Spelt Blueberry Loaf

Baking to me is a complicated science, one that I really do not understand. I manage to cook savoury meals with an element of creativity and dare I say it, flair, but baking is another matter. Biscuits I manage to cope with, but anything that requires rise is definitely not my forte. Poor Dominic has had to taste test the most horrendous concoctions. The latest being a spelt, chocolate, whole boiled orange cake that quite literally could have been used as a deadly rubber weapon. I have learnt so much whilst trying so desperately hard to be good at baking. For example, coconut oil sucks the air out of a cake so always fold it in at the last minute, banana as a butter substitute will never work with an acidic cake i.e the orange one I speak of before, and that too many eggs can turn a cake into a tyre.

So, when it comes to cake baking I am on the hunt for the much more knowledgeable. Now, in my pre-Lena-sugar-filled-snack-days my go to recipes came from the likes of Delia, Mary Berry, Peyton & Byrne, Hummingbird Bakery and Magnolia Bakery (a book I thankfully loaned to a friend and subsequently can't remember who, otherwise I'm sure I would have more fillings by now!) But when it comes to no sugar bakes I am still discovering those masters. The lovely Melissa over at My Wholefood Life has a wonderful list of treats, and after trying out this little number I'm collating my own list of to what to try next!

Chia Seed, Apricot and Raisin Mini Muffins

When a toddler refuses all meals, better pack those snacks

Breakfast is my happy time. Lena loves breakfast, so I love breakfast. This is a guaranteed meal for her. Ever since the little dove learnt to sleep through the night (which to be honest wasn't that long ago) she wakes standing in her cot rubbing her tummy excitedly proclaiming 'nom, nom.' 

The remaining meals of the day, however, can range from bad to ugly. Lunch and Dinner are not her happy time. Snacks on the other hand are pure bliss. She goes bounding towards the changing bag, often then dragging it towards me, almost quacking 'NAK!NAK!'

I try to make a few home made treats for her that offer a little more given how little she eats during the set meals of the day. I tend to freeze the muffins below and in the morning pop one into her snack box which then acts as a cooler for the cheese and fruit that is also in the same container. By the time she is ready for her Nak, it has defrosted whilst also ensuring the rest of the box doesn't get mushy in the heat.