Raw Vegan Lime Bars w/ Pistachio Graham Crust

I took one bite, then the flavour sunk in and all I wanted to do was dance and proclaim to the entire universe how fantastic these babies turned out to be. Gluten free, dairy free, added sugar free, vegan, raw, tastes like ice cream what more can you ask for? 

(Hey that rhymes) 

They're simple to make and really are quite delicious if I do say so myself. Parents really like these and my critical brother said they were "not bad" aka "very good". He asked if there was sugar. Well, there isn't! Apart from non processed sugars like dates and maple syrup :-) Really glad these turned out well because this morning's breakfast got screwed up when everything got stuck to my not so non stick waffle maker. Need a new one now, care to sponsor me anyone?

I was scrolling through Pinterest (follow me @healthiepanda) the other day and I saw these divine looking lime squares with a pistachio graham crust, courtesy of Martha Stewart. So this Sunday afternoon I decided to healthify them. Oh by the way keep pinning my pictures! Really makes me so happy :-) 

I love that green from the avocado! (YES THATS THE SECRET INGREDIENT) The ones I used were perfectly ripe and not brown at all! Pity I didn't take a picture. Avocados make up a good portion of this recipe so please get good avocados. Brown avocados will not give you such a pretty green. 

Cranberry Pistachio Scones (gluten free, egg free)

More cranberry and pistachio things for Christmas! May not be very creative but there IS a reason why this combination is so popular. These scones are gluten and egg free plus they are low fat because we use greek yogurt instead of butter here! 

But to be honest, even though these scones are delicious, the texture is kinda bun-like. It's more like a scone bun than a scone?? I'm not sure if I should reduce the greek yogurt or add more baking soda or flour :/ Anyway, some of you want the recipe so here it is :) 

Drizzled mine with plain non fat no sugar yogurt!

So deeeelicious. 

What you'll need

1 and 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp cinnamon 

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/2 cup fresh cranberries

1/4 cup shelled pistachio

How to 

1. Soak your shelled pistachios in hot water for 15-20min. 

2. Meanwhile, mix flour, baking soda, cinnamon together. Than add in the honey and greek yogurt. combine everything together well. 

Preheat oven to 190C

3. Rub the skins off the pistachio to reveal the green insides. Now fold cranberries and pistachios into the scone dough. 

4. Use an ice cream scoop to scoop 5 balls of dough out onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. ((They should be bigger than the ice cream scoop size. The scoop just makes it easier to get equal amounts of dough!))

5. Bake the scones for 20 min and then cool before eating. I left mine in the (turned off) oven to brown a bit longer. They taste great on their own but you can eat them with some breakfast spreads too!

Enjoy!

Pistachio Crusted Salmon with Cranberry Sauce

The first of the two Christmas recipes for today. 

Pistachios and cranberries are a classic Christmas combination. Since I have yet to make a dish with the two, I felt it was only right I made this pistachio crusted baked salmon and cranberry sauce served on a fluffy bed of quinoa. The tartness of the cranberries goes really well with the salmon and adds that wonderfully festive feel. This is so basic anyone can do this :) 

For salmon I used fillets premarinated with a whole bunch of herbs and a little garlic. If you are using plain ones, please add some herbs and garlic to marinate it. 

What you'll need

1 125g salmon fillet (I used premarinated ones, see above)

1/2 a lemon (juice)

15g pistachio nuts

1/4 cup or more cranberries

1 tbsp water

1 tsp honey

Cooked quinoa

Steamed vegetables

How to

1. Chop up pistachio in a small food processor. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Squeeze lemon over salmon fillet and coat the salmon in the chopped pistachio. Bake for 15min.

3. Microwave cranberries for about 40s, depending on your microwave. Mash it up with a fork and mix it together with water and honey. 

4. Serve over salmon with quinoa and steamed vegetables.

P.S To quick steam your vegetables, wash them, don't pay dry and microwave for a 30s or so until cooked.