Blueberry Muffins or Chocolate Chip Muffins

I'm expecting a baby in 20 days!  I've decided to stock the freezer and am starting with muffins. A quick breakfast we can pull out the night before.  This basic recipe can be used for many different kinds of muffins-just mix in what you like. I've tried blueberries and chocolate chips. If you don't have wheat flour, use 3 cups white. If you don't have Greek yogurt, use regular or even sour cream.

What you will need: 2 cups flour, 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon soda, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup vanilla Greek yogurt, 2 large eggs, 1 stick butter (melted and cooled), 1 cup blueberries (fresh or frozen) or 1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375. Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and yogurt.  Fold the eggs and yogurt into the dry mixture.  Then fold in butter. Then fold in your mix in (blueberries, chips, banana, etc). Use an ice cream scoop to place batter in muffin tins lined with paper liners or greased. I sprinkled raw sugar on the top as well. Bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Oatmeal Banana Muffins

Don't let the word 'muffin' throw you off here. With no flour in this recipe, it really doesn't produce a muffin.  I felt they were more like a bowl of oatmeal with banana and chocolate chip mixed in, but in a handy muffin shape.  Great for on the go breakfast.

What you will need: 3 ripe mashed bananas,1 cup milk, 2 eggs, 1 tbsp baking powder, 3 cups oats, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix all ingredients except the chocolate chips together; let sit while you prepare the muffin pans. Spray a muffin pan with non-stick spray or line with cupcake liners. Stir the chocolate chips into the oatmeal mixture.  Fill the cups to the tops and bake 20-30 minutes.  I have been storing these in the refrigerator to keep them fresh.

Experiment and add in other favorites like walnuts, raisins, cinnamon, or whatever else you like.

Strawberry Fruit Dip

Here is an easy fruit dip that you can make with things that might already be in your kitchen.

What you need: 1 small container of strawberry yogurt, 2 tablespoons strawberry jam, 1 cup of whipped topping

Mix these three ingredients together. Add more whipped topping if you like. Serve with pears, apples, bananas, strawberries, grapes.

Biscuits and Gravy

Here's a recipe you can use for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

What you will need: 1 pound sausage, 4 cups milk, 4-8 tablespoons flour, biscuits/biscuit recipe

Start by browning your sausage in a skillet.  Once it's cooked through, place it in a bowl and set aside.  Add a tablespoon at a time to the skillet and grease, letting each tablespoon brown before adding another. Stir constantly.  Once you have enough gravy to make a thick base, add in the milk and stir with a whisk.  As the mixture cooks, it will thicken.  You want to have a slight bubble to it. When it reaches the desired thickness add the sausage and stir.  Serve over your biscuits.

Note: I didn't supply you with a biscuit recipe because I haven't found one that I love.  You can find recipes in any cookbook, use a baking mix, or the canned refrigerated biscuits.

Black Bean Burritos and Granola

I know, know.  It's a weird combination, but I didn't serve them together.  I was a little bored this afternoon so thought I'd make some granola.  My husband comes home and says "Wow, you had time to make granola?"  like it was a big deal. I'm here to tell you that granola is super easy to make.

Granola (just one way)

What you will need: 2 cups rolled oats (old fashion or quick), 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 1/2 cup sliced almonds, 1/2 cup raisins, 1/2 cup craisins, 6 tbsp canola oil, 4 tbsp honey.

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl.  Spread mixture on a rimmed cookie sheet (jelly roll pan) and bake for 20 minutes.  Check in on it occasionally and stir it around.  Let cool slightly then transfer to an air tight container.  Serve with milk, yogurt, or fresh fruit.


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So, if you've been reading the blog lately....or the last 6 or so recipes I posted today you have probably noticed that I'm trying to incorporate more vegetarian meals into our diet.  The children are probably having the hardest time with this. Last night they had chicken strips and tonight I made them a chicken breast on the George Foreman Grill while I made quacamole and black bean burritos for the hubs and myself.

The quac recipe is already posted - try April or May?  I made up the burrito recipe and it was quite good if I do say so myself.  I discovered Manchego cheese this past weekend while visiting family.  I fell in love!  I went right out and bought myself some when I got home. It's on the pricey side, but oh so good.  Life is short, treat yourself to good cheese!

What you will need:  One can of black beans, 1/2 red onion, 1/2 green pepper, 2 garlic cloves, grated manchego cheese, small flour tortillas

Heat the black beans with their juices in a sauce pan.  Meanwhile, heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a small saute pan or skillet.  Add chopped onion and chopped green pepper.  Once those cook down a bit throw in the garlic.  I happened to have some sweet corn left over from last night so I cut that off the cob and threw it in too.  If you like spicy, add some red pepper flakes or jalapeno.
Warm the tortillas. Build you burrito with beans (use a slotted spoon to avoid the juice) topped with the pepper mix and that oh so good Manchego cheese.

Sorry, no pictures today. I was too involved in my cooking to stop and take pictures;)

Whole Grain Pancakes

These are the best pancakes you'll ever eat!  They are meant to be mixed up in a huge batch and then distributed among Ball jars and given as gifts.

What you will need: 4 cups quick oats, 2 cup all purpose flour, 2 cups whole wheat flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup dry milk, 3 tbsp baking powder, 2 tbsp cinnamon, 5 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Mix all the dry ingredients and store in an air tight container.  To make the pancakes, use 1 cup of the mix, 1/2 cup water, 1.5 tbsp oil, and 1 egg.  Make on a griddle. 

Add ins: bananas, apples, applesauce, blueberries.

In the morning, we'll have WAFFLES!

Being a stay at home mom has it's perks.  Perks for Mom, but perks for the rest of the family as well.  Do you think my kids and husband got waffles on a weekday when I was working?  The answer is no.  I'm considering going back to work this fall so they better get their waffles while they can!

What you will need:  1 3/4 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1/4 tsp salt, 2 eggs, 1 3/4 cup milk, 1/2 cup vegetable oil, vanilla

Plug in your waffle iron before you start mixing the ingredients.  Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Create a well in the middle.  In a separate bowl slightly beat the eggs with a fork or whisk. Add the milk, oil, and vanilla.  Pour the wet ingredients in the 'well' and mix all together. I like to use a whisk, but a spoon or fork will work.  It's okay if the batter is a bit lumpy too.  Before pouring on the waffle iron spray it with cooking spray so the waffles don't stick.  Use a soup ladle; fill the bowl of the ladle with batter and pour into the middle of the waffle iron.  Before closing the lid, let it spread out and sit a bit; until it bubbles.  Close the lid and let the iron do it's magic.  I can't tell you exactly how many minutes to cook it. I just peek and see if the waffle is getting brown. Maybe 2-3 minutes.  Take out and top with your favorite toppings.

Note:  these can be made on weekdays or weekends!!!  Also great for dinner with sausages and eggs.