This warming, fall inspired pasta recipe is perfect for when you want to curl up on the sofa with a big bowl, your favorite Netflix show on the tv and maybe some candles in the background. Contrary to popular belief, pumpkins aren’t just for carving! The sweet squash makes the perfect ravioli filling for a cold autumnal dinner.
For the pasta:
200g 00 Pasta/Tipo Flour 2 Eggs Salt
For the filling:
Half a pumpkin or squash of your choice Ricotta Fresh Sage Grana Padano or Parmesan Salt Pepper
Extra toppings
Pumpkin seeds Butter Olive Oil Watercress or other salad
Instructions
– For the filling, cut your pumpkin in half and scoop out all of the stringy flesh and seeds. You then need to chop the pumpkin up into equal sized pieces, slicing off the skin as you go. Spread the pumpkin cubes out on a baking tray and drizzle with olive oil, some salt and pepper and roughly 6 sage leaves. Give it a good mix around. Pop this in the oven on 350 degrees until the pumpkin is crispy and golden on the edges. It should be soft enough to mash, roughly 30mins in the oven, but keep an eye on it.
– Take it out of the oven and allow to cool for a little while. Remove any of the sage leaves you can see, then place in a large mixing bowl with a couple of big dollops of ricotta cheese and some grated Italian hard cheese. Mash them all together. Season to taste. Cover and place in the fridge until cooled. Now move onto the pasta part of the recipe.
– For the pasta please follow our previous pasta recipe up until the point where you’ve made a long lasagna style sheet (we’re not making linguine this time).
– Lay your 2 long pasta sheets out and add a spoonful of the cooled mixture onto one sheet, spacing them out by about 2-3in.
– Then brush or dab water on the pasta sheet around the pumpkin mixture so that it’s ready to stick together with the top pasta sheet. You’ll then need to carefully place the other pasta sheet on top and press down around the edges where you have wet the base sheet. Try to avoid getting any air bubbles in the ravioli.
– For this next part you can either use a ravioli cutter or the top of a small wine glass to cut around the ravioli. Dust each one with some flour and place on a plate ready to boil.
– Boil the ravioli in batches of 3-5, for roughly 3mins. In the meantime you can start melting some butter in a frying pan with some sage leaves to make a delicious sage butter. Add a drizzle of olive oil to stop the butter from burning then transfer your ravioli with a slotted spoon into the frying pan.
– If you want to be really fancy, we recommend toasting some pumpkin seeds and scattering them on top of your ravioli with some more grated Grana Padano and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with a salad of your choice, enjoy!
Eggs can be consumed in lots of different ways, and are used in lots of wonderful, delicious recipes we all know and love. But do you know fact from fiction when it comes to the health benefits of eggs? Read on to crack the case…
Let’s break down the myths first
“Eating eggs causes bad cholesterol and can lead to cardiovascular problems…” – A prejudice from the 1980s, before scientists demonstrated the benefits of eggs.
Eggs do not cause bad cholesterol in your body. The egg yolk contains about 200mg of cholesterol, making it one of the foods with the highest amount of cholesterol. However, once ingested, this cholesterol does not remain in the body. About 25% of the cholesterol in the food we eat is absorbed by the intestine.
About 75% of the cholesterol in the blood, as shown on your blood test, is produced by the liver. Cholesterol is the result of an unbalanced diet, made up of foods rich in saturated fats (butter, cheese, cold cuts, etc.), which will cause your body to over-produce “bad cholesterol”. Once again, the egg is not responsible for this. Your body is simply out of balance, notably by an inadequate diet, and ends up producing more cholesterol than it needs. However, avoid eating fried eggs or eggs with toast and butter every morning. If you combine eggs with fatty acids, you are likely to increase your “bad cholesterol” levels.
Eggs are not responsible for clogged arteries or cardiovascular problems. It’s all a question of balance. A healthy person can eat up to 6 eggs a week.
Eggs: a fabulous source of micro and macro nutrients
First of all, it’s interesting to know that an egg contains only 90 calories!
Whether it’s the yolk or the white, eggs are full of nutrients and vitamins that are useful for your body to function properly. Eggs contain carotenoids, antioxidants that help to fight against age-related diseases, especially eyesight. But not only that!
Eggs are rich in protein (2 eggs are equivalent to 100g of meat), vitamins A, D, E, K, B2 and N12, as well as phosphorus, magnesium, potassium and minerals, all of which keep your body in perfect working order. Two eggs at 90 calories each and you can make an omelette! Its appetite-suppressant effect makes it a food to include in your meals if you want to feel fuller for longer. Proteins are also involved in the proper functioning and maintenance of muscle tissues.
The vitamin B present in eggs helps your brain to function properly: memory and concentration.
Eggs can be consumed by pregnant women, as the nutrients present in eggs, including vitamin B9, help the growth and proper development of the fetus.
Eggs contain Zinc (for hormone regulation) and with the proteins and vitamins they provide, eggs are a real ally for your hair! There are many recipes on the internet for caring for your hair with the eggs you have on hand.
Top tip: one egg, a few drops of sweet almond oil (no more than 4) and a spoonful of honey and your hair will thank you! Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
And don’t forget the joy of delicious eggs, after all it’s good for your health but it’s also tasty! Eggs can be used in many different ways, allowing us to vary our meals, to vary our recipes, to vary between sweet and salty. Whether you like eggs fried, boiled, scrambled, in quiche, in cake or in pancakes, there is something for everyone.
You can find our latest cake recipes here or do you want to try out a delicious banana bread? For the perfect pancake recipe click here.
How to choose your eggs
The nutrient content may vary slightly depending on the origin of the eggs you consume. The Omega 3 content may be lower if you buy your eggs from a cage farm instead of an organic farm.
What is the difference between AA, A, and B Grade Eggs?
AA= The Egg whites are thick and firm. The yolk is high raised and free from defects. The shell is clean and unbroken
A = Egg whites are less firm, yolk reasonably high, and shell is free of cracks
B = Egg white is thin, yolk is flatter, and is used in in frozen or dried products
The Omlet Egg Skelter is the perfect way to display your eggs!
Have you considered keeping chickens yourself to benefit from the joy of collecting fresh eggs in the morning? As you have seen, eggs are useful for your body and delicious! Having them on hand, without worrying about going shopping, is a real pleasure.
Omlet’s egg skelter will keep your eggs neatly arranged and stored in order of laying. This ensures that you always use the oldest eggs first, so there is no waste.
Pro tip: to tell if an egg is still fresh, take a glass of water and put the egg inside. If it sinks, the egg is still good, if it floats, the egg is no longer fresh and should not be eaten.
Eggs have many benefits and it is good to eat them every week. The rule of everything in moderation is essential to have a balanced and healthy diet while enjoying delicious recipes.
Ingredients for the cake batter (for a 9 inch round cake tin):
900 ml milk*
250 g sugar
250 g butter/margarine
4 tbsp lemon juice
5 eggs*
250 g flour
1 packet baking powder
a pinch of salt
1 package of clear cake glaze*
1 can apricots halves (850 g drained net weight)
1 can apricots halves (425 g drained net weight)
Ingredients for pudding cream:
100 ml milk*
2 packets vanilla pudding powder
80 g sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
2 cups sour cream*
*For a plant-based or vegan option:
As a milk substitute you can use any non-dairy milk (e.g. almond or oat milk). As 1 egg substitute use 1/2 mashed banana (5 eggs = 2.5 bananas) or 70 g apple puree (5 eggs = 350 g). You can buy vegan sour cream or soy yogurt. Instead of the clear cake glaze you can use agar-agar powder.
Instructions
Grease a cake tin (9 in). Preheat oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit (convection oven).
Boil 900 ml milk in a saucepan. Mix in a bowl the remaining milk, 80 g sugar and vanilla pudding powder until smooth, stir into the boiling milk and cook well for 1 minute while stirring. Pour into a bowl and let cool, stirring several times.
Mix butter/margarine, 200 g sugar, 1 pinch of salt with the mixer until you reach a creamy texture. Mix in eggs one at a time. Mix flour and baking powder and stir in 2 tsp of lemon juice. Put the batter in a greased cake tin and bake on the middle shelf for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, drain the apricots well and collect the juice. Stir the pudding again, and now stir in the sour cream with a whisk. After the 20 minutes baking time, spread the pudding cream evenly on the batter. Cover the cake with apricots and bake for another 20-30 minutes. Let cool down.
Mix the icing powder, remaining sugar, 1/4 liter of apricot juice and remaining 2 tsp of lemon juice in a saucepan and bring to the boil while stirring. Now spread the glaze with a tablespoon over the apricot halves so that it looks like egg white. Allow to become firm.
*You can use peaches instead of apricots as well.
If you want to bake the ultimate “Omlet”-cake with a 4 inch cake tin, use 1/2 of the ingredients and only one apricot halve on top of it.
If you prefer a more traditional Easter cake, here is a super delicious yet easy recipe:
Carrot-Marzipan-Cake
Ingredients for the cake batter:
350 g wheat or spelt flour
4 eggs*
400 g carrots
100 g ground hazelnuts
100 g ground almonds
200 g sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1 vanilla pod
1 tsp cinnamon
1 packet baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
200g marzipan
200 ml rapeseed or sunflower oil
200 ml milk*
juice of 1/2 lemon
extra portion love
Frosting:
70 g icing sugar
200 g coconut yogurt
30 g coconut paste
shot of lemon juice
optional: food coloring, e.g. green color
Decoration: e.g. Marzipan carrots, chopped pistachios, dried flowers, grated coconut
*For a plant-based or vegan option:
Use 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp cider vinegar or alternatively banana/apple puree as egg substitute (1/2 mashed banana per egg; 70 g apple puree per egg).
As a milk substitute you can use e.g. almond milk or oat milk, or any other non-dairy milk you prefer.
Instructions
1. Grease a cake tin (about 9 in) or use baking paper. Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit (convection oven).
2. Mix dry ingredients (flour, hazelnuts/almonds, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon) and the eggs in a bowl with a mixer. In a separate bowl, peel and grate carrots and mix them with the wet ingredients (vanilla extract, oil, milk, lemon juice).
3. Now slowly heat the marzipan in a saucepan, stirring repeatedly until it becomes a liquid mass. Mix the dry and wet ingredients together and gradually add the marzipan to the batter, mix well.
4. Pour the batter into the cake tin, smoothen it and bake it for about 50 minutes (use the tooth-pick test to make sure it is fully cooked).
5. Let the cake cool down and prepare the frosting in the meantime. Mix the sifted icing sugar with yogurt and coconut puree and season with more icing sugar and a shot of lemon juice. You can add food coloring to the frosting if you wish. Now spread the frosting on the cooled cake and decorate as desired, e.g. with marzipan carrots, chopped pistachios or dried flowers.
Enjoy!
Bon Appétit & Happy Easter from the Omlet Team!
Tag us on social media (Instagram: @omletusa) with an image of your cake!
Not a fan of Pumpkin Spice? Fancy trying something simple, yet seasonal you can make with your girls’ eggs? Try out these delicious ginger cupcakes, with a nod to Fall on top!
To make 12 delicious ginger cupcakes, you will need…
12 cupcake liners (we have gone for orange to stay on theme!)
2/3 cup margarine or unsalted butter (softened)
2/3 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup self raising flour
1 – 2 tsp ground ginger (to suit your taste)
2 large eggs
1 tbsp golden syrup
For the buttercream, you will need…
1 cup margarine of unsalted butter (softened)
2 cups icing sugar
½ – 1 tsp ground ginger (to your taste)
For the pumpkin decoration, you will need…
Ready to roll fondant icing sugar-paste – orange
Ready to roll fondant icing sugar-paste – green
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a muffin tin with 12 cupcake liners.
To make your ginger cake mix, start by creaming together the butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Sieve the self raising flour into the mixture with the ginger. We used 2 tsp of ground ginger but you can use less if you prefer a more subtle taste.
Lightly whisk the eggs in a bowl and add them to the mixture. Mix everything together carefully.
Once mixed add the golden syrup and give a final stir.
Fill the 12 cupcake cases with the ginger cake mixture as evenly as possible.
Place in the oven for 15 – 20 minutes.
Leave to cool on a cooling rack before making the buttercream icing.
For the buttercream icing, add a small amount of icing sugar to the butter at a time and cream together. Once smooth, add up to a tsp of ground ginger to the icing.
Put the icing in a piping bag. We used a large, star shape nozzle for the piping. Start in the middle and circle around leaving some space at the edge of the cake. Then spiral up on top and pull away to leave a peak.
Once you have iced all 12 cupcakes, you can decorate however you wish! We decided to make little pumpkins out of ready to roll icing. Simply roll the orange icing into small balls, no more than a cm in diameter. Then use a sharp knife to carefully draw lines down the pumpkin.
Roll a small amount of green icing a long strip then cut into tiny pieces to create the stalks. Press the stalk down lightly onto the pumpkin, and place on top of your cakes.
Homemade pasta is one of the easiest recipes to remember as it’s a 1:100 ratio. For every person you’re cooking for you’ll need 1 egg and 100g (3/4 cups) of pasta flour per serving, plus just a little bit of salt for seasoning – simple! This is how we at Omlet make it:
? Start by weighing out your flour and then tip it onto a clean surface so it forms a mound, sprinkle with a bit of salt, then make a large well in the middle of the mound and crack your eggs into it.
? With a fork start lightly whisking the eggs in the middle, slowly bringing the flour at the edges into the mix, keep going until you’ve got the majority of the flour mixed in. You may need to use your hands to work it in towards the end. Once the mixture is all together in a ball, start kneading the dough. It will feel quite rough and grainy to start with but as you work the dough more it should start to smooth out.
? Knead until the dough is elastic and stretchy. Be careful not to over knead it as your pasta will become tough and chewy. Once you’re done kneading, cover or wrap your dough in a bowl or a beeswax wrap and then place in the fridge for half an hour.
? Once chilled, bring your dough out. Depending on how much you’ve made you may need to split it into more manageable chunks.
? Start rolling out a ball of your dough with a rolling pin and then with your pasta maker. Roll the dough through the machine on the widest setting, once through fold the dough in half and repeat. Then feed the dough through on a medium thickness and fold in half and feed it through again. Then move onto the thinnest setting and feed your dough through this setting twice, no need to fold it over this time. Your dough should be in a long lasagne style sheet, and thin enough that you can almost see your hand through it.
? Then turn your attention to the linguine and tagliatelle accessory on the pasta machine. You can use either of these for this type of pasta, it will just depend what sauce you’re making and your personal preference. We used the tagliatelle cutter for this batch and it came out great!
? Once you have fed your pasta through the chosen cutter, then hang it on a drying rack, or you could use a clothes airer for about half an hour. You don’t want the pasta to dry out too much. When it’s ready either boil it in salted water for about 3 mins if you’re ready to eat, or place in a Tupperware in the fridge or freezer ready for when you want to use it.
Mash 3 of the bananas and set to one side ready to fold into your mixture later.
Sieve the flour and baking powder into a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, cream your softened butter with the sugar and then add the eggs 1 by 1 to the mixture.
Once all of the wet ingredients are combined and smooth, slowly fold in the flour mixture – try not to over mix it.
Take your mashed banana and carefully blend this into the large mixing bowl along with your vanilla extract.
Tip the mix into a lined loaf tin or ovenproof dish of your choice and decorate with the remaining banana peeled and sliced lengthways, sink into the mix.
Bake at 330 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 1hr.
Take out of the oven once golden and cooked through, allow to cool and then enjoy with a cup of tea in front of your favourite boxset.
Make Easter more colourful with this super fun craft for the whole family – marbled eggs! Watch the video or follow the instructions below.
You will need: Eggs Food Coloring Vinegar Vegetable Oil
Instructions:
Take an egg and gently poke a hole at one end. Poke a hole at the other end of the egg which is slightly larger than the first.
Empty the egg by carefully blowing through the smaller of the holes, pushing the inside of the egg out into a bowl.
Set aside the egg mixture.
Add a tablespoon of food colouring to a bowl and mix with a splash of hot water and a tablespoon of vinegar.
Put the empty eggs in the bowls and let them sit there for a while, regularly turning them to get an even coating.
When the eggs has got some colour to them, drain and put on the side to dry.
Add a few drops of a different food colouring to a plate and mix with some water and a drop of vegetable oil. Roll the eggs on the plate to cover them in the second colour. They don’t need to be fully covered.
Repeat with a few different colours, adding more layers.
Let the eggs dry on a piece of kitchen roll.
You will now have some beautiful and truly unique marbled Easter eggs! Wash your hands thoroughly and scramble the eggs you put aside earlier for a delicious lunch!
As the leaves begin to fall and the evenings get shorter we all start to crave comfort food. What’s more comforting and warming than hot apple pie with homemade custard?! Apples are in abundance this time of year so grab some cooking apples and cosy up with a bowlful of this homemade yumminess.
Ingredients:
Filling
4 Cooking Apples
150g Golden Caster Sugar
Pinch of Cinnamon
3 tbsp Plain Flour
Pastry
250g Unsalted Butter
50g Golden Caster Sugar
2 Eggs
350g Plain Flour
Custard
2 tsps Vanilla Bean Paste
1 pint Whole Milk
4 large Egg Yolks
2 tbsp Caster Sugar
1 tbsp Cornflour
Method:
The filling- Peel, core, quarter and slice 4 cooking apples. Lay them out on paper towels to get as much liquid out of them as possible. Leave until you need them later.
Mix the sugar and flour for the filling with cinnamon and place in a bowl big enough for the apples and set aside.
For the pastry- beat the butter and sugar together then whisk in 1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk (save the white for glazing pastry later.)
Now fold in the flour slowly until it starts to form a ball, collect the remainder of the pastry together with your hands and form a solid ball. Wrap and place in the fridge to cool for 1 hour.
Whilst the pastry is cooling, make a start on your custard.
The custard- Heat the whole milk and vanilla bean paste to boiling then take it off the heat. Whilst that cools slightly, in a large bowl whisk 4 egg yolks, sugar and cornflour then slowly start to add the milk mixture in ladle by ladle whilst continually whisking.
When all the milk is added to the mixture, pour it back into the saucepan and place on a low heat for roughly 20 mins, continuously stirring, take off heat when the custard becomes thick.
Take pastry out of the fridge and set aside a third of the pastry for pie top. Roll the majority of the pastry out to fit your pastry dish, make sure there is a bit of overhang.
Put the apples into the bowl with the sugar and flour and coat the apples using your hands. Now pile the apples into the pastry tin, then roll out the remaining ball of pastry.
Brush some water around the edges of the pastry in the tin and then lay the other round of pastry on top and join them.
Trim the left over hanging pastry off of the tin and make 5 slits in the top of the pastry to let the steam out.
Preheat oven to 190 degrees c and place the pie in for 40mins until golden brown.
Allow to cool for 5 mins then serve with hot or cold custard.
A rainy day is the perfect time to stay in the kitchen and make a treat for your pets to enjoy. How about these dog friendly pancakes? Or these homemade hamster treats? Make sure that the recipe you choose is pet friendly, and remember to not feed your pet too many treats.
FIND NEW GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR CAT
Take advantage of all your free time and spend a few hours playing with your cat. Most older cats will have developed their own games to keep them entertained, but that doesn’t mean they won’t enjoy your company, and together you might find some new fun games. Hunting games are normally a big hit. Objects with quick and unpredictable movement will without a doubt catch your pet’s attention, so try waving feathers or floaty fabric in front of your cat and drag them across the floor to get your pet moving.
TEACH YOUR DOG A NEW TRICK
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but that’s just not true. With the right encouragement your dog can learn new things throughout their lives, and it will be a great way for you to spend some quality time together.
How about teaching your dog to bark on command, or to play dead? Or why not take them to the park for some fetch training? There are plenty of tutorials on Youtube, so get your strategy in place and fill your pockets with treats. When the summer break is over you’ll have a great party trick to show friends and family.
POCKET MONEY
Why not get the kids to clean out the chicken coop for you for a bit of extra pocket money? The Eglu Chicken Coops are so easy to clean that anyone tall enough to reach in will be able to get it spotless in no time. Get them to bring in the new eggs and you can all have lunch together!
HOMEMADE TOYS FOR RABBITS
You can find fun toys for your rabbits in our shop, but if you want to make something together with the kids you can find plenty of toy material in the garden or around the house.
Locate a willow tree and collect some twigs to weave into a ball or a wreath. Your rabbits will love playing with their new toys as well as nibble on the nutritious wood.
If you’ve got an old towel or a pair of jeans you’re getting rid off you can make a rag doll for your rabbits. Use your creativity to make something beautiful, or just tie a knot in the middle of a strip of sturdy fabric that the rabbits can throw around on their run and rip to shreds. Make sure to take it away before they’ve ruined it completely though, as you don’t want them to ingest too much fabric.
BUILD AN OBSTACLE COURSE FOR YOUR HAMSTER
Hamsters love running, jumping and climbing, and you will have fun creating a challenging obstacle course for your pet. Start by finding a safe area in your house where the hamster can be let out, away from open doors and other pets. You might want to build the course inside a play pen, or create a barrier of books or other heavy objects. Just make sure they can’t fall over and hurt the hamster.
You can use lego to create the outline of the obstacle course. Lego pieces will also make great jumps and steps. Use lolly sticks to build a ladder or a ramp for the hamster to climb up on. Make sure the lolly sticks are clean, and that you use a non-toxic glue. You can also build tunnels and hiding places with loo rolls and cardboard boxes. Glue them together to create a maze within the obstacle course.
Hide treats in different places to encourage your hamster to explore! Start small and see which parts your hamster enjoys the most, and then you can extend the course as you go along.
PHOTO SHOOT
Experiment with taking photos of your pet in different locations. Put them against a white wall in the house for a nice studio shoot, or try getting action shots in the garden. If your pet will accept any type of clothing you can dress him or her up in different outfits and funny hats, and make them pose for the camera. Why not start an instagram account for your pet to show the world how cute he or she is? Here are our best tips for taking better photos of your pets.
EGG PAINTING
Why limit the egg fun to Easter? Boil some eggs and let them cool, then get the art supplies out and decorate to your heart’s content. You can decide on a theme that everyone has to follow, or if you’re feeling competitive you can get friends and family to judge the eggs in different categories – ”Most Creative”, ”Most Colourful”, ”Best Egg Pun” etc.
ABSTRACT PAW ART
Let your dog’s creative juices flow and let him or her create a beautiful piece of art. Get some toxic-free, water based paint and put your dog’s paws in it. With some treats, guide the dog to a blank canvas and let them walk all over it, creating an abstract paw-print painting. Have water at hand to clean the paws as soon as you’re happy with the result. This might be best as an outdoor activity to avoid the risk of paw prints on carpets and furniture.
Try out these delicious homemade frozen treats that dogs will go crazy for! These are super quick and easy to make, and kids will love getting involved with different fruity creations…
You will need…
An ice cube tray – (moulds to make larger ice cubes are available on Amazon)
500g Greek Yogurt
200ml of water
A selection of dog-safe fruits, such as apples, bananas, blueberries, mango, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon.
We used an ice cube tray which makes large 2 inch square ice cubes. This quantity made approximately 8 at this size ice cube.
Method
Prepare the fruit and cut up into smaller bite size pieces.
Depending on the size of ice cube tray, fill the molds up to a third high with yogurt, followed by a small splash of water. Pop a few small pieces of fruit into the moulds, before continuing to fill the molds with yogurt, splashes of water up and pieces of fruit up to the top.
Pop in the freezer for at least 4 hours depending on the size of the ice cube moulds.
Allow the treats to thaw for 5-10 minutes before feeding to your dog.
Other Frozen Treats…
If your fruit bowl contents are on their way out and unlikely to be eaten by the humans in the house, you can also freeze cut up pieces of the fruit, like apples and bananas, to give to your four-legged friends directly.
Don’t forget!
Remember to give your dog treats in moderation, alongside a healthy diet. Supervise your dog when eating these frozen treats and remove at any sign of distress. These frozen fruit cubes should be given to your dog as a treat, with other solutions in place to keep your dog cool, such as access to shade in the garden and the coolest room in the house, fresh water, walks at the coolest time of day etc. Consult your vet if your dog is showing signs of distress or potential heatstroke.
There’s much debate surrounding the origin of the Pavlova, however from our research the majority of articles believe the dessert began its journey in New Zealand. Nicknamed after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, the people of NZ welcomed her with her very own dessert in the 1920s, although Australia still claim they invented this sweet treat. Whoever invented it, we’re just grateful somebody did! Check out our favourite pav recipe below.
Ingredients
MERINGUE
6 large free-range egg whites
300g caster sugar
Pinch of sea salt
PAVLOVA
450 g fresh strawberries and raspberries
250 ml double cream
150 ml natural yoghurt
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 vanilla pod or 1tsp of vanilla bean paste
a few sprigs of fresh mint
a handful of white chocolate buttons
Method
Preheat the oven to 150°C/300°F/gas 2. Put your egg whites into a mixing bowl and whisk them at a medium speed until they start to form nice firm peaks.
With your mixer still running, gradually add the sugar and a pinch of sea salt. Turn the mixer up to the highest setting and whisk for 7 to 8 minutes more until the meringue is white, glossy and smooth. If it feels grainy, whisk for a little bit longer, being careful not to let the meringue collapse.You should be able to tip the bowl upside down without the meringue mix falling out.
Line two baking trays with baking paper. Separate the meringue mixture evenly between them and shape each mixture into a circle about 20cm in diameter.
Put both trays into the oven and bake for 1 hour until the meringues look slightly golden and are fluffy in the middle.
Cut the large strawberries and leave the smaller ones whole. Mix them with the raspberries. Or alternatively you could top your pavlova with other fruit, such as passion fruit and pineapple, for a tropical twist. We also like adding white chocolate buttons for even more of a treat.
Whip the cream with the sugar until it forms soft peaks, then stir in the yoghurt. Halve the vanilla pod length ways, scrape out the seeds and fold them into the mixture.
Spoon half the cream mixture on top of one of the meringue halves and smooth it out. Sprinkle half of your berries evenly around the cream mixture. Layer the other meringue on top and press down gently to stick them together.
Spread the remaining cream mixture over the top layer and sprinkle the remaining berries on top. Pick a few small mint leaves, scatter over and now it’s ready to serve to your guests or cover and refrigerate ready to serve later.
Looking for a breakfast treat that will impress guests, but doesn’t take all morning? Put your girls’ eggs to delicious use with this gooey Nutella French Toast and a selection of toppings, perfect for a tasty brunch to be enjoyed with family and friends this summer.
Ingredients – serves 4
Sliced Brioche Loaf (8 slices serves 4)
Lots of Nutella!
2 eggs
2 tbsp milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Butter for frying
Toppings of your choice. We recommend a dusting of icing sugar, fresh summer berries, vanilla ice cream, and more Nutella!
Method
In a bowl, beat together the eggs, milk and vanilla extract. Pour into a shallow dish, such as a pasta bowl.
Spread Nutella (as much as you would like!) on one side of 2 slices of the brioche loaf and put together to create a sandwich.
Pop roughly a teaspoon of butter in a frying pan on a medium heat.
Soak each side of the Nutella brioche sandwich in the egg mixture for a couple of seconds, and then place in the frying pan when the butter is melted and hot.
Allow the brioche to fry for 1-2 minutes on each side until golden brown.
We cut these into thirds and served with a selection of toppings for guests to choose from.
1) Heat oven to 340 degrees Fahrenheit. Line bottom and sides of two 8 inch round springform pans with parchment paper, then lightly spray pan with cooking spray. Whisk butter (room temperature), yoghurt, caster and dark brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, mixed spice and salt. Add the eggs one at a time. Stir in the graded carrots and ginger. Use a spatula to fold in the sifted flour and baking soda.
2) Pour the mixture into the springform pans and bake for 55 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. If any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins and check again. Leave to cool in the tins for two hours.
3) To make the icing, beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and lime juice and zest together. Remove the cakes from the tins and sandwich together with half the icing. Top with the remaining icing and walnuts.
Freshly baked carrot cake will keep well for about 1 week in the fridge when properly stored. Best eaten at room temperature.
This is the easiest and quickest breakfast to make if you’re on the go. All you have to do is put all the ingredients apart from the coconut oil in a blender and blend until it’s smooth. Then heat a non stick frying pan with a little bit of coconut oil and then pour or ladle the pancake mixture into small ‘American style’ pancakes on the frying pan. You should be able to fry roughly 2-3 at a time depending on the size of your frying pan. Wait for the pancake to cook on one side, once you start to see air bubbles coming through, you can then flip the pancake to cook on the other side. They should come out golden brown and fluffy. Serve with any fruit of your choice, we personally like them with blueberries and a dollop of greek yoghurt. If you wish to reheat these pancakes at a later date for a healthy alternative breakfast, just pop them in the toaster for a minute for a crisp and warm pancake.
What’s on your Christmas list when it comes to cake? Easy, healthy, indulgent, gluten free, no added fat? Using eggs and veg from the garden, this recipe ticks every box…
Ingredients:
100 g good-quality dark chocolate
250 g grated raw beetroot
4 large free-range eggs
100 g ground almonds
150 g golden caster sugar
2 tablespoon good-quality cocoa powder
2 tsp mixed spice
1 teaspoon baking powder (gluten free if required)
Decorations of your choice: icing sugar, chocolate shavings, almond slivers, etc.
Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 180c and line a 20cm round cake tin with baking parchment.
2) Melt the chocolate in bowl over hot water.
2) In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, almond, sugar, cocoa powder, mixed spice and baking powder.
3) Fold in the melted chocolate, followed by the grated beetroot.
4) Pour mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 40 minutes, it’s cooked throughout when a clean metal skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
These delicious Apple and Cinnamon Dog Cookies are a great Christmas treat for your pooch this festive season, and they’re healthy!
Ingredients Makes 10 cookies
70g coconut flour 1 egg 3 teaspoons of coconut oil Pinch of cinnamon 1 apple (grated) And a cookie cutter
320 f for 15 minutes
Preheat the oven to 320 f and prepare a baking tray with baking paper.
Heat 3 teaspoons of coconut oil in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute, or until soft.
Mix together the egg, coconut oil in a bowl.
Grate 1 apple into the bowl and mix.
Add a pinch of cinnamon to the mix.
Weigh out 70g of coconut flour into a separate bowl, and start to add a bit of flour at a time to the wet mixture, stirring as you go.
Continue adding coconut flour and mixing until you get a dough like consistency. You may not need to use all the flour to achieve this. The texture will be sticky and slightly crumbly.
Dust some coconut flour onto a clean surface and place the dough on top.
Flatten the dough with a rolling pin or your hands until it is approximately 1 cm thick
Use a small cookie cutter (approx 5cm diameter) to press out shapes in the dough and place them onto the baking tray. Handle these carefully as the dough can be fragile due to the lack of fat in the recipe (too much fat is unhealthy for dogs!)
Once all the dough has been used and the cookies are all placed on the baking tray, place them in the oven for approximately 15 minutes, keeping an eye that they do not burn.
Take them out the oven and leave to cool, at this point they will firm up a bit more, so handle carefully.
Once cool, store in a cool dry place, and treat your dog to a delicious cookie!
Health Benefits
Coconut flour is gluten free, perfect for dogs who suffer an intolerance of wheat. It’s also low in sugar and high in protein, fibre, and healthy fats.
In small quantities, coconut oil can promote a healthy coat, improve digestion and assist the immune system.
Eggs are also great for extra protein in your dog’s diet
Did you know, cinnamon can be incredibly helpful for senior dogs who are suffering with arthritis? Adding a small amount to your dog’s diet can be incredibly beneficial.
Apples are a source of Vitamin A and C so make a great, healthy treat for your dog, but don’t feed them the core when you have finished grating the apple, as the seeds are harmful.
As always, treats should be given to dogs alongside a healthy balanced diet, and do not feed them too many at a time.
We’d love to see your photos of this cookie recipe, tag us on Instagram using #OmletPets.
The cold, frosty temperatures of Winter are in full swing, and while you are enjoying a warm cup of tea in the warmth of your kitchen, you might be looking out on your girls wondering how they feel about the colder weather.
If you’re looking for a new way to keep them warm first thing in the morning, or late afternoon just before they go to roost, consider making this yummy, warm corn recipe, specially for your hens, with a festive flavour which will provide extra nutrients to keep up their health this winter. It’s super simple and quick to make.
Ingredients – for 2-3 chickens
2oz corn
1oz oats
1oz raisins
100ml hot water
Pinch of ginger, cinnamon
Method
Soak the corn, oats and raisins in hot water for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in a pinch of Ginger and Cinnamon for added nutrients for your chickens. Leave to cool slightly before feeding to chickens.
Ginger supports the immune system and provides anti-inflammatory benefits which can be particularly beneficial for a poorly hen. Cinnamon has antibacterial and antioxidant benefits, and can reduce inflammation, these are extremely good for chickens as they are likely to experience respiratory problems.
Holiday baking is so much better with eggs fresh from your backyard chicken coop. This pumpkin cheesecake is the perfect dessert to serve to guests. Deceptively elegant but surprisingly easy to make, it’s great for holiday parties because it can be made a day or two in advance.
The school summer holidays are in full swing and there’s no better time to do some baking with the kids! Ruby and Harry decided they would like to make some treats for their Syrian Hamster called Ginny!!
So here’s a simple recipe to make some yummy Crunchy Honey Delights!
We’ve always been fans of a super summer pavlova for dessert, but this year have been rolling up all that yumminess into a meringue roulade that guarantees a taste of all the flavors in every spoonful!
14oz Heavy Cream, whipped Small jar Lemon Curd (homemade if possible) 2 Cartons of Fresh Raspberries Powdered Sugar for dusting
Method:
1) Preheat the oven to 350f, line a baking sheet with non-stick baking parchment.
2) Whisk the egg whites until they form firm peaks.
3) Sprinkle the corn starch and white wine vinegar over the whisked egg whites then add the superfine sugar steadily whilst still whisking.
4) Spread the meringue mixture onto the lined baking tray.
5) Bake for 10 mins at 350f then turn the oven down to 320f and bake for another 10 mins until the meringue is starting to colour and is firm to touch.
6) Lay a clean tea towel on the work surface, place a sheet of parchment over the top and sprinkle with 1oz caster sugar.
7) Take the baked meringue out of the oven and turn upside down on the prepared sugar dusted parchment, remove the baking sheet, allow to cool completely.
8) Once the meringue is cool, peel off the sheet of baking parchment that it was baked on and spread the whipped cream over the whole area of of the meringue.
9) Dollop/spread spoonfuls of lemon curd at regular intervals over the cream and scatter the raspberries on top.
10) Using the parchment paper for support, carefully roll the meringue to resemble a swiss roll, ensuring the parchment and tea towel don’t get caught up in the dessert!.
11) Transfer to a serving platter, dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!
Free Shipping On Orders Over $100 
5% off your first order 
180 Day Guarantee 
Ingredients for the cake batter (for a 9 inch round cake tin):
The cold, frosty temperatures of Winter are in full swing, and while you are enjoying a warm cup of tea in the warmth of your kitchen, you might be looking out on your girls wondering how they feel about the colder weather. 
