Real Milk is Raw Milk - Guest Post for Lilith's Apothecary

I had another great opportunity to write a guest post for the Lilith's Apothecary Blog. I chose the topic of raw milk this time. Not drinking conventional milk is something I feel very strongly about. Go on over and take a look!

Real Milk is Raw Milk

Enjoy!

Keep it real!

~Sarah

Tyler's “Healthy Junk Food” Carrot-Applesauce Muffins

Oh goodness! Has it really been two weeks since I posted last? Where has the time gone? I am posting an oldie but a goodie here today. These are my son's favorite muffins. In fact, I named them after him after creating this recipe specifically for him. It is a variation on a classic. He was craving something sweet but didn't want fruit at that moment so muffins it was! Chances are, your kids will love them too! I've been passing this recipe around for a few years to my friends, making them with my elementary cooking classes, and even had it published in the first Holistic Moms Network Cookbook. I would love for you all to have it! I am working on an even healthier "soaked" version of this recipe. I will post the results and method as soon as I get it perfected.


Tyler's “Healthy Junk Food” Carrot-Applesauce Muffins

Use organic ingredients whenever possible.

1 1/4 cup whole-wheat pastry or spelt flour (can substitute gluten-free flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 cup melted coconut oil, or melted butter.
3/4 cup evaporated cane juice sugar (or Rapadura)
2 large cage-free (preferably farm fresh) eggs
1/2 cup organic applesauce
1/2 teaspoon natural vanilla
1 1/2 cups finely shredded organic carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped organic walnuts (optional)

For Icing: Optional
1 pkg organic cream cheese
1 stick organic butter(unsalted)
1/2 tsp natural vanilla
1/2 tsp fresh, organic lemon zest(optional)
Honey, Sugar, or Stevia to taste


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or grease with coconut oil or butter.
Sift together the first 5 ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the oil, sugar and eggs until well combined. Whisk in the applesauce, vanilla and carrots. Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined.

(optional) Stir in 1/4 cup of the chopped walnuts.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Bake until a toothpick comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Optional Icing:

With an electric mixer, beat together the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, sweetener, and lemon zest until smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts. The cupcakes should be stored in the refrigerator if iced.


Makes: 1 dozen full-size cupcakes.

Nutritional facts:

Coconut oil is the healthiest oil to cook with because it does not break down when heated. It is a healthy fat that is good for your body. Don't be afraid of healthy fats! Your body needs them! Rapadura sugar is an unprocessed, unrefined sugar that you can find at Whole Foods or Wegmans. Organic carrots are best because they do not have chemical nitrites in them from fertilizers. All ingredients used can be purchased at Whole Foods or Wegmans. Some ingredients can be found at Trader Joe's.

Enjoy and keep it real, especially for your kids!

~Sarah


Shared at Monday Mania

Valentine's Day Family Dinner

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and to celebrate the occasion I decorated and cooked up an organic, gourmet meal for my husband and family.

I went to Delish.com and found a few recipes that I liked for the entrée, Pepper-Crusted Filet Mignon, and the dessert, Romantic Molton Chocolate Cakes. I hit up allrecipes.com  for the Gourmet Mushroom Risotto, and myrecipes.com for the Raspberry Asparagus. I used all organic ingredients whenever possible in place of the conventional ingredients listed in the original recipes. I eat in season but made an exception for the holiday with the use of berries. 

The Main Course

The Molton Chocolate Cake

 It was divine!

No Valentine's Day is complete without chocolate covered strawberries. These are organic strawberries with organic chocolate.

Here is the recipe for the Molton Chocolate Cakes. I couldn't find it written, just the video (which is quite helpful) so I thought I would jot it down and make it easy on you. You will definitely want to make these!

Romantic Molton Chocolate Cakes

4 oz bittersweet chocolate

4 oz butter

2 egg yolks

2 whole eggs

4 oz sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

4 Tbs flour (I used whole wheat pastry)

Strawberries

Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Butter 4 or 5 4-6 oz ramekins

Melt Butter and chocolate in a saucepan on low heat. Do not let boil - just melt.

Turn off heat and in a bowl, mix the next 5 ingredients. Add the chocolate. Stir. Fold in flour. Pour into prepared ramekins and bake for 20 minutes. Let cool for a few minutes and take a knife around the edges so that you can flip the over onto your plates. Dust with powdered sugar and arrange a sliced strawberry on top. Serve warm.

Yields 4 1/2 cakes. I needed 5 so I made 4 regular size and 1 half size for my youngest child.

These are delicious!

Enjoy!

Keep it Real!

~Sarah

Flaxseed: Why's & How's - Guest Post for The Marathon Mom

My dear friend, Brandy, The Marathon Mom asked me to write a guest post about flaxseed.

Here it is over at The Marathon Mom Blog - Flaxseed: How's & Why's

Enjoy!

~Sarah

Getting a Jump Start on Valentine's Day with Strawberry Pancakes

I was baking last night (I bake almost every night) to have some muffins for my kids to snack on and to take to my Grandparent's house today and decided to make pancakes for this morning. I found a recipe from Cooking God's Way that I have been wanting to try. It's for Easy Blender "Overnight" Pancakes. The recipe calls for blueberries, which I ran out of making their Ultimate Whole-Grain Blueberry Muffins so I substituted frozen, organic strawberries. A little Soap Box moment here: Please don't use non-organic berries. They are at the top of the Dirty Dozen List for pesticides. You can get a cool wallet guide of the list at Food News. I keep mine on my fridge. Paying a few cents extra for pesticide-free food will really help your children develop properly. A new study on pesticides and children came out today over at Natural News that you may want to take a look at.

Back to the pancakes...I didn't have buttermilk nor did I feel like making my own late at night so I used raw milk and simply added a splash or two of apple cider vinegar to the batter. Soaking the grains overnight makes them easier to digest by breaking down the phytic acids or "anti-nutrients". Cooking God's Way offers a Free E-course that teaches the basics of Real Food including a lesson on soaking grains. I highly recommend it.

Go out and grab the ingredients you need and after dinner tonight, prepare the batter for these delicious pancakes. Tomorrow morning you will be able to make them in 5 minutes and your kids will say that you should work at IHop! Mine did.

Enjoy!

Keep it Real!

~Sarah

Guest Blog for Lilith's Apothecary: Real Food

I had the privilege of contributing a Guest Blog for the Lilith's Apothecary Blog. It is all about Real Food. Check it out!

Real Food: Guest post from a Real Foodie

Enjoy!

Keep it Real!

~Sarah

Vegan and Organic Chocolate Banana Muffins

My friend, Stephanie over at the Green Earth, Green Home Blog recently shared a recipe for Vegan/Organic Chocolate Banana Muffins. This recipe was given to her by Cassie, the proprietor of the Pomegranate Cafe in Phoenix, AZ. If you are ever in Phoenix, be sure to stop in and say hello! I made these today and can I just say, these are the BEST muffins I have ever eaten in my life! My kids said the same thing as well as a dear friend who stopped by today. This recipe uses maple syrup, and coconut oil to create the moistest, most decadent banana muffin you will ever eat. 

Here is a link to the recipe for these must-bake muffins.

Chocolate Banana Muffins - Vegan and Organic

Enjoy!!!