Moroccan vegetable couscous

I love this meal for many reasons, not just for its wonderful flavours, but because it reminds me of my childhood. I usually make this with carrots, onions, leek, zucchini or pumpkin, chickpeas, red pepper and raisins. It's a feast of vegetable goodness cooked in with diced tomatoes and spices like cumin, coriander and tumeric.

Baked apple and oats with honey

I got this recipe from Noora Shingler's Marjoja ja maskaraa book on healthy living and have made it countless times in the last few months. Completely free of white sugar, it uses honey as a sweetener, and very little butter. Then it's just oats, apple, cinnamon, optional raisons and you're done. It's very easy and quick to make. Freshen it up with some ice cream on the side. By now my friends and colleagues know that I am a little obsessed with Aino's chocolate ice cream. I thought it went well with this too (of course...).

Rum raisin chocolates

To help my colleague celebrate the publication of his new book at work over sparkling wine, I made some rum raisin chocolates. I got the recipe from my friend Metti, who in turn got it from her French friend, which is why I like to think of these as French, though they don't really have a nationality. They're very easy to make: melt some coconut butter, add the dark chocolate, let it melt, then mix in crushed nuts (almond or hazelnut for example) and the raisins that have marinated for at least 3 hours in rum (or cognac). Then the melty mix is poured into a dish and tossed into the freezer until it has hardended, after which it can be cut into bitesize pieces. Mmmm.