Sweet Potato Biscuits

Adapted from Breadbeckers :

I modified it by:

1/2 hard white 1/2 hard red 

No cinnamon or nutmeg

Used a muffin tin instead of cookie sheet 

Healthy Granola Bars

 

Author: The Blonde Buckeye

Ingredients :

• 2 cup Raw Almonds
• 3 cups Rolled Oats
• 2 cups Packed Dates
• ⅓ cup Honey
•  2/3 cup Creamy Almond Butter
• Sea Salt (to taste)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet add the almonds and the oats, and spread them out evenly. Bake them for about 15 minutes, or until lightly golden brown and toasted.
2. While the almonds and oats are toasting, place the dates into the bowl of a food processor. Process dates for about 1 minutes or so, until the dates form a ‘dough’ (they basically roll into one giant ball).
3. Combine almonds, oats and dates into a large mixing bowl and set aside.
4. Add honey and almond butter into a microwave-safe bowl and mix well. Microwave at about 75% power for 30 seconds at a time, mixing in between segments. Continue heating until mixture is smooth and pourable consistency.
5. Pour honey/ almond butter mixture over oat mixture. Stir up mixture, being sure to break up dates as much as possible.
6. Little coat a 9 x 13" dish with coconut oil  (and/ or line the bottom and sides with parchment paper, letting a few inches hang over each side).
7. Transfer mixture to prepared dish and press down firmly, trying to make the top as flat as possible, and releasing any holes/ air pockets (a firm, large metal spatula works well). Sprinkle the top with a little more sea salt, if desired.
8. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour, up to overnight. Either cut into 10 even-sized bars inside the pan, or remove it and cut them on a cutting board.

Notes

* Store bars in an airtight container either at room temperature or in the refrigerator, for about a week.

Authentic Spanish Rice

My good friend Gloria taught me this way of cooking Spanish rice. It is a little time consuming but the taste is amazing! 

Ingredients :

3 Roma tomatoes

2 onions ( preferably white )

5 cloves of garlic 

Chicken stock 

2-3 TBS of olive oil 

3 cups Long Grain Brown Rice

In blender or food processor add the tomatoes, onion, galic and 2 cups of chicken stock and purée. Meanwhile add oil and rice to a large pan and brown for 6-8 minutes over medium heat. 

Place purée through strainer to get all the pulp separated. ( The pulp will make the rice mushy if it is not extracted. )

Add enough broth to strained liquid to make a total of 8 1/4 cups liquid. Add all liquid to browned rice and bring to a rapid boil then cover immediately with lid and turn flame to simmer. Simmer for 1 hr ( do not lift lid). After 1 hr take a spoon and careful move back give to see if liquid is completely gone( see photo). If it is then your rice is done .. If not return lid and cook till liquid is completely gone. 

This is what should the pulp you discard should look like

Way to check rice

* don't mix rice - slowly scoop from the sides to center for serving - enjoy!

Sautéed Kale

Adapted from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/sauteed-kale-recipe.html#!

Total Time: 15 min

Prep: 5 min

Cook: 10 min

Yield: 4 servings

Level: Easy

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds young kale, stems and leaves coarsely chopped

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, finely sliced

1/2 cup broth ( chicken or veggie)

Salt and pepper

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Directions

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft, but not colored. Raise heat to high, add the broth and kale and toss to combine. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove cover and continue to cook, stirring until all the liquid has evaporated. Season with balsamic vinegar and lemon. Enjoy! 

Zucchini Oatmeal Bread

This is good recipe for morning ... Not too sweet and pretty dense. 

Adapted from: http://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/zucchini-oatmeal-bread/

Ingredients

• ¾ cup boiling water
• 1 cup pitted and quartered Medjool dates
• 2 cups whole-wheat flour, preferably white whole- wheat
• 1 1/2 cups oat flour
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 pound zucchini, shredded (about 3 ½ cups)
• ¾ cup rolled oats
• 1 cup whole pecans
• 1 cup raisins (optional) - I opted for none

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 2 1.5-quart loaf pans with cooking spray.
2. Pour boiling water over the dates and let sit until softened, about 15 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
4. Transfer dates and their soaking liquid to a food processor and process until smooth. Add eggs, oil, honey and vanilla and process until smooth. Pour date mixture into a large bowl. Stir in zucchini. Add the flour mixture and stir until just combined. Add the oats and raisins and stir until just combined. Divide the batter between the two prepared pans.
5. Bake until golden brown, puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Allow loaves to cool in their pans at least 15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool.

Notes

Approx :3 grams fiber. 4 grams protein.  1 gram saturated fat.

Dates soaking...,

Fresh milled flours....

Made some muffins too cause the recipe makes 2 loafs, but I did one loaf and 12 muffins.

3 Grain Waffles

3 cups flour ( any combination )

(I used 3/4 hard red 3/4 hard white 1 1/2 oat flour)

3/4 c yogurt 

1 c milk

1/4 coconut oil ( or olive)

4 eggs

3 tbs coconut sugar

2 tbs baking pwdr

3/4 tsp baking soda

Dash of salt

Cinnamon

1tsp vanilla

Optional - 3/4 c. raspberries or blueberries 

Mix eggs, sugar, milk, yogurt and oil until light and fluffy. In separate bowl sift dry ingredients. Combine wet and dry. Add option fruit.

Meatloaf with Cabbage

1.5-2lb ground beef
1/3 head green cabbage shredded 
1/3 head red cabbage shredded
1 onion chopped
2  tbs (divided) Worcestershire sauce
3/4 tsp (divided) sea salt 
Ground pepper to taste 
2 cloves of minced garlic
2 tbs of BBQ sauce or ketchup (optional)
2 eggs
3 slices whole wheat bread broken into pieces 
1/2 c milk

Preheat oven to 350.
Sauté cabbage, garlic and onion season with 1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 of salt and pepper till cabbage is tender.
Place rest of ingredients in a large bowl while cabbage is cooling. Add cabbage and onion and mix all together ( I mix with my hands so that I don't over handle the meat - to keep it tender ) till just combined . Place in a meatloaf pan or on a tinfoil lined jelly roll pan and shape.
Bake for 35-45 minutes.