Chocolate Muffins/ Cake / Brownies...you decide!

So very thankful for Pinterest!  I have found such wonderful recipes there.

This one has rave reviews from the man clan, my nurse friends, church folks and the healthy friends at the Wellness Center.

I found this recipe posted as 
Triple Chocolate Chunk Vitatop Muffins that sell for $6/4.  
When I read the ingredient list...I was very skeptical....
no butter, no sugar, no white flour, no cream....

Chocolate....healthy....REALLY?!?!?

You must try this one!  The Pinterest link took me here.

This is my version...
1 3/4 cups of old fashioned oats
4 eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1-1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup hot water
1/4 cup stevia (the recipe also said that 1 cup granular Splenda could be used....
I say it is evil and bad for you...research its side-effects)  If you don't have stevia use 1 cup sugar
1/2 semi-sweet chocolate chips (also try white chocolate, mint or peanut butter chips)
1/2 chopped walnuts, pecans or almonds (optional)
I have revised the recipe to contain a bit more protein by using whole eggs rather than just egg whites.  Another way to increase the protein would be by adding nuts to the recipe.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using Demarle there is no need to grease pans, but if you have traditional cookware get out your cupcake liners or non-stick spray, or grease and flour...prepare and set those pans aside.  This recipe makes 12 lg muffins, 2 cake layer, a sheet cake of brownies or
too many mini-muffins to count.

In a blender mix all the ingredients (except the choc chips).  Blend the mixture until the oats are ground and the batter is smooth.  Stir in chocolate chips.  When I make the cake layers, I sprinkle the chocolate chips in the bottom of the pan and pour batter over them.  When the layers are inverted out of the pan, it is topped with the chips...YUM!

THE MUFFINS BAKE IN 12-15 MINUTES.  I RECOMMEND BAKING THE CAKE FOR 20 THEN CHECK IT EVERY 5 MINUTES AFTER.  I LIKE TO ALLOW IT TO REMAIN A BIT FUDGE-LIKE IN THE CENTER!

This batter can be muffins, 
cake  
or brownies.  I use demarle flexible cookware...actually I am an avid collector of this fine professional cookware.  I started my collection about 10 years ago...as a skeptical friend willing to try something new, but not sure I should make a huge investment....
It was the beginning of a wonderful find, that has added indescribable ease to my pleasure of baking.  

If you know me....I share my Demarle...sent some home with a friend tonight who also took a copy of this recipe!  I consider myself blessed to have such an amazing collection I can use and share!

 

Prep Tips

Often I hear folks say, " I just don't have time to make homemade...a boxed mix will do." Most days I do not have time either if their making would entail a trip to the store to gather ingredients then the measuring, mixing and baking.

I have made and have eaten my share of store bought cookie dough cookies. They are good, but there are just some favorite cookie recipes that cannot be beat! It is a pleasure to make them for friends and family. One of my sentimentally favorite cookie is Grandma Tweet's Oatmeal Cookie, Missy's Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies, and my cookie exchange favorite, Chocolate Oatmeal Chippers. These cannot be bought at the grocery store.
Bisquick does not come close to my oatmeal flour waffles and pancakes...I might add that Mrs. Coffee's Blueberry Muffins rival any boxed mix out there!

To help make recipes like these a reality in the busy-ness of my life... I look for times when I have only a 5-10 minute slot...certainly not enough time to make a whole batch of cookies...yet it is plenty of time to measure out all of the dry ingredients. This past week I combined the ingredients for 3 different batches of cookies. For years I have been doing this for muffin, pancake and waffle recipes. In a pinch I can have dough for cookies and batter for the others prepared in a "jiffy". I know and am able to pronounce all the ingredience in the mixes that I have made. With the dump of a baggie and the addition of a few noted ingredients I am minutes away from warm, delicious homemade treats!

1. selection of recipes


2. I hope it is visible that I packaged bags within bags. The sugars are separate with a list of wet ingredients to add (see pic below). The flour and soda are in bag number 2 to be added to "wet ingredients" . The largest bag has the oatmeal, wheat germ, coconut, chocolate chips, and nuts. The two smaller bags fit within the largest bag.




Days later when you have another 10 minute slot and you combine the wet ingredients to make the dough...the dough can then be stored in the gallon ziplock bag in the refrigerator.


The other two baggies I save for the next time I feel like prepping some cookie mix

I slip them into the rubbermaid box and know where to find them the next time I find the time to do some prepping!

New You,,,,New Beverages,,,,New Breakfasts,,,Happy 2013

New you requires new healthy habits in 2013!

 My challenge to you is for you to become aware of how you are fueling your body.  Are you getting your desired results?  

Get creative with your drink options....think outside the can or bottle!  Pull out your blender and make some healthy refreshing treats. 

Plan ahead and start your day with a 

delightfully healthy breakfast!

This morning had the privilege to cook on WTVY Saturday morning news with Oscar Fann and Devon Sellers.

Presented

Strawberry Lemon/Lime Refresher 

and

Homemade Granola

served with coconut milk or almond milk

and/or 

Home Flavored Vanilla Yogurt

When wanting to have healthy breakfast options available to your family, have fruit prepped and ready to eat.  Also it is a great idea to bake ahead some muffins like my 

Blueberry Muffins and Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal.

Always grateful for the opportunity to share my cooking with others!  Thanks again to Devon and Oscar for enjoying my cooking! 

Lunch Box Trays

Am doing what I can to offer fruit, veggies, rotate grains, and not fall into the prepackaged, highly processed lunch food rut.  100 Days of Real Food has been absolutely inspirational as well as highly informational!  Once one starts doing the research to know what they are consuming and feeding their family, it is impossible to be indifferent.  For me it has become an issue of conscience, which has greatly impacted my health and the health of my man clan.
There is no denying that in this culture of highly processed foods and beverages we all need ideas to get beyond the sandwich and chips!  I did not get to this place overnight.  This is doable with a day of prep work.  Get those fruits and veggies washed and cut, a batch of muffins baked. Choose supper options like homemade deep dish pizza or chili that will transport well to school the next day. You can do this.

 If your children "don't like" anything that is not processed....start introducing fruits and veggies at home and remove the processed foods as home snacking options. I also sat down at the computer with my guys and looked through lunch ideas on PINTREST.  We made out a list of fruits, veggies, baked goods, entrees, snack treats.....it was a brainstorming session.

 I find that the trays shown here (purchased at Walmart, BPA free) work well, but only if you can find a lunch box they are able to fit in flatly. The lunchbox available at the above link has made these trays work well and other items still fit in the lunchbox easily.

Homemade flat bread (Naan) with pizza toppings to make a pizza-"lunchable"
Fresh veggies, granola bar, banana milkshake and a muffin as well.

Nitrite free hot dog
blueberries, strawberries
kids Cliff bar,
celery bites
cherry tomatoes

Snow Peas, Carrots
Hummus
Raspberries
Blueberries
Cheese
(Just snack)

chocolate chip energy bites
Hormel Natural Ham and cheese
gluten free crackers
PB Rice Crispy Treat
Blueberry Muffin
carrots and cherry tomatoes
honeydew and strawberries

Deep dish pizza
baby carrots
PB Rice Crispy Treat
Gluten Free Crackers
WW Chocolate Chip Cookie

Cookin' Days

Loving this thing that has evolved!  Great recipes, great friend and...

Sorry for the poor photo quality here,but it is all I have left to show you for our cooking efforts of week 2!  Starting at the lower left corner, Vita Top Muffins Chocolate Chip Muffins, Meatballs, Whole Wheat Buttermilk Biscuits, Oatmeal Waffles, Almond Cookies,  Mock Organic CornDogs

Week 4: Bean and Beef Empanadas, Cheescake minis with a ginger snap crust, dozen egg and sausage crustless quiche, German Puff Pancake, Organic Whole Wheat Naan flat bread, Mock Corndogs (wrapped with biscuit dough...full coverage and spiral wrapped....the man clan prefers the spiral wrapped.)

sweet fellowship 

and sweet rewards for our labor!  

After posting links to the above lists, I see that several recipes need to be posted!  Will be working on it and will also plan to get better photos before everyone eats.....If there are specific recipes you may be interested in making, Text or email me your request or feel free to request that I post it first...

Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup oil (applesauce can be substituted)

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk
Beat liquid ingredients together.
3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup and 2 TBS molasses)
3 cups quick oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Stir dry ingredients and then combine the liquid and dry together.

Fruit variations:
Peaches
2-3 cups fresh or frozen peaches
1 tsp cinnamon as mentioned in base recipe

Apple Banana
peel and grate apple into oatmeal mixture
2 bananas mashed and combined into mixture


Blueberry
1 teaspoon nutmeg (very good with blueberries!)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Banana Chocolate Chip
2 bananas mashed and added to oatmeal mixture
1 cup chocolate chips
Spice Muffins
cinnamon as mentioned in base recipe
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Sugar free option For all of you that love Baked Oatmeal, I have tried it sugar-free successfully.

3 mashed (frozen and thawed) bananas,
1 c. frozen blueberries,1 1/2 TBS of stevia.
Can bake in 9x13 buttered baking dish...or scoop into muffin pan.
Bake @ 450 for about 15-20 minutes. Set your timer!
Allow to cool in muffin pan before turning out onto cooling rack. The family is sure to enjoy these!