#98 That CAT really CAN COOK.... Banana Muffins

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
from Cat Can Cook

Looking for an easy, moist and VERY tasty banana muffin recipe?

Head over to Catherine Robertson's website, Cat Can Cook.  

Catherine's Awesome Banana Muffin Recipe is exactly that - awesome!  It's not complicated and there's only a half cup of sugar.  I added chocolate chips to this batch and also baked them an extra five minutes, but otherwise just followed the recipe as directed.

Even better, Catherine explains how to prep and store the dry ingredients (Basic Dry Muffin Mix), then have the mix handy to make a variety of other muffins: carrot, oatmeal, applesauce, pumpkin and cranberry.

Happy Baking!

Maggie

When life gives you lemons... Summertime Lemonade (sugar reduced)

No worries!

But, if you have a whole bag of lemons...

and it's 27 ° C outside...

then you NEED to make lemonade!

Normally, when on my own, I'll add a splash of lemon juice to a glass of either plain or sparkling water.  I've even experimented with some other water options.

But, "traditional lemonade"?  Hmmmm...

After reading numerous recipes and this excellent article at The Kitchen, I thought there has to be a less sweet option.  A ratio of 1 cup sugar to six cups of liquid is A LOT of sugar!  I did like the suggestion for adding ginger though.  Here's my version.  Hope you like it.

Summertime Lemonade

(reduced sugar)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 tablespoons thinly sliced ginger

Boil for two minutes. Cool.

juice from 3 lemons (about 1 cup)

6 cups water

Add to syrup mixture.  
Stir and chill.

Stir well before serving.

Today's quote...

Summer is like a fresh glass of lemonade.

You want to drink it fast, but you want it to last forever.

- Susan Gale

Cheers!

Maggie

Roasted Pepper Sauce

For some reason (okay, it was a lack of organization and planning ahead), I had an unusually large number of peppers lurking in the bottom of the fridge.  

I say lurking because some of them were beginning to look a little "long in the tooth" and threatening to turn mean and ugly.

Now, although the recipe below looks pretty "official" with exact measurements, this sauce really isn't like that.  

Lots of peppers?  Yes.  I avoided green as I felt that would muddy the colour of my sauce.  

Onions?  Garlic? A couple of tomatoes?  Yes, sir.  Absolutely required.  

But don't stop there!  If you have a couple of carrots, or half a butternut squash, or some ribs of celery... Why not toss them in as well?

Roasted Pepper Sauce

5 peppers (yellow, orange and/or red)

1/3 onion

1/2 red onion

1/3 cup celery

2 tomatoes

4 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

Wash and chop vegetables into chunks.

Toss in oil, then scatter on large baking pan.

Sprinkle with salt, pepper and Greek seasoning.

Roast at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.

In small batches, puree in blender.

Simmer in a pot on the stove until ready to serve.

Maggie's Roasted Pepper Sauce

Yum!  We had some of this sauce for lunch, poured over angel hair pasta nests filled with lemon pepper tuna.  

Still some left, hmmmm.....

...might fill a casserole dish with chicken breasts and veggies, pour the remaining sauce  over top and throw it in the oven for an easy supper tomorrow night.  Any other suggestions?

Barley Flour: Pancakes, Crepes and Muffins

Guess what's new on my pantry shelf.

Barley flour.

I didn't realize until the other day that barley is Canada's 3rd largest crop after wheat and canola and more barley is grown in Alberta than any other province.  

Even better, barley is GOOD for you.  Health Canada recently approved a health claim linking the consumption of barley beta-glucan, a type of soluble fibre, to reduced blood cholesterol.  Barley also has insoluble fibre, important for healthy intestinal function.

I love barley as a whole grain in beef and barley soup or as a side dish, but I've never used barley flour.  After listening to Julie van Rosendaal on the Calgary Eyeopener, I was eager to try.

I gather barley flour can be successfully substituted for other flours in recipes using baking powder.  (You'll have trouble getting top results, however, in yeast recipes.)

I experimented first with my crepe recipe - very pleased and I'd definitely do this again, especially if using a savoury filling.

I also tried substituting barley flour in my corn muffin recipe.  Turned out great!  I could detect a slight difference in taste from my usual version, but certainly no difference in texture or rising action.  

Finally, I tried the pancake recipe on the back of the barley flour package.  Good results, but take care not to use too high a heat as they seem to need longer to cook completely through.  

Week-ender Barley Pancakes

(Hamilton's Barley flour)

2 cups Hamilton's Barley Flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Combine dry ingredients.

1 egg (whisked) plus enough milk to make 2 cups liquid

Combine with dry ingredients.

Ladle onto a hot, greased skillet and flip when bubbles appear and edges appear dry.

Next up?  Barley flour chocolate chip cookies.... : )

From the kitchen,

Maggie

More Magic Bullet Adventures! Sunshine Muffins

Sunshine Muffins
Winners (Best of Bridge Series)

It's been a Magic Bullet Fest around here this week. : )

First, smoothies...

Then an Almost Makes Itself Omelet, page 52 of my new Magic Bullet 10 Second Recipes book.  Hmmm.... basically, you just blend up your eggs and the extras you plan to add. 

Sorry!  I think I prefer my cheese in a nice gooey layer rather than blended in as Magic Bullet suggests.  Just saying...

Today I made Sunshine Muffins with the blender accessory.   Love that recipe - page 28 of Winners (1984) from the Best of Bridge series, but it's also online if you'd like to try it.  I blended the orange, egg and oil plus 1/4 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup water (since I didn't have orange juice) and then threw it in the mixer with the dry ingredients.  Easy peasy!

Switching Up the Water Bottle Routine

Yesterday I was sent a link to an article, 5 Ways to Make Drinking Water More Exciting.  

I'm always nagging myself about drinking more water.  How about you?  Two of the ways are already in my personal "recipe" box - sparkling water, sometimes mixed with fruit juice, and adding a splash of lemon juice to either plain or sparkling water.

The article had some new ideas so I decided to experiment.

Here are my official test results!!

Mug #1: I switched up the citrus theme with slices of orange.  Pleasant, but I still prefer lemon.  

Mug #2: Adding sliced apples seemed interesting.  Also pleasant, but if you try this, timing is everything.  Leave the apples in too long and they turn an unappetizing brown.

Mug #3 : I love herbal tea and peppermint tea is a particular favourite!  Tasty?  It was okay; a hot mug of peppermint tea IMHO is far better.

Mug #4 : This one I would definitely repeat!!  Made with Lemon Ginger (my current favourite tea), a few slices of lemon and two small slices of ginger, it was a winner.  

Not surprised that Mug #4 was my "personal pick".  Have you ever had a mug of hot lemon ginger tea?  Add boiling water to the juice of 1/2 a lemon, a tablespoon of honey and about an inch worth of grated ginger.  Delicious!  The lemon and honey slide down nice and easy, but be prepared for the ginger kick!!  If you feel a cold coming on, try this as your first line of defence.

Smoothie Experiments

So, I have a new toy...

On the weekend I purchased a Magic Bullet...Deluxe!!

I admit, a bit of an impulse purchase, but we're heading into "smoothie" season and my blender had bit the dust.

Wanting just a basic "blend and drink" smoothie machine, I first checked Canadian Tire, but then I upgraded for about five dollars more and picked up my Deluxe version at Costco.  

Why not a new blender?  The smallness of the Magic Bullet was appealing as I have limited counter space.

I tried two experiments today...a traditional smoothie...pretty, pink, tasty...

Strawberry Banana Smoothie

1/2 banana

2 strawberries

1/4 cup raspberry yogurt

1/4 cup orange juice

Blend.  Drink.

I also tried a veggie smoothie...not so pretty, lumpy, and very brown... : ( 

IT WAS TASTY, HOWEVER, and definitely healthy, but I realize now, choosing colours carefully is an important aspect of making a smoothie!!

Veggie Smoothie, Version #1

(probably never to be repeated again, but a lesson learned)

1/2 cup last night's salad with light vinaigrette

(spinach, daikon, craisins, cabbage slaw)

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup orange juice

Blend.  Drink.

So, who has a tasty veggie smoothie recipe (that's not quite so brown!!!) to share?

Happy Monday,

Maggie

# 94 Happy Saturday Oatmeal Muffins

Maggie's Oatmeal Muffins

Oatmeal Muffins

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup sour milk*

Combine.

1 egg

Add; beat well.

1/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

Add; mix very well.

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix together.  

Add to oatmeal, stirring only enough to dampen.

Optional: stir in 1/2 cup raisins, craisins, etc.

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.

(12 muffins)

OR

Bake at 350 for one hour and fifteen minutes

(5 x 7 loaf pan)

* To make sour milk, add 1 tablespoon vinegar to milk.

Now, enjoy a muffin with a cup of coffee 

and check out Weekend Potluck 59.

Jicama

This morning, it's all about jicama.  

This is a relatively, "new-to-me" vegetable I first met when my son was married two years ago in Mexico.  Before Christmas (another destination wedding), we enjoyed this treat again and on a recent visit to Phoenix, jicama and I got "up close and personal"  : )

Jicama Sticks

Where I live, you can search out this little guy, but he's not centre stage at my local grocery store.  In fact, the day I bought my first-ever jicama, there were only two in the whole store.  Fortunately, he was just the right size - I gather, if they are bigger than two fists, they can be a bit woody.

Peeled, and cut up like carrot sticks, jicama makes a great snack and I can see including these next time I make a veggie tray.  

Last night, however, I made this salad for supper - tasty, with a nice crunch, a bit like adding water chestnuts.  

Jicama, Orange and Spinach Salad

No real recipe here...  I just mixed some baby spinach leaves, a little red onion, orange and jicama!  I tossed the salad in Newman's Own Light French Vinaigrette and then served it on the plate with some tomato on the side.  

Here's a link to the recipe I really want to try next time we have company - Apple Jicama Coleslaw!  Chef John at Food Wishes tosses everything with a yummy sounding dressing that includes pineapple juice and hot sauce!

Happy Monday,

Maggie

Cynthia's Salsa Chicken

Cynthia's Salsa Chicken

For dinner last night, we had Salsa Chicken, an easy, tasty dish that can be prepared ahead of time.

Cynthia, a family friend, shared this recipe a few years ago at a "Recipe Shower" for one of my daughters.  Each guest brought a favourite recipe AND a recipe for a happy marriage.  Enjoy!

Cynthia's Salsa Chicken

12 - 18 skinless, chicken thighs or 6-8 chicken breasts

3/4 cup salsa (mild, medium or hot, depending on taste)

1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup orange juice

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons olive oil

1 - 1/2 tablespoons grated ginger root (optional)

Arrange chicken in a single layer in 9 x 13 baking dish.

In a medium bowl, combine marinade ingredients.

Pour marinade over chicken.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Bake chicken and sauce, covered, in 400 degree oven 

for 40 - 50 minutes.

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

When chicken is done, transfer sauce to saucepan. 

Bring to a boil.  Mix and add cornstarch and water mixture.

Stir for 1 - 2 minutes as mixture simmers and thickens.

Pour sauce over chicken.

Cynthia's Salsa Chicken

Now for Cynthia's recipe for a happy marriage!  Good advice from a lady happily married for over forty years.

Marriage Recipe

Then catch the moments as they fly,

And use them as ye ought, man,

Remember, happiness is shy,

And comes not aye, when sought, man.

- Robert Burns

Have fun catching the moments, doing things spontaneously, 

having many varied experiences together.

- Cynthia

March 11 - Sent this recipe over to Weekend Potluck # 57 - a great place to check out recipes!