Chocolate Chip Cookies

Basic dairy-free chocolate chip cookies. The big trick with using Earth Balance for cookies is never melt it, no matter what the original recipe says. I make a big batch and refrigerate/freeze the extra dough for later use. I always add a little extra vanilla to recipes. Adapted from - Best Big Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1.5 cups Earth Balance

2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2+ tablespoons vanilla extract

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

3+ cups semisweet chocolate chips

 

1.	Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2.	Sift/whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3.	In bowl of stand mixer, cream together the Earth Balance, brown sugar and white sugar until well blended. Beat in the vanilla, eggs, and egg yolks until light and creamy. Mix in the sifted ingredients until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips by hand. Drop cookie dough one cookie scoop at a time onto the prepared cookie sheets. Cookies should be about 3 inches apart.
4.	Bake for 12-14 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are lightly toasted. Cool on baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely.

 

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

This is probably how we should have brought our giant zucchini home!

Ingredients:
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon and 1-1/2 teaspoons
ground cinnamon
5 eggs
   
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup olive oil
2 cups white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
3 cups grated zucchini
2 cups chopped walnuts
Half a package of TJ’s semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.     Grease and flour two 9 x 6 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2.     Whiskflours, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
3.     Beat eggs, oils, vanilla, and sugars together in stand mixer until combined. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini, nuts and chocolate chips until well combined. Scoop batter into prepared pans.
4.     Bake for 40 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 20 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

My 7 year old and my husband are at Cub Scout evening camp tonight. Which left me at home with a heartbroken 5 year old. We measured, mixed and munched away the blues with these cookies. Modified from http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Chocolate-Chip-Cookies-II/Detail.aspx#.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup softened Earth Balance (or your favorite dairy free margarine)

3/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 bag Trader Joe's semisweet chocolate chips (dairy free)

DIRECTIONS:

1.         Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda.

2.         Beat the Earth Balance, white sugar, and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer until smooth. Beat in eggs until completely incorporated. Add the vanilla. Mix in the flour mixture a little at a time. Fold in the chocolate chips; mixing just enough to evenly combine. Use an awesome cookie scoop to place cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.

3.         Bake in the preheated oven until the edges are firm, 9 to 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Almond Butter Bread

Almond Butter Bread
Preheat oven to 375 F.

Ingredients:
High fiber all purpose flour – 4 cups
Baking powder – 2 tablespoons
Salt – 1 teaspoon
Sugar – 2/3 cup
Milk – 3 cups rice milk
Almond Butter – 12oz, crunchy type




Procedure:
In the bowl of the KA whisk together dry ingredients. Add the rice milk and mix on 'stir' until smooth. Add the almond butter, mix well. Pour in to 2 greased loaf pans and bake for approximately 50 minutes. Cool for 2-3 hours or more.

Notes: I swirled semi-sweet chocolate chips in to one of the loaves.


Modified from - [url]http://www.egglesscooking.com/2008/05/20/eggless-almond-butter-bread/[/url]

Dairy Free Monkey Bread

Cooling.



Consumed.

I started with my Divine Dinner Rolls recipe - I used about 3/5 for the Monkey Bread and baked up a dozen rolls as well. Dinner roll recipe below.

Dairy Free Monkey Bread

Liberally grease a bundt pan with Earth Balance or your favorite butter substitute.

Mix together in a bowl or large ziploc bag:
1 cup brown sugar
1.5 teaspoon cinnamon
pinch ground cloves
pinch ground allspice
a few grinds of fresh nutmeg

Cut off small chucks of your favorite dairy free roll dough and roll in to balls(2 inch or so balls)
Roll or shake dough balls in sugar mix. Arrange dough balls in bundt pan close together but not squished together. Repeat with all dough balls or until bundt pan is about half full.

Cover well and refrigerate overnight.

Remove bundt pan from oven.
In a small saucepan over med-high heat melt 1/2 cup Earth Balance with 1 cup of brown sugar. Boil for 1 minute and then pour evenly over dough balls. Place bundt pan in cold oven and turn oven on to 350. Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. Cool for 10 minutes then invert on to a plate. Do not cut with a knife - pull pieces off monkey-style.




Divine Dairy Free Dinner Rolls



2 1/2 cups warm plain Silk soymilk
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup Earth Balance, softened
2 teaspoons salt
7 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1/2 cup Earth Balance, melted

Directions:
1. Pour milk into a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle yeast over the surface. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Beat in the sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, and salt; blend thoroughly. Gradually stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl, and set in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
2. Punch down the dough, cover the bowl, and allow to rise again. Repeat this step two more times.
3. Break off 2 to 3 inch size pieces of dough, roll lightly into round shape, and place in prepared baking dish, edges touching. Repeat to make 36 dough balls. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
5. Bake rolls in preheated oven until tops turn golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. When rolls are finished baking, drizzle melted butter over the top, and serve warm.


Notes: This makes TONS of rolls. I filled my 10x15 baking dish to the brim. We will have lots of leftovers for mini Thanksgiving leftovers sandwiches. My 4 year old loved helping me make the dough balls but it is a very, very stick dough so we kept spraying our hands with cooking spray to keep from sticking to the dough. Remove the rolls from the oven when they are golden - they will continue to cook for a bit after you remove them from the oven. Carefully pull rolls apart with metal tongs. You do not need the full 1/2 cup of melted butter for the tops - maybe 1/4 at the most. These rolls were really fabulous!

Dairy Free Brownie Bliss

Wow. Just wow. These are amazing. Very slightly modified from Brooke's Best Bombshell Brownies on allrecipes.com.

Ingredients:
1 cup Earth Balance, melted
3 cups white sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose whole grain flour
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish.
2. Combine the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each, until thoroughly blended.
3. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the chocolate morsels. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish.
4. Bake in preheated oven until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove, and cool pan on wire rack before cutting.

Dairy Free Thanksgiving 2009

Turkey
10 lb Butterball
roasted at 325F for 3 hours
basted with Earth Balance every 30 minutes

Giblet Gravy
giblets from 10 lb turkey
3/4 of a giant onion, peeled and wedged
2 lg carrots, peeled and cut in to 1" chunks
3/4 cup sliced celery
chicken broth
fresh ground pepper
turkey drippings
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup soy creamer

Rinse giblets and neck. Combine giblets, onions, carrots, celery and 1 cup of water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat and then reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Uncover and stir often over high heat until liquid has evaporated and giblets and vegetables are browned and begin to stick to pan, 15-20 minutes longer.
Add 1 quart broth and fresh ground pepper (about 1/3 teaspoon) to pan and scrape brown bits free. Cover, reduce heat and cook 1 hour.
Pour broth through fine strainer in to a measuring cup - if necessary add water to make 1 quart of stock. Remove meat from neck and chop all giblets fine. Feed vegetables to the dog.
When turkey is finished cooking add pan juices to broth. Add hot water to the roasting pan and scrape off bits, pour in to broth.
Bring broth to boil and whisk in cornstarch mixed with equal amount water. If you want it thicker whisk together flour and soy creamer and whisk in to gravy. Season to taste.

Pecanified Sweet Potatoes
These are very loose estimates.
4 large sweet potatoes, baked
mixed with Earth Balance and some brown sugar

Top with a mix of:
1/3 cup Earth Balance, melted
2/3 cup flour
1 cup pecans
1 cup loose packed brown sugar
pinch of salt
1/2-1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
big pinch ground cloves

Bake at in a 2 quart dish at 350 for 40 minutes. Place a piece foil or a baking sheet under the dish in case it drips.

Trader Joe's Cornbread Stuffing
Followed box directions using Earth Balance and adding 1/4 of a giant onion, chopped and an equal amount fine chopped celery that has been sauteed in Earth Balance until translucent. Baked at 350F for 40 minutes

Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
5 lb bag of red potatoes
Earth Balance
TJ's soy creamer

Boil whole potatoes (cut large ones in half) in water to cover until they break apart when pricked with a fork. Warm soy creamer and Earth Balance in microwave. Mash potatoes, add EB and creamer as needed. Season with salt and pepper.

Other players:
good old canned Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce
steamed cauliflower
dairy-full holiday sauce (Hollandaise Sauce)

And the start of the show. The very best dairy-free rolls I have ever had/made. I followed Angie's Perfect Dinner Rolls on Allrecipies.com with dairy-free subs.

Divine Dairy Free Dinner Rolls

2 1/2 cups warm plain Silk soymilk
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup Earth Balance, softened
2 teaspoons salt
7 cups all-purpose flour, or as needed
1/2 cup Earth Balance, melted

Directions:
1. Pour milk into a large mixing bowl, and sprinkle yeast over the surface. Allow to rest for 5 minutes. Beat in the sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup butter, and salt; blend thoroughly. Gradually stir in the flour to make a soft dough. Cover bowl, and set in a warm place until dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.
2. Punch down the dough, cover the bowl, and allow to rise again. Repeat this step two more times.
3. Break off 2 to 3 inch size pieces of dough, roll lightly into round shape, and place in prepared baking dish, edges touching. Repeat to make 36 dough balls. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
5. Bake rolls in preheated oven until tops turn golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes. When rolls are finished baking, drizzle melted butter over the top, and serve warm.


Notes: This makes TONS of rolls. I filled my 10x15 baking dish to the brim. We will have lots of leftovers for mini Thanksgiving leftovers sandwiches. My 4 year old loved helping me make the dough balls but it is a very, very stick dough so we kept spraying our hands with cooking spray to keep from sticking to the dough. Remove the rolls from the oven when they are golden - they will continue to cook for a bit after you remove them from the oven. Carefully pull rolls apart with metal tongs. You do not need the full 1/2 cup of melted butter for the tops - maybe 1/4 at the most. These rolls were really fabulous!

Oatmeal Spice Muffins

Adapted from Easy Oatmeal Muffins on AllRecipes.com

Makes 12 small muffins

1 cup soymilk
1 cup oats
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon pure vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup flax meal

Topping
your favorite strusel mix of oats, flour, sugar & spices mixed with a fat (Earth Balance in our house)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.
2. In a medium bowl, combine soymilk and oats; let soak for 15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, beat together egg and oil; stir in oatmeal mixture. In a third bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, flax meal, spices and salt. Stir flour mixture into wet ingredients, just until combined. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups until cups are 2/3 full (less than 1/4 cup per muffin). Top with strusel.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Chocolate Cranberry Orange Scones (Vegan)

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup soy cream
3/4 vanilla soy milk plus 2 tsp apple cider vinegar (mix together and let sit for several minutes)
zest of one large orange

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, chocolate chips and cranberries. In a small bowl mix the oil, soy cream, and milk with vinegar and zest a large orange in to the liquids, whisk together. Add wet to dry and mix until just combined; the dough should be clumpy and not sticky. Even if there is still a light dusting of flour, that's okay. Drop by large spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and pat the tops just a little bit to round them out; sprinkle with a bit of turbinado sugar. Bake 12-15 minutes until slightly browned on the bottom and firm on the top.

Variations I haven't tried yet:
Berry Scones: Fold in 1 1/2 cups fresh berries.
Maple Walnut: Add 2 tsp of maple extract to the liquid ingredients, add 2 Tbsp of sugar, fold in 1 1/2 cups of walnuts.

Modified from - Urban Drivel: Vegan Orange Chocolate Chip Scones

Dairy-Free Christmas Morning Cinnamon Rolls

INGREDIENTS

* 1 cup soymilk
* 1/3 cup Earth's Balance
* 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (more as needed)
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 eggs

FILLING:
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 2 tablespoon ground cinnamon
* Earth's Balance

DIRECTIONS

1. Set the oven to warm. Heat the soymilk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the Earth's Balance and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.
2. In bowl of a stand mixer, dissolve the yeast in the soymilk mixture. Add the sugar, 3 cups of flour, salt and eggs; stir well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, knead with dough hook until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large mixing bowl with Earth's Balance, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Turn off oven. Cover bowl with a damp cloth and place in the oven until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10x 14 inch rectangle. Lightly brush the far edge with water. In a small bowl combine the cinnamon and brown sugar and sprinkle over the rectangles. Roll up the dough into a log and seal the seam.
5. Cut the dough into 12 equal pieces; place the pieces in a greased 9x13 inch baking pan, or 12 inch deep dish pizza pan. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to rise overnight.
6. The next morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
7. Bake the rolls for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden. Top with a glaze, cream cheese frosting or eat plain.

Dairy-free Cranberry Muffins with Flaxseed & Wheat Germ

Dairy-free Cranberry Muffins with Flaxseed & Wheat Germ
1 1/4 cups chopped frozen cranberries
1/3 cup sugar (for cranberries)
2/3 cup flax meal
1/3 cup sugar (for batter)
1 egg, beaten lightly
2/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup soymilk
1 cup all purpose flour
½ cup whole wheat flour
½ cup wheat germ
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Mix all ingredients together. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until muffins test done (Be careful not to over-bake or the muffins will be dry). Yield: 12 muffins

These muffins were a runaway success. My 4 & 6 year olds each ate 3 in one sitting and my husband had 4! Next time I may reduce the sugar a bit.

Raisin Bran Muffins dairy free

* 3 cup bran flakes cereal with raisins
* 2 cup soymilk
* 2 egg
* 1/2 cup applesauce
* 1 tablespoon vanilla
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1.5 tablespoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup honey
* ~1/4 cup flax meal
* big sprinkle of cinnamon



DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups.
2. Combine raisin bran cereal and soymilk. Let stand until mixture is moistened. Beat in egg and applesauce. Mix in flours, baking powder, flaxseed meal, cinnamon, salt and honey, stirring only until combined. Fill greased muffin pans.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, until toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Soft Baked Pretzels

INGREDIENTS
4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 1/4 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C) or flat warm beer
4-5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 beated egg for egg wash
coarse salt for topping


dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt. Make a well in the center; add the oil and yeast mixture. Mix and form into a dough. Knead the dough until smooth, about 7 to 8 minutes. Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
When risen, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a rope and twist into a pretzel shape. Once all of the dough is all shaped, place on greased cookie sheet, paint on egg and sprinkle with salt
Bake in preheated oven for ~8 minutes, until browned.

banana bread

Mix dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients. Mix together.
Great opportunity to experience fractions in action.
(excellent with chocolate chips)

Honey Whole Wheat Flax Bread

(adapted from a recipe posted in the kitchen forum on Diaper Swappers)

(Dairy Free) Honey Whole Wheat Flax Bread

1 1/4 cup warm (not hot or it kills your yeast)water
2 tbsp honey (other options given were - sugar,molasses,or maple syrup)
1 tbsp yeast
Mix sweetener in water,sprinkle yeast over.Let stand 10 minutes.Then stir in:
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp canola oil(be generous) (or margarine, butter or oil )
3 cups whole wheat flour (or any combination)
1/8 cup flax seed meal
1/8 cup wheat germ
(instead of flax/wheat germ or up to 1/4 cup 9 grain cereal,or ,or raisins and extra honey,or whatever may be added now)

With dough hook in place mix on 2 until well combined, scraping down sides occasionally. Continue to knead a bit more until the dough starts "climbing" up the hook.
Place in an oiled bowl, turn to cover with oil. Cover bowl and place in a warm draft free location (I put mine in the microwave because I was already baking something else - I would rather have put it in the turned off oven - having it in a stainless steel bowl in the microwave made me a nervous wreck since William thinks turning on the microwave is super funny :eek: )
Let rise 1 hour, covered.
Shape into a loaf shape, place in a greased loaf pan.
Let rise 45 mins-1 hour.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 mins-1 hour.
Loaf is done when it sounds hollow when tapped. (You can also place a pan of water in the oven with the loaf to make it rise higher. - I did not do that)
Makes 1 (1.5 L loaf pan) loaf

I think I should have added more flour and maybe kneaded it more. The honey taste/smell was really strong and sort of icked me out but my family LOVED it. I might try a different sweetener this week.

Good for You Granola Bars

GRANOLA BARS
• 2 cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup oat bran
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chopped English walnuts
• 1/4 cup flax seeds
• 1/2 cup EVOO
• 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350* F. Line a 9x13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray.
2. In a large bowl, stir together oats, flour, brown sugar, raisins, oat bran, salt, cinnamon, flax seeds and walnuts. In a smaller bowl, thoroughly blend oil, molasses, honey, egg, and vanilla; pour into the flour mixture, and mix combined. Press evenly into the prepared baking pan.
3. Bake 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the edges are crisp. Cool completely in pan before turning out onto a cutting board and cutting into bars.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread

I am still trying to wrangle up the bravery to attempt yeast bread - all that raising, kneading and attention really intimidates me. Today I tried this recipe for whole wheat beer bread from allrecipes. It was excellent. Super easy - in the oven in less than 10 minutes and baked perfectly in 50 minutes.

Whole Wheat Beer Bread
INGREDIENTS

* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
* 4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, salt and brown sugar. Pour in beer, stir until a stiff batter is formed. It may be necessary to mix dough with your hands. Scrape dough into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.

Carrot Apple Muffins Two Ways

Today was a cold, rainy day and we had no plans. Zachary wanted to make muffins - "red" muffins was his first request. Then he asked for carrot muffins so we came up with this recipe. He was furious with me that I wouldn't let him "taste" the brown sugar as it was measured and dumped in to the mixing bowl.

Kid's Carrot Apple Muffins
1 cup AP flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup oat bran

4 eggs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup applesauce
2/3 cup brown sugar

4 cups shredded/chopped mixed apple and carrot**

Preheat oven to 350*

**In food processor shred 1.5 very large carrots and 2 large green apples (not peeled). Remove shredding disk and replace with chopper blade and pulse to make smaller bits. Total volume of apples + carrots should be approximately 4 cups

Mix dry ingredients.
Mix wet ingredients.
Add wet to dry. Mix to combine. Fold in apples.
Fill muffin cups to top. Full size muffins 17-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Mini muffins 9-10 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Makes about 2 dozen full sized muffins or 4 dozen mini muffins


Sugar-Free Diabetic friendly version -
Replace brown sugar with 3/4 cup Splenda
Add 1-1.5 cups chopped walnuts

Amazing vegan oatmeal muffins

Amazing vegan oatmeal muffins

I started with Diana's Awesome Oatmeal Muffins from Recipe Zaar, a great base oatmeal muffin recipe that contains no egg or dairy. I will definitely try this recipe again with other liquid/pulp/spice combos.

Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins
2 cups rolled oats
2 cups 100% apple juice
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons cinnamon*
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice*
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3+ tablespoons flax seed meal*
1/3 cup chopped raisins
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour

*flax and spices were eyeballed - measurements are estimates

preheat oven to 400*
in a large bowl soak the oatmeal in the juice for 10-15 minutes to soften the oatmeal
add the apple sauce, stir well
mix together the salt, baking powder, baking soda, spices, sugar, flax seed meal and add to the large bowl
stir in raisins - making sure they don't stick together
add flour and stir just until combined
fill mini muffin tins that have been lightly oiled and bake for 6-8 minutes
cool on a rack

yum!

Next time I think I will do orange juice and pumpkin and add pecans. I may try this as a savory muffin too - maybe pureed veggies as the pulp with soymilk as the liquid.

Pumpkin + chocolate chips = EXCELLENT!

Grandma's Rich Muffins

Grandma's Rich Muffins
(MIL's recipe)

1 c flour
1 T baking powder
1/3 c butter or margarine
1/2 t salt
1 egg
3/4 c milk
3 T sugar (can omit)

Sift all dry ingredients
beat sugar and egg in to marg until creamy
gradually add milk in to creamy marg
add sifted flour in to marg
put in muffin pans
bake 400* for 20 min or until done

serves 4-6 muffins

I made these with Earth's Balance and soymilk and they were still good. Next time I will try some whole wheat flour too.