Blueberry Banana Muffins

These muffins have the great tastes of blueberry and bananas and are a great way to start the day. If you don't eat wheat, these are perfect because they don't use wheat flour.

The banana is what makes these so nice and moist. They also keep great so are good made the night before and reheated or eaten at room temperature.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit/205 Celsius.
Grease 12 muffin cups or use liners.

Ingredients:

1-3/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup flax meal (ground flax seed)
1/4 cup corn starch or arrowroot
1/3 cup sugar
2-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cooking oil
1 cup mashed banana (2 large or 3 medium)
3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

In a bowl, stir together the oat flour, flax, corn starch, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.
Set aside.
In another bowl, mash the bananas. Add the milk, egg, and oil and mix well.
Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and  stir until everything is mixed well and no dry spots are visible.
Fold in the blueberries.
Divide the batter evenly amongst the 12 muffin cups.
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-20 minutes until you can lightly touch the muffin tops and they spring back.
Take out of the oven and let sit in pan for 15 minutes.
Loosen around the edges with a knife and let sit for another 15 minutes.
Carefully remove from muffin cups.

Makes 12.

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You can buy oat flour or just grind dry oatmeal in a blender or food processor. If you have a spice grinder, that is perfect.

I like using olive oil because it makes for a lighter muffin.    

Making a Master Cookie Mix

Making a master cookie mix can come in handy.
It will save you a time when you want to make some cookies.

This recipe is the basis for making 3 different types of cookies:
Oatmeal Chippers
Raisin Spice
Peanut Butter


This will make 6-1/2 quarts, or 26 cups, of mix.

Get the biggest pan or bowl you have to mix it up in.

Ingredients:

8 cups flour
4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon baking powder
6 cups brown sugar
3 cups shortening
8 cups quick cooking oats

Mix this all together really well and store in bags or jars and seal well.

To make the Oatmeal Chippers:
Add 6 cups master mix, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract to a bowl.. Add 2 cup of chocolate or other type of chip and 1/2 cup nuts(opt.)
Grease cookie sheets and drop by teaspoon onto them.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

To make Raisin Spice:
Add 6 cups master mix, 1/2 cup milk and 2 eggs to a bowl. Mix well and add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 cup raisins.
Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

To make Peanut Butter:
Add 6 cups master mix, 1/2 cup milk and 2 eggs to a bowl and add 1 cup peanut butter. Mix well and shape into 1" balls.
Place on greased cookie sheets and flatten by making a criss cross with a fork.
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes.

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Happy Baking!

Getting Organized

Getting organized and staying organized can be vital.

It saves you time, sometimes money, and it definitely saves your sanity.

You know the little things like keeping things in their proper space.

But, how bout keeping a running list so that when you run out of something you know to get more?
It saves you checking when you make your grocery list.

Planning meals is good.
I don't always get it done, but it is helpful.

You know what to buy at the store,
you don't have to wrack your brain trying to figure it out,
and if you pack lunches and/or make breakfast, things go smoother.

If you do pack lunches for work or school, leftovers can be great.
Make extra food if you can.
If that doesn't work, make a meal and portion it into serving sizes and freeze or refrigerate for later lunches.

We are not cold cereal eaters.
Which means making breakfast every morning.

You can always bake muffins the night before
Or
you can mix the dry ingredients in one bowl and wet ingredients in another bowl and mix them and bake in the morning.

Cinnamon rolls can be left to rise in the fridge overnight.
Take out while you preheat the oven.
Bake and nice hot breakfast.

How do you find ways of making things go smoother in the kitchen?

Eating Healthy

Lots of people think about getting healthy at the beginning of the new year.

It could be because it is the new year or because of all that eating through the holidays makes one want to feel better.

But, any time is a good time to start being healthy.

Start by drinking a little more.
Water is the best thing you can have.

Lots of people don't like plain water.
Add a piece of fruit to it to add some flavor.

Don't try to change everything too fast.

Healthy can taste good.

I don't believe in low fat.

Many things you buy that are low fat are not as healthy as something with full fat.

Your body needs a certain amount of fat.
And the right kind of fat.

Lots of vegetable oils aren't really healthy.
They oxidize in the body and are not the best for cells.

Olive oil, uncooked or heated at low temperature is good.
Coconut oil, provided it is extra virgin organic and does not contain hexane, is good.
Butter is good. 

Avocados are a good fat source.

It is fine to watch the fat, just make sure to watch the sugar too.

I do recommend doing lots of reading before you figure out your plan.
Don't just go by FDA or USDA guidelines.
Look at alternative health sites.
Lots of them and learn what is best for you.

We all have different needs.
It make take a while to figure out yours.

You can do it.

You just have to stick with it.

Ruth's Yummy Stuff: Dips

 

This is what I have been up to lately.

My computer was being a pain.

Maybe not so much the computer, as the programs not cooperating.

So, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to get it done.

I wrote a book and than converted it to an ebook for Kindle.

I am planning to submit it to be on Nook, but I am taking the day off for that.

With each recipe, I have included a picture.

My hope is to make several cookbooks, with each one featuring a type of food.

Ruth's Yummy Stuff: Dips is what I decided to go with.