I like to finish the week with a dessert especially when there is chocolate involved. So why not a 3 layer gluten-free chocolate blackberry pie, might as well go all out! The layers are made up of nut based crust, fresh blackberries and chocolate custard. To bring out the chocolate flavour, I added some coffee to the custard making this pie outstanding! This dessert is not the typical healthy recipe for January, but it is so good, I just had to share it with you. For me, it is all about portions. I have a small piece and enjoy every bite without feeling guilty, just like the French do. I believe it is all about balance, this is especially important when it comes to food. After all, this pie has plenty of fresh blackberries, so it is sort of healthy :-) If you don't want to make this heavenly gluten-free dessert in January, save it for another time, it's a keeper!

I was thinking, it's time to make a healthy low-carb Italian pasta dinner, don't you agree? This is definitely the keto pasta recipe to add to this month's healthy recipes. Just imagine a low carb pasta smothered in the most flavourful Italian tomato cheese sauce. The sauce is spiced up with oregano, basil and bay leaves and to give the sauce some texture I added grated zucchini. To make the sauce deliciously creamy, I added light cream cheese. Honestly, you can eat the sauce by spoonfuls it is that good. The recipe is super simple to make, all you need is one large skillet if you don't have one you can also use a large pot. First, sauté the onions with garlic, add the herbs and spices, tomato sauce, some broth and zucchini. Cook for 20 minutes, then stir in cream cheese and fresh basil. Once the sauce is finished, stir in the low-carb pasta. I am so excited because I discovered this low carb gluten-free tofu shirataki fettuccine that has only 1 net carb per serving, and the fettuccine tastes better than regular pasta. There is plenty of sauce to drench the pasta making this an outstanding healthy pasta meal. You will love it and the best part, it is low-carb which is essential for those who follow the keto diet. Mangiare as they would say in Italian and enjoy :-) I always love to hear from you, so if you try this recipe, please let me know in the comments section what you think. Total net carbs per serving approximately 6 grams, depending on the tomato sauce and noodles you use

If you are searching for a hearty and healthy salad, you must try this gluten-free Baja chicken kale salad. Are you wondering what does Baja mean? The best way to describe it is Tex-Mex food. In this recipe the chicken is seasoned with chili powder, cumin and garlic then cooked in fresh lime juice, it is so good. For the greens, I used baby kale, avocado, green onions, corn and black beans. Then I finished the salad with the most flavourful light avocado lime dressing which is made without added oil. Once you mix the greens with the avocado lime dressing, just add the Baja chicken. As an added crunch I topped the salad with gluten-free corn chips. The chips are optional, and you can add as many or as little as you like. Yes, this salad tastes as good as it sounds :-) If you enjoy Mexican food but are trying to keep it on the healthy side, this satisfying salad is a must try recipe. The best part is, you can prep the salad a day in advance. Enjoy!

I must confess, in January I don't like salads. The weather is gloomy, wet and cold. For me, it's all about warm, cozy food like healthy soups. But I thought I must have a salad this month, so I decided to make a gluten-free vegan ramen salad, and since I love ramen, this salad was a huge hit with me. In this ramen salad, I used baby kale, edamame beans, julienned carrots, water chestnuts, roasted cashews, green onions and plenty of sesame seeds. To finish the salad I made the most flavourful sesame ginger dressing, trust me, it is so good! The salad got 10 out of 10 in our test kitchen. So this not so boring ramen salad has plenty of greens, it is satisfying and most of all healthy. Hope you are enjoying the healthy recipes this month, please let me know if you would like to see more soups, stews, breakfast, snacks or salads?

This lentil curry or Dahl is simple, quick, delicious and healthy. A warming casual vegan meal on a cold winter night made under 30 minutes. Lentils are low in calories, rich in iron, folate, they have virtually no fat, and are an excellent source of protein and fiber. So as promised, this month is all about healthy food. I have also added superfoods like kale, ginger, garlic, sweet potato, lime, and an array of Indian spices such as cumin, turmeric, coriander, bay leaf and cinnamon. To make this curry even more delicious, I served it over charred peppers. When you mix the two flavours together, this dish is undeniably mouthwatering. Serving this lentil curry with gluten-free naan bread is entirely optional, but maybe a small piece for dipping into the delicious curry sauce would be a nice treat. Enjoy!

As we are keeping everything clean and healthy this month I am adding one of my favourite chicken recipes. Loads of veggies and tender chicken cooked in a deliciously spiced sauce. This recipe is undoubtedly my all-time favourite when following a clean diet. The stew is warm and cozy and super easy, only 30 minutes to make including prep time. The veggies are cooked al-dente keeping most of the nutrients and yes the veggies are a little different from the typical chicken stew, but who isn't ready for a little change in flavour I know I am. I used veggies like Napa cabbage, bell peppers, carrots, zucchini and snow peas all of which cook very quickly. For seasoning, I added thyme and bay leaf making this healthy chicken stew explosively delicious. Serve as is or with our delicious. gluten-free quinoa garlic cheese flatbread

I am very excited about this Asian chicken soup recipe. January is a month when curling up with a hot bowl of delicious chicken soup, and a good book is just what we need. There are many versions of chicken soup depending on the spices, herbs and vegetables used in the recipe. Some even call for adding chicken stock. This aromatic chicken soup is made entirely from scratch. Using spices such as aniseed, cloves, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon all of which add so much flavour to this healthy warming soup. In addition to using Asian spices, I have also added bok choy and snow peas. The combo of flavours from the spices to veggies is mouthwateringly delicious. Just on a side note, you may have noticed that I always use GF (gluten-free) spices in my recipes. You may think, aren't all spices gluten-free? The answer is yes, but most of the spices are processed in the same facility as wheat is, and cross-contamination with gluten is highly possible. This is why I only use certified gluten-free spices in all my recipes, not only they are free from gluten, they are fresh, and I find that they are more flavourful. Because spices are packed with antioxidants, it is essential to use only the best quality to get the full benefits. Virtually all conventional spices found in supermarkets are treated with chemicals, contain GMOs and are irradiated

January is a month for hearty, satisfying soups. Just like this vegan cheesy cream of broccoli soup. Because I am keeping everything on the healthier side this month, this soup is no exception. It is a lighter version of classic cream of broccoli cheese soup without the dairy. If you love creamy soups, I bet this will be your go-to gluten-free cream of broccoli soup recipe. This recipe includes most of the ingredients found in traditional broccoli cheddar soup, but I added grated carrots giving the soup a little more texture and flavour. For the creaminess, I used cashews leaving the soup silky, creamy and thick without having to add cream. My favourite bread with this soup is gluten-free artisan bread

Happy New Year my friends. Hope you all had a lovely time with your family and friends over the holidays. I am starting the New Year with a gluten-free mandarin orange pudding cake. I love this mandarin cake. There is no added fats, grains or dairy so I would consider this cake on the healthier side. I called this dessert a pudding cake because it is super moist and has the consistency of a pudding. I used whole mandarin oranges including the skin which gives this cake a delightful mandarin orange flavour. To make this cake, first, you boil the oranges, then place everything into a food processor or high-speed blender and bake. It's that simple! Things I love about this cake are, it is super easy to make, it's flavourful, moist and pretty healthy. So, the year has started well, a simple dessert with complex flavour on the healthier side. Enjoy :-)

Whenever I feel a little under the weather I always make garlic lemon broth. And today I definitely feel under the weather. Everywhere I go people are coughing, sneezing and looking ill. Some of it is partly because of the flu season, but indulging in rich food, cocktails and lacking rest also puts havoc on our immune system. This is why helping our bodies with a little boost from mother nature is most beneficial. For me, it's garlic lemon broth because it is flavourful, comforting and has many health benefits. All the ingredients I used such as garlic, lemon, turmeric, cinnamon and fresh herbs are loaded with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. The one ingredient I did not add which is excellent if you have an upset stomach is freshly minced ginger. Feel free to add a teaspoon or two of fresh minced ginger if your tummy is acting up. Ordinarily, I drink this broth for 24 hours and I feel so much better with loads of energy, but the way I feel today I think I will pamper my body for 48 hours. And let's not forget to get plenty of rest, it is important when we feel run down allowing our bodies to re-charge

This is a healthier version of potato salad, no mayo but still creamy and delicious. For the flavour, I used fresh mint, basil, cilantro, garlic, lime juice and a pinch of curry powder and the creaminess comes from full-fat Greek yogurt. I must admit I do not like mayonnaise in anything, sorry :-( To make the salad a little more interesting I added chickpeas and tomatoes, a trio that goes exceptionally well together. If you are not that crazy about the curry flavour, skip the curry powder and add some Worcestershire sauce 

Starting a day with high protein breakfast is a must for me, especially during the busy holiday season. Ordinarily, I have smoothies for breakfast, but when the cold weather sets in I have something warm and comforting like these keto pancakes with cinnamon cream cheese butter. If you are watching your carbs or are following a keto diet, you will love these pancakes because they have only about 1.2 net carbs per medium pancake. But it is the cinnamon cream cheese butter that makes these pancakes outrageously delicious. The best part is the pancakes are grain-free and gluten-free, accommodating many diets. Enjoy!

One of my favourite Christmas traditions is eggnog. Just imagine a creamy, thick perfectly spiced eggnog, doesn't it sound delicious? This creamy, egg-free eggnog is a balance of non-dairy milk, coconut milk, vanilla and spices. It has that thick consistency we all love! The best part is, you can adjust the sweetness. Since I don't like anything too sweet I used a little less maple syrup, but feel free to make your eggnog as sweet as you want. Now, all you need to add is a sprinkle of freshly grated nutmeg and your favourite liquor. For me, this vegan, gluten-free eggnog is more like a dessert, it brings back happy memories from my childhood at Christmas time. Happy holidays and thank you for supporting my blog and all the great feedback on my recipes, tips and ideas. This is the best reward I get for the many hours I spend on the recipes, photos and the blog

I can't believe it's only 10 days to Christmas! In this gluten-free blueberry walnut eggnog muffin, the flavours of holidays are oozing throughout. I used a light eggnog and a little honey to sweeten this muffin with some extra nutmeg. The muffin turned out moist and the flavour is undeniably Christmassy. By adding blueberries and walnuts the muffin became extra special with added health benefits. I know Christmas time is when we can be a bit naughty with our diet but this gluten-free muffin is a little of both naughty and deliciously nice! Our selection of healthy gluten-free muffins also includes vegan, egg-free, grain-free, keto and paleo recipes 

I just love this gluten-free cheese breadstick recipe! The recipe is easy to prepare, and the breadsticks taste just like the ones in an Italian restaurant. The best part is, you can make each breadstick taste a little different by adding different herbs like rosemary, or caraway seeds or just plain coarse salt. I always make them when I have guests for dinner. They look pretty, they are freshly baked, and everyone loves them. To make them is simple, just mix the ingredients, roll into logs and sprinkle with your favourite toppings. That is it! If you have any leftovers for the next day just pop them in a toaster they toast beautifully. Enjoy!