Chewy Chocolate Banana Cookies | Vegan | With Plantain Flour

I made these gooey chewy chocolate banana cookies for breakfast, but these are also great for when you want to reach for a healthy snack. The cookies are free from gluten, refined sugar and oil, making it suitable for several dietary requirements. 

For more recipe inspiration be sure to follow me on Instagram and Facebook. I would love to see your recipe creations too, so do tag me and let's connect :)

  

Ingredients 

Makes 12 

- 3 heap tablespoons plantain flour (or other gluten-free flour) 
- 1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds 
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder 
- 2 large ripe bananas, mashed

Preheat your oven to 200C.

Place all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and combine. Leave to stand for 5 minutes so that the plantain flour can become more hydrated.

Spoon the cookies onto a lined baking tray, using the back of a spoon to smooth out the top. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Leave to cool for 20 minutes before removing from the tray. Enjoy with a cup of tea!

My Go-To Lentil Soup | Easy Vegan Recipe

During these winter months, cosy soups are the name of the game. Whenever I fancy something quick and nutritious, I always seem to turn to this recipe or some variation of it. It's budget-friendly, easy to make and packed full of flavour.

At the moment I'm trying to reduce the level of sodium in my food, so you'll notice that I left out salt in the ingredient list below. My taste buds have certainly developed over the last few years to the point where I don't like super salty meals. I also find that the spices in this really provide a decent flavour kick. Having said that, feel free to add a dash of salt to yours. 

You'll also see that I do the cheat thing of using frozen mixed vegetables but if you've got some spare veg lying around that needs using up, go ahead and chop them up and add to this dish. Soup is very forgiving. You can play around with it, customise to your heart's content, so don't hold back.

Ingredients

Serves 2

- 1 cup split red lentils

- 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables

- generous handful shredded cabbage

- 1 tablespoon hot curry powder

- 1 tsp crushed chilli flakes

- 1 teaspoon ground cumin

- 1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs

- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

- approx 4 measuring cups hot water

Method

Place all the ingredients in a pot/saucepan. Cook on medium-high heat for 10-15 minutes until the lentils are soft. Serve hot with an extra dash of chilli flakes over the top.

Nigerian 'Meat' Pie - Vegan, Meat-Free

Hands up if meat pie was the snack of your childhood in Nigeria. I know it certainly was for me!

After going vegan, it was imperative to develop a plant-based version that I and my family could still enjoy. No holding back on taste and texture. 

I'm excited to share this recipe with you, which I created for Upfield. Whet your appetite with the images below, then click here to access the full recipe. I do hope you give it a try! Be sure to share your creations with me over on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter!

Sticky Toffee Christmas Fruit Cake

 

It began with a jar of raisins that my mum had been soaking in brandy for a whole year. Entrusted with this jar of gold (if you know, you know) I set to making this recipe. I don't even have the words to explain just how incredible it is. You'll have to make it yourself to understand. 

If you love sticky toffee pudding and fruity christmas cake, this hybrid dessert is dedicated to you and your superior taste buds. The sponge is best eaten the day after when it has had time to soften further. By some miracle or magic it becomes even more toffee-like and delectable. Store the cake in an airtight tin/container and consume within one week.

I've included a few notes below in case you need any substitution recommendations or clarity on any aspect of this recipe.

If you do make this, be sure to share your pictures and feedback with me on Instagram :)

Dried Fruit

I used dried raisins in this recipe. Nice and simple. Sultanas would also do the trick if that is all you have. You may want to switch things up by adding some dried cranberries for an extra festive feel. You may also want to throw in some candied peel. For a more basic sticky toffee pudding, using just dates takes the toffee factor to another incredible level. In this case, you will need to blend all the dates together with the black tea.

As I mentioned, my dried fruit was soaked in brandy for a whole year! This is a good tradition to get into if you know you plan to make Christmas cake every year. Of course, I don't expect you to have a jar of year old soaked fruits just lying around, so I recommend soaking your fruit for 24 hours to allow them to plump up. If you're really impatient and want to make this recipe ASAP, then soak your fruits for at least two hours before you start baking. 

Alcohol or No Alcohol?

I used brandy to soak my raisins, but you can also use rum or whisky (or even a blend of all three). For an alcohol-free version, you may choose to soak your dried fruit in a fruit juice such as orange or apple juice. Unless you avoid alcohol for a special/specific reason, I highly encourage you to use it for this recipe. The warmth and flavour is unparalleled. 

Flour

Self-raising flour is more common here in the UK. If you cannot find it easily, you can make your own at home by combining plain (or all-purpose) flour with baking powder. The ratio is 2 teaspoons of baking powder for every 150g / 1 cup.

Toffee Sauce

The blended fruit in this cake gives it the sticky, toffee-like taste and texture. In my opinion, there is no need to make an accompanying toffee sauce. Instead, serve the cake warm with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream or sweet, silky custard.

Ingredients

Serves 8

- 1 and 1/2 cups self-raising flour 

- 1 tsp ground cinnamon

- 1 nutmeg

- pinch of salt

- 1/4 cup cold vegan margarine

- 1 cup brown sugar

- 1/2 cup black tea

- 2 cups raisins, soaked in brandy

- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180C.

2. Place the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cold vegan margarine and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Use your fingers to combine the ingredients until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. 

3. Drain the raisins from the brandy, retaining the brandy in a jug for later use.

4. Brew some black tea in a saucepan. Half a cup of water with one teabag (which you can discard after 2 minutes of brewing). Add 1 cup of the soaked raisins (drained). Once the tea comes to a boil, add the bicarbonate of soda. The tea will get foamy and frothy at this stage. Take off the heat. Allow to cool for 5 minutes then place the entire mixture, including the raisins, in a food blender and blend until smooth.

5. Add the smooth tea/raisin blend to the large mixing bowl with the other ingredients, along with 1/2 cup of brandy (drained from the soaked fruit) and the remaining 1 cup of raisins. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to mix until you have a luscious cake batter. Do not over mix.

6. Prepare a round 18cm cake tin by brushing the inside with a generous amount of vegan margarine. Pour the batter into the cake tin, place in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes. A skewer stuck in the centre should come out clean. if this is not the case, bake for a further 5 minutes. 

7. Allow to cool slightly. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or sweet custard. If you can wait one day before serving, even better, as the cake will get softer and stickier and more indulgent the day after.

3 Easy Vegan Festive Side Dishes

If you're in need of some last minute ideas for side dishes this Christmas, then look no further. These three recipes are simple to make, packed full of nutritious, colourful fresh produce, and will be sure to brighten up your dinner table. The great thing about these recipes is that they can be made a few days in advance, frozen and reheated on the day. This is particularly appealing if you don't want to waste half of Christmas day cooking!

There is a lot of flexibility with the three dishes. For the mulled red cabbage, you can use green cabbage instead, or you can replace the pears with apples. For the roasted root vegetables, you can add or subtract vegetables based on what you have available at home. For the Brussels sprouts in peanut sauce, you can use sunflower or pumpkin seeds if you have a peanut allergy, or leave it out altogether.

I hope you enjoy these recipes and give them a try, even beyond the holiday season. Have a wonderful Christmas and I'll catch you in the new year!

Keep up with more bonus recipe ideas over on Instagram or Facebook.

1. Mulled Red Cabbage and Pears

Serves 8

Ingredients

- 1 large red cabbage , quartered, cored and thinly sliced 

- 1 large red onion , sliced 

- 250ml red wine 

- 1 large cinnamon stick 

- 5 cloves 

- 2 star anise 

- 5 cardamom pods 

- fresh ginger

- 2 tbsp soft brown sugar 

- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar 

- 3 large pears, diced

- fresh coriander

Method

Place all the ingredients (except the pears) in a large pot and cook, covered, for one hour on low heat. Add the pears and cook for another hour and a half until the cabbage is very soft. 

Serve warm with some fresh coriander scattered over the top.

2. Nutmeg Roasted Root Vegetables

Serves 4

Ingredients

- 3 large carrots, cut into batons

- 1 large parsnip, cut into batons

- 200g new potatoes, halved

- 8 whole garlic cloves

- 1 tbsp dried mixed herbs

- 1 tsp nutmeg

- 2 tbsp vegetable oil

- 1/4 tsp salt

- fresh parsley

Method

Preheat the oven to 180C. Place the cut vegetables on a lined baking tray and add the mixed herbs, nutmeg, oil and salt. Toss until the veg is well coated. 

Roast for 45-50 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Serve hot with fresh parsley to garnish.

3. Brussels Sprouts in Chilli Peanut Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients

- 500g brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved

- 1 tin plum tomatoes

- 1 large red onion, roughly chopped

- 1 scotch bonnet chilli

- 125g roasted peanuts (plus extra for garnish)

- 1 tsp curry powder

- 1 tsp dried mixed herbs

- 1 tsp smoked paprika

- 1 tsp chilli powder

- 1/2 tsp salt

- fresh coriander

Method

Place the plum tomatoes, red onion, chilli and roasted peanuts in a food blender and blend until you have a thick puree. Pour into a saucepan, add the curry powder. mixed herbs, paprika, chilli powder and salt. Cook on medium heat for 10 minutes. 

Add the Brussels sprouts and cook for a further 15-20 minutes, until the Brussels sprouts have softened. Serve warm with some fresh coriander and extra roasted peanuts on top to garnish.

How to Make Mulled Wine

 

Fill your home with the wonderful smells of Christmas. This mulled wine recipe is easy to make and absolutely delicious.

For a non-alcoholic version, use cranberry juice or apple juice or blackcurrant juice instead. You can also play around with the spices. I've gone for the classics such as cinnamon and cloves, but have added a little extra touch with hibiscus and ginger. 

Wishing you a wonderful and safe holiday!

Ingredients

- 750ml red wine

- 4 tablespoons caster sugar

- 2 large oranges, one sliced and the other juiced

- 1 whole cinnamon stick

- 3 star anise

- 5 green cardamom pods

- 15 whole cloves

- 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus flowers

- fresh ginger, sliced

Pour about 250ml of wine into a saucepan and add the sugar, along with the orange juice, orange slices and all the spices. Bring to a boil and allow to cook for 10 minutes. Add the rest of the wine and heat for a further 5 minutes. Take off the heat and allow to cool slightly before serving. Use a ladle to pour the wine into glasses and garnish the drinks with an orange slice, a star anise and/or cinnamon stick.

Vegan Holiday Gift Guide 2020 | 10 Unique, Ethical and Sustainable Gift Ideas

It’s that time of the year again and I’ve curated a downright awesome Christmas gift guide to inspire you this festive season. If you’re looking to support vegan-friendly independent businesses and ethical companies, then this guide has your name written all over it. From tree planting, to online cooking course vouchers, to superfood skincare, there’s a lot that your foodie / vegan friends and loved ones will appreciate. Happy shopping!

1. Treedom 

A tree is the greatest gift you could give, with far-reaching benefits for our planet and the lives of smallholder farmers. Treedom is a tree-planting company that allows you to plant a tree and gift it to your loved ones. No shipping costs or wrapping paper needed (making it a fab last minute gift idea!) With this gift, you get to support agroforestry projects around the world, restore local ecosystems and provide additional income opportunities for smallholder farmers. It’s easy to gift a tree via email, text or direct message. As far as sustainable presents go, this ticks all the boxes! Gift a tree and use promo code TOMI20 to get 20% off! 

@treedom_trees

2. Zesttt For Life Jewellery 

Handmade real fruit jewellery founded by Abi. Made in London and available internationally. These fruit earrings are fun, unique, beautiful and great conversation starters. The fruit is dehydrated for a few days then coated in resin to preserve its natural state. Gift the Real Orange Earrings. 

@zestttforlife

3. Online Cooking Course - Traditional Nigerian Snacks

I’m very excited to include my newest online course in this guide because I truly believe that it makes for a unique virtual gift. Your vegan or foodie loved ones will love learning how to recreate a delicious selection of popular Nigerian snacks from scratch. A great way to learn a bit more about our rich food culture. They’ll have lifetime access to the recipes and can work through it at their own pace. Gift the online snack course. 

@vegannigerian

4. Live Lively: 80 Plant-Based Recipes by Haile Thomas

This vibrant cookbook combines nutrition-packed vegan recipes with advice and insights on improving your mental and emotional wellbeing. A beautiful and uplifting vegan cookbook that leaves you feeling empowered. Gift Haile’s cookbook. 

@hailethomas

5. Dapaah Chocolate

Luxury, hand-crafted dairy-free chocolate made with coconut milk and cocoa from Ghana. Dapaah Chocolate was founded by Raphael Dapaah in 2016 after returning from a tour of his maternal grandmother’s cocoa plantation in the western region of Ghana. Their long term goal is to build a sustainable chocolate factory in Ghana, in order to create new jobs, opportunities, and better wages for local cocoa farming communities. Gift the Mmiensa Collection featuring the dark, mylk and white chocolate bars. 

@dapaahchocolates

6. The Glowcery 

100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free skincare made from fresh, nutrient-dense superfood ingredients. Founded by Roshanne in March 2020, the brand aims to create products that protect, nourish and soothe your skin. What’s more, the entire packaging is eco-friendly and recyclable. Gift the Mini Skinfood Basket which contains x1 Clean Greens Superfood Serum, x1 Coconut Crumble Superfood Lip Scrub and x1 Sweet Orange Superfood Lip Balm. 

@theglowceryshop

7. Oré Mi Candles

Oré mi means ‘My friend’ in Yoruba. The independent candle company was founded in 2019 by Karen Olla and Stephen Turner, with the aim of spreading awareness around mental health and how candles can promote wellbeing and calmness. All the candles are made from soya wax, making them vegan-friendly, and they come in a range of signature scents inspired by Karen’s Nigerian heritage. Gift the Coconut & Lime 150g Candle. 

@orimicandles

8. Vegan Sweet Treats Selection

Lovingly hand-made treats that are vegan and gluten-free. Made by Sonya who promotes healthy eating habits through her platform Sonya’s Healthy Kitchen. Choose between a taste bag with 10 items (perfect stocking filler), a small box or a medium box. The recipient will get a selection of mini Christmas-themed goodies such as marzipan sweets, truffles, fudge, waffles, doughnuts, cookies and cakes. Gift these sweet treats. 

@sonyashealthykitchen

9. Bespoke Binny 

African print homeware founded by Natalie who has combined her love of sewing with vibrant African prints inspired by her West African heritage. The colourful aprons, oven mitts and oven gloves will put a smile on any passionate home cook’s face. On her platform, you’ll also find a range of tableware, pillows, cushions, lampshades, notebooks and more! Gift an apron or oven glove. 

@bespokebinny

10. The Essential Vegan Toolkit by Sara Botero

Sara is an activist and illustrator. In her gorgeously illustrated and comprehensive vegan guide, she details the many reasons to make the switch to veganism, offering tons of practical advice on nutrition, clothing, travelling and other lifestyle choices. The perfect gift for anyone who’s considering going vegan and in need of some inspiration and guidance. Gift Sara’s book.

@qitiji

This post contains some sponsored content and affiliate links. They are all companies and individuals I'm proud to share with you.

5 Popular Nigerian Snacks You Need to Try | VEGAN

First with the exciting news that I created my very first online course! When I tell you that I've been toying with the idea of creating a course for eons, it's no joke. A mixture of procrastination and not fully knowing where to start (kinda...not really...I mean, everything is a Google search away, right?), I finally put my head down and set myself this exciting project, especially with the latest lockdown and having more time on my hands. 

The course features 5 Nigerian snack recipes that are all mouthwateringly delicious. Every single Nigerian (and those from neighbouring West African countries) will be totally familiar with them. In which case, the course is a great refresher and a chance for you to learn how to make these popular snacks at home from scratch, if you don't already know how. For non-Nigerians, the course is perfect for getting acquainted with our snack culture and dipping your toes into the wonderful world of Nigerian cuisine.

The great thing about the course, which I've chosen to host on Udemy, is that you can buy it for yourself OR as a gift for your loved ones. With the holidays just around the corner, it makes for a unique virtual Christmas gift for the foodies in your life. Beyond that, it's an excellent birthday gift for any season!

If you would like to explore or buy a spot on the course, you can do so by clicking HERE.

Now let's get on to listing the top five Nigerian snacks that YOU need to try. If these photos whet your appetite and make you drool even the tiniest bit, then you can take that as a sign that this course is for you ;)

1. Akara

Fried fritters made from brown beans or black-eyed beans. Variations can be found across West Africa and parts of Brazil (due to the slave trade) where it is known as acarajé. Akara is popular amongst the Yoruba tribe, eaten not only as a snack but as a breakfast served alongside ogi or eko. In the northern parts of Nigeria, it is known as kosai.

2. Chin Chin

A crunchy fried biscuit made from a lightly spiced dough that is cut into tiny squares or short batons. The vegan version in this booklet excludes the eggs, butter and milk that you would normally expect in the traditional recipe. The baked version also deviates from the deep-fried cooking method that is normally used.

3. Kuli-Kuli

A crunchy spiced peanut snack that is popular across West Africa. It is made by grinding roasted peanuts into a paste, mixing it with spices and stripping the excess oil from the paste. Stripping the oil guarantees that the kuli-kuli holds its shape and does not disintegrate when fried. It is excellent eaten alone but is often paired with soaked garri (cassava flakes and sugar soaked in cold water). Kuli-kuli can be ground and used for making suya spice which you can use to season grilled or roasted vegetables. 

4. Puff Puff

A fried doughnut that is made with a yeasted batter. The sweet, fluffy morsels can be made plain or seasoned with warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg.

5. Yamarita

Also known as dun dun oniyeri among the Yoruba, this is a fried yam snack that is traditionally coated in an egg mixture. In this vegan version, non-dairy milk is used to create the spicy batter that will coat the yam pieces. The yam is often boiled first, guaranteeing a soft and fluffy interior to complement the crispy exterior.

I hope you enjoyed finding out a bit more about these snacks and that they make their way onto your dinner table soon! When you've completed the course, I'd love to hear your feedback so be sure to leave a review!