Sunday ‘coffee and cake’ (Kaffee und Kuchen) is a thing here in Germany. While it has become less common to invite people over for “coffee and cake” on Sundays, I still love this tradition. ‘Coffee and cake’ has a “hygge”-character, which means that it creates a cozy environment. It’s a nice way to cherish the last day of the weekend by spending time with lovely people, and enjoying a nice piece of cake and a delicious coffee at the same time.

Today’s cake is perfect for a spontaneous late summer get-together with your loved ones. Obviously I’m writing this during the COVID-pandemic, but at least here in Germany, you can meet friends and family again.

Back to the cake. The ingredient list is short, and the ingredients are all pretty affordable. What I’m most excited about is the fact that it is only sweetened with dates. I wasn’t sure if this would work, but it worked incredibly well. Another plus is that you don’t even need a food processor, because it is possible to make a date paste with a fork only. The only fancy ingredient is soft, Medjool dates, that are necessary to make a creamy date puree.

For the oil, I used the Swedish Alba oil. I know, this is a flavored oil, so it probably can’t be considered healthy. But I always stress that neither I nor this blog wants to be perfect. My understanding of the word ‘healthy’ is that you eat a balanced diet rich in nutrients and flavor, but to never be restrictive. Healthy eating is not a diet, and it should always be pleasant and joyful.

When I made this cake, I happened to have apricots waiting on the counter, so this cake become an apricot cake. For the second attempt, I used damsons (plums), but you could probably also use cherries, peaches, or other stone fruit. Apricots are not super sweet, so if you prefer sweet cakes, I suggest using plums.

Heavenly for body and soul, because …

… this cake contains zero refined sugars. Of course, it is not sugar-free, as it contains dates and apricots, but these are natural sweeteners that still contain fibers and even minerals. The flour mix consists of light and wholegrain spelt flour as well as ground almonds, which contains a lot more nutrients than white wheat flour. Of course, this is still a cake, not a meal, so treat and enjoy it as such.

I haven’t made this cake in a gluten-free version yet, but I’ve included some suggestions down below in the recipe card. If you’ve made a gluten-free version of this cake, please let me and the other readers know in the comment section below.

Have a lovely weekend!

xx

Lynn

The post Healthy apricot coffee cake appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This post is also available in German. Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf deutsch.

Hello friends. I’m afraid my blog has been a bit more quiet these past weeks. But for good reason: after a long pause, I finally took on my masters thesis to finish my Master’s in entrepreneurship. I had taken a break from studying to focus on my blog and book, but now I am finally writing that final piece, which will get me my diploma. Excitement level 1000.

Since my fiancé is currently on a boys trip in Barcelona, I decided to take some time off my thesis and quickly share a recipe with you that has kept me going these past days: CARROT CAKE ENERGY BALLS. And yes, I’m writing this in all capital letters, because I want to scream it out into the world. You can now take carrot cake to go!!! It’s really happening and I can’t wait for you to taste this incredible piece of food.

Also, did I mention that these were grain-free? Not that grains are bad (not at all!), but I know some people do not tolerate oats or grains well, so there you go: here’s a carrot cake version that you can actually eat. How’s that for a Friday treat? If you do tolerate and love grains, then check out my other carrot cake recipes. First we have my all-time favorite, best healthy carrot cake ever (go big or go home, right?) and these healthy carrot cake cupcakes. Oh, and did I mention, Carrot Cake Oatmeal? Now if that doesn’t say Happy & Healthy Easter, then I don’t know what does.

Heavenly healthy because …
… carrots are an incredible source of vitamin A. Or more accurately, beta-carotene, the pro-Vitamin A that is converted into Vitamin A in the body (that smart thing!). Beta-carotene, or vitamin A, are important for various functions. One is a healthy eye-function, but it is also necessary for an overall-functioning immune system and for the protective barrier of our skin.

Enjoy!

Did you make this recipe? Then take a phot and tag me on social media using #heavenlynnhealthy or leave me a comment. I love getting your feedback!

The post Healthy Carrot Cake Energy Balls appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

If you’ve been wandering through the streets of Germany recently, you may have noticed the huge amount of faces turned towards the sun. We’ve had quite a lot of dark days recently, so we all crave that extra amount of vitamin D.  It’s almost as if you can feel the positive effect of every tiny ray of sunshine in the body. The mood increases immediately, and there is this amount of gratitude that comes flooding through the veins. Feeling those rays always makes me humble. Still, if you haven’t seen the sun in a while, you might experience mood swings, fatigue and exhaustion. But vitamin D is not the only vitamin whose deficiency leads to fatigue and exhaustion. Iron or magnesium deficiency have similar effects on the body.

Of course, there are many reasons for constant fatigue or exhaustion. Let’s start with the most primitive: when we are tired, we lack sleep. Real REM-sleep that requires a decent amount of hours, not just tiny naps. Therefore, the most basic advice for all those tired souls out there is to get a good night’s sleep. Before someone is tying hate-mail now, let me continue. I’m well aware that sleep is a privilege for many of us, especially for young parents, so this post focuses on the foods that can get help fight fatigue and exhaustion. Because with the right nutrition, we can specifically provide our body with energy. When I changed my diet many years ago, one insight has had a significant impact on my food philosophy:

We eat to provide our body with energy, not to take it away from it.

The post Next-level oven roasted veggies with chimichurri & fatigue-fighting foods appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Ad. Changing your diet for good is not as hard as it may seem in the beginning. This salad with four main ingredients is definitely proof that healthy eating does not have to be boring, expensive or time-consuming.

I know it’s cliché, but man, this year is already rushing in by full speed. I have the feeling that it will be summer again in a blink of an eye. January is almost over and I have actually already bought the first tulips, because I can’t wait for it to be summer again. As soon as the Christmas decoration were down, I got inspired to bring some spring-vibes into my home. As the weeks pass by, many have long forgotten their ambitious good intentions for the New Year come February. That’s why I believe it should be less about good intentions in January, but more about long-term, holistic dietary changes.

Here are some tips to make the long-term dietary change a little easier:

Clean the pantry

Anyone who wants to eat healthier in the long term, should start with the pantry cleaning project. This is where a diet change starts, because we need to eliminate health betrayers, and stock up on all of those good ingredients. The former include all industrially processed products containing unhealthy amounts of sugars, saturated and industrial-hardened fatty acids, flavor enhancers, coloring or preservatives. Instead, a healthy pantry should contain various legumes, pseudo-cereals such as quinoa, millet or buckwheat, pasta made from spelled, wholegrain rice or buckwheat, as well as almonds, nuts and seeds. So you do not even feel tempted to grab those things that you know will make you feel not your best.

Tide over to the next meal

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know what’s coming. You may smile, but both my fiancé and I swear to always have a few snacks in our purse – or in his case the football bag. We love almonds pure, combined with some fruit or dried fruit. Almonds are the ideal portable snack for in between and a handful of almonds (28 g) contains healthy fats and fibre to keep going us through the day and between meals. No more temptations to grab those unhealthy snacks! By the way, a handful of almonds contains 60% of your daily recommended amount of vitamin E, the beauty vitamin, as well as providing calcium and a high source of magnesium. Magnesium is especially noteworthy because it can contribute to reducing fatigue and exhaustion. It is recommended to eat a handful of almonds daily (about 23 pieces or 28 grams), which already contain 6 grams of energising plant protein . As a light energy boost, they keep you going through the day without weighing you down and are a clever snack choice. The nutrients in almonds are perfect to keep your energy levels high between meals, which is why they are one of the most often recommended snack by nutritionists

In addition, I always have the feeling that Californian almonds bring summer to my kitchen – responsibly grown in the Californian sun, they contain a bit of sun in every bite, putting you in a sunny disposition. Whether pure or roasted, they taste so sweet and delicious and are a snack you can feel good about! And don’t we all need some sunshine in this cold winter weather?

If you prefer savory snacks, then you can even have a small portion of this salad between two major meals. The ingredients like almonds or chickpeas and beetroot fill you up without weighing you down.

Homemade food instead of take-out

If your healthy pantry is in place, our body and our wallet will be happy if we cook our meals ourselves as often as possible. This allows us to know exactly what is in our food – and what is not. Inspirations for recipes are nowadays in abundance. Not only on my blog, but also on Pinterest or Instagram or on other blogs. So how about trying some of them? Starting with today’s fast chickpea beetroot salad with almonds and dill of course – perfect as a meal or for snacking on throughout the day.

Meal Prep like a pro

At the beginning of my diet change, it was extremely helpful for me to create weekly plans. So I always knew exactly what I had to cook and when and I was not even tempted to order take-out or eat at my college dining hall. Here and here you will find two of my already created weekly meal plans. You can also find a plan for an entire week in my book on pp. 224/225. I know, it sounds dreading to think about what you want to eat next Friday, when it’s only Saturday. But will you find out how liberating it can be to have answered the miserable question of “What do we want to eat” ahead of time.

Find simple, affordable and delicious recipes

Incidentally, the following recipe is the best proof that healthy eating is neither boring, expensive, nor time consuming. The salad consists of four main ingredients: chickpeas, beetroot, dill and almonds. You can get all of those ingredients in every supermarket. There is also a light dressing containing of extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and fresh lemon juice, sea salt and pepper. That’s it. In terms of taste, the salad is surprising in spite of its short list of ingredients, which is due to the fresh dill and the California almonds. An unusual combination with a big wow effect. If you’re not a dill fan, you can replace the dill with chopped basil. For me there is nothing better than fresh dill in the salad.

I hope these tips will help you to change your diet for good, or at least make the transition a little easier. The change to a healthy diet is, as I said, something long-term and does not happen over night for most people. Always remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. So do not stress if you do not completely stick to your intentions. Personally, I do not always eat well, even though everybody expects that I do because I have a healthy food blog. But you quickly realize that after you change your diet for the good, you will no longer crave anything but wholesome, natural foods.

Have fun with the recipe and the implementation of the tips and thanks to this recipe’s sponsor California almonds #SnackTheSun.

Enjoy!

*Werbung / Advertisement. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the partners that keep me dancing through my kitchen all day.

The post Almond, chickpea and beetroot salad with dill + tips on how to make long-lasting dietary changes appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

This post is also available in German.

As I announced in my trend forecast, this year will be all about female health, femininity, fertility, hormones and cycle syncing. The concept of cycle syncing was first introduced by Alisa Vitti, whose book I devoured last year. She really is a pioneer in this field. I was also inspired by hormone expert Laura van de Vorst, whom I met last year. I admire her work and as I know how many women (and men) are struggling with their hormonal balance, Laura’s and Alisa’s work is of such immense importance. So I began to dive deeper into the world of hormones last year because I find this whole topic fascinating.

Today I brought you this bowl that consists of wonderfully delicious ingredients, all of which have a positive effect on our hormonal balance. The idea behind cycle syncing is that our body and needs different foods depending on the cycle phase it is in. This simplified overview might give you an idea what cycle syncing is all about:

– In the follicular phase (7-10 days) the concentration of all hormones is rather low. Therefore, we can (basically) eat anything as long as it is fresh and full of nutrients. Think aats, avocados, citrus fruits, beans and lentils, as well as cashew nuts or brazil nuts.
– During ovulation (3-4 days) women should eat lighter grains such as amaranth or quinoa, but still enjoy plenty of vegetables such as red bell peppers, eggplants, spinach or endives (to name just a few examples) and fruit with high antioxidant levels such as berries.
– During the luteal phase (10-14 days), when many women suffer from PMS symptoms, Alisa recommends vegetables and fruit with lots of fiber such as sweet potatoes, squash or apples. They help to stabilize our blood sugar, which helps eliminate mood swings.
– In the last cycle phase (3-7 days), the menstruation, it is important to eat foods with a high nutritional content that are low in sugar and have a high water content. The female body is renewing in this phase and so we must be particularly supportive of our bodies in this phase.

(Source: Womancode of hormone expert Alisa Vitti)

Of course, a diet rich in complex carbohydrates, fats, vegetable proteins, lots of fresh vegetables and fruits is already very beneficial for a balanced hormone balance. However, I find it very exciting to take special care of my body during ovulation or during menstruation. Isn’t it exciting to have a list of foods to prefer during a special phase? It makes the decision of what to cook on any day so much easier, don’t you agree?

Let’s examine this dish in detail:

– First we have quinoa. The pseudo-cereal (which by the way is already grown in Europe and in parts of Germany), contains a lot of fiber, which are important for a healthy intestine. The good intestinal bacteria feed on fiber and therefore quinoa promotes intestinal health. Because our hormones are produced in the intestinal areas, fiber should be on the menu at every stage of our cycle.

– Next we have sweet potatoes, which score with their high fiber content, too. In addition, sweet potatoes contain magnesium, zinc and B vitamins, which are especially recommended during the luteal phase. During the third phase of the cycle, so-called estrogen dominance plays a major role. If estrogen and progesterone are in a disbalance (too much estrogen, too little progesterone), PMS symptoms can occur. Unfortunately, this is almost normal these days as our stressful lives, processed meals or the anti-baby pill promote this imbalance. B vitamins in turn help stimulate the production of progesterone. Other good B vitamin sources are almonds, walnuts, sesame, asparagus, sprouts or mushrooms.

– The avocado in this dish represents the importance of fats in the diet. Maybe some of you remember the “low-fat” madness in the 2000s and also noticed how the nails got softer, the hair got thinner? Many women even got their periods more irregularly? These are all symptoms of a low-fat or fat-free diet. Since our sex hormones consist of fats only, one can easily imagine the effect of a fat-free diet on our hormones.

– Turmeric also helps to bring our hormones balance back into balance. It is be a strong testosterone booster. And no, that’s not bad. Because often women actually suffer from a testosterone deficiency, which can be expressed in depressed mood and lack of energy.

– Kale is a very local food that should be eaten especially in the luteal phase as well as during our period. Kale is only an example of dark, leafy green – other great options are spinach, chard, rocket or herbs such as parsley. Kale scores particularly with its favorable combination of calcium and magnesium, which counteracts water retention during the luteal phase.

What do you think about this way of thinking about food? Let me know in the comments below.

Enjoy the recipe

xx
Lynn

Enjoy!

The post Hormone Balancing Bowl and what you should know about cycle syncing appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

No worries, I have not gone grain-free over night. I love grains, I tolerate them well, but sometimes, it’s nice to try something new, don’t you think? This grain-free and sugar-free granola is the result of my New Year’s curiosity in the kitchen. Whereas I’m always a bit tired to try new things during Christmas time, I am always excited at the beginning of the new year, to experiment in the kitchen again. Maybe it’s that new year’s vibe, maybe it’s the gloomy post-Christmas blues that always hits me after the Holidays. 

I made this granola for my sister, who visited us over New Year’s Eve. My sister is a celiac, so she is highly sensitive to gluten, and has to avoid it at any cost. Since I was out of gluten-free oats, I decided to finally give grain-free granola a try. I’ve had it in Cape Town and in the US during my last trips over there, and to be honest, I was not really fond of it back there. The reason being that it was simply too heavy and too sweet for my liking. As grain-free granola contains soley nuts and seeds, it is quite nourishing and filling. Therefore, adding a ton of sugar to it, makes it almost not eadible in my opinion. That’s why I was super keen on making my own version with nothing but apple sauce to sweeten. And something that would give it a fresher note than the other granolas I had tried.

The final touch is orange peel, similar to this recipe here. It makes the world of a difference, trust me! You only add the orange peel at the end of the baking process, yet it instantly makes the whole granola smell like orange. So fresh and delicious!

Heavenly for body and soul, because …

… the nuts and seeds full are full of good nutrients. Almonds contain, for example, vitamin E, the beauty vitamin, and pumpkin seeds and raw cocoa are a natural magnesium supplier. Flaxseed is one of the best plant omega-3 sources. That’s why this cereal-free and sugar-free granola lubricates our brains for breakfast, because omega-3 fatty acids support natural brain function.

Enjoy!

The post Grain-free & refined sugar-free granola appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

*Ad / Werbung. This post is sponsored by California Almonds.

Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch auf deutsch.

Are you already in the Christmas mood? Slowly but surely, I am getting into the Christmas spirit, even though December is the most stressful month of the year. These days, I often light a candle, pause for a moment and remember the beautiful moments in December: the beautiful smells or the Christmas lights, which help to keep a sunny mood even in this dark season. Packing presents, watching a Christmas movie and nibbling on Christmas-flavored snacks is my perfect way to spend an afternoon in December. It makes me so happy when the whole apartment smells of Christmas spices and Christmas music is playing.

Do you love Christmas-inspired treats too? For those who do not feel like making a mess in the kitchen but love quick prepared and tasty snacks you can feel good about, I have this super simple, delicious recipe for Christmas-spiced roasted and caramelized almonds that will get you in a sunny disposition, too.
Ok, basically these are not real roasted almonds, but rather caramelized. Traditionally, German roasted, and caramelized almond recipes call for as much sugar as almonds. Delicious, but not really in line with my food philosophy. In this recipe, 100 g of almonds are mixed with 1 tablespoon of rice syrup and 1 tablespoon of coconut blossom sugar, which is why they contain significantly less sugar than regular roasted almonds. They are also only pan-roasted briefly so that they still contain all the health benefits like pure almonds.

I am often asked what I can recommend as healthy snacks. The first thing I always tell everyone is almonds. Almonds are really my go-to snack in every situation and year-round. Not only because you can easily transport them, but also because of their many health benefits. Especially the delicious Californian almonds*, taste fantastic because of their mild sweetness. In addition, they give you a quick energy boost, ideal for the sometimes so stressful pre-Christmas time. They keep you going between meals without weighing you down and put me in a sunny mood. They also put you in a good mood as they are sustainably grown in a very sunny area. You can definitely taste this in their sweetness and delicious flavor and I think that Californian almonds taste sweeter and more aromatic that other almonds do which is probably due to the Californian sunshine.

Almonds are heavenly for body and soul, because …

• They contain nutrients like plant protein, healthy fats and fiber which helps to stay on track.
• Pure or in combination with fresh fruits and spices a handful of almonds (28 g or approx. 23 pieces) almonds are an easy-prep snack.
• They are a nutritious, tasty and versatile snack for every season.
• They are portable, crumb-free and grease-free, making almonds perfect for on-the-go and for the office or college.
• They contain vitamin E which is one of the best antioxidants ever (in addition to Vitamin C). It protects our cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. One serving of almonds (28 g or approx. 23 pieces) already provides you with 60 % of the recommended daily dose of vitamin E.
• They are a high source of magnesium that contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue which often come up during the dark season.
• They are rich and light snack you can feel good about because they are nutrient-rich and help to tide you over to the next meal without weighing you down.

By the way, rice syrup is not only suitable for people with fructose intolerance. It is less sweet than other sugar alternatives and does not raise blood sugar levels as much as table sugar. Also, coconut blossom sugar is my favorite choice for granulated sugar because it is gentler for the blood sugar level as well. Oh, and cinnamon – yes, cinnamon is my favorite spice for blood sugar anyway. The spice which is popular during the Christmas season stabilizes the blood sugar level, so I always add a bit of cinnamon to my breakfast or – in this case – to my almonds. Therefore, these Christmas-spiced roasted and caramelized almonds are a great and delicious combination bringing a bit of Californian sun to the German winter.

Now I’m curious: are these roasted almonds known in the U.S.? Or is that a German Christmas market thing only? If my American readers could let me know in the comments below, I would be more than grateful!
So, when you smell the scent of roasted almonds on the (German) Christmas market next time, remember this delicious recipe and go make your own Christmas-inspired roasted almonds alternative with less sugar but the same pleasure.

Have fun with the recipe, happy holiday season and #SnackTheSun!

Enjoy!

*Advertising/Werbung. This post is sponsored by California Almonds. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me dancing through my kitchen all day

The post Christmas-spiced & roasted almonds appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Do you take time to plan a new Christmas menu every year? Or are you more traditional with regards to the food you serve on Christmas Eve and the Holidays? My family definitely belongs to Type 1 and with four women and a man at the table, choosing the right menu is not always easy. It must be gluten-free for one of my sisters and preferably full of plant-power for me. My dad hardly dares to say it, but he would not say not to a little meat. Yes and one of the sisters has a bit of a sweet tooth, so dessert is a must in my family as well.

That’s why our Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve consists of many smaller dishes, which we try to prepare already on December 23rd. Here in Germany, Santa already brings presents on Christmas Eve, so that’s when all the magic happens. We also all love a big, fresh salad, as well as oven vegetables and some other vegetable side dishes. For dessert we usually keep it simple and classic with a fruit salad. But last year we had prepared small mini-crumbles, which we all enjoyed very much. That’s why they are also part of today’s Christmas menu.

New this year are delicious lentil and millet patties. Of course they do not taste like meat, but the high proportion of fried mushrooms, red onions and spices such as rosemary and thyme give them a wonderfully festive aroma. Also, our oven vegetables will get a very special twist this year in the form of Swedish Hassleback potatoes. Maximal visual outcome with minimum input. That’s ‘ma Christmas jam, everyone. By cutting into the potatoes or vegetables, they absorb the aromas of the spices and roasting way better. With delicious olive oil, rosemary and sea salt, the oven vegetables remain simple, yet festive.

My secret favorite, however, is the butternut squash. I was inspired by the simple yet incredibly tasty side dish from my last trip to South Africa. On one evening we were served cooked butternut squash with cinnamon and nutmeg. No more and no less. And since this side dish is very juicy, it perfectly complements the patties and the oven vegetables in this menu.

Heavenlyn for body and soul because…
… well, because it contains so much the concentrated plant power. The colorful salad provides plenty of vital substances such as vitamin K from the kale, which, among other things, ensures healthy bones. The butternut squash is a great source of beta-carotene, called provitamin A, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is not only important for the eyesight, but also for an intact immune system. Like all lentils, beluga lentils contain a lot of plant-based protein as well as dietary fibers that keep us full for longer. Millet contains magnesium, which is important for our muscles and nervous system, but also iron, which is essential for oxygen transport in the blood. A little bit of vitamin B5 is also found in millet (4% in 100 g millet). The beauty vitamin B5 promotes, among other things, beautiful skin, hair and nails and counteracts stress.

Well, did you feel like a little different Christmas dinner? If you still need some inspiration, then I have the following ideas for you:
– stuffed butternut squash with lentils and kale
– sweet potato parsnip soup with truffled popcorn (so good!)
– festive roasted Brussels sprouts with pumpkin and pecans
– heavenly spiced apple red cabbage
– lentil loaf with cranberry sauce

I hope I could inspire you to try some of today’s dishes this Holiday season.

Lynn

What to prepare the day before:
– the dressing for the salad
– roast the hazelnuts (or you can buy roasted nuts or almonds to save time)
– chop the almonds for the crumbles
– remove the seeds from the pomegranate
– cook millet and beluga lentils
– prepare the cranberry sauce
– free the kale from the stalk

For the winter mini-crumbles:

For the winter kale salad:

For the cinnamon-roasted butternut squash

For the Hassleback-style oven-roasted vegetables:

For the lentil-millet patties with cranberry sauce:

Bon Appetit and Merry Christmas!

The post My healthy Christmas dinner menu 2018 – winter kale salad, lentil patties, hassleback vegetables and mini crumbles appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Healthy Christmas Bakery Swaps:

• Coconut blossom sugar: to be used like normal sugar but with a slightly caramel taste. Coconut blossom sugar is not per se healthier than other alternatives, but it does not allow the blood sugar level to spike as quickly as regular sugar does.
  
• (Whole Grain) Rice Syrup: The best choice for fructose-intolerant people and for others, rice syrup is a good choice because it does not raise blood sugar levels that much.
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup does not necessarily contain less sugar, but at least a few more minerals. Its strong caramel note is e.g. great for speculoos.
• Birch sugar: great as a powdered sugar substitute (for example for decoration). However, it works in larger quantities laxative and is not tolerated by all people. Therefore, I use it only for decoration purposes.
• Mashed banana or apple sauce: for me the healthiest of all sugar substitutes, as bananas and apples exist in their natural form in nature and do not need to be extracted industrially. I like apple sauce and banana mush to sweeten cakes especially.

Cow’s milk alternatives:

You can use any plant-based milk instead of cow’s milk in Christmas recipes 1:1. I love the subtle sweetness of oat milk, but almond or hazelnut milk works especially well in Christmas bakings.

Butter alternatives:

• Extra-virgin coconut oil: I love coconut oil and therefore use it in many recipes. If you’re scared of coconut oil because you’ve recently seen some particular video, then I recommend reading this article by Wellcuisine. Coconut oil is not necessarily healthier than other fats, but it’s also not damaging. As with everything: it depends on the quantity you consume. Chosing high-quality coconut oil is therefore of the utmost importance.
  
• Nut butter: my favorite alternative for cookies. Almond flavor tastes great in cookies. However, it can only be used in recipes that contain soft butter in the original, as almond cream is relatively fluid at room temperature.

Why I don’t eat margarine (vegan butter):

Wheat flour alternatives:

• Ground Nuts: Traditionally, the Christmas bakery uses a lot of ground nuts anyways – which is great! Since nuts contain lots of nutrients and fiber, they are also my favorite alternative to wheat flour. Go crazy with almonds, hazelnuts, pecans or walnuts.
  
• Buckwheat flour: Not everyone likes the taste of buckwheat flour, but I love it! Buckwheat flour is naturally gluten-free, contains various nutrients and is easy to process into cookies and cakes. Make sure to use certified gluten-free flour when purchasing, as some buckwheat flour is produced in gluten-processing factories and may be contaminated.
  
• Brown rice flour: A fine flour that I always use in combination with arrowroot starch (or other starch) and other gluten-free flours.
  
• Arrow root powder: Starch loosens up the gluten-free dough and makes it fluffier. I like to use arrowroot powder because it is not as strongly processed as corn or potato starch.
• Gluten-free baking mixes: due to the gluten-free hype, there are lots of ready-to-use gluten-free baking mixes on the market. The problem with many of these is the high proportion of starch (starch acts like white flour in the body by causes the blood sugar level to rise faster). I recommend buying from companies that do not have starch on first or second position in the ingredients list. My favorites are Alnavit or Bauckhof.
• Whole-grain spelt flour: not gluten-free, but a better alternative to wheat flour. If you are not gluten-sensitive, whole-grain spelt flour is the best choice for baking Christmas cookies.

Egg alternatives:

• Chia egg: one ground tablespoon of chia seeds mixed with three tablespoons of water replaces an egg in the vegan Christmas bakery. You need to let it sit for about 10 minutes before incorporating it into the cookies dough.
  
• Flax egg: Just like with the chia eggs, mix one tablespoon of ground flaxseed with two to three tablespoons of water to make a flax egg. Personally, I find the binding power of chia eggs better than flax eggs, but flax is the more eco-friendly choice.
  
• No egg: many recipes do not even need eggs to work. It all depends on the recipe on the texture of the dough.

Healthy cinnamon and almond stars

Healthy almond & cinnamon stars

“What a fantastic recipe. Delicious and so easy and quick. My son loves these! I didn’t have vanilla power so substituted with 1 tsp vanilla essence and the consistency was perfect. Love the chewy almond texture.” Niki

Healthy gingerbread cookies

“Dear Lynn, thanks for this great recipe! I have a histamine intolerance and cooking and baking is always a special challenge. But I tolerate your healthy speculum excellently and even I have something to snack on during the Christmas season! And then they taste great too … I’ve already tried the cinnamon stars – but did not have enough almonds and then filled the rest with ground pumpkin seeds, which tastes really great! I’m really thankful for your many great recipes. Keep it up! Best regards, Alma”

Healthy vanilla crescent cookies

“Hi Lynn, what an amazing recipe. We’ve baked these cookies a lot last December with our kids. Thank you! Martina”

Healthier German Stollen “Christmas bread”

“Hello, I have one question..Is it possible to make one big stolen? I’m worried it would turn out too dry, because it is from whole spelt flour? But…I did made little ones a week ago and the recipe is just fantastic. We all love it. Thank you! ” Nina

Chocolate crescent cookies

Healthy Christmas Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookies

Gingerbread energy balls

Healthier Choco-Crossies

Not really cookies, but these cakes are also Christmassy and delicious:

Spiced apple chocolate cake:

Chai Waffles

Healthy Mince Pies

Wishing you all a lovely and not so stressful Christmas time!

xx Lynn

The post Healthy Christmas Bakery & lots of healthy Christmas cookies (refined sugar-free, plant-based & gluten-free) appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

It doesn’t always have to be cookies. With this in mind, I thought about my November column during an autumn walk. My blog already features healthier Speculatius, cinnamon stars and two kinds of vanilla croissants. The classics. But I wanted to find alternatives to the classics for my column. Stefanie of OhhhMhhh contributed to the idea of the waffles. Her love for energy balls also inspired me to create these Christmas energy balls. And the Choco Crossies are one of those sweets I always loved as a child. With some coarse sea salt on top, they’re definitely a hit.
What’s really great: all recipes are so incredibly simple, you will laugh at me. But that’s exactly what we need in December. Simple, uncomplicated recipes that naturally sweeten the Christmas season. Speaking of sweetening: of course all recipes are free of household sugar and sweetened only with dates, maple syrup or coconut blossom sugar. Nevertheless, they taste as delicious as their conventional counterparts. The waffles, for example. I already imagine how you bake them together with your children or your dearest friends, then maybe quickly clean the shoes for Nikolas tradition (is that only a thing in Germany?)  or watch a Christmas classic like “The Holidays”. Oh wow. Am I ready for Christmas.

And the Christmas energy balls. There is no easier or faster way to make gingerbread. I hope to get as many photos on Instagram as I did with the first set of energy balls I shared. Since then, not a day has passed without being sent a great picture of you. The christmasy Energy Balls are my favorite of all three recipes. They taste just like gingerbread. The dates make them just sweet enough, the apple chips give them an unexpected crunch and the gingerbread spice gives the balls a dreamlike Christmas taste. By the way, I also rolled the balls in raw cacao. This gives them a slightly bitter note on the first bites, which is then quickly transformed into a heavenly sweetness. For children I’d rather leave out the cacao coat, but for us adults it’s just mhhh.

The Choco-Crossies are one of my secretly beloved sweets from childhood. For me Choco-Crossies are one of those things that you never buy yourself, but always love to nibble on when you’re invited to a friend’s home or party. Homemade Choco-crossies can also be spiked with other healthier ingredients such as almond sticks. You can also make the chocolate yourself, if you like. Of course you can also use bought dark chocolate. Whatever is your jam.

So why are the cookies and waffles good for us? Well, on the one hand, you should definitely listen to your favourite Christmas music during the preparation. That will instantly result in a more relaxed  you. Also, none of the recipes contain refined sugar, but healthier sugar alternatives and only a little of them. Because also alternative sources of sugar are to be enjoyed in moderation.

But the true health aspect of these recipes is that we enjoy them together with our loved ones. Because with all the talk about superfoods, nutrients and time-for-me, we often forget how important social contacts are for our well-being. Time with your loved ones is a big pillar of a healthy lifestyle.

If you’re looking for even healthier biscuits, take a look at last year’s healthy Spekulatius, vanilla crescent cokies, chocolate vanilla crescents, cinnamon stars or Rudolph cookies. Oh yes, I also have a healthier Stollen on the blog. It’s one of the most traditional german recipes, which you should definitely give a try. It’s really heavenly!

I wish you all a lovely pre-Christmas season and hope that you can enjoy it to the fullest.

xx
Lynn

Enjoy!

The post 3 healthy Christmas desserts – Chai Waffles, Choco-Crossies and Christmas Energy Balls appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Last week, I made my boyfriend very happy. We “had” to test various thin pizza recipes. We call them “Flammkuchen”, or tarte flambée in Germany, and it’s a traditional German speciality this time of the year. Basically, it’s a white pizza without any tomato sauce. Man, that was a feast. It was so much fun to roll out the dough together and to get creative with all of the toppings.

We had bought all the ingredients together, listened to beautiful music (the coffeehouse music playlist on Spotify) and really celebrated our spontaneous party. The result was heavenly colorful tarte flambée with pumpkin, figs, beetroot and red onions. Outside, the golden leaves were shining in the evening sun, and inside our homemade tarte flambée were equally beautiful. No wonder the golden autumn is my favorite season.

This recipes perfectly fits my tipp to eat the rainbow for every meal. The more colorful vegetables and fruits we eat, the more nutrients we eat. It’s that simpel. Because different colored fruits and vegetables contain different nutrients. The rule of thumb is: eat the rainbow and eat a lot of it. Then you’re doing something good for your body. That’s why I covered this pizza with an array of colorful autumnal and seasonal vegetables.
Since tarte flambée only needs to be baked for about 20 mintes, I like to use a peeler for the vegetable preparation. This allows the vegetables to cook faster in the oven. I especially like Hokkaido pumpkin and beetroot in this one, but carrots or zucchini work as well.

And you know me, so you are probably not surprised that we used whole-grain flour for this recipe. Rest assured that this tastes good! Because for tarte flambée it is particularly important to have a thin dough. It almost does not matter if the dough consists of white flour or wholegrain flour. We have tried two different variants with spelt flour. One with 100% whole-grain spelt flour and one with a 50:50 mixture of white spelt flour and whole-grain spelt flour. My boyfriend and I tasted almost no difference, so I urge you to try the 100% whole-grain version. Of course you can also bake the recipe with wheat flour. Your choice.

By the way, some people like their “Flammkuchen”-dough with yeast and some without. I like both versions, but the one without is a little bit easier to make. During testing, both the yeast and the normal dough could be easily rolled out. So I will you with you both recipes below.

There is also an alternative to sour cream for people who eat a plant-based only diet. Namely an almond cream. Tastes really delicious and thanks to vitamin E it is also good for the skin and hair. There is also a gluten-free version below. So today everyone should really get their money’s worth.

Have the best time making these pizzas / tartes flambées / Flammkuchen.
Quantity of dough for every two tarte flambée

Enjoy!

The post Colorful Autumn Tarte appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.

Get ready for fall with this warming gluten-free semolina pudding.

During a visit at my aunt’s place last week, she awaited us with fresh semolina pudding with plum compote She made it based on the signature recipe from my grandmother Lisbeth. With egg whites, cream, normal milk and lots of sugar. It tasted fantastic because it reminded me of my childhood. My grandmother taught cooking and crafts in school and cooked every day not only for her four children, but mostly also for a variety of their school friends.

I talked to my aunt about why my grandmother always made so many sweet dishes. Semolina pudding, vanilla pudding, rice pudding or – in my opinion inedible – bread crumb pudding. Of course, I was not aware of the reason at that time, but when my father was a child, the money was just short. A house had to be paid off and four children fed – and even if my grandmother had been working part-time back then, money was scarce.

But I believe that the women in my grandmother’s generation were true masters in somehow feeding the whole pack. I do not know if all the children got all the nutrients at the time. But they sure never felt like they were missing out.

This semolina porridge, of course, is very different than Lisbeth would have made it. It’s not as fluffy, and tastes different because there is no normal milk in it. But I used her recipe and added the lemon peel and the lemon juice to make it taste more like hers. It makes a small but important difference and turns regular semolina porridge into a heavenly semolina pudding. To add a few more nutrients, I like to add some chopped almond to the dish. Not necessary, but delicious.

Have fun getting ready for fall!

xx

Lynn

Enjoy!

The post Gluten-free semolina pudding with stewed plums appeared first on Heavenlynn Healthy.