Butternut Pecan Muffins

Because of these muffins, I have put another butternut squash on my list for my next grocery foray. They are SO darned tasty, and extra-specially with butter and honey on a cooled muffin. Yum. Props to Jamie Oliver for the inspiration on this one. Ingredients1/2 of a large roasted butternut squash*1 cup sugar (or a little more if you like really sweet - I like to ‘save room’ for honey on top)4 large eggsa little bit of vanilla extract1 Tbsp of molasses1/4 tsp salt2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour2...
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Sweet Potato & Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - gluten free

Moist and tasty! With lots of good food inside. My 7yo has been giving me a hard time about squash, so I’m experimenting with this excellent alternative. I roast my sweet potatoes in advance - peeled, halved the long way, and with a light coat of olive oil. This method certainly will cause some loss of moisture, which you might have to make up for when blending. Keep an eye on the consistency and adjust liquid as needed. Remember that the butter will soften things up as well. Ingredients1 cu...

Roasting Pumpkins and other Winter Squash (and seeds!)

Have you ever roasted your own pumpkin? How about a butternut squash, a spaghetti squash or a delicata? Roasted winter squash (including pumpkin) is delicious, healthful and versatile. The heat of roasting brings out the natural sugars in the flesh, and creates a soft pulp that can be eaten as is, whipped up with butter, or incorporated into all kinds of recipes. My favorite has to be pancakes, where it adds a creamy texture, flavor, fiber and vitamins—especially valuable in gluten free i...

Banana-scented Waffles, gluten- and nut-free

Now nut-free! Great texture- with a little crunch! -and a delicate banana flavor. The little bit of sour cream really gives them an extra satisfying richness, but you can easily leave it out and add in an extra 1/4 cup of water, or milk substitute of your choice. These can also be made as pumpkin waffles through substitution, and tweaking the spices (leave out cardamom, add ginger). Ingredients1 cup all purpose gluten free flour blend***1 cup buckwheat flour1/2 cup sorghum flour2 T flax ...

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins, gluten- and nut-free

Finally, a food-packed gluten-free AND nut-free muffin. If you grind the pumpkin seeds roughly/incompletely, you get some nice bits of crunch and texture. These can also be made as banana chocolate chip muffins, by subbing cardamom for the ginger, using 4 bananas, and leaving out/reducing the pumpkin and applesauce. (You might also want to finely grind the pumpkin seeds in this case.) You can of course leave out the chocolate, but they do help get muffins get into little bellies. Make a big b...

Gluten Free Banana-scented Waffles

These are my son’s new favorite waffles. They have a lovely texture, and delicate banana flavor. A little bit of sour cream really gives them an extra satisfying richness, but you can easily leave it out and add in an extra 1/4 cup of water, or milk substitute of your choice. These can also be turned into pumpkin waffles through substitution, and tweaking the spices (leave out cardamom, add ginger). As for flour blends, I have had good success with Pamela's All-Purpose Flour Artisan Blend...

Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes, with dairy free option

These have a lot of ingredients, which may be an obstacle, but I have to recommend trying sorghum flour if you have not already. It is inexpensive, healthful and versatile. I also recommend trying your hand at roasting your own pumpkin. Most/all of the dairy is removed from this recipe, and I minimized the amount of “all-purpose" flour, but kept them fluffy and satisfying. I also put in a bit of creamed coconut and flaxseed for extra richness. (If you love dairy, try Gluten Free Pumpkin Butte...

Gluten Free Waffles using All-Purpose Flour

I have been making this recipe more than my other one, which uses Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix. I like using fresh buttermilk, instead of the dried buttermilk already in the other mix, and the Artisan Blend flour is also less expensive. I am still working with the recipe, so I will make updates here as needed. So far, I find the batter to be a bit thick, and the results to be heavier than my other version. They are still very nice, however. Ingredients 1 1/3 cups Pamela's All-Purpo...

Ugh. The flu.

Well, darn it. We have the flu in my house. (Or at least, flu-like symptoms.) Apparently it is on the march through my community, and across the country - it is Flu Season! I am fervently praying that I do not succumb, while also preparing in case I do. Here is what I am doing. These same strategies work for colds, as well. For the still healthy: RestChicken soup/bone brothHerbal teaHomemade ginger-lemon tea with honeyAvoid caffeine, alcohol, extra sugar, dairyEat plenty of veggies and fruit...

A full embrace of integrated pest management

Here I am, a year later, battling another round of pantry moths. 😔 I tried not to let it overwhelm me. Yes, it is a big job, but just break it down into chunks, and try to be mindful and present for each one. It could be like a meditation! Sure, ok. But what a lot of work! I did manage to get through the emptying, vacuuming, washing and vinegar-rinsing of the food-containing cabinets, as well as the inspection, cleaning and sometimes disposal of all of the food, and the re-stocking and org...