Brussel Sprouts

From here


INGREDIENTS:
1 pound Brussels sprouts, washed, trimmed and halved
1 large tart apple, cored and diced
4 slices, thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375°
In a large bowl, combine sprouts, apple and bacon and stir until evenly distributed.
In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar.
Pour olive oil mixture over sprout mixture and toss to coat.
Pour out the sprout mixture in one layer onto a greased cookie sheet. Season liberally with salt and pepper.
Roast in oven for 10-15 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking, or until sprouts are tender and brown.

Maple, Bacon, Pancake Bites

Originally from here, but I modified a decent amount.

Pancake Batter:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 c. sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
2 1/2 c. almond milk
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 stick butter, melted

Preheat oven to 425. Combine milk and vinegar and let sit 1 minute. Whisk in vanilla, eggs, and butter until combined. Add flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Mix until combined. Fill mini muffin tins 2/3 cups full. Bake 9-12 minutes until lightly golden brown. Let cool and then frost and top with crumbled bacon. I think it would be good to drizzle maple syrup on top of too, but I forgot.

Frosting:
1/4 cup butter
2-3 cups powdered sugar
2 tbsp milk
2 tbsp maple syrup
(I didn't really measure this)

I mixed the butter and powdered sugar together, and then added syrup and milk until it was the right consistency.

1 package bacon, cooked and cooled

Sweet Potatoes & Egg Hash

Sweet Potatoes & Egg & Hash

1/2 lbs ham steak, chopped into cubes (I sometimes use bacon instead)
1 apple peeled, cored, and diced (I sometimes leave out)
1 medium sweet potato, peeled, diced (Sometimes I use 2 when I leave out apple)
1/2 medium onion, diced (I used minced when I'm out)
4 eggs scrambled
oil

---

1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp all spice
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

I usually fry the bacon/ham while microwaving the potatoes to make them cook faster. Saute onion 3-4 minutes and leave them in the pan. Add sweet potatoes to the onion along with more oil if needed. Cooke for 5 minutes. Add spices to potatoes and add bacon/ham back in.

Eat it.

Belgian Waffles

Originally from here

2 cups flour
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, separated
1/2 cup oil
2 cups almond milk

Sift the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Separate the eggs. In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Mix together the egg yolks, milk and oil and stir slightly. Add to dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in beaten egg whites.

Cook them. :)

Rice Pudding

Easy Rice Pudding

2 cups cooked brown rice (or white)
2 cups milk
3 tbsp butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Mix all of the above in a heavy sauce pan. Bring to a gentle boil over medium low heat. Stir often to make sure it doesn't burn.

Cook for 15-20 minutes or until thickened. Let cool for 10 minutes. Serve hot or cold and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins (from here)

1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup milk
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup mashed bananas
1 egg
1 tbsp oil
1 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 375. Whisk peanut butter and milk until blended; stir in bananas, egg, oil, and vanilla. Add to first 5 ingredients to mixture; stir until moistened.

Bake mini muffins 8-10 minutes.

Large muffins 18-20 minutes.

Carrot French Fries

From here

New favorite way to eat carrots…

1 lb fresh carrots
2 tsp oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Peel carrots & cut into thick slices or cut into strips of desired thickness

Toss slices in oil and salt.

Bake at 450 for 10-12 mins or until desired crispness is achieved.

Oats & Coconut Granola

From here. I pretty much followed it spot on except I didn't worry about exact measurements.

3 cups oats
1 cup slivered almonds
1 cup cashews
3/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp dark brown sugar
1/4 c. plus 2 tbsp maple syrup
1/4 c vegetable oil
3/4 c salt
1 c raisins (I did half with raisins and half without)

Mix dry ingredients except raisons together. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix them together and pour onto two sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 mins. Stir every 15 mins to get an even color.

Lentil Tacos

This was surprisingly delicious. We happened to have everything on hand other than ground beef, so we tried this with low expectations and ended up loving it. And Gav even ate it!! Amazing.

1 tbsp oil
2/3 cup chopped onion
minced garlic to taste
2/3 cup dried lentils, rinsed
1 tbsp taco seasoning
1 2/3 cup chicken broth
2/3 cup salsa

Heat oil in skillet & cook onions and garlic until cooked…about 5 min. Add lentils and taco seasoning and cook for 1 minute.

Pour chicken broth into skillet and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover the skillet and simmer until lentils are done. About 20 minutes.

Uncover the skillet and cook until mixture is thickened. It didn't take very long when I made it. Stir in salsa. Serve in taco shells. Would also be good in a tortilla.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Pancakes

These were delicious and hearty. Modified from here.

1 very ripe medium banana
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg
pinch salt
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp almond butter (I used peanut butter)
1 tbsp olive oil
3 tbsp almond milk
1/2 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. whole wheat flour
3 tbsp semi sweet chocolate chips.

Mash banana. Add egg, oil, salt, vanilla, almond butter, milk and stir.

Stir in oats, flour until combined.

Add chocolate chips.

Poured in 1/4 c. measurements onto griddle.

Basil & Tomato Green Beans

Basil & Tomato Green Beans
from Sarah Harward (Lafayette)

1 1/2 lbs green beans (steamed)
1/4 cup butter or olive oil
1 tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp garlic
2 tsp basil (more if fresh)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 cups cherry tomatoes halves (left out b/c of my lack of tomato loving family)

Steam green beans. In skillet add everything except green beans and tomatoes. Once the butter & spices are blended together and melted, add green beans. Cook on medium for a few minutes, then add tomatoes.

Pumpkin Oatmeal Toddler Cookies

I made these instead of buying granola bars.  Modified from here.

1 1/2 whole wheat flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tbsp cinnamon

1/4 nutmeg

1 1/4 c. oats

1 c. butter

3/4 c. dark brown sugar

1/2 c. granulated sugar (I'd maybe try cutting one of the sugars next time.)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 c. pumpkin puree

1 c. raisins (I was out, but I would like to try next time.)

Preheat oven to 350. 

Beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg, vanilla, and pumpkin.

Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

Add oats, cinnamon, nutmeg and raisins.

Mix. Bake 15 to 18 mins.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins (modified from here)

1 egg
1/2 c. pumpkin puree
1 cup almond milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice (or buttermilk)
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 c. unbleached all purpose flour
1/3 c. chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line muffin tin with paper liners.
2. Beat egg. Add pumpkin, milk, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla and sir. Add salt, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, and stir again.
3. Add flours.
4. Add choc chips.

I did mini muffins for 10 mins.

One Pot Beans and Rice

This was delicious. (Not modified hardly at all from here.)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 lb smoked sausage
1/2 c. chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. rice
2 c. chicken broth
1 14oz can pinto beans rinced and drained
salt and pepper to taste
1-2 bay leaves (didn't have)

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add sausage, onion, and garlic. Cook until onions are soft.

Stir in rice, broth, beans, salt & pepper, and bay leaves and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat to low simmer and cover for 20 minutes (or until rice is done).

I used white rice this time, and I would omit extra salt next time. So fast, easy, and delicious.

Indiana Stovetop Chili Over Noodles

Heavily modified from this recipe

We've started calling this Indiana Chili because that's what people who aren't from here call it when we make it for them. :)

1 lb ground beef
2 cloves garlic
1/2 onion
1 8oz can of tomato sauce
1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
3/4 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp ground oregano
3/5 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1 15oz can kidney, pinto, or black peans (used pinto last time)

Brown ground beef with garlic and onion. Pour in tomato sauce. Add spices. Simmer for 30 mins up to an hour. Serve over noodles.

Slow Cooker Minstrone Soup

Slow Cookie Minstrone Soup (modified from here)

1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
2 cups carrots chopped
1 cups potatoes chopped
1.5 cups celery chopped (bought it, forgot to add it!)
1 white onion chopped
3-4 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp italian seasoning
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1 15oz can tomato sauce
1 15oz can red kidney beans rinsed and drained
1 15oz can cannellii beans rinsed and drained
1 1/2 c. zucchini
1 cups ditalini pasta
1 can green beans drained

1. Put carrots to tomato sauce in the crock pot on low for 6-8 hours.
2. With 15 mins left add beans to green beans. Let cook 15 - 20 more minutes.

Next time I would cook the pasta separate and add -- it got too soft for my taste the next day.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

These were amazing. The best cookie I've ever baked in terms of texture and taste. I'm excited to use the base with chocolate chips or other mix ins…

Almost not modified at all from here

3/4 sugar
1/2 c. shortening (recipe called for butter - I made them dairy free)
1 egg
1/2 t. vanilla extract
1/4 t mint extract (didn't have but would probably be delicious -- I added a little extra vanilla)
1 2/3 c. all purpose flour
1 t. cream of tartar (maybe this was the secret to deliciousness?)
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 c. crushed candy canes
1/4 c. sugar for coating

Preheat oven to 350.

Crush candy canes. Combine sugar and butter or shortening. Cream. Add egg vanilla and blend to combine. Add in flour, cream of tartar baking soda, and salt. Combine on low speed until mixed. Stir in 1/4 c. crushed candy canes.

Mix 1/4 c. sugar with remaining candy canes. Roll dough into 3/4 in balls and roll in sugar/candy cane mixture.

Place 2in apart.

Bake for 8-10 mins. I did 8 on convection setting in my oven.

M&M Cookies

M&M  Cookies (modified from here)

2 1/4 cups flour (I used 1 c. wheat 1 1/4 c. white)
2 tsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup shortening
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 c. granulated sugar (forgot to add this -- and didn't realize it until I was typing this up)
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 11oz m&m's

Preheat oven to 375. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt, set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, blend butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and yolk and vanilla.

Add flour mixture until combined. Add M&Ms. Drop by the teaspoonful. Bake 10-12 minutes.

Light Oat Bread

Light Oat Bread (modified from here)

I do this entirely in my bread machine, and each time I've made it I increased the amount of wheat flour.

1 1/4 cups warm water
 2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
2 cups white flour
1 cups wheat flour (I use white whole wheat most of the time.)
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Add to bread machine in order. I cook on basic setting, light crust, 1/1.5 loaf.