Fat Friday #51 Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

Happy Friday everyone! I can't get enough of cookies! There have been so many cookie recipes lately. I can't really get enough of them, however I never thought to do a traditional cookie but make it vegan friendly. If you aren't vegan then that's ok, you can use unsalted butter and regular chocolate chips instead of margarine and dairy-free chocolate. 

Also, I have to say these cookies are very...cake-like. So they will be a nightmare to get off the baking sheet. Be patient and just make sure that you wait until the tray goes cold, then remove them.

Recipe: Makes 24 cookies (Adapted from Mom on Time Out)

Ingredients:

• 240g flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tbsp of cornflour
• Pinch of Salt
• 2 ripe bananas
• 120g golden caster sugar
• 50g caster sugar
• 180g dairy free chocolate chips* (or regular chocolate chips)
• 50g margarine (or unsalted butter)

*I couldn't find dairy free chocolate chips so I chopped up a slab of chocolate into chunky bits.

Equipment:

• Bowl x 2
• Wire rack
• Handwhisk/Wooden spoon
• Baking sheets lined with silicone paper x 4 (Or just use two and wait for each sheet to cool down)
• Fridge

1)Place all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

2)Cream the margarine, bananas, and sugars together and super light and fluffy.

3)Stir in the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture until just combined.

4) Add the chocolate and pop in the fridge for about 30 minutes or until firm. 

5)Preheat your oven to 375f/GM 5/190C

6) Roll the dough into 1 inch little balls and place on a baking trays.

7) Bake for 10 minutes or until they turn a light brown.

8) Let the cookies cool on they tray for about 15 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

9)Eat like a boss. 

Happy Friday Peeps!

Homemade Granola

Nothing like the a good breakfast to kick start the day! This is the first ever granola that I actually enjoy eating. This also makes a great gift to give and it take 30 minutes to prep and cook. I don't know why everyone doesn't make their own granola, its so easy! If you want to make it dairy free omit the dark chocolate or use dairy free chocolate. Making it gluten free? Use gluten free oats (yes, they do exist).

Recipe: Makes 10 servings (Recipe is from my recipe book and I didn't note down where its from so if you know please message or comment below!) 
Ingredients: 

• 340g oats
• 200g cherries
• 250g Mixture of almonds, cashews, dark chocolate chips and sunflower seeds
• 130g maple syrup 
• 130g coconut oil

Equipment

• Baking sheet
• Mixing bowl
• Wooden Spoon

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 350f/180c/Gas Mark 4

2. Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. 

3.Spread in a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

4. Wait until the granola has completely cooled and store in an airtight jar. 

5. Or eat it all in one big go!

Banana and Salted Caramel Soy Smoothie

I found out recently that fruit smoothies are meant to be bad for you. I mean, just when you find an easy way to get 1 of your 5 a day or is it 1 of your 7 a day now? When you blend fruit together in a smoothie, all the sugars in the fruit go directly into your blood stream and gives you a sugar rush... and then a sugar crush. Its always better to eat the whole fruit, unblended.  In the meantime this smoothie will have to do, its not good for you but its very tasty and good for a chocolaty fix. I used Hotel Chocolate's Salted Caramel and Pecan Spread because its so tasty blends really nicely into a smoothie.

Recipe: Makes 4 little smoothies to drink or 2 for very greedy people

·       400ml Soy Milk
        2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder (I use teapigs Matcha)

·       4 teaspoons of dissolvable fibre power (I used Benefibre)
        5 tablespoons Hotel Chocolat Salted Caramel and Pecan Spread/(or peanut butter).
        2 Bananas, chopped and frozen 
       (if using peanut butter blend 2 tablespoons of cocoa power to add some chocolatey goodness) 

Equipment:

·       Blender
        Freezer

·       Teaspoon

·       Tablespoon

·       Chopping Board
        Knife
        Baking Sheet lined with baking paper/silicone paper
        Glasses

1. Cut up the banana and place on a lined baking sheet and place into the freezer and leave for 3 hours or until frozen.
2.Put all the ingredients into a blender and whizz until fully combined and thick.
3. Pour into glasses and slurp.

Have you ever used up some bits in the fridge to make a smoothie or shake?