All Natural Muffins--Pumpkin & Berry & Zucchini

BERRY MUFFINS

• 1½ cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s white whole-wheat flour)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
• 2 eggs
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup oil (I used coconut oil)
• ¾ cup orange juice or apple juice
• About 1 cup of total filling (berries, fruit, nuts, etc. – see below for details)
• Muffin/Cupcake liners

I often don't have orange/apple juice in my fridge so I sub it with applesauce.  It turns out just fine.  And I've stopped using the liners because these muffins stick to the paper, I just grease my muffin pan instead.

PUMPKIN MUFFINS

• 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s white whole-wheat flour)
• 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ⅛ teaspoon cloves
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• ½ cup oil (I used coconut oil)
• ½ cup honey
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ½ cup chopped tree nuts (optional)

I always double this recipe so I don't have half a can of pumpkin puree left.  These are our family fav.   When doubled this batch will make 2 dozen muffins.

ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

• 3 cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s white whole-wheat flour)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup oil (I used coconut oil)
• ½ cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional – I have tried both pecans and almonds, although walnuts would be good too)

All of the above--bake at 350* for 18-20 min.

Zucchini Skillet Lasagna

3 zucchini
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
5 roma tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce (optional)
1 Tbsp olive oil
fresh basil
1/2 container ricotta cheese
1/4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
2 c. cooked noodles

These are all just guesstimates.  I just kind of add as I go.

Chop the onion and garlic.  Saute in olive oil til onions are soft (about 5 min).  Dice the tomatoes into tiny little squares (think pico de gallo small).  Add to pan.  Add tomato sauce if you want to make a larger batch.  I like to add it, then when the sauce is all done, I put about 1 cup into a pyrex to save for spaghetti another night.  bring the tomato mixture to a boil.  Simmer.  (this is where I would reserve the sauce).  Add ricotta cheese.  Add zucchini, cook until desired texture (I like my zucchini to have a little crunch).  Add mozzarella and cooked noodles.  Hope you like it as much as we do!

Berry Muffins

Super yummy muffins.  We all love them.  (I haven't made the streusel yet.. still great plain!)

1 cup white flour
1/2 cup spelt flour (or add another 1/2 cup white)
1 cup whole-wheat flour
1 cup oats
1 T baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 cup honey (or sugar)
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
1 6 oz container raspberry or blueberry yogurt
1/2 cup milk
3 T canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 cup each fresh blueberries and raspberries

Streusel
1/4 c flour
3 T brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped, lightly toasted walnuts, pecans, or almonds
1 1/2 T butter, melted

Prepare muffin tins with paper or oil.  Prepare steusel first and set aside.

For muffins:  Mix dry ingredients well.  In a separate bowl, mix all wet ingredients except berries, and beat together well. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mix and beat firmly and quickly just until thoroughly moistened.  Add berries and fold in gently.  Divide batter into greased or paper-lined muffin tins and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  Cool for 15 minutes in the pan to set the berries, remove from pan, and cool on wire rack.

Bruschetta Chicken Bake

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 pkg. stuffing mix
1/2 cup water
2 cloves garlic minced
1 1/2 lb chicken, cut into bite size pieces
1 tsp dried basil leaves
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1)  Heat oven to 400.  Mix tomatoes, stuffing mix, water and garlic just until stuffing mix is moistened.
2)  Layer chicken, basil, cheese and stuffing in 9x13 pounds
3)  Bake 30 minutes or until chicken is cooked through