Cauliflower Béchamel sauce (dairy-free, gluten-free)

Incorporating healthy ingredients into international classic dishes like a pasta with Béchamel sauce (also known as white sauce) can be quite the struggle.

During the holidays I find myself cooking comfort foods too often, so when I decided to take on the challenge of incorporating veggies into pasta without my younger siblings noticing, I thought I make up with a genius idea: making a mock white-sauce out of cauliflower. Little I knew, that it is already a quite popular susbtitute for the classic Béchamel, and many chefs have already been using it.

So even though it is not a new invention, I'm still quite proud of my very own recipe, it is very simple, requires very few ingredients, and my fussy eaters didn't even notice the change.

Use this Cauliflower sauce as a substitute of Béchamel or white sauce 

It is also the perfect sauce for dairy-free and gluten-free diets, I used dairy-free margarine, but you can use olive oil if you prefer.

This cauliflower Béchamel sauce can be used in a variety of dishes: macaroni, lasagna, gratins... (just like the regular white sauce). So do try this recipe at home!

Halloween Orange Jack-o-Lantern Whoopie Pies (box mix)

Whether you like preparing your own Halloween treats for handing them out to trick-or-treaters, or you are hosting a Halloween party at home, or are going to a party at your friend's house, making your own simple Halloween treats can be a fun way to break the ice.

Click to watch video on YouTube or scroll down

These Jack-o-Lantern whoopie pies are perfect for handing out or as a treat for any Halloween themed party. They are bite-sized, sweet and spooky!

Creamy Pumpkin (Kabocha Squash) and Carrot Soup

Autumn is here! It's Pumpkin season and the recipe for this creamy pumpkin and carrot soup is quick and easy, making it a deliciously great comfort-dish that will get you into the autumn mood. I have fond memories of pumpkin soup, as it was a quick and nutritious dinner for cold, rainy nights during my days as a student.

Orange and White Chocolate Whoopie Pies

Whoopie Pies are a fun way to eat cake, they look like macarons, but are soft and spongy! A cute bite-sized treat that can fit in lunchboxes, and they are so easy to make! Way easier than getting the perfect cake plus frosting. They take only 10 minutes in the oven, prepping and mixing them is easy peasy, and the filling can be made while they are baking.

These Orange whoopie pies with White chocolate ganache filling are fragrant and versatile, as you can substitute the orange flavour with any other flavour you like, such as lemon or vanilla! The filling can be made even easier if you just use Nutella!

So see the recipe below now!

4 ingredient Quesillo (Condensed milk flan recipe)

Lately the Condensed Milk flan has been a hot topic, as many recipes have been surfacing the Internet, and people from different countries which have had Spanish influence, such as Brazil, Philippines and Venezuela are claiming that they all have slightly differing versions and that each one's is the best.

Click or scroll down to watch video recipe on Four-Eyed Cook's Youtube channel!

(music from freeSFX.co.uk)

While, I cannot claim that the recipe I use is the best, I certainly love the result, and it's unbelievably easy to make, you'll only need 4 ingredients that are readily available anywhere, so I really hope you give this a go.

Banana-Split Waffles

To celebrate National Waffle Day on 24th August I have this amazingly easy recipe of fluffy and chewy waffles, but there's a twist! National Banana-Split Day is on 25th August, so I present you... Banana-Split Waffles to celebrate in the most indulgent way possible.

Click image below for the video tutorial on Four-Eyed Cook's Youtube channel!

(music from freeSFX.co.uk)

Try this simple and easy recipe

Bake the Perfect Japanese Cotton/Soufflé Cheesecake

Inspired by Japanese bakeries, Souflée or Cotton Cheesecake is a delicious combination of cheesecake and soufflé, resulting in a soft, delicate and light cake that almost melts in your mouth.

Click here or scroll down to watch video on Four-Eyed Cook's YouTube channel!

(music from freeSFX.co.uk)

The recipe is simple enough, with easy-to-find ingredients.

Passion Fruit Nice Cream (raw, vegan and gluten free)

You've probably heard of "Nice cream", the healthier alternative to ice-cream. They usually have frozen bananas as the base (a sort of equivalent to plain vanilla), blended in with any preferred flavoring (from chocolate chips to chia seeds, yogurt and raspberries...). I've seen all sorts of nice cream recipes and I can't get enough!

I like to keep frozen bananas in summer for whenever the ice-cream craving kicks in. You can use over-ripe bananas, they are too mushy to snack on as is, but great to freeze for nice-cream and smoothies as they are sweeter.

Nice cream doesn't have to be boring and plain, you can add whatever you like! Passion fruit is in season right now, so I decided to make a very easy batch of tangy and refreshing Passion Fruit Nice Cream.

Watermelon & Mint Refresher Juice

Watermelons are my favourite fruit, and I love to eat them as is, but having a pitcher of fresh watermelon juice ready to quench thirst for any moment on these hot summer days is the best!

Watermelons are low-cal, nutrient dense and filling, they also have many healthy benefits, like lowering blood-pressure, improving digestion, hydrating you from the inside (which results in glowing skin!) and recovering muscle soreness and inflammation. Need more benefits? Well, they are delicious!

The recipe for this is pretty simple

Refreshing summer snack: papaya and mango

As the temperatures rise up fruits ripe up; so before you reach out for that sugar-loaded popsicle, try a simple and easy fruit snack to cool you off. I used papaya, mango, passion fruit and blueberries, but your possibilities are literally endless!

Ingredients:

- 1 mango (diced)
- 1 papaya (diced)
- 3-4 passion fruit (extract the pulp)
- A handful of blueberries

Make sure to use fresh fruit and cut it in bite-size pieces. You can make this quick snack to eat right away or store it and take it to eat on a picnic or at the beach!

Papayas and mangoes are full of antioxidants, vitamin C and cancer-fighting properties. Papayas were called the "fruit of the angels" by Columbus, while mangoes are known as the "king of fruits", so a combination of these two can only been delightfully delicious and refreshing.

Passion fruit is added for a punch of tart flavor (bonus: it's also packed with antioxidants, and vitamins A and C!). Blueberries are in season right now, and guess what? Their antixodant properties are also beneficial for brain health and the nervous system. All of these fruits are relatively low in their glycemic index, making it a perfectly healthy snack for a low-sugar diet!

What are your favourite summer fruit combos?

Eating Out: BLEND Coffee&Food

Located in Tenerife's Siam Mall, BLEND Coffee&Food is a modern coffee-shop that also offers healthy smoothies and detox juices.

Congration, You Done It? Graduation Cake

Before you correct my grammar, know that it is intentional!

The "Congration, You Done It" cake is a viral image of a poorly made cake with questionable grammar (google it!). Ever since I first saw it I wanted one for my big day, my graduation! So my little sister recreated it with my mother's help...

Best cake ever!! The poor decorating skills are also intentional (well, mostly!)

One important chapter of my life has ended... I have such fond memories of college, I'd totally go get another Bachelor's degree if I had the money! Thanks to my family and friends for giving me so much, and celebrating this big day with me.

How do you remember your college days?