Everything Waffles

Last Saturday was Everything Muffins, today it's everything waffles! :) I like hot breakfasts on Saturday mornings.

Everything Waffles
1 banana, mashed
1 avocado, mashed
1/4 c. pumpkin
2 eggs
2 T. sugar
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
2 T. ground flaxseed
1 1/2 c. buttermilk

Combine banana, avocado, pumpkin, eggs, and sugar. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and flaxseed. Mix only a little before adding buttermilk. Whisk until smooth. (You can add more milk if your batter is too thick.) Cook in a hot, greased waffle iron and serve with toppings of choice. (We used the classic butter and syrup!) Enjoy! :)

Easy Chow Mein

I just got done eating this for dinner. I had some cooked noodles in the fridge and I wanted to use them so I threw this together with the veggies that I had on hand. You really could use any veggies you want.

Easy Chow Mein
butter
angel hair pasta (I used Ronzoni Smart Taste)
cabbage
yellow squash
mushrooms
salt
tamari (or soy sauce)

Cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside. In a large pot, heat butter. Add veggies and cook until tender. Add cooked pasta, season with salt and cook for a few minutes, stirring often. Serve with tamari or soy sauce.

I thought this was a very tasty meal, not to mention very easy and quick. It happens to be vegetarian but if you want you could add some meat or scrambled eggs. Enjoy!

Almond Joy Bars

Until recently I really didn't care for coconut at all. But in the last few years I've developed a taste for it. These bars (they're kind of brownies) are filled with coconut and chocolate goodness.

Almond Joy Bars
3/4 c. (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. white sugar
1 t. vanilla OR almond extract
4 eggs
2 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 c. cocoa
2 c. flour
1 c. chocolate chips
3 c. coconut, divided
1/2 c. sliced or slivered almonds
1/2 c. whole almonds

Combine butter, sugars, extract, and eggs in a large bowl. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Add baking powder, salt, flour and cocoa. Mix again until combined. Stir in chocolate chips, 2 cups coconut, and sliced almonds. Spread into a greased 9x13" pan and sprinkle with remaining coconut and whole almonds. Bake at 350 F for 25-35 minutes. Check it after 25 minutes. It is done when it's puffy and almost set in the middle and coconut is toasty. These are very pretty when they're done. They would be great to give to a neighbor or bring to a family gathering. Enjoy!

Sesame Quinoa Granola

Mmmmm! Granola! I have a feeling I will be experimenting quite a bit with granola. I can't believe I had never made homemade granola before! It's amazing.

Sesame Quinoa Granola
1/4 c. coconut oil, melted*
1/3 c. maple syrup or honey
1 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cinnamon
3 c. oats
1/2 c. quinoa
2 T. toasted sesame seeds
salt to taste

Combine oil, syrup, vanilla and cinnamon in a bowl.

Add oats, quinoa, sesame seeds and salt. Mix well.
Spread onto and ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes or until deep golden brown. Cool on cookie sheet for about 10 minutes.

Transfer to an air tight container.

This granola is wonderful with fruit and milk.

*You can find coconut oil in the baking aisle near the cooking oils and shortening. If not, go ahead and use regular vegetable or canola oil.

I will be posting more granola recipes in the future, mark my words! :) 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!

Homemade Honey Butter

Homemade Honey Butter

1 c. heavy cream

1/2 t. salt

1/3 c. creamed honey

In a COLD bowl, whip cream with COLD beaters until it turns a pale yellow color and starts to separate from beaters.

Add salt and honey. Continue to whip for about 5 more minutes. Store in the fridge.

This honey butter is excellent with cornbread and muffins. But I warn you, once you taste homemade honey butter, there's no going back! :)
Enjoy!

Cranberry Apple Cider

I know it's not the holiday season yet, but I was really in the mood for a hot spiced cup of something. I threw together what I had on hand and here's what I came up with:

Cranberry Apple Cider
1 (12 oz.) can frozen 100% cranberry juice concentrate
1 (12 oz.) can frozen 100% apple juice concentrate
water
3 cinnamon sticks
1 T. whole cloves

Combine juice concentrates in a large pot. Add 6 canfulls of water, cinnamon sticks, and cloves. Bring to a boil.Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 10-20 minutes. Remove from heat and take out the cinnamon sticks and cloves. Serve warm. This is especially great for kids because there is no added sugar and it will help make them feel better when they have a cold. 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!

Harvest Chili

Football season is the perfect time to break out a nice bowl of chili! This recipe is a little different than most chili recipes because it has a lot more yummy fall veggies and TONS of flavor! This will be a new favorite around our house!

The original recipe from H.E.A.B. uses almond butter, but I opted to use this sunflower seed butter. I also changed a few other things and it was amazing. Thanks to Heather and CD for this wonderful recipe!Harvest Chili

2 T. butter

3 celery stalks, chopped

2 carrots, chopped

2 c. zucchini, chopped

1 T. dried minced onion

1 t. garlic powder, heaping

1/2 lb. lean ground beef

1 (15 oz.) can diced tomatoes

1 (15 oz.) can beans, drained and rinsed

2 T. sunflower seed butter, heaping

1/8 t. cumin

1/8 t. cayenne pepper

salt to taste

In a large pot, melt butter.

Add veggies, onion and garlic powder and saute until zucchini is tender. Then add beef.
Brown meat with veggies, stirring frequently.
Add tomatoes, beans, sunflower seed butter, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt to taste. Mix well and simmer for about 10 minutes.

Serve with grated cheese.

If you don't have sunflower seed butter, I'm sure you could use any nut butter that you want. After all, the original calls for almond butter. Anyway, this was the perfect meal and I will certainly be making it again! Thanks again, Heather! Enjoy!

Zucchini Bread

Fall is a great time for this bread because it's when everyone has a surplus of zucchini in their gardens. This recipe comes from the same book as my Best Ever Banana Bread. Zucchini Bread

3 c. flour

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

2 t. cinnamon

3 eggs

1 c. oil

2 c. sugar

1 T. vanilla

2 c. zucchini, grated

In a large bowl, combine eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla, and zucchini. Mix well. Add flour, baking soda, powder, and cinnamon. Mix just until moistened. Divide batter into two greased and floured bread pans. Bake at 325 F for 45-50 minutes.
Cool for about 10 minutes before removing from pans. Enjoy!

Avocado Pancakes

Avocados in pancakes? I know it sounds weird, but it was very good. The original recipe from H.E.A.B. was gluten-free but I adapted it to include some whole wheat flour.

Avocado Pancakes
1 avocado, mashed
2 eggs
1 egg white (or 1/4 c. liquid egg whites)
2 T. milk
1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 t. baking powder
pinch of salt
1 T. sugar

In a mixing bowl, combine avocado, eggs, egg white, and milk.

Add flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Cook on a greased pan. (I made silver dollar size pancakes.)
Don't be afraid of their color... :) This would be a perfect breakfast for St. Patrick's Day!
I ate them with coconut butter, syrup and cinnamon. Delicious. This recipe only makes enough for about 2-3 people. So if you're cooking for a crowd, double or triple this recipe. Enjoy!