Gingernut and Mascarpone Mini Cheesecakes, and a few thoughts

Seven days until Christmas. Now that’s 2016 almost over. I just can’t believe it. Can you?! We have been having quite a rainy week and for the very first time yesterday I felt the cold and the humidity. Is it really time to wear our coats? Could be, but it should get a little warmer over the next few days so we’ll just have to see about that. My friends in MI have been some wicked snowstorms. I’ve been asking for some but none of them obliged yet! Oh well.

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Chocolate and Avocado Muffins

Last week went past so fast that I have realised only today that I was due to write a couple of posts on this blog. I have quite a few recipes to choose from, and I was about to start a new one. However during my visit to the veggie store this morning, my trusty greengrocer commented on the new cover photo on my Facebook page. It also follows nicely from the savoury ones I posted before this one. (Just for my lovely readers to know, you can now also find me on Instagram, where I also happened to post a similar snap almost four months ago to this date.)

They say that practice makes perfect, and I need a lot of practice when it comes to muffins. I cannot complain about the recipes I try, because I know they’re good and so easy to whip up. They are also life-savers when unexpected guests show up for a spot of tea and cake.

Raw Carrot and Date Truffles (GF)

I usually work best during the afternoons. I’m a bit strange that way – I’m not a morning person nor an evening person. I’m somewhere in between. This applies during the colder months. When the weather starts getting warmer, plans like these go loopy and then it’s either late in the evening/well into the night, or insanely early in the morning. So the question I’m currently asking myself is what gave me the idea to start writing at 15.00 hrs? My upbeat playlist on Spotify isn’t even helping. I’m about to resort to slapping myself in the face to try to wake up. Please note: at this very minute it’s 18.26. Yep…p..p..

I find myself channelling Caitlin Moran‘s special power (one of my favourite people on this Earth) to put thoughts into words – eloquence and genius all in one. No success. Moran 1/ Briffa 0.

Banana Pancakes (SF)

I planned to post a different recipe today but this week life has been sweet. Very sweet. I went to Flora’s three times at least partly to celebrate my birthday with my two of my dearest friends. It was so much fun. They are great company and two marvellous ladies. So this year I didn’t bake a cake – I mean, with so many indulgent cupcake and pancake trips there really wasn’t. Even I have to admit that! And frankly I just didn’t feel like spending a whole day in the kitchen like I did last year.  I cooked for days, to celebrate three family birthdays on three consecutive days. This time round I knew I deserved and wanted a break.

Sugarless Apple and Banana Cake

Hold on, hold on, I hear you say. I know! Today I am giving you something which doesn’t normally appear much here at C&T HQ. When people ask me for alternative ingredients, or diet related recipes I usually give them links to some of my favourite blogs. I don’t do that out of laziness. Most of the time I go out of my way to look for good nutritious recipes that don’t take loads of time and faff to make. This doesn’t apply to food allergies or any other health issue. I do take issue with those who look down on others because they don’t eat “clean”. What? Are the rest eating dirty? And this is not one of those recipes, so there’s a sigh of relief! I can hear it from here.

But that is another story, or rather another blog post. Having said that I am waiting for some books on the subject to arrive through the post very soon, which I hope to be reviewing in the next few weeks. If they decide to get here, that is. I’ve been waiting for over a month now.