Another lockdown means many things, but for a lot of us it means getting back into baking some tasty treats again.
Baking is a great way to pass some time, whether it’s alone or with the Family, it can be fun, therapeutic and rewarding. I'm sure we've all had our fill of Banana Bread after 2020, so why try out one of these healthy bake recipes from Odlums instead. I'll definitely be trying these ones, found over on Odlums.ie
Fruity Health Bars
Cook time: 20mins
Packed with lots of nutritious seeds this is the perfect snack to enjoy with a cuppa to beat the afternoon slump, these would also be a great addition to school lunches.
What you need:
75g/3 oz Odlums Self Raising Flour
75g/3 oz Odlums Porridge Oats
250ml jar of Apple Sauce
125g/4 oz Dried Apricot, chopped
125g/4 oz Shamrock Sultanas
50g/2 oz Shamrock Golden Caster Sugar
50g/2 oz Sunflower Seeds
25g/1 oz Sesame Seeds
25g/1 oz Pumpkin Seeds
50g/2 oz Shamrock Desiccated Coconut
2 Eggs, beaten
How to:
Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Line a swiss roll tin 28cm x 18cm (11" x 7") with greaseproof paper, allowing the paper to hang over the edges of the tin.
Put the apple sauce into a large bowl, add the apricots, sultanas, sugar and seeds. Mix well.
Add the oats, flour, coconut and eggs to the fruit mixture and stir until well combined.
Transfer to the prepared tin and spread evenly, press down well.
Bake for about 20 minutes until golden and firm to the touch.
Leave to cool in tin, then lift out onto board and cut into bars.
Healthy Oat & Seed Bread
Cook Time: 40-45mins
This flourless bread is so quick and easy to make, a delicious alternative to your standard bread.
What you need:
425g/14oz Odlums Porridge Oatflakes
1 teaspoon Odlums Bread Soda, sieved
1 x 500g tub Natural Yogurt (Full Fat or Fat Free)
1 level teaspoon Salt
1 tablespoon of each Sesame, Poppy, Sunflower, & Pumpkin Seeds
1 tablespoon Linseed
How to:
Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Grease and line a 900g/2lb loaf tin. Alternatively, spray with 1 Calorie Sunflower Spray.
Put the yogurt into a large mixing bowl. Add the oats, bread soda, salt & seeds and mix well until a thick dough is formed.
Transfer to the prepared tin. Smooth top with back of spoon dipped in cold water.
Place in centre of oven and bake for 40-45 minutes until risen and golden brown.
Leave in tin for 5 minutes then turn onto wire tray to cool.
Note;
The yoghurt container washed and dried can be used to measure oats. This recipe calls for 2 container-fulls.
For a lighter bread, blitz all of half of the oats into oat flour before adding to recipe.
Breakfast Muffins
Cook time: 20-30mins
Try these delicious breakfast muffins for a great kick start to your day. Make them in advance for a quick breakfast that the whole family can enjoy.
What you need:
125g/4oz Odlums Coarse Wholemeal Flour
125g/4oz Odlums Cream Plain Flour
1 teaspoon Odlums Baking Powder
Rind of 1 Orange
125g/4oz Butter or Margarine
1 Egg
150ml/¼ pt Milk
2 tablespoons Marmalade
4 tablespoons Honey
Sprinkle of oats on top (optional)
How to:
Preheat oven to 175°C/325°F/Gas 3. Line a muffin tin with cases.
Melt butter/margarine and allow to cool.
In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
Mix the egg, milk, marmalade and honey into the cooled butter/margarine.
Now add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and mix to make a very soft mixture.
Spoon into muffin cases, making each case about two thirds full.
Bake for 20-30 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
Cool on a wire tray.
There's plenty more healthy baking recipes over on Odlums.ie, even for Banana Bread! Check them out and get back in the kitchen.
Slán go fóill,
Danny
Thanks to Odlums for the above information.