Smokey Tomato aolive and Lentil Soup

As a youngster there was a cafè in Glebe that made an amazing lentil tomato and olive soup, I can still remember to this day as a 4 or 5 year old getting this with my mum.

Finally decided to do the recipe myself... it was Ah-may-zing!

Ingredients
2 cans chopped or crushed  tomatoes
2/3 cup lentils
1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
1 onion, diced
3 cloves smoked garlic, crushed
1 massel stock cube, chicken or vegetarian
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste 

Directions

1- heat olive oil in a large pot on a medium heat,  add paprika, onion and and garlic and sauté on a low heat until the onion is clear and soft.

2- add the rest of the ingredients to the pit.  Fill both empty cans with water and add them to the pot. Cook on a medium heat until the lentils are cooked, around 40 minutes.

Serve with a dash of olive oil and parsley. It's also nice with Greek yoghurt or feta cheese. And a slice of crusty toast too!

Vegan Pesto Potato and Bean salad

I felt like I needed something vegan, I also felt lazy. 

This salad is sooooo tasty, extra easy and extremely cheap! It makes enough for one big lunch or two small ones. 

It can be served with added protein for vegans I would suggest a seed and nut blend, for vegetarians feta cheese, otherwise tuna, salmon or chicken.

Ingredients 

1 medium potato, cubed  

1 1/2 cup green beans, halfed

1 teaspoon pesto (I used sundried tomato) 

1/4 cup black olives, seeded and halved

Handful of cherry tomatoes 

1 teaspoon olive oil 

Squeeze of lemon juice 

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions

1- boil potato, when they are about 2-3 minutes from done then add the beans.

2- drain, mix in remaining ingredients.

Wallah! 

One Bowl Banana Bread

This recipe makes a very hearty breakfast bread but can be eaten anytime of day.

I had my first slice with a cup of tea as it came out of the oven on Sunday afternoon.

It can be made vegan easily by using an egg substitute like 1 tablespoon of Chia seeds or flaxseed meal soaked with 2.5 tablespoons of water for 5 minutes.

Ingredients
3 ripe bananas
1 eggs 
3 tablespoons rice bran oil
1/4 cup stevia
1/4 coconut sugar
3.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla paste
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk of choice
1 1/4 cup almond meal or LSA meal
1 1/4 cup flour of choice
1 1/4 cup quinoa flakes 
Optional- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

1- preheat oven to 180 degrees fan forced.

2- mash bananas in a large bowl.

3- add all the ingredients up until the milk. Whisk together well.

4- add the remaining ingredients and mix. 

5- poured into a lined bread tin and bake for 40 minutes. It should be firm when baked.