Tag: baking

Health Benefits of Oat Bran: A Nutritional Powerhouse with muffin recipe

by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“Oat bran, a by-product of oat grain processing, is a good source of soluble fibers: β-glucans that are linked to the reduction of cholesterol and to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.”—Science Direct

Photo by Vie Studio on Pexels.com

Oat Bran Fad 🥄

Are you old enough to remember the oat bran craze of the late 1980? A 1991 Los Angeles Times article described the oat bran-craze as a short-lived obsession, which began in 1987 when several influential U.S. medical groups, such as the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, started the Know Your Cholesterol campaign. Former president Ronald Reagan would later proclaim April 1988 as National Know Your Cholesterol Month.

 I was early in my career at that time, and I can recall one of my coworker’s transformation when his doctor ordered him to lower his cholesterol after suffering a mild heart attack in his mid-40s. He decided to eschew medication, and try the “eating healthier” route, which included eating oat bran every morning for breakfast. In addition to several dietary changes, he added walking and/or bike riding for 30+ minutes four to five times a week. His results were stunning. By the end of that school year, he looked like a different person. 

Award-winning Nutrition 🏆

The oat bran craze, like other dietary fads, lost its shine by the early 1990s; however, it is still certainly worthy of regular consumption and should probably have a star placed on the Nutritional Wall of Fame if there were one. Specifically, it is high in soluble fiber. When eaten, soluble fiber soaks up water like a sponge, creating a gel-like substance that can lower blood sugar levels, holds on to cholesterol and fat, and make stool easier to pass.  

In addition to being high in soluble fiber, oat bran is lower in carbs and calories than oatmeal.  Oat bran is also higher in nutrients such as protein, fiber, iron, thiamine, and magnesium to name a few. It contains high levels of antioxidants which ward off chronic disease, inflammation, and offers other health benefits. Additionally, oat bran may also help lower both blood pressure and cholesterol.  Plus, it is naturally gluten free. 

Easy addition ➕

Making oat bran a regular part of a healthy diet is easy to do. Eat it as a creamy, comforting, warm porridge-like cereal, or mix it up as you would your favorite overnight-oats recipe for a velvety breakfast delight in the morning. Oat bran can be a nutritional addition to smoothies. It can be an excellent addition to baked goods, such as quick breads, cakes, and muffins like the recipe I share here. Stir oat bran into your favorite yogurt, or add it to your favorite casseroles, meatballs, meatloaf, or burger recipes. 

TAsty Holiday Treat That benefits your Health ✨

Even though it is a long way from those late 1980s, regular consumption of oat bran can go a long way to benefiting your health. The recipe below is one easy way to level up your oat bran game. The muffins are tasty on their own, and they deliciously pair with a drizzle of honey or smear of melted butter alongside a warm cup of coffee or tea. They freeze well for quick grab and go convenience, which is important over the coming Thanksgiving holiday. Plus, there’s a slew of optional stir-in ingredients listed below, so you can personalize this recipe to fit your taste preferences.

From my home to yours, I wish you a healthy, happy, and wonderful Thanksgiving full of homemade goodness. 

Personalize this recipe with your choice of stir-in ingredients to take this recipe to the next level of flavor and health!

Healthy Holiday Pumpkin Oat Bran Muffins

Ingredients:

1 ½ cup oat bran

1 ½ cup oat flour (can replace with all-purpose flour or gluten free variation)

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

4 packets of your favorite sweetener

1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon ground ginger*

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg*

¼ teaspoon ground cloves*

⅛ teaspoon all-spice* 

2 eggs or “fleggs**” 

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

15 ounce can pure pumpkin puree 

½ cup apple sauce

½ cup pure maple syrup 

⅓ cup milk (dairy or nondairy)

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Optional stir-ins: 1 cup chopped nuts and/or ½ cup blueberries, raisins, currants, chopped dates, dried cranberries, or chocolate chips

Notes: 

*Can replace ginger, nutmeg, cloves, & all-spice with 1 ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

**To make two flax “eggs” or “flegg”: Stir together 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed + 5 tablespoons water and set in fridge for 5+ minutes before adding to recipe

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Be sure to set out eggs, if using, and maple syrup ahead of time to come to room temperature.

If replacing eggs with flaxseed “flegg” variation, combine ground flaxseed and water, and set in fridge for five minutes to thicken 

Meanwhile, combine dry ingredients (oat bran, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and all of the spices) into large mixing bowl and set aside

Next, mix together wet ingredients

Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients, but do not overmix

Gently fold in any additional stir-in ingredients, such as blueberries, nuts, chocolate chips, and/or dried fruit, if using

Divide evenly among 12 prepared muffin tins

Sprinkle with sparkling sugar or cinnamon, if desired

Bake 18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean

Cool five minutes before serving

Store uneaten muffins in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days, or freeze for up to three months.

Perfect Pear-Crisp Recipe for Fall

by stephsimply, posted in Uncategorized

“There are only ten minutes in the life of a pear when it is perfect to eat.”–Ralph Waldo Emmerson

Photo by ML ARANDA on Pexels.com

The seasons of Pears 🍐

Pears are in-season locally.  For those who grow these fruit trees, this is a once a year celebration of those sweet, juicy fruits.  Ironically, for all their sweetness, pears are one fruit that do not, and should not, fully ripen on the tree. In fact, pears need to be harvested when mature, but not ripe. If left on the tree too long, pears become mealy.

Across the United States, pears come into season anywhere from August to October, depending upon what part of the country they are grown.  Most pears–about 95%–found in the stores, are grown in California, Washington, and Oregon according to Food Network. That said, it’s not too late to find home grown pears at local farmers markets and roadside stands. 

Photo by u7d20u6750u738bu56fd Footage Kingdom on Pexels.com

How to to Know when Pears are ripe 🍐

When buying pears, keep in mind that they do take a while to ripen enough for eating. In order to determine if a pear is ripe enough to eat, gently press on the neck of a pear with your thumb. If your thumb gives, the fruit is ripe, if the fruit doesn’t yield, it needs more time to ripen.  However, it is worth noting that slightly under-ripe pears can still be used for baking and recipes that require some form of cooking.  The heat allows the fruits’ sweet juices to release into your favorite recipes. 

I am fortunate enough to have a neighbor, Sandra Patterson, who is generous when her pear trees bear their fruit.  For the past several years, she has offered to share her harvested fruit with those around her, and they are always a tasty, seasonal delight.  Unfortunately, pears are so versatile, I have a hard time choosing how I want to prepare them.  From salads to main dishes, from sweet breads to delightful sauces, and from luscious desserts to slicing them up and eating them fresh, pears lend themselves to a wide array of recipes. 

Pears are versatile ✨

In the past, I have made pear butter, which is similar to apple butter.  I have made quinoa pear salad and microwavable “baked” pears.  I have sliced them up and added them to garden salads with dried cranberries and walnuts, or put them on toast with peanut butter, raisins, and a sprinkle of cinnamon.  While I don’t eat meat, I know that one of my coworkers adds freshly sliced pears to the pan when baking pork loin.  And these ideas are only the tip of the recipe-iceberg for fresh pears.

This year, however, I decided to go with one of my favorite simple treats: pear crisp.  I love any kind of bakeable fruit with a hearty, crunchy oat topping, and the ease of these types of “crumble” desserts is one I especially appreciate.  Additionally, for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, fruit crisps, when made with gluten-free ingredients, such as oats and oat flour, make a delightful replacement for gluten-laden fruit pies.  

Easy to bake up, and rich in fall taste!

Pear Crisp Anyone? 🙌

I chose to use maple syrup in this recipe instead of the traditional brown sugar because it offers a comforting fall scent and flavor. When baking with maple syrup, it lends a caramel-like taste to baked goods that I believe “pears” well with traditional fall spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice—all of which are found in the apple-pie spice that I incorporated into this recipe.

That said, you can replace the maple syrup with brown sugar as noted in the recipe. And, you can also replace the apple pie spice with cinnamon, if preferred. Other recipe modifications could include replacing the pears with an equivalent amount of apples or using half apples/half pears. Furthermore, if you like raisins or dried cranberries, sprinkle ¼ to ½ cup of those over the fruit before adding the topping.

Regardless of how you adapt this recipe to suit your taste preferences, it is my hope that it inspires you to bake up some “pear-fect” homemade goodness in your home for a fall treat. As it bakes, your house will overflow with fragrant autumnal scents sure to make your belly growl. Brew some tea or coffee and soften up your favorite ice cream variation to serve up along with this dessert, and enjoy!

From my home to yours, I wish health, happiness, and homemade eats!

Chock-full of sweet, seasonal pears and topped with a maple-rich oat-and-walnut crunchy topping, pear crisp makes for a simple, but luscious fall treat.

Easy Pear Crisp Recipe 🧑‍🍳

Easy Pear Crisp, Gluten-free and plant based 

(Thank you, Sandra, for the “pear-amount” inspiration for this recipe.)

Ingredients

6-7 ripe pears

1 teaspoon apple pie spice (Can substitute with cinnamon)

¾ cup rolled oats

¾ cup oat-flour flour (Can substitute all-purpose flour.)

½ cup chopped walnuts and/or pecans, optional

1 teaspoons of cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

 ⅔ cup pure maple syrup (Can substitute 1 cup brown sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces (I use vegan variation.)

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Coat square baking dish with cooking spray  (Mine was 9 x 9)

Core and deseed pears, then slice or chop fruit, depending upon preference (I left peel on, but you can peel pears)

Place fruit in prepared baking dish

Sprinkle with apple pie spice

In a large bowl, mix together oats, flour, cinnamon, nuts (if using), baking powder, and salt.

Cut in maple syrup, vanilla extract, and butter pieces using a pastry blender, forks, or large, firm spoon. (Mixture will be thick and slightly crumbly if using syrup; it will be mostly crumbly if using brown sugar.)

Sprinkle oat mixture over fruit

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Serve warm.  It makes 6-9 servings.  Leftovers can be stored in covered containers in the refrigerator for up to a week. It can also be frozen for up to three months. 

Double chocolate, chocolate chip cookies, with gluten-free and plant based options

by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“If you can’t change the world with chocolate chip cookies, how can you change the world?” – Pat Murphy

Photo by Lucas Guizo on Pexels.com

Eat Mostly Healthy, but . . .🍫

As most regular readers know, I focus on eating overall healthy foods, 95% of which are plants.  Nonetheless, I do save room for a daily sweet treat, which is typically dark chocolate.  However, I do love to bake, and two of my favorite goodies to make from scratch are brownies and chocolate chip cookies.  These special-treat recipes were handed down to me from my Grandmother Helen. 

Once I was diagnosed with celiac disease in my late 40s, I had to learn to adjust all my family favorite recipes to gluten free versions.  Still, I have no complaints as it has just been one long baking adventure ever since!

In fact, I often chat with my brother, who also loves to bake, about different recipes, and he was recently telling me about a cookie recipe he baked: chocolate, white chocolate chip cookies.  I could see the color contrast of white chocolate chips against the chocolate background making a beautiful and decadent cookie.  However, I am not a white chocolate fan. (In my mind, white chocolate is a poseur, but hey, that’s my opinion!)

Best of Both Worlds 🍪

Still, the idea of chocolate cookies sent me down a rabbit-hole of thoughts.  What if I could create a gluten free cookie that combined the best of two worlds–grandmother Helen’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies?  Hmm.  Now there was a thought worth considering.

After hitting up several of my favorite cooking sites, including Mama knows gluten free, Very best baking, Gluten free palate, and King Arthur baking, I cobbled together a recipe similar to Grandmother Helen’s chocolate chip cookies–only with cocoa powder, espresso, and a couple of other minor tweaks. Therefore, I felt comfortable and confident assembling and baking these cookies for the first time since the recipe was so similar..

What a Treat! 😋

And what a treat they were! The cookies were soft and tender with a slight chew.  Best of all, they were full of that melt-in-your mouth flavor you want to savor. I varied the types of chocolate chips in size and degrees of flavor–from semi-sweet to darker variations.  

Ultimately, this created a cookie that was everything I could have hoped for. It was as if an un-iced brownie and chocolate chip cookie romantically collided, creating a hybrid of flavor and texture. Of course, you can absolutely use white chocolate chips or a mix of both types if that’s your thing. Feel free to also sprinkle the tops with a bit of white baking sparkling sugar before baking if you’re feeling extra jazzy!

Give it a Try! 👩‍🍳

Next time you have a hankering for something chocolate and gooey, try this recipe!  It makes plenty, so you have enough for sharing!  And, if you do bake them, I’d love to hear your feedback!

From my home to yours, I wish you an occasional no-so-healthy, but homemade indulgent treat baked with love–just like Grandmother Helen!

P.S.  Thank you, Scott, for the inspiration for this recipe!

Double Chocolate Chip Cookie, gluten free

Ingredients:

2 ¼ cup all purpose flour (can use gluten free version)

½ cup cocoa powder* (I used Dutched-processed)

1 sachet of espresso powder, optional

1 teaspoon baking soda

½  teaspoon salt

½  cup butter, softened to room temperature (I use dairy-free version)

½  cup vegetable shortening*

¾  cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar*

2 large egg, room temperature*

1 tablespoon apple cider or white vinegar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 cups chocolate chips, mixed varieties, including white chocolate chips, if desired

Directions:

*Please read notes below recipe before baking

(Set out butter and eggs 1-2 hours in advance to allow them to come to room temperature)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients: flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt, and espresso, if using. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, using a mixer, cream together butter and shortening until creamy 

Beat in both sugars and vanilla extract until creamy, scraping down sides of bowl as needed

Beat in eggs and vinegar for at least two minutes until creamy.

Gradually beat in dry ingredients until well incorporated

Gently fold in chocolate chips

Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets

Bake 8-10 minutes until cookies are puffed

Allow to cool on pan for 2 minutes before transferring to cooling rack

Store at room temperature in airtight container for up to 5 day

Can freeze leftovers in airtight container for up to 3 months 

Makes 2-4+ dozen cookies, depending upon how big you make your cookies.

Baking Notes (In the order in which they occur in recipe):

*Can use a mix of traditional cocoa and Dutched cocoa powder, if preferred

*Can use 1 cup butter and NO shortening for a crispier cookie

*I prefer dark brown sugar in cookies for a deeper, richer flavor

*To replace egg, combine either 2 tablespoons of flaxseed or chia seed with 4 tablespoons of water and set in fridge for at least five minutes to set

Sweet Summer Strawberry Cake

Featured by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“Every cake has a story to tell.”–unknown

Sweet treat, strawberry cake

Family traditions🧑‍🍳

When I married into my husband’s family some thirty years ago, it was the merging of two families who enjoyed cooking, tried-and-true recipes, handed down from one generation to the next, typically accompanied by a story or two.  On my husband’s side, there were several excellent cooks, especially his mother, his sister, and her husband.  Whereas, in my own extended family, I grew up around three women–my grandmother, my mamaw, and my mom–who were great cooks in their own right.  Therefore, between the two families, there was a wealth of inspiration, ideas, and sources for recipes.  

To this day, many of those family recipes remain favorites.  However, since being diagnosed with celiac disease over ten years ago, I have been on a culinary quest to adapt many of those beloved recipes so that I can, forgive the pun, “have my cake and eat it too”! 

When I first saw my mother-in-law’s version of this recipe, I could help but notice the how thick and creamy the icing looked.

But First . . .🍰

The original Strawberry Cake recipe came from my mother-in-law, Colleen.  She and my grandmother were very similar when it came to their approach to cooking.  They both believed in the right to serve large portions, and both embraced the notion of going their own way instead of following recipes, step-by-step.  Therefore, when my grandmother, or Colleen, would share a written recipe, there was sure to be additional verbal directions and advice for best preparing the recipe.

Dressing it up with sprinkles and blueberries if desired.

Never shy away from making a recipe your own🥣

It is that familial cooking spirit of never shying away from the right to make a recipe uniquely your own that continues to inspire me. Gluten-free baking wasn’t a “thing” when Grandmother and Colleen were living, so if I want to still enjoy those cooking stories from my past, I have to forge my own cooking path.  Nonetheless, I think they would have enjoyed many of my modified recipes, including this one. 

Add some pomegranate arils, for a bit more color contrast!

The eyes have it first👀

I recall the first time I ate this cake at Colleen’s house.  It was a Sunday family dinner, and I immediately noticed this beautiful, thickly frosted pink cake.  Now, my grandmother taught, “Your eyes eat things before your mouth,” and from the first look at that cake until the last bite, my eyes and mouth were in agreement: the cake was every bit the tasty confection it looked to be.  

The icing is thick and rich

Make it Gluten-free if you want🥮

I am not sure if my recipe adaptation is on-par with Colleen’s, but I do know that my own family loved it.  In fact, my adult daughter, one who typically, and quickly, discerns if I have made something gluten-free, asked if the cake was really gluten-free because she could not taste the difference.  Even more telling was the fact that she told me she thought that it was my best gluten-free recipe to date, and I could “bake it for her anytime.”  

Homemade strawberry reduction takes a bit more time, but it is so worth the effort! And, the leftovers of this reduction can used as you would any other fruit sauce or jelly.

Strawberry Reduction🍓

In addition to making the recipe gluten-free, I eliminated strawberry gelatin as a main ingredient, and instead, I made a strawberry reduction with double the amount of strawberries the original recipe called for.  My variation is also dairy-free, as I used non-dairy milk and butter; however, I did use real eggs.  That said, if you need this recipe to be egg-free, there are plenty of egg-replacement products available.  

The cake is light and spongy.

Cupcake Crazy?🧁

I’ve included directions for baking cupcakes and several cake variations, so the recipe can be baked and assembled in a variety ways.  Additionally, any leftover strawberry reduction tastes terrific spread over toast, stirred into oatmeal, or added to a smoothie.  

From my Family to Yours🏠

From my home to yours, I hope this recipe allows you to create your own cake story and recipe lineage.  Who knows, maybe one day, your grandkids will make their own version of Strawberry Cake! 

Any way you slice it up, this strawberry cake is sure to please!

Strawberry Cake (or Cupcakes) 🍰

Ingredients

½  cup milk (plant-based, if desired)

2 teaspoons white or apple cider vinegar

1 package white or yellow cake mix (gluten free, if needed)

3 tablespoons all purpose flour (gluten free, if needed)

3 eggs or equivalent egg-replacement

⅓ cup oil, melted butter, or applesauce

½ water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 ½ cup strawberry reduction, completely cooled (see below)

*Strawberry Reduction

Ingredients

2 pounds fresh or frozen strawberries (If frozen, be sure to thaw for at least 20 minutes)

4 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Strawberry Buttercream Frosting

Ingredients

1 stick butter, softened (plant-based, if desired)

¼-½ cup strawberry reduction, depending upon how much flavor you want

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

⅛ teaspoon salt

4-6 cups confectioners sugar

Up to 4 tablespoons milk, if needed for creaminess

Directions

*Make Strawberry Reduction 12-24 hours+ in advance

Thaw and/or remove stems from strawberries, then cut in half

Puree strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice in food processor or blender

Pour into medium saucepan and bring to low boil over medium heat

Reduce heat, but continue to simmer over low heat for 30 or so minutes, stirring occasionally

Allow strawberries to reduce to texture similar to that of tomato sauce

Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until completely cooled and/or ready to use.

Make Cake or cupcakes

Add vinegar to milk, set in fridge for five minutes (making “buttermilk”)

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350 degrees

Coat cake pan(s) with nonstick cooking spray or line muffin tins with parchment paper

In a large mixing bowl, stir together cake mix and flour

Beat in eggs, one at a time.

Then, stir in “buttermilk,” water, oil (or butter or applesauce), and vanilla extract.

Next, fold in strawberry reduction, scraping down the sides as needed

For cupcakes:  divide batter among cupcakes, using a greased ice cream scoop, if desired, filling cup ½ – ⅔  full

For cake:  pour batter into one 9 x 13 cake pan, a 10-cup bundt pan, or divide between two 8” or 9” inch round pans

Baking time:  Cupcakes = 20-25 minutes; 9 x 13 pan = 30-35 minutes; Bundt pan = 45-48 minutes; Two round pans = 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean

Allow cake or cupcakes to cool completely before frosting (I even put mine in the refrigerator for a couple of hours before frosting.)

Make the Frosting

In a large bowl, cream butter, strawberry reduction, vanilla extract and salt

Add in confectioner sugar, one cup at a time, until icing is firm

Then, add in milk, one tablespoon at a time, whipping in between each addition until desired consistency is reached.

Pipe or spread over cake or cupcakes.

Decorate tops of cake or cupcakes with red, white, or pink sugar sprinkles or freshly sliced strawberries

Store in airtight container and refrigerate

Makes 24 cupcakes or 1 cake of your choosing

Chocolate Chip Muffins, gluten-free, plant-based options

by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“Procrastibaking: the art of making muffins instead of whatever else you should be doing.”–as seen on INTO THE COOKIE JAR

I had work to do, but there it sat.  The lone, leftover banana.  Muddled and marred by dark brown spots, hiding its inner-sweetness.  Too mushy to eat, but perfect for baking.  But what?

Nosing around in my cabinets, I noticed a partial bag of chocolate chips.  Hmm?  Maybe I could bake chocolate chip cookies, but would I be able to use a banana in it?  Not sure if that would work, at least regarding taste.  Then, it hit me like a Monday morning: muffins!

Photo by Anton Uniqueton on Pexels.com

I was pretty sure that I had once read that bananas can be used as a substitute for an egg in a recipe.  Sure enough, for once, my memory was correct. One banana equals one egg. Now don’t get me wrong, bananas cannot do everything an egg can do when baking, but in a recipe such as this one, where I am also including vinegar and baking soda, bananas are a decent substitute.  

Speaking of vinegar . . . Why add it to baking?  Historically speaking, vinegar has been used in baking for centuries.  One such example was during the Great Depression when rations, such as eggs and butter, were limited.  One teaspoon of baking soda combined with one tablespoon of vinegar makes baked goods light and fluffy.  Even if you are using an egg, adding one tablespoon of vinegar to a cake, cookie, or bread recipe will help batter rise, increase moisture, and even brighten the color.  

Photo by Rosana Solis on Pexels.com

Regarding flours, you will notice that I chose a combination of two different types as well as oat bran.  This was an intentional choice due to the fact that I have celiac disease, so I cannot consume wheat.  Additionally, I wanted to increase the fiber/nutritional content of these muffins while keeping the texture light and fluffy side.  Think of it as a compromise–balancing out the white flour and sugar with the nutritional profile of oats!  Plus, I happen to like baking with oats and oat flour due to the texture and moisture oats tend to create while not lending an overpowering flavor.  Nonetheless, you could use almond flour, rice flour, or other preferred varieties. In fact, you could simply use nothing but all-purpose flour if that is your preference.  As long as the total amount of flour remains the same, most flours should be fine!

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Finally, feel free to play around with the stir-ins.  There’s up to one cup total, so make the recipe yours.  Stir in raisins, walnuts, peanut butter chips, dried cranberries, chopped dates, butterscotch chips, chopped pecans, and so forth.  Make the recipe fit both your taste preferences and/or the ingredients you have on hand. 

Once these muffins are baked and cool enough to serve, slather one with butter or your favorite nut butter.  Dip them in maple syrup–who says it’s for pancakes only?  Drizzle agave or honey over the tops.  Then again, eat ‘em plain–after all, they will be plenty moist! 

Customize this recipe, and make it work for you and yours!  Then, hit me up on social media, or send me an email, and let me know what variation worked for you!  In the meantime, enjoy procrastibaking! 🙂  

Chocolate Chip Muffins, with gluten-free, plant based options

Recipe inspired by Betty Crocker’s 40th Anniversary Edition Cookbook Betty Crocker’s Cookbook/40th Anniversary Edition Hardcover – September 1, 1991,

Allergy Awesomeness,  Rhian’s Recipes, HealthyGirl Kitchen

Ingredients:

¾  cup oat flour*

¾ cup oat bran*

1 cup all purpose flour, gluten-free flour*

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 ripe banana

1 cup milk, any variation

½ cup sugar

1 tablespoon white or apple cider vinegar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

½ -1 cup chocolate chips, gluten-free and/or vegan if desired/needed

½ cup chopped walnuts, optional

Sparkling sugar

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Line 12 muffin tins with parchment paper or nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, mix together flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Mash banana in a medium bowl.

Stir in milk, sugar, vanilla, and vinegar.

Gently combine liquid ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.

Fold in chocolate chips and/or nuts, if using.

Divide batter evenly among cups.

Top with extra chips, and/or sprinkle with sparkling sugar, if desired.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry.

Allow muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning onto a cooling rack.

Serve immediately.

Can store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, or can freeze for up to 3 months.

After refrigerating or freezing muffins, reheat muffins before serving.

Makes 12. 

*Notes: Feel free to mix and match types of flours, and even leave out the bran, to suit your needs/taste preferences as long as the total amount of flour used equals 2 ½ cups.  Additionally, while I have to bake/eat gluten free and choose to eat plant based, you choose the ingredients that match your preferences.  Finally, you can use an egg, ¼ cup applesauce, or ¼ cup yogurt to replace the banana if desired or don’t have a banana on hand.

You’ll need two bowls.
Mix your dry ingredients in one bowl.
Mash your banana well.
Stir in wet ingredients with banana.
Pour wet ingredients into dry and gently mix.
Be sure to preheat oven and prepare muffin tins. I prefer parchment liners.
Stir in those luscious chocolate chips.

Divide batter evenly and top with desired toppings. I added mini chocolate chips and white sugar.
Allow muffins to cool on a rack, but feel free to serve warm!

Enjoy the yummy results of procrastibaking!

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Apple Crisp: A sneaky and sweet way to use an overabundance of zucchini

by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

Summertime Farmer’s Market Dessert

“Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.”–Jim Davis

There is an oft repeated cautionary tale reminding parishioners to lock their car doors during the summer months when attending worship services.  Otherwise, when you return after service, your car will have been gifted all the extra, and unwanted, zucchinis from a neighbor’s garden!  

My mom recently repeated that story to me, and it made me think of my grandmother, her mother, Helen.  As a child, my siblings and I often stayed with my maternal grandparents during the summer months, and we came to know much of the ins and outs of their life.  This understanding of their life grew even greater during a two year stint in which I lived with them, as a young adult.  And, that day-to-day life revolved around projects/chores around the house, their church community, family, and most importantly, mealtimes–with special emphasis on summertime produce for freezing, canning, and, of course, eating! 

Photo by Kampus Production on Pexels.com

For example, during the summer months as a child, Pappaw grew a garden, as did all of their neighbors and fellow church community. Throughout the summer Pappaw gave extra vegetables to neighbors and friends.  In return, they reciprocated with their bounty.  Their in-home summer diet was supplemented with regular trips to a nearby produce stand, one town over from the little community in which they lived.  

Therefore, even though, as a young child, I grew up surrounded by distinct aromas, vibrant colors, and a wide variety of shapes of summer produce.  Half-runner beans, strung and broken into pieces cooking on the stove in a pressure cooker; sweet ears of corn on the cob, shucked, boiled and ready to be served up with tubs of “oleo;” glass jars of a neighbor’s sorghum syrup ready to be drizzled over biscuits, fresh bell peppers–although they called them “mangos”–chopped and ready for salads, sauces, or other recipes, and thinly sliced beefsteak tomatoes sprinkled with salt were common weekly summer meal features. Summer desserts featured strawberry shortcakes and blackberry cobblers, as each of those fruits came into season.  Other summertime desserts included watermelon wedges cold and salted, along with fresh summer melons, cut in half, and filled with ice cream or cottage cheese.

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Then came the two years that I lived with them.  No longer were my grandparents able to grow, manage, and maintain their garden, but it didn’t stop their neighbors and community members from sharing the bounty of their gardens with them.  Cue stage right, enter the oversized zucchini–countless oversized zucchini covering the kitchen counter from well-meaning garden-growing church community members!

Grandmother would cut up those zucchinis with fresh peppers, onion, and tomatoes.  Then, she’d season them and cook ‘em all up together–sometimes on the stovetop, like a stew, and sometimes in the oven with cheese and bread crumbs on top.  Her favorite variation was something she called zucchini boats in which she sliced large zucchinis in half, smothered each half in spaghetti sauce, sprinkled the sauce with parmesan, and baked them until golden brown in the oven. Finally, Grandmother Helen also baked zucchini breads and zucchini cakes–sheet or layer with cream cheese or buttercream icing.  Therefore, I absolutely believe that she would have loved the recipe that follows.

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Here’s to my grandparents’ summer time vegetable meal memories. And remember, if life gives you lemons, I mean zucchinis, then here’s a way to turn them into a sweet, summertime dessert!  It may have you saying, “I can’t believe it’s not apple crisp!”  

P.S. Be sure to tag me on social media, or reach out to me via email if you make this!

I Can’t Believe It’s Not Apple Crisp:

Summertime Farmer’s Market Dessert

Gluten-Free and Vegan Options

Ingredients:

Filling:

6 cups peeled, deseeded (if large) and cubed (think thick pineapple chunks) zucchini* (About 5 medium store-sized zucchini/squash)

½ cup sugar or pure maple syrup

¼ cup lemon juice

1 ½  teaspoon apple pie spice (Can substitute with 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼  teaspoon nutmeg, & ⅛ teaspoon allspice)

2 tablespoons all purpose flour, gluten-free if needed

Streusel Topping:

1 cup oats

¾ cup all-purpose flour, gluten-free if needed

¾ cup brown sugar

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ cup cold butter, cut into pieces (can use vegan variety)

Directions:

Peel and cube zucchini.

Over medium heat, add prepared zucchini and all filling ingredients EXCEPT flour.

Allow to cook down, approximately 10-20 minutes, or until zucchini chunks are super soft when pressed with a spoon.   

Stir in flour and allow to cook 3-5 more minutes, or until flour has been well incorporated and filling has thickened.  

Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray 8×8 or 9×9 square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, mix together oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well blended. 

Cut in cold butter into mixture, using a fork or pastry blender, until crumbly, careful not to overmix. Set aside.

Spread zucchini filling mixture evenly into prepared baking pan.

Sprinkle with streusel topping mixture.

Bake 30-45 minutes, or until topping is crispy, golden brown and juices are bubbling along edges.

Allow to cool 15-20 minutes before serving.

Makes 6 generous servings or 9 smaller servings.

Feel free to top with favorite ice cream or whipped topping if desired.

*Feel free to experiment with other summer squashes, such as, yellow squash, crookneck squash, pattypan, cousa squash, and zephyr varieties 

Peel zucchini 🥒

Cut them up into pineapple chunk size.
MIx the filling up, add it to pot, and cook it down.
MIx together dry ingredients for streusel.
Cut cold butter into streusel mixture.
Bake it up until top is crispy and golden brown, and the juices are bubbling around the edges/sides.
Serve it up, once cooled!

Here's a sweet way to get a serving of vegetables in, and it will also help you use up all of those zucchinis your neighbors love to share! 🥒
With or without topping, you won’t believe it’s not apple crisp!

Gluten-free Snickerdoodles (with vegan option)

by stephsimply, posted in Recipes

“Baking cookies is comforting, and cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food. . . .”--Sandra Lee

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Years ago, back in the days of the VHS tape cassettes, when my daughter, Maddie, was quite young, she had her fair share of age-appropriate videos.  These were special treats as her TV time was limited. John, my husband, and I are both educators, and we strongly believed then–and still do–that screen time should be limited, especially before the age of five years.  Therefore, these videos were not watched daily, but rather saved for “special times,” such as holidays, sick days, and weekends. 

One of her favorites was Barney: Night Before Christmas.  It was 57 minutes of so much saccharine sweetness that John and I felt cavities forming, if not in our teeth, then in our minds! It used to drive us crazy with its terrible acting and poorly written script. Regardless, Maddie loved it, and she especially enjoyed singing along with the Barney closing jingle. I can still recall the way in which she would plead for her Dad and I to join her in singing it’s catchy refrain, followed by a group hug. 

One line from this video, ultimately became–and still remains–a running joke in our family.  Let me set the stage for you.  Magically, a flawlessly dressed and styled girl wakes up to find snow has fallen just in time for Christmas Eve.  Poof! Out of nowhere, a perfectly coiffed mom, garbed in stereotypical Christmas attire, emerges to hug her daughter at the window.  As Mother and daughter turn away from the window, in walks the doting Dad carrying boxes of Christmas decorations,“just in time for Christmas Eve too!”  Suddenly, Dad feigns hunger like Santa, so Mom suggests that she should bake cookies.

Ooo! Snickerdoodles cooling on a wire rack!

“Ooo–snickerdoodles?” says Dad, rubbing his hands together.

“Chocolate chip?” asks Daughter in a sing-song voice.

Mom smiles methodically in assent, as both parents make their way through the Christmas greeting card house and disappear behind a swinging door to presumably bake cookies.  Twenty or so minutes later, both parents will reappear, no worse for the wear, carrying a large Christmas basket filled with piles of Instagram worthy cookies–had social media been around then. 

The days of Maddie’s Barney obsession are long past; however, if I state that I am going to bake cookies, John, and/or Maddie, will both mimic the lines from the video.  John especially loves to say, “Ooo–snickerdoodles?” and dramatically rub his hands together as if teaching a primary science lesson on friction. As inside family jokes go, it never gets old! 

Gluten-free and vegan? Yes!

Therefore, this past Christmas week, I decided to be ironic and make those Barney dreams come true!  I researched and cobbled together my own version of gluten-free snickerdoodle cookies!  As an added twist, John inadvertently played the role of doting dad by scavenging stores for cream of tartar, the secret ingredient to these magical cookies, since it was out-of-stock at the store I most often frequent.  

Barney may have magic, but snickerdoodles have cream of tartar.

My family and I recommend giving these cookies a try.  At first glance, they may seem quintessentially Barney–simple and sweet. Unlike Barney, however, the cookies are not overly-sweet.  Instead, they are soft, pliable, and slightly complex in flavor due to the combined tang of the cream of tartar and the spice of the cinnamon.  Nonetheless, when you bake this recipe, don’t be surprised to discover that your home has been transformed into an idyllic world filled with singing dinosaurs, cued laughter, and a lovey-dovey theme song that won’t leave your head . . . “I love you, you love me . . . .

You get a cookie, and you get a cookie, and . . .

In the meantime, feel free to drop me a line anytime. Let me know your thoughts and/or suggestions. I always enjoy engaging with readers.

From my home to yours, I wish you sweet baking experiences!

A few of the tricks to making gluten-free, and vegan, snickerdoodles!
Blend the cinnamon and sugar first!

Gluten-free Snickerdoodles (with vegan option)

Ingredients for topping:

¼ cup sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Ingredients for cookies:

1 cup softened butter (You can substitute vegan butter for this if desired.)

1 ½ cup sugar

2 large eggs (You can substitute with *flegg.)

1 tablespoon vinegar

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose, gluten free flour

2 teaspoon cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

Directions:

If using flegg, mix first, and set aside.

Mix sugar and cinnamon together, and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place parchment paper on a cookie sheet.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

Mix in egg, vinegar, and vanilla, scraping down sides as needed, until creamed well.

Add in cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt until well blended.

Mix in flour, a cup at a time, until dough forms.

Using tablespoon, or cookie scoop, scoop out small amount of dough, and roll into balls

Roll each ball in cinnamon sugar mixture and place on the prepared cookie sheet.

If you prefer a flatter, crisper cookie, flatten each dough ball with a spoon, otherwise for fluffier, more soft cookies, leave as is.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending upon how soft you prefer your cookies.

Allow cookies to cool 2-4 minutes on pan before removing to a cooling rack.

Store cookies in an airtight container.

*flegg=egg substitute: Per egg, mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons water.  Set in refrigerator 15-20 prior to mixing dough

Are you hungry yet?

Indulgent Chocolate Chip Brownie Bars aka “Brookies”

by stephsimply, posted in Herald-Dispatch Articles, Recipes

“Every moment of light and dark is a miracle.”–Walt Whitman

Remember the rhyme that went something like this . . . 

“Rain, rain go away. 

Come again another day. 

Little Sally (Insert any name.) wants to play.  

Rain, rain go away.” 

Well, I’ve rewritten it.

2020, go away.

Don’t come back another day.

Little Stephie (Insert any name.) wants to play.

2020, please go away.

Photo by Evie Shaffer on Pexels.com

Let’s face it, folks, 2020 has been a challenging year for the entire world on so many levels.  It seems to me that just when I think it can’t get any worse, it can, and it does!  Sometimes I feel like we’re living in the Old Testament days alongside Job.  Okay, okay, that is perhaps a bit of an exaggeration. However, it does feel, at times, that there is a dark and menacing cloud hovering over the edges of life that will not dissipate.

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“All you need is love.  But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.”–Charles M. Schulz

Therefore, trumpet trill please, I present you with a newly created recipe idea . . . Light, triumphing over darkness.  Sweetness overcoming bitterness.  All symbolically baked up into  one luscious, (fairly) guilt-free indulgence. . . or, so I thought it was a new idea.  (Insert daughter popping my bubble here.)

Photo by Miguel u00c1. Padriu00f1u00e1n on Pexels.com

My daughter, Madelyn, introduced me to the name of my so-called creation when I shared with her my, “exciting new recipe idea.”

“Uhm, Mom.  You know that’s not a new thing, right?  Mixing brownie and chocolate chip cookie dough is not new–not even close.  Look it up.  It’s called a “brookie.”

Since when?  I never heard of it.  

“Brookie.  Really?  It’s a thing?  I didn’t first create it?”

“No, Mom, you didn’t.”

Cue the pom-pom shaking teenager from a long-ago video-vine, with which Maddie used to tease me as the unknown teen looked straight into the viewer’s eyes and stated, “You ain’t special.”

“Huh, I guess I am not so clever after all.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

Nonetheless, even if I am not as special or as innovative as I thought,  I will still share my recipe for the so-called “brookies” with you, courtesy of the kind people at Swerve. 

Early into the start of 2020, my brother, Scott, and I were talking via phone when he asked me if I had heard of a new sweetening product called Swerve.  At the time, he described it as the sweetener that he was using to regularly make lemonade in order to remain low-carb.  He added that it did not upset his digestive system as other sweeteners tend to do.  Since I also have an extremely sensitive stomach too, I was definitely interested in giving the product a try.

This was early in the pandemic when there were numerous shortages, especially in the baking aisles of grocery stores.  I was fortunate enough on my next shopping trip to pick up what appeared to be the last package of Swerve in-stock.  Trying it first in my green tea, I found I liked the taste–not possessing that fake chemical after-taste–nor was it overly sweet.  Plus, it did not upset my stomach.

In a later discussion with Scott, he shared with me that he had successfully baked cupcakes using the Swerve confectioner sugar replacement.  Whaaat???  He remained impressed with the product.  Hmm . . .

That’s when I decided to give Swerve a try in my raspberry muffin creation that I shared last month both.  It baked up well, tasted great, and did not seem to affect the texture.  Best of all,  I still did not experience any negative gastrointestinal side effects!  However, when I shopped at my supermarket the following week, they were completely wiped out of all Swerve products. 

Much to my surprise that is when the good people at Swerve reached out to me, asking if I’d like to try out more of their products.  Little did I know how many products this company makes!  Wow!  All of the products they shared were gluten-free and grain-free–which especially works for me.  Additionally, according to their packaging, Swerve products are Keto/low-carb friendly, low-glycemic, diabetes friendly, tummy friendly, natural, zero added sugar, and all natural, “born and raised in New Orleans.”  Plus, I can remain plant-based when I bake with them by merely tweaking a few ingredients as you will see below. 

Additionally, while my first batch of “brookies” was baking, I discovered the Swerve company has an amazing website chock full of support, advice, recipes, and ideas.  Sure enough, as my so-called original recipe continued baking, I learned that they already had a “brookie” recipe on-line.  Maddie was right, I was indeed NOT special.  Cue the sigh and slumping shoulders as the spotlight fades into darkness on my so-called bright idea.  

Even if not as original as I once thought, I will still share my “brookie” variation with you.  I especially recommend this recipe when you feel a little dark and down, or not-so-special.  Simply the smell alone is enough to lift the spirits!  However, it’s the ooey-gooey texture and the combination of two different tastes that is, well, enlightening–reminding the taster that even in the midst of a challenging and dark moment, life can still have its light, sweet moments.

“Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first.”–Ernestine Ulmer

From my home to yours, I wish you healthy, happy, homemade, and not-so-original sweet treats!

P.S.  A big shout out of thanks and gratitude to Stephanie Ferrari at FRESH Communications and the Swerve team for inspiring this not-so-original recipe!

Indulgent Chocolate Chip Brownie Bars aka “Brookies”

Ingredients:

1 package brownie mix (I used Swerve Sweets Brownie Mix.)

2 large eggs (I used a plant based replacement that I affectionately refer to as a “flegg” but it’s probably not original either!  See recipe below.)

½ cup oil (I used applesauce.)

½ cup water

1 + 2  tablespoons vanilla extract or powder (I used Organic Gold Vanilla powder.)

Optional add-in:  ½ cup chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life 100% dark chocolate Morsels.)

1 package chocolate chip cookie mix (I used Swerve Sweets Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix.)

3 tablespoons milk, dairy or plant-based

3 tablespoons melted butter (or plant-based equivalent, i.e. applesauce)

Optional add in:  ½ cup favorite nut pieces or oats (I used gluten free oats.)

Directions:

If replacing eggs, make your “flegg” before beginning any other steps. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare a square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper, or coating it with nonstick cooking spray.  (I used a 9 x 9 pan.)

In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs with oil, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and water.

Add in brownie mix, and if desired, stir in chocolate chips and mix until combined.

Spread brownie batter over the bottom of the baking dish.

In another medium bowl, mix together milk and 2 tablespoons vanilla.

Stir in chocolate chip cookie mix, and if desired, add in nuts or oats.

Add in melted butter and mix until combined.

Gently spread chocolate chip batter over brownie batter. 

Bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry and the edges are set. Cover with foil about half-way through baking time (around the 20-25 minute mark) so that the top won’t get too brown.

Allow to cool.

Makes 12-16 servings.

Store in an airtight container.

“Flegg” egg replacement recipe:

2 tablespoons flaxseed (Chia seed works too.) 

6 tablespoons of water. 

Mix well and allow to sit for 20 minutes before mixing batter.