Healthier Carrot Oat Cupcakes / Морковные Капкейки (полезные)

Finally, April just arrived! We greet it with traditionally spring time carrot cupcakes. I made them low fat and quite healthy....apart from some sugar and some butter in frosting. You could easily substitute sugar for another sweetener though.

The texture of these carrot oat cupcakes is surprisingly quite light and fluffy. So, I am very pleased with the result! The frosting is also full of protein. A very child and diet friendly recipe:)

Carrot Oat Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups cooked and mashed carrots
1 cup oat flakes
1 cup ww flour
2 tb.s baking powder
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 tb.s canola oil
vanilla and rum essences
1 to 2 t.s. cinnamon

Mix dry ingredients. Combine with wet ingredients and make sure there are no lumps. Transfer the dough into greased cupcake forms (will make around 18-20).
Preheat oven to 175 C. Bake during 15-17 minutes. Let them cool.

Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

200 g low fat cottage cheese
70 g butter
1 cup vanilla powdered sugar
1 tb.s. concentrated orange juice
citrus essence

Process cottage cheese in blender until really creamy. Add butter and beat until incorporated, add powdered sugar, juice and essence. You could add colouring, if you like.

Frost already cooled cupcakes. Store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Coconut Candy / Кокосовые Конфеты

This recipe is adapted from a magazine for girls. Quite funny, that my daughter found it and insisted to make it. We slightly changed it, but the result is delicious! Very easy too. Perfect for a small party of just as a snack with tea of coffee. Enjoy!

200g white chocolate
100ml whipping cream
30g butter
pinch of salt
about 60g dessicated coconut for filling
and about 75g coconut for rolling
about 2 cups crushed corn flakes (not too much)

Melt chocolate, butter and cream in a microwave, stir until combined, add salt. Add crushed corn flakes and coconut. Mix everything and let it cool for 10 minutes in the fridge. With a small spoon form balls out of the coconut mixture and roll those balls in more coconut. Chill in fridge before serving. You could insert an entire almond into the middle of each candy if you like, but it's a bit dangerous for younger children.

We just returned from our China trip, all memories are so fresh. It was awesome! We've been to Hong Kong and Hainan Island. Be sure to check for pictures here real soon:)

And if you are a fan of coconut, you may want to check out these truffles too.

White Chocolate Muesli Bars/ Батончики Мюсли с Белым Шоколадом

It's almost a shame to call it a proper recipe, but this stuff could be really useful sometimes!

When there are not enough ingredients to bake something for the kids I would just use this method. Takes 15 minutes to make and only 2 ingredients. Well, I know, it's not super healthy, but kind of acceptable for growing kids.

This quantity makes 8 bars, which in principle could be cut into halves as well.

You'll need muesli (any kind, obviously) and chocolate. Approximately 50/50, little bit less chocolate.

For 8 bars I take 250g muesli and 200g white chocolate. Microwave the chocolate until melted and mix in muesli. Cover 20x20cm dish with baking paper (overhanging) and transfer the mixture onto the paper and cover with it. Then press with your hands. Freeze during 10 minutes. Cut with a large knife into bars and store in the fridge.

For this recipe I used muesli with dried banana, raisins, dried apples, corn flakes and of course oats.

Oat and Cream Bars/ Овсяно-Кремовые Пирожные

I need quick and simple, yet tasty and interesting recipes so often! Kids are just used to something new and tasty waiting for them after school. Usually, the first thing they would say after I meet them from school- is thee anything today? Their daddy also likes "fuel for the brain"- meaning sweet stuff quite often, but then he would say- take it away from me...or give me only one:)

These bars are so rich and creamy, and chocolatey, and oaty.... I suggest to cut them into small squares:) But my kids absolutely love them! The bars look like nanaimo bars, but you will need less ingredients for these. Very easy, no bake!

For the oat crust:

3 cups fast cooking oats
120-130g butter
80g dark chocolate
vanilla

Heat butter and chocolate until melted, add oats and vanilla and stir well, take aside.
Line 20x20cm dish with baking paper. Press oaty mass into it and refrigerate.

For the cream layer:

120g butter, softened
2 cups vanilla powdered sugar
2 tb.s. chilled coconut milk (the thick part)
0,5 t.s. salt
5 tb.s. AP flour

Simply beat with mixer all ingredients until fluffy. Spread evenly over oat crust. refrigerate.

Chocolate layer:

160g dark chocolate
2tb.s. vegetable oil (I use olive oil)

Melt chocolate with oil and wait a little until it is not very hot any more. Spread carefully over cream layer. Refrigerate.

When ready to cut, just use hot knife for cutting (prepare high pan or a cup with hot water in it and deepen your knife into hot water and wipe off water drops each time before cutting into bars).

Baked Apple "Cupcakes" / "Капкейки" с Печеными Яблокaми

This could be a breakfast or a snack...or even a dessert? I love it any time of the day. It's healthy, it's quite filling, high fiber, high protein and they taste good! It's a crossing between apple pie, cheese cake and oatmeal cookie! Very tender and luscious filling on a cookie crust.

For the Oatmeal Crust:

2 cups rolled oats
pinch of salt
100ml yoghurt
2-3tb.s. ricotta or cottage cheese
10g baking powder
sugar substitute or sugar to taste
vanilla essence

For the Filling:

5 granny smith apples, inner part taken out
200g ricotta or cottage cheese
about 2 tb.s. yoghurt
sugar sub to taste
vanilla
1tb.s. lemon rind
1tb.s. flour or starch
some hazelnuts for topping

First remove apple core and some flesh around it. We need only a sort of a thick bracelet made of apple.
In blender mix all ingredients for the oat crust. Divide into 5 parts.

Preheat oven to 180C.

Mix all ingredients for the filling. Create a disc out of oatmeal dough, take an apple and place it on that disc, than with your wet hands create a basket with that oatmeal dough disc around apple.
Fill each apple with ricotta filling. Garnish with some hazelnuts, if desired. Place apples into a baking dish and bake around 25-30 minutes. This time should be enough for the crust to be baked and apples to be soft.

Let them cool a bit and serve warm or cold.

Oat Coconut Cream no bake Sandwiches/ Овсяное Печенье с Кокосовым Кремом без выпечки

Can sugar free and low fat be tasty? Yes, it can! And also healthy! Don't you like it?:) Actually, coconut cream is not very low on fat, but it's that kind of fat that won't harm you much.

Based on this last year recipe I made these light small pleasures couple of days ago and am about to make them again!:) Not too sweet and fragrant (think banana and coconut), good for snacking.

1 medium to large banana
1 cup (200ml) toasted rolled oats
pinch of salt
vanilla
1tb.s. raisins (optional)
1 tb.s. flax egg (1tb.s. seeds+2tb.s. water blended)
30ml desiccated coconut + more for sprinkling on top
1 can (400ml) coconut milk, chilled

Toast oats on a pan until slightly brownish. Sprinkle a pinch of salt over them and blend them to create coarse flour.
Add chopped banana with raisins and blend again until smooth, then add vanilla, 30ml coconut and flex egg.
Take with a small melon ball scoop small amounts of the "dough" and roll them in coconut, then flatten into a disk. This quantity will make around 32.

Take chilled coconut milk from the fridge. Open it carefully (without shaking), pour the liquid that is on top out and transfer coconut cream into your mixer, whip it until smooth. With the help of pastry bag pipe this cream onto half of cookies and pair cookies together. Chill before serving.

15 Favourite Light and Healthy Desserts / 15 Любимых Легких и Полезных Десертов

I will not hide the fact that I like desserts. But my ideal desserts are those after eating which I can stay energized, happy and I won't have that awful feeling of guilt. I love my healthy life style!

My granddad taught me since I was a child that sport is something you can't live without and I remember myself running in the park and doing exercises at home being still a schoolgirl. Sometimes I got frustrated looking at my friends who never exercised or were on any diet plan -  they seemed so "free" to me...that I decided to stop with all my "health" routine...which gave me 10kg+ and years...I guess around 4 years of attempts to get rid of new burden.

Since that time I keep to my good old *secret* of eating healthy and working out. Health is one of the biggest treasures in life and how stupid is it to just let it go and "feel free from obligations".....

OK, so here are my favourite 15 desserts or snacks to satisfy sweet tooth attacks and still keep me on health plan, But remember...and myself too...that moderation is another GREAT tip!:)



Я не стану скрывать, что люблю десерты, но мой идеальный десерт - десерт, после которого я остаюсь бодрой, веселой и обязательно без этого ужасного чувства вины. Я люблю свой здоровый образ жизни! 

Мой дедушка учил меня с детства, что спорт это то, без чего невозможно жить. Я помню себя еще школьницей бегая в парке по утрам и занимаясь дома упражнениями. Иногда меня расстраивало, что мои друзья, которые не знали слова диета или спорт, чувствовали себя такими *свободными*...что я решила к ним присоединиться и оставила всю свою "программу здоровье". Что "наградило" меня 10кг+ и годами (по-моему ок.4 лет) попыток их сбросить. 

С тех пор я придерживаюсь своего *секретного* правила - ешь полезную еду и занимайся спортом. Здоровье одно из самых больших сокровищ, дарованых нам и как глупо его растрачивать, чтобы почувствовать себя "свободными от правил".

Ладно, вот мои 15 полюбившихся рецептов десертов, которые удовлетворяют мои сладкие атаки и не сбивают с верного пути к здоровой жизни. Но помните...и я в том числе...что умеренность, это еще один ЗАМЕЧАТЕЛЬНЫЙ совет!:)

Carrot Poppy Seed Cake

Морковный торт с маком

Strawberry Ice Pops

Клубничное мороженое в стаканчике

Light Lemon Coconut Bars

Легкие лимонно-кокосовые пирожные

Fat/Sugar Free Cookie Dough Truffles

Трюфели без масла/сахара

Cottage Cheese Scones

Творожные сконы

Chocolate Muffin Rolls with Strawberry Glaze

Шоколадные кексы с клубничной глазурью

Baked Pumpkin Pudding Bars

Тыквенная полезная запеканка

Basil and Lemon Yoghurt Ice Pop

Йогуртовое мороженое с базиликом и лимоном

Carrot Cheesecake in a Glass

Морковный чизкейк в стакане

Baked Orange Yoghurt with Pistachio Candy Floss

Запеченый Апельсиновый Йогурт

Cinnamon-Apple Healthy Rolls

Яблочно-коричные полезные булочки

Rhubarb Jelly Vanilla Custard Trifle

Трайфл из ревеня, клубники и кремa

Cottage Cheese "Truffles"

"Трюфель" из творога

Berry and Chocolate Yoghurt Bars

Йогуртовое пирожное с ягодами и шоколадом

Boozy Strawberry Grapefruit Ice Cream

Пьяное мороженое с клубникой и грейпфрутом

Turkish Yoghurt Soup/ Турецкий Йогуртовый Суп

Very easy to prepare refreshing, creamy, spicy and a little tart Turkish yoghurt soup (Yoğurt çorbası ).

1l beef stock
0,5 cup rice or noodles
1 egg
1,5tb.s. flour
1 cup (200ml) thick yoghurt
salt to taste
1 tb.s. dry mint
0,5tb.s. chilly pepper flakes
olive oil

Bring broth to boil and add rice or noodles. Cook around 15 minutes until rice/noodles is almost ready. Mix in a small bowl egg with flour and yoghurt, add mint and pepper. Cook, whisking occasionally for about 5-10 minutes longer. Serve with some olive oil and extra herbs, if desired.
It's very tasty!:)

PB Nougat Cookie Bars / Мягкое Арахисовое Печенье с Нугой

Rich and delicious!

My husband likes Snikers bar a lot, but he is actually not a big fan of caramel layer. So I decided to combine recipes in this one here: pb oatmeal cookies (whole wheat!) are paired with the nougat layer from snickers fudge bars. And covered with chocolate.

Although it might seem like a lot of work, all the steps/layers are easy to prepare and if you do like I did- spread the process over two days, then it won't wear you out. Also, if you have Marshmallow cream* and evaporated milk* ready at hand it definitely saves you some time too.

Whole Wheat Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies:
(you'll use only half of the dough, store another half in the fridge in a plastic bag before making cookies later)

2 cups (x200ml) rolled oats
1.5 cups WW flour
10g baking powder
pinch of salt
200g butter
vanilla
75ml peanut butter
1,5 cups sugar
2 eggs

Blend dry ingredients in processor (but not too much, you still want to have small pieces of oats there).
Add butter and blend again, then add the rest of ingredients. Take the dough out of blender and form into a log, cut into two halves. We will use only one of them.
Take 20x20cm baking dish. Roll the dough on baking paper into the size of your baking form. Transfer the dough into the form and trim the edges if they are not straight. Poke the dough with a fork.

Preheat oven to 190C. Bake cookie base app.15 minutes. Let it cool down. Remove baking paper and layer this same baking form with cling film. Place cookie base back into the form.

Nougat Layer:
adapted from here

4tb.s. butter
1 cup (200ml) sugar
50ml evaporated milk*( scroll for the recipe)
1,5 cups marshmallow cream* ( scroll for the recipe)
50ml peanut butter
vanilla
200ml cup salted peanuts

Melt butter in a pan and add evaporated milk (or other way around) into butter. Add 1 cup sugar. Heat this mixture on medium heat and stir all the time. After it began to boil cook for 3 minutes. Now add peanut butter, marshmallow cream and vanilla. Stir thoroughly and add peanuts. Pour this mixture onto cookie base. Set it into freezer for 15 minutes.

Melt 160g (dark) chocolate with 1 tb.s. vegetable oil and spread over nougat. Set into freezer one more time until chocolate is set.

Carefully cut into bars and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

* Evaporated Milk:

If you can not find it in the store...like me... just boil 250ml of whole milk down to have only 50ml left.

* Marshmallow Cream:

150ml sugar
100ml light corn syrup (or runny honey without strong flavour)
50ml water
0,5 t.s. salt
1-2 drops lemon juice
2 egg whites
vanilla

Boil water, sugar, salt and honey during 10 minutes on medium-low heat.
Start beating egg whites with lemon juice until soft peaks. When syrup is ready add litle by little into egg whites and beat during 8 minutes until very stiff and fluffy. It is ready to be used. This recipe makes about 450-500ml. You could use remaining cream together with the remaining dough to create sandwiched pb cookies:)

Skinny Oatmeal Bars/ Диетичная Овсяная Запеканка

I came up with another oatmeal recipe!:) Well, I do love grains and fruit...I'm lucky it's not chocolate...cause I'm still struggling with portion control!:)
These bars are a great snack/breakfast/dessert when watching your weight and taking care of your health in general. There is no sugar, no flour, no eggs. All very natural and really tasty!
They have pleasant rum and vanilla aroma and addition of honey and raisins is enough to make them sweet without sugar. If you like really sweet stuff, you can always add some stevia or other sweetener, but for me and kids they are perfect as they are.

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup oatmeal (blended oats)
1/2 t.s. salt
10g baking powder
app.220ml milk
4tb.s. runny honey
100g ricotta or curd cheese
app.2 drops rum essence
vanilla
2 tb.s. tahini paste (or nut butter, or vegetable oil)
1 tb.s. flax egg
good handful of raisins/cranberries

Mix all wet ingredients, add raisins and the rest of dry components.
Preheat oven to 175C. Layer square 20x20cm baking form with baking paper and transfer the dough into it, pressing it gently to the bottom. Make several small holes here and there with a fork.
Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Let it cool and then cut into portions. Enjoy and don't think too much about calories:)

Oatmeal Bakes and Cakes/ Рецепты с Овсом

I love oats. I use them really quite often in baking or non baked healthy snacks and I never get bored with them:) And I guess, if you're looking for a recipe with oats you will find it here!:) Most of them are light, low fat and low sugar.
I will start with my most favourite 20... for the rest I will have to make one more post sometime soon though...


Я люблю овсянку.И использую хлопья довольно часто в выпечке и для рецептов полезных десертов и перекусов. И никогда она мне не надоедает:) Думаю, если Вы ищите рецепт с использованием овса...Вы по адресу:) Большинство моих рецептов легкие, с низким содержанием сахара и жира. 
Я начну с 20 моих самых полюбившихся...остальные придется публиковать в следующий раз.

                                                          Winter Scones - tasty with orange peel and cranberries. вкусные сконы с цедрой апельсина и клюквой

Granola Bars with Cranberries - crunchy and healthy bars to take with you. хрустящие и полезные, удобно брать с собой

No Bake Oat Bars - easy and no baking required. легко и без выпечки

Apple Oatmeal Cookies - weight watchers recipe. малокаллорийное яблочно-овсяное печенье

No Bake Peanut Butter Health Bars - no baking and a lot of pleasure! без выпечки и очень вкусно

Oatmeal Pudding for Breakfast - light, but satisfying breakfast. легкий, но сытный завтрак

Protein Breakfast Cookies - tasty cookies, that can be eaten at breakfast. вкусное печенье, которое можно есть на завтрак

Oat and Strawberry Cookies - loads of flavour and no fat! море вкуса и ноль жира

Healthy Apple Pie - no fat breakfast apple pie. яблочный пирог без жира

Chewy banana Cereal Bars - no bake bars...great for summer if chilled first. без выпечки, хороши особенно летом из холодильника

Vanilla Plum Oat Crumble - delicious and healthy crumble. вкусный и полезный крамбл

Banana Oat Bars - super healthy and tasty. очень полезно

Oatmeal Bars with Yoghurt - absolute winner. абсолютный хит

Muesli Bars with Chocolate - for chocolate lovers. для любителей шоколада

Oat and Fruit Cookies - based on Starbucks recipe. на основе рецепта из Starbucks

White Chocolate and Nuts Oatmeal Bar - sweet bars with many flavours. сладкие и ароматные

Sugar free Oat Cookies - chewy cookies. мягкое печенье

Peanut Butter Oat Bake - peanut buttery tasty bake. очень нежно и со вкусом арахиса

Cereal Snack Balls with Apricot - great snack to take with you. замечательно для перекуса на ходу

Chocolate Ricotta Oat Truffles - last but not least, no baking and pure pleasure with no guilt. без выпечки. сплошное удовольствие без чувства вины