Tag: Vegan Adaptable Recipe

Breakfast, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meal-Have a blue-berry Monday morning

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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.

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Adaptable Recipes, Holiday Food, Makeover Monday Meals, Weekend Baking Warrior

Monday Makeover Meal Bonus- Puff Pastry

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As a divorced mother of two, transitioning from full-time parent to empty-nester was an adjustment while my sons were in college. I didn’t have to cook as much while college was in session, but it was business as usual during their breaks and after they finished grad school.

I’ve embraced life as an empty nester but as someone who likes to be in the kitchen, I had to learn how to scale down my meals and recipes. That’s when I happened up Dessert For Two. Blogger Christine is the author of four cookbooks and has scaled down many recipes for smaller servings, which was right up my alley. I love to bake and puff pastry is one of my favorite things to make and keep in the fridge or freezer.  Christine’s recipe is perfectly sized, fast, and accessible.  I adapted the recipe for dietary restrictions so everyone can make it.

 

Puff Pastry for Two by Dessert For Two adapted by Still A Chick Lit

Ingredients

1 cup (125 grams) all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour with 1 tablespoon of xanthan gum)

1/4 teaspoon fine salt

10 tablespoons high-quality unsalted butter (5 ounces), cold (unsalted vegan butter)

1/3 cup ice-cold water

Instructions

In a medium bowl, add the flour and salt. Stir to mix.

Next, cube the butter and then add it to the flour bowl. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the dough. It will be very crumbly, and you’re done when the butter is in uniform pieces all about the size of peas.

Next, make a hole in the center of the dough and pour in all of the water. Using a fork, stir to combine the dough.

Flour a cutting board and add the dough. Pat it into a rough square. You will still see chunks of butter and it will seem too dry, but do not add extra water. The dough will come together with each roll.

Flour the rolling pin and roll the dough out in front of you into a rectangle about 10″ long. No need to be too precise here.

Fold the bottom third of the dough over the middle of the dough. Fold the upper third of the dough on top of the middle too. Rotate the dough one-quarter turn, and repeat. Use additional flour as needed to prevent the dough from sticking.

Roll out, fold, and turn the dough at least 6 or 7 times.

When done, wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least one hour, or overnight. Dough may be frozen, too.

Roll out with flour for desired puff pastry use.

Note: Although the recipe is easily doubled, Christine advises against tripling the recipe. If you do double the recipe, be sure to divide it in half before you begin your rolling sessions.

If at any time during the rolling process it seems the butter is getting too soft, pop the dough into the fridge for ten minutes or put it in the freezer for five minutes.  It’s critical that the butter remains chilled in order to achieve the flakey texture puff pastry is known for.

Puff pastry can be used for both sweet and savory appetizers and desserts.

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Adaptable Recipes, Breakfast, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meals- Banana Nut Muffins

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Bakery Style Banana Nut Muffins by She’s Not Cookin adapted by Still A Chick Lit

 

INGREDIENTS

1 and ½ cups all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour)

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

⅛ tsp. cinnamon

½ tsp. salt

3 ripe bananas, mashed

½ cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed finely)

 

¼ cup light or dark brown sugar (Splenda brown sugar substitute, Splenda brown sugar substitute, or organic brown sugar)

1 egg, lightly beaten ( 3 tablespoons Aquafaba, ¼  cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, 1 flaxseed or chia seed egg, vegan egg replacer=1 egg, liquid mung bean egg replacer=1 egg)

 

⅓ cup melted unsalted butter, cooled (unsalted vegan butter)

½ cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Streusel Topping

⅓ cup brown sugar (Splenda brown sugar substitute, Splenda brown sugar substitute, or organic brown sugar)

 

2 tbsp. all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour)

⅛ tsp. cinnamon

1 tbsp. cold unsalted butter (unsalted vegan butter)

½ cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

Pinch salt

INSTRUCTIONS

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.

 

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Adaptable Recipes, Breakfast, Holiday Food

Makeover Monday Meal- Christmas Eve Bonus Recipe

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It’s Christmas Eve, all the presents are wrapped (hopefully) and placed under the tree. Tomorrow morning will be filled with laughter, smiles, kisses, and hugs.  Happy faces are often followed by empty tummies looking for a morning treat.  To make sure that you won’t miss a moment, these make-ahead cinnamon rolls are just the ticket.

This recipe comes to us from Love From The Oven. We adapted the recipe with substitutions for those who have specific dietary requirements. The total hand’s on time for this recipe is thirty minutes to prep and thirty minutes to bake. Moreover, you can make the rolls in the morning as well without too much fuss. Either way, we are sure your family will love them.

 

Merry Christmas

 

Cinnamon Rolls by Love From The Oven adapted by Still A Chick Lit

Ingredients

Dough

1/2 cup sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed finely)

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (unsalted vegan butter)

1 tsp salt

2 eggs ( 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons Aquafaba, ½   cup silken tofu pureed with ¼  teaspoon baking soda, 2 flaxseed or chia seed eggs, vegan egg replacer=2 eggs, liquid mung bean egg replacer=2 eggs)

 

4 cups all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, white rice, brown rice, or sorghum flour)

 

2 packets RAPID RISE yeast (this recipe is based on Rapid Rise yeast, and will not work the same with other varieties of yeast)

1 cup warm milk (dairy: whole milk, 2%, or fat-free) (non-dairy: almond, oat, soy, rice, or light coconut milk)

Filling

1/2 cup salted butter, softened (vegan butter) *

1/2 cup sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, turbinado, or raw cane sugar, pulsed finely)

 

1/2 cup brown sugar (Swerve brown sugar substitute, Splenda brown sugar substitute, or organic brown sugar)

 

1-2 TBSP cinnamon

Frosting

4 oz cream cheese, softened (dairy: low-fat cream cheese)  (vegan cream cheese such as Vitalife )

4 tbsp unsalted butter **, softened  (vegan unsalted butter)

1 tsp vanilla extract

2-3 tbsp milk (dairy: whole, 2%, fat-free, or light cream) (non-dairy: unsweetened almond, soy, rice, oat, or light coconut milk)

2 cups powdered sugar (Swerve confectioner’s sugar substitute or organic confectioner’s sugar)

1/4 tsp salt

Instructions

Dough

Mix butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl until well combined. Add egg and mix until combined. Add in flour and Rapid Rise yeast, and stir to combine. Add in milk and mix well until soft smooth dough forms. Turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead 10-12 times then place into a large bowl that has been well-oiled. Cover and let the dough rise in a draft-free location for at least 30 minutes or until almost doubled in size.

Once risen, punch down the dough and let rest for five minutes. Roll the dough into a 14 x 8-inch rectangle (approximately) on a lightly floured surface. Brush with softened butter for filling. Combine cup sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle over buttered dough. Roll up from the long side. Cut into 12 cinnamon rolls.

Place cinnamon rolls in a 13×9-inch pan that has been brushed with butter. At this point, you can cover the rolls with plastic wrap or foil and place the rolls in the fridge to bake the following morning. Or preheat your oven to 350 degrees F and let the dough rise for 30 minutes, then bake.

If placing rolls in the fridge, remove them from the fridge 30-60 minutes prior to the time you will start baking them (60 minutes is best). Let them rest in a warm, draft-free location. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Once the oven is heated, bake the rolls for approximately 20 minutes (or until lightly browned). Remove from oven and frost immediately.

Frosting

Stir together softened cream cheese and softened butter. Add in vanilla, salt, and milk and mix until well combined. Add in powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy. If you would like your frosting thicker, add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time and mix well. If you would like a thinner frosting, add more milk, one teaspoon at a time, and mix well, until desired consistency is reached.

Once rolls are removed from the oven, you can frost them immediately or allow them to cool slightly, then frost. Store any leftover rolls in the refrigerator.

Notes

**- You can use salted butter. If you do, omit the added salt

 

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Adaptable Recipes, Dessert, Weekend Baking Warrior

Weekend Baking Project Chocolate Cupcakes

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There’s nothing in the world like cupcakes. It packs a lot of taste into every bite.  Nevertheless, there are times when a dozen is just too much temptation especially when it comes to chocolate. This is the beauty of small-batch recipes. This one comes from Just So Tasty

This makes 6 standard-size cupcakes or 4 jumbo-size cupcakes.

 

This recipe has been adapted by Still A Chick Lit

Small Batch Chocolate Cupcake original recipe by Just So Tasty

Ingredients

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, brown rice, white rice, or sorghum flour)
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil or canola
  • ½ cup white sugar (Swerve Sweetener, Splenda granulated, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, finely pulsed)
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg(3 tablespoons of Aquafaba, 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, vegan egg replacer = 1 egg, liquid vegan egg replacer = 1 egg)
  • ⅓ cup buttermilk (dairy: low-fat, light, or whole-fat buttermilk)
  • (Non-dairy buttermilk 1/3 cup of unsweetened almond, soy, rice, or light coconut milk mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, let stand for at least five minutes)

Chocolate Frosting*

  • ½ cup unsalted butter softened (unsalted vegan butter)
  • 1 ½ – 2 cups powdered sugar (Swerve confectioner’s sugar substitute, organic powdered sugar, vegan powdered sugar)
  • ¼ cup cocoa powder (unsweetened)
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1–2 tablespoons milk or whipping cream (Dairy: heavy or light cream) (Non-dairy 1-2 tablespoons of full-fat coconut milk or almond milk)

Instructions

Chocolate Cupcakes

  • Preheat the oven to 350F (180C) degrees and line a muffin tin with muffin papers. You’ll end up with 6 or 7 cupcakes in total. I always use the middle 6 muffin cavities because I find the cupcakes cook more evenly.
  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
  • In a separate medium bowl whisk together the oil, sugar, vanilla extract, and egg. Then whisk in the buttermilk.
  • Whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until no lumps remain.
  • Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each about ½ – ⅔ full. You should end up with 6 or 7 cupcakes total. Be sure not to fill the cupcake liners to the top.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Chocolate Frosting*

  • In a medium bowl, beat the butter until soft.
  • Beat in 1 cup powdered sugar. If it’s lumpy, be sure to sift it first.
  • Add in the cocoa powder (again, sifting if lumpy), vanilla extract, and salt and beat until combined.
  • Mix in the rest of the powdered sugar about ½ cup at a time, alternating with a tablespoon of milk/cream until the desired sweetness and thickness is reached.
  • Frost the cooled cupcakes with a knife, or transfer the frosting to a piping bag and frost. I used a piping bag and a Wilton 1M piping tip.

Adaptable Recipes, Dessert, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meals-No Bake Dessert Edition

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We are dedicated to bringing you recipes to make breakfast, lunch, or dinner a little easier for you on a Monday. However, now that it’s almost summetime, a lot of us will be taking things outside to grill and spending less time in the kitchen.  That said, we will continue tobring you recipes for the grill along with easy salads that come together in a flash.

Nevertheless, there’s one thing that everyone loves and that’s dessert. The only problem is when the mercury is rising, no one wants to turn on an oven. Ice cream, gelato, Italian ices, milkshakes, and sorbet are great frozen treats that are perfect for those hot summer evenings, but we found a dessert that you can make at home and it only has two ingredients.

This no-bake berry cloud cake comes from Kirbie’s Cravings

I’d long been intrigued when I see posts for cakes recipes that only have  2, 3, or 4 ingredients. I’m an old-school baker and I love to make everything from scratch, which means the minute I see a cake recipe with a box mix, it’s a pass for me. (By no means do I have anything against cake mixes, if you love them, use them). Nonetheless, in this case it was the two ingredients and no butter, eggs, sugar, flour, or oil that moved me to give it a try.

I wasn’t sure what to think, but it worked. I didn’t add any sugar to the mixed berry applesauce, and I whipped it for 15 minutes to get a light cloud-like texture. It took no time to prep or cook, then all I did was put it in the refrigerator for an hour. The consistency is very light and airy. I reccommend using an 8-inch or a 6-inch square pan.

I adapted the recipe for vegans, by adding the substitute for gelatin.

All in all, I think this dessert would be a breeze and something everyone can enjoy guilt-free.

Servings: 12 slices

 

Prep Time: 20 minutes

 

Cook Time: 3 minutes

 

Chilling Time: 1 hour

 

Total Time: 1 hour 23 minutes

 

 

Course: Dessert

 

Cuisine: American

 

 

2 Ingredient No Bake Berry Cloud Cake by Kirbie Cravings

Ingredients

1 2/3 cups (408 g) unsweetened mixed berry applesauce

4 1/2 tsp (15 g) unflavored gelatin powder

  • For vegans use 3 teaspoons (6g) agar-agar powder to replace gelatin

Instructions

Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper.

Add applesauce and gelatin to a large heat-proof mixing bowl. Whisk until the gelatin is fully incorporated. The gelatin powder should make your applesauce thick and a little chunky.

Using the double boiler method on the stove, dissolve the gelatin completely. When the gelatin is dissolved, your mixture should become thinner and smoother. The applesauce should feel warm to the touch, but not hot. Be careful to not let the mixture get hot or boil. Remove bowl from stove and let it sit for about 5 minutes to cool to room temperature.

Pour applesauce mixture into the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the wire whisk attachment, beat on highest speed for about 15 minutes. Your mixture should more than triple in volume and should look like airy whipped cream. When you stop your mixer, your wire whisk should be able to hold a soft peak. See photo in post for reference.

Pour the applesauce mixture into your prepared pan. Use a spatula to spread it evenly across and smooth the surface. Place into the fridge for at least 1 hour to set.

Keep the cake in the fridge until ready to serve. Before serving, you can first decorate the cake with whipped cream or another frosting. Slice the cake with a very large and sharp knife. The cake is best served chilled. Store any uneaten cake in the fridge.

Notes

This recipe must be made with unsweetened applesauce. Sweetened applesauce will not work because the added sugar makes the cake batter too dense and moist.

This berry cloud cake is tart from the berry applesauce. It doesn’t really have much sweetness to it. If you are on a low sugar diet, I don’t think you will mind. The cake is flavorful even though it’s not sweet.

If you want to add sweetness, it has to be in the form of the frosting. I made a whipped cream frosting lightly sweetened with sugar. The whipped cream can also be sweetened with stevia or other sugar substitutes.

I recommend using a stand mixer if you have one to mix this. You do need to whip the batter for about 15 minutes on highest speed and it’s just easier to do with a stand mixer. There is also less splatter because a stand mixer bowl is generally deeper.

The double boiler method is a stovetop method used to heat up your applesauce mixture using indirect heat. Use a saucepan that is smaller than your mixing bowl and add about 1 inch of water and bring to a simmer. You want to choose a saucepan where you will be able to place the bowl on top that fits snugly and won’t touch the water in the saucepan. Once the water has reached a simmer, place your mixing bowl on top. Stir the applesauce mixture with a whisk to dissolve the gelatin as the mixture begins to heat up. Be careful to not let the mixture boil or get too hot.

For the whipped cream frosting, add 1 cup of cold heavy cream and 3 tbsp of sugar to a large mixing bowl and beat on highest speed until stiff peaks form.  You can add more or less sugar to taste. You can substitute the sugar with stevia or other sugar substitutes. You can also use Cool Whip instead.

 

 

Adaptable Recipes, Dinner, Healthy Food Makeover

Makeover Monday Meal- Out of the Deep Blue Sea Edition

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Makeover Monday Meals- Air Fryer Crab Cakes

 

As the signs of summer begin to appear, many people are moving their weekend meal game to the grill. However, taking out the grill after a long day at work or school, might not be in the cards.  However, when the temperatures begin to rise, it’s not a great time to turn the oven on. The air fryer has changed that for many families who are looking for a quick and healthy way to enjoy family favorites.

When it comes to seafood, fish can be polarizing. Some people aren’t crazy about the texture. However, a lot more people are likely to love shellfish. If you are from the Mid-Atlantic or Northeast, you probably enjoy crab and crab cakes. Crab cakes highlight the subtle sweetness of crab combined with a little breadcrumb, scallions or chives, red bell pepper, and seafood seasoning. These little treasures are then pan-fried in a little oil and butter to make them even more irresistible

Nevertheless, what most of us don’t want to indulge in is the extra calories and this recipe from the Food Network for air fryer crab cakes allows us to enjoy all the flavor we love, without all the extra fat.

.

Never fear for those of you who are vegan or perhaps are allergic to shellfish, we’ve found a recipe from the Power Hungry blog for vegan crab cakes made with hearts of palm. So, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Best of all, both recipes come together in less than an hour, which is perfect for a busy weekday night.

Air Fryer Crabcakes by Food Network adapted by Still A Chick Lit

Crab Cakes:

1 large egg (3 tablespoons Aquafaba or ¼ cup silken tofu pureed with 1/8 teaspoon baking soda, vegan egg replacer, or liquid vegan egg replacer = 1 egg)

1/3 cup mayonnaise (light mayonnaise or vegan mayonnaise)

1/2 cup finely diced red bell pepper (about 1 small bell pepper)

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons seafood seasoning, such as Old Bay

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

A 1-pound fresh lump or jumbo lump crabmeat picked over for shells and cartilage

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free panko breadcrumbs)

Nonstick cooking spray, for the air-fryer basket and crab cakes

 

 

For the crab cakes: Whisk together the egg, mayonnaise, bell pepper, chives, parsley, lemon zest and juice, mustard, seafood seasoning, 1 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, very gently fold the crab and panko into the mixture. Try to avoid breaking up lumps of crab as much as possible. Cover the crab mixture with plastic wrap and allow to rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day. This will allow the panko to absorb more liquid and help bind the crab cakes together.

 

Just before cooking, divide the crab-cake mixture into 4 portions. Lightly compact each portion to form a patty (about 3 1/2 inches in diameter) with your hands to ensure they hold their shape while cooking and place it onto a large plate.

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the crab cakes into the basket and spray the tops with cooking spray. Cook until deep golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through and spraying again with cooking spray, about 16 minutes. Serve warm

 

Vegan Crab Cakes by Power Hungry

Ingredients

1 can (14 to 15 ounces) hearts of palm, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise

1 teaspoon Old Bay or another seafood seasoning

1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper

1/4 cup finely chopped green onions

1 cup gluten-free panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), divided

Garnish with, optional

Lemon wedges

Chopped fresh parsley

Serve with, optional

Cocktail sauce

Instructions

Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F and spray the basket with cooking spray.

Cut the hearts of palm lengthwise; cut slices crosswise into 3/4-inch lengths. Transfer to a medium bowl and, using fingers, gently press and break apart into shreds.

In another medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Old Bay seasoning, salt, and pepper until well blended. Stir in hearts of palm and green onions until well combined (I like to get my hands in, to further break up hearts of palm).

Sprinkle half the panko over the hearts of palm mixture and mix in thoroughly (do not mash). Form into fourteen 1.2-inch-thick patties (I used a #40 cookie scoop to portion).

Spread the remaining panko in a small dish. Dredge patties in panko, pressing gently to adhere. As they are dredged, place patties into the basket and spray the tops with cooking spray. Cook until deep golden brown and crisp, flipping halfway through and spraying again with cooking spray, about 12-14 minutes.

Serve warm

 

Adaptable Recipes, Breakfast, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meals- Breakfast Edition

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Bursting with Berries

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)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour cream (dairy: light sour cream, plain yogurt, plain Greek yogurt) (non-dairy: vegan sour cream, plain unsweetened almond or soy yogurt)
1 1/8 cups fresh blueberries

CRUMB TOPPING
3/8 cup (6 tablespoons) cake flour **
1/3 cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, golden sugar, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed finely)

2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (vegan unsalted butter)
1/2 -2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

** To make gluten-free cake flour

1 Part Sweet White Rice Flour

1 Part Brown Rice Flour 1 Part Tapioca starch or tapioca flour, they are the same

 

Mix dry ingredients and store the blend in an airtight container.

Recipe for the gluten-free cake flour mix

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

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.

 

Breakfast, Healthy Food Makeover, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meal- Breakfast and Snack Edition Edition

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Blueberries are little berries that pack a big punch. Not only are they delicious, but they are also good for you.

 

Blueberries are nature’s candy. Whether you eat them by the handful, in a salad, or in a pie, blueberries are nature’s candy. Not only are they delicious, but they’re also good for you.

Here are seven science-backed health benefits of blueberries:

  • Blueberries are an incredible source of nutrients.
  • Are high in antioxidants.
  • Improve cholesterol levels.
  • Lower blood pressure.
  • Improve insulin sensitivity.
  • Boost cognitive functioning.
  • Contain prebiotics.

July 12th is National Blueberry Muffin Day, which is fitting since blueberries are at their best in terms of flavor in the summer.

If you’d like to enjoy the bounty of blueberries now, this recipe for a blueberry corn muffin is a tasty way to begin your Monday morning and it only takes fifteen minutes from mixing it to putting the muffins in the oven.

 

This recipe is based on Martha Stewart’s Blue-Barb Corn Muffins in the May 2022 issue of Living

 

Blueberry Corn Muffins by Still A Chick Lit

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Makes: 12 muffins or 6 jumbo muffins

1 ¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour (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 ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum)

¼ cup fine yellow cornmeal

¾ cup granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, golden sugar, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed finely)

2 large eggs at room temperature (2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon Aquafaba, ½ cup silken tofu pureed with ¼ teaspoon baking soda, vegan egg replacer, or liquid vegan egg replacer= 2 eggs)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon kosher salt

 

8 ounces or 2 scant cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

¾ cup whole or 2% milk (non-dairy unsweetened almond milk, rice, soy, or light coconut milk)

1 stick unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (unsalted vegan butter)

2 teaspoons vanilla

 

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees. Line a standard 12-muffin tin with baking cups. In a medium-size bowl whisk together, flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Reserve 6 tablespoons of blueberries and set them aside. Stir into the dry ingredients. Make a well in the center of the mixture; add eggs and whisk. Then whisk in the melted butter, milk, and vanilla.

Divide the batter evenly among muffin cups, about 1/3 cup ( they will be very full) Press a few pieces of the reserved fruit into the tops of each muffin., then sprinkle with sugar. Bake until tops spring back when lightly touched, about 24 to 30 minutes. Let the muffins cool for five minutes in the muffin tin. Remove the muffing and transfer it to a wire rack. Let cool completely for about 30 minutes.

 

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Adaptable Recipes, Dessert, Makeover Monday Meals

Makeover Monday Meals- Who Needs A Cookie Edition

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Cowboy Cookies

 

After a long day of meetings, phone calls, IT issues, mass transit delays, and traffic, sometimes you just need a cookie. Whether large or small, you can’t stay mad when you have cookies.

Cowboy cookies seem to be a fusion combination of chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, coconut macaroons, and pecan Sandies with a hint of cinnamon.

This cowboy cookie recipe came to prominence courtesy of Family Circle magazine’s First Lady’s Cookie Contest. Laura Bush’s Cowboy Cookie recipe bested Tipper Gore’s Gingersnaps in 2000, and it remains one of the most popular recipes. In any case, if you’re a fan of chocolate chips, oatmeal, coconut, and pecans, this cookie is for you.

 

This particular recipe comes from the Baker By Nature Blog and highlights melted brown butter to add a little extra nuttiness to the cookies. These cookies are also pretty easy to make for the perfect Monday post-work detox.

Cowboy Cookies by Baker By Nature adapted by Still A Chick Lit

1/2 cup unsalted butter melted until browned. (vegan unsalted butter)
1/2 light brown sugar, packed (Swerve brown sugar substitute, organic light brown sugar, vegan light brown sugar)
1/4 cup (99 grams) granulated sugar (Swerve sweetener, Splenda granulated, monk fruit sweetener granulated, golden sugar, coconut, raw cane, or turbinado sugar, pulsed finely)
1 large egg at room temperature (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 large egg yolk at room temperature (1 tablespoon of whisked egg yolk) ( ½ tablespoon Aquafaba, ½ tablespoon chickpea flour plus ½ tablespoon cold water, mix well, or ½ tablespoon full-fat coconut milk)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 and 1/3 cups (270 grams) all-purpose flour (gluten-free all-purpose flour, 1 to 1 gluten-free baking blend, sorghum, white rice, or brown rice flour. If the flour blend doesn’t contain a binder add ¾ teaspoon xanthan gum)
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (178 grams) of old-fashioned oats (not steel-cut or quick oats)
3/8 cup (60 grams) sweetened flaked coconut
1/4 cup (64 grams) pecans, roughly chopped plus more for decorating
6 ounces (340 grams) of semi-sweet chocolate chips (vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips)
1/2 teaspoon flaky sea salt optional

Instructions

 

Preheat the oven to 350 (F). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large bowl using a whisk, beat together the browned butter and both sugars until well combined, about 2 minutes. Don’t worry if they look a little separated here.

Whisk in the eggs and yolk, beating until well combined. About 45 seconds. Whisk in the vanilla.

In a separate large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, oats, coconut, pecans, and chocolate chips.

Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined.

Scoop 2-inch balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving 2-inches between each ball so they have room to spread.

Bake, one sheet at a time, in preheated oven for 12 minutes, or until cookies are golden and set at the edges, and still slightly soft in the center.

Press extra chocolate chips and pecans on top of cookies when they come out of the oven (optional). Sprinkle with sea salt, if desired.

 

Notes

  • Let the dough rest for about 5-10 minutes to give the flour an opportunity to hydrate. This is an optional step but helps to ensure a tender crumb.
  • Do not overbake
  • It’s important to let the cookies cool on the baking sheet to allow for carry-over baking.

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Sign up to stay informed about new blog posts, articles, book excerpts, authors, bonus recipes, and women in business profiles, the schedule for our Still A Chick-Lit Podcast, and so much more.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact