Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Apple Oat Drops


Currently these are one of my son's favorites. As with my carrot drops I scoop out all of the dough and then freeze the uncooked dough. When it is frozen I put all the uncooked cookies in a freezer container. I then take them out and bake as needed. 
They also work great if you cook them and then freeze them just pull them out and let them defrost in the fridge.
Apple Oat Drops
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup rapadura sugar or brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp baking soda
1 egg
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 1/3 cup all purpose Flour
1/3 cup whole wheat Flour
1 ¼ cup rolled oats 

Optional Additions
½ cup dried fruit
½ cup chopped nuts
½ cup chocolate chips



Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl using either a stand or hand mixer. Beat in the egg and applesauce until well blended. Mix together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon in a separate bowl. Then slowly mix flour mixture into the butter mixture until well blended. Stir in the oats and any additions you like. Place tablespoon size scoops on a baking stone and bake at 375° for 10-12 min. Cool on a wire rack, serve slightly warm, store in an airtight container for 3-5 days, or freeze for later use.

Grilled Sandwiches

When I make these I usually include whatever veggies I have in the garden. This goes well with a side of homemade sweet potato fries or chips.


Grilled Sandwiches

8 slices French Bread

4-8 Cheese slices

sliced fresh veggies such as Pepper, squash, zucchini, broccoli, onion, eggplant, tomato

¼ cup Mayonnaise

1 teaspoon basil

1 clove garlic crushed

You can either grill the veggies before putting them on the sandwich, or sauté the veggies, except tomatoes, in a small amount of olive oil till soft. While veggies are cooking mix mayonnaise, basil, and garlic and set aside. Spread mayonnaise on outside of the bread slices.

Layer veggies and cheese on the bread slices. Cook on grill for about 5 min flipping once until the outside of the sandwich is crisp on both sides and the cheese is melted.

Spinach Casserole

This is one of my husbands favorite dishes. You can reduce the butter from 4 tbs to 3 tbs for a less fattening version. I cook this dish in two 16oz dishes but you can use one larger dish if you choose.



Spinach Casserole

1lb fresh Spinach

4 tbs plus 1 tbs butter

1 cup crated Cheese

2 beaten Eggs

½ cup Milk

½ cup Bread Crumbs finely chopped


Cook spinach in a saucepan over medium heat till most of the water is cooked out. The spinach will greatly reduce while cooking. Take the spinach off the heat then add 4 tbs butter to the spinach and mix till melted. Then add cheese, eggs, and milk. Pour the spinach mixture into two 16 oz casserole dishes. Mix bread crumbs and 1tbs melted butter. Sprinkle the bread crumbs over spinach mixture evenly covering the top. Cook at 350° for 30-35 min or until firmly set.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Veggie Drops


My kids love these as a snack. Sometimes I add a small amount of cream cheese frosting for an extra treat. When making these often I scoop out all the dough and then freeze the uncooked dough. When it is frozen I put all the uncooked cookies in a freezer container. I then take them out and bake as needed. They can also be cooked and then frozen just let them defrost in the fridge when you are ready.

Veggie Drops

½ cup butter
¾ cup rapadura sugar or granulated cane sugar
1 egg
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 ⅓ cups all purpose flour
1 ⅓ cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp nutmeg
2 cups grated veggies*

Optional Additions
½ cup chopped nuts
½ cup chocolate chips
 
Cream the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl with a stand or hand mixer. Beat in the egg and applesauce until well blended. Mix together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a separate bowl. Alternatively mix butter mixture and carrots into the flour mixture. Beat until well mixed. Scoop tablespoon size drops onto a baking stone or sheet. Bake in a preheated oven at 375° for 12-15 min until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack, serve slightly warm, store in an airtight container for 3-5 days, or freeze for later use.

*Some good veggies to try
Carrots
Parsnips
Summer Squash
Rutabaga
Zucchini