Zucchini Bread

Here is an easy and Semi-Healthy recipe for Zucchini Bread (I have an extra healthy one, but thats no fun, if you want that one let me know)

1 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/4 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

1/4 tsp. Salt

1 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

2 Eggs

2 1/4 Cups Zucchini

1/4 cup Olive Oil

1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 cup Sliced Almonds*

1/4 cup dried Cranberries*

Directions

1-Preheat Oven to 350

2-Mix Dry ingredients

3-Mix Wet Ingredients

4-Combine

5-Add to greased pan (cooking Spray works great)

6- Bake 40-45 minutes for Bread Pan or Bake 15-18 minutes for Muffins

*You can use any Nut and/or dried fruit that you and your family would enjoy!

32 Bean Soup

This is a very easy soup you can make in any Crock Pot, And is perfect for these cold winter months!!!

What you will need:

2-2 1/2 lbs. of Dry Bean mixture (depending on how thick you want to make your soup)
2 Cans No Added Sodium Tomatoes
1 Can Tomato Paste
1 Cup of Veggie Broth
1 Cup Chopped Celery
1 Cup Chopped Carrots
1/2 Onion (chopped)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
Water

What to do:

Place the beans in the Crock Pot and fill with water until all the beans are covered. Let Beans soak over night.
In the morning drain the beans. Return the beans back to the crock pot and turn on Crock pot to High - Medium High. Add Tomatoes, Veggie Broth, Celery, Carrots, Onion, Salt and Pepper, and Red Pepper Flakes (add any other veggies your family would enjoy). Add enough water so mixture is covered. Add Tomato paste and cover!
Let mixture cook for 3-4 hours or until the Beans and veggies are tender.
ENJOY

Bethany's Sweet Chex Mix - From Jen :)

Bethany's Sweet Chex Mix
Large box of chex and some extra
In a large bowl mix box of chex with 2 cups coconut and 1 cup thin sliced almonds
In a microwaveable bowl combine:
3 cubes butter
1 C. sugar
1 C. corn syrup
Dash of Salt
Melt in Microwave for 5 minutes, then cook for 2 minutes longer stiring every 30 seconds.
Add 1tsp. vanilla and 1/2 tsp. baking soda, stir and pour over the chex, coconut and nuts. Stir and add more chex if it is too wet.

Thanks Jen, You are the first :) If its easier to email me the recipes that works too and I can post them for you

XOXO E

Peppermint/Chocolate Cookies

Here is a yummy cookie recipe I found in Country Home Magazine!

Bake: 8 minutes/batch
Oven: 375°

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
2 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
1 cup all-purpose flour
Granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
2–3 Tbsp. milk
Red food coloring (optional)
Crushed peppermint candies (optional)
1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces

1. In a large mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium to high speed, beat 1/2 cup butter for 30 seconds. Add 1 cup granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl. Beat in egg and melted unsweetened chocolate. Beat in flour until combined.

2. Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Grease the bottom of a glass and coat with granulated sugar; flatten cookies with sugar-coated glass. Bake in a 375° oven for 8 minutes or until set. Cool on cookie sheets for 1 minute or until cookies will come off easily; transfer to wire racks. Cool completely.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, with an electric mixer on medium to high speed, beat 1/4 cup butter for 30 seconds. Beat in powdered sugar, peppermint extract, and enough milk to make a spreading consistency. If desired, tint pink with food coloring. Spread frosting over each cookie leaving a 1/4-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle with candies, if desired.

4. In a small saucepan heat and stir semisweet pieces and shortening over low heat until melted and smooth. Let cool slightly. Drizzle chocolate over tops of cookies.



Remember when baking being exact with ingredients is a must :) Can't wait to see some yummy recipes soon!!!

XOXO E

Veggie Spaghetti Squash Dinner

One healthy alternative that I make is substituting Spaghetti noodles with Spaghetti Squash.
Just microwave the squash for 5-7 minutes let stand for about 3 minutes and then scrape out the goods from the rind.
It has the same kind of texture as spaghetti but is so much more healthy!
Just top with your favorite meat sauce(I use ground Turkey see below) and you have quite the healthy dish that is very tasty!

~Turkey Meat Sauce~
You will need:
1-2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
1/2 Onion Chopped
1 lb. Ground Turkey
2 Cans Low Sodium Whole Tomatoes
1 C. Chopped Carrots
1 C. Chopped Celery
1 C. Sliced Zucchini
1/2 C. Green pepper
1 Teas. Chopped Basil (about 3-5 leaves fresh)
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat Olive Oil in skillet. Add onions and brown. Add Ground turkey and cook until there is no pink. Add Tomatoes, Carrots, Celery, Zucchini, Pepper (add any other Veggies that your family would like), and Basil. Let simmer for 15 - 20 minutes or until veggies are tender. Add Salt and pepper to taste.

*If the sauce seems to thin add a can of tomato paste to thinken it up.

Place on top of Spaghetti Squash and enjoy.


Here is the first recipe :) I will try to add one each week, and please comment back with any that you might have! I WOULD LOVE NEW RECIPES TO TRY

XOXO E