lasagne

Serves 4

This is a favourite of mine and Ella and is a family crowd pleaser. I love this reduced dairy version as we seem to be able to tolerate ghee and cheese in small doses.


Poppy cooks...

1. In a large pot add
   onion, diced,
   3 cloves of garlic, minced,
   1/2 teaspoon dried basil,
   1 teaspoon dried oregano,
   1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary,
   400g tin diced tomato,
   carrot, diced,
   3 celery stalks, diced,
   1/2 zucchini, diced,
   red capsicum, diced,
   500g mince (beef, pork, chicken, lamb or turkey),
   6 button mushrooms, sliced,
   100g tomato paste,
   1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar,
   1 teaspoon honey,
   1.5 teaspoons celtic sea salt,
   pepper to taste with
   2 tablespoons ghee, cooking on medium heat for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
   
   
2. In a small saucepan add
   750g rice milk,
   3 eggs,
   45g ghee,
   1.5 teaspoon dried onion powder,
   1.5 teaspoon garlic powder,
   0.75 teaspoon honey,
   1.5 teaspoon celtic sea salt and
   55g tapioca flour, stirring with a whisk until it thickens.
   
   
3. Preheat oven to 180ºC.
   
   
4. Grease a large lasagne dish with ghee and cover bottom with some of the bolognese sauce.
   
   
5. Place a layer of
   gluten free lasagne sheets on bottom of dish (I soak mine in water for just a few seconds to stop them curling), cover with half the bolognese sauce and a third of the white sauce.
   
   
6. Place a second layer of lasagne sheets, the remaining bolognese sauce and the second third of white sauce on top.
   
   
7. Place a third layer of lasagne sheets and the remaining third of white sauce on top. Sprinkle some
   grated cheese on top and cook in the oven for 30 minutes.
   
   
8. Allow to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

oat bliss balls

Makes 20

Poppy bakes...

1. Soak
   8 medjool dates in boiling water for 10 minutes.
   
   
2. In a food processor, blend
   90g rolled oats,
   80g desiccated coconut,
   2 tablespoons cacao powder,
   1 teaspoon ground cinnamon until fine.
   
   
3. Add pitted dates,
   2 tablespoons raw honey,
   1/4 cup coconut oil, melted and blend until combined.
   
   
4. Roll into balls and coat with desiccated coconut.

honey chicken

Serves 2

Poppy cooks...

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.
   
   
2. In a freezer bag combine
   1 tablespoon tomato paste / sauce,
   2 tablespoons coconut amino sauce,
   2 teaspoons raw honey,
   clove garlic, minced and
   400g chicken (you can use drumsticks, thighs, tenderloins) and leave to marinade for 20 minutes.
   
   
3. Place in an ovenproof dish and bake for 35 minutes for drumsticks, 30 minutes for tenderloins. I love to serve this with green veggies and coconut brown rice.

Sticky ribs

Poppy cooks...

Serves 2

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC.
   
   
2. Cut
   rack of pork ribs into individual ribs and place in a roasting dish (with a lid) lined with foil.
   
   
3. To make the marinade, place in a small pot
   1 teaspoon ginger, grated,
   clove of garlic, minced,
   75ml apple juice,
   50ml white wine vinegar,
   1.25 tablespoons tomato paste,
   2 teaspoons dijon mustard,
   50ml soy sauce and
   4 tablespoons manuka honey, whisking together over medium heat until sauce thickens (approximately 10-15 minutes).
   
   
4. Coat the ribs with marinade, put lid on and place in oven for 10 minutes.
   
   
5. Flip ribs over, place lid back on and in oven for another 10 minutes.
   
   
6. Remove from oven, turn ribs around, and place back in oven without lid for a further 5 minutes.
   
   
7. Flip ribs over, still without lid on and in oven for a final 5 minutes.
   
   
8. We serve these with rice and stir fried greens to make a whole meal.

moroccan roast salad

Serves 2

Poppy cooks...

1. Preheat oven to 190ºC.
   
   
2. Place
   5 carrots, sliced into discs,
   1.5 tablespoons raw honey,
   1 tablespoon olive oil and
   pinch of celtic sea salt on a baking tray and bake for 30 minutes or until slightly caramelised.
   
   
3. In a freezer bag marinade chicken by combining
   500g chicken tenderloins,
   2 teaspoons ground sweet paprika,
   2 teaspoons ground coriander,
   2 teaspoons olive oil and
   pinch of celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper.
   
   
4. While carrots are still baking, make salsa verde by blending
   handful parsley,
   1/4 lemon, juiced,
   1.5 tablespoons olive oil,
   1.5 tablespoons filtered water,
   pinch of celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper in a small blender to ensure a smooth consistency.
   
5. Once the carrots are cooked, combine with
   two large handfuls of spinach,
   2 sprigs of parsley, minced,
   1/4 lemon, juiced.
   
   
6. Pan fry chicken until cooked, adding a little olive oil if necessary.
   
   
7. Serve carrot salad, place sliced or shredded chicken on top, then sprinkle
   2 teaspoons currants and
   2 teaspoons pepitas over each serve and drizzle with salsa verde.

gingerbread cookies (paleo version)

Makes 16

Poppy bakes…

1. If you are unable to buy sunflower seed flour, you may want to start by milling sunflower seeds in a thermomix to create the sunflower seed flour required at step 8.
   
   
2. Soak
   5 dates in warm water until soft (a minimum of 30 minutes).
   
   
3. Blend dates until smooth to form a paste.
   
   
4. In a medium saucepan on medium heat, heat up
   1/3 cup manuka honey,
   1.5 tablespoons ground ginger,
   1/2 tablespoon ground cinnamon,
   1/3 teaspoon ground nutmeg and date paste until the edges begin to bubble slightly.
   
   
5. Remove saucepan from the heat and stir through
   3 tablespoons coconut oil until combined.
   
   
6. Add
   1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
   1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt, and slowly add
   1.75 cups sunflower seed flour.
   
   
7. Allow mixture to cool or place in the fridge.
   
   
8. Roll out dough between two pieces of baking paper to desired thickness, then cut into desired shapes.
   
   
9. Bake in a 180ºC oven for approximately 10 minutes or until they brown.
   
   
10. Allow to cool before eating.

sushi bowl with teriyaki chicken

Serves 5

Poppy cooks…

1. Boil
   1 cup quinoa in
   2 cups filtered water until all the water is absorbed, then set aside.
   
   
2. Blanche
   1 cup frozen edamame beans until done, then set aside.
   
   
3. Finely slice or chop in a thermomix
   1 cup carrot and
   1 cup purple cabbage, then set aside.
   
   
4. Prepare the dressing by whisking together
   1 tablespoon tahini,
   1 tablespoon filtered water,
   2 teaspoons tamari sauce,
   1/2 teaspoon olive oil,
   2 teaspoons rice wine vinegar,
   1/2 teaspoon honey,
   1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger, then set aside.
   
   
5. Grill
   500g chicken tenderloins seasoned with
   celtic sea salt and
   cracked black pepper being careful not to overcook.
   
   
6. Shred chicken.
   
   
7. In a saucepan combine
   1/4 cup coconut amino sauce,
   1/4 cup manuka honey,
   1.5 tablespoons orange juice,
   1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar,
   1 teaspoon arrowroot flour,
   2 teaspoons grated ginger,
   garlic clove, minced,
   2 teaspoons olive oil and
   small pinch of chilli flakes over medium heat until it begins to boil, about 2-3 minutes.
   
   
8. Return shredded chicken to the pan with sauce and toss to coat chicken.
   
   
9. Assemble bowls by either combing or layering quinoa, carrot, purple cabbage, shelled edamame,
   avocado, diced, teriyaki chicken and tahini dressing.
   
   
10. Garnish with
    black and white sesame seeds and
    shredded seaweed.

chicken san choy bow

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Chop
   1 carrot and
   1/4 red cabbage in thermomix for 20 seconds at speed 4 then tip into a mixing bowl. Alternatively, julienne / thinly slice ingredients by hand.
   
   
2. Add to the mixing bowl
   1 lebanese cucumber, julienned and
   1 spring onion, thinly sliced then set aside.
   
   
3. Grill
   500g chicken tenderloins in
   olive oil with
   celtic sea salt and cracked black pepper.
   
   
4. While the chicken is cooking, in a small bowl mix together
   1/4 cup manuka honey,
   1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce,
   2 teaspoon white wine vinegar and
   1/2 lime, juiced.
   
   
5. Shred the chicken, then add it to the vegetables. Pour dressing on top and mix together.
   
   
6. Prepare
   12 iceberg lettuce cups, spoon filling into cups and sprinkle with
   fried shallots.

oven baked chicken with sugarsnaps

Serves 4

Poppy cooks…

1. Preheat oven to 180ºC and line a baking tray with foil.
   
   
2. Add
   500g chicken tenderloins, cut into bite size pieces to a mixing bowl with
   1 tablespoon olive oil,1 tablespoons tamari sauce,
   2 tablespoons coconut amino sauce,
   2 tablespoon manuka honey,
   2 teaspoons ginger, finely grated,
   3 garlic gloves, minced,
   1 cup spring onions, finely chopped and mix together.
   
   
3. Spread chicken on baking tray and cook for 15 minutes before turning pieces over and baking until sauce is reduced and chicken looks sticky (about another 15 minutes).
   
   
4. While the chicken is cooking, in a rice cooker cook
   2 cups jasmine rice with
   200g sugarsnaps in the steamer insert.
   
   
5. Serve rice, topped with sugar snaps then chicken. Sprinkle dish with
   sesame seeds and a little
   lemon zest.

honey tofu with fried quinoa

Serves 3

Poppy cooks…

1. In a mixing bowl, stir together
   1/2 tablespoon olive oil,
   1 tablespoon gluten free soy sauce,
   1 tablespoon coconut amino sauce,
   2 tablespoons manuka honey and
   juice of 1/4 lime.
   
   
2. Add
   packet firm tofu, cubed into mixture and marinade for at least half an hour.
   
   
3. In a deep frying pan on medium heat, fry
   1 cup quinoa until it crackles and becomes aromatic then set aside.
   
   
4. In a rice cooker, add
   onion, diced to the pan with
   olive oil and cook until lightly browned.
   
   
5. Add
   green chilli, deseeded and chopped and
   2 cloves garlic, minced and cook for 1 minute.
   
   
6. Add
   500ml vegetable stock and quinoa and cook until all the stock is absorbed.
   
   
7. While the quinoa is cooking, steam some
   asian greens in the steamer insert.
   
   
8. Also while the quinoa is cooking, cook the marinated tofu in a frying pan; cooking until the sauce caramelises, tossing frequently to coat the tofu.
   
   
9. Stir
   juice of 1/4 lime,
   4 spring onions, sliced diagonally,
   handful coriander, chopped and
   1/4 cup pepitas through the quinoa mixture.
   
   
10. Serve the tofu on top of the quinoa and sprinkle with
    sesame seeds, with the asian greens to the side.
    

fake fried rice with fake honey chicken

Serves 4

I was amazed when I first cooked this dish as it immediately reminded me of being a child because it tasted exactly like my mother's cooking. Without compromising on taste, this version of fried rice with sticky honey chicken is so much healthier than the traditional version - you have to try it to believe it!

Poppy cooks…

1. In a large pot combine
   1/4 cup apple cider vinegar,
   1/4 cup coconut amino sauce,
   2 cloves garlic, minced,
   1.5 teaspoons manuka honey,
   4 black peppercorns and
   2 bay leaves.
   
   
2. Add
   500g chicken thighs to the pot and add enough 
   chicken stock until the chicken is submerged. Place in the fridge to marinade for at least 3 hours.
   
   
3. Whilst the chicken is marinading, cook the fried rice. Begin by scrambling
   4 eggs with a pinch of
   celtic sea salt and pepper, then set aside.
   
   
4. In a wok or large frying pan on high heat, sauté an
   onion, diced,
   4 cloves garlic, minced and
   2 carrots, peeled and diced until onion is golden and carrots are softened, then set aside.
   
   
5. Pulse
   1/2 cauliflower in a food processor until it resembles rice. Then sauté in work with oil until the cauliflower browns slightly.
   
   
6. Add carrot mixture back into the wok, along with
   2 tablespoons coconut amino sauce and
   1/4 teaspoon tamari sauce.
   
   
7. Then add
   1/2 cup frozen peas and stir until peas are cooked, then set aside and keep warm while you cook the chicken.
   
   
8. Place the pot with the marinaded chicken on high heat to bring it to the boil, then reduce to a simmer. Once the chicken is cooked, remove from the pot.
   
   
9. Reduce the remaining sauce until it forms a thick and sticky consistency, then add the chicken back in to heat up before serving.
   
   
10. Just before serving, combine the scrambled egg into the fried rice.

mongolian beef

Serves 2

Poppy cooks…

1. Cook
   1 cup jasmine rice in a rice cooker with
   bunch of asian greens in the steamer tray on top.
   
   
2. In a frying pan saute
   4 cloves garlic, minced,
   3/4 teaspoon dried ginger and
   1/8 teaspoon dried chilli flakes.
   
   
3. Add
   3 tablespoons coconut aminos,
   1 teaspoon chicken stock paste (or 3 tablespoons chicken stock) and
   1.5 tablespoons manuka honey stirring frequently until the honey dissolves and the sauce thickens slightly.
   
   
4. Add
   500g stir fry beef and toss until cooked.
   
   
5. Stir through
   3 spring onions, sliced diagonally and serve on steamed rice with steamed greens to the side.

gingerbread cookies

Makes 16

Poppy bakes...

1. Preheat oven to 180˚C.
   
   
2. In a mixing bowl, mix together
   1/2 cup plain gluten-free flour,
   1/3 cup coconut flour,
   2 tablespoons arrowroot powder,
   1 tablespoon ground chia seeds,
   2 tablespoons quick oats,
   1/4 teaspoon celtic sea salt,
   1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
   1/3 cup coconut sugar,
   1 teaspoon ground cinnamon,
   1.25 teaspoon ground ginger and
   1/4 teaspoon ground cloves.
   
   
3. Add
   3 tablespoons coconut oil,
   2 tablespoons manuka honey, 
   2 eggs and combine.
   
   
4. Scoop mixture onto a large sheet of baking paper. Place another sheet of baking paper on top and use a rolling pin until you reach the thickness you want for the cookies.
   
   
5. Use gingerbread men cookie cutters and place unto a baking tray lined with baking paper (or you can roll/press into cookies which are just as yummy).
   
   
6. Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool (make sure not to leave them in for any longer as they dry up very easily).

beef stir fry

Serves 4

Ingredients

2 cups jasmine rice

onion, cut into wedges

500g stir fry beef

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons manuka honey

2 tablespoons gluten free soy sauce

2 tablespoons tamari sauce

red capsicum, sliced

tray of baby corn, chopped

Method

1. Marinade beef in garlic, honey, soy sauce and tamari sauce for a minimum of 10 minutes
2. Cook rice
3. Saute onion in a wok or large frying pan on medium to high heat
4. Add beef, capsicum and corn and toss until cooked
5. Serve with rice

Notes
To save time, you can marinade the beef up to 24 hours before cooking.

noodle stir fry

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Blend
   juice of 1 lime,
   1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper,
   3/4 teaspoon ground ginger,
   4 tablespoons tamari sauce,
   2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar,
   3 tablespoons manuka honey and
   5 medjool dates, pitted in a food processor until dates are fully broken down and set aside.
   
   
2. In a wok or non-stick frying pan scramble
   4 eggs, whisked with a drop of olive oil and set aside.
   
   
3. In the same wok/pan, heat
   olive oil over medium heat before adding
   500g chicken tenderloins, diced with
   celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper for 3 minutes.
   
   
4. Add
   onion, thinly sliced and
   5 garlic cloves, minced until chicken is fully cooked and onion is browned. Drain any excess liquid.
   
   
5. Stir through
   1 packet of konjac or rice noodles, prepared according to instructions on packet,
   3 baby zucchini, julienned,
   2 carrots, julienned and
   2 spring onions, diagonally sliced tossing until ingredients start to stick to the pan.
   
   
6. Pour sauce over ingredients and stir to combine. Cook until sauce is absorbed/reduced.
   
   
7. Before serving, stir through egg and
   1/2 cup coriander, chopped.
   
   
8. Serve with
   lime wedge and garnish with
   coriander.

Notes
If you like spicy food, just increase the amount of cayenne pepper in the sauce. And if you aren't allergic to nuts like I am, then top this dish with some toasted cashews.

popcorn cacao squares

Makes approximately 12 squares

Ingredients

8 pitted medjool dates

1/2 cup finely desiccated coconut

3/4 cup raw organic cacao powder

3/4 cup coconut oil

2 teaspoons honey

2 cups organic popcorn with salt

Method

1. Finely chop dates and then blend into a smooth paste
2. Over a low heat combine dates, desiccated coconut, cacao powder, coconut oil and honey
3. Take mixture off the heat and stir through popcorn
4. Spread into a slice tin and set in the freezer for 20 minutes
5. Remove from freezer and cut into desired squares

Notes
This sweet snack not only tastes good, but is packed full of flavonoids which act as natural antioxidants!

roast pumpkin + cranberries with red quinoa

Serves 4

Poppy cooks...

1. Cook
   1 cup red quinoa with
   3 cups of filtered water in a rice cooker or on the cooktop.
   
   
2. Preheat oven to 180°C.
   
   
3. On a baking tray, combine
   2.5 cups pumpkin, diced,
   1/2 red onion, finely diced and
   2 cloves garlic, minced,
   olive oil (enough to coat vegetables),
   2 teaspoons manuka honey,
   generous pinch of celtic sea salt + cracked black pepper,1/8 teaspoon ground ginger and
   1/8 teaspoon curry powder.
   
   

   

   
   Preparing ingredients in the roasting tray
   

   
   

4. Place in the oven and roast for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin and garlic are golden.
   
   
5. To serve, combine roasted ingredients with the cooked quinoa,
   1/2 cup dried cranberries and
   2 tablespoons parsley, chopped.

blueberry, lime + coconut cake

Serves 10

Dry ingredients

1/2 cup coconut flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon coconut sugar

Wet ingredients

4 free-range eggs

3 tablespoons nuttelex, melted

juice + zest of 1 lime

zest of 1/2 lemon

6 tablespoons coconut milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

punnet (1/2 cup) blueberries

Glaze ingredients

1/4 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

30ml coconut cream

Pinch of celtic sea salt

25ml honey

15ml lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180°C
2. In a bowl combine dry ingredients
3. In a separate bowl mix wet ingredients, excluding blueberries
4. Mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients using a spatula
5. Combine blueberries into mixture
6. Spoon mixture into a cake tin and bake for 30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted comes out clean
7. Remove and allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving
8. On low heat, combine glaze ingredients until smooth
9. Cool glaze in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before spreading over cake

Notes
This is a delightfully light and fluffy cake, due to the use of coconut flour. Like most cake recipes, you can use this same mixture to make muffins - this recipe makes about 6 large muffins.