Freezer Breakfast Links

Freezer breakast is a time saver and avoids sugary breakfast!

Here's a list of some of our favorite breakfasts for the freezer. I will try to add to it when we find new favorites!

Breakfast in the Freezer for Hassle-Free, Healthy Mornings!

Granola

Berry Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

Pumpkin Spice Breakfast Cookies

Pumpkin Greek Yogurt Oat Muffins

Breakfast Sandwich

Baked Oatmeal

Potato Egg Cups

Breakfast-to-Go in the Freezer

Breakfast-to-Go Revolutionized Our Mornings.

Breakfast-to-Go

Our schedule changed significantly this year and in preparation for it, I planned to make some freezer breakfasts. Guys, this decision was a game changer! Also, I super wish I had thought to do this a way long time ago!

I'm not a big fan of cereal for breakfast for the kids, but too often it was the easy solution and while my kids are far from picky, a couple don't love oatmeal (okay, by a couple I mean ME and a kid). I soldiered on and made oatmeal and eggs at least 4-5 mornings a week most weeks because I wanted healthy, filling, protein packed breakfasts. Enter...breakfast in the freezer to go.

I made a quick plan initially and did pretty well - I had about six weeks of breakfasts in the freezer. It took less time than I thought it would and pretty much all of the recipes were hits.

Here are some of the things I love about it: 

1) Everyone is in charge of their own breakfast except for the kindergartner - we help her with warming up her choice.
2) Everyone gets their choice of what's available - aka no one has to eat the same thing.
3) When we are running behind (ahem), they can be heated and transported.
4) They are higher protein breakfasts.
5) They are healthier because I control the ingredients.
6) Less stress for all.

That last one makes for smoother mornings in general. At least half of us are not morning people, so that's important for us.

I just did a second day of breakfast prep and this time I did it with a sister. We worked together and split the meals. GO GET A FRIEND. It's way more fun to do with someone! We are already planning our next prep day. I don't think more than 2 people would work very well because of juggling the oven time unless you have a commercial kitchen available.

In about 2 hours we made:

40 egg, sausage and cheese burritos
36 egg sandwiches
24 pumpkin greek yogurt muffins
36 baked oatmeals
48 potato egg muffin cups

So we each went home with over 90 items. IN TWO HOURS. 

(May I take this moment to tell you that Aldi had eggs for $.39/dozen! I often buy organic ones, but at that price and the volume we needed - 10 dozen - we went ahead and got those)

We had plans to make some Lemon Muffins, Greek Yogurt Popsicles (my kids fave!), and waffles, but alas, we had to go pick up our kids from school. Next time we will shop ahead and I think in 3 hours we can add at least 3-4 dozen more items/person.

Here are our tips for a successful day:
1) Plan ahead - print recipes, make lists, and shop.
2) Start with a few recipes - I always plan too many.
3) Have good quality packaging - there is nothing more frustrating than needing 5 dozen pieces of plastic wrap and it's impossible to rip. (I think wax bags would be awesome.)
4) Use muffin liners when you can to reduce the need to wash the pans in between each item, but spray the liner so it releases easily from the breakfast item.
5) Post a whiteboard or sign on the outside of the freezer with the available options so the kids don't leave the door hanging open while they look. :) (Not that I know anything about that. HA!)
6) On the whiteboard or sign, list the approximate amount of time it needs in the microwave or toaster oven.

So...you don't have to be an amazing cook and you don't have to have lots of time. This is super doable. My kids love it, I love it, my husband loves it... It is totally a sanity saver for us!

I'll keep adding recipes that go with this theme - and for the additional recipes not yet linked above!

Easy Granola

Easy Granola is quick, delicious, and a great addition to breakfast!

Today, I was in a granola mood. I've been meaning to make a batch for approximately 1 billion days or something like that. :) This morning as I was doing dishes, putting dinner in the crockpot, and making breakfast, I thought...why not? And so I did. And it was easy and delicious. I adapted a recipe from Alton Brown - the biggest change is that I cut the brown sugar out all together. My goal was to make something healthy for us to put on our plain greek yogurt for breakfast parfaits. I think granola is ridiculously flexible in the flavor department and I'm looking forward to experimenting more! This would also be a cinch to make gluten free with gluten free oats and it's naturally dairy free.

Easy Granola

EASY GRANOLA

3 cups old-fashioned oat
1 c. pecans, chopped
1 c. almonds, chopped or slivered
3/4 c. plus a little more coconut
2 tsp. cinnamon (I actually used cinnamon plus which has a mix of spices)
1/4 oil
1/4 plus 2 TB. maple syrup
3/4 tsp of salt

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Combine the oats, nuts, coconut, and cinnamon in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix together the oil, syrup, and salt. Pour the liquids over the dry and stir until thoroughly combined. Evenly spread the mixture on a large bar pan. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes until golden brown - stirring every 15 minutes. Let cool and store in an airtight container

That's it! Super easy, super delicious and totally adaptable. Next time I will add a couple of teaspoons of vanilla extract to the wet ingredients. You can add raisins after it comes out if you like that. I'm dreaming of all the variations - orange almond, apple cinnamon, vanilla coconut, cranberry spice...

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Soup

This hearty and delicious soup is easy enough for a lunch and filling enough for a dinner. It is rustic, simple, and has a wonderful depth of flavor. This adaptation of a recipe I found was very popular with my whole family. I love that it is healthy and quick. It can easily be adapted to fit with vegetarian and vegan diets. Serve it with bread and a green salad for a complete meal. 

SWEET POTATO & BLACK BEAN SOUP

2 Tb. olive oil
1 med-lg onion, diced

3 c. peeled and diced sweet potato

2 Tb. chili powder

2 tsp. cumin

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

4 c. chicken or vegetable stock

1  28 oz. can diced tomato (petite diced would be very nice)

1 15 oz. can of black beans, drained and rinsed**

Heat oil in the bottom of a large pot. Add onion and sauté until slightly translucent. Add sweet potato and continue to cook for 5 minutes or so. Add chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and salt and cook another minute. Add remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Allow to simmer for 20-30 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. Serves 4-6 

**If you like more beans, add another can - it will be more stew like.

Cilantro Chicken Enchiladas

These are really easy and really delicious. My husband said he would marry me all over for these enchiladas. :) Obviously, that means we will be adding them in to the rotation from time to time despite them not being quite as healthy as I prefer.

The cilantro makes these enchiladas have such a wonderful and distinctive flavor. Cilantro is one of those things that has grown on me over the years and now I really enjoy it. However, it's been my husband's favorite for a very long time and he is drawn to any menu item or recipe that includes it.

The first time I made these, I used some smoked turkey breast I had on hand (I do not mean deli meat) and they were a hit - think Thanksgiving leftovers! Chicken or turkey...whatever you choose will be great. You can also make these ahead and freeze them before baking.

Cilantro Chicken Enchiladas

CILANTRO CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

2 1/2 c. cooked chicken or turkey
(I roasted chicken breast in the oven at 350 degrees with a Southwest Seasoning on them)
1 c. sour cream
2 c. Mexican cheese blend (or cheddar or whatever you like), divided
1 bunch chopped green onions (I've used chives when I did not have them)
1 bunch cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp oregano
12-14 small flour tortillas
1 can green enchilada sauce (you can use as much as you like - I used most of a large can OR you can make your own)

Combine chicken, sour cream, 1 c. cheese, onion, cilantro, salt, cumin, and oregano in a bowl. Warm tortillas until pliable and easy to roll (you can do this by frying them in a skillet or microwaving them. Place meat mixture in tortillas (1/4-1/3 c or so) and roll tightly. Place in a lightly greased 9x13 pan with the seam side down. Pour the enchilada sauce over all - making sure to spread with a spatula if needed. Top with 1 c. cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes.

Curried Red Lentils

Curried Red Lentils are a healthy and easy dish for weeknight dinners!

What?! A post?! You probably thought we had forgotten what those were... :) In truth, we have been working on re-launch and are a couple of months behind where we hoped to be. Our lives have taken unexpected turns and have not allowed as much time as we would like for blogging. We do plan to be back on a semi-regular basis. We are excited to have a new look (still in progress). We have changed blog platforms, so please make sure to clear your past history (media cache) to make our site function for you (i.e. searching). Please know that we are still a work in progress and bear with us. We hope it will be worth it. On to the post for today...

These days, I need quick, healthy, and easy meals. Life with four kids - all with varying needs - leaves less time for meal planning and execution. These curried red lentils are always a hit, can be ready in 45 minutes or less, can be easily adapted, and are nutritionally great. This can also be made gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and dairy-free. While I have changed this recipe a fair bit and generally double it for my family, the original inspiration came from one of my favorite cookbooks, More With Less. I serve this over brown rice - just put it in your rice cooker with plenty of time to fully cook.

Red Curried Lentils

CURRIED RED LENTILS

1 c. red lentils (you can use brown or french, but texture will be different & cooking time maybe longer)
2 1/2 c. chicken, beef, or vegetable broth
1 bay leaf
1 tsp. salt

Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes.

In a separate pan sauté together for 5-10 minutes:

1/4 c. butter, olive oil, or coconut oil
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 carrots, peeled & diced
2 cloves garlic, minced

Add:

1 1/2 - 2 Tb. curry powder

Combine the veggie mixture and the lentils.

Add:
2 Tb. fresh lemon juice
2-3 Tb. fresh cilantro (plus more for serving)

Cook on low for just a few minutes stirring frequently to allow flavors to combine. Remove bay leaf before serving. Top with fresh cilantro and serve over rice, quinoa, or couscous.

Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream

Here's a delicious treat for your weekend! This is a recipe that I posted a long while back, but it is buried in a post with another recipe. And since it is quick and fairly healthy, I decided to re-post. Plus, it's summer, so who doesn't love some ice cream?!

I should note that the original recipe is  not mine; however, I do not remember where I found it. This time around I did add a 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract, which was a nice twist.



CHOCOLATE COCONUT MILK ICE CREAM
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2-14 oz cans full-fat coconut milk
2/3 c. sugar or agave nectar (I used coconut sugar)
1/4 c.  unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2  tsp vanilla extract (feel free to replace 1/2 tsp of vanilla with 1/2 tsp almond extract)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend thoroughly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Pour into the bowl of an ice cream freezer and freeze according to the manufacturer’s directions. Serves 4.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies

I think I found this recipe in The Happy Herbivore cookbook. But as I didn't notate that information, I'm not for sure. :) I certainly cannot take credit for these. While these aren't your typical melt-in-your-mouth chocolate chip cookies, they are good and a great healthy treat, with no added fat and not too much sugar. Plus, the are gluten-free! They have become our go-to dessert when we need a little sweet fix. Within 30 minutes you can enjoy warm cookies from the oven!



VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
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1/3 c. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 c. coconut sugar or brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c. non-dairy milk
1 c. gluten-free all purpose flour mix
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot powder
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease cookie sheet or line with parchment paper.

In a bowl combine applesauce, sugar, vanilla, and milk. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Pour dry ingredients into wet in three batches, stirring to combine. Fold in chocolate chips.

Drop by spoonfuls on cookie sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes.

Makes 15 cookies.

Collard Green Wrap

Today's post is not really a recipe, but rather a concept. :) Overall, being gluten-free isn't altogether difficult, but there are times when I miss the ease of everyday breads, tortillas, and other baked goods. It takes more effort to make or more financial investment to purchase adequate alternatives.

My pantry typically includes corn tortillas for soft tacos or enchiladas, rice cakes for snacks, and Rudi's Multigrain GF Bread for toast, garlic bread, and pb&j sandwiches.  Occasionally I splurge on gluten-free tortillas (other than the corn variety) so I can make hummus veggie wraps or bean and grain wraps.

Recently I tried using blanched collard greens for wraps and it worked out quite well. Once blanched the greens do not have a strong flavor, so you're able to enjoy the filling. Not only does it save some money to use collard greens, but it also facilitates eating more leafy green veggies, which is excellent for all of us. I've seen this idea on a few healthy eating oriented blogs, but I followed the directions in the Nourishing Meals cookbook (are you getting the idea that I used this cookbook all of the time?!).



BLANCHED COLLARD GREEN WRAPS

To prepare the collard greens for wrapping: Wash the greens and cut the stem off the bottom of each leaf. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Blanch the collard greens by submerging them in the boiling water for about a minutes. Gently remove them with tongs and place them on a plate to cool.

To assemble your collard green wrap: Place a collard green on a cutting board. Spoon your desired filling near the stem end of the the green. Fold in the long ends of the collard green about 1 inch on each side and then tightly roll.

Baked Pasta Chee

This recipe hearkens back to my childhood. My mom used to make this and we all loved it. It's a healthy, tasty, baked, non-dairy mac-n-cheese-type recipe. And it has become a staple dinner at our house. I make it every couple of weeks and we enjoy the leftovers for lunches.

The original recipe comes from an unusual cookbook called Ten Talents. To add extra healthful benefits I've altered the recipe to include veggies. Any chance I can get to add more veggies to a dish, I'll take. I've listed the veggies I most often use, but feel free to substitute with your favorites, or what you have on hand.

One note, the sauce includes an uncommon ingredient, nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast flakes are often used to add a "cheesy" taste to non-dairy "cheese" recipes. It can be found at a health food store and there really isn't any substitute for it. (Active dry yeast and brewer's yeast are not anything like nutritional yeast.) I hope you might consider trying this dish despite the ingredient list, it's worth the effort.


(Finally, I realize this is not the prettiest of pictures. But I promise it tastes delicious!)



BAKED PASTA CHEE
(adapted from Ten Talents)
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1 lb pasta of choice (use brown rice pasta for gluten-free)
1 c. raw cashew pieces
1 c. water
1/3 c. fresh lemon juice
2 Tbsp sesame seeds
1/4 c. nutritional yeast flakes
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (opt.)
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/4 c. olive oil
4 mushrooms
1/2-1 bell pepper
1 big handful baby kale
1 c. diced tomatoes

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.

While pasta is cooking, make the sauce. In a blender add cashews, water, lemon juice, sesame seeds, nutritional yeast, salt, and spices. Blend until smooth while slowly adding the olive oil through the top. Then add the veggies and canned tomatoes and blend again.

Mix the drained pasta and sauce together and pour into greased baking dish. If desired, top with seasoned bread crumbs. Bake for 30-40 minutes to heat through.

Serve with a salad for a satisfying meal.

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

We love Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! We don't eat them often because I'm anti-all the garbage additives. So, I thought I'd give this refined sugar-free recipe a try (unlike usual, I followed the original without any alterations). While they aren't Reese's, per se, they are sweet, peanutty and chocolatey, all good things! :) With coconut oil in the ingredient list, these definitely have coconut undertones, if that's not your thing, you could try butter and see how that works. If you want a thicker layer of chocolate (I think I might), just double the ingredients for the chocolate layer. I hope you enjoy!



CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER CUP
(from lifemadewhole.com)
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For peanut butter layer:
3/4 c. natural peanut butter
1/4 c. coconut oil
2 Tbsp raw honey

For chocolate layer:
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp raw honey

For the peanut butter layer: Line mini-muffin pan with papers. Melt the coconut oil, then mix together with the peanut butter and honey. Carefully pour into prepared pan. Place in the freezer while preparing the chocolate.

For the chocolate layer: Melt the coconut oil and butter together. Add the cocoa powder and the honey. Stir until smooth. Remove the pan from the freezer and evenly pour the chocolate into each cup. Freeze for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Store in the fridge or freezer. Makes about 24.

Carrot Cake Bites

It's time for another no-bake healthy treat recipe...

For my 5th birthday I requested carrot cake for my dessert. It's been a standby ever since. (Though I'm sorely disappointed if I ever encounter carrot cake that has raisins lurking inside!) I have to admit to loving the cream cheese frosting that is the usual accompaniment and adds to my all-around love of the cake.  It's been months, maybe even a couple of years since I've eaten a slice of my beloved carrot cake, so I was intrigued by this recipe for raw carrot cake balls I stumbled across on Pinterest. These are cream cheese frosting free, but I still thought worth sampling.

These don't taste exactly like carrot cake, but they certainly are reminiscent and they are both tasty and healthy little morsels that make you feel like you're getting a treat. So, they come with my recommendations. I did tweak the original recipe by adding nuts and spices. I'm sure coconut and perhaps a little nutmeg would be good as well. And maybe if you want to go really fancy, you can make a sweet cream cheese dip. :)



CARROT CAKE BITES
(adapted from gracefulfitnessblog.com)
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10 dates
small handful raw walnuts
1 c. gluten-free rolled oats
1 medium carrot, finely grated
zest from one lemon
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp cinnamon
dash of ground ginger
1/8 tsp salt
finely chopped walnuts for rolling, opt.

Rough chop the dates and walnuts and then put them in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Process until date pieces are about the size of raisins.

Add the oats and process until the oats are ground.

Add grated carrot, lemon zest, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and salt and process until the ‘dough’ comes together in a ball. If it seems a little dry, add a few drops of water and process again.

Use clean hands to form into balls. Roll in chopped walnuts, if desired and store in the fridge. Makes 12-15 balls.

Peanut Butter Fudgy Bites

Jeremy and I have a rather bad habit of wanting something sweet after dinner. I didn't grow up having dessert every night, but I find that my mind wanders to a bite of sweet almost every evening. Most often we'll enjoy a little dark chocolate, but I've been experimenting lately with finding some "healthy" treats for us to enjoy. The next few recipes I plan to share with you are some these sweets. So, perhaps you too can healthfully satisfy your post-supper sweet tooth.

First up, is a recipe that I now can't remember where I found; however, in typical fashion, I've adapted the recipe anyway to suit our tastes. We love the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate, so are fond of these. As they are raw treats, be sure to store in the fridge. (Sadly, these little bites are really unattractive to photograph...I hope that won't deter you from trying them. :))



PEANUT BUTTER FUDGY BITES
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15 pitted dates, rough chopped
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/3 c. shredded unsweetened coconut (my coconut is larger flakes, so I've been using a packed 1/2 cup instead)
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 Tbsp chocolate chips

Place the dates in a food processor fitted with the chopping blade and process into smaller pieces. Add the remaining ingredients and process until thoroughly combined and ingredients form a "dough." Roll into balls.

Grandma's Lazy Bean Soup

We really haven't forgotten you. We've been getting back into the rhythm of life and haven't been posting quite as frequently as we had hoped. Never fear, we still have several more of our Grandma's recipes to share!

Today I made Lazy Bean Soup - it took me about 10 minutes to put together (besides soaking the beans) and then cooked in the crockpot. Simple, delicious, and healthy. Grandma was very interested in health and nutrition and spent time reading about it and planning meals.

This was not so much soup as it was beans. It was hearty and really good. If you want it to be soupier, add another 2-4 cups of water. made this with white beans (we called this "ketchup bean soup" growing up because we loved to add ketchup to it). This is fabulous served with cornbread.



GRANDMA'S LAZY BEAN SOUP
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1# soaked beans (I used white)
1 quart water (use 2-4 extra cups for a soupier soup)
ham bone
1 c. ham pieces
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. celery, chopped
1 med onion, chopped
1 bay leaf
salt to taste

Combine all ingredients and cook on low for 12 hours or high for 6 hours.

Classic Hummus

I always have such healthy eating goals after the sugary (and delicious!) excess of the holidays. So, I've started brainstorming some healthier snack options and decided to make hummus. Over the weekend, I made a double batch of it and we have been enjoying it! The kids even like it which is always a plus! I serve it with carrots, celery, and pretzels - the best compliment is our three-year-old proclaiming, "I loooove hummus." Too cute!

Anyway, this is a quick, easy, and inexpensive snack or side dish. So yummy! You could easily add roasted red peppers or cilantro or other flavors to change it.



CLASSIC HUMMUS
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1 clove garlic, roughly chopped
1 (15 oz.) can garbanzo beans, half the liquid reserved
3 Tb. lemon juice
2 Tb. tahini
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 tsp. salt
black pepper
2 Tb. olive oil
parsely, chopped (opt.)

In a blender or food processor, pour garbanzo beans into blender with chopped garlic. Add lemon juice, tahini, chopped garlic and salt in blender. Blend until creamy and well mixed.

Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl or storage container. To serve, sprinkle with pepper and parsley, and drizzle olive oil over the top.

Lentil Pasta Soup

Lentil soup is pretty much one of my family's favorites. It's comforting, healthy, and just plain delicious. One thing I love about cooking with lentils is that they are quick and easy to prepare - you don't have to soak the beans or let them cook for hours like most dried beans.

Anyway, I've made many variations of lentil soup and this one did not disappoint. I adapted it from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe. The pasta made it extra good and we definitely enjoyed this meatless, hearty soup. It's heathy and easy - perfect for winter and perfect for these busy holiday prep days!

LENTIL PASTA SOUP
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2 Tb. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 (14 1/2-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 1/4 c. lentils (I used a combo of green and red)
11 cups chicken broth (or vegetable to make it vegetarian)
3/4 tsp. dried thyme
1 c. dried elbow pasta
Parmesan cheese (opt.)
Olive oil for drizzle (opt.)

Heat the oil in a  large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and carrots and saute for a couple of minutes. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper and saute until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes (do not drain). Simmer until the juices evaporate a little and the tomatoes break down, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add the lentils and mix to coat. Add the broth and stir. Add the thyme. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and simmer over low heat until the lentils are almost tender, about 30 minutes.

Return to a boil and stir in the pasta. Simmer until the pasta is tender but still firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

To serve: sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and drizzle with olive oil.

Just Desserts: Peanut Butter-Banana Mousse

You may have guessed by our more infrequent posting lately (especially from me) that things have been busy. We thoroughly enjoy cooking and blogging and sharing our recipes and posts with you however, we have decided that we need to take a break, re-evaluate, and plan for the blog future. There are 100s of recipes already here, so we hope you will keep stopping by! We do plan to return to blog world with exciting new recipes and format changes. We appreciate your support, interest, subscriptions, and most of all for making the recipes and giving us feedback! See you soon!

Happy Cooking,
Alaina & Stephanie, The Cooks Next Door

_______________________________________

(Stephanie) - This is a super quick, yummy little treat. Just three ingredients! Although I've never made what I've seen called banana soft-serve ice cream, I'm guessing this mousse recipe is quite similar. I copied this recipe down on a piece of paper sometime ago, I'm pretty sure that it came from Food Network, but now I can't remember.

I love that this dessert can be considered healthy and can be made without planning ahead or turning on the oven. Hope you enjoy this prefect summer treat!



PEANUT BUTTER-BANANA MOUSSE
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3 frozen chopped bananas
1/3 cup peanut butter
2 Tablespoons honey
pinch of salt

Puree in a food processor until smooth. Top with chopped peanuts and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

Weekend Fare: Baked Blueberry Oatmeal

You know what's better than a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast? A piece of baked oatmeal! The inspiration for this recipe came from Tasty Kitchen. I "healthy-fied" the recipe and it's become a breakfast favorite. Most weeks I make a batch and we eat it for 3 or 4 breakfasts. This dish comes with high recommendations from both Jeremy and I!



BAKED BLUEBERRY OATMEAL
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1 Tablespoon + 1/3 cup melted coconut oil or butter
2 Tablespoons coconut sugar, sucanat, or turbinado, divided
1 1/2-2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups old fashioned oats (for gluten-free, make sure to be certified gluten-free oats such as Bob's Red Mill brand)
1/4 cup ground flax seed
1/4 cup shredded coconut
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sliced almonds

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease an 8x8 pan. Melt coconut oil or butter and pour 1 Tablespoon in bottom of the pan. Pour fruit into the pan and sprinkle with 1 Tablespoon sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a bowl mix together the milk, maple syrup, eggs, vanilla, and remaining melted coconut oil.

In another bowl, whisk together the oats, flax seed, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and mix well. Pour mixture over the fruit and smooth the top. Sprinkle the top with almonds and remaining 1 Tablespoon of sugar.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until browned on the top and blueberries are bubbly. Cool slightly. Serve with milk.

Gluten-Free Goodness: Double Chocolate Walnut Brownies

These tasty little morsels are full of chocolatey goodness and they are made with coconut flour. I don't have lots of knowledge of or experience baking with coconut flour, but I know that it soaks of moisture, so a little goes a long way! These also contain walnuts, so they are more healthful and protein packed than your average brownie (we could all use a few more "healthy" brownies in our life, right?!).

I made these for a holiday brunch and topped them with a bit of vanilla custard and strawberries. Though they would be delicious with some whipped cream, icing, powdered sugar, or even just plain.



DOUBLE CHOCOLATE WALNUT BROWNIES
(from elanaspantry.com)
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1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (73% cacao)
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup agave nectar (maple syrup or honey, if preferred)
1/4 cup grapeseed or canola oil
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips (73% cacao)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Place 1/2 cup chocolate chips in food processor and pulse until the consistency of coarse sand. Pulse in coconut flour, salt, and baking soda until combined. Pulse in eggs, agave, grapeseed oil, and vanilla.

Pour batter into a greased 8x8 pyrex dish. Sprinkle walnuts and remaining chocolate chips over batter. Bake  for 25-30 minutes. Cool and serve.

Optional: Top with fresh strawberries, vanilla custard, whipped cream, homemade icing.

Market Fresh: Russian Zucchini Dill Casserole

This is another Kazakh/Russian dish. My husband didn't love this one as much as I did. I liked the flavors and textures together a lot! It is healthy and hearty. Dill is such a big part of many of the Kazakh dishes I've enjoyed. I will be growing it in my garden this year for sure!



RUSSIAN ZUCCHINI DILL CASSEROLE
adapted from Cooking for Kaz: Meals for Hope, Volume 2
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6 zucchini, sliced
3 med. carrots, peeled & chopped
2 c. onion, chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
2 Tb. tomato paste
 3 T. fresh parsley, chopped
 2 Tb. fresh dill, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
2 c. tomato juice
¾ tsp. sugar
1 ½ Tb. cider vinegar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large skillet or dutch oven, sauté carrots in water or vegetable stock over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes. Add the onion, celery, and zucchini and sauté, stirring, until all the vegetables are starting to tenderize.

Stir in the tomato paste and sauté for 3-4 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in the parsley and dill. Mix the tomato juice with the sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Stir this mixture in as well and just bring to a boil. Pour the mixture into a flat-bottomed heatproof casserole that will accommodate the entire amount. Bake in the oven until tender – about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley before serving if desired.