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Saturday 26 November 2016

Blueberry Pancake mini muffins

Hello!

I think you realize that my son is crazy for blueberries... lol... it's true. This is the only flavor he wants to eat. Then here goes the mom to vary the muffin types (which he loves too)! So today I bring you an option of breakfast, the afternoon snack that can be frozen and it gives a super help on the day-to-day rush without leaving aside the flavor and health!

Blueberry Pancake mini muffins
Here is a suggestion of how I served the muffins: natural yogurt with homemade jelly of strawberries and sliced apples

What now? Do you want to learn how to make this delicious muffin and make that quick snack a little different and very healthy? Have a look:

Ingredients

1 cup wheat flour;
1/2 cup oatmeal;
1/2 tablespoon baking powder;
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar;
A bit of salt;
1 cup of milk;
1/2 tablespoon of vinegar;
1 large egg;
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract (preferably homemade);
2 tablespoons coconut oil (or butter melted);
Blueberries (2 to 4 each mold)

Preparation


1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC;
2. Mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Set aside;
3. Add the milk and vinegar, stir and let stand for about 5 minutes;
4. In the same bowl of milk and vinegar mix the egg, oil and vanilla;
5. Combine the dry and wet ingredients, if the dough is too thick add half a cup of milk;
6. Grease the molds of mini muffins with butter/oil and flour and fill them with the dough slightly more than half the mold. I did not need to grease because I use silicone mold, it's easier to unmold the muffins and wash;
7. Add the blueberries to the dough with 2 to 4 "balls" per dough and bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown.
8. Allow to cool down a little (about 5 minutes) before unmolding, serve hot! Hummmmmmm

COMMENTS:

* This is my version of this recipe;
* Although it contains just a little bit of sugar, this recipe is recommended only for over 12 months babies because of cow milk and white flour. Unfortunately you have to put it to keep the muffins fluffy and light...

Saturday 29 October 2016

Blueberry Muffins

Hello!



Today I've come to share a very tasty, healthy and nutritious alternative for kids lunchbox, workers who enjoys a nice snacks option:
Blueberry Muffin !!!

This picture is an example of how I served the muffins (made mini version) with half cream cheese and Edam cheese sandwich, fruit salad of banana, apple and papaya cubes. Totally rocks !!!

So, would you like to try baking too? Grab the recipe:
Ingredients
*** Makes around 10 muffins standard size or 20 to 22 minimuffins

2 cups almond flour (or ground almonds)
1/2 cup tapioca flour (or not genetically modified corn starch)
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup sugar (I used brown)
1/4 cup melted butter
1 vanilla bean (or 1 and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract)
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup milk (I used whole cow milk, but can be others 'milks' such as almond or oat is super yummy!)
1 cup blueberries (I used frozen, if using fresh can put 1 and 1/2 cup)

Preparation
1. If you have the habit of keeping eggs and / or butter in the fridge (like me) the first step is to remove them and put in a dry and cool place a few hours before preparing these yummy sweets;
2. When starting to make the recipe, begin preheating the oven to 180 ° C, prepare the muffin cups (or mini-muffins in my case), if you're using those paper layers or need greasing ... now is the time!
3. In a bowl, combine the almond flour, tapioca starch, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Mix well with a fork or whisk and see if there was any lump of flour;
4. In a separate bowl, mix the melted butter (cold) and the eggs until very smooth (it takes about 5 minutes hand beating);
5. Add the vanilla bean (or extract) on this egg mixture mixing well;
6. Add the "dry" (flour) into "wet" (eggs, butter and vanilla), stir only enough to be combined, add the milk and mix until get a cream consistency;
7. Add the blueberries, make gentle and light movements to mix them to the dough, if you do it too quickly will break the fruits peel and your muffins will be purple, which is not the intention. So, go easy with in this mix!
8. With a spoon fill the muffin molds with the dough and to bake for 25 to 30 minutes (or more or less than that, it depends on your oven). When they are beautiful, golden and with a very good smell it'll be ready !!!
This is my 'mission controller' with his mouth full of blueberry muffins that he asked so much !!!

COMMENTS:
* This is my version of the recipe here from the Alyssa's website (American) Everyday Maven !
* In the original recipe, she puts some almonds slices I did not put because I forgot it but feel free to use it or what else you want as chopped nuts, chia seeds that will give a special crunchy!
* This recipe although not contain gluten, is made with nuts base and this can be very allergenic to babies, then the recommendation is to offer from 18 months + . It was when I offered to David and was very well accepted!

And now that's it!
I hope you enjoyed this recipe, give some work to find the ingredients (cause "do it" properly is super simple) but when it's done super worth it!

If you make this recipe or have some doubt, send me an email (danicorrado@gmail.com) and let's talk!

Ohhh and if you liked this post please give your like, comment, subscribe my blog, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better and better !!!

Warm regards,

Dani

Saturday 18 June 2016

Weekly menu

Hello!

Today brought the next week menu with a small adjustments:
Click on the image to enlarge
Ctrl + P to print
In time to time I try to observe our routine and see what needs to be modified, adjusted, suited. Sometimes it takes some change ... sometimes not!

This week I've been noticing that "the feast" or "the special dishes" always happen on dinner time because it's when we 3 (Tadashi, David and I) have a meal together, so normally I like to bring different things, tasty and special for these moments. Besides, I always saw my grandma eating this way (actually she continuous doing this today) :D.
Anyway, I realize that I've been cooking these meals much more because of the momentary wish to eat something than in fact by a plan. Now I thought it might further optimize our shopping list (and costs) establishing in fact a rule in these meals to keep at least one balanced meal with all the food groups: lunch.
Look David eating the traditional, everyday and health brazilian food
Rice, beans, meat and salad
As a typical Brazilian family, we really like the combination between rice with beans and this habit from now it's official! It will be with us in all our weekday lunches! Another thing that I introduced a few weeks ago was the fish and it's being great! So plus to rice and beans, we'll have some of seafood at least twice a week!
This pic came from a post  that I made in 2013 when I share how I cook fish but is in portuguese. But it's basically coconut oil and rosemary to seasoning, put on a steam pan, fry pan or oven until golden and serve! (Ok, I'll do a post here in English :D )

And this way we're adjusting, modifying and adapting our meals to our daily routines while we always have in mind the quality, variety, taste and pharmacy far away of our lives!!!

And that's it!

Love,

Dani

If you liked this post, please, click on like button right below in this post, leave a comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better more and more!!!

Wednesday 15 June 2016

Tapioca Roll

Hello!

A few afternoons ago I had a will to eat a salty snack, that was fast and very light (I'm doing nutritional re-education, I've lost over 12kg, it's not a good idea to have a super fat chocolate cake just because it was a rainy afternoon and I was on a moving to eat something...).

Then I opened my cupboard and the fridge, grabbed a few things, mixed in a bowl and the result was a super lightweight roll, soft and very, very tasty!!!

My... Tapioca Roll!!! 

And the Ingredients are...
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
2 tablespoons cream cheese
(Can change for cottage cheese)
4 tablespoons tapioca gum
(If you don't find this kind of gum, just hydrate tapioca flour)
1 cup of tapioca flour

That's all, folks! This was my Method:
It really didn't need a step-by-step, after all it's just mix it all the ingredients, but I like very much my job, then follows:

1. In a bowl place the eggs and mix until blended;
2. Add the chia seeds, let stand for about 5 minutes;
(So ​​the seeds will hydrate and sustain the roll)
3. Add the cream cheese and mix until smooth;
(My cream cheese wasn't "that cream" then I needed a few extra minutes stirring to dissolve and incorporate well with the other ingredients. If this happens to you don't give up, keep stirring that all will be fine!)
4. Add the tapioca gum, mix, the tapioca flour and mix;
5. When everything is smooth like a pancake dough is ready to put in molds (I used mini cupcake but I believe that will worth with any mold) and bake;
6. It takes 30 minutes at 180 degrees, but my oven is very hard to maintain the temperature, so I recommend you to keep an eye out! When they are grown and golden is ready!!!
The chia seeds give texture, the tapioca flour gives this beautiful color and the cream cheese give us a taste that remind the famous brazilian cheese roll (far away, to be clear huh...) Lol

And now really that's all folks!

xoxo

If you liked this post I ask you to like it, comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better!!!

Sunday 5 June 2016

Weekly Menu, winter is coming!!!

Hello!

Today I bring (not so) delayed this week menu with meals that makes health and body happy! After all, colder days are just beginning!
 

Click on the image to enlarge



Ctrl + P to print
This week the focus was different kinds of protein. As a Brazilian, I can not avoid the couple "for good" rice-bean as part of our daily routine, because, as we live in a country where there is no such culture or habit (eat rice and beans every day), every time that we ate out is not so easy to find this dish so basic and present in Brazilian homes. David, for example, has lunch and afternoon tea out home, if we don't have even at dinner he would eventually losing not just the nutrients, but our culture.

Changing the subject, for those who follow us on Instagram could see the going down temperature here these past few weeks. Because of this, the daily crazy routine, some extra crochet orders (for those who don't know my work, in the portuguese version here, here and thru my facebook profile here it's possible to see a few examples) this cold weather has not helping me to keep "on the move". Besides, hubby is with a bronchitis crisis that has not helping at all...
Another thing, yesterday David's and Tadashi birthday photos were ready (yay!!!!!!), the theme of the party was Minecraft and I am writing a post with the party details, decoration... it was SO good!!! I used a lot of Pinterest to inspire me, but what made the real difference was the love that we put into each detail. Begining with our friends who kindly offered us their house to celebrate together and ending with my brother-in-law that did all the art and graphics that we use in decoration, through all the nights that me and Tadashi went to bed at 2 am and without to mention, of course, the friends who could to attend, made all the difference and live a little more in our hearts to share these so special moments with us!!!

And I finish this post with a photo that Chris Haddad took on birthday, which conveys our family unity, the love between us... and that makes all, all, all in life make perfect sense:
Love,

Dani

If you liked this post, please, click on like button right below in this post, leave a comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better more and more!!!

Saturday 4 June 2016

Weekly Menu, David's 4th Birthday!

Hello!

In today's post I share the menu of this week (which is ending, but if can be used as inspiration in someway already fulfilled your role)!

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You can see that this week we had more chicken that usual. This is because the price was specially good, I found a producer of "happy hens" (organic), super conscious about how the cause is important and after all is affordable. I love it!!!

As for David, last week were the birthdays celebrations (day 21/05 with the father and 23/05 on daycare). Were very simple moments but good enough for him to feel how much he is loved and how we are happy to celebrating his birth in our family!

I do not have photos of his birthday with his father, but follow some pics at #ABC Epsom:



Beside the carrot cake that he chose (who follows our Instagram's profile saw when I baked and brought to school), he made the hat that he used at the happy birthday to you, won a tshirt full of lovely messages from teachers, a kit "let's practicing" to school that will starts next year (five years old) and a book that we read almost every night (he loves stories)!

Other thing that happened is that David woke up a few times during the night, about a week (which let me very tired because I have difficult to going back to sleep if awake during the night). He cried, said he was afraid of things that normally we didn't hear about it: fear of ceiling lamp, curtain, door ... finally we bought a lamp and left beside his bed. End of waking up and fright's nights!

The toilet training continues, he goes perfectly to the bathroom to pee, we even don't need remind him to go anymore, there is no more accident about it. But the " number 2"... have been more complicated. He refuses to do the potty/toilet. We have shown, spoke, played, explained... but nothing seems being effective. The good part is that David is no longer requiring nappies to make poo and is not holding until we put it (which gave some concern about he's holding it)... but now it has been all in the undies. I can't denied that all this process of talking and he denying gives a bit of frustration, of course that we do not to show it to him, but that's it. Repeating the mantra "until his 18 he'll stop it" keep going with all love! LOL

And I finish this post with this very cool photo montage (the best part was when we were posing for the camera, hahahaha)!

Love,

Dani

If you liked this post, please, click on like button right below in this post, leave a comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better more and more!!!

Monday 23 May 2016

To David with love

Hello!


Today I ask to you to excuse myself, but I want to "talk" specifically with one person. A little boy that used to live in my belly and now occupies all my heart!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARTHUR DAVID !!!
It's beautiful, unbelievable to see you growing up, my son. It's exciting. It is a great pleasure, honor and joy be with you every day since you were just a little seed!
The days are not always easy (I know this), after all there are so many discoveries, many learnings! But you with your laughter always makes everything better. Thank you, my son. May the Lord God be always at the center of our home, that Jesus be your way, the only truth and all your life. May He can continue covering you in blessings, health, peace. That through Him the love that reigns in our lives, in our relationship continues to be stronger than your growth, your doubts.
May you never doubt the huge love and care that we have with you, my sweetie! May all that we've planted together can help you to recognize our home as your "safe haven", the place when you can snuggle yourself, that you will always be part.
And speaking about growing ... son, so many changes!!! Amazing to see you grow, your personality developing, see your likes and preferences, you making your choices. How delightful is for us to see your expressing yourself better every day in both Portuguese and English languages, showing interests and your ability to build things, gaming (even if the mother here is not exactly favorable to it).
Finally, this is only the 4th of many birthdays that we'll celebrate yet, my little big David! We love you very much and we wish you that the best of your life happen every day and that we can always be close each other, that your sweetness never end, my dear love!!!
Love you heaps forever and ever,

Mom and Dad!

Thursday 21 April 2016

Pumpkin Apple Muffins

Hello,


Today I bring a recipe for those who aren't on carb restriction like me, children in general (like David), nutritious and healthy snack lovers in general:

Pumpkin Apple Muffins!
 

Ingredients:

2 cups oat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 avocado, peeled and pitted, mashed

1 banana, mashed

1 cup pumpkin puree

2 eggs

3/4 cup sugar (I used coconut sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla
1 apple, peeled and chopped
Crushed nuts

Baking...

1. Preheat oven to 175°C. Put 16 cupcake wrappers in muffin tins or wherever you will use to bake;
2. In a big bowl, mix together the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt;
3. In a separate medium-sized bowl add and mix: avocado, banana, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla;

4. When the "liquid" ingredients are smooth, add sugar and mix until almost all grains are dissolved;
5. Add the "liquid" mixture on the bowl with dry ingredients, stir until smooth then add the chopped apples folding them gently until are completely covered by the dough;
6. Fill muffin tins or silicon (what you are using) evenly possible, sprinkle with crushed nuts and bake it until when you put a toothpick and it get out clean. (here were 25 minutes, but my oven isn't a good one).

Take a look in those muffins when ready! Hmmmm

Muffin's inside vision: fluffy and very tasty!

And now, the PAY ATTENTION section:

* This is my version of this recipe here, Australian site called PopSugar;
* In the original recipe, she uses whole wheat flour, I switched to oat flour, to "decorate" I used pecans, I make a "crumbly" of various nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, etc.) and flaxseed. I switched and encourage you to feel free to use what you have at home!
* Still speaking of the "official" version, the recipe also have cinnamon (1 teaspoon), cloves (1/8 teaspoon) and nutmeg (1/2 teaspoon). I didn't use because David and I are allergic to cinnamon and we do not enjoyed very much the other ingredients (but again, feel free to use it!);
* You can use any kind of Pumpkin or a mix of what you have at home to make the puree, I used some parts of buttercup and butternut that I had at home. The result couldn't be better: veeeeeeeeeery tasty!
* Sugar, in principle, can be any kind, but if the purpose is to do something healthy and nutritious especially if children will be consuming, I do not recommend using white / refined versions. Substitutes such as organic raw sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey or molasses are more suitable;
* Talking about sugar, because of it, this recipe is recommended for ages 12 months and older. But if you don't add sugar and nuts that are allergenic, this muffin can be offered for children up to 9 months and older;
* The vanilla extract that I use is not that one that contains dyes, alcohol and nothing of vanilla actually. If there are concerns beyond the flavor, like the nutrients that are added, I really suggest you to try to switch for a more natural option available in your city.

And that's it for today! I hope you enjoyed this recipe, it takes some work to prepare the ingredients (for "do it" properly is super simple, you have to admit it...) but the result worth it!

Go ahead and do it, send me an email (danicorrado@gmail.com) and share your experience!

If you liked this post, please, click on like button right below in this post, leave a comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better more and more!!!

Thursday 14 April 2016

Nutritional Education and Chocolate Cake to eat with no guilt!

Hello!

Today I came to share with you some changes that are happening in my life (my husband's life as well) and the follow recipe is a reflection of this:

Chocolate Cake to eat with no guilt!


The apparition of this cake here on the blog and in my life comes from a long situation... has life goals involved in this story... but the short version is that I never gave importance to these aesthetic things as weight, height, fat people, skinny people, tall, short... for me what really counts in this world, including myself, is what we have within us, our essence, our heart.

But happened a few things this year, specifically, that made me to look a little for myself, for my body to be exact. And my health didn't like much about what it saw. I think it's easy to see that I'm overweight, it would be naive of me to say that I never noticed. Of course I realized, I just didn't care. But now things are different... we are planning our second baby!!! Yay!!!

And can tell you, it makes all the difference! Now I need to improve, I need to be ready to receive, generate and gestate this gorgeous baby who we already love so much in our hearts. As I said, I never paid attention or "I've lost my time" with these "things of physical appearance", so of course never dieted in my life, nor I intend to start now. What I decided to do and I am following is a nutritional education to have a better life, that must be good, tasty and affordable to succeed with it for a long time.

How I am 30 kilos overweight it should have, I am in a "diet" called "ketogenic", where consumption of calories is very, very, very low in the early stages - around 800 calories per day. Remembering that I studied a lot to start this process, I talked with my GP, did tests, I went in a naturopath and soon I want to intensify the physical activities that I do (I walk something about 6 km per day Monday to Friday).

If you want to know more about the diet, I'll follow a really cool video, making it clear that not everyone can go through this process and it has to be done with monitoring, right?
I can say that this beginning although difficult, tiring ... is very effective in weight loss. It's not a "fight" against scales, but a way of using the way that the body works for be more healthier! I started this process seven days ago and with these changes 5 kg are gone. When this initial phases has passed, that loses about 80% of the weight, I'll stay on "paleo" diet.

Of course "ketogenic" and "paleo" are just names to identify the type of diet with low carbs intake, but has much more to do with nutrition than with nomenclature. Who wants to know more about it, I'll leave the Dr. Eric Westman talks more, one of the good videos that explains a lot about the subject:
And now ... to show you in this new beginning and  new learning times, that it is possible to eat well without harming health ... our recipe!

Chocolate cake less than 1g of calories per serving!

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 tsp. stevia powder
2 tsp. cocoa powder
2 Tbsp. almond flour
2 Tbsp. coconut flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg

Baking...

1. Melt the butter in a small pan or in the microwave;
2. When is completely melted, add and stir the stevia and cocoa powder until smooth and without lumps;
3. Add flours, baking powder and vanilla extract, stir well until there are no lumps;
4. Place the egg, stir well and it's ready!!!!
5. Bake in a medium-high oven temperature (200 ° C) for 15 minutes or until put on a toothpick and when get out be clean!
I used mini muffin pan + 2 silicon and yielded 14 units.
Hmmmm
Nutritional table according to the website that published this recipe is:
That gives us less than 1g of calorie each little cake!!!
So delightful!!!!

Usually when it talk about "alternative flours" it is common have doubts about texture, flavor and consistency. But in this case you can do with no fear! Look how fluffy texture was inside:

PAY ATTENTION:

* The original recipe is from Ruled.me site specializing in keto recipes or recipes for the ketogenic diet. It is made in the microwave (I avoid using), and other ingredients that I replaced but no significant change in the composition;

* I do not put the step-by-step photos as usual because it is really very simple, just put all the ingredients together, stir and bake it. But if you want, the original recipe has very detailed photos, just click the link here and check;

* Because it is a recipe with very low calories, I do not recommend for children, only adults who actually are in weight loss and calorie reduction process.

And that is all folks!

xoxo

If you liked this post I ask you to like it, comment, share on your facebook, twitter and other social media you want. This interaction, this feedback is super important to me, makes all the difference in my work and how I can get better!!!

Tuesday 5 April 2016

Weekly menu and David's progress

Hello!

Today I bring you our meals scheduled this week here at home, our menu!

I've given up the idea to explain the reasons for not having posted anything since last year, give up for blame myself for the delays and... what to do about it? I'm doing things as fast as I can. And keep going...

David is 3 years and almost 11 months, recently he started to eat alone (yay!!!), we are now "in full swing" in toilet training!!! I am also more than happy and proud to share that for more than a week David is sleeping alone in his own bedroom, since when we talk about the changes, we organized the little room the way he liked ... did not wake up no one time during the night, not called us or came to our bed, no one crying moments... I'm sharing this progress with you cause it's one thing before affect  David, we had to change in ourselves first, that we've done choosing positive discipline (respecting David's time before our desires, statistics... etc). Of course it's not easy, there are bad days, it takes a great willpower to not repeat the examples we have in memory, in our history ... but the result is worth the effort. Really does.
Take a look how our kid is! This photo we took a couple weeks ago in our trip to Wellington/NZ.

And of course... this is the menu of this week:


And that's it!

Love,

Dani

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