Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

Perfect breakfast muffin!







































Ingredients:

2 Cups of oats
1 1/4 Cups flour
1/4 Cup butter/Margarine
1/2 Cup brown sugar
1 Cup 2% plain yogurt
2 Eggs
1 Tsp vanilla
3/4 Tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp fresh finely grated ginger
2 Tsp baking powder
1 3/4 Tsp baking soda
1 Cup grated apple (golden)
Pinch of Salt





Directions: Cream sugar and butter, add wet and mix. Combine to all dry ingredients then mix apple at the end. Bake at 325 for 22-25 minutes. Makes 18 muffins, or 18 friends!

Enjoy!

Buckwheat Thai Noodle Salad

Disclaimer: Gluten free if the packaging says 100% buckwheat friends.

I was so happy to be able to share this experiment with a good friend and at a classmate potluck today. It really made all the chopping and dishes worth it! Although Buckwheat soba noodles cook fast there is a process to preparing them (rinse thoroughly after - recommend googling how to cook soba noodles).
Let's get into it!






Dressing:
1/2 Cup tahini paste
1/2 Cup water
1 Tsp minced fresh ginger
1 Clove minced garlic
2 Tbsp tamari
2 Tbsp sesame oil
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
1 Small lemon juiced
Blend + refrigerate!










Salad Ingredients:
3 bundles of Buckwheat soba Noodles (hard to find but WORTH IT!
1/2 Bunch of green onions diced
1 Red pepper finely sliced
1 Carrot julienned
1 Stalk celery finely sliced
1/2 English cucumber cored and julienned
3/4 Cup of roasted sunflower seeds
1 Handful of fresh cilantro finely chopped


Another Disclaimer: Use how much you want of what you want and add how much dressing you want! Rules smules. Serve cold though and mix dressing with salad before serving.

Beef n' Sweet Potato Chili with Fresh Cilantro

How many versions of chili can this blog have? Lots apparently! It's a square meal in a pot and freezes wonderfully so why not keep 'em coming?!

I had it in my head to add roasted sweet potato to my chill and since I just bought a bunch of fresh cilantro from the store I thought I should toss that in too - since I don't think I've ever cooked with it!



1 Package of ground beef
2 x 19oz of diced tomatoes
1 19oz crushed tomato
1 Can of kidney beans
1/2 Cup frozen  corn cernels
1 Yellow onion diced
3 Cloves of garlic minced
2 Stalks of celery diced
1 Yellow pepper diced
1 Small zucchini diced
1 Medium sweet potato diced
1 Cup of fresh mushrooms
2 Tbsp of chill powder
1.5 Tbsp of cumin
1 Tbsp of italian seasoning blend
1/4 Cup of brown sugar
1/2 Tsp of red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper as you go!
1 Handful of fresh cilantro minced

Directions:
Roast the diced sweet potato on parchment pepper tossed lightly with oil and all of the italian seasoning blend for 22 minutes at 400 degrees.

Brown the beef with half of the chill powder and cumin.

In the pot soften the onion in olive oil, salt and pepper. Add celery and garlic then the yellow pepper. Salt and pepper as you go! Add the canned tomato then the diced zucchini, mushrooms, corn, kidney beans and the rest of the seasoning. Bring to a boil then add the sweet potato and browned beef. Put the temp to low and let it all hang out. Finish with minced cilantro and serve!

Banana-Coconut and Pear Cake

Adapted from the bestesties Banana-chocolate chip cake recipe I've made more combinations of this cake over the years then I can remember and they always turn out! You can pretty much substitute the 1 cup of chippits (in this cake shredded coconut/ diced pear) for anything. I've done strawberry rhubarb, blueberry and white chocolate, apples and who knows what else!






2 Cups of flour
2 Tsps of baking powder
1 Tsp of vanilla
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup of butter
1/2 cup of brown sugar
3 Medium bananas (frozen/thawed)
1 Tsp cinnamon
1/2 Cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 Cup of diced pear (chippit size)
Pinch of salt

Bake on Parchment paper at 350 for 22 - 27 minutes

Gourmet Grilled Cheese

You'll go GAGA over this grown-up grilled cheese! It's Pearfect… alright I'll stop with the wordplay.

2 Slices of wholewheat bread (or choice)
Enough cheddar to cover one side
Thinly slice pear and also cover the slice
Butter the outside of both slices PROPERLY

Tips: Make sure the pear is a bit soft
Grill over medium heat and cover pan with a lid to help melt the cheese.

No Pickels and No Ketchup… it's a revelation personally.