Porridge with poached apple and spiced cashew cream

While it sounds decadent this recipe is very healthy and perfect for the endometriosis diet, it's vegan and refined sugar free. If you are avoiding gluten, perhaps try rolled quinoa instead of oats. You can also skip the porridge and have the poached apple and cashew cream separately as a snack, or add to a smoothie. Yum!At first glance it looks like there is a lot involved with this, but it's actually fairly easy, there's just a few different steps. You'll notice the cashews need soaking prior to making the cream, if you don't have 4 hours to soak them in cold water, then just cover with boiling water and 1 hour should do.Serves 2.

Porridge:

You need:1 cup of rolled oats (I used organic, wholegrain oats, available in the health food section of your supermarket)2 cups of almond or coconut milk (found in the long life milk section of your supermarket)1/2 teaspoon of organic vanilla powder (I buy locally farmed vanilla bean direct from the producer, it's expensive but one packet lasts a few months)Method:Bring the milk and vanilla to the boil in a saucepan, then add the oats, stir continuously for 5 minutes on low-medium heat, when it's ready the oats will stick to the spoon. Turn off the heat the cover with a lid and allow to stand for 5 minutes before serving.

Poached apples:

You need:2 apples, peeled, cored and halved (I used Fuji)1 star anise2 cups of filtered water1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon1/2 teaspoon of organic vanilla powder1/2 a cup of *organic frozen raspberries (plus some reserved to top your porridge with)2 drops of organic liquid Stevia (found in the sugar section of your supermarket or health food store)Method:Bring the water to boil on the stove in a medium saucepan. Add the star anise, cinnamon, vanilla, raspberries, Stevia and apples. Cover the apples with some baking paper/parchment so they cook evenly in the saucepan. Simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the apples from the liquid, strain and reserve the poached apple liquid.*I always try to buy organic berries, as raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are often sprayed heavily with pesticides. Frozen berries are a great, economical way to store them (especially in winter when not in season). Organic frozen berries can be found in your local health food or organic grocer, some specialty supermarkets stock them too.

Spiced cashew cream:

You'll need:1/2 a poached apple2 drops of organic liquid Stevia1/2 cup of soaked cashews (soaked for at least 4 hours in cold water)2 tablespoons of reserved poached apple liquid1/2 cup of coconut milk (found in the long life milk section, or health food section of your supermarket)1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon1/2 teaspoon of organic vanilla powderMethod:Combine all ingredients in a blender, blast on high for 2 minutes or until completely smooth.To serve:Serve the warm porridge in a bowl, ladle a few tablespoons of reserved poached apple liquid around the porridge, place some sliced poached apple around the side, top with some raspberries then spoon some cashew cream on top. Enjoy!Yours in health,Meredith x