Yogurt Trifle : No Bake, No Cook: Dessert In A Glass: Healthy No Added Sugar Dessert

It was 5 years ago when I went to Istanbul Turkey when I first tasted a yogurt enriched with kefir and it was a love at first sight for me. Beautifully fermented and so authentic that my body immediately realised that I ate something good. What is Kefir, if you ask? Kefir or kephir (ke-FEER), is a fermented milk drink similar to a thin yogurt that is made from kefir grains, a specific type of mesophilic symbiotic culture. If you want to know more about the health benefits of kefir I highly recommend you read this.

Now, I am someone who takes probiotics supplements everyday because my gut health is not that good. So when I was recently asked if I would like to try products from the company called Biotiful Dairy, I instantly said yes and was so excited to give it all a try because their products are loaded and enhanced with kefir. Their portfolio of products is so interesting and attractive, from Original Kefir Drink to Kefir Cheeses. From Kefir+Protien deepened Drinks and Yogurt to Kefir Ice-cream and Kids Friendly Kefir range-they have it all covered.

Biotiful Cultured Dairy Milk is a great alternative to those sugar loaded drinks. On a dull afternoon while we played chess we gulped on Mango and Strawberry flavoured yogurt drink and were absolutely hooked. Nutritious Dairy drinks that are light and fruity- smooth, luscious bursting with fresh flavours.

I also tried my hands on Kefir Cheeses and I can bet they are amazing alternative to cottage cheese, feta cheese or those cheese spread you get in the market. There are so many ways you can use these cheeses in day to day recipes such as in sandwiches, omelettes, on your salad, over crackers with some tomatoes or just have them as a dip with crunchy cucumber and carrot sticks. I used two big spoons Herbs & Garlic Cheese into my tomato pasta and it made it so creamy and just so yum. The cheeses can beautifully flavoured and so light on tummy-you have to try them.

Biotiful also sent me Kefir + Protein snack tub which combines the gut-friendly benefit of Kefir with the high-protein creaminess of Quark. It has a pure, natural taste and a delightfully thick and creamy texture. This is a perfect after meal dessert idea or just to beat your hunger pangs during the middle of the day. You can add in some chopped fruits or berries or even top up it with handful nuts to make it even better and scrumptious. One day, when the temperature went up, I skipped my lunch and had mango and blackcurrant flavoured from this series and I was completely filled up and sufficed.

To tell you more about Biotiful Dairy; they produce cultured Kefir Dairy drinks and snacks using British milk and the ancient method of fermentation. The result? Cultured milk drinks and snacks that are naturally lower in sugar, full of gut-friendly cultures and high in protein. Almost all of their products are:-

• Billions of gut-friendly bacteria
• High in protein & calcium
• Source of Vitamins B12 & B2
• No sugar added
• Red Tractor approved farms
• Free of artificial colours, flavours and preservatives
• Gluten free
• Suitable for vegetarians
• Kefir made in the UK

When I was left with Strawberry flavoured Kefir + Protientub, I knew I wanted to create something with it. I understood that this ‘just rightly’ sweet snack will make a perfect dessert. Desserts in a glass are my all time favourite ones. Easy to make, easy to serve and looks beautiful too! So, with that thought I decided to make Yogurt Trifle. No bake, no mess, no cooking-easy peasy summery Yogurt Trifle.

This layered gorgeous looking dessert gets ready in a jiffy and there are tons of variations you can do here. I used Lotus Biscoff biscuits as my first layer but you can use any digestive biscuits, oreos, cream biscuits, cookies or even granola or crushed cornflakes. For the second layer I used Biotiful Dairy’s Kefir + Protien Starwberry tub but you can use any flavoured yogurt, fresh cream or just plain yogurt too. For the final layer I chose to use melted chocolate, but you can opt for caramel sauce, dark chocolate gauche, melted white chocolate or even fresh fruits or nuts. There are so many ways you can mould this recipe as per your choice and preference.

Ingredients:

½ cup of crushed biscuits. I used lotus

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup flavoured yogurt. I used Biotiful Strawberry

4 Tablespoons melted chocolate

Method:

Melt the butter in the microwave for 10 seconds. When done add in crushed biscuits and mix well. You should have crumbly biscuits.

Take a glass in which you want to serve the trifle and start layering.

Add in around ¼ cup of crushed biscuits to the bottom of the glass and press well.

Beat the yogurt well so that it becomes creamy. Top the yogurt on the biscuits layer. Around ½ a cup.

Add on biscuits layer on the yogurt now. Around ¼ cup of it.

And then top it off with the remaining biscuit mix.

Finally add the melted chocolate on the top. Keep it in the fridge and serve cold.

Notes: 

The amount of ingredients you use is also dependent on the size of the glass you are serving.
I like my desserts to be rightly sweet, so if you like extra sweet then you might need to add some honey or sugar in the yogurt. I feel that biscuits and chocolate balances the overall sweetness well.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking Biotiful Dairy  for sending products for review.

Dark Chocolate Walnuts: Guilt Free Snack

Chocolate is the best dessert one could have-ofcourse in moderation. Dark chocolate (70-80%) is even better. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, iron and magnesium. Studies have shown that dark chocolate improves blood flow and controls high blood pressure. In my world dark chocolate is healthy, use good quality sugar free chocolate and you are good.

I have spoken previously about healthy chocolate barks and why it is a great energy snack. You can see my Roasted Nuts Chocolate Bars and Seeds Nutty Chocolate barks recipes. Today it is another way of consuming chocolate. Heart healthy, omega rich walnuts dipped in glazy dark chocolate-a guilt free snack.

One-quarter cup of walnuts, for instance, provides more than 100 percent of the daily recommended value of plant-based omega-3 fats, along with high amounts of copper, manganese, molybdenum, and biotin. That’s why it is so so so amazing to unite Dark Chocolate and Walnuts and make these.

Dark Chocolate Walnuts, is a great idea to suffice a sweet tooth without worrying about weight gain and it is so easy to make. I have seen recipes where vanilla essence, walnut oil and cocoa powder is used, but I wanted to keep it as simple as possible. Melt chocolate and coat walnuts and let it sit in the freezer. That’s it- Could not get easier than this.

Ingredients:

1 bar/100 grams dark chocolate (70-85%)

1 cup shelled walnuts

Method:

Take a baking tray or a plate. Line it with parchment paper or even kitchen foil will do.

Chop chocolate roughly. Melt it in microwave for 20 seconds. You might need to do it for more 10 seconds. Make sure that chocolate doesn’t burn and is melted properly.

Mix walnuts in melted chocolate. Coat the walnuts properly.

Spoon each walnut on the lined tray. Keep the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes.

Remove from the sheet and store it air tight container in the fridge.

Notes:

You can use milk chocolate or white chocolate too for this recipe. Or you can mix all three chocolates and use.

Same can be done with any other nuts like almonds, cashews or pistachios.

Roasted Nuts Chocolate Barks

Don’t waste food is my motto. I get so angry when I see people just throwing food in the bin. How can some people don’t know how much grocery they will need for a week? How some people cook extra food every day? To be honest, with experience I guess, everyone must know or be judgmental on how much grocery and food is to be needed.

There are tons of ideas to use leftover food. I have used leftover food in below ways.

Leftover dal to Dal Cheela

Leftover rice to Rice Patties

Leftover paratha to Paratha Chips

Leftover cabbage subji to Cabbage Thepla

Leftover rice to Jeera Rice, Matar Pulav

You wont believe but my mom used to leftover ladoos (mothichoor) as well. She use to fill the ladoos in the chapatti (like aloo paratha) and roll it. Roast it on tava with ghee and serve hot in breakfast. Ah divine. So there’s always a way, I promise.

So we had some guests last month and they brought for us nuts and some chocolates. My mind isn’t at peace after that. I just wanted to make use of that before the expiry date. What better then Chocolate Barks. Ah huh! Roasted Nuts Chocolate Barks.

Last time I made Nutty Chocolate Barks using pumpkin seeds, walnuts and almonds and the focused taste was of dark chocolate. In today’s recipe I have used all three kinds of chocolate- Dark, Milk and white. Nuts, I used almost all kinds- cashews, almonds, walnuts, pecans and raisins as well.

Chocolate barks are like adding omega and fiber kick to your plain chocolate. A small piece can satisfy your sweet tooth without being hard on your healthy diet. It a great gift as well- packs in fancy boxes or wrappers and gift to your loved ones.

Ingredients:

1 bar of dark chocolate (100 grams) chopped roughly

1 bar of milk chocolate (100 grams) chopped roughly

½ bar of white chocolate (50 grams) chopped roughly

1 cup of roughly chopped nuts (cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans and raisins)

Method:

Take a tray and lay parchment paper or aluminum foil on it.

Heat a pan and roast the nuts on a low flame. Keep mixing. It should take 1 minute. The nuts will turn brown and aroma will release.

In a microwave safe bowl put dark and milk chocolate. Microwave in the oven for 30 seconds. Stir. There should be no lumps. Microwave again for 10 seconds and stir. Keep doing so till the chocolate is melted and is smooth.

Spread the melted chocolate on the tray. Take a spoon and even out the chocolate. Decide the thickness of your barks and spread the melted chocolate.

Sprinkle the nuts all over the chocolate. Freeze in the freezer for ½ and hour.

Take another microwave safe bowl. Microwave white chocolate for 10-15 seconds. Once melted pour it on the chocolate bars. I tried to do checks pattern on it.

Freeze again for 1 hour.

Break the bar into uneven pieces and store in the fridge in an airtight container.

Notes:

Make sure that the bowl you are using is absolutely dry. Water and chocolate are enemies.

If you do not wish to use microwave, use double boiler method to melt chocolate.

As always, feel free to use any kinds of nuts or seeds in the recipe.

If you like more dark/bitter chocolate taste then use more dark chocolate and vice versa.

White chocolate swirls adds very beautiful color contrast to these barks but it is totally optional.

Ice-Cream Cake, With Kellys Of Cornwall

What is your perfect picture of a beach holiday? What is your favourite thing about the beach? May be a flowery loose dress, flip-flops and sun glasses? Or swimming and snorkelling till you are tired?? Perhaps enjoying fish and chips with chilled bottle of beer?? Whatever it may be, but a trip to the beach can cure any mood. When I think of a beach vacation, I visualize myself relaxing on a sun bed, soaking the sun with a book in one hand and ice cream in another. Part of me says ocean, part of me says sky and all of me wants to be on the beach. Just a peaceful way of soothing the soul and gaze at the sky as the world goes by.

This year if you are anywhere around the Cornwall beaches, please don’t forget to gobble on Kellys Of Cornwall ice creams.  They have created a beautiful ice cream excursion map for anyone holidaying in the county this summer. For the first time, the locations of all the ice cream parlours, cafes and hatches across the county that sell Kelly’s famous clotted cream ice cream are plotted on a map. To view and download the map, click here: http://www.kellysofcornwall.co.uk/ice-cream-map. 

Glimpse of the map-Interesting isn't it??

Look how creamy it is!

It happened 3 weeks back when I was sent the vouchers of Kellys Of Cornwall ice cream and I accepted them without any thoughts. Why? Because last winter they approached me to pair their range of ice cream with any hot dessert and I was blown away with the taste. I paired their clotted cream ice cream with very Indian Gulab Jamuns. And rest as we say is the history, we are hooked on the clotted cream, we buy huge tubs and they are finished really soon.

However this time I planned to make Ice-Cream Cake with it. If baking is not your forte and you still need to prepare a classy dessert; then consider this- Ice cream cakes are not only impressive to look at, but they're also easier to make than you might think. Use any sponge cake- vanilla, chocolate, or lemon and sandwich it between the velvety, creamy and smooth clotted cream ice-cream-that’s it. Oh! Don’t let the pictures intimate you; there is no secret at all.

Ingredients:

1 tub of ice cream

1/2 pound sponge cake

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Method:

1. Before making the cake, let the ice cream be on room temperature, so that is soft.
2. Take any tin or pan you want. I used glass rectangular tin. Grease the tin with butter. Spread the cling film on the tin, such that the cling film is little extra on the edges. Do this step carefully and neatly, as this will become the top layer of the cake.
3. Next, spread half of the ice cream on the tin. Make sure it is even from all the sides. Freeze for 1 hour.
4. In the meantime, cut the sponge cake in to pieces. When first layer is frozen, spread the cake pieces over it evenly. Freeze again for 1 hour.
5. Lastly spread the remaining half of the ice cream on the sponge layer and sprinkle chocolate chips on it. Freeze atleast for 5-6 hours.
6. Run a sharp knife around the edges and then pull the cling film to unmould the cake. Or you can directly slice the cake in the tin and then serve.

Notes:

You can also slice the cake as per the shape and size of the tin and then use the whole.

If you wish to make it more rich, then add spread any jam of your choice on the cake layer.

Any dried fruits, nuts, chopped fruits can also be used –for decorating on the top or as layers.

This cake can be made 1 week ahead. Keep in the freezer.

Disclaimer: I was not paid or told to write positive review. The post is based on my experience and is unbiased. Thanking Kellys Of Cornwall for sending vouchers for review.