Whole Grain Corn Muffins

Fast, easy and yummy mini corn muffins.

1 1/2 cups Hodgson Mill yellow corn meal

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 raw honey
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 cup buttermilk*

1 egg
1/4 cup grapeseed oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease mini muffin tin with grapeseed oil spray. Combine all ingredients in micing bowl and mix until just combined. Spoon batter into muffin tins, and bake for about 10 minutes. Makes about 24 mini muffins.

*Note: you can make buttermilk by adding one tbsp lemon juice to a one cup measuring cup then filling it the rest of the way with milk.

Crunchy Fish Sticks

I had a craving for fish sticks...so I made my own so I would at least know what I was eating! Took a little more time than frozen fish sticks, but they were so good, my daughter loved them! When you crave fried food, try it yourself! You'll save yourself at least a year of your life I'm sure. ;)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoons dried mustard

sea salt and pepper to taste

2 cups buttermilk

2 eggs

about 4 tilapia filets (fresh and cut lengthwise and then in half- cut in half again if too thick, 1/4 inch thickness works good)

Panko style bread crumbs

1 cup refined coconut oil

In a large bowl, mix together flour, mustard, salt, and pepper; add buttermilk and eggs. Heat oil over medium/medium high heat. Pour breadcrumbs into a large plate. Coat fish in egg mixture and roll in breadcrumbs. Cook in heated oil for about 2 minutes on each side (you will know the oil is hot enough if you drop some of the egg mixture into it and it sizzles). Place cooked fish sticks on a plate with paper towel to absorb extra oil. Serve hot.

Kitchen Sink Carob Crunchers

Made a brownie recipe with carob... I like carob, but it sure has a different taste than cocoa! You could use cocoa powder in this in place of carob if you don't like it.

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup carob powder

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 to 1 1/2 cups grapeseed oil

1 cup sucanat

1 large egg

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup unsweetened flaked coconut

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees, coat baking pan with grapeseed oil. Whisk together first 5 ingredients, set aside. Whisk oil, sugar, egg and vanilla, then add to dry ingredients. Stir in coconut and walnuts- you may need to add more oil if it's too dry. I did. Spread into prepared pan. Sprinkle top with chocolate chips, some coconut and some walnuts. Bake for about 25 minutes, cool, and cut into bars.

Is a UTI TMI??

This weekend I had a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection) turning into or already a bladder infection....very painful, I had to pee all the time, and I had blood in my pee! (TMI?? Sorry!)
My Hubby bought me D-Mannose, a supplement used to promote a healthy urinary tract. I took it on Saturday and within 24 hours I was just about healed! It was amazing! I know UTI's can be common for woman, so I had to share. We got it from Whole Foods, it cost about $27- but way worth it as I did not have to pay a co-pay to see a Doctor, then pay for a prescription, not to mention the time it would take to have an appointment. An antibiotic would have killed the harmful bacteria I had (the infection), but also all the good bacteria too (what fights off illness). With the D-Mannose, my UTI is gone and I still have all the good bacteria I need in my body to fight off sickness. Just blows my mind, it's way cool!!! Here's a link with info on D-Mannose:
http://products.mercola.com/d-mannose/

And here's to no more UTI's!!! :)

Apple Breakfast Bars- FAST!

I found this recipe online, and decided to try it because it looked so easy and healthy. Scarlotte and I made them this morning and easy and healthy they are!

Apple Breakfast Bars (or snack bars!)

Good and healthy!

1 1/2 cups quick rolled oats

1/4 cup whole wheat flour

2/3 cup chopped dates

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 orange juice (I only had apple juice and used that instead)

1 1/2 cups raw apples, shredded (about 2 medium)

cinnamon

honey

Place first 7 ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Sprinkle with cinnamon and drizzle with honey (almost doesn't need the honey, but I added it anyway to find out later it was sweet already). Let stand 10 minutes. Press into a greased (grapeseed oil spray) 8 by 8 pan and bake at 375 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Serve warm. Freezes well.

My Most Favorite Soup Ever- Healthified!

We call this 'Cheesy Potato Soup'. I love anything potato and potato soup is my fav (like at Panera- yum!)! So here is a healthy version. I used to make this according to the recipe, and my husband and I both agreed that the healthier version tasted even better. First meal I ever made for him when we were dating! :)







Cheesy Potato Soup

6 medium potatoes

1 small onion

3 tablespoons organic butter

3 tablespoons whole wheat flour

Crushed red pepper flakes

Ground black pepper

3-4 cups raw milk (yes, I did say raw...although you can use regular or organic milk if you're not quite 'there' yet!)

1/2 teaspoon organic cane sugar or Xylitol

1 cup shredded all natural cheese such as white cheddar, swiss, monterrey jack or a combo of all 3  Raw cheese would be best!

About 1/2 lb uncured ham or You can also substitute turkey, cut in cubes. We don't eat a lot of pork and are trying to get away from it completely. Next time I make this I will use organic uncured turkey breast. You could also use uncured organic chicken sausage (cook it first).

Boil a pot of water while you peel and chop the potatoes (cut into cubes). Add potatoes and cook until tender. Drain, reserving one cup of the cooking water and set the potatoes and liquid aside.

Peel and finely chop onion. Melt coconut oil in pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent and tender, but not brown. Add flour and season with red pepper flakes and pepper (beware- spicy!). Cook 3-4 minutes. Gradually add potatoes, reserved 1 cup cooking liquid, 3 cups milk and sugar. Stir well. Add cheese and ham. Add extra cup of milk if too 'stoupy'. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. Pair with a salad and dinner's done!

Home Made Whole Wheat Pizza

Enjoy a pizza night without the grease and without clogging your arteries! Make this SO EASY crust to add your favorite toppings to.

In a large bowl add:

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon organic cane sugar or raw honey

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 packages dry active yeast ( you need 3 teaspoons)

3 tablespoons grapeseed oil

1 cup very warm water

Mix all together with a spoon. Knead dough 5-10 minutes until it is soft and springy. Cover loosely and let rise in a warm place for at least 30 minutes, until it has doubled and your finger inprint stays in the dough. I usually make this ahead of time, and let it rise for a couple hours.

For pizza: Grease a pizza stone using grapeseed oil and sprinkle with corn meal. Roll dough onto stone. Spread with your favorite sauce, mozzarella cheese and toppings. Bake at 475 degrees for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Scarlotte loves healthy pizza!

Monique's Praise and Glory Muffins

My version of my friend Monique's recipe for 'Praise and Glory' muffins. You can find the original gluten free recipe at http://www.chariscreationsrecipes.blogspot.com/. Please note that my version is NOT gluten free unless you use the gluten free flour version ;). These muffins are just like my favorite muffin at Whole Foods that my Hubby buys me once in a while for $1.25 per muffin! So yummy! My favorite and now I can make them at home!

Monique's Praise and Glory Muffins

350 degrees

1/2 cup raisins

1 large organic apple, chopped small

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (or use a meat tenderizer to smash!)

3/4 cup shredded coconut ( make sure it is ONLY coconut with no added sugars or anything else!)

2 cups grated carrots (about 2 large carrots)

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

**2 cups whole wheat flour
(For gluten free, use 1 1/4 cup oat bran flour and 3/4 cup quinoa flour. Delicious!)

3 eggs

2/3 cup applesauce (no sugar added)

1/2 cup raw honey or 3/4 cup Xylitol

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In a mixing bowl, beat together eggs, your choice of sweetener, applesauce, and vanilla. Next add your flour (s), cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix in carrots, raisins, nuts, coconut and anything else you want (we tried sunflower seeds today). Fill greased (grapeseed oil spray) muffin tins very full. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick placed in center comes out clean. For me, it made 14 large muffins. Or 24 mini muffins and 6 large muffins.
**We absolutely love the gluten free version with xylitol of these! So healthy, light and delicious. Try it!

Yummy Guilt Free Alfredo!

Thanks to Rachael Ray for this recipe, of course I changed some of the ingredients (and added chicken and broccoli!)...

Chicken and Broccoli Fettuccine Alfredo

Serves 6

(Sorry the picture is not that great!)

1 package whole wheat fettuccine pasta, cooked

2 boneless skinless free range chicken breasts, cut in cubes and sauteed in grapeseed oil and pepper in large skillet

1 head of broccoli, cut up and cooked (or 1 16 oz bag of frozen broccoli, cooked)

3 tablespoons refined coconut oil

1 cup organic or raw whole milk, half and half or heavy cream

1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I used raw cheese, not very budget friendly but at least no additives or MSG!)

sea salt and pepper

wheat flour

Boil pasta according to package directions. Boil broccoli until tender, drain. Cook chicken until done, drain extra juices and oil. Add pasta and broccoli to chicken pan.

In a small saucepan or skillet, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Sprinkle with pepper and sea salt. Add milk/half and half/heavy cream and cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add cheese and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture has thickened. If too thin, sprinkle top with a teaspoon or two of whole wheat flour. Once at your desired thickness, pour over chicken, pasta and broccoli and mix in well.

Sprinkle parmesan over top and serve hot!

May I Have Some Water Please?

"And you shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless your bread and your water; and I the Lord God will take sickness from the midst of you." Exodus 23:25

Great article the importance of, and healing ability of good drinking water:

www.passionatehomemaking.com/2010/01/2010-health-goal-drink-more-water.html

So go on...Drink more water!

Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies...a work in progress!

My husband loves these...although I am not convinced- yet. I think they could be tastier. I think it was the dark chocolate for me. I prefer the sweeter taste of semisweet chocolate chips. Will do for now! :)

Makes: About 25 cookies

325 degrees

1 cup refined coconut oil or organic butter

1/4 cup sucanat

1/2 cup cane sugar or 1/4 cup raw honey

2 free range eggs

2 egg yolks

1 tbsp vanilla extract

3 1/3 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1-2 cups dark chocolate chips (I broke dark chocolate bars into tiny pieces)

Mix together coconut oil, sucanat and sugar or honey using a hand mixer. Add eggs and egg yolk. Add vanilla. Add all dry ingredients. Add dark chocolate. Line rounded tablespoons of dough on greased (grapeseed oil spray) cookie sheets and press down slighly. Bake for 8-12 minutes at 325 degrees.