Cereal

Ingredients:

• 6 c rolled oats
• 1/2 c oil (whatever you prefer...ie., vegetable oil, peanut butter, melted coconut oil, applesauce, etc.)
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 c honey
• 1/2 c raisins
• 1/2 c sunflower seeds
• 1/2 c wheat germ
• 1/2 c dates
• 1/2 c sliced almonds

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients in jelly roll pan.  Spread evenly.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes at a time, stirring/turning at intervals.  Usually takes about an hour to bake to a nice golden color.  Allow to cool in pan on wire rack before storing in an air-tight container.

Green Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS almond butter
• 1/2 c plain yogurt
• 1 c fresh spinach
• 1/2 TBS coconut oil
• 1/3 c frozen blueberries
• 1/2 banana
• 1 TBS honey
• 6ish cubes of ice

Instructions:

• Place all ingredients in blender and blend until it reaches the consistency you like!

Creamed Chipped Beef on Toast

Ingredients:

• 2 pkgs chipped beef, chopped
• 1/4 c butter
• 1/4 c flour
• 2 c milk
• Black pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Melt butter in pan over medium heat.  Mix in flour and pepper with a whisk.  Add milk slowly, mixing constantly.
• Bring to simmer and add beef.  Simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.
• Serve over toast.

Crock Pot Apple Butter

Ingredients:

• 5 1/2 pounds apples, peeled, cored and finely chopped
• 4 cups sugar (I used 2 cups honey and 1 cup brown sugar with great results!)
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Place apples in crock pot.  In a bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Pour over the apples and mix well.
• Cover and cook on High for 1 hour.
• Reduce heat to Low and cook 9-11 hours, stirring occasionally.  Mixture should thicken and turn dark brown.
• Uncover and continue cooking on Low for 1 hour.  If you like your butter to be smooth, stir with a whisk.
• Spoon into containers and store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 c butter, softened
• 2 c sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 c all-purpose flour
• 3/4 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 pkg white chocolate chips

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• With mixer, cream butter and sugar for at least 3 minutes.  Beat in the eggs and vanilla.  
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.  Stir into creamed mixture.  Fold in the white chocolate chips.
• Drop cookies onto cookie sheets.  Bake 8-10 minutes.  Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Healthful Carrot Apple Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 c whole wheat flour
• 1/4 c brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 c grated carrots
• 1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c milk
• 1/4 c canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350.  Line muffin tin with muffin papers.
• In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.  Gradually add the carrot mixture to the flour mixture, stirring just until blended.
• Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake about 20 minutes.

Brownies from Scratch

I never buy brownie mixes anymore...these are just SO good and come together so easily with things I always have in the pantry anyway!


Ingredients:

• 1/2 c vegetable oil
• 1 c white sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 c all-purpose flour
• 1/3 c unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350.  Grease a 9x9in baking pan.
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; set aside.  In another bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla.  Beat in eggs.  Fold in dry ingredients.  Spread batter evenly into prepared pan.
• Bake 20-25 minutes, or until brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan.  Cool on wire rack.
• I like to top it with Chocolate Chip Frosting.

Baked Pineapple Dessert

Ingredients:

• Fresh pineapple chunks
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• 1-2 TBS melted butter

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Place pineapple chunks in baking dish.  Sprinkle with brown sugar.  Add a few dashes of cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.  Drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for about 20 minutes.  Look for the brown sugar to melt and start to caramelize, and the edges of the pineapple to brown slightly.
• Allow to cool for a few minutes before enjoying over a bowl of ice cream!

Baked Veggie Pasta

Ingredients:

• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1/2 green pepper, diced
• 1/2 red pepper, diced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1/2 lb ground beef
• 12 oz whole wheat penne pasta
• About 12 oz pasta sauce
• 1 c shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375.  Prepare pasta according to package directions.
• Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-low heat.  Saute peppers, onions, and garlic just until softened.  Add ground beef and brown, keeping drippings in the pan for flavor.  Remove from heat and add pasta and pasta sauce, stirring until well-coated.
• Spoon half of the mixture into a 2-qt baking dish, cover with half of the cheese.  Repeat with remaining pasta and cheese.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Spicy Mexican Shredded Beef

Ingredients:

• 1 4-5 pound chuck roast (venison works great too!)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 1/4 cups diced green chile peppers
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cayenne pepper
• 5 oz hot pepper sauce
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• Water

Instructions:

• Season roast with salt and pepper.  Place in crock pot and sprinkle onion over meat.  Add remaining ingredients.  Pour in enough water to cover 1/3 of the roast.
• Cover and cook on High for 6 hours, then reduce to Low for 2-4 more hours.  Meat is done when it is tender enough to fall apart.  Shred meat.
• For burritos, place shredded meat in a frying pan with a cup of the cooking liquid.  Simmer until thickened.
• Also great in enchiladas.