Amazing granola

I love granola,

but I also know you have to be careful with what granola you eat.

Some store bought granolas are high in fats & sugar. ( always read your labels)

On top of a sweetened yogurt - you surely are eating a sugary breakfast!

This recipe has been adjusted so that you can actually eat granola - without the guilt.

Ingredients:

8 cups old fashioned whole oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 1/2 cup wheat germ

1 cup coconut flakes (sweetened or unsweetened .. your choice :))

1 cup flax seed, ground

8 ounces almonds, chopped coarse

8 ounces cashews, chopped coarse

8 ounces walnuts, chopped coarse

8 ounces sunflower seeds, shelled

1 cup raisins, optional (reduces sugar if not added)

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup canola oil

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 teaspoon vanilla

Preperation:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Mix together oats, sugar, wheat germ, coconut, flax seed, all nuts, and raisins in a LARGE bowl and combine.  You may have to divide this mixture in half into two bowl if you can't find one large enough. You can even add it all into a stock pot. It will be only used for mixing.

In a medium saucepan, add water, oil, honey, peanut butter and vanilla. Bring to a boil. Once it has been brought to a boil, boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and pour over dry mixture. Stir until well combined. 

Spread mixture onto 2 cookie sheets and bake for 1 1/2 hours, stirring about every 30 minutes. 

Cook until granola is done to your "crunch" satisfaction. 

If you like a chewier granola, cook less.

A more crunchy granola, cook longer.

Enjoy over a small bowl of greek yogurt that has been lightly sweetened. 

Always read your labels!!!

Recipe adapted from: abountifulkitchen.com

Banana Bread Bake Off

A Banana Bread Bake-Off!!!

My kids love banana bread.

With my little girl being picky - this is always a way to get some calories in her.

I grew up on banana bread and we have all turned out rather thin -

so I just suggest everything in moderation right?

I found a banana bread recipe years ago and have stuck with it.

I wanted to venture out see if it really was better than other recipes.

So, I made four loaves with four different recipes in one afternoon.

With a variety of recipe ingredients from oil to butter, brown sugar to white sugar, etc.

I think I found a winner!

It was also won by all four mouth that tasted it.

The favorite banana bread

Adapted from: simplyrecipes.com

3 or 4 ripe and smashed bananas

1/3 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

pinch of salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 1/2 cup all purpose flour

In a large bowl, add bananas and butter. Mix until well blended. Add sugar, egg and vanilla. Stir until well combined. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture in bowl and stir until well blended. Add the cinnamon and flour and stir until just mixed. 

Pour all ingredients into a 4x8 inch greased bread pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, slice and serve.

Enjoy!

My famous cinnamon rolls

In my first year of marriage,

I was on a quest,

to find

the best cinnamon roll recipe.

I tried a TON of recipes & none of them had chemistry with me.

Too bready,

Too dry,

&

I dont have a bread machine 

were all some of the problems I ran into.

Then I found this recipe ..

somewhere...

and it won my heart, taste, and mind!

It is perfect!

p.s. cinnamon rolls are considered a "dessert" in my world.

eat cautiously

 Dough:

1 cup warm milk (bath water temperature)
1 tablespoon instant yeast

1 large egg

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cup flour

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Filling:

4 tablespoon soft butter

1/4 cup cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup raisins (optional)

1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Plain dental floss

In a kitchen aid or large mixer, add milk, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes. 

Add egg and mix lightly on lowest setting.

Add butter, salt and flour and knead on medium speed for about 10 minutes. (or until dough pulls together into a very, soft ball.)

* the dough will be very soft and you will feel like you need to add more flour, dont.

Remove dough from mixer and place in a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic. Allow dough until doubled in size. Around 1 hour depending on how warm your home is.

Once dough has doubled, remove dough from bowl and place on lightly floured work surface.

Lay dough onto the floured surface and lightly sprinkle flour on top of ball.

Roll dough out with rolling pin into a large rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick.

Spread 4 tablespoon of soft butter on top of dough.

Add cinnamon, sugar, raisins and walnuts over dough.

Starting with the long side, roll up dough towards you.

Now the dentist comes into play!

Get a 12 inch long piece of dental floss. 

Cut the roll into 1.5 inch thick peices by putting the floss underneath the roll and crossing the floss to cut the roll on top. 

Place pieces on a greased cookie sheet in rows of 4.

Brush tops of buns with melted butter to prevent drying.

Let rise until doubled.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Ice while hot and enjoy!!!

Healthy banana muffin

My little boy just started preschool,

and at 9 a.m.

Which sadly to say is a rush for us :)
So, this year, I am up for quick and easy breakfasts!

I searched Pinterest, Oh how I love you Pinterest & found this recipe.

I made them ... and ... he loves them!

Yea! A healthy breakfast that is quick!

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Quick and healthy banana muffins

2 1/2 cups whole rolled oats

1 single serving cup of plain greek yogurt

2 eggs ( can substitute 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed for 1 egg)

1/2 cup sweetener

(So, I experimented with sweeteners. I used honey only in one recipe and in the other I cut down the sugar to 1/3 c. and used 2 T honey.  The sugar recipe is definitely a lot tastier. So I would recommend using 1/3 c. brown or white sugar with 2 T. honey)

1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 ripe bananas

1. Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender. I would advise to put the yogurt & eggs at the bottom of your blender to result in a easy blend. 

Blend until oats are smooth.

2. Line cupcake pan with foil cupcake liners. Because this recipe has no flour, it tends to stick to the paper liners. 

3. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean. 

4. Let cool and enjoy!

Adapted from dashingdish.com