Whether you have them at home or at your favorite diner, it can be said that pancakes are the ultimate weekend breakfast. Something magical happens when they’re hot off the griddle and topped with butter and syrup. It sets the tone for a great day ahead.
However, enjoying pancakes doesn’t have to be limited to the weekend. This recipe from Mom on Timeout takes 22 minutes, therefore making it doable even on the busiest mornings.
Moreover, instead of buying frozen pancakes, you can put any leftover pancakes into a freezer storage bag for another day. If you add your family’s favorite fruit topping, it’s your own Rooty Tooty fresh and fruity pancakes at home.
Fluffy Pancakes by Mom on Timeout adapted by Still A Chick Lit
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour plus 2 tablespoons xanthan gum)
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed fine)
2 cups buttermilk (dairy: whole buttermilk, light or low-fat buttermilk) (non-dairy: 2 cups of unsweetened almond, rice, soy, oat, or light coconut milk mixed with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon juice. Stir together and let sit for 5 minutes.)
2 large eggs lightly beaten (1/3 plus 1 tablespoon Aquafaba, ½ cup silken tofu pureed with ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ground, 2 untoasted flaxseed or chia seed eggs**, vegan egg replacer, or liquid egg replacer= 2 eggs)
1 tsp vanilla extract optional
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled (unsalted vegan butter)
¾ cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
Whisk together the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Whisk in the buttermilk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract just until combined. Some small lumps are okay. Do not overmix.
Let pancake batter rest for 10 minutes.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
Spray with non-stick cooking spray OR brush with butter or oil.
Ladle 1/3 – 1/2 cup batter onto the griddle then sprinkle blueberries over each pancake. When small bubbles begin to appear, flip the pancake to continue cooking on the opposite side until golden brown. Serve with syrup, butter, or your favorite fruit compote or syrup.
Notes:
** To make a vegan egg- mix 2 tablespoons of flaxseed or chia seeds with 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon of cold water. Allow the mixture to sit for 5 minutes before using it.
Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease 6 jumbo muffin tins. (or use paper cups)
Melt the butter and set it aside to cool.
In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In a separate bowl, combine mashed bananas, granulated sugar, brown sugar, beaten egg, and melted butter.
Add banana mixture to dry ingredients and stir just to combine. Do not over-mix.
Divide batter evenly into six jumbo muffin tins.
Streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter. Cut in with a pastry blender or with clean hands until the mixture is crumbly.
Add in walnuts and mix well to combine.
Sprinkle generously on top of the muffins.
Bake in 425°F oven for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake for another 20-25 minutes. Test with a toothpick or cake tester. It should come out clean when inserted in the center of the muffin.
Remove from muffin tins and cool on wire racks.
NOTES
Storage: Cool muffins and store them in a covered airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. Alternatively, you can store cooled muffins in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freezing: To freeze muffins for up to two months, place cooled muffins in a Ziplock bag or freezer-safe container.
If you haven’t guessed it by now, we are obsessed with blueberries. They are hands down our favorite berry. We love the versatility of blueberries. They are great in a smoothie, perfect in salads, delicious in scones, and are out of this world in a muffin.
However, there is a debate when it comes to which blueberries are the best.
Maine blueberries are smaller, but these wild berries boast an intense blueberry taste; ranging from tangy tartness to succulent sweetness. Wild Maine blueberries are frozen fresh and have more brain-healthy anthocyanins than larger blueberries.
Unlike cultivated blueberries, wild blueberries have a season, which runs from summer to early fall. Moreover, these blueberries are only commercially harvested in Maine, Eastern Canada, and Quebec.
Cultivated blueberries are the ones most of us see in our produce departments. They are larger and tend to be more uniform in size. These blueberries are also grown all year round in various states such as North Carolina, and New Jersey.
Regardless of the specifics, blueberries are delicious and we love discovering new recipes to adapt and share with you. More importantly, the batter for these muffins can be made the night before, refrigerated, and baked off the next morning.
Bakery Style Blueberry Muffins Small batch recipe by Butter Your Biscuit adapted by Still A Chick Lit
1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 tablespoon (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, millet, or sorghum flour. If the flour doesn’t contain a binder add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg (3 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼ cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, vegan egg replacer, or liquid vegan egg replacer= 1 egg)
1/2 cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, golden sugar, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed finely)
To make the crumb topping, in a small bowl mix melted butter, flour, granulated sugar, and cinnamon with a fork and set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together 1 cup of flour, baking powder, and salt, and set aside.
In another bowl whisk together the egg and sugar until combined. Add in oil, sour cream, and vanilla and mix until combined. Then add wet ingredients to the dry and mix just until combined. Do not over-mix.
In a small bowl add 1 1/8 cup blueberries and toss with 1 tablespoon flour and gently fold into the batter. Fill each muffin tin about 2/3 full. Scatter the remaining blueberries on the top of the muffins, then top with generous portions of the crumb topping.
Bake at 400-degrees for five minutes. Then drop the temperature down to 350-degrees for the remaining 13-20 minutes until muffins are lightly browned and a toothpick comes out clean. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Makes about 8 standard muffins or 6 jumbo muffins
Notes
You can make the muffin batter the night before. You can leave the batter in the bowl and cover it with plastic wrap.
You can substitute all-purpose flour to make the crumb topping.
The humble banana is low in calories and has no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol. They also contain vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and vitamin B6. It’s no wonder that over 100 billion of them are being eaten all over the world every year, making bananas the fourth most popular agricultural product. The average American eats about 27 pounds of bananas each year. So, it’s more than likely that most people find themselves with a few overripe bananas to make banana bread or banana muffins. Most of those recipes call for at least two or more bananas. However, what can you do with one lone overripe banana. You can make a one-banana mini- banana loaf. It’s the best way to use it in a delicious and healthy way.
This is an adaptation of Dominique Ansel’s banana bread recipe by Baking Mischief
Mini Banana Bread loaf recipe by Baking Mischief adapted by Still A Chick Lit
This mini version bakes in a 5.5 x 3-inch loaf pan (or can be baked as muffins in a muffin tin)
Prep time: Quick 10 minutes
Bake time- 22-24 minutes (depending on your oven)
Serves: 4-6
Ingredients
½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour. If your flour blend doesn’t contain a binder, add ½ teaspoon xanthan gum)
½ cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit granulated sweetener, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed fine)
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅛ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 medium overripe banana
1 large egg (3 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼ cup silked tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, vegan egg replacer, or mung bean liquid egg replacer= 1 egg)
1 teaspoon (4g) granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit granulated sweetener, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed fine)
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a mini loaf pan, line with parchment paper sling (optional), and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate medium bowl, mash the banana and whisk in the egg until well-combined. Pour banana mixture into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Add melted butter and mix until butter is incorporated into the batter. Don’t over mix, but there should not be pools of butter remaining around the edges of the batter.
Transfer the batter to your prepared loaf pan, leaving ¾ inch of space from the top of the pan (discard extra batter if there is too much).
Optional Cinnamon Sugar Crust
In a small bowl, stir together sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over the top of the batter.
Bake
Bake for 30 to 38 minutes, until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean.
Allow cooling in the pan for 15 to 20 minutes before removing and slicing.
Serve and enjoy.
Store the bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for up to 3 days.
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Breakfast cereals have long been a big business. They’re a quick and easy way to enjoy a good breakfast on busy mornings. There are a number of delicious granola brands on shelves to choose from, but there’s something special about making your own. Not only can you make it any way you like, but it’s also economical and the recipe is fairly simple.
The best part is, granola isn’t limited to your breakfast bowl, it makes a great topping on yogurt or you can dress it up to top a fancy yogurt parfait.
I did love granola as a kid. Now, instead of buying granola, I’ve found it’s easier and more economical to make it. This way It allows me to make it my own. I hope this recipe will inspire you to do the same.
This recipe is based on a mash-up of Ina Garten and Catherine Fulvio’s homemade granola recipes.
Homemade Cinnamon Granola
4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup quinoa
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup desiccated coconut, unsweetened
3/4 cup vegetable oil
½ cup liquid raw cane sugar or clover honey (liquid monk fruit sweetener)
1 cup raisins, soaked for 1 hour
1 cup dried cranberries
Cinnamon or Vietnamese Cinnamon (your taste)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Whisk the oil and liquid raw cane sugar together in a small bowl. Toss the oats, quinoa, cinnamon, and coconut together in a large bowl. Pour the liquids over the oat mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until all the oats and nuts are coated. Pour onto a 13 by 18 by 1-inch sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally with a spatula, until the mixture turns a nice, even, golden brown, about 40 minutes. Lower the oven temperature to 300 degrees, then add the soaked raisins, toss with a spatula and continue to bake for an additional 15 minutes. Remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool, stirring occasionally. Add dried cranberries. Store the cooled granola in an airtight container.
You can also add cashews, almonds, walnuts, or pecans, along with other dried fruits like cherries, figs, or apricots.
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The aroma of cinnamon rolls wafting through the air is enough to wake even Rip Van Winkle from the deepest slumber. It’s also quite tempting in malls and rest stops in the form of Cinnabon. Their cinnamon rolls lure countless people to their kiosks and storefronts everywhere. The combination of the light fluffy consistency of the roll, the spicy sweetness of the cinnamon, and the sweet icing, is irresistible.
For many, making cinnamon rolls is a holiday morning treat to enjoy when everyone is at home and happily lounging in their pajamas. However, this recipe can be made the night before. All you need to do is allow it to rise for an hour while you get on with your morning, then bake them for about twenty-five minutes, and you are golden.
This is a great recipe to get your day and week off to a sweet start.
This recipe is by Natasha’s Kitchen and we’ve adapted it for:
Vegan/Vegetarian
Gluten-Sensitivities- Celiac
Low-Sugar
Overnight Cinnamon Rolls Recipe by Natasha’s Kitchen adapted by Still A Chick Lit
Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Cook Time: 23 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 53 minutes
1 cup warm milk (98 to 110-degrees) ((dairy: whole, 2 %, or fat-free milk) (non-dairy: almond, rice, soy, or light coconut milk)
1/2 Tbsp active dry yeast (not quick rise)
4 Tbsp granulated sugar divided (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed fine)
3 cups all-purpose flour divided* (plus 2 to 4 Tbsp) (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sweet rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour)
1 large egg room temp (egg substitute) (2 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼ cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda,1 flaxseed or chia seed egg, or vegan egg replacer)
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer, add 1 cup warm milk and sprinkle with 1/2 Tbsp yeast. Let sit uncovered for 7 minutes at room temp. Add 1/2 cup flour, 2 Tbsp sugar and whisk until blended. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 35-45 min (or in a 100˚ oven** for 25 min). It will look puffy.
Whisk in 1 egg, remaining 2 Tbsp sugar, 1 Tbsp melted butter, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Using the dough hook on speed 2, add the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour (1/2 cup at a time) letting it blend with each addition. Add more flour 1 Tbsp at a time just until dough is no longer sticking to fingertips or the walls of the bowl as it mixes then knead/mix for 10 min. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp 2 hours (or in a 100˚ oven for 1 hr). The dough should double in size.
Generously dust flour over a clean work surface and place dough in the center. Sprinkle dough with flour (just enough to keep the rolling pin from sticking) and roll into an even 17″x10″ rectangle. Dot the top of the dough with 6 Tbsp softened butter and spread it out gently with a spatula.
Stir together 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon and sprinkle ALL OF IT evenly over buttered dough. Roll the dough up starting with one of the longer sides, keeping a tight roll. Once it’s rolled up, push ends in slightly to make them a little more uniform then slice into 12 equal-sized cinnamon rolls.***
Butter sides and bottom of a 9×13 baking pan with 1 Tbsp butter and evenly space cinnamon rolls in pan, cut-side down. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (up to 18 hours). The following day, remove from refrigerator and keeping them covered, let cinnamon rolls rise at room temp 1 to 1 1/2 hours (or in a 100˚F oven for 35 min) or until puffy.
Brush tops with 1 Tbsp melted butter and bake at 350˚F for 22-24 mins or until tops are light golden brown. Let cool in pan 15 minutes then frost warm buns generously with the cream cheese glaze (instructions below).
How to Make Cream Cheese Icing:
Using an electric mixer, cream together 4 Tbsp softened butter, 4 oz soft cream cheese, and beat on medium speed until creamy and smooth. Beat in 1/2 Tbsp vanilla then add 1 cup powdered sugar and continue mixing until fluffy (3-4 min), scraping down the bowl as needed.
Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. The kids are back in school. Fall is on the horizon. One of the things I love best about the fall is putting the oven on once again. After ditching it in favor of no-bake desserts and dinner on the grill, it’s nice to have the aroma of something delicious in the oven wafting through the house.
It was Google’s baking and cooking feed that led to finding this wonderful recipe for a perfect morning treat. 31 Daily, is a blog by Stephanie from Puget Sound is an author, publisher, and former television news writer and producer. She describes this recipe as divine and she’s 100% correct. This donut is lovely and the perfect way to begin your morning or you can save it for your afternoon snack. The recipe is straightforward and since it’s baked and not deep-fried, it seems a little less guilty. The only special equipment needed is a donut pan to bake them.
To make sure as many of you can enjoy this, we have adapted the recipe for:
Vegan/Vegetarian
Gluten sensitivities or Celiac disease
Low Sugar
We hope you enjoy this recipe and make it this holiday weekend and many more weekday mornings. Enjoy in good health,
Double Chocolate Glazed Donuts recipe by 31 Daily adapted by Still A Chick Lit
INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend flour, sorghum, sweet rice, brown rice flour)
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips (vegan chocolate chips)
1 large egg (2 tablespoons Aquafaba, 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, 1 flaxseed or chia seed egg, or vegan egg replacer)
1/2 cup brown sugar (Swerve brown sugar substitute, organic brown sugar, turbinado sugar)
1/3 cup milk (dairy: whole, 2%, fat-free) (non-dairy almond, rice, soy, or light coconut milk)
1/4 cup sour cream (dairy: light sour cream, plain yogurt, plain Greek yogurt, whole milk or low-fat, do not use fat-free) (non-dairy: almond or coconut yogurt, vegan sour cream)
3 tablespoons cream or milk (dairy light cream whipping cream) (non-dairy coconut or almond milk)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (vegan butter)
If you would like to add more fiber use 2/3 cup all-purpose flour and 1/3 cup white whole wheat flour
If you don’t have instant espresso, you can use regular instant coffee or 1 teaspoon of strong brewed coffee
If using turbinado sugar, pulse it in a food processor a couple of times to give it a finer texture. Turbinado sugar can have more of a rock candy type of consistency.
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a donut pan with oil or butter; set aside.
Make the donuts: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, salt, espresso powder, and chocolate chips. Set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with brown sugar until well mixed. Add the milk, sour cream, melted butter, vanilla, and vinegar; whisk to combine.
Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until just combined. The batter will be thick. Using a spatula transfer the batter to a piping bag or zip-top plastic bag. If you don’t have either, a spoon will do just fine! Cut off the tip of the piping bag or plastic bag and fill donut cavities with batter until 3/4 full.
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the donuts comes out clean. Let the donuts cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Make the chocolate glaze: Microwave the chocolate, cream, and butter in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until melted. Or use a double boiler and melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Once the donuts are completely cool (this only takes a few minutes), dip the tops of the donuts into the chocolate glaze and place them on a rack to set. While the chocolate is still wet, add sprinkles or other decorations to the top.
TO STORE:
The donuts are best on the day they are made. If you have any leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day. So, instead of grabbing a fast-food breakfast sandwich, why not have a lightly sweet scone to enjoy with your tea or coffee instead.
These recipes come together fairly quickly and you can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to two days. These recipes have been adapted for vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and low sugar diets. The substitutions are in the parenthesis next to each ingredient.
A Taste of Ireland recipe for Irish scones adapted by Chamein Canton
Makes 7 large scones and 10 small scones
(225gr / 2 cups) plain all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, white rice, or brown rice flour)
2 heaped teaspoons (2 ¾ US tsp) baking powder
Large pinch salt
1 US level tablespoon) castor sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed fine)
2oz (50gr / ½ a stick of butter) chilled unsalted butter (vegan butter)
(280ml / 2 fl. oz / ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons US cups) milk approximately” (dairy: whole, 2$) (non-dairy almond, rice, soy, or light coconut milk)
Beaten egg & sugar to glaze (2 tablespoons Aquafaba or 1 tablespoon soy lecithin)
Preheat the oven to Gas 8 / 450F / 230C
Sift all the dry ingredients together. Rub in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Make a well in the center and add most of the milk. Mix to a soft dough adding all of the milk if required.
Turn out onto a floured surface and knead lightly. Roll out to about 1 inch (2 ½ cm) thickness. Dip the cutter into flour and cut the dough into rounds of 1 ½ inch (4cm).
Place scones on a floured baking tray, glaze with the beaten egg, and put immediately into the hot oven. In 15 minutes approximately, the scones should have risen and had a golden top. Enjoy with Irish butter and homemade jam!
The amount of milk added is determined by where you live and your house. If you’re in a drier area, you may need to add more milk so the dough begins to come together. Be sure not to overwork the dough. If you live in a humid climate, it may take less milk. Use your judgment.
Mini Chocolate Chip scones by Sugar Spun Run adapted by Chamein
2 cups all-purpose flour (465g) gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, white rice, or brown rice flour)
1/4 cup granulated sugar (100g) (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit granulated sweetener, golden sugar, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar pulsed finely)
2 teaspoon baking powder (18g)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup very cold unsalted butter frozen is better (226g) (vegan unsalted butter)
1/2 cup heavy cream (237ml) (full-fat coconut milk or 3 tablespoons almond milk with 2 tablespoons melted unsalted vegan butter, cooled. With a stand or hand mixer, mix the butter into the almond milk, then add )
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 375 F (190C) and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
Thoroughly cut in butter (I prefer to freeze the butter, grate it using a box grater, and then cut it in that way. This method yields the flakiest scones, but is not mandatory — you can use cold butter cut in with a pastry cutter).
Measure out the heavy cream in a measuring cup and add vanilla extract. Stir gently.
Carefully stir heavy cream/vanilla mixture into flour mixture. You do not want to over-mix, but due to the number of dry ingredients, it may be tricky to well incorporate the liquid and the dry mixes. You may briefly use a KitchenAid or electric mixer on a low setting to help coax the dough to cling together.
Once the dough is beginning to cling together, add chocolate chips, stir briefly, and then transfer to a very lightly floured surface
lightly knead the dough and chocolate chips together until you are able to form a ball.
Break the dough into 4 even pieces and round each one out into a disk about 5″ wide.
Cut each into 8 wedges and transfer to cookie sheet.
Bake at 375F (190C) for 14-16 minutes.
While the scones cool, prepare your glaze by whisking together milk, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar. Start with 1 cup powdered sugar, and if it still seems too runny you may increase the sugar amount.
Once scones are cooled, dip, drizzle, or spoon the glaze lightly over the top of each scone. Allow it to sit and harden before serving.
To learn more about Irish Cooking check out A Taste of Ireland on Recipe TV
Welcome to the premier posting for Monday Meal Makeover. Here we will try to up your Monday meal game for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, or snacks. All the recipes that can be adapted will include:
Vegetarian
Vegan
Gluten-Free, Celiac Disease
Low Sugar/ Low Carb
No Sugar
Lactose Intolerance/Egg Allergies
For what I hope will be the first of many, welcome to the first Monday Meal Makeover.
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Blueberry Muffins by Tastes Better From Scratch adapted by Chamein Canton
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, millet, sweet or brown rice flour)
3/4 cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed fine)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon or orange zest
1/3 cup oil (vegetable or canola oil)
1 large egg (2 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼ cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, 1 flaxseed or chia seed egg, or egg replacer)
1/3 cup buttermilk (dairy: full-fat, low-fat, or light) (non-dairy: almond, rice, soy, or light coconut milk with 1 teaspoon lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, mixed. Let stand for at least five minutes before using)
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon lemon or orange extract, optional
1 cup blueberries , fresh or frozen
Crumb topping:
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar pulsed fine)
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar (Swerve brown sugar substitute, organic light brown sugar)
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, millet, sweet or brown rice flour)
2 Tablespoons cold unsalted or salted butter, chopped (vegan unsalted or salted butter)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a standard size muffin tin with liners, or grease well with non-stick cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, orange or lemon zest, and baking powder.
Add oil, egg, buttermilk, vanilla, and orange or lemon extract (if using), and mix just until combined. Don’t over mix (the batter doesn’t need to be “smooth”)
Toss the blueberries in a spoonful of flour. This will help them not to sink to the bottom of the muffin. Gently fold blueberries into the batter.
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.
If you are making the crumb topping:
Add all of the ingredients to a bowl. Use your fingers, pastry cutter, or a fork to work the butter into the mixture.
Sprinkle crumb mixture over the tops of muffins in the pan.
Bake for about 5 minutes at 400-degrees, then reduce the temperature to 375-degrees. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few crumbs.
Remove muffins from oven and allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes, before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
The bake time may vary by ovens. It may take a little longer or a shorter time depending on your oven. I tend to err on the side of a toothpick coming out clean or with a few crumbs when inserted in the center of the muffins.
I don’t recommend using shortening or butter-flavor shortening. It makes the batter heavier and the muffins oily.
Dinner
Cast Iron Roasted Chicken- Recipe from America’s Test Kitchen adapted by me
1 whole chicken. Fryer or young chicken
Canola or vegetable oil
This is the seasoning rub I use, adapt it to your likes and measure it out to the size of the chicken.
Paprika sweet or smoked
Onion powder
Granulated garlic
Black pepper
Chili powder
Kosher salt
Remove the chicken back. Set aside to make stock
Combine the seasoning in a bowl
Tie the legs together with kitchen twine.
Season the chicken skin side down
Place into a cast iron skillet
Make sure the skin of the chicken is dry. Rub the skin with oil. Season liberally and tuck the wings underneath. Roast In hot oven 450-475. Make sure there’s about seven inches from the rack to the top of the oven.
Roast for about 1 hour. It could be more or less depending upon your oven. So keep a watchful eye. The temp of the chicken should be about 160-165 degrees from the thickest part of the chicken.
Barbecue Sauce
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion finely chopped
3 cloves of chopped garlic
1 cup of ketchup
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 cup molasses * (sorghum syrup)
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons Worcestershire
1 teaspoon mustard powder
pinch of cayenne
1 tablespoon chili powder
pinch of allspice
In a saucepan over medium heat, saute onions until tender, about four to five minutes. Add garlic, and stir for one minute. Add the tomato paste, and carmelize it stirring for two minutes. Add the ketchup, molasses, cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Stir for one minute. Add the chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, pinch of cayenne, and allspice. Stir. Add 1/4 cup water and cook stirring for four minutes until thickened. Take the sauce off the heat and let cool. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth. You can also use a blender or food processor, but be sure it’s cool. It will make for quite the science lesson and a mess.
Spruce Eats list of molasses substitutes
If you don’t have molasses, you can make one of several quick substitutes. Replace one cup of molasses with one of the following: 1 cup dark corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup. 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 1/4 cup water
These substitutions may alter the taste of your recipe a bit. If the molasses flavor is vital to the success of your recipe, try the brown sugar substitute. Since brown sugar is granulated sugar and molasses it’ll be the closest flavor match. Maple syrup or dark corn syrup would be the next best choice.
If you have to use granulated sugar or honey as the substitute, consider increasing the spices in the recipe a bit to make up for the flavors that the molasses would have contributed.
The first week after Daylight Savings Time is usually pretty hard for most people. However, the arrival of spring helps make the time change a little more bearable. The days are longer and we begin to see more spring vegetables and fruits in the market.
I love blueberries. They are rich in antioxidants, sweet, and a good source of fiber. I am always on the hunt for a good blueberry muffin recipe. Luckily, the majority of the recipes I’ve tried have turned out well.
I’m sharing this recipe from the Life Made Simple blog. I adapted it for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-sensitivities, low and no-sugar diets. It’s a tasty way to get more fiber in your family’s diets. I hope you try this recipe for one fine spring morning at your home.
Blueberry muffins by Life Made Simple adapted by me
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, or brown rice flour)
1/2 cup cake flour ( ½ cup gluten-free all-purpose less 3 tablespoons, then add 3 tablespoons gluten-free cornstarch, sift together)
1 cup sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed fine)
3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk (3/4 cup of soy, rice, almond, oat, or light coconut milk with 1 ½ teaspoons of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice, combine and let stand for five minutes before using)
2 eggs ( ¼ cup Aquafaba, ½ cup silken tofu pureed with ¼ teaspoon baking soda, 2 flaxseed or chia seed eggs, or vegan egg replacer)
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking powder
11/2 tsp vanilla extract
zest of 2 lemons or the zest of 1 lemon and 2 teaspoons of orange zest
1 1/4 cup blueberries – fresh or frozen
3 tbsp coarse sugar or raw cane sugar – optional topping
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 12 standard muffin cups with liners.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, lightly beat together oil, butter, vanilla, eggs, and milk.
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt.
With mixing speed on low, slowly add dry ingredients. Mix until combined.
Remove bowl from stand, gently fold in blueberries. Scoop batter into prepared muffin cups, filling 2/3 of the way full. Sprinkle with sanding sugar.
Place into oven and bake for 24-30 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Place muffins on wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
I used a combination of orange and lemon zest in this recipe. I also prefer adding the zest to the flour. I find that even when you mix the wet ingredients well, the zest has a habit of clumping together. If you add the zest to the flour mixture, it gets evenly distributed, and you don’t run the risk of clumps or over-stirring your batter.
