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.

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.

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!!!!