Arepas

I recently tried Arepas for the first time whilst attending a friends birthday party. So delicious and what a great idea! 

Arepas are maize patties, originating from Venezuela and Colombia. Traditionally made from pre-cooked white maize flour which is mixed with water and a pinch of salt and then baked or pan fried until golden. Normally quite thick, almost similar to an English Crumpet in size and sliced halfway down the middle like pita bread so to place the filling inside.

Whilst maize doesn't have much nutritional value, they make a great alternative for those kids who are gluten intolerant as an occasional snack. The filling is where you can place all the goodness. 

Cheese is used quite a lot in traditional Arepa fillings however as you know my blog is dairy free. You see the previous post The White Stuff for details. 

Here are some alternative Arepa fillings...

• Stir fried vegetables with braised tofu
• Stir fried vegetables with prawns
• Caramelised onions with pan fried Tempeh 
• Avocado and smoked salmon
• Tuna pate, grated carrot and avocado
• Aduki bean pate with lettuce and gherkins 
• Hummus with lettuce and alfalfa sprouts

Basically any sandwich filling can be used for Arepas as well as hot versions such as the stir fried veg above. Experiment including different proteins and vegetables. Allowing kids to fill their own Arepas providing a mix of nutritious pates and proteins along with salad leaves and vegetables at the table is another great way to get them involved with food. 

Enjoy!

Healthy Christmas Treats

Christmas can be a wonderful time of year, celebrations with the family for whatever the season may mean to you, delicious food, snug evenings in around the fire place playing games as well as a little bit of magic for the little ones too.

Christmas can however cause a lot of unnecessary stress especially when doing the supermarket runs. We seem to be bombarded with junk food and sugary treats at every aisle, mainly aimed at children. Not only do these foods on a regular basis harm the health of growing children, they can also increase stress levels as the body fights the toxins, saturated fats and refined sugars.

This is not to say we cant enjoy some chocolate, sweets or other festive goodies out there. However just notice the wide range of variety of more wholesome brands available. If you are counting the pennies, wonderful homemade treats can be great fun to make involving the children too.

A few healthier Christmas snack options (some of which can also be used as stocking fillers)...

• Tangerines, Satsumas, Mandarins...what a better way to bring in one of their 5 a day!
• Homemade carob treats (simply melt a bar, mix with dried fruit and nuts and leave to cool before cutting into chunks). This can be wrapped in little bags as a tasty stocking filler.

• The same mixture can be made with added orange rind and rolled into a ball shape when cool enough to handle. Wrap in foil and add to stockings as a tasty chocolate snowball.
• Use the previous carob mixture and mix with a little desiccated coconut, rolling into small truffle shape balls and coating with more coconut. Mini snowballs!
• Check out your local health food shop for tasty sweets free from sugar, gelatin, artificial colours and preservatives...and yes they taste great!
• Melt a carob bar into a lovely rich thick sauce and allow kids to dip their tangerine segments  or nuts into the sauce.
• Dried fruit and nuts in mini bags.
• Mini packets of raisins.
• Fruit leathers, fruit snack bars.
• Homemade popcorn with a few drops of umeboshi seasoning...kids will love this!
• Vegetable sticks and tortilla chips with dips (avocado, hummus, beetroot...)
• Kids non alcoholic mulled wine: red grape juice, orange juice and a few mulled wine spices.
• Roasted chestnuts in the oven.
• Sweet potato wedges
• Sweet potato and apple cake. The touch of cinnamon makes this cake a perfect festive treat.

Snack Time