ORANGE BRAN FLAX MUFFINS

**Since I originally posted this, I noticed a mistake.  There should only be 1/2 c. flax and 1 1/2 c. flour. If you made it the other way - its ok - just not as light. It is now changed below.

My daughter reminded me of these muffins a few days ago. This recipe is from my good, dear friend Sandy! She's an angel on earth - really! These muffins are delicious and healthy (well sort of - if you discount the brown sugar and white flour - but the rest of the ingredients are).  I added and extra 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the original recipe (I like mine sweeter) and substituted coconut oil for canola oil.  I also experimented with diced apple or mashed banana added to them as well.  It's a forgiving recipe and you could add almost any fruit, I think.  Mangos, peaches, or even berries would be delicious. I don't add raisins - NO ONE in my family likes them. One of our family members (I won't say who) calls them "ticks". Ewwww! These freeze well. I buy the brans in the "buy the pound" bins at the grocery. Sprouts is a good source.

Preheat oven to 375. 

1 1/2 c. oat bran
1  1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. ground flax seed (make sure its ground - doesn't digest   well if it isn't and I'm told you lose the nutritional value)
1 c. wheat bran
1 T. baking powder
1/2 t. salt

Stir the above ingredients well in a large bowl. 

Add to blender and mix well:

2 whole oranges, peeled and quartered
1 c. buttermilk
2 eggs
1 1/2 c. brown sugar (I added the 1/2- omit if you want)
1/2 c. coconut oil (can use canola)
1 t. baking soda
1 c. chopped nuts - optional (we like pecans or walnuts)
**This is where I added the mashed banana or apple or other fruit. Don't blend the fruit - just stir it in. I added 1 whole mashed banana, or 1 peeled diced apple, etc.

Blend well and stir into dry ingredients, just until all ingredients are moistened.  Divide batter evenly into 24 regular size muffin pans.  Spray pans with cooking spray or use paper liners.  Bake for 18-20 minutes.  Cool 5 minutes before removing from pans.

RICE KRISPIE TREATS w/MINI-MARSHMALLOWS, WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS & MINI-CHOCOLATE CHIPS

I know - it's the longest title in the history of a cooking blog. Just didn't want you to think these are boring Rice Krispie Treats (never boring in my book). Is there anyone who doesn't like Rice Krispie treats?

I was walking down the hall a while back at our church and one of the youth from our congregation walked towards me eating something. He's the cutest, nicest kid so I asked him what he was eating - hoping he would share - he did! .  It was these delicious treats! I promptly said "Who made these?" He informed me our cute friend Amanda, so I texted her that very moment and asked her for the recipe. These just add a little "something" to the regular treats.

A little hint - sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top after you've mixed in everything else.  They are so small they melt and you'll  have marbled treats.

1/2 c. butter (1/2 cube - you can use a little more if you like)
1 large bag of regular sized marshmallows (not minis)


Microwave butter and marshmallows 2-3 minutes to melt the butter.  Stir well to completely mix the butter and marshmallow.
Stir in 1/2 t. vanilla and
Add:
8 cups Rice Krispie cereal
1/2 bag of mini-marshmallows (I used more)
1/2 bag white chocolate chips

Mix well with the melted butter and marshmallow mix.  Spread in a 9x13, greased or buttered dish.  Promptly sprinkle 1/2 bag mini-chocolate chips on top and press them very lightly into mixture to "secure" them.  Cool, cut into squares and eat!!

GRILLED HONEY LIME CHICKEN

I said a while back I was going to be more diligent about posting to this sad little blog - I lied.  A few things got in the way -like cooking for 150 girls (with 4 wonderful other friends) for a girls church camp.  I haven't wanted to cook or even think about going to the grocery. That is now in the history book and here is what we're having for dinner tonight.  Easy and yummy.  I didn't even have to make a trip to the store.  I'm serving with quinoa for me, white rice for husband. He's still living in the dark side!!  And we're having a few slices of avocado - can you even get enough of those things and some fresh watermelon.  Dinner is served!!

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (I pound them so they're even thickness)

MARINADE:
1/4 c. fresh lime juice (about two large limes)
2 t. lime zest
1/4 c. honey
2 T. olive oil
1 T. soy sauce
1 T. packed brown sugar
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. black pepper
1/4 t. onion powder
1/4 granulated garlic or fresh (hate the smell of garlic on my hands - wimpy I know)
1/8 t. cayenne (yes, this makes it taste good - just a little kick)

Whisk all ingredients for marinade together.  Put chicken breasts in a Ziplock bag and pour in marinade, reserving about 3 T. to baste chicken with later. Don't keep marinade that has been on the chicken.  Marinate overnight or for 45 min.  Drain and discard marinade and grill over medium heat for about 6 minutes on each side.  Remove from grill and baste with reserved marinade.  Serve. 

Grandma Cunningham's Coconut Macaroons

This recipe came out of a family cookbook that my husband's aunt put together.  His grandma loved to bake and I'm so happy to have all her delicious recipes in one book.  It is a treasure.  I have never made macaroons before, so I was kind of nervous about it, but they were way easier than I thought and so yummy!  I am a huge fan of all things coconut, so these are right up my alley.  They are soft, airy, light, and perfect for Easter!

4 eggs whites

dash of salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/3 cups sugar

2 2/3 cups flaked coconut

Beat egg whites, salt and vanilla until soft peaks form.  This took about 4-5 minutes.  Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.  This took another 2-3 minutes.  Fold in coconut.  Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes.  Carefully transfer to a cooling rack to cool.

BLOG REVIVAL & Oatmeal Banana Cookies

It's time to revive this blog and wake it from its looooong nap! Let's do this thing.  In honor of this grand occasion (I know - not really grand but...) I'm posting a cookie recipe.  Cookies - are there a MILLION, or BILLION cookie recipes out there? Yes, but this one is ONE in a million, I promise.

A few (well, several) years ago I worked in a law office with a wonderful, funny, smart, friendly, loving and fabulous woman named Mary Alice Smith. If you knew her you're lucky - if you didn't, I'm sorry.  She only worked once in a while (her son-in-law was a partner in the firm) and she ordered supplies and brought in cookies! Any paperwork she did she tagged with her initials MAS.  We saw lots of MAS paperwork floating around the office.  She had the best laugh and was feisty and sassy! MAS brought these cookies to the office A LOT!!  I sort of forgot about them (yeah, my brain is half dead sometimes) until her cutest granddaughter Jyl of momitforward.com posted a little video on facebook about her grandmother and talked about these cookies.  I have made them 3 times in 2 weeks.  Mary Alice always put chocolate chips in hers - we prefer pecans but you may want pecans AND chocolate chips.  I love these cookies - they don't require a mixer.  Just a LARGE bowl (it's a huge batch) and a sturdy spoon.  Jyl says she likes them frozen but I've never had them last long enough to freeze.  We had a church party here at our house with a lot of males in attendance and they devoured 5 dozen of them in about 1.5 minutes (well, really hours).  Make them - you won't be sorry!

MARY ALICE's BANANA COOKIES w/oatmeal

Preheat oven to 375

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 t. soda
1/2 t. nutmeg
1 t. cinnamon

Stir all of the above dry ingredients in a large bowl. With a pastry cutter or two knives cut in :

1 1/2 c. butter (her recipe calls for shortening, but I use butter)

When butter is incorporated into the dry ingredients add:

2 beaten eggs
2 c. mashed banana

Stir well and add

3 1/2 cups oatmeal (I have used quick cooking and regular. Regular oatmeal makes them a little chewier but either one works fine)

Add:

1 - 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans (or walnuts)
1-2 cups of chocolate chips (these are optional)

Drop approx. 2 T. of dough onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam.  Bake 8-10 min.  Do not overbake.  I like 9 minutes.  Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack to cool.  Store covered or freeze (like Jyl says). 

Walnut Pesto

Here's the story...

A few days ago, our friends, Evan and Lisa, brought us a big, beautiful bag of basil from their garden.  I knew right away that I would be making pesto ASAP.  We had just run out of parmesan and I didn't have any pine nuts, so I went to Costco the next day to get what I needed.  As you probably know, pine nuts are not cheap. Like $25 for not-even-that-big of a bag.  So I went out on a limb and decided to try walnuts instead.  It was a success!!  We loved the walnut pesto!  Give it a try and see what you think.

2 cups packed basil leaves
1/3 cup olive oil
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated parmesan
couple shakes of salt

*Place all ingredients in a food processor and blend until thoroughly combined.

Italian Meatball Soup

I love the Fall & Winter months because that means we can start eating soup again without wanting to melt!  This soup really is amazing and super easy too! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

                  (sorry the photo isn't the greatest, it was taken with a cell phone)

Meatballs

1/2 pound ground beef                               1 teaspoon basil
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage               1/2 teaspoon parsley
2eggs, beaten                                              1/4 cup dehydrated onion
1/4 cup plain bread crumbs                         1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan       1 teaspoon salt
cheese                                                         1/2 teaspoon pepper

Gently combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Shape into meatballs. Make as big or as small as you'd like. Place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Broil for 7 to 10 minutes, or just until brown. They will continue to cook in soup.

Soup

1-2 tablespoons olive oil                               1(28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 onion, chopped                                           1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
4-5 cloves of garlic, minced.                          2 carrots, peeled and diced
5 (14 oz. ) cans chicken broth                         1 cup small pasta
1 cup water                                                      2 cups spinach, thinly sliced

red pepper flakes (opt.)

Heat oil in a large stockpot. Sauté the onions and garlic until translucent. Add broth, water, tomatoes, and seasonings. Heat to boiling. Gently add the meatballs, carrots, pasta, and spinach. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes or until the meatballs are cooked through, the carrots are tender, and the pasta is al dente.