Category Archives: Recipes

Recipes

Leftover Oatmeal Muffins

Leave a comment

Every time I make oatmeal, I have a lot leftover. I usually make “Fried Mush” from Sally Fallon’s cookbook Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats.

All you do is add one egg to the leftover oatmeal, and then sauté by spoonfuls in butter until the edges are crispy. We serve it with honey or maple syrup, and it makes a great mid afternoon snack.

But yesterday I wanted to do something different. I searched online for leftover oatmeal cookie or muffin recipes, but every one I found called for adding a CUP of sugar. Not really what I had in mind for a healthy snack for my kids.

So I decided to adapt one of my favorite low sugar muffin recipes to include cooked oatmeal.

Leftover Oatmeal Muffins

1 to 1.5 cups cooked oatmeal ( mine always has raisins cooked in it)
1.5 cups flour (I use a combination of whole wheat and spelt)
2 TBSPs aluminum free baking powder
1 egg lightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
4 TBSPs maple syrup
1 to 2 TBSPs softened butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Sift the dry ingredients together, then mix everything else in. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Yields 12.

The muffins were a hit. Both boys helped me with the whole process, and there were only two left at the end of the day.

20130504-223153.jpg

Ask Holly, Recipes

Ask Holly: How Do You Pronounce Quinoa

Leave a comment

And what is it? I feel like I’ve seen this food everywhere lately (even in pasta) and I’m too embarrassed to ask anyone what it is, especially since I dont know how to say it. Thanks!

-Jenna L

NY,NY

Hi Jenna-

I’m so glad you asked. Quinoa is one of my family’s favorite foods.

Quinoa is pronounced “keen-wah.” It is a nutritional powerhouse originally cultivated by the Incas more than 5,000 years ago; they referred to it as the “mother of all grains.” It contains all nine essential amino acids, making it a great source of protein for vegetarians. Quinoa is also high in magnesium, fiber, calcium, phosphorus, iron, copper, manganese, riboflavin and zinc.

While quinoa is widely considered a grain, it’s actually the seed of a plant related to chard and spinach. Quinoa is a gluten-free grain and has a similar effect as other whole grains in helping to stabilize blood sugar.

For best results, rinse quinoa before you cook it to remove the waxy saponin coating which can have a bitter taste. When cooked, it has a fluffy, slightly crunchy texture. Try it in soups, salads, as a breakfast porridge or as its own side dish.

For quinoa, and whole grains in general, digestion begins in the mouth through chewing and exposure to saliva. For optimal nutrition and assimilation, it is vital to chew your grains well. Make it a habit to chew each bite 20 times or more. You’ll be surprised how this simple practice can help your digestion.

Now it’s time to try this glorious new (to you) food!

Quinoa Pilaf

Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
2 1/4 cups water or stock
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Rinse quinoa in fine mesh strainer until water runs clear.
  2. Boil the water and add quinoa and salt, cover and reduce heat.
  3. After 15 minutes add cranberries and walnuts to top; do not stir.
  4. Cook 5 minutes more, until all the liquid is absorbed.
  5. Remove from heat, add parsley and fluff with fork, cover and let sit for 3-5 minutes and Enjoy!
Recipes

Easiest Crockpot Recipe Ever

4 Comments

Sausage and Cabbage in the Slow Cooker

I can hardly call this a recipe, as you just put two things in the crock pot and let it cook on low all day. It is the easiest thing I make, but it is delicious!

What you’ll need:

  1. One head of cabbage- purple, green, whatever variety you like
  2. Sausage- spicy, mild, breakfast, whatever you have
  3. Slow cooker

easy crock pot recipe

Directions:

  1. Wash cabbage and tear up leaves. This is a great project for kids
  2. Pack cabbage in slow cooker until completely full
  3. Cut sausage in one inch pieces and put on top of cabbage
  4. Cover (lid might not fit from all of the cabbage and sausage, but as it cooks it will shrink), turn crock pot on low, and let cook for about 6 hours

easy crock pot sausage and cabbage

Serve on plates and enjoy.

Easy as that! My whole family loves this dish.

Let me know if you try it.

 

Recipes

(Mostly) Organic Dirt Cups Recipe

Leave a comment

We had an Angry Birds themed party for my son’s fourth birthday. We decided that individual dirt cakes adorned with gummy worms would go perfectly with our theme.

I found a recipe for individual dirt cups on the Kraft website and made it better by using all natural and organic ingredients!

(Mostly) Organic Dirt Cake Recipe

Ingredients:
15 Sandwich Creme Cookies
1 tub of TruWhip
4.5 oz Box Organic Chocolate Pudding Mix
2 Cups Organic Whole Milk
Organic Gummy worms (yes, they exist)

Directions:
Make the pudding as directed on the box.
Let it cool to room temperature. As it is cooling, crumble the 15 cookies either by running them through your food processor, or putting them in a plastic bag and using a rolling pin to crush them.* Once the pudding has cooled, stir in 1/2 cup of the crumbled cookies and the tub of TruWhip.

Next fill small plastic cups (I used the 9oz size) with three heaping tablespoons of the pudding mixture. Then add a spoonful of the crumbled cookie over the top of each- enough to cover pudding. Keep refrigerated until serving. Finally just before serving, add an organic gummy worm to each dirt cup.

all natural individual dirt cups

Makes 12.

Can be made ahead and frozen- they take about 15 minutes to thaw.

*My 4 year old LOVED the dirt making part. He helped me count out the cookies, then I sealed them in a plastic bag and he used his wooden hammer to crumble those cookies!