Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

These were SO yummy--everyone loved them & not too bad for you either!  You can also sprinkle on a little powdered sugar on the top for an added treat :)

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins


3/4 C. unsweetened applesauce

1/4 C. oil

3/4 C. honey

2 eggs (I use egg beaters)

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 C. sour milk (add 1 tsp. vinegar or lemon juice to 1/2 C. milk (I used skim) & let it sit for 5 minutes)

1 1/2 C. whole wheat flour

1 C. oatmeal

5 Tbsp. cocoa

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

3/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves (you can use nutmeg if you don't have cloves)

1/2 tsp. salt (I used 1/4 tsp.)

2 C. finely diced zucchini (I just shred it)

1 C. chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet & I just put 4 chocolate chips on the top of each muffin & press them down a little bit)



Mix batter in order of ingredients & fold in zucchini last. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan (or makes 24 muffins) & sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes (20-25 minutes for muffins) or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cake cool & sprinkle powdered sugar on top.





recipe from me (I just made some adaptations from this Chocolate Zucchini Cake recipe to make it a little less bad for you :))

Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a very yummy chocolate chip cookie recipe!  It's also very good using whole wheat flour as well.

Mrs. Field's Chocolate Chip Cookies


 2 C. butter, softened

1 1/2 C. sugar

2 C. brown sugar

3 eggs (I used egg beaters)

2 Tbsp. vanilla

6 C. flour (can do part whole wheat flour or all)

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. soda

6 C. chocolate chips (I didn't use this much & I like to do 1/2 milk chocolate, 1/2 semi-sweet)

2 C. chopped nuts--walnuts or pecans (optional--I just put nuts in some of mine & I used walnuts)




Cream butter & sugars together.  Mix in eggs & vanilla.  Sift in dry ingredients & mix until just combined.  Stir in chocolate chips & nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.






 *I halved this recipe since it's such a big batch & it worked great.  I was able to do 1 1/2 eggs since I was using egg beaters, but I'm sure it would work fine just using 2 eggs.




recipe from Mrs. Fields recipe book

Stir Fry

This was SO GOOD!  We had this for Father's Day & we enjoyed it so much that we made it again for my birthday a couple weeks later :)

Stir Fry


2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (thawed & cut into bite-sized pieces)

garlic, to taste (I used 1 1/2 tsp. minced garlic)

6 carrots, peeled & cut into bite-sized pieces

6 stalks of celery, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 C. broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 C. cauliflower, cut into bite-sized pieces

1 onion, cut

1 red bell pepper, cut into strips

1 green bell pepper, cut into strips

pea pods, cut in half (I used about 1/4 to 1/2 lb. and I also cut of the little stem ends, but you don't have to)

1 small cabbage, cut into bite-sized pieces

juice of 1/2 of a lemon (I used the bottled lemon juice)

3 Tbsp. water

3 Tbsp. cornstarch (mix together with water in a small bowl)

soy sauce, to taste (I used about 7 Tbsp.)

garlic powder, to taste (I just sprinkled some in)



Cook chicken with garlic & a little bit of oil in a large pan or Wok if you have one (I just got this one for my birthday at Walmart for $30 & it worked great!).  Remove chicken & set aside.  Cook carrots & celery on medium heat for a few minutes, stirring every so often throughout the whole process of cooking the stir fry.  Then add in broccoli & cauliflower & cook for a few minutes.  Add in onion & bell peppers & cook for a few minutes.  Then add in pea pods & cabbage & cook for a few minutes.  Add in chicken.  Then add in lemon juice & cornstarch/water mixture.  Add in soy sauce & garlic powder.  Serve over rice or noodles (we like ours with brown rice).





*All of the measurements for the vegetables are approximates--you can do as much as you want or different kinds of vegetables too!



*The cooking time is also just an estimate--cook it for a shorter amount of time if you like your vegetables a little crunchy or cook it for longer if you like them soft.






recipe from Mom

Apple Cider Syrup & Pumpkin Pancakes

These pancakes & syrup were really yummy & it was fun to make something with our yummy apple cider from Patterson Farms!

Apple Cider Syrup & Pumpkin Pancakes


Apple Cider Syrup


1 C. sugar

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (see recipe below if needed)

4 C. apple cider or juice


Mix together cornstarch, sugar, & pumpkin pie spice. Stir in apple juice & bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil until you reach desired thickness (I just did it for a few minutes). Remove from heat & serve over pancakes. Refrigerate leftovers.



Pumpkin Pie Spice


1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ginger

1/8 tsp. allspice (I didn't have allspice, so I used cloves)

1/8 tsp. nutmeg




Pumpkin Patch Pancakes


Make your favorite pancake mix & for every 1 C. of dry mix, add:

1/4 C. pumpkin

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice


Mix & cook according to package directions & serve with apple cider syrup.




*I used a whole-wheat pancake mix from Hodgson Mill & it tasted great!




recipe from Real Mom Kitchen, you can go here for the original recipe

Poppyseed Muffins

These were really good--we all loved them! I prefer to eat them when they are cooled, but they're good warm too.

Poppyseed Muffins

3 eggs (I used Egg Beaters)

1 1/8 C. vegetable oil (I do 3/4 of the amount unsweetened applesauce and 1/4 oil)

2 1/2 C. sugar (I used 3/4 C. honey)

1 1/2 Tbsp. poppyseed

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 tsp. almond extract (I used 3 tsp.)

1 1/2 C. milk (I use skim)

3 C. flour (I used 2 C. whole wheat flour & 1 1/2 C. oatmeal)

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tsp. salt (I used 3/4 tsp.)




Combine all of the ingredients together (except the dry ingredients) and mix together. Sift in the dry ingredients & mix until just combined. The batter usually has quite a few lumps, so I like to break those up. Scoop into muffin tins (I fill them mostly full) & bake in a pre-heated oven at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.




*Makes 24 muffins.





recipe from me (I just made some adaptations to this Poppyseed Bundt Cake & Glaze recipe.)

Italian Pot Roast

It's always nice to try something different & Danny & I both really enjoyed it!

Italian Pot Roast


2 lbs. beef roast (I just used whatever was cheapest--I think it was a rump roast)

14.5 oz. can Italian style stewed tomatoes

6 oz. Italian style tomato paste

2 carrots, chopped (I actually used more carrots)

2 celery stalks, chopped (I used more celery as well)

1 medium onion, chopped (I used onion powder--about 1 tsp.)

2 cloves garlic, minced (I use the kind that comes minced in a jar)

1 Tbsp. quick cooking tapioca

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 bay leaf

8 oz. egg noodles, cooked (I use whole grain)



Place roast (I just took mine straight from the freezer) in bottom of crockpot. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients (except noodles) and pour over roast. Cover & cook on low for 10-12 hours (I did mine for 9 hours) or on high for 5-6 hours. When finished, discard bay leaf & cut up/shred meat & then put it back in the crockpot & stir everything together. Serve warm over cooked egg noodles.





recipe from mrsritz on Tasty Kitchen--you can go here for the original recipe.

Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

These muffins were so tasty! Jace wasn't a big fan (I think the rhubarb was a little sour for him), but Danny & I loved them!

Strawberry Rhubarb Muffins

2 3/4 C. flour (I did 1 3/4 C. whole wheat flour and 1 C. oatmeal)

1 1/3 C. brown sugar (I did 1/2 C. honey)

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. salt (I used 1/8 tsp.)

1 egg (I used egg beaters)

1 C. buttermilk (I used 1 C. skim milk + 1 Tbsp. lemon juice (or vinegar) and let it sit for 10 minutes)

1/2 C. oil (I used 1/8 C. oil and 3/8 C. unsweetened applesauce)

2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 C. chopped fresh strawberries (I used 1 1/2 C. because that's how much I cut up :))

1 C. diced rhubarb (I had more rhubarb, so I just put some in the freezer for later use)




Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the egg, buttermilk, oil, & vanilla. Add in the honey (or sugar--whatever you're using). Sift the dry ingredients & mix until just combined. Fold in the strawberries & rhubarb. Scoop into muffin cups and bake for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.



*Makes about 18 muffins.


*If you have extra rhubarb, you could make rhubarb crisp!






recipe from The Hazel Bloom blog with modifications in parenthesis by me :)

Tacos

One of our favorite dinners & so fast & easy!

We LOVE this canned beef from the cannery (I thought it sounded gross, but then tried it & loved it)! You could obviously use any type of meat or do vegetarian tacos.

We love this rice--I actually get the whole grain medley (it has corn & beans in it too) now, but they are both good! Just pop it in the microwave for 90 seconds & that's it!

Tacos


tortillas (I use whole wheat)

meat (whatever kind you want--or no meat at all)

taco seasoning, to taste

1 can black beans, drained (I cook mine in the microwave for 3 minutes)

1 pouch Uncle Ben's Ready Rice (or you could make your own)

toppings (shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, tomatoes, corn, olives, guacomole, hot sauce, etc.)





Heat up meat on stove & stir in taco seasoning (if you're going vegetarian, mix in some taco seasoning with the black beans). Heat up beans and rice (I do it in the microwave). Sprinkle cheese on a tortilla & heat in the microwave for 30 seconds (I find that they roll up a lot easier if they're warm). Add meat, beans, rice, & desired toppings down the middle of the tortilla & then roll-up & eat!

Pumpkin Muffins

These muffins are yummy & pretty good for you too!

Pumpkin Muffins


1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin

4 eggs (I use Egg Beaters)

1 C. oil (I do 3/4 C. unsweetened applesauce & 1/4 C. canola oil)

2/3 C. water

2 C. sugar (I do 3/4 C. honey)

3 1/2 C. flour (I do 2 C. whole wheat flour & 1 1/2 C. oatmeal)

2 tsp. soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt (I do 3/4 tsp.)

1 tsp. cinnamon (I add a little bit more)

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/4 tsp. ginger




Mix together pumpkin, eggs, oil, water & sugar until well blended. Sift in the dry ingredients & mix until just blended. Scoop into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean.



Makes approximately 28 muffins.



*I added some semi-sweet chocolate chips to a few of the muffins for a little treat & they were really tasty!






recipe from the pumpkin bread recipe found here

Spaghetti & Meatballs

This is such a yummy & easy dinner!

The meatballs--these are from Costco, but I know Sam's Club has them too--just a different brand.

This is the sauce that I LOVE! I buy it at Sam's Club, but I'm sure you can get it at any grocery store as well.

Spaghetti & Meatballs


meatballs (however many you need--I usually do around 16 so we have some for leftovers)

spaghetti sauce

spaghetti noodles (I like to use whole grain thin spaghetti--the brand I've been getting is Barilla)

parmesan cheese (optional)



Place meatballs on a baking sheet & cook according to package directions (mine go straight from the freezer into the oven at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes). While the meatballs are cooking, I like to heat up the sauce in a pot on the stove & boil water (in a separate pot) for the noodles. After the meatballs are done cooking, I add them into the sauce & let it simmer while I cook the noodles (the thin spaghetti only takes 6-8 minutes to cook). Once the noodles are done, drain them & then top with the sauce & meatballs. Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top if desired.

Crockpot Chili Mac

I had chili mac growing up as a kid, but it was for a quick dinner, so it was Kraft mac & cheese with a can of chili. So, I was excited to try this recipe & it was tasty! Danny really liked it too & it was his first chili mac experience :) You can find the original recipe here.

Crockpot Chili Mac

1 (16 oz.) can diced tomatoes (don't drain them)

3 (16 oz.) cans beans (I used black, kidney, & great northern--1 of each)

1 medium onion, chopped (I just used 1 tsp. onion powder)

1 tsp. garlic, minced

1 1/2 Tbsp. chili powder

1 lb. cooked hamburger (I used 1 C. or less & thought it was plenty)

8 oz. macaroni noodles (I used whole wheat)

1/4 c. water

1 lb. cheddar cheese, shredded (I used way less--probably only 1 C.)




Combine tomatoes, beans, onion, garlic, & spices in crockpot. Add cooked meat. Cook on low for 7-9 hours. Boil macaroni according to package directions, but cut the time short by a minute or 2 (you want them al dente or they will get overcooked after you add them into the chili). Stir in macaroni and half of the cheese into the crockpot. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top (I just sprinkled some on each individual serving) and cook for another 20-30 minutes.







recipe from the hazel bloom blog

Apple Cinnamon Muffins

These are so yummy & healthy! A perfect way to use up apples that aren't crisp enough for eating.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins


1/2 C. sugar (I use 1/3 C. honey)

4 Tbsp. butter, melted (I use 2 Tbsp. canola oil and 2 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce)

1 C. milk (I use skim)

1 egg (I use Egg Beaters)

2 C. flour (1 1/2 C. whole wheat flour and 1/2 C. oatmeal--I use quick oats)

4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. cinnamon (I use 2 tsp.)

1/2 tsp. salt (I use 1/4 tsp.)

1 C. raw apples, finely chopped (leave the peels on)




Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, & sugar. Combine milk, egg, & butter and add to dry ingredients. Mix just enough to combine. Fold in apples. Drop into well greased muffin tins.




Topping (optional--I don't do this)


Place an apple ring (unpeeled) on top of each muffin & sprinkle tops with cinnamon & sugar mixture (2 Tbsp. sugar and 1/2 tsp. cinnamon) and chopped walnuts.





Bake at 400 degrees for 14-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.







recipe from Introductory Foods: HFED 110 by Carma Sutherland

Crockpot Lasagna

This was really fast, easy & tasty--definitely a winner in my book!

Crockpot Lasagna


1 lb. lean ground beef, cooked (I only used about 1 cup & next time I'll do less than that or even meatless)

1 jar spaghetti sauce (I like a lot of sauce, so I used a large jar from Sam's club)

2 C. cottage cheese (I used lowfat)

2 C. shredded mozzarella cheese (I used lowfat & only 1 C.)

1/2 C. parmesan cheese, shredded (I used the grated & just sprinkled some on)

6 whole lasagna noodles, uncooked (I used whole grain)

1/4 C. water (I used a little more)

garlic powder, to taste (optional--recipe didn't call for it, I just added it in)

onion powder, to taste (optional--recipe didn't call for it, I just added it in)




Add water & pasta sauce to meat--and I mixed in some garlic & onion powder (save a little sauce for the bottom of crockpot). Stir until well blended. Line the bottom of crockpot with a thin layer of sauce, then top with 2-3 uncooked noodles that are broken to fit the shape of your crockpot (some overlap is fine). Cover noodles with half of the cottage cheese, mozzarella, & parmesan cheese. Top cheeses with half of the meat mixture. Repeat layers with the rest of ingredients. (I actually did mine in 3 layers). Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.




recipe from averagepantrygourmet on Tasty Kitchen

Mexican Casserole

This is tasty & so easy--I love crockpot recipes!

Mexican Casserole


1 lb. cooked ground beef (I only used 1/2 to 1 C. & it was plenty)

1 C. cooked rice (I used brown rice. I cooked a bunch & put some in the freezer for later use)

2 cans chili (I used Nalley)

1 small can green chilies (I used 1/2 of a can & froze the rest for another time)

1 can corn, drained

1 C. ketchup

1/2 C. chopped green peppers (I didn't use these)

1/2 C. chopped onions (I just used onion powder)

1 pkg. or 4 Tbsp. chili seasoning mix/chili powder

garlic powder, to taste




Combine all ingredients & put in dutch oven or casserole dish. Cook at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes (or until the casserole reaches 165 degrees). Top each serving with any of the following toppings: cheese, sour cream, salsa, hot sauce, olives, green onions, and avocados/guacamole. Serve with tortilla chips. This could also be used as a burrito filling.





*I did mine in the crockpot & it worked great--just combine all of the ingredients & cook on low for 5-6 hours.






recipe from Barb

Oatmeal Muffins

These are yummy muffins & are really good with jam or peanut butter or just plain!

Oatmeal Muffins


1 C. oatmeal (I used quick oats)

1 C. buttermilk (I just did 1 C. skim milk and 1 Tbsp. lemon juice (can also use vinegar) and let stand for 5-10 minutes)

1 egg (I use egg beaters)

1/2 c. brown sugar (I did 1/4 C. honey)

1 C. flour (I used whole wheat)

1 tsp. salt (I did 1/2 tsp.)

1 1/2 tsp. soda

1/4 C. melted butter (I did 1/8 C. oil & 1/8 C. unsweetened applesauce)





Pour buttermilk over oatmeal and let stand for 5 minutes. Combine sugar & egg & then add oatmeal mixture. Add sifted dry ingredients. Add melted shortening. Pour into greased muffin pans. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.






recipe from Introductory Foods: HFED 110 by Carma Sutherland

Zucchini Muffins/Bread

These muffins are so good! Danny & Jace eat them almost as fast as I can make them!

Zucchini Muffins/Bread


3 eggs (I use Egg Beaters)

2 C. sugar (I use 1/2 C. honey)

1 C. oil (I use 1/4 C. oil, 3/4 C. unsweetened applesauce)

1 Tbsp. vanilla

2 C. loosely packed grated zucchini (don't peel)

2 C. flour ( I use 1 1/2 C. whole wheat flour and 1/2 C. oatmeal)

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt (I use 1/2 tsp.)

1/2 C. chopped walnuts (optional--I don't use them)




Beat eggs. Add sugar, oil, & vanilla. Beat mixture until thick & frothy. Stir in zucchini. Sift and add the dry ingredients. Pour mixture into 2 floured loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minutes & then remove & place on rack until completely cooled.





*I make these into muffins & this recipe makes 18 regular-sized muffins. Reduce the baking time to 15-25 minutes.





recipe from meatballmama on Tasty Kitchen

Granola Bars

These were so tasty--a lot better than one's you can buy! Definitely a must try because you can alter these to your liking.

Wheat germ--I found this in the cereal isle, by the oatmeal & hot cereal.

Granola Bars


2 C. old-fashioned oats (I just used quick oats)

1 C. sliced almonds

1 C. shredded coconut (I like to use the unsweetened coconut)

1/2 C. toasted wheat germ

2/3 C. honey

3 Tbsp. butter

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 C. semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional--you could do any flavor of chips or any dried fruit. Our favorite is raisins & it's good if you add in a little cinnamon too. I don't ever measure the raisins, I just dump some in)





Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss the oats, almonds, & coconut on a jelly roll pan & cook for 10-20 minutes or until lightly browned. Transfer oat mix to a large bowl & add the wheat germ. In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring the butter, honey, vanilla, & salt to a boil for 1 minute. Pour over oat mixture & mix well. Pour 1/2 of the granola into a greased & parchment-lined 8x8 pan. Sprinkle on chocolate chips or dried fruit & then cover with the other 1/2 of the granola. Reduce the oven to 300 degrees and bake for 10-30 minutes or until lightly browned (do more or less time depending on if you want the bars to be chewy or crunchy--I did mine for about 20 minutes & they were on the crunchy side. We like ours soft, so I usually do mine for about 10 minutes). Allow bars to cool for at least 3 hours (I would recommend cutting them into squares before they cool all the way--otherwise they're hard to cut). Store in an airtight container.






*FYI--I figured out the total amount of calories for this recipe & it is 3,060 calories (if you use chocolate chips). If you cut it into 20 squares then that's 153 calories per square.







recipe from Rachel

Baked Apple Steel Cut Oats

This was such a yummy breakfast! Definitely a must try & I'm not even a huge oatmeal fan :)

Baked Apple Steel Cut Oats


2 apples (cut into small chunks)

3/4 C. steel cut oats

1 1/2 C. milk (I do 3/4 C. water and 3/4 C. milk)

cinnamon (to taste)

brown sugar (to taste)

peanut butter (to taste)



Put apple chunks into bottom of a 9x9 baking dish. Sprinkle steel cut oats on top & then pour on milk. Bake at 400 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until it's bubbly & the oats have soaked up the milk. Top each serving with cinnamon, brown sugar, & peanut butter, or whatever you want. Can also serve with cold milk if desired.



*This also works great in the crockpot! The cooking time will just depend on your crockpot, but mine takes just over an hour to cook if I do it on high (I haven't tried it on low yet). Also, I always like to spray my crockpot with Pam--it makes clean-up a little easier.






*I'm pretty sure that you can buy the steel cut oats in bulk at Winco--I just get Bob's Red Mill steel cut oats at Giant Eagle since we don't have a Winco :(






recipe from eastcolomom

Broccoli & Chicken

This is a simple & yummy dinner!

Broccoli & Chicken


chicken, cooked & cut-up (about 1 cup)

broccoli, cooked & cut-up (1-2 cups, I just put mine in a pan & cover half-way with water & cook for about 7 minutes)

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1/2 to 3/4 c. milk

salt & pepper (to taste)

shredded cheese




Stir soup & milk together & put in bottom of a greased 9x9 pan. Add in chicken & broccoli & then season with salt & pepper. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until it is bubbly. Take out of oven & sprinkle with shredded cheese. Serve over rice (I like to use brown rice).




recipe from Mom

Carrot Muffins

These are tasty, easy to make & perfect for fall!

Carrot Muffins

1 1/2 C. whole wheat flour

1/2 C. oatmeal

3/4 C. brown sugar (I used 3/8 C. honey instead)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

3 eggs (I use egg beaters)

1/2 C. oil (I do 1/8 C. oil and 3/8 C. unsweetened applesauce)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 C. carrot puree (I just shredded mine)



Mix all ingredients together completely but don't overmix. Pour into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Makes 1 dozen muffins.





recipe from Missy with a few modifications by me:)