Gluten Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Spring is well underway and with the warmer weather, the bananas in our fruit bowl are ripening at a pace we can't keep up with.  Cue banana baking recipes for the school lunch boxes.

These gluten free banana chocolate chip muffins are delicious, filling, have some beautiful superfood and ancient grain ingredients and most importantly, get the big thumbs up from the kids! In this recipe we've incorporated banana flour made from Australian green bananas. It's gluten free and rich in dietary fibre.

Ingredients

1 cup sorghum flour
1/2 cup banana flour (naturalevolutionfoods.com.au)
1/4 cup tapioca starch
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1/2 cup packed brown sugar - (we like the unrefined kind, e.g. muscovado sugar)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon ground chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yoghurt
1/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup ripe bananas mashed (approx 2 medium bananas)
3/4 cups gluten free/nut free chocolate chips (always check the packet)

1) Grease or line a muffin tin. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

2) In a large mixing bowl, sift together the sorghum flour, banana flour, tapioca starch, xanthan gum, sugar, baking powder and baking soda. Then stir in the ground chia and salt.

3) In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, sour cream, milk vanilla extract and mashed bananas. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just to combine. Fold in the chocolate chips.

4) Spoon the batter into muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean.

5) Allow to cool for a few minutes before removing from muffin tin and placing on a cooling rack.  Cool completely before storing in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

The Reluctant Star??

My very supportive hubby is fairly used to being sidelined when it comes to any Eve’s Better Bake media. Since the business began, he has jokingly complained about never being invited to be one of the faces of our company. “Why can’t I be on the website?” he says in jest “ I can be the eye candy” he jokes.  Well, we’ve finally called his bluff. Several weeks ago, we filmed a branding video with the talented and inspiring Jennifer Parlanti from Paper Box Media.  My hubby was asked to be in one of the starring roles, as the all important senior pastry chef and nurturer of his two young chefs as they created delicious baked goodies for afternoon tea.  I think he was quite chuffed to be in the forefront for once and slotted into the role with ease.  I also have to hand it to him, the cookies he and the girls whipped up, were very tasty!

Filming our video was an adrenalin filled, exhausting day but one our family will never forget.  We can’t wait to share our video with you all very soon, right as we launch our new products!

Eve xx

  

The Age of the Coconut

Nectar of the gods?

So who knew the humble coconut and all it derivatives would become the ‘it’ thing.  I must admit, I became a convert a couple of years ago, finding no better way to quench my thirst than to sip on chilled coconut water on a hot day.  Last summer my daughters and I took regular delight from madly hacking into a drinking coconut, thrusting three straws in its gaping wound, knowing full well fastest sipper gets the most coconut water.  As a side note I might add that I was wielding the knife not the kids, but my husband is that certain my haphazard knife skills are one day destined to equate to loss of digits, I’m sure he would almost prefer that it was the 7 year old doing the honours.

Managing to enjoy fresh coconut water with the added bonus of retaining all 10 fingers, I have since branched out further in my coconut consuming journey.   Coconut oil.  I know I’m not telling you anything new here, with all the hype, I’m sure you’re well aware that this medium-chain saturated fatty acid is said to be bursting with health benefits. Increasing evidence suggests that it can potentially help with weight loss, boost metabolism, lower cholesterol, aid digestion and support immunity among other things.  It’s got to be the virgin, additive free kind mind.  One example here of many such articles touting the benefits of this miracle stuff:  

http://www.bodyandsoul.com.au/nutrition/nutrition+tips/10+facts+about+coconut+oil,18271

I for one, have embraced coconut oil wholeheartedly, bringing it into my life in a number of different ways:

1)      Moisturising with it – I get very dry skin and sometimes I feel like my regular moisturiser just won’t cut it. That’s when I slather on the coconut oil. Works a treat.

2)      Baking with it. Baking needs fats and oils for texture and moistness.  I find coconut oil works beautifully in many cakes, muffins and biscuits.  Plus it’s better for you than butter.

3)      Frying with it – has a slightly higher smoke point than olive oil before the oxidisation process starts to occur, although it's not as high as rice bran oil or avocado oil. 

4)      Oil pulling – now this is an interesting concept and one I recently thought I would give a crack. This is based on an ancient Ayurvedic technique where you swish oil all around your mouth for 5-20 minutes to help remove any nasty mouth bacteria that contributes to plague and gum disease.  Be very careful not to inhale it (this is definitely not for children) and it must be spat into the bin not swallowed, not in sink. As a side note I did get top marks from my dental hygienist recently for excellent oral health so perhaps there is really is something in this oil pulling?

You may or may not buy into all the hype surrounding coconut oil.  For me? If it was good enough for the Ayurvedic Indians then it’s good enough for me.

*this story is the opinion of the author and is not health advice. Where necessary, ensure you seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Encouragement from a Supermum - My Mum

Is there anything better than a pat on the back from your own mum? Here's one from my amazing mum, who manages a busy physiotherapy clinic full-time, dedicates hours of voluntary time each week to a leadership role in her church, helps with her grandchildren, runs her house and keeps extremely fit and healthy. It was thanks to my own mum that I find myself on this new path. Mum really did make the kitchen the heart of the home as we were growing up. We were the envy of many of our friends with what our lunch boxes beheld each day with ever appearing new creative cookies, muffins and slices.  My brothers even became a bit entrepreneurial at times, with some kids at school prepared to offer up their own lunch money in exchange for the goodies from my brothers' lunch boxes.

Thanks for your show of support Mum!

As Eve’s Mother and being in the health and fitness sector of professional rehabilitation and having a Diploma in the field of nutrition it is heartening to see individuals like Eve who are cautious, thoughtful, professional and desirous of creating a healthy environment for the general public.  It still surprises me how uninformed and uneducated many people are about food and especially nutrition. This topic has always been one of huge interest and I have tried to influence in my sphere as much as I can. Patients often ask about diet even though they are consulting my husband who is a Physical Therapist on other matters.

Eve, I absolutely support what you are doing and hope you just go from strength to strength in your purpose to help educate people with food and nutrition.

Practice Manager 

Gluten Free Expo MELBOURNE 2014

Are you going to the Gluten Free Expo MELBOURNE 2014?

Ok, so I’m keen to get an idea on the best event you have been to so far this year in 2014?

For me? I’d have to say the recent school trivia night. 

Um, no this photo is absolutely not a couple of dads from school, it really is the real Bono and Bono’s alter ego…..maybe not so much. But how fantastic to see the school mums and dads get into the spirit of the night while raising good funds for our wonderful primary school.  If however, you are looking for an event that while unfortunately can’t promise an appearance by any famous rock stars (we think), you can experience a vibrant exhibition with a fabulous range of Gluten Free food!

So only 59 days to go until the Melbourne Gluten Free Expo…..

59 is still quite a lot you say, but much to do, much to do.  Not only is this our first gluten free show in Melbourne (or anywhere else for that matter) but it is also the much anticipated launch of our Eve’s Better Bake baking mixes. So of course, we are just a tad excited! We would love to see some friendly faces so come and say hi to us on stand 93, Melbourne Exhibition Centre.

Expo Details:          Eve’s Better Bake; stand 93

Location:                 Melbourne Exhibition Centre, South Wharf (2 Clarendon St)
Dates:                     Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th October
Times:                     Saturday: 9.30am – 5.00pm
                                Sunday: 9.30am – 4.00pm 

Like last year the Melbourne Gluten free Expo promises to be a fantastic event with plenty to taste and explore, so come along to the Gluten Free Expo MELBOURNE 2014 on October 11^th and 12^th 2014 and call past Exhibitor stand 93 to experience some of Eve's Better Bakes delicious Gluten Free products

The Melbourne Gluten Free Expo 2014 is proudly owned and presented by Coeliac Victoria and Tasmania.

www.gfexpo.com.au

Little Heston Blumenthal's in the Making?

My two daughters and I have got into quite a lovely habit lately of snuggling up at the end of the evening (if there is time after dinner, bath, homework, reading) and watching a pre-recorded episode of Masterchef.  Obviously the Masterchef winner has just been announced, but I’ve managed not to spill the beans to my girls, who both have their predictions on who is the most deserved of the title.

Yes, it’s just a tv show.  But it’s also been nice bonding time with my daughters, sharing our opinions on what way the contestants have chosen to cook that day, or ingredients they are using (eeew, they use squid ink, really Mum??)  or which herbs they are racing out to the Masterchef garden to grab (just like my 7 year old does for me a lot during dinner prep).   What I have loved with this little temporary tradition we’ve got going (is that an oxymoron?) is that it has sparked some extra culinary imagination for my children. When the contestant’s challenge is announced by Gary, George and Matt, we hit the pause button and each of us has a turn at saying what they would choose to cook for that particular Masterchef challenge.  Last night my 7 year old was creating (in her head) a Heston Blumenthal inspired fruit platter, involving green yoghurt and some grapefruit sauce.  Ok, so maybe it wouldn’t have won dish of the day, but I love that she believes there are no limits to what is possible.

My 9 year old is a basic as basic gets when it comes to eating. Yep, your cut and dried ‘fussy eater’ no matter what attempts we make to expand her dietary repertoire.  The most adventurous she has been as of late, is to wrap meatballs and some plain rice in a lettuce leaf and call it San Choy Bau.  Being different from each other is what makes life interesting though, including with our tastes in food.  I just love the idea that we continue to explore and experiment in our cooking and tasting and broaden our culinary horizons.  I guess this continuous pushing of the envelope is what leads to society’s evolving food styles, but perhaps that is a conversation for another day…..

Eve