#recipe: Banana Bread

I got this awesome banana bread recipe from my friend (she took it from the Internet). I am so glad she shared that recipe with me because this banana bread is so delicious and healthy (that's the best part!).

So, if you want to make a moist and delicious banana bread without sugar and butter, this recipe is meant for you! ;)

Ingredients:

1 heaping cup mashed banana

1/4 cup honey or maple syrup

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or coconut, rice, oat milk)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

1 cup rolled oats

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

How to make:

1. Preheat oven to 180 C degrees (350 F). Cover your loaf pan with baking paper (or spray it with nonstick cooking spray). 

2. In large bowl combine mashed banana, applesauce, honey/maple syrup, egg, almond milk and vanilla until well combined and creamy. In separate medium bowl whisk together whole wheat flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda (I didn't have it and I just left it out), salt and cinnamon. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined (don't overmix!).

3. Pour into prepared load pan, sprinkle oats over top (if desired) and bake for 60-70 minutes.

4. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool. Enjoy this delicious and moist banana bread! Keep the bread tightly wrapped to maintain its moisture. 

Original recipe taken from HERE.

#recipe: 3 different healthy muffins

Last three weekends I have been baking! I just like how my home fills with baking smell! It's especially great during autumn! I like then it's dark outside, quite chilly, I burn candles inside and I can smell that muffins are baking in the oven. Oh, that smell! But since my hubbie isn't a big fan of sweet cakes/muffins/pies, then I know I must eat them all...that leads me to another thing: I must bake as healthy as possible, because I don't want to eat that much fat and sugar (but I also can't say no to the goods I have baked!). So, the easiest and smartest thing to do is to bake something healthy. That way I din't have to feel bad (or guilty) eating those all by myself.

I am going to share these 3 very easy and delicious, but also healthy muffin recipes that are perfect for  chilly and dark autumn nights! ;)

CARROT & AVOCADO MUFFINS: 

(recipe makes 6 muffins)

Perfect autumn recipe! Carrots give such an unique and sweet flavor to these muffins. They are as healthy as they can be: no sugar or butter! Your house will smell soooo good when you are baking these muffins!

Ingredients:
1/4 cup wholewheat flour (or rice flour or coconut flour)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup grated carrot
1/4 cup ripe avocado, mashed well
1/2 tsp lemon juice
3 large eggs
poppy seeds (if you want)

How to make:
Whisk together the eggs, avocado, carrot, lemon juice and honey. Add the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry until you get semi-runny batter. Spoon the batter into greased muffin tray. Bake in 200 C degrees about 15 min.

BANANA & AVOCADO MUFFINS:
(makes about 6 muffins)
I like the banana and avocado flavor combination. You can definitely taste that there is something different there (avocado!), but it's a good flavor! Plus bananas are always great in muffins! There's no sugar or no butter in this recipe, so it really makes you feel good when you eat this dessert :)

Ingredients:
1/4 cup rice flour 
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup honey
1/3 cup mashed ripe banana
1/4 cup ripe avocado, mashed well
1/2 tsp lemon juice
3 large eggs
1 tbs oat bran
poppy seeds (if you want)

How to make:
Whisk together the eggs, avocado, banana, lemon juice and honey. Add the flour, baking powder and oat bran into a large mixing bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry until you get semi-runny batter. Spoon the batter into greased muffin tray. Bake in 200 C degrees about 15 min.

APPLE & OATMEAL MUFFINS:
(makes 12 muffins)
This recipe is great for cold autumn and winter nights because they are pretty fulfilling! They are not so light in texture, but they are definitely sweet and rather healthy.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup almondmilk
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup brown sugar (or honey)
2 tbsp lemon oliveoil (or any other oil)
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 small apples (cut into small pieces)

How to make:
Preheat oven to 190 C degrees (375 F). Grease the muffin pan.
In a large bowl combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. In a medium bowl combine applesauce, milk, lemon juice, sugar, oil and egg. Add applesauce mixture into dry ingredients. Stir until just moist. Fold in apple pieces. Fill muffin cups full.
Bake for 16-18 minutes.

Enjoy :)

Weekend, mushrooms & an apple pie recipe!

If anybody says mushrooms or apple pie I instantly think of autumn (or the end of summer). Last weekend dad and I took out bicycles and went to pick mushrooms. We had so much fun! We found so many mushrooms and I totally enjoyed being out in nature with him :)

The same weekend I of course was boiling the mushrooms and marinated them. I got 10 glass jars of marinated mushrooms! Dad asked me yesterday again to pick some mushrooms and marinate them, but I think I have enough right now.

I also made an apple pie last weekend. Apples are obviously in season right now and they taste so good, sweet and juicy! I was craving for an apple pie so I made one. I know I would be eating it all by myself so I made the healthier version. I found the recipe from a cookbook called "Maitseelamused tervise heaks". (she was using rhubarbs, but the season is over, so I used apples!) I like that the author is using so good ingredients in her recipes and so you don't have to feel guilty! It's all about clean and natural high fiber ingredients! I am definitely going to try more of her recipes :) I must also mention that it's so cool how her book is divided into four chapters - recipes for each season! That for you can really use ingredients that are fresh at that time of the year ;) Clever!

I'm kindly sharing the recipe:

Base:

250g wholegrain flour

125g butter

50g cane sugar

1 egg

Filling:

apple jam 

about 4 apples

Crumble:

50g butter

30g cane sugar

100g oat bran

Instructions:

Mix all the base ingredients into dough. Cover the bottom of cooking pan with the dough and cook in the oven 5-7 min in 185 C degrees. After that put apples and applejam on a base and cook about 10 more minutes. Meanwhile make the crumble: mix cold butter, sugar and bran with your hands till it has a nice crumbly texture. Crumble it on top of the pie and cook in the oven about 20 minutes. 

It tastes good warm and cold :)

This weekend I have been at home (it's still Saturday evening..). The weather is so nice, sunny and warm! When I went to the foodshop earlier and passed apples on sale I just got a feeling that I need to make another apple pie this weekend. I would actually like to make a pie or a cake using avocado instead of butter. I must find a good recipe for that, but I'd like to try and make a cake even more healthier! Besides I love avocados!!! If I make one I will share the result ;)

Have a nice evening, everybody!!!

That weatherrr!!!! :)

Väljas on umbes +20 C kraadi (päikese käes näitab hetkel isegi pea +30 C!). Päike paistab ja nii mõnusalt soe on! Käisin väljas lühikeste käistega ja tundsin, kuidas päike peale hakkas. 

Selline ilm teeb mind nii õnnelikuks ja annab head energiat! See motiveerib tervislikum ja aktiivsem olema (suvi ja bikiinihooaeg ju lähenemas). Ma hakkasin eelmisel nädalal jooksmas käima. Sel nädalal olen kolm korda käinud. Kasutan Endomondot oma teekonna ja aja (ja põletatud  kalorite jms) mõõtmiseks. See isegi turgutab veel enam jooksma :) Ma ei jookse muidugi väga palju praegu korraga, sest mul lihtsalt pole võhma. Iga korraga püüan pikema maa joosta. Küll see võhm sedasi kasvab :)

Peale jooksmise olen niisama kodus toimetanud: eile pesin väliskoridoris treppe, pesin pesu, tegin õhtusööki ja käisin poes. Poest tahtsin osta midagi tervislikumat ning mingeid uusi ja huvitavaid asju hommikusöögiks, sest kui ma söön väga tihti ühte ja sama asja, siis ma tüdinen sellest ära ja see ei isuta mind enam. Eile ostsin maapähklivõid, Nutellat, magusaid hernekaunu (need on nii head snäkid!!!) ja pähkleid. Ma olen viimasel ajal väga palju Reese's Peanut Butter Cup'se söönud. Mõtlesin, et ostan parem pähklivõid ja Nutellat. Määrin neid mõlemat korraga täisterasaiale ning nii saangi ühe magusa hommikusöögi :) Mõnikord lihtsalt tahan hommikul midagi magusat!:P

Täna ma koristasin kodu ligi 2 tundi. Siis tegin Johannesele lõunasööki ning ise sõin Blugaaria jogurtit müsli, banaani, maasikate ja kirssidega. Nii maitsev ja tervislik! Pärast käisin kaubakeskuses, kus ostsin endale jooksmiseks lühikesed püksid, sest kui ilmad soojad on, siis on parem lühikeste pükstega joosta..siis saab samal ajal ehk natukene päevitada ka :) Koju jõudes läksingi kohe jooksma, sest päike lõõmas taevas! Kutsus tagasi õue! Jooksin 3,4 km, mis oli tänaseks piisav, sest kuumus väsitas ikka päris palju! Loodan, et ehk sain natuke pune oma lumivalgele nahale. 

Kodus tegin õhtusöögiks täna frikadellisuppi, mis oli nii hea ja kosutav pärast jooksmist! Nüüd aga hakkan oma lemmiksarju vaatama (Reign ja Modern Family) ning samal ajal söön maasikaid ja kirsse :) Loodan, et homme on sama ilus, soe ja päikeseline ilm! Siis lähen ehk parki pingi peale lugema ja päikest võtma!

//It's so sunny outside, so warm!!! This kind of weather just makes me so happy and positive :) Also it gives more motivation to be healthy and active! After work yesterday I went for a run. I don't run very long distances because I haven't run for a while and it takes time to get used to long distances. I run 3 km yesterday, today 3,4 km. I try to add a bit more every time I am running. Anyway, besides running I was also active at home. I cleaned our outside corridor, made dinner, did some laundry. I also went to the food shop to buy some healthy snacks or something new for breakfast (because I get so easily tired of food if I it too often). So, I bought some Bulgarian yogurt, nuts, Sugar Snaps (MY NEW FAVORITE!), peanut butter and Nutella (not so healthy, I know :D). Some mornings I really want something sweet, so I like to mix peanut butter and Nutella on a wholewheat bread. It's so yummie! I also have a new obsession: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!!!!! I have been eating them so much lately. Too much! (That's why I bought peanut butter and Nutella). 

When I woke up today I had a nice breakfast and then started cleaning my home. It took me about 2 hours. And then I made lunch for Jay, had a veryyyy delicious lunch myself and went out to the mall. 

In the mall I visited some sport shops and bought myself new running shorts (because the weather is much warmer and I wanted something shorter) and a sport shirt. When I got home I was so eager to go running :) It was sunny and I was hoping to get some tan. I guess I did get some red cheeks at least!

I made a soup for dinner and it was delicious. I am going to watch Reign and Modern Family now and eat some fresh cherries and strawberries :)

Oh how I love sunny and warm weathers! They just give so much energy and happiness! :D //

My delicious lunch today! (Bulgarian yogurt, muesli, strawberries, banana, cherries).

Recipe: Delicious ice-tea

Suvel proovisin ise jääteed teha. Kahjuks arvasin ma, et olen selles osav ja retsepti või õpetust pole vaja. Tee ei tulnud üldse joodav. Kuidagi lahja ja maitsetu. Eile aga vaatasin üht oma lemmik youtube'i kasutaja Essie Botton'i vlogmas videot ja ta tegi muuhulgas seal endale jääteed. Otsustasin ka teha! Kuna ta näitas ja seletas, kuidas ta seda teeb, siis mõtlesin, et ehk tuleb parem kui mu enda suvine katsetus. 

Jäätee tegemiseks on vaja mingit musta teed (eriti hea on sidruni- või virsikutee). Muidugi saab ka rohelisest ja punasest teest teha, aga antud retsept on musta teega. 

Vaja läheb kahte teekotti. Ma kasutasin kahte erinevat. Üks oli sidruni oma ja teine mingi teistsugune musttee. 

//To make ice-tea you need two tea bags. I used two different black tea bags. The best are lemon or peach flavored. //

Valasin tassi teekottide peale kuuma keevat vett ning lasin teekottidel umbes 5 minutit tõmmata, nii et tee läheks hästi mustaks. Seejärel lisasin pool supilusikatäit mett ning sidrunimahla (päris sidrun oleks parem, aga mul seda kodus polnud; mett võib lisada isegi rohkem, kui eelistad magusamat jääteed). 

//You need boil water and add that to a mug where you have two tea bags. Let them sink for about 5 minutes or until the water is very dark. The add half a tablespoon (or more) honey and half a lemon (I used lemon juice because I didn't have any lemon at home). //

Kui see kange ja magus "siirup" valmis, siis valasin selle tühja klaas pudelisse. 

//If that strong and sweet "syrup" is ready, pour that into a glass bottle.//

Seejärel täitsin pudeli külmaveega, et jäätee oma õige maitse saavutaks. Lasin sel natuke maha jahtuda ning siis panin külmkappi.

//After that add cold water to the bottle and if it's cool enough put it to the fridge to get very cold.//

Täna hommikul sain seda kosutavat ja kodutehtud jääteed juua. Mulle meeldib klaasi ka jääd panna, siis on kohe tõeline jäätee :) Minu meelest maitseb see isegi parem, kui poest ostetud. Kusjuures kodutehtud on kindlasti palju tervislikum ja ei sisalda igasuguseid ebavajalikke ja ebatervislikke aineid!

//I made it yesterday and the ice-tea was in the fridge the whole night. In the morning I drank it with some ice and ohh it's so delicious. I must say it tastes even better that the ones you can buy from shops. And if is definitely healthier! :) //

 Täna oli hommikusöögiks imehea võileib avokaado, singi, juustu ja tomatiga ning joogiks muidugi enda tehtud jäätee :)
//Today's breakfast: sandwich with avocado, ham, cheese and tomato and for drink was homemade ice-tea :) //

Let's drink!

Ma olen viimasel ajal palju vaadanud Fully Raw Christina videosid youtube'ist. Lihtsalt huvi pärast (ja mulle ju nii meeldib igasuguseid videosid youtube'ist vaadata!). Igatahes, kes temast midagi ei tea, siis lühidalt öeldes söön ta juba viimased 7 aastat ainult toortoitu ehk siis igasuguseid puu-, juur- ja köögivilju + pähklid jms, ilma et neid praeks, keedaks aurutaks või muul viisil töötleks. Suure osa tema igapäeva toidust moodustavad igasugused joogid, mida ta muidugi ise värsketest puu- ja köögiviljadest valmistab. Neid videosid vaadates tuli mulle endale ka isu teha taolisi jooke. Aga probleem on selles, et mulle pole kunagi juurviljadest ja köögiviljadest valmistatud joogid maitsenud. Puuviljadega pole muidugi probleemi! :) Aga siiski otsustasin proovida! Ega enne ei tea, kui pole katsetanud. Olen märganud, et väga palju kasutatakse roheliste vitaminijookide sees lehtkapsast (ing k kale). Ostsin ka seda. Olen lugenud nippe, kuidas selliste juurviljajookidega harjuda: alguses pane sisse rohkem puuvilju ja vähe haaval hakka nende kogust vähendama...niimoodi jõuab maitsemeel juurviljadega harjuda. Ühesõnaga, kuna täna tegin esimest korda sellist jooki, siis muidugi lisasin ka natuke puuvilju :)

//I love Fully Raw Christina youtube videos! I got inspired by her juice videos and decided to make an healthy vitamin juice myself! I was afraid I might not like it because I am not a big fan of juices that have vegetables in these, but I still decided to give it a try. To make my first time pleasurable I also added tiny pieces of fruits to my juice mixure!//

Blenderisse panin:
1 suur porgand // 1 big carrot
4 lehtkapsa suurt lehte // 4 leaves of kale
1/8 õuna (ehk väike tükk) // little piece of an apple
4 lillat viinamarja // 4 grapes
natuke vett // little bit of water
natuke 100% õuna-jõhvikamahla // little bit of 100% apple-cranberry juice

Kui kõik oli blenderis hästi segunenud ja muidugi purunenud, siis kallasin koguse sõela peale..nii et mahl voolas kaussi, ja kogu see sodi (paks osa) jäi sõela peale. Paksu viskasin komposti. Mahla kallasin klaasi. Ja minu imestuseks maitseb see ülihästi :D Nii hea! Andsin Johannesele ka maitsta ja ta ütles, et polegi kõige hullem. See näitab, et see tõesti on hea, sest Johannes ei talu üldse mingeid imelikkudest koostisosadest jooke! (talle ei meeldi isegi see õuna-jõhvikamahl, mida ma sinna segusse natuke lisasin). Ühesõnaga, hästi õnnestunud jook. Porgandi maitset on kõige rohkem tunda, aga kuna see on värske ja mingeid tükke ka pole, siis see mulle isegi meeldib :) Poe mahladest mäletan, et kunagi jõin mingit Aura mahla, kus oli ka porgand sees..ja see üldse ei maitsenud. Aga need on vist kuumtöödeldud..ja lähevad selliseks imelikuks (minu meelest). Värske mahl on hoopis muidagi muud :) Me Likeyyy!

//I must say I was pleasantly surprised. The juice tasted very good. I could taste carrot the most, but fresh carrot juice is so sweet and I like it :) Wow! Even Jay said it's pretty good! I am glad I gave it a try and I am sure I will keep doing these vitamin drinks. I definitely want to try with other ingredients...hopefully more green leaves and less fruits. //

Kindlasti katsetan veel erinevaid mahlasid..tahaks just eriti rohelisi vitamiinipomme jooma hakata. Talvel muidugi on suht raske saada vitamiinirikkaid värskeid puu- ja köögivilju, aga tuleb leppida sellega, mis on. Parem ikka kui mitte midagi!

Homme aga on plaanis teha üks magus smuutie :)

//Tomorrow I am going to make a sweet smoothie instead of juice! //