This applesauce oatmeal muffin recipe is great for breakfast or a snack on-the-go. For added variety, you can substitute the applesauce with ripe bananas, prunes, pears or peaches. Place your fruit in a food processor and pulse to the size you like, then add to the mixture.
Ingredients
1 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup oil
2/3 cup applesauce
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, prepare muffin pans by spraying cooking spray on them or use cup cake paper holders.
Mix dry ingredients well with a fork. Beat egg, then add oil and milk, stir in applesauce. Add the dry mix to the wet mix until just combined.
Spoon into pans and bake for 20 minutes or until the muffin top springs back after a light touch.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tips and Ideas On Shortcut Cooking
If you are like me, you are always looking for cooking shortcuts or ways to "fix" a little mistake you have made while cooking. Here are two that I have used many times over my 50 years of cooking.
[1] To cut hours of cooking time off your dried beans, microwave them for 14-15 minutes. Place the beans, peas, lentils, etc, in a microwave safe bowl, large enough to cover them with water about 2 inches higher than they are. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl. Make a small slit in the middle to allow steam to escape. Put into your microwave set on high for 8 minutes. When it stops, check water level, add more water if needed. Replace plastic film and heat for 6-7 minutes more. Let the bowl cool before removing. Rinse, place beans into your cooking pot, add fresh water and seasoning. Cook as usual but for half the time.
[2] If you have used to much Mayonnaise in your Tuna or Chicken salad mixture. Place 6-8 plain or saltine crackers in a plastic bag and crush them into small pieces, with your dough roller. Then add as much as you need to help soak up the extra mayonnaise. Don't add too much or you will have the opposite problem. Taste your mixture before adding more salt.
Never give up on something as you will find a way to save or improve 99.9% of them.
[1] To cut hours of cooking time off your dried beans, microwave them for 14-15 minutes. Place the beans, peas, lentils, etc, in a microwave safe bowl, large enough to cover them with water about 2 inches higher than they are. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl. Make a small slit in the middle to allow steam to escape. Put into your microwave set on high for 8 minutes. When it stops, check water level, add more water if needed. Replace plastic film and heat for 6-7 minutes more. Let the bowl cool before removing. Rinse, place beans into your cooking pot, add fresh water and seasoning. Cook as usual but for half the time.
[2] If you have used to much Mayonnaise in your Tuna or Chicken salad mixture. Place 6-8 plain or saltine crackers in a plastic bag and crush them into small pieces, with your dough roller. Then add as much as you need to help soak up the extra mayonnaise. Don't add too much or you will have the opposite problem. Taste your mixture before adding more salt.
Never give up on something as you will find a way to save or improve 99.9% of them.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Small Tips to Make Your Diet Healthier
Oat meal isn't just for breakfast. Add uncooked oats to your meat loafs, sloppy joes, or any other ground meat recipe. Mix a couple teaspoons of brown sugar with 1/4cup of oats then sprinkle the mixture over your fresh fruit. You can replace up to half of the regular flour, in most bread recipes, with oat flour, thus increasing the fiber intake in your daily diet.
Brown rice is more nutritious than the white rice. Adding brown rice to a stir fry, or grown meat recipe will make it more filling and better for you.
Using the right oil will also help keep you healthy. Always read the labels when buying food.
Trans fat is found in many foods but mainly in commercial baked goods, french fries, fried chicken and snack food crackers. If the label says the food is made with hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortening or hard margarine, it will contain trans fat.
Saturated fat occurs naturally in many foods. It primarily comes from animal sources, including beef, lamb, pork, lard, real butter and cheese.
The better fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in olive, canola and peanut oils. Many nuts, seeds and avocados contain these good fats, also.
Reading and understanding labels will help all of us live better.
Brown rice is more nutritious than the white rice. Adding brown rice to a stir fry, or grown meat recipe will make it more filling and better for you.
Using the right oil will also help keep you healthy. Always read the labels when buying food.
Trans fat is found in many foods but mainly in commercial baked goods, french fries, fried chicken and snack food crackers. If the label says the food is made with hydrogenated vegetable oils, shortening or hard margarine, it will contain trans fat.
Saturated fat occurs naturally in many foods. It primarily comes from animal sources, including beef, lamb, pork, lard, real butter and cheese.
The better fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats found in olive, canola and peanut oils. Many nuts, seeds and avocados contain these good fats, also.
Reading and understanding labels will help all of us live better.
Money Saving and Healthy Grocery Buying Tips
Eating healthy doesn't have to break your food budget. The main ingredient in a food budget is knowledge. Read your weekly newspaper ads, to get the best deals on food products. Clip coupons from magazines, newspapers and online sites, that match the items you have chosen for your weekly menus. Avoid buying items that are advertise as a good deal, unless it's something you are going to eat. Having "good buys" sitting in your pantry will not save on your food budget.
Frozen produce is just as nutritious as fresh. The big bonus in using frozen produce is the convenience of always being able to have it on hand, no matter the season. While it may cost a little more, you have no worry about spoilage happening before you can use your food items and loosing the you spent on buying it.
Canned meats or fish are always good to have on hand for quick meals or unexpected company. Can Tuna, Salmon or Sardines offer the same omega-3 fats as fresh seafood. Add some pasta and a mixed green salad for an easy healthy meal.
Frozen produce is just as nutritious as fresh. The big bonus in using frozen produce is the convenience of always being able to have it on hand, no matter the season. While it may cost a little more, you have no worry about spoilage happening before you can use your food items and loosing the you spent on buying it.
Canned meats or fish are always good to have on hand for quick meals or unexpected company. Can Tuna, Salmon or Sardines offer the same omega-3 fats as fresh seafood. Add some pasta and a mixed green salad for an easy healthy meal.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Finding Frugal Gifts is in the Planning
Awwww Spring is here, can the wedding shower invitations be far behind? After each holiday, I look for items, such as dish towels, that can be used for gifts, next year. Most sell for 50% to 75% off after the holiday and make excellent gifts for the new brides. She can have a new decorated towel to celebrate New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, or what ever it might be, in her new marriage and home. Plus you will have saved money!
Another great idea is using a bucket as a container and filling it with small garden hand tools. Starting a new home entails a lot of small expenses. Most we do not think of until the need arises. Giving a 5 pound bag of potting soil, a scoop or hand rake with some clay pots, topped off with a 6 pack of blooming flowers will get any new home owner off to a good start. You can usually find these items, except for the flowers, in the garden department of your local Kmart or Wal-Mart in the fall reduced by 50% to 60%.
Saving money is a matter of timing and thinking ahead. Happy shopping everyone!
Another great idea is using a bucket as a container and filling it with small garden hand tools. Starting a new home entails a lot of small expenses. Most we do not think of until the need arises. Giving a 5 pound bag of potting soil, a scoop or hand rake with some clay pots, topped off with a 6 pack of blooming flowers will get any new home owner off to a good start. You can usually find these items, except for the flowers, in the garden department of your local Kmart or Wal-Mart in the fall reduced by 50% to 60%.
Saving money is a matter of timing and thinking ahead. Happy shopping everyone!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Surprising Everyday Pantry Items That Work Elsewhere
Most of the time when little home accidents happen we can find immediate help in our pantries.
[1] Bee stings can be helped with a paste of baking soda and water. Mix three teaspoons of baking soda and one teaspoon of water and rub it on the sting. Always remove the stinger first. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then rinse off. Repeat if needed.
[2] If someone in your household shows signs of Athlete's foot, make a mixture of one half cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water and let them soak their feet in it for 5-10 minutes, daily. Within a week, they should see a big difference. Household white vinegar contains a natural anti fungal.
[3] With summer coming and children being prone to swimmers ear, this is a great idea to keep in the back of your mind. Grate two cloves of fresh garlic into a small dish and cover with a layer of olive oil. Cover and leave overnight. In the morning strain the garlic and use the oil that remains in the affected ear. Two or three drops, twice a day can help with the pain. Just remember if the pain continues more than three day or if a fever comes up, you may need to take the child to a doctor.
[4] With all the sunscreens on the market you would think no one would become sun burned anymore, but it still happens. When it does and your need quick relief, go looking for milk. Milk has anti-inflammatory enzymes that will soothe your skin. Wet a cloth in cold milk and cover the abused skin for 15 minutes with the cloth. Repeat as often as you need to relieve pain.
[1] Bee stings can be helped with a paste of baking soda and water. Mix three teaspoons of baking soda and one teaspoon of water and rub it on the sting. Always remove the stinger first. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, then rinse off. Repeat if needed.
[2] If someone in your household shows signs of Athlete's foot, make a mixture of one half cup of white vinegar in a gallon of water and let them soak their feet in it for 5-10 minutes, daily. Within a week, they should see a big difference. Household white vinegar contains a natural anti fungal.
[3] With summer coming and children being prone to swimmers ear, this is a great idea to keep in the back of your mind. Grate two cloves of fresh garlic into a small dish and cover with a layer of olive oil. Cover and leave overnight. In the morning strain the garlic and use the oil that remains in the affected ear. Two or three drops, twice a day can help with the pain. Just remember if the pain continues more than three day or if a fever comes up, you may need to take the child to a doctor.
[4] With all the sunscreens on the market you would think no one would become sun burned anymore, but it still happens. When it does and your need quick relief, go looking for milk. Milk has anti-inflammatory enzymes that will soothe your skin. Wet a cloth in cold milk and cover the abused skin for 15 minutes with the cloth. Repeat as often as you need to relieve pain.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Laundry Day Tips
[1] When sorting your dirty laundry, not only sort by colors and whites, but by weight. You will want to keep your like weight, [jeans, towels], [summer tops, shorts], in the same wash load. Not only is it more effective when washing but when drying. Adding light weights and heavies at the same time will damage your light weight item with over drying, thus causing the extra expense of replacing the garment sooner.
[2] Know the size of your machine and fill it full but do not over fill. If you have to weight your laundry basket until you can guess how many clothes it takes to make 20 pounds or what ever size your machine holds, then do so. In the end it will help with water, soap and electricity waste.
[3] Two simple pantry products will help make laundry day easier. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry will boost the cleaning power of your detergent and help with odors. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle and you'll have no need of dryer sheets as it takes the static cling from your clothes.
[4] Washing your clothes in cold water will save money on your water heating bill. Most detergents are made to work in both hot or cold water.
[2] Know the size of your machine and fill it full but do not over fill. If you have to weight your laundry basket until you can guess how many clothes it takes to make 20 pounds or what ever size your machine holds, then do so. In the end it will help with water, soap and electricity waste.
[3] Two simple pantry products will help make laundry day easier. Adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry will boost the cleaning power of your detergent and help with odors. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle and you'll have no need of dryer sheets as it takes the static cling from your clothes.
[4] Washing your clothes in cold water will save money on your water heating bill. Most detergents are made to work in both hot or cold water.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
4 Items That Will Make You a Better Cook
Some times the gadgets we use in the kitchen, have a bigger impact on our cooking than the recipes we are serving. Some of these handy tools to keep on hand are:
[1] A Bottle Pour Spout
Attaching a pour spout to your bottle of olive oil or vinegar will give you more control of the amounts you are adding to your cooking, plus an elegant appearance to your counter.
[2] A Kitchen Timer
In spite of our best efforts we sometime come up short on a recipe due to over or under cooking. To keep this from happening always include a kitchen timer in your tool drawer.
[3] A Silpat Mat
You will never burn another baking item if you use this mat. Nothing sticks to it.
[4] A Microplane
You will never want to use another shredder or grater after using this one. It makes the plainest food, look restaurant made.
[1] A Bottle Pour Spout
Attaching a pour spout to your bottle of olive oil or vinegar will give you more control of the amounts you are adding to your cooking, plus an elegant appearance to your counter.
[2] A Kitchen Timer
In spite of our best efforts we sometime come up short on a recipe due to over or under cooking. To keep this from happening always include a kitchen timer in your tool drawer.
[3] A Silpat Mat
You will never burn another baking item if you use this mat. Nothing sticks to it.
[4] A Microplane
You will never want to use another shredder or grater after using this one. It makes the plainest food, look restaurant made.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Unusual Ideas for Usual Items
When it came time for my mother to move in with me and I was sorting through her belongings, I found 5-6 boxes of denture cleaning tablets. All were different brands or flavors she had bought to try and found she didn't like. Not wanting to just waste them by throwing them out, I begin to look for ways to use them. It didn't take long for ideas to pop into my head. These are a few of mine and other's I have picked up along the way.
[1] Drop a denture tablet into a glass containing a cup of warm water. Follow that with your ring or diamond earrings. Let it sit for a few minutes. Remove your jewelry and rinse to reveal the old sparkle and shine.
[2] Cut flowers often leave a ring on your glass vases that seems impossible to remove no matter how hard you scrub. Give this a try. Fill the vase with water and drop in a denture tablet or two, depending on the size of the vase. When the fizzing has stopped, all of the mineral deposits will be gone and your vase is ready for more flowers.
[3] Does your commode have water stains in it, no matter how much you clean it? Here's a way to handle that job, easily. Drop two denture tablets in the commode bowl. Wait about 20 minutes, swish with a brush and flush. Sparkle and shine should be what you see.
[4] If you are like me and have hard water in your household, then you know how fast mineral deposits can build up inside your teakettle. Cleaning it was almost impossible, until I found that if I placed two tablets in the teakettle and fill it up with warm water and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, I could rinse all the gunk down the drain. Remember to rinse it good so all residue has been flushed out.
[5] If your coffee or tea mugs still carry stains. Place then in a sink filled with warm water and drop in 2-3 denture tablets and let them set, up to an hour, then rinse. Most, if not all, will come out sparkling clean ready for the next tea or coffee party.
[6] If you forgot to put last nights casserole dish in the dishwasher and it's now dried and crusty. Put some warm water in your sink and drop in a denture tablet, placing the dish in the water and soak for 20-25 minutes. Then wash and rinse as usual for a clean dish without the hard work.
My Mother passed away a little over a year ago and as I was cleaning my bathroom this morning, I realized her supply of denture tablets was almost gone. Now I have to decide if I want to continue using them by buying my own supply or let this memory go.
Faylee
[1] Drop a denture tablet into a glass containing a cup of warm water. Follow that with your ring or diamond earrings. Let it sit for a few minutes. Remove your jewelry and rinse to reveal the old sparkle and shine.
[2] Cut flowers often leave a ring on your glass vases that seems impossible to remove no matter how hard you scrub. Give this a try. Fill the vase with water and drop in a denture tablet or two, depending on the size of the vase. When the fizzing has stopped, all of the mineral deposits will be gone and your vase is ready for more flowers.
[3] Does your commode have water stains in it, no matter how much you clean it? Here's a way to handle that job, easily. Drop two denture tablets in the commode bowl. Wait about 20 minutes, swish with a brush and flush. Sparkle and shine should be what you see.
[4] If you are like me and have hard water in your household, then you know how fast mineral deposits can build up inside your teakettle. Cleaning it was almost impossible, until I found that if I placed two tablets in the teakettle and fill it up with warm water and letting it sit overnight. In the morning, I could rinse all the gunk down the drain. Remember to rinse it good so all residue has been flushed out.
[5] If your coffee or tea mugs still carry stains. Place then in a sink filled with warm water and drop in 2-3 denture tablets and let them set, up to an hour, then rinse. Most, if not all, will come out sparkling clean ready for the next tea or coffee party.
[6] If you forgot to put last nights casserole dish in the dishwasher and it's now dried and crusty. Put some warm water in your sink and drop in a denture tablet, placing the dish in the water and soak for 20-25 minutes. Then wash and rinse as usual for a clean dish without the hard work.
My Mother passed away a little over a year ago and as I was cleaning my bathroom this morning, I realized her supply of denture tablets was almost gone. Now I have to decide if I want to continue using them by buying my own supply or let this memory go.
Faylee
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