I’m back!

Good Morning!

Well…after what was a long time off from writing, cooking, baking and blogging I am back!! Stay tuned for upcoming news and recipes!

Countdown to Christmas Days 25 & 24

The past couple days I have spent “getting organized” and planning the next few weeks. I always find that laying out a plan based on what we have scheduled in terms of holiday parties and outings, and then working in the baking, cooking, wrapping and other activities works best for me (and my sanity).

This weekend is the “kick off” to our holiday parties! My husband and I are out 3 nights in a row and we hope to make it to our local Christmas farmers market and tree lighting as well. In my spare time I plan to complete my christmas cards, which I tend to make a process of, and have them mailed by Tuesday. Normally I have them out by Dec 1 but pregnancy dictated otherwise.

I would love to share my complete outline for the holiday schedule…. but then what would be the point of the countdown! But here is a little sneak peak: This week I plan to start testing out my new gingerbread recipe, building the gingerbread house with my family, attending some local Christmas activites, and altering our favorite Christmas morning casserole.

Will I get everything done??? Now there is something to look forward to!! Until tomorrow friends!

Apple Cheddar Muffins

2 apples

1/2 cup melted butter or oil

2 eggs

1 cup apple juice

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 cups white flour (or you can do all whole wheat)

1/2 cup flax-seed

2/3 cup sugar (I do a combo of white and brown)

4 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 cups grated cheddar cheese  (the sharper the cheese the stronger the taste)

Preheat oven to 375f. Peel, core and finely chop apples. In a large mixing bowl combine flours, flax seed, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg; once mixed add cheese. In a medium bowl beat eggs, add apple juice, butter and apples. Transfer the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until just mixed. Transfer to muffin tins (makes 18) and bake for 20-25 minutes. Start toothpicking at 20.

Yummy!!

Morning Citrus Muffins

1 large orange (or 3-4 mandarin size)

1/2 cup plus a bit orange juice*

1 egg

1/4 oil

3/4 whole wheat flour

3/4 white flour (or you can do all whole wheat)

1/4 cup flax-seed

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 375f. Chop the orange (with the rind) into 1/8ths and add to a blender or food processor with the 1/2 cup orange juice, egg and oil. Blend until smooth but not frothy. In a large mixing bowl combine the remaining ingredients and make a well to add the orange mixture. Stir until just combined; if you find it a tich to thick this is where the “bit” more of orange juice comes in handy. Scoop into muffins tin (makes 12) and bake for 15-20 mins. Start checking at 15 with the toothpick.

Enjoy!

Countdown to Christmas Day 26

Over the fall and winter (and in particular over the holidays) I seem to have an abundance of apples and oranges in my fridge and my girls will only eat them so many days in a row! I often use the apples or oranges with my pork recipes or in a smoothie for a snack but another great use for them is muffins! I like to give my girls a muffin (or half a muffin) instead of a granola snack as I believe it satisfies their tummies more and I know what is in them. They are also great for quick breakfasts over the busy holidays and great to have on hand for surprise holiday house guests!!

I have had 2 recipes on hand for a few years that I have altered over time to make a little more healthy. I tend to substitute whole wheat flour for white flour, brown sugar for white sugar and I always add at least 1/4 flax-seed to everything. I like to use recipes that have less sugar and more natural sweeteners (fruits) or find ways to do it. Honey is also an excellent alternative to sugar however; the measurements may vary so I always recommend a few “test runs” before serving them to guests.

I have yet to try  making the muffins gluten-free but would love to hear if you have altered your recipes to do so. I have used sugar alternatives (ie: splenda) for baking as my grandfather was diabetic and this is what his doctor recommended if sugar had to be used. I will say it did tend to change the taste a bit but with the right mix still tasted delicious!

I will post the recipes in 2 separate posts so they are easier to find in future!!

Happy Baking!!

Countdown To Christmas Days 28 & 27

The count down to Christmas has begun! This weekend we spent our time getting the house ready for Christmas, and this year we were the first people on our street to have our lights up!

The little ones decorated (and re-decorated) the lower half of the tree. And surprisingly enough our little one is not touching everything like we thought she would! (A little “no touching” seems to have gone a long way)

 

This year I decide to invest in a fun advent calender to count down the days until Santa Clause comes to town. I found this cute one that plays music and lights up through Avon. n the days until Santa Clause comes to town. I found this cute one that plays music and lights up through Avon.  Every day we will open a door a picture will be there until the day the big comes… and then we open the red door!   And yes, they still get a chocolate like the store bought kind.

Now on to … everything else. Let the holiday season begin!

Leafy Art

Today on our morning walk I could not believe how gorgeous the leaves were! Normally, at this time of the year, in the climate that we live in, it is really wet and rainy so the leaves generally fall to the ground to fast to even notice. My daughter began to collect them, to go along with the flowers she picked (compliments of the bush we hope belongs to no one) and fill her purse. Of course when we got home she was not willing to part with these new-found treasures so I told her we could bring them in BUT we will do a special project with them. I remember doing this in preschool (thank you to the lovely teachers at Broadmoor Park Preschool in Sherwood Park) and figured how tough can it be!!

You need:

Leaves

Wax paper

Old cloth

Iron

Baking sheet

Place the leaves in between 2 pieces of wax paper and place them on a baking sheet.  Lay the cloth over the wax paper surface and with a hot iron apply heat until the 2 sheets are glued together.  And Voila! Instant art! 🙂

Here she is showing off her art work. Perhaps her first masterpiece…. we shall see.

Until tomorrow….

Granola

This recipe was inspired by my new favorite show “The Chew”. Clinton shared his homemade granola and I decided to do my own. I always thought it would be something very difficult to make… not sure why. Anyhow, the basic concept to remember is 3 cups rolled oats and 1/2 cup portions of everything else.

3 Cups Rolled Oats

1/2 Cup Honey and Maple Syrup Combo

1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil

1/2  Cup Craisins

1/2 Cup Coconut

1/2 Mixed crushed nuts (You can always use seeds or dried fruit instead)

1/2 Flax seed

Preheat oven to 250F. In a large bowl combine dry ingredients and in a medium bowl combine wet. Mix both well and then add the wet to the dry. Place parchment paper on a large baking sheet and spread the mixture evenly across. Bake for 1 to 1 1/4 hour until golden, mixing every 15 to 20 minutes.

I eat granola as a snack, on top of my greek yogurt or as my morning cereal. This recipe is BETTER than the store bought brands (if I do say so myself) and a fraction of the cost!!

I look forward to you sharing your granola recipes!

QUICK TIP: I always do oil portion first…. it helps the honey and syrup slide off the measuring spoons and out of the bowl.

Cheers!

Fall 2011- First post!!!

I will confess, I a have gotten soooo out of the habit of blogging that I am struggling with it at the moment. So bare with me over the next couple weeks while I get my groove back.

What’s new with us??? Well, as previously shared we are expecting a new addition to our family in March so we are preparing our home and the girls for the arrival of their new sibling. We plan to have the girls share a room, I am curious to see how this will work. We have 4 bedrooms but want to keep 1 as the playroom so this dictates the 2 older girls sharing for now.

So far this month we have visited the pumpkin patch, had a big thanksgiving dinner and celebrated my youngest 1st birthday! I will post recipes, photos and stories over the next few days!

Stayed tuned for my easy Granola recipe!

Cheers!

June in a nutshell!!!

I know I am a few days late on revising this… and I am still missing my third June weekend post HOWEVER; as they say: Better late than never!

So, here goes!

As this was my first month writing my new blog, I would say it went fairly well. I certainly was more motivated on the nicer days I will say that. June was a dreary month for weather here in the lower mainland so I did not get to BBQ as much as I hoped.  We did manage to get our friends well “prepared” for their up coming wedding with wonderful festivities, buy a mini van (or a palyhouse on wheels according to my 2 year old), enjoy some nice evening outside when it was sunny, and I learned how to turn on the grill!!

Off to update coming up and what’s fun…STAY TUNED!!!