GF Archives - Cookies & Carrot Sticks

Cakes, Bars & more, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes, Bananabread & Co

Banana Hazelnut Snack Cake

ByNicole | On September 07,17 | 4 Comments

Banana recipe #… I know, another banana recipe. And guess what, I still have a bunch of recipes I want to share with you. So stay tuned if you like banana bread and similar recipes. This recipe is really different from all the other recipes. Why? Because it’s made with ground hazelnuts.

Gluten & sugar free

As I’ve used ground hazelnuts instead of flour, it’s gluten free and fairly low-carb. Fairly low-carb as it doesn’t have any flour, but probably still too carby for those on a strict low-carb diet, due to the banana. But low-carb or not, this cake is definitely worth a try. It tastes amazing and is super light and fluffy (due to beaten egg whites added to the batter). And, I did not use any added sugar or sweetener. The bananas and the ground hazelnuts are sweet enough together. read more

Gluten-Free, Sides, All Recipes, Snacks

Polenta ‘Fries’

ByNicole | On June 18,17 | 4 Comments

Have you ever had polenta before? Polenta is not an ingredient, as some people might think. It actually is a dish made from cooking coarsely-ground yellow cornmeal into a kind of mash. It can be eaten like porridge or mashed potato. I won’t go into the details of the classic dish right now, that will be for some other time.

Grilled polenta

If you let the polenta cool though, the consistency changes and the ‘porridge’ or ‘mash’ firms up so that you can ultimately cut it into pieces, like squares or wedges. When cut into pieces, you can perfectly grill them on the BBQ, roast them in the oven or fry in a pan with a bit of olive oil. Add a few spices and you have a prefect side dish for your grilled chicken or steak. Now I’ve made these patties or cakes on several occasions, but a few weeks ago I saw this recipe for polenta ‘fries’ on Boter, Kaas & Eieren Blog, a fun food blog with great recipes. I really thought this was a fun idea. Why I have never thought about ‘fries’ myself before, is beyond me. And since the boys are crazy about fries, I set to work (almost) immediately. I have made a different version, but you can find the original recipe here (a must-try!). read more

Cookies, All Recipes, Snacks

Rice Krispies Easter Nests

ByNicole | On April 01,17 | 6 Comments

These colorful little Easter Nests are definitely a kid’s favorite and so easy to make!

This can hardly be called a recipe, it’s more an edible DYI idea. Since it was such huge hit in our house, I simply have to share. This is really easy. You don’t have to be a good cook or baker to do this. And the kids will be so thrilled! The adults too, believe me. Had a hard time keeping my husband away from them 😉 read more

Cookies, Gluten-Free, All Recipes, Bananabread & Co

Banana Oatmeal Cookies

ByNicole | On March 21,17 | 0 Comment

Crunchy Banana Oatmeal Cookies!

Love banana oatmeal cookies? I do. I’ve made loads of banana oatmeal cookies, but more of the breakfast cookie type: thick, chewy cookies, that are rather soft. Not crunchy at all. That’s of course perfectly alright. I love those breakfast cookies to grab and run out of the house in the morning, when you don’t have time to sit down for breakfast. Or take them with me as a snack while traveling. read more

Low Carb, Mains, All Recipes

Poached Salmon & Pesto Zoodles

Poached Salmon

Four days into the new year. Have you made new year’s resolutions? I haven’t. I don’t really believe in New Year’s Resolutions. Don’t get me wrong. I do believe in reflecting on your life and deciding to change things, in setting goals, making plans. But I don’t think this should only be done once a year and particularly on the first of January. Why wait for New Year’s Day to start to change your life? read more

Low Carb, Mains, All Recipes

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

ByNicole | On December 06,16 | 2 Comments

It’s the festive season, Christmas is less than three weeks away. Which means getting started on all that Christmas cooking and baking. And eating…

Not really the most healthy time of the year. But instead of denying yourselves all that deliciousness, enjoy it! No, I don’t mean to go binge on it all. But don’t feel guilty for it either. Just enjoy a nice buttery, sugary cookie here, a luscious dessert there and counterbalance those with some healthy meals. read more

Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Mains, Sides, All Recipes

Low Carb Spinach Risotto

ByNicole | On April 10,16 | 0 Comment

If you’re trying to cut down your carb intake, you most likely start with omitting pasta and rice from your evening meals. You might be familiar with substituting rice with cauliflower, like I did in this very simple coconut rice or curried rice. It’s prefect for Asian dishes. But have you tried risotto yet?

Carbohydrates

Risotto was one of those dishes, I had not tried yet. I love a good creamy risotto. And although we’re not strictly on a low carb diet, we try to eat less of those little buggers. Mind you, carbohydrates aren’t bad, it’s just that we eat way too much carbohydrates for our bodies to burn up (and all the excess is stored as fat). Unless you’re an athlete burning thousands of calories a day. Which I am obviously not. So, I have to watch how much I consume. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, All Recipes, Bananabread & Co

Easy Blender Banana Muffins

ByNicole | On April 06,16 | 0 Comment

Soft, tender banana muffins made in the blender. Tasty can’t get any easier!

Banana Bread

I make a lot of banana bread. I bake one almost every week. We don’t like to eat ripe banana’s, and even though I keep my banana’s in the fridge to prevent them getting ripe within two days, I still have loads of banana’s that are too ripe for our taste. So I make banana bread a lot. If I still have banana’s left, I cut them uo and freeze them to use in milk shakes, smoothies and instant ice cream. read more

Appetizers, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Sides, All Recipes

Spinach Patties – low carb & gluten free

ByNicole | On April 01,16 | 2 Comments

Low carb & gluten free Spinach Patties, delicious as appetizer or as a side dish!

This was on my to-do list for quite a while. I wanted to create a spinach patty that’s low carb. But it got so low on my list of things I want to try/doctor up, that I completely forgot about it. Until I saw a picture of spinach balls a couple of days ago. Usually, these patties/balls/tots are made with flour and/or bread crumbs. And I figured that I could easily swap these for another low carb option. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Low Carb, All Recipes

Lemon & Raspberry Mug Cake

ByNicole | On March 22,16 | 2 Comments

A super moist, lemony, low carb mug cake to satisfy that sudden sweet craving! Guilt-free!

Mug cakes. The new love of my life. Coming to my rescue when I get this sudden craving for cake. Which is usually later in the evening. And of course, those cravings hit when I don’t have a single crumb of cake in the house (yeah, I know, how is that even possible?!). And as I’m then the only one (my husband usually doesn’t fancy cake, only if it involves white chocolate), I make myself a single serve mug cake. read more

Bread, Breakfast, Cakes, Bars & more, Gluten-Free, All Recipes, Bananabread & Co

Healthier Banana Bread

ByNicole | On March 01,16 | 0 Comment

This truly is the BEST healthy banana bread out there! Gluten free, no oil/butter, no (refined) sugar!

Gosh, I have tried so many banana bread recipes, I can’t even count them. Some were too dry, most of them were too ‘banana’, too dense/moist/mushy, overly sweet, wouldn’t rise… There is one banana bread though, that is the BEST banana bread, if you don’t mind using sugar, regular flour etc, and it’s this banana bread by Nikki from Chef In Training. This is serious business, if it comes to banana breads. I will gladly make this one again. And again. And again. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes

Apple Almond Cake

ByNicole | On February 03,16 | 0 Comment

Moist, delicious apple almond cake, you won’t believe this cake is healthy!

If I have to make a list of my favorite comfort food, apple cake (preferably straight out of the oven) definitely makes it to the top ten. But traditional apple cake or apple pie usually equals carb and sugar heaven, even without an ~~optional~~ mandatory serving of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.

Healthier version

After a few attempts to make an equally delicious treat, I think I’ve come up with a recipe that will hit all the right spots, even though it’s a healthier version . Taste-wise, there was nothing really wrong with the first attempts. But the results were either too eggy for me (more baked omelet kind of texture) or too dry or too crumbly. And I am a bit fuzzy when it comes to texture. read more

Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Mains, All Recipes

Tuna Tomato Sauce

ByNicole | On January 28,16 | 0 Comment

This tuna tomato sauce our go-to recipe if we’re really pressed for time and still want to eat a tasty and healthy meal. Ready in less than 10 minutes, really. And so tasty!

Pasta lovers

Kids love everything rice or pasta. Us grown-ups too. The best pasta sauce is homemade Bolognese sauce, but if done the original way, the best result is when it’s cooked loooong and sloooowly. Unfortunately, I don’t always have time to do that (like almost never). And if I do have the time, I usually forget about starting in time. Luckily, we’ve added quite some nice and quick sauces to our arsenal to choose from. This tuna tomato sauce is one of them. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes

White Bean Blondies

ByNicole | On January 24,16 | 2 Comments

So yesterday, I made black bean brownies. Much to my husband’s dismay, who doesn’t like chocolate cake or brownies. Yes, I know, how is that even possible. He was hoping I would make something that he would like as well. The disappointment written all over his face.

Puppy eyes

But he was intrigued by the fact that I had made brownies using beans instead of flower. He wondered whether I could make a white cake as well. As in: anything but chocolate cake. Man, I had just cleaned up everything. Then he simply looked at me with puppy eyes, pleading… Alright. How about white bean blondies instead of black bean brownies. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes

Black Bean Brownies

Fudgy brownies, made with black beans… gluten and refined sugar free!

Ugh, I’m so frustrated! No, no, no, it has nothing to do with cooking or baking. Have you ever sold something online? Well, I have. It’s an easy way to get rid of stuff you don’t need or want anymore. Instead of throwing good stuff out with the trash, I either sell stuff at low prices or give it away for free to people who can or want to still use it. read more

Cakes, Bars & more, Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes, Bananabread & Co

Pumpkin Banana Blondies

ByNicole | On December 29,15 | 0 Comment

How do you like to eat banana’s? I don’t like to eat ripe banana’s. I don’t like the texture and the sweet taste. They don’t even have to be ‘overripe’, if they start to get yellow, they are already too far gone for me. I like banana’s if they are still a bit greenish, firm and not sweet at all. I actually keep banana’s in the fridge. The skin does get brown spots, but inside they keep fresh for a longer period of time. read more

Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Mains, All Recipes

Creamy Chicken with Zoodles

ByNicole | On December 23,15 | 0 Comment

This Creamy Chicken with Zoodles is utterly delicious, even though it’s actually just born out of necessity. The necessity to balance. Because the last couple of days have been full of baking, cooking and, of course, tasting for Christmas. I always do a lot of tasting. I need to be completely satisfied before I put something on the table for someone else to eat. So, I taste a lot.

By the spoonful’s

Today I’ve made, among other things, a white chocolate key lime mousse (recipe coming soon). I think I’ve overdone the tasting a bit. Not that I had to adapt that much. Not at all. But… O.M.G… it was so delicious, I couldn’t keep my finger out of the bowl. Figuratively speaking. The finger part that is. I used a spoon. Oops. And that on top of all the other tasting I did. Christmas dinners haven’t even started yet! read more

Bread, Breakfast, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, All Recipes

Low Carb Bread

ByNicole | On December 20,15 | 39 Comments

What do low-carbers miss the most? I think it’s fairly safe to say that it’s bread. I’m not a die hard low-carber, I still eat bread, pasta, rice etc., but in great moderation. I do try to cut back on carbs where ever possible. But bread… I’ve tried a lot of recipes. Some were all right, most I would not like to call bread. So eggy, it resembles more of a baked omelet than bread. read more

Dairy Free, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Sides, All Recipes, Vegan

Coconut Cauli-Rice

ByNicole | On November 28,15 | 0 Comment

I have always loved pasta and rice dishes. I still do. I could eat them every single day. Several times a day. Comforting Italian pasta dishes, spicy Asian rice dishes, there are so many great recipes. But when you’re trying to cut down on your carb intake, those dishes won’t exactly help you with that.

However, there is a great alternative. Cauliflower!

Growing up, I only knew one way to eat cauliflower and it actually made me hate it: cooked to mush and smothered in a floury béchamel sauce. It wasn’t until sometime in my twenties, that I discovered also other ways to eat cauliflower. Raw with a dip, cooked al dente with various spices and sauces, au gratin… And so I learned to appreciate this veg. But never would I have thought that cauliflower, one day, might become one of my favorite vegetables. Yet it just might get there. read more