Healthy Breakfast Muffins

After still having some old bananas left that needed some baking wizardry, I decided to opt for a healthier muffin. This is a great treat for breakfast - or even with your morning cuppa. They are packed full of goodies that will make anyone feel good in the morning. I had two for breakfast and didn't even think about food until lunchtime. Okay, that's a lie. I was cooking for most of the morning - but not tasting!

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

Makes 18
Ingredients:
300g (11 oz) plain flour
50g (2 oz) rolled oats
3 teaspoons baking powder
half teaspoon mixed spice
half teaspoon cinnamon
80g (3 oz)raisins
120g (4.5 oz) apricots, chopped
50g (2 oz) sunflower seeds
50g (2 oz) caster sugar
100ml (4 floz) sunflower oil
150ml (5.5 floz) natural yoghurt
150ml (5.5 floz) milk
1 egg, beaten
2 bananas, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 medium carrots, grated

HOW TO MAKE:

1. Prepare the muffin tins with 18 muffin cases.

2. Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.

3. Mix the wet ingredients in a jug.

4. Add the bananas and carrots to the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture.

5. Combine with as few stirs as possible and fill the muffin cases three quarters full.

6. Bake in a preheated 190C (375F) oven for 20 minutes.

7. Remove and leave to cool on a wire rack.

CARROT, LENTIL, PEPPER AND TOMATO BABY SOUP

This is tasty for the whole family if you make a big batch as a soup.

1 tablespoon grated carrot

¼ red pepper, chopped

2 teaspoons red lentils

2 cherry tomatoes

Cover the ingredients with water and simmer until all the ingredients are tender, Make sure the pan doesn't dry out. Whizz to desired consistency.

Baby Dhal with Chicken

I've just made this for my seven month-old and she seemed to love it! Although l would only make it for her when I'm making a big batch for the whole family. Follow this link for the grown-up recipe: Lentil Dhal with Chicken.


Ingredients:
1 tablespoon red & green lentils
3 tablespoons water
1 tomato
1 small carrot, finely chopped
Small sprinkle of ginger & garlic
1 teaspoon chopped onion
1 tablespoon coconut milk
1 teaspoon chicken
1 teaspoon basmati rice

HOW TO MAKE:
Take the lentils, water, carrots, tomato, onion, ginger, garlic, and coconut milk, and simmer in a small pan for 10 minutes. Now add chicken and and rice and cook until everything is tender. Keep a watch for it drying out. You may need to add more water or coconut milk, and it needs to be stirred to make sure it doesn't catch the bottom of the pan. Once cooked, whizz to desired consistancy.

Homemade Gherkin Coleslaw

If there's one thing I'm not keen on, it's shop bought coleslaw... in fact I don't really like at all. I think hate might be a bit too strong a word to describe my dislike for the overly creamy, chunky cabbagey, sloppy oniony gloop. So here's my zingy and crunchy fresh alternative. Combine all the ingredients below and voilà!

Ingredients:
3 carrots, grated
2 sticks celery, finely chopped
2 spring onions, finely chopped
30g gherkins, finely chopped

Dressing:
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
squeeze of lemon juice
salt and pepper

Sausage and Carrot Ragu

This is a Mean Mother Cooker staple in my kitchen. Sausage and Carrot ragu was a firm favourite when my family and I used to holiday on the North Norfolk coast (we still do, and the recipe is still as great as it was back then). The sausages from the butchers in Burnham Market are absolutely delicious. But of course you don't have to travel there every time you fancy this simple pasta dish! My son loves this dish too.

Ingredients
6 sausages, skinned
3 carrots, peeled and grated
1 onion, chopped
half jar of passata
half pint of chicken stock
sprig of fresh oregano or half teaspoon of dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon Marmite
salt and pepper

HOW TO MAKE
Fry the onion in a little olive oil until soft and translucent. Add the sausage meat and fork-up into little pieces. Cook for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and cook for a further 5 minutes. Now add the passata, stock and herbs and simmer for 30 minutes. Add the Marmite and season to taste. Serve with pasta and Parmesan cheese.