Raspberry Carrot Squares

Makes 30 deliciously light summery squares!

Preheat oven at 350 F.

In a large bowl add the following, mixing well after each ingredient:

- 4 whole eggs

- 1 cup agave syrup

- pure vanilla extract

- 1 cup vegetable oil (such as olive oil, etc)

- 3 medium carrots finely grated (about 2 cups)

- 2 cups whole wheat flour whisked with 1 tsp magic powder

Do not over mix!

Fold in 1 cup fresh or frozen raspberries.

Pour the batter into a parchment lined 9 x 13 x 2 inch (23 x 33 x 5 cm) baking pan and bake for 35 minutes.

Nutrients per 1 of the 30 squares: Calories: 139, Total Fat: 8.1g, Saturated Fat: 1.2 g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 28 mg, Sodium: 11 mg, Total Carbs: 15.7g, Dietary Fiber: 1.4g, Sugars: 0.8g, Protein: 2.1g

Vitamin A: 16%, Vitamin C: 3%, Calcium: 1%, Iron: 2%

My Rye Bread

I landed in bread heaven and I've just met the Queen of Breads.

My days of frustration are over and I can't believe I've wasted so much time, money and energy trying all sorts of rye breads from grocery stores across town, thinking that "the perfect bread" (clean, no weird ingredients, no caramel for color, no white flour added, and so on) was out there.

Oh well, it wasn't. It was... in here.

I was craving bread, was out of rye bread today, the closest grocery store was out of rye bread as well... so I reached for a bowl and mixed together:

- 2.5 cups dark rye flour

- 1 tsp magic powder

- 1 tsp sea salt *

- 1 cup whole-milk plain yogurt ( Balkan style)

- 1/4 cup water

I placed the extremely sticky dough into a loaf tin lined with buttered parchment paper and placed in the preheated oven.

I found the recipe on Canadian House and Home magazine website, but changed it a bit (removed the honey and used water instead of milk). I followed the oven temperature guidelines: initially, preheat the oven at 400 F; when placing the bread in, lower the heat to 385 F and bake for 30 minutes; after the 30 min, lower the temperature to 350 F and bake for another 20 minutes.

Ended up with 20 perfect slices (about 30g each)

Nutrients per 1 slice: Calories: 62, Total Fat: 1.1g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 2mg, Sodium: 119 mg*, Total Carb: 11.7g, Dietary Fiber: 3.6g, Sugars: 0.5g, Protein: 2.6g

Vitamin A: 1%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 2%, Iron: 6%

* too much salt for my taste, half a teaspoon would've been more than enough

Chocolate Biscotti (whole wheat)

Makes ~25 plain chocolate biscottis.

In a large bowl, fluff together:

- 1/2 cup unsalted butter

- 3/4 cup agave syrup

then add, one ingredient a time, mixing well after each one:

- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

- 3 medium eggs (whole)

- 1 & 3/4 cup whole wheat flour whisked with 1 tsp magic powder

Transfer the dough on a floured surface and divide it in two.

With floured hands (dough is pretty sticky), roll each half into a cylinder, about 10 in (25 cm) long.

Transfer the logs to a parchment lined cookie sheet, spacing them well apart - the cylinders will spread during baking).

Cook for 25-30 minutes in the preheated oven at 350 F (177 C).

Then remove from the oven (should be firm at touch) and cool for 5-10 minutes.

Transfer both logs on a cutting board and and cut the logs into ~ 12 slices each, on the diagonal.

Transfer the slices face up on the parchment lined baking sheet and bake for another 7-8 minutes. Turn the slices over and bake another 6-8 minutes, until crisp.

Nutrients pe 1 biscotti (of 25): Calories: 102, Total Fat: 4.7 g, Saturated Fat: 2.7g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 35mg, Sodium: 9mg, Total Carb: 14.3 g, Dietary Fiber: 1.3g, Sugars: 0.1g, Protein: 2.1g

Vitamin A: 3%, Vitamin C: 0%, Calcium: 1%, Iron: 3%

Saturday Morning Fruit Salad

If it's Saturday morning then it's fruit salad - carb load for breakfast.

Serves 1 and it may seem like a whole lot of fruits, but the majority of them were organic, so of decent small to medium sizes, not oversized.

I sliced or cubed:

- 1 organic banana

- 1 organic peach

- 1 organic small black plum

- 1 organic medium red plum

- 1 kiwifruit

Added:

- few raspberries

- 1 tbsp hemp seeds

Ended up with this:

The entire serving went up to: Calories: 37, Total Fat: 6.6g, Saturated Fat: 0.3g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 3mg, Total Carb: 77.7g, Dietary Fiber: 11.8g, Sugars: 42.8g, Protein: 9.8g

Vitamin A: 12%, Vitamin C: 201%, Calcium: 4%, Iron: 15%