Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Recipe from www.dinnerdishesanddesserts.com

I absolutely love these, and so do my kids! Also, not too unhealthy as far as muffins go.

• 1½ cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ⅔ cup sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp ground ginger
• 1 egg
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• ⅔ cup apple sauce (unsweetened)
• 1 Tbls + 1 tsp canola oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• ⅔ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 12 cup muffin tin with non stick spray, or liners.
2. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Whisk until combined. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, pumpkin, apple sauce, oil and vanilla until well combined. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, and mix until just combined (be careful not to over mix). Fold in the chocolate chips.
3. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffins tins. Bake for 15-18 minutes. 

Whole Wheat Banana Pancakes (Shawnee Pulsipher)

I am going to try and branch out and put other recipes on this blog besides main dishes :) I thought I would start with these pancakes. They are the bomb! Also, you can add different variations to your liking! Here is the way we like them best.

Mix together well in a large bowl:
2 cups whole wheat flour
4 Tbs. Sugar
2 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped pecans

In another bowl add together and mix well:
2 eggs
2 cups of milk (I have used almond milk with great results)
4 Tbs oil (I have used canola, olive, and coconut)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1-2 ripe mashed bananas

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well incorporated. Cook on a greased griddle top at 300 degree's.

Green Lentil Curry

I really like the African Peanut Stew recipe that I have on this blog, and I have been trying to find another recipe that uses curry that I like just as well. I have probably tried 4 things that were just o.k. and finally after trying this today, I finally found a recipe that didn't let me down. This recipe came from a food blog that I have contributed to in the past called www.gurlinthekitchen.blogspot.com It doesn't really get updated anymore, but there are some great recipes on there!

2 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. grated ginger root (or 1 t. powdered)
1 1/2 c. green lentils, cleaned and rinsed
1 can garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed
3 c. chicken broth
1 can coconut milk
2 t. curry powder
1 t. turmeric
salt to taste
Jasmine rice

 Heat oil in skillet, add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 2-3 minutes. Add ginger. Cook until onion is soft, then add broth, lentils, garbanzo beans, coconut milk, curry powder, and turmeric. Cook until lentils are soft, 20-30 minutes. Taste for salt, add more if necessary. While lentils are simmering, cook your rice. Serve lentils over hot cooked rice. 

Fire Roasted Green Chili Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Recipe and picture from: www.glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

Ok, I have a couple of sweet potato/black bean enchilada recipes on this blog. All of them have different flavor profiles and when you're trying to cook vegan/vegetarian your options are limited. Well, this is my favorite enchilada recipe I have tried so far. I really loved it! Maybe it was because I was fasting all day, but I will definitely make it again soon!

For the Sauce
1 cup vegetable broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 generous cup chopped fire roasted green chiles
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin or chili powder (I used chili powder)
*Bring to a boil and let thicken. Set aside

For the Filling
1 15-oz can organic black beans, rinsed, drained
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Fresh lime juice from 1 big juicy lime
1 really big sweet potato, peeled and cubed into the size of dice
1/2 cup chopped roasted green chiles
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder, or curry (I used curry and LOVED it)
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
*Preheat oven to 400. Toss cubed sweet potatoes with 1-2 tablespoons coconut, or olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Put on a cookie sheet and cook for 20-25 min. until potatoes are soft.

*When potatoes are down, turn oven to 350

Using a bowl, combine the drained black beans with minced garlic and lime juice. Toss to coat the beans and set aside. In a separate bowl combine the sweet potatoes with the chopped green chiles; add the spices and mix well.

To Assemble
Spread some of your chili sauce into the bottom of a baking dish. Use 6-7 whole wheat tortillas. Spread a spoonful of sweet potato mixture down the center of tortilla. Spoon black bean mixture on top. You can then top it with some grated cheese, or leave plain to make it vegan. Roll up tortilla and place seam side down in your baking dish. Repeat process with remaining tortillas. Top with remaining chili sauce and more cheese if desired. Bake for 25 min.

Avacado Pita Pizza

Jared brought home a big bag of avacados from Costco this week and we were trying to find different ways to use them. I found this pizza recipe and it was easy and yummy :)

Avacado Pita Pizza
Recipe from: www.twopeasandtheirpod.com

2 large avacados, sliced
1 bunch cilantro
1/2 jalapino seeded and diced
1 clove garlic
2 green onions, sliced
Juice from 1 lime
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and Pepper
4 whole wheat pitas
Shredded Mozarella cheese

Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. In a processor combine: cilantro, jalapino, garlic, green onions, lime juice olive oil, and salt and pepper. Process until it forms a sauce and spread on top of your pitas. Sprinkle with mozarella cheese. Put on a cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. When pitas are done, top with sliced avacados.

Butternut Squash Pasta

I love Pinterest because it is a great way for me to find new recipes. Now with Jared being a vegan, he has made cooking for our family even harder. This recipe only had a little parmesan cheese, and butter that can easily be subsituted for olive oil. My kids were nervous to try it but really liked the sweet flavor.

Butternut Squash Pasta
Recipe and picture from: www.skinnytaste.com

13 oz. whole wheat pasta. I used spaghetti
1 medium size butternut squash
1 leek
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 Tbs. butter
2 cloves of garlic, minced
salt and pepper
vegetable or chicken broth, optional

Set your oven to 400 degrees. Cut the stem, and end off of your butternut squash. Slice in half length wise and scoop out all the seeds and strings. Spray, or brush lightly with olive oil and sprinkly lightly with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a cookie sheet and cook 40-50 minutes until squash come away easily from skin. Scoop out the flesh and put in a processor and blend until smooth. If you don't want to cook it this way, you can peel and cube your squash and boil it until tender. I just don't like doing more cutting than necessary. After you puree your squash, set it aside. And set a large pot of water to boil for your pasta.

Slice the leek, using the white part only. Saute it in butter until the leeks have become soft and translucent. Add your garlic, stir for a minute, and add the butternut squash and season with salt and pepper. It will be thick. Thin out the sauce by using some reserved pasta water, or vegetable/chicken broth. Once you have the consistency you want, add the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese. Toss to combine, serve immediately with more parmesan cheese on top if desired.

Spaghetti Squash with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Recipe and Picture from: www.twopeasandtheirpod.com

I made this dish last night, and everyone loved it. My 2 year old practically inhaled it. This was a relief because I have only made spaghetti squash one other time, and I was not a fan and neither was the kids. I think the key is brushing the sides with olive oil, and seasoning before cooking.

To cook the spaghetti squash, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the squashes stem off, then cut in half lengthwise. Brush both sides with olive oil then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Cook for 45 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes and then get a fork and scrape the sides, getting all the stringy strands and transfer to another dish.

You can make the sauce while the squash is roasting. For the sauce you will need:
2 red bell peppers
1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
1 small onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. oregano
fresh basil (Ijust used dry)
a pinch of red pepper flakes
1/4 cup greek yogurt
salt and pepper to taste
Roast red peppers over gas flame, under the broiler, or on the grill, turning to get all sides until peppers are completely black. Place peppers in a paper or plastic bag to sweat. Peel the charred skins from the peppers and remove the seeds. Chop the peppers and set aside.
 In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the red peppers and diced tomatoes. Add oregano, red pepper flakes, fresh basil, and season with salt and pepper. Simmer on stove for 10 minutes. Stir in the Greek yogurt. Purée the sauce in the pan, using an immersion blender. You can also transfer the sauce to a blender or food processor. Put on top of spaghetti squash and enjoy.

After making this, I may alter the recipe to include more roasted pepper, and less tomato as I enjoy the roasted pepper taste more.