Monthly Archives: February 2014

Dessert in a Cup

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This is either a genius idea or just horrible!  I am leaning toward genius, until I can’t fit in my jeans.  On the pro side, I won’t feel inclined to eat an entire batch of brownies or a two layer cake.  On the con side, I might want to try out a different dessert every night.  And what if it doesn’t turn out?  Then I will have to try another one.  I am planning on making a folder with all the best single serving recipes and saving them until I am a crazy old lady, living in a retirement home, with no access to a stove.  It will happen, if I live long enough.  But until then I really didn’t think I would ever make a cake…in a mug…in the microwave.  I mean, these seem to be mostly for college girls in dorms and crazy cat ladies.  Until… my dearest husband is out of town, the kids are in bed and I NEED something sweet!  Pinterest to the rescue!  Found this blog with a page of single serving desserts.  So far I have tried the microwave mug brownie, (too much flour) cheesecake mug (I “broke” mine, not good) and another brownie (made it with tofutti sour cream, pretty good) and an actual cake in a cup.  None of them have been spectacular and I am wondering if the bloggers are better photographers than cooks.  I’m not a photographer or food stylist and there is no way I’m going to use another bowl for mixing and then pour the batter into a mug.  If I’m making a cake in the microwave it will be mixed, cooked and eaten out of the same container.  So, my results are not Instagram worthy.  However, with a little tweaking I have made a decent tasting dairy-free brownie and cheesecake pudding.

 

 

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New green smoothies

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Occasionally my forays into the green smoothie world are a bit scary.  Jumping in without a recipe is not always a good idea.  As I was searching for a smoothie recipe without bananas I stumbled upon a site with great green smoothie recipes.  Green Thickies.  This woman has invented a new genre of smoothie.  Check it out.  I can recommend several to try.

The Lemon Meringue Pie,  Cold and Flu Busting, Almond Milk Smoothie, Key Lime Pie, and Carrot Cake, are all good.  I didn’t care for the Creamy Citrus Fat Burner because I found that I don’t like grapefruit (after buying half a dozen).  Also, The Loch Ness smoothie is good if you cut down on the sunflower seeds.  And the Apple Pie smoothie is better if you don’t make it a thickie.  Just my opinion.  But I want to write it down so I don’t keep trying the same smoothies over again.  The great thing is that she has changed the way I make smoothies!  Using her basic recipe I can make a smoothie with ingredients I have on hand.

One important tip I learned while reading through these recipes is to stop adding ingredients.  I have a tendency to keep adding.  While I’m in the freezer for peaches I think I might as well add blueberries.  While I’m in the pantry getting coconut I think I should add some flax and sunflower seeds or maybe some protein powder.  When I’m done I have a blender full of not terribly tasty gunge.  I am trying to pick two or three flavors that complement each other and leave it at that.  This morning I made a peach, lime, coconut smoothie that was quite yummy.  Probably because I didn’t add the blueberries or spirulina like I wanted to.

I just made the Key Lime Pie smoothie again and it is so yummy! Here is the way I make it:

Key Lime Pie Smoothie

1 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk beverage
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon sunflower seeds
1/4 cup dates
2 cups baby spinach
2 bananas
juice and zest of 4 limes
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup ice cubes

Blend the oats, seeds and dates with the milk until smooth. Next blend the spinach. Add bananas, vanilla, lime zest and juice. Add ice cubes last. Blend until smooth.

Breakfast at home and one to go

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My favorite way to have oatmeal. Oatmeal should be healthy and maybe it still is if you fix it this way, but it doesn’t taste healthy.

Second, our favorite granola bars. It is difficult to find dairy-free granola bars. We tried several baked varieties, but weren’t too fond of the results. Here is a modified recipe for no-bake granola bars. Feel free to sub in any dried fruit for the raisins.  I have also used sunflower seeds instead of almonds for nut-free bars.  Also, old-fashioned oats work instead of the mixed grain flakes.

Tummy Soother Smoothie

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I was quite sick over the weekend.  I will probably be sick tomorrow.  Today I felt well enough to get out of bed and do a little tidying.  After being sick for three days there is no such thing as a little tidying.  Occasionally I long for the days when I could be sick in peace and find my abode exactly as I left it.  Moms do not get sick days and our work literally piles up while we are sick or away.  I didn’t throw up yesterday and I intend to keep today puke free as well.  I didn’t eat much over the weekend, but I did make a smoothie.

Tummy Soother Smoothie

1 cup chamomile  tea, cooled
1 or 2 bananas, frozen
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 to 1 teaspoon ginger

Blend and sip slowly.