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.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Caramel apple muffins



Little foodie and I have been putting some effort into some fall baking. It's a little hard these days when the weather tops 80 degrees and the smell of smoke from fires miles and miles away cake your lungs. Anyone know why fall has been non-existent around these parts this year? Hard to put a mama in the baking mood.

Mama's little golfer in training!

Anyway, these little muffins were gooey, caramel-y and full of juicy organic gala's, granny smith's and golden delicious apples.. make sure you cut them in hearty chunks because then its reminiscent of a big ol caramel apple and yeah, what is better than that. Pears would be a wonderful substitute if preferred but keep the caramel! oh yes! Give it a try and you won't be disappointed!

Enjoy!

Caramel Apple Muffins

2 C. whole wheat flour
1/2 C. organic pure cane dark brown sugar
2 1/2 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 C. warm milk
1/4 C. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
4 apples, diced ( i used bigger size so it seemed like there was more apple than batter but it turned out amazing!)
1 cup caramel bits ( i used this bag of tiny caramel bits/balls that worked great but you could cut up the caramel squares. i got the nibblets at target but maybe a big grocery store would carry them, I believe they are Kraft brand but not entirely sure.)

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease muffin tins or line with paper cups.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

In another bowl, combine egg and milk. Stir in butter and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and stir just to blend. Stir in apples and caramels. Divide batter evenly among prepared cups. Sprinkle with flax seed for extra goodness or to fool yourself! Bake for 25 minutes or until tops spring back when lightly pressed. Serve warm.

Makes 12-14 muffins.

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Thursday, November 13, 2008

Civil Rights for Everyone!

It was a bittersweet day here in California, Nov 4th. With the passing of prop 8 here in California it makes me wonder just how far the American people (voters of yes on 8, that is) are going to go to strip the fundamental civil rights of people that they disagree with. Civil rights-the basic right to be recognized as a human being, as an American, with the rights to vote, marry, practice their own faith, to work, etc. I wonder, if its that easy to deny a person the right to marry is stripping a woman's right to vote next? to work? Segregation in schools, transportation? Do the gay and lesbian American people have the right to not pay taxes, seeing as how they are not fully recognized? Where are we? Fortunately, there are people out there right now opposing the discrimination and hate and fighting that and they need help.

On Saturday, Nov. 15th there will be a nationwide protest in all states in many major cities all over the country. This country that people come to to be free. To avoid oppression (HA, so much for that!) Above you can click on the link and it will take you to a detailed page where you can find where your local peaceful protest will be held. As a parent now I am passionate about issues that will strengthen this country and the people, the place my son may live in as an adult. So, if you can, if you care, if you HATE the injustice and denying of BASIC! CIVIL RIGHTS of the American people than join up and let your voice be hear! It's not just a gay and lesbian issue it is a human rights issue and involves our whole society! Let's stop this ignorant crap!

http://jointheimpact.wetpaint.com/

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Monday, November 10, 2008

onion smothered pork loin topped with double cream gouda




The weather has finally cooled down some which makes it a little easier to cook in my little kitchen. A simple pork loin is jazzed up with sweet, caramel onions and creamy Gouda. I served up some roasted acorn squash topped with maple syrup, salt/pepper, and butter and steamed green beans. A really nice and easy fall meal.

Enjoy!

1 pork loin
salt and pepper
paprika
few fresh thyme sprigs

2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
tsp of sugar
salt and pepper
4 lg garlic cloves, minced
2 cups organic beef broth

1 cup shredded Gouda

Preheat oven to 425F. Season pork with salt and pepper and paprika. Brown in a little oil in saute pan on each side. Remove and add to baking dish. set aside.

Add onions to pan and sprinkle sugar over. cook on low for 10-15 min until caramelized and soft. add garlic and cook another 5 min. add in thyme and season with salt and pepper and more paprika. Cover pork with onion mixture in pan. Add in beef broth.

Cook about 30 min.

remove from oven. set pork aside and rest. drain broth from onions, reserving liquid in bowl. in skillet heat a few TB of unsalted butter and add 1 TB of flour. cook a few minutes until bubbly and no lumps of flour remain, slowly pour in broth. bring to boil then turn off. dump in onions and test for seasoning.

slice pork and top with onions and shredded Gouda.

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Sunday, November 09, 2008

Dark cherry and white chocolate pound cake


This was good and totally bad for you but never mind that. The recipe was changed from the original that came from allrecipes.com. For a pound cake it is incredibly airy and fluffy. I think using coconut oil to replace butter is a smart move, not only is it much better for you but it gives amazing results. The og recipe called for maraschino cherries which, while totally yummy are totally rotten for you. A better and tastier way is to use a jar of Trader Joe's Dark Morello Cherries or even fresh or frozen sweet cherries..... maraschino cherries are best left to Manhattan's (hold the vermouth) and Fruit cake (ewww!) This is a perfect little holiday treat!

Enjoy!


2 cups white whole wheat flour, King Arthur Brand
3 tsp aluminum free baking powder
pinch of salt
dash of allspice
1 cup organic virgin coconut oil or unsalted butter (coconut oil gives great results and interchangeable with butter)
1 pkg cream cheese, room temp
3/4 cup organic pure cane sugar
4 fresh organic eggs
tsp of pure vanilla extract
tsp of pure almond extract
1 cup Dark Morello cherries, drained well
1 cup good quality white chocolate chunks.
few tbl of flour for dredging cherries in

preheat oven to 350F. Grease tube pan or bundt pan.

Combine flour, b powder, salt and allspice.

Cream coconut oil/butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat eggs one at a time. Scrap down sides and add extracts. Beat in flour.

Sprinkle just enough flour to coat cherries. like with blueberries, this helps the cherries from falling to the bottom of the cake and keeps them scattered throughout.

Fold cherries into cake along with white chocolate.

Bake 60 min. Insert knife if not ready. Cool a few minutes than turn out and eat or cool or eat and be cool!

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Tuesday, November 04, 2008

And just like that a new wind is blowing......



Certainly time for a change, right? America made that known tonight as McCain graciously gave his concession speech and Obama historically changed the tide.

I am happy to have been a part of that vote for change and cannot wait to see what is in store for this amazing country soon enough.

Here's to renewed faith and in our country and its leaders! Cheers!





(and here's to Palin crawling back in her igloo! yay!)

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