The Healthy Chef / Teresa Cutter

My great Aunt was the queen of apple cakes. I would help her bake the most amazing apple cakes that were jam packed with seasonal golden delicious apples and scented with a hint of vanilla. What I love about this cake is that it's packed with apples, allowing the natural sweetness to shine through. The best ones to use in this cake are golden delicious as they are naturally sweet and softer then most apples, so they work really well. This apple cake is delicious just simply served with a…

He's one of my favourite banana smoothie recipes that I love to make for a healthy breakfast. It contains a nut or a seed milk such as sunflower seed milk or almond milk which I make myself in my Vitamix. A few spoonfuls of Healthy Chef Protein is a must because it will nourish my body and keep me energised all morning. Adding protein to each meal also increases metabolism as your body requires more energy (calories) to process protein than it does to digest carbs.

Good quality nut butters are delicious! I often enjoy them straight out of a jar - a truly delicious and natural treat. Look for nut butters with no added oils, sugar or stabilisers - the only ingredient on the back label should be nuts and maybe just a little salt - that's it! I've made these cookies a number of times and they are delicious using peanut, almond or macadamia nut butter. This is perfect for holiday baking and what I love about them is that you only need a few ingredients to…

This delicious orange cake makes a nice change from typical store bought and cafe style orange cakes that are generally high in refined white flour and sugar. I've used whole sweet naval oranges to make this gorgeous cake - skin and all. You steam them until soft then combine with vanilla, almonds and honey that creates magic.

This is a delicious vegetarian classic of roasted tomato sauce, milky Buffalo mozzarella and sun-ripened tomato on a thin, crisp pizza base. I’ve also added a light spread of pesto to the almond base that gives the pizza a delicious basil aroma and flavour when eating it. What I love about this crust is that it’s the perfect use for leftover almond pulp from making your home-made almond mylk. For a crisp base to a pizza crust I always recommend using a pizza stone for cooking once you’ve…

This is my go-to risotto if I need something quick and healthy for dinner after I get home from work. In less than 20 minutes, I can have a bowl of goodness that nourishes my body from the inside out! Packed full of potassium, riboflavin and vitamin D, this purely delicious dish helps boost immune function and bone health. Brazil nuts are packed with selenium that helps to support heart health and muscle metabolism.

This a great way of using up your left over almond mylk pulp if you regularly make your own almond milk. If you don't have any left over pulp, you can use almond meal and it will be equally delicious. What's important when making these cookies is that you don't bake them for too long. They will be slightly soft when you remove them from the oven, but as they cool, the cookies become crunchier. The texture still needs to be moist and chewy inside. Make sure to use good quality dark chocolate…

Cauliflower was often served at our Polish dinner table when I was growing up. Mum used to steam it then sauté with home made breadcrumbs and browned butter then finish off with a little lemon. These days I like a fresher touch, and this is one of my favourites this time of year. Lemon, fresh herbs and cauliflower - totally irresistible. This salad makes a simple meal I can whip up in a few minutes when I get home from work and any leftovers can be enjoyed for my lunch the next day. I love…

Cleaning, detoxifying and immune boosting. I love this tea! Mint contains menthol, which is a natural decongestant that helps to break up phlegm and mucus. Mint can also be effective, especially when combined with tea for relieving sore throats. Mint is also used in the treatment of IBS - it has calming and soothing properties that supports digestion and helps alleviate bloating. Cinnamon has wonderful digestive properties and may also help balance blood sugar. It also works as an…

If you want a nutrient-rich, power packed chocolate smoothie - this is it! Cacao is the highest known antioxidant food on the planet. Rich in magnesium, iron, copper, manganese, riboflavin and essential micronutrients for health and vitality. The high flavonoid content of cacao has been scientifically linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

THE HEALTHY CHEF : PURELY DELICIOUS Purely Delicious. Pre-order available through www.thehealthychef.com Hard Copy available Sept 2015