff and essential fats - including my trade-mark avocado!! Best of all it is always a hit at parties and family gatherings :) Ingredients: 2 Heads of broccoli 2-3 Rashers of bacon, chopped roughly ½ - 1 Avocado 2 Tablespoons of Dijon mustard 2 Tablespoons of red wine vinegar Coconut oil/olive oil Directions: Chop broccoli into tiny trees and steam for 3-4 minutes in the microwave. While the broccoli is steaming, heat a small fry pan on a medium high heat. Add a little coconut oil/olive oil and cook bacon until crisp and browned. Once broccoli is steamed, drain and roughly chop the bacon on top. Chop avocado in half and scoop bite sized chunks into dressing. Combine mustard and vinegar or just put straight on top for dressing. You can add a little extra olive oil if you wish as well. Toss salad to distribute the dressing and serve! T...

This recipe is an incredibly  simple creation of mine – fast and easy to whip up and can be easily adapted to suit your preferences. It uses banana and dates for natural sweetness so a great alternative to brought muesli-bars for a snack on the run. If you a short on time for breakfast you can also grab a slice as you go out the door. Both my boys love this slice so it has the official 'toddler seal of approval'.   Ingredients: 3-4 Large ripe bananas 3 Cups of plain or wholegrain oats (not rolled oats) ¾ Cup of chopped dates ½ cup sliced almonds (optional) 6-8 Brazil Nuts, finely chopped (optional) 2 tsp of vanilla essence 2 tsp of cinnamon (and extra sprinkling on the top) Directions: Pre-heat the oven to 180°C and line a brownie/slice tin with baking paper and allow a 2cm overhang. Mash the banana and add to a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and combine well. Spoon into the prepared pan and smooth out with the back of a spoon. Lightly sprinkle extra cinnam...

I am writing this blog post in the hope that it may help a mum who has gone through or going through a miscarriage. On the 18 th of November 2013 I miscarried our second baby. It was still early on 7/8 weeks but it was enough time that we had gotten used to the idea, we had started imagining life and planning for the arrival of our second baby. Although I knew the risk, I was devastated. When it happened I was unfortunately on my own, it was about 10pm at night and my husband was working a late shift so was unable to come home until about 4am. I just cried and cried, and could not sleep. I remember getting up, having a shower and just sitting on the bottom of the shower, and crying my eyes out…the pain in my chest feeling like it would explode and all I could do was sit on the bottom of the shower – stricken with grief, pain, self-loathing and felt unable to move forward. The next few days were just a blur. I battled with overwhelming emotions of guilt and self-hatred. I completely bl...