New England Jumbles

On Saturday we went to our local thrift store and I found two great cookbooks. One of them is entirely filled with cookie recipes! These cookies are adapted from a recipe I found in that book. If you're a big dried fruit and nut person, these are for you.

New England Jumbles

1/2 c. (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 egg

1 t. vanilla

1 t. baking soda

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. salt

1 1/3 c. flour

1 c. chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

3/4 c. walnuts, chopped

3/4 c. macadamia nuts, chopped

3/4 c. raw almonds, chopped

1/2 c. dried cranberries

1/2 c. dried blueberries

1/2 c. dried apples, chopped

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg, vanilla, soda, cinnamon and salt.

Mix in flour.

Add the nuts and dried fruit. Mix well.

Pack dough into a cookie scoop and drop onto an ungreased cookie sheet (it's a little tricky since there are so many chunks in the dough, but I just worked with them a little and they baked up just fine.) Bake at 375 F for 10-13 minutes.

These were a fun recipe to try. They reminded me a lot of trail mix...in a cookie!

Enjoy!

Breakfast Apple Crumble

Yesterday I really wanted apple pie for breakfast. Weird? Maybe. But since apple pie isn't the most nutritious food, I made a breakfast version. It totally hit the spot.

Breakfast Apple Crumble

4 extra large gala apples

2 T. all purpose flour

1/3 c. sugar

1 t. cinnamon

1 T. lemon juice

1 c. oats

1/3 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/4 c. ground flaxseed

1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter, softened

pinch salt

Peel and core apples and cut into thin slices.

Add flour, sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice. Toss together.

Pour apples into a pie pan and set aside.

In a bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, whole wheat flour, and flaxseed. Cut in butter and add salt until the mixture is crumbly.

Pour the oat mixture on apples and spread evenly to cover all the apples.

Bake at 375 F for 30 minutes or until top is nicely browned and apples are tender.

I ate a big bowl with milk. If you serve it as a dessert it would be delicious with ice cream!

Enjoy!

Everything Muffins

Have you ever read the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin? Well, we've been reading it a lot around here lately and it always makes me hungry for muffins! These muffins really do have a little of everything in them! They are great for a Saturday morning...like today! :)

Everything Muffins
1 banana, mashed
1 avocado, mashed
1/2 c. pumpkin
1/3 c. apple, finely chopped
1 egg
3 T. milk
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1 t. cinnamon
1/4 t. salt
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 T. ground flaxseed

Combine banana, avocado, pumpkin, apple, egg, milk, and sugar. Mix well. Add baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix again. Add flour and flaxseed and stir just until moistened.

Spoon into 12 muffin cups.
Bake at 350 F for 15-20 minutes.

Let cool about 5 minutes and then remove from pan.

I ate my muffin this morning with my Homemade Honey Butter. Delicious. And remember, if you see a moose in your backyard, don't give him a muffin! :) Enjoy!

Apple "Cupcakes"

I saw these on Polly's blog and I just had to try them. Aren't they the cutest little snack ever? They would be so fun for a kid's party or a family get together! So cute and so healthy.

Apple "Cupcakes"
1 apple
nut butter (I used chocolate almond butter)
assorted fruit (peaches, berries, bananas, etc.)
mashed sweet potato or pumpkin
cinnamon
whipped cream

Cut apple in half and carefully remove core. Frost with nut butter and top with fruit or sweet potato/pumpkin. Top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

I topped one of my "cupcakes" with a mashed sweet potato and cinnamon. The other I topped with peaches and whipped cream. I just thought these were such a cute idea. Get creative! Enjoy!

Apple Carrot Slushee

This was breakfast this morning! It is my own version of an ICEE from the gas station. It has no added sugar and it has a serving (or maybe several servings) of veggies in each glass. This is perfect for hot summer days and the kids will love it!

Apple Carrot Slushee

6 large carrots, washed

2 large apples, washed and quartered

8 large cubes ice (give or take)

Juice apples and carrots in a juicer. Blend juice with ice in blender.

I love this recipe because it combines fruits & veggies with water (in ice form, obviously!) We all know how important it is to eat our fruits & veggies, but we often don't drink enough plain old water! Water is especially crucial during these hot summer months. So sit back in your lawn chair and drink a tall glass of this delicious slushee!

Don't be afraid to mix and match different fruit and veggies, too. Try using your favorite combination or let your kids go crazy and make up their own concoction! Enjoy.

Juicing

Lately I've been trying to eat healthier and adopt a more whole-food type lifestyle. Let me tell you, it's not easy for me because I really love processed foods, but I know how bad they can be for my health. I will never be perfect at this way of eating because I cannot give up sweets and salty snacks entirely, and I will NEVER give up ice cream (it's my weakness!) That being said, I've tried to incorporate more whole grains, fruits and veggies in my diet and less foods like white bread, fruit snacks and sugary drinks.

My sweet husband, aware of the changes I've been trying to make, was so thoughtful and gave me a juicer for Mother's Day. I am very new at this juicing concept, but so far I love it. It's a

great way for me to feel like I've started the day right and also a great way to boost my veggie intake each day! So this week I've been juicing every morning. Today, I tried this juice recipe:

Green Lemonade

3 stalks celery

4-5 handfuls spinach

2 apples

1 cucumber

large chunk ginger

1/2 lemon

Now, I must say it was not the most delicious juice I've ever had, but it wasn't horrible either. Let's just say it tasted healthy. :) I am not accustomed to eating as many veggies as I probably should. By making veggie juice I can pack several into one meal. It's great!

Anyway, I love my juicer and I know that it will help me in my efforts to making healthier eating choices and habits.