Halloween – Flapjack Mummies!

by Lou Robbie

Halloween is creeping closer so its time to start thinking of some tasty treats to share! We are adding plenty of wholesome ingredients to balance the sugar overload at this trick or treating time of year! Make your own eyeballs too for that startled spooky MUMMY look!! I reckon these can even go into the school lunch boxes too! #nutfree

To make the task of decorating these flapjacks more enjoyable, I recommend making and baking them the day before and add the melted chocolate the next day along with the eyeballs. Adding the finishing touches is a nice job for kids. #kidsinthekitchen

Make them this Halloween and let us know what you think in the comments.

Lou 🙂

Ingredients – makes 12

To decorate: 100g white chocolate melted

Homemade eyeballs – white fondant ready to roll icing and chocolate chips

Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 180℃. Line a square or rectangle brownie baking tin (8inc x 8inc) with parchment paper.
  2. Begin by chopping or blending the dates.
  3. Add the butter, brown sugar and chopped dates to a pot.
  4. Put onto the hob and heat slowly to melt the butter and dissolve the sugar, , stir with a wooden spoon.
  5. In the meantime measure the oats, seeds, coconut and cinnamon into a mixing bowl, give it a stir.
  6. Check on the pot. Bring to a gently boil, mix well and take off the heat. The mix should be soft and sticky.
  7. Tip the sticky mix into the bowl with the dry ingredients, mix well with a spatula or spoon or use your clean hands to coat all the oats and seeds.
  8. Spoon it into the baking tin and push and smooth down. TIP: get a square piece of piece of parchment paper to and lay it on top and use your hands to smooth it out. Discard the paper.
  9. Bake in the oven for 25 minutes, the top should be nice and golden.
  10. Set aside to cool completely.
  11. Slice into 12 even bars, a bread knife works best for these!
  12. To decorate: Make some homemade eyeballs using some white fondant and chocolate chips. Roll the fondant into small balls and push in a chocolate chip for the pupil. Made 24.
  13. Melt the white chocolate either in the microwave, check it every 30 seconds and give it a good stir to loosen or in a bowl over a pot of boiling water (baine marie) don’t let the water touch the bottom of the bowl . You need the chocolate to be fluid so its easy to spoon over the flapjacks. If it seems stiff melt it for a further 30 seconds and mix really well with a spoon again.
  14. Line the flapjacks up on a chopping board lined with parchment paper and drizzle over the chocolate, add the eyeballs.
  15. Allow the chocolate to set for 1 hour then devour!!!!

Happy Halloween, enjoy!

Curried Parsnip, Leek and Lentil Soup

by Lou Robbie

This is a real hearty seasonal soup. My organic veg box was delivered this morning (Fri) and seeing the earthy parsnips just made me smile because I only live 15km from where they were pulled from the ground! #buylocalproduce Parsnips and leeks are at their very best in autumn.

Leeks and parsnips are two of my favourite vegetables. I usually keep the flavours simple but couldn’t resist adding lentils and curry to make this soup a substantial meal.

The best part of this soup is that it only has a handful of ingredients, make it as spicy as you like and serve it with big generous chunks of organic sourdough bread.

Lou 🙂

Ingredients:

  • 700g parsnips
  • 2 small leeks (or one large)
  • 3-4 teaspoons curry powder
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric
  • good pinch salt and pepper
  • 1.5 litres water or stock
  • 400g tin lentils
  • 1 tablespoon oil

Method

  1. Grab a wide pot with a lid.
  2. Scrub and dice the parsnips. Theres no need to peel them when they are organic, just wash them well.
  3. Wash the leeks, cut the root off and most of the hard green tops. (These can be used for veg stock #zerofoodwaste
  4. Slice the leeks finely.
  5. Warm the pot on the hob, low to medium heat and add a tablespoon of light oil.
  6. Tip in the sliced leeks. Add a generous pinch of salt and pepper and cook down for a few minutes.
  7. Add in the curry powder and turmeric and cook to toast and awaken the spices for a minute or two. (Add a splash of water if its catching on the bottom of the pot)
  8. Next toss in the diced parsnips and stir them through the leeks.
  9. Pour in the water and pop the lid on if you have one.
  10. Let the soup simmer on the hob for about 40 minutes, the soup is ready when the parsnips are soft when squished with the back of a wooden spoon.
  11. While it’s cooking away. Open the tin of lentils and drain and rinse them.
  12. If you like chunky soup just add in the lentils now, but if you like a smoother soup blend first and then add the lentils.
  13. Check the seasoning and serve with crusty organic sourdough if you have some.

Beetroot Hummus w/ Toasted Tortilla Chips

by Lou Robbie

Big beautiful earthy beetroots full of flavour, sweetness and goodness! If you’re not familiar with cooking them from raw then cook them like a potato. Steam, boil or roast and you won’t go too far wrong.

Steaming beetroots is a great way to lock in the nutrients and a gentle way to cook your beetroots. When they pierce easily with a knife they are ready. Cool and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to make this hummus.

The colour of this hummus was gorgeously pink and vibrant!

Serve as a dip with tortilla chips, as a side on a mezze plate, as a dressing with a lentil and goat cheese salad or a topping on an open sandwich with roasted veg.

Enjoy,

Lou 🙂

  • 300g raw beetroot
  • 1 tin of cooked chickpeas drained – (400g)
  • 1 clove garlic grated
  • 1/2 lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon light tahini
  • 2 tablespoon light oil
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2-3 large tortilla wraps
  • light oil
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tablespoons sesame seeds – optional

To make the hummus

  1. Begin by cooking the raw beetroots. Wash the beetroot and cut the tops off, keep the skin on if you wish. Quarter and steam in a pot for 40 mins, or until they piece easily with a knife. (I have a powerful blender so I keep the skins on for this recipe, peel if you wish)
  2. Cool the beets and store in the fridge until you are ready to make the hummus.
  3. Once cooled add the beetroot to a blender along with the drained chickpeas, grated garlic clove, lemon juice, tahini, oil and add a pinch of salt and pepper.
  4. Blend the hummus until it’s smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.

To make the tortilla chips and toasted sesame seeds.

  1. Preheat the oven to 180C. Have a couple of large baking trays at hand.
  2. Simply cut the tortilla wraps into triangles. Do this by cutting the wraps in half. Then quarters then eights.
  3. Lay the triangles on the trays, space them out so they don’t overlap.
  4. Spray or drizzle with oil and sprinkle with paprika.
  5. Toast in the oven for 5-10 minutes, keep a close eye on them. When they are lightly toasted they are ready.
  6. To toast the sesame seeds put them on a tray and toast for 5-10 minutes until golden.

To serve:

Add the beetroot hummus to a bowl, top with toasted sesame seeds, if you wish and the toasted tortilla chips.

Purple Kale Colcannon & Thyme and Honey Roast Carrots

by Lou Robbie

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with mashed potatoes “spuds” and cabbage or kale.  When I was a child we had spuds 7 days a week, to have mash was a treat and to have colcannon with lashings of butter was heaven!  This is traditional warming comfort food perfect for an Autumn supper. 

You’ll find the purple kale, new potatoes and carrots all in the Irish Farm Box this Sept ’22. 

Enjoy this one. 

Lou 🙂

Serves 4 

  • 800g New potatoes with skins on
  • 6 medium carrots 
  • 1 sprig of fresh thyme- leaves picked
  • 1 drizzle of honey (local is best)
  • 200g purple kale 
  • 200ml milk
  • 50g butter for the kale
  • 50g butter for the potatoes – and extra to serve
  • Salt and pepper
  1. Preheat the oven to 180℃. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. Begin by scrubbing the dirt off the potatoes in cold water. Chop into quarters or halves of similar size and steam until cooked through – roughly 40 minutes. You can boil them too if you prefer. (When you cook with organic veg keep the skins on that’s where the nutrients are)
  3. Likewise, scrub the carrots and pat dry. Chop in half lengthwise, toss in oil, salt pepper and lay on the baking tray, sprinkle with the thyme leaves and drizzle with honey.

The carrots: 

  1. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. 
  2. To prepare the kale, wash first in cold water. 
  3. Then pick the leaves from the stem and add to a mixing bowl. (Tip: You can reserve the stem and chop finely to add to a stir fry.)
  4. Once all the leaves are picked, take a handful of the kale, roll it up into a tight roll shape and finely chop it into bite sized pieces. 

To steam fry the kale. 

  1. Warm a wide pot, with a lid, on a medium heat. 
  2. Add the knob of butter and melt, then add 100ml of water to create steam. 
  3. Add all the kale at once, stir and put the lid on the pot. 
  4. Give the pot a shake to agitate the kale and wilt it, it will take 3-5 minutes for the kale to soften. 
  5. Add a small pinch of salt and mix. 
  6. When it’s cooked to your liking, take off the heat and set to one side.

The mashed potatoes.

  1. When the potatoes are fully cooked, tip them into a big pot or bowl. 
  2. Heat the milk and butter in a jug in the microwave for 1 minute or on the hob.
  3. Mash the warm potatoes along with the hot milk and butter, add a pinch of salt. The skins may get caught in the masher but keep on mashing until its creamy. Add more hot milk and butter if needed. 
  4. Fold in the cooked purple kale, taste to check the seasoning. 
  5. Take the carrots from the oven when they are roasted nicely. 
  6. To serve, add 3 or 4 carrots to a plate with a big spoon of hot colcannon, top with a knob of butter and a crack of black pepper!! 

There is nothing nicer. 🙂

3 Ingredient Frittata

by Lou Robbie

Less is more with this frittata, gently season each ingredient as you work through the recipe and you’ll end up with a delicious dish that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner! 

The Italians got it right with this one, its simplicity is what makes it. Served with some local leaves and ripe cherry tomatoes all it needs is some September sun to make it perfect! 

If there’s any left over, use it to make a sourdough sandwich. Slice it cold, add mayo, leaves and tomato to the sandwich – it’s delicious for the lunch box.

Lou 🙂

**You will need an oven safe non-stick frying pan to make this frittata – most frying pans are oven safe. If you wish you can use a deep baking tray 8in x 8in approximately. 

  1. Scrub and steam or boil the potatoes first. Allow to cool. 
  2. Slice the courgettes into rounds and fry on a frying pan with a pinch of salt until charred and golden sprinkle, set a slice to cool. 
  3. Once cooled, dice the potatoes into cubes, keep the skins on if you wish, that’s where the nutrients are.  
  4. Preheat the oven to 180℃.
  5. Warm a (oven safe) non-stick frying pan on a medium heat and add a tablespoon of oil. 
  6. Fry the potatoes until golden and crispy and season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
  7. While the potatoes are frying, crack 6 eggs into a mixing bowl and add a pinch of salt and pepper, whisk well. 
  8. Pour the eggs over the fried potatoes. Top with the slices of courgette. 
  9. Cook on the hob for 3-4 minutes then carefully transfer into the oven. 
  10. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until the egg has set. 
  11. Use a dry tea towel to lift the frying pan out of the oven. 
  12. Set the frypan aside to cool for 10 minutes then loosen the edges with a rubber spatula and slice onto a serving plate. 
  13. Serve with salad – I chose Galway grown leaves and heaps of cherry tomatoes! 

Lunch box – Courgette & Carrot Muffins

by Lou Robbie

Its the end of the summer holidays and back to school and work routines for most! If you are looking for ways to get a bit more veg into yours and/or your child’s lunch box then give these muffins a go. They are lightly sweetened and alongside a sandwich, some fruit and raw veggie sticks they are the perfect lunch. #backtoschool

They freeze really well so why not pop some in the freezer that are handy to defrost overnight, making filling the lunch box a little bit easier. #freezerstash

If you have kids get them to help make them, let them grate the courgette and carrot. Let them get used to cooking and baking with seasonal Irish vegetables and have a chat about where they are grown too. Cooking together creates great opportunities for learning about where our food comes from and why it’s important that we support our local farmers. 

Lou 🙂

Makes 18 regular muffins – approx

  1. Preheat the oven to 180℃.
  2. Prepare your muffin tins with paper cases if needed. I use silicone moulds that don’t need paper cases. 
  3. To make the muffins begin by gathering all the ingredients. 
  4. Grate the carrot and courgette. 
  5. Sieve the flour into a large mixing bowl, add the sugar and cinnamon and mix. 
  6. Add the grated carrot and courgette and mix well again with a wooden spoon. 
  7. Measure the oil into a jug and crack in the eggs, whisk well. 
  8. Pour the oil and egg mix into the bowl and gently mix until there is no visible flour.
  9. Scoop into the muffin tray. 
  10. Bake for 20 mins or until, when checked, a skewer comes out clean.  
  11. Allow to cool completely then bag up to stash in the freezer for the future lunch box. 
  12. To defrost, take one from the freezer bag and pop in the lunch box the night before. 

Peanut Butter Squares – No bake

by Lou Robbie

Here at Green Earth Organics we are always adding new products to the online store. When the coconut flour came in this month this recipe had to be made! 

These peanut butter squares are a real treat! Not only are they unbelievably good they might even be good for you as they are made with these gorgeous natural organic ingredients! 

They are quite filling so a small square is enough to satisfy- but go back for seconds if you must!!

Leave the plastic wrapped supermarket treats on the shelf and give them a go and let us know what you think.

Lou 🙂

  1. Line a small baking tray (8×5 inc approx) with parchment paper and cut out a spare piece of paper the same size as the tray. 
  2. Measure the peanut butter into a bowl and warm in the microwave for a minute or until it mixes easily with a spoon. (you can do this step in a small pot on the hob if you prefer)
  3. Add the coconut flour and maple syrup and mix to form a thick paste. 
  4. Tip the paste onto the baking tray and push down with the back of a spoon. 
  5. Use the spare piece of parchment paper and your hands to smooth the paste evenly into the corners of the tray, then discard the paper.
  6. Put the tray into the fridge to firm up for 10 minutes. 
  7. Add the chocolate to a bowl with the coconut oil and melt in the microwave until melted. Check the chocolate at 20second intervals so it does not burn. Mix well. 
  8. Take the tray from the fridge and pour over the melted chocolate, gently agitate to cover evenly. 
  9. Chill in the fridge again to set. Cut into squares and enjoy.

Courgette “Croque Monsieur”

by Lou Robbie

Courgettes are such a versatile vegetable. They work in their raw state or taste delicious in sweet cakes and muffins or savoury when roasted or baked.  Char grilled courgettes are sublime! It brings out the natural sweetness and adds that charred bitterness that works so great here. 

Charred veg of any sort is delicious in a sandwich. There is no ham needed in this grilled cheese interpretation of the French classic Croque Monsieur – meaning Bite Mister or maybe its Mister Bite!

This glorious sandwich is worth all the effort. 

Charred Courgette, spicy mustard, crunchy bread, creamy bechamel, grilled cheese = The ultimate indulgence at lunch time.

Enjoy this one, 

Lou 🙂

Makes 2 large sandwiches

For the grilled courgette:

For the bechamel sauce: 

For the mustard mayo

For the sandwich:

For the grilled courgette: 

  1. Get a griddle pan on the hob nice and hot- you can use a frying pan instead if you wish. 
  2. Wash and dry the courgette then slice it long ways keeping the slices about 5mm thick. 
  3. Spray or drizzle oil on the courgettes and when the griddle pan is smoking hot add the courgettes to get those nice charred bar marks. 
  4. Don’t move the courgettes for a couple of minutes. Then using a thongs lift and turn to do the other side.
  5. Add to a plate to cool, repeat with the rest of the courgette slices. 

To make the bechamel: 

  1. Add the milk, chopped onion, garlic, bay leaf, cloves and grated nutmeg to a pot and slowly bring the milk to the boil. Take off the heat immediately and leave to infuse for 10-20 minutes. 
  2. In another pot add the butter and flour and cook until it turns a golden brown colour, use a wooden spoon to stir it.
  3. Strain the milk and whisk in gradually until you have a thickened sauce, check the seasoning and adjust if it needs something. Whisk and cook on a low heat for a further few minutes. 
  4. Add the sauce to a bowl and set to one side. 

To make the mustard mayo. Simply mix the mayonnaise and mustard together in a small bowl.

To make the sandwich. 

  1. Heat the grill area of the oven.
  2. To make one sandwich: Take 2 slices of sourdough and brush one side of each with melted butter.  (If making for 2 people brush all 4 slices with butter now)
  3. Grill the buttered sides until toasted. 
  4. In the meantime chop the grilled courgettes into thick pieces. 
  5. Take the sourdough from the grill and turn over the slices. 
  6. On one piece add a layer of mustard mayo, top with a spoon of bechamel sauce, then add a layer of grilled courgettes, top that with a handful of grated cheese. Put the second slice of sourdough on top. Add another layer of bechamel sauce and top that with grated cheddar cheese. 
  7. Return the generous sandwich to the grill – let it bubble and char and toast. Keep a watchful eye on it!

Take from the grill and cut in half with a bread knife! 

Tuck in. 🙂

Stuffed Mushrooms w/ Roast Veggies & Sauté Kale

by Lou Robbie

When the Zero Waste Veg Box was delivered to my door I was so excited to think what I could make with all the fabulous ingredients. The chestnut mushrooms grabbed my attention first and I thought how could I make them the star of the show!! My recipe thought path went something like this: mushrooms and walnuts, walnuts and cheese, cheese and bread… stuffed mushrooms it had to be!! 

When you open your veg box and take a vegetable out and touch it and smell it and imagine what works well with it, the ideas will come flooding in. 

These are gorgeous chestnut mushrooms, when they roast slowly they release the juice into the bread stuffing, making them extra tasty.

While you’re roasting the stuffed mushrooms in the oven, roast the veg at the same time, its more efficient to use your oven this way. 

Enjoy,

Lou 🙂

Most ingredients are from the seasonal Zero Waste Box

For the stuffed mushrooms:  

For the roast veg: 

For the sauté kale: 

  • 100g kale 
  • Small knob of butter
  • salt and pepper

For the sauté kale: 

  • 100g kale 
  • Small knob of butter 
  • salt and pepper

To make the stuffed mushrooms: 

  1. Preheat the oven to 180℃. Line a small baking tray with parchment paper. 
  2. Clean the mushrooms by wiping them with a piece of kitchen paper. 
  3. Remove the stalks and keep them to roast with the veggies. 
  4. Make the stuffing by adding the bread, grated garlic, grated cheddar, walnuts, chopped rosemary and salt and pepper to a blender. Blend briefly until you have breadcrumbs. 
  5. Spoon the breadcrumb mix into the mushrooms. 

(Tip: If there are extra breadcrumbs you can toasted it in the oven for 10 minutes and use it to sprinkle over the roast veggies.)

  1. Add all the stuffed mushrooms to the tray. 
  2. Cover in tinfoil and bake in the oven for 30 minutes, or until fully cooked. 
  3. After 30 minutes take the foil off and bake for a further 10-20 minutes to crisp up the top of the mushrooms. Alternatively put them under the grill for a few minutes. 

To make the roast veggies:

  1. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. While the mushrooms are roasting- chop the red pepper, yellow pepper and onion into chunks add the cherry tomatoes whole. 
  3. Add all to a mixing bowl along with a pinch of salt and pepper, a couple of sprigs of rosemary (or a pinch of dried herbs) and a drizzle of oil. 
  4. Pour the chopped veg onto the baking tray and roast in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 180℃.

To make the saute Kale: 

  1. Put a large pot of water on to boil.
  2. Pick the kale from its stalks, and chop into bite sized pieces, add to a bowl. 
  3. Finely slice the stalks too and add to the bowl with the kale leaves. 
  4. When the water is boiling add all the kale and stalks, if it doesn’t all fit do it in batches. 
  5. Blanche for 2-3 minutes to soften. 
  6. Drain through a colander and keep in a bowl until needed. This will keep in the fridge in a closed container for a couple of days. 
  7. When ready to sauté, warm a frying pan on a medium heat. 
  8. Add a knob of butter and a handful of kale, add a small pinch of salt and pepper and heat through. 

To serve: 

Add the warm stuffed mushrooms, roasted veg and sauté kale to a plate. And enjoy!!! 

Blueberry Breakfast Cake w/ Granola Streusel

by Lou Robbie

Who says you can’t have cake for breakfast! 

This cake has wholesome organic oats, eggs, fruit, yoghurt topped with more oats, seeds and coconut – there’s a bit of sugar for good measure but perfect for a breakfast treat! 

Its an easy one to put together, no fancy equipment needed just a mixing bowl, a jug and a couple of baking trays. You could bake the streusel on top of the cake but we prefer it separate and sprinkled on top of the yoghurt.

You can pick up most of the gorgeous organic ingredients in eco packaging in our online shop, see links below.

It makes 9 generous portions, make cake for breakfast.

Lou 🙂

  • For the granola streusel
  • 20g rolled oats
  • 20g mixed seeds (sunflower, pumpkin, sesame)
  • 10g desiccated coconut 
  • 25g plain flour
  • 85g demerara sugar 
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • 70g cold butter 
  • For the blueberry cake
  • 150g plain flour
  • 50g rolled oats
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon bicarb of soda 
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 100g sugar (cane or white)
  • 110ml vegetable oil (like sunflower or light olive oil)
  • 110g plain yoghurt we like Mossfield from Co. Offaly 
  • 3 organic eggs
  • 125g organic blueberries lightly coated in flour (fresh or frozen)
  • Optional – topping 2 medium bananas sliced lengthways (Warning they will go brown in time, if you’re not keen on brown bananas leave them off.)

Method:

-Preheat your oven to 180°C.

For the granola streusel:

  1. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
  2. Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl and work the butter into the dry ingredients with your fingers. Make sure there are no big lumps of butter.
  3. Layer onto the baking tray and bake for 15 minutes. The streusel will look like a giant cookie, let it cool and then break up into pieces and put it into a bowl for later. 

For the cake: 

  1. Line a 9×9 inch square tin with parchment paper. 
  2. Measure all the dry ingredients.
  3. Sieve the flour, baking powder, bicarb of soda, cinnamon and sugar into a large mixing bowl. 
  4. Add in the oats and give everything a good mix.
  5. Add a small bit of flour to the blueberries and toss to coat. 
  6. Add the blueberries to the mixing bowl and gently fold in. 
  7. Add all the wet ingredients to a jug, the oil, yoghurt and eggs, mix well with a fork.
  8. Pour the wet ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix until the flour is worked in, don’t over mix, some lumps are ok. 
  9. Pour into the square baking tray, top with sliced banana if using. 
  10. Bake for 25-30 mins. Check it’s cooked with a cocktail stick, if it comes out clean it’s done.
  11. Allow to cool completely, then slice into 9 squares.

To seve: 

Top a nice square slice of cake with organic yoghurt and top with a generous sprinkle of granola streusel.