recipes for feeding the toddling masses...creating and posting happy and pleasurable eats for the mamas and the papas, the babies and everyone in between.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

banana oat molasses bread


and we're back! its been a while. no excuses really, just busy with a little person. i am glad that this is my first recipe to post in bit because it is so yummy and healthy and worth making.

a good friend of ours is batteling melanoma. he is one a pretty strict diet. no soy, very low sugar, limited daily protein (from meat), no yeast. i have been trying dutifully to bring him some baked goods and savory meals weekly. and yes, i am going to be that grandma someday that bakes and bakes for everyone and believe me they better eat it or my wrath with ensue!

anyway, i was received a request last night from our friend for banana bread...one that he can eat, full of cancer fighting foods. my mission had started and i think i really delivered. now i am just hoping it makes its way over to him without having a nibble here and there off of the sides. it has oats for fiber, blackstrap molasses and organic pure maple syrup for vitamins and nutrients, banana for sweetness, toasted raw almonds for anitoxidants and i replaced one egg with 1 tbl of flaxseed meal and 3 tbl water heated.

enjoy!



1 1/2 cup whole wheat
2/3 oats (i use an organic blend of oats, rye and barley)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/3 cup organic pure molasses sugar (or natural organic brown sugar)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/8 cup organic pure grade b maple syurp
1/4 cup organic blackstrap molasses
1 lg egg
1 tbl flaxsed meal + 3 tbl water, heated for 30 seconds then mixed (to replace 1 egg)
2 ripe bananas, mashed and mixed with a few tbl of strong coffee (to bring out flavor and add some extra)
1/3 cup plain kefir (or plain organic yogurt)
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup toasted, slivered raw almonds
handful of wheat germ for adding on top

preheat oven to 350F.

combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt. whisk with fork. set aside.

beat sugar, butter, molasses and maple syrup. add in egg and flaxseed egg repplacement mixture. beat until combined.
add in banana, kefir and vanilla. beat until combined.

beat in dry on low until just moistened. stir in almonds.

pour into greased loaf pan and sprinkle with wheat germ. bake for and hour.

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Monday, January 22, 2007

maple and fig muffins

apparently i love to make muffins. i didn't realize this until starting this blog. littlefoodie jr. is always happy that i am once again baking ANOTHER variety of muffins.
these are delicious and he couldn't get enough but it seems like i say that with everything. littlefoodie loves food...maybe its luck. maybe i change it up so often that he is used to variety and different textures and flavors or perhaps he is just like his mom and dad and will eat just about anything in front of them...really!
so i give you yet another muffin and another recipe that is so interchangable...i think thats why i love to make muffins so much, the possibilities seem endless. i adapted this from a muffin recipe that i had written down a while ago from allrecipes.com.

enjoy!

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
3 tbl organic natural brown sugar
2 tsp aluminum-free baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup spectrum brand shortening (no transfats/crappy gross ingredients)
1/3 cup oats
handful of flaxseed meal
1 egg
3/4 cup almond milk (we use unsweetened)
1/2 cup organic grade b maple syrup
1/2 cup chopped dried figs

preheat oven to 400F. grease muffin tin.
sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt together.
cut in shortening.
add oats.
combine egg, almond milk and maple syrup. add to dry and stir until just moistened. stir in figs.
pour into muffin tins and bake 18 minutes.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

sunbutter and fruit super bars

this was adapted from a recipe i found from wildoats. i used sunbutter but can be substituted with any nut butter...we don't do peanut butter until the littlefoodie crazy booty is at least 3 to one up him on the allergy thang.

(pictures and review will come later! they are still a bit warm but so far so good!)

1/3 cup sunflower butter
1/3 cup organic maple syrup grade b
1/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup plain (i used kefir)
1 banana, mashed
1 1/2 cup organic whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oat bran
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 apple, grated
1/2 cup organic bluberries, not thawed and tossed with a little flour to coat
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the almond or peanut butter, syrup, oil, eggs, vanilla, yogurt and banana. In a separate bowl combine the flour, oat bran, salt, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon. Blend dry ingredients into the creamed mixture. Stir in apples, blueberries and sunflower seeds. Pour batter onto a greased 13x9x2 inch pan and spread evenly. Bake for about 35 minutes or until golden brown. Allow the bars to cool and cut into 1X4 inch bars.

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Saturday, January 13, 2007

morning glory muffins


try these. they are packed with fruits and veggies, fiber and sweetness! littlefoodie couldn't get enough and cause they are loaded with carrots it was my pleasure to indulge his hollering demands.

enjoy!

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1/2 cup organic natural brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt
3 medium sized carrots, cleaned and shredded
1 apple, shredded
1/2 cup blueberries (we always use forzen organic wild blueberries..smaller w/more flavor)
1/3 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 can crushed pinapple, drained
3/4 cup light coconut milk
2 tbl canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 large egg whites
wheat germ

preheat oven to 350F. grease muffin tin.

combine flour, oat bran, baking soda, cinnamon and slat in a large bowl. add in carrot, apple, blueberries, sunflower seeds and pineapple.

combine cocobut milk, canola oil, vanilla extract and eggs. add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

spoon into greased muffin tins and sprinkle with wheat germ on top. bake for 25 minutes.

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Friday, January 12, 2007

red quinoa with morrocan spiced carrots and squash


this dish was so full of different flavors...spicy and sweet with a little heat. a perfect cold weather dinner. red quinoa will be a staple in my recipes now...not only for its health benefits but for the nutty flavor. for people like me who really savor texture it is great to cause its so different in the mouth.
its also a quick dish so with a crazy toddler demanding my undivided attention its a relativley easy meal to prepare. i came across the recipe at epicurious.com, like always and adapted it to my tastes.

enjoy!

carrot and squash stew

1 cup onion, chopped
3 tbl garlic, minced
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 tsp corriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cayenne
pinch of saffron
1 cup veggie broth
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 small can organic diced tomatoes, drained
1 tbl lime juice
2 cups butternut squash
3 cup carrots
1/2 cup raisins

saute onion and garlic in olive oil. add spices. add broth, coconut milk, tomatoes and lemon juice; bring to a boil.
add veggies and raisins and cover and simmer 20 min.

red quinoa

1 cup quinoa
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 carrots, chopped small
1 tbl garlic cloves, minced
salt
dash of curry powder
2 cups veggie broth

saute onion, carrot, and garlic until soft. add spices and quinoa and saute 2 minutes. add broth and bring to a boil. cover, reduce to a simmer and cook 15 min or until broth is absorbed. serve with veggies.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

fruit and nut quinoa bars


unfortunatley i have no pictures of these as i sent them right over to a friend of ours but they are cake like. the taste is very earthy but if you enjoy quinoa you will love trying something a little different like this. i used a combination of red quinoa and regular...we are hooked on the red now and i use it almost daily it seems.
quinoa is such an amazing grain. for one it has far more protein than any other grain..for people watching their meat intake or vegans it is an excellent benefit for them. not only does it contain a large amount of protein it is also a complete protein..containing essential amino acids. pair it with black beans for a wonderfully complete healthy meal! it is also high in iron. give it a try!

enjoy!


1 cup quinoa (i used a mix of regular quinoa and red quinoa)
2 cups water
1/2 cup organic natural brown sugar
1 cup whole whate flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/2 cup organic raisins, naturally dried and preservative free..no sulphur
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots, naturally dried and preservative free...no sulphur
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 eggs

preheat oven to 350F. grease 13x9 in pan.

bring water to boil. add quinoa and bring back to a boil. turn down to a simmer and cover until the water is absorbed, about 15 minutes. remove and set aside.

combine brown sugar, flour, baking powder and soda, spices, raisins, aprictos and sunflower seeds.

in a small bowl combine quinoa, butter, oj, vanilla and eggs. add to dry mix and stir to combine.

pour into pan; sprinkle with some toasted wheat germ and bake for 45 minutes.

cool and eat.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

molasses pumpkin muffins with crystallized ginger


littlefoodie and i just made these. they are soooo hearty and yummy! after cracking them open still slightly warm drizzle a little organic pure maple syrup over them...pure heaven! i adapted this recipe once again from the wonderful epicurious.com website! the 1 tbl of flaxseed meal and 3 tbls water heated and combined replaces and egg...great for vegans! replace the milk and yogurt with soymilk and soygurt or all soy milk and its totally vegan.


enjoy!

2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oat bran
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup natural brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 tbl ground flaxseed
3 tbl water
1 can organic pure pumpkin
1/2 cup blackstrap or unsulphured molasses
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger

heat oven to 350F. spray muffin tins w/non stick spray.

sift flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. add oat bran to dry ingredients after sifted.

whisk brown sugar and canola oil to combine. add eggs. combine flaxseed and 3 tbl water. heat for 30 seconds in microwave. add to wet. add pumpkin, molasses, buttermilk and ginger.

add flour and sitr until just combined.

spoon into muffins tins and bake 25-30 mins.

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maple flaxseed pancakes


(pictures coming soon)

i love eating breakfast with my littlefoodie dude. we have some pretty interesting conversations. lately most of them have me thinking that i shouldn't be having these convos with a 2 yr old..most are heart melting and adorable.

while eating these hearty and sweet pancakes littlefoodie starts up the most recent cute one this morning and here it goes:

littlefoodie: mommy, when i get bigged i be a growned up just like mommy and daddy right?

me: yes baby.

littlefoodie: but i no be a growned up like mommy.

me: why?

littlefoodie: because i want to be a growned up like daddy.

sometimes it doesn't get sweeter although i was hoping he'd want to be a cook like me to pick up some of my slack but i'll brainwash him...don't you worry!

anyway, these pancakes are delicious and good for you too. the maple syrup added the perfect amount to it. after doing some reading on sugars i found out that maple syrup contains about 65% sucrose verses 95% in refined or cane sugar...blackstrap mollases is even better. its a good thing to bake with when you are interested in reducing your sugar intake. plus, it contains a ton of b vitamins and being a mom to a very inquisitive 2 yr old b vitamins are a good thing for tired and loopy brain. adding blueberries adds the wonderful antioxidants that they offer. i adapted this recipe from one i found on epicurious.com

enjoy!

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup ground flaxseed
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup organic grade b (richer flavor) maple syrup
1 egg
1/4 cup dried blueberries (from tj's, perservative and sulfite free)


combine flour, oats, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together.
whisk milk, maple syrup, and egg together.
add wet to dry and combine then fold in blueberries.

cook in skillet however large or small you want.

enjoy!!!!

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Monday, January 08, 2007

black lentil dal and indian spiced cauliflower, sweet potato and peas


its been a busy holiday this year. bigfoodie daddy is still on his vacation so i haven't had much time getting on here.
i bought some black lentils to try out the other day at trader joes...they are absolutley delicious. littlefoodie jr. loves them. so i made a quick indian inspired meal tonight for the three of us that was healthy and soothing and yummy! the dal is a take on a red dal that i recently saw at cookinglight and the cauliflower dish is a take on aloo gobi. i served them with some garlic naan and it was a perfect meal!

enjoy!

1 3/4 cups veggie broth
1 cup black lentils
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1 tbl garlic
1 tsp black mustard seeds (or yellow)
pinch of cayenne
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp turmeric
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp coriander
s&p
2 tbl tomato paste
1/2 cup coconut milk
juice of 1 lime

bring broth and lentils to boil. reduce to simmer about 15 min. seet aside when done.

saute onion, carrots, garlic, mustard seeds, and cayenne until onion is translucent. add spices and cook another minute.
add tomato paste and cook a couple minutes and stir constantly.
add the black lentils, and coconut milk. stir it all to combine and taste and season w/s&p.


indian flavored cauliflower with sweet potato and peas

1 head cauliflower, cleaned and cut into bite size florets
3 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced into small cubes
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp curry powder
salt
1 small onion, diced
2 tbl garlic, minced
1 tsp ground ginger and cumin
dash of cayenne
1/2 cup cilantro, roughly chopped
3/4 cup veggie broth
1 cup peas

toss cauliflower and sweet potatoes with canola oil, cumin, curry powder and some salt to taste.
roast at 450F for about 25-30 min. remove and set aside when done.

heat a couple tbls of butter (i used earths balance organic spread) and a tbl of canola oil in dutch oven. saute onions, garlic, ginger, cumin and cayenne until the onions are translucent and cooked.

when the cauliflower and sweet potatoes are done add them to the onion mixture in the pot. with the heat on med high add the broth and stir.

toss in the cilatro and peas and cook another couple minutes.

season to taste and enjoy with naan.

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Tuesday, January 02, 2007

happy new year....here's to a healthy mind, body and soul.

happy new year blogging world! it's been a long year with a ton of highs and a few lows...i suppose just like any other year some just hit closer to home this year.

when i started this blog shortly ago i was ready to pour forth my passion of healthy, whole cooking, eating and living. somehow, during the excitement of baking and sharing and reading many a wonderful, rich food blog i strayed from my goal. straying into a bigger size of jeans to be exact...thats not my reason for getting back on track rather an incentive. so from here on out, with a few roadblocks in between i will follow my passions for healthy cooking, eating natural and whole...experimenting with vegan and vegetrian dishes and feeling better! living better and sure as hell loving my wonderful family even more.

today i had the chance to eat at an amazing organic vegan restaurant called NativeFoods. so wonderful that we purchsed the cookbook then and there. littlefoodie jr, bigfoodie daddy and i were smitted...it was love at first bite of glorious quinoa! under the circumstances of our visit there it was really awesome! (click on the this posts title to take you to the restaurants site.)

a few days ago a good friend of bigfoodie daddy and i became ill. he is currently battling melanoma causing a tumor in his brain. he is a wildly talented guy and a good friend that we have known for quite awhile and there is nothing more that bigfoodie daddy and i would love to do than squash and obliterate this evil called cancer and rid them of this undeserved pain. it was our visit with he and his wife today that brought us to native foods..the wonderful eatery.
thru all his battles with cancer he has an amazing partner at his side. she is the most devoted and loving wife i have seen...together they are one heck of a couple. through all her research and love she has him on a truly amazing diet...full of straight from the earth foods. extracting the most out of precious grains, berries, fruits and veggies. they are my inspiration. they are doing what we all should be doing and listening to our bodies and really looking at what we cosume and how it affects not only the superficial but our spirit.

so send forward those positive thoughts please..they will use them all and they are appreciated!...and stayed tuned for a recipe overhaul folks cause its time for a change!

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