"Oatmeal" muffins

It was a grim pantry/fridge this morning. Out of milk and eggs and coffee creamer and fruit and yogurt and granola. Sometimes avoiding the grocery not only saves money and time but also forces creativity to the next level. In the pantry was a can of sweetened condensed milk which I opened to yummy up my coffee, but the little boy at my elbow was HUNGRY! hmmm.

On the counter was sitting yesterday's (now congealed) oatmeal --around 2 and a half cups worth. It seemed a sad thing to waste in the circumstances. So I dumped it in a bowl with a cup and a half of whole wheat flour, a tablespoon of baking powder, a teaspoon of baking soda, a 1/2 teaspoon of salt and proceeded to use a pastry cutter to mix it up. Then I added some liquids: 2/3cup of oil, 1/4cup of milk (all I had), 1 egg (all I had), 1/4 cup of the sweetened condensed milk (since it was already opened), 1 Tablespoon of vanilla. Stirred it up with a fork and scooped it into prepared muffin tins (made 2 dozen). Baked at 400degrees for 16mins.

YUMMY. Not a single one remained by 11am. My kids are like hobbits and have multiple breakfasts. =)

Cranberry Orange Cream Cheese Pull-Aparts

When in doubt, bake!

24 Rhodes frozen bread dough rolls, thawed but still cold
5-6 ounces of craisins
¼ cup of melted butter
¾ cup granulated sugar, divided
2/3 cup (6 oz) softened cream cheese
3 T fresh squeezed orange juice
1 T grated orange rind & lemon rind (orange zest, lemon zest)

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
5 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Press about 1 tsp of craisins into each roll. Place rolls into 9 x13 baking pan coated with non-stick cooking spray.

Combine butter, ½ cup sugar, cream cheese and orange juice. Blend well and pour over the rolls. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double in size.

Preheat oven to 350F. Combine ¼ cup sugar, rinds and remaining craisins; sprinkle mixture over risen rolls.

Bake in preheated oven at 350F for 25 minutes or until rolls in the center are done.

Combine powdered sugar and lemon juice. Drizzle over baked rolls. Serve warm.

Notes:
Don’t use more than 24 rolls in a 9 x 13 even if it looks scant when you start. Don’t use more cream cheese than it calls for unless you are fine with it bubbling over the top in the oven.
I skipped the lemon altogether and it was good that way too. Just didn’t want to fuss with two kinds of juicing etc.

Very Berry Coffee Cake

I figured it was long overdue to post here and since berries are starting to be in season, what better reason to bake this. (Especially since it's cold outside.)

1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
½ cup (1 stick) butter
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg
2/3 cup milk
2 cups of berries: strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or a combination thereof
(I’ve even tried it with mango. I think it worked out fine.)

Preheat oven to 375o F. Lightly spray a large square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Combine flour and brown sugar in a large bowl. Cut in butter until resembles coarse crumbs, stir in cinnamon; set aside ½ for topping. Add and stir in baking powder and salt to remaining mixture.

In a small bowl whisk egg and milk together; add to flour mixture, mixing just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour batter into baking pan: sprinkle with berries and served flour mixture. Bake 30-40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven, serve warm.

Serves 12.

I made this recipe for a bake sale, used two smaller square tins (7x7) and divided the recipe into the two pans. They came out great, but I did add a tiny bit more berries to each.

Masala Nuts!

This recipe is super easy! Yummy and good for you! I'm not quite done with the holiday foods yet.

Masala Nuts
1 egg white
2 Tbs cold water
2/3 cup walnut halves
2/3 cup pecan halves
2/3 cup whole almonds
½ cup sugar
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ginger
¼ tsp nutmeg

Beat egg white and water until frothy. Stir nuts into mixture to coat, then drain slightly in a colander, 3-4 minutes. Mix sugar and spices in a plastic bag. Add nuts and shake to coat. Spread wet nut mixture in a single layer on a microwaveable plate; microwave on high for 1½ to 2 minutes or until mixture is bubbly. Stir and spread into a single layer again. Return to microwave for another 1½ to 2 minutes. Remove; stir to separate. Cool. Store in a sealed container. Makes 2 cups.

Tips:
If microwaving a second batch, use a clean plate, if you reuse, the sugar residue will burn and cause the next batch of nuts to burn too.

Where I live walnuts and pecans are hard to come by and expensive. Just go with the cheapest nut and do all one kind of needed.

If doubling the recipe – there is no need to double the egg white and water. It makes enough for 4 cups of nuts.

This recipe is good for you! High in antioxidants, protein and fiber. No fat! Be careful they are addictive!

Michelle Gasparek’s Special Focaccia Parmesan Garlic Topping

1 cooked focaccia bread
4-6 T butter
1 small onion chopped
4-6 cloves of crushed garlic
¼ cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
¼ cup mayonnaise

Sautee garlic and onion in butter until onions are soft. Cool slightly before adding cheese and mayo. Stir into a thick paste. Spread generously over bread. Broil until topping gets lightly brownish and bubbly.

Slice and serve warm.

Diane's Banana Cake with Orange Icing

I was looking for something different to do with ripening bananas, this recipe is fantastic!

Cake –
¼ cup softened butter or margarine
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 t. grated orange rind
2 cups flour
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
½ buttermilk or sour cream

In a bowl cream butter and add sugar, mix well.
Add eggs 1 at a time beating well after each addition.
Beat in vanilla, bananas, and orange rind.
In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder and baking soda.
Stir into egg mixture alternating with buttermilk (or sour cream).
Grease and flour a 9 inch baking pan or a bundt pan.
Bake at 350o for 40 minutes or until cake springs back. Cool for 20 minutes and remove from pan, cool completely before icing.

(I think this would be awesome with a handful of chocolate chips thrown in too, but what isn’t?)

Icing –
1½ cups powdered sugar
2 T. yoghurt
1 t. orange rind
1 t. orange juice

Mix all ingredients together until smooth, spread over cake.

Looking for Recipes...

Hi All,
I'm trying to find some good scratch recipes for a few more things. Anyone have a good carrot cake or banana cake recipe thay would like to share? Something tried and true? Anyone interested in my homemade granola recipe? I'd be happy to post if it'd be useful.
Thanks! Miss y'all!