pretty salad

Tonight for dinner I didn't want leftover chicken.

Some days you need a salad. A pretty salad. With bright flavors.

This one has:

chopped kale

chopped cabbage

shredded carrot

chopped fresh cranberries

salt & pepper

olive oil

juice from 1 lime

Toss together and enjoy.

Pumpkin Scones

Whoa these scones are an absolute delight. Not too dry, not too sweet. 

Pumpkin Scones

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and lightly spray with cooking spray.

Mix the wet ingredients in a small bowl:

1 egg, beaten

1/2 c. canned pumpkin

1 T. molasses

2 t. vanilla

Mix the dry ingredients in a medium mixing bowl:

1 1/2 c. gf flour mix

1/4 c. dark brown sugar

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

1 T. pumpkin pie spice*

Add a stick of butter to the flour mixture (I used Country Crock Olive Oil) and cut it in using a pastry blender, until it looks like little pebbles. Stir in the wet ingredients.

Plop the dough onto the parchment paper. It will be soft. Form the dough into a circle with your hands. Using a knife or offset spatula dipped in gf flour or sprayed with cooking spray, separate into 6 wedges. The dough will be sticky but the wedges should hold their shape. 

Sprinkle with cinnamon and turbinado sugar.

Bake for 15-20 minutes. A toothpick will come out clean, and the edges will be a little crispy.

Perfect with a hot cup of coffee.

*[Pumpkin pie spice:]
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/4 t.ground nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves

banana muffins

When faced with the choice between making "bread" vs "muffins," I almost always choose muffins because they cook so much faster. (or donuts bc why not)

Which is why this recipe is for banana muffins and not banana bread.

Mix in a bowl:

1 really ripe banana, mushed with a fork

1 egg, beaten

1/4 c. oil

1 t. vanilla

1/2 t. vinegar

1/4 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. gf flour

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

Pour into a greased muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Top with nuts, seeds, chocolate, or nothing. I couldn't make up my mind so I did a couple of each. 

Makes 6 muffins.

peanut butter cups

It's hard to find a good peanut butter cup- at least, one that doesn't contain dairy.

(Justin's and Trader Joe's are at the top of the list)

However, it can get costly buying fancy peanut butter cups and they are actually really easy to make.

I happen to have a shallow mini muffin pan that works perfectly for this, but you could also use a regular mini muffin pan, just fill them about halfway for the right ratio of chocolate to peanut butter.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. dairy free chocolate chips (I like Enjoy Life or Pascha)

your favorite peanut butter

Instructions:

Spray the muffin pan with cooking spray and use a paper towel to rub it around evenly.

Grab a small saucepan and fill it with a couple inches of water.

Put it on the stove over high heat and bring it to a boil, then turn the heat off.

Place a bowl on top of the saucepan (make sure it's big enough that it doesn't fall in), and add the chocolate to the bowl. Stir it as it starts to melt.

When the chocolate is melted, use a spoon to put a dollup into each muffin well. Spread it around, using the back of the spoon to spread chocolate up the sides, like so.

Place a dollup of peanut butter (smooth or crunchy) into the middle of each well. Bang the pan on the counter top a few times to level it out. Top with more chocolate and spread it around to cover the peanut butter.

Freeze it for a few hours until everything is set. Use a small spatula or spoon to loosen the chocolate from the pan.

Store in the fridge or the freezer.

Makes 6 peanut butter cups.

Oven burgers

Oven burgers: Because making burger patties is a pain in the ass, and so is firing up the grill. I know this one is a little weird, but it works. Got the idea from my sister.

Flatten ground beef into a square/rectangle on a cookie sheet lined with foil. It will shrink as it cooks so make it a little larger than you want the patties. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake at 425 for 15 minutes. Cut into squares. 

The burgers come out juicy and delicious. 

Travel meal: quesadillas

Fun fact: Did you know that the Mission Street Taco tortillas fit perfectly on the Dash mini griddle?

Makes for a pretty decent travel meal.

Refried beans + taco seasoning + greens. Sandwiched between 2 tortillas and topped with avocado.

Not bad for cooking without a kitchen.

cinnamon sugar donuts

There is always a higher chance of donuts on Sunday mornings. Today we got cinnamon sugar donuts. You expect a baked donut to be a little dense, but these are fluffier. Can't decide which I prefer.

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

1 c. gf flour mix

2 T. brown sugar

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. cinnamon

1 egg

2 T. oil

1/2 t. vanilla

1/2 t. vinegar

1/2 c. almond milk

Topping: 1/4 c. sugar + 1 t. cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350. 

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix well. 

Transfer the batter into a sandwich bag and clip a corner. Pipe into a greased donut pan. These rise quite a bit- the batter should be level with the center indentation. 

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Spray the top of a warm donut with cooking spray and dunk it into the bowl of cinnamon/sugar. Do this twice for each donut.

Makes 6 donuts

the best and easiest peanut butter cookies

I've made a lot of peanut butter cookies. Of all the recipes I've tried, this is the best. And easiest. No flour & naturally dairy free. 

Peanut butter cookies

1 c. peanut butter*

1/3 c. brown sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 egg (or, 1 T. flax seed meal + 3 T. hot water)

1/4 t. vanilla

1 t. baking soda

1/4 t. cinnamon (optional)

chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350. Beat the peanut butter and sugar for 2 minutes. Add in the rest of the ingredients and beat until a dough forms. The dough may be slightly crumbly. Form into balls, place on a greased cookie sheet, and flatten with a fork. Bake for 8-10 minutes. The cookies will be really soft but firm up after they cool.

The dough freezes well. I freeze it on wax paper in the flattened balls and take out a few at a time.

*If you spray the measuring cup with cooking spray, the peanut butter will come out easier.