Tag: breakfast

Posted in breakfast, DIY, Eat at home ingredient spotlight, Recipes, Snacks

Apple Crisp Granola

Posted on by traci

Original post: 10/3/12
Edited: 12/21/2022

Vegetarian
Gluten-free (if using gluten-free oatmeal)
Quick

I pretend to be a cereal eater. I buy cereals, most of which go to waste before they are eaten. Since the milk texture in my cereal really bothers me, I eat dry cereal. That can get really boring quick. My husband and sons love cereal with milk. So I’m the odd man out in my family.

However, I enjoy eating granola in Greek yogurt. The pieces of granola don’t get soggy like they do in milk. So making homemade granola can be cost-efficient. Homemade granola can also be adapted to my taste and preference. I also know what exactly is in it, so there are no mystery ingredients. Plus, it’s delicious!

So when this recipe crossed my inbox, my curiosity peaked. So I got the few ingredients I needed to make the granola. I made it on a Sunday morning before church. I took some with me to eat during refreshment, so I wouldn’t eat any of the not-so-good goodies. When I shared some of it with my fellow churchgoers, they were impressed with the taste. As was I.

The granola combines the flavors of fall. Cinnamon and nutmeg tickle your taste buds. Apples scream fall! There are also a few surprises hidden in the granola.

Apple Crisp Granola

Adapted from Rachel Cooks

Stars of the Recipe:

  • 3 c. oats (old-fashioned or quick cooking)
  • 1 c. chopped raw walnuts
  • 1/2 c. shredded unsweetened coconut
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
  • 4 Tbsp. packed brown sugar
  • 4 Tbsp. canola oil
  • 4 Tbsp. honey
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 2 c. chopped dried apples

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Spray a large baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray or line it with parchment.
  3. In a large bowl, stir the oats, walnuts, coconut, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  4. In a separate microwavable bowl, stir together the canola oil, vanilla, and honey. Heat in microwave for 45 seconds on 50% power.
  5. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients. Stir until everything is well coated.
  6. Spread granola in an even layer over the baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes, stir, and then bake for 15 to 20 more minutes, until golden brown.
  8. Let cool completely. Stir in dried apples once the granola has cooled.
  9. Store in an airtight container.
  10. Enjoy!!!!
This post has been linked to Eat at home – Ingredient Spotlight.
Posted in Bread, Bread and muffins, breakfast, Recipes, secret recipe club

12-Minute Cranberry Cinnamon Scones – Secret Recipe Club

Posted on by traci

Original post: May 9, 2016
Updated: December 17, 2022

Vegetarian, Quick, Kid Friendly, Freezer friendly

This is my second time participating in the Secret Recipe Club.  I got moved to Group B when Group D was disbanded.  This month I was assigned to Why I Am Not Skinny.   Maxine is originally from South Africa but is currently living in Brussels.

I looked in her recipe index and found several recipes I wanted to try.  I finally decided on the 12-minute scones.  I waited until yesterday to make the recipe.  Life is currently crazy around here.  Actually, work is a crazy part of my life.  I administered tests during most of April, which sometimes left me exhausted.  Then last week, I attended a field trip all five days to a place called Starbase.  That experience left me absolutely exhausted at the end of the day.  I had decided on two recipes but needed the energy to make one.  Ask Hubby – I have not wanted to cook dinner when I get home at night, which is unusual for me.

Here are the other recipes I was interested in:

  1. Hummus – I almost made this recipe.
  2. Corn Fritters – We have a local sweet corn festival at the beginning of the school year.  One of the vendors sells chicken dinners with corn fritters.  Hubby loves corn fritters.
  3. Easy Fried Rice – This is another recipe Hubby would have enjoyed.  The Wee One might have enjoyed it also since he is like his dad because he loves rice.
  4. Chicken Pot Pie – YUM!
  5. Sweet and Sour Chicken – I know I have a sweet and sour chicken recipe on I’m Hungry.  This recipe is different than my recipe.  Again Hubby would have enjoyed this recipe.

As I said, I settled on the 12-minute scones.  I have several favorite coffee shops.  One of them sells chocolate chunk scones that are a harder consistency.  I love them.  For a while, I’ve wanted to make my own scones but haven’t made them.  The 12-minute scones were a lot softer than the ones I get at Boston Stoker, the coffee shop.  I loved the texture.

Maxine’s recipe did not have any add-ins.  I adapted the recipe to include Craisins and some cinnamon.  Hubby decided to buy a huge bag of Craisins at Sam’s, so I’ve been using them whenever possible.

IMG_0803

Cranberry 12-Minute Scones

adapted from Why I’m Not Skinny

Stars of the Recipe:

  • 2 c. all purpose flour
  • 3 tsp. baking powder
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 c. oil
  • 1 egg
  • Milk (depends on the egg size – I used about 1/2 c.)
  • 1/4 c. dried cranberries

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Add the egg to the 1/4 c. of oil and top with milk until all the liquids equal 1 c.
  3. Beat together.
  4. In a separate bowl, add the flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.  Stir.
  5. Pour the liquid ingredients on top of the dry ingredients.  Add the dry cranberries.  Stir until just combined.
  6. Drop by spoonfuls into a greased muffin tin.  (You will make 6 scones.)
  7. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes.  Carefully remove from the oven.
  8. Enjoy!

For more Secret Recipe Club blog posts, press this button.

Happy Eating,
Traci

Posted in breakfast, My Top 10

My Top Ten Breakfast Foods

Posted on by traci

Today I’m back with my Top Ten List. I know it’s been about a year since I posted one.

Today I’m going to share my Top Ten Breakfast Foods

Hopefully this list will help you when you are trying to decide what to eat for breakfast.

1. Yogurt Parfait – Greek Yogurt, sometimes honey, granola, fruit

yogurt parfait
Yogurt Parfait ready to be eaten

2. Green Smoothie – Juice (oj), spinach, and frozen fruit – That is all that is needed to make a green smoothie.

Power Up Green Smoothie

3. Granola

4. Chocolate Croissant – Especially when I’m at Disney.  For some reason, I love them there.

5. Eggs – Scrambled or Fried – If I have fried eggs, I like to eat butter toast with it.

6. Cottage Cheese with canned peaches – Yum!

7. Granola bar with string cheese and fruit – Usually a quick breakfast on the go!  Kashi bars or some of the granola bars from Aldi are usually my go to for the granola bars.

8. Lara bar with string cheese and fruit – A variation of #7.

9. Hard boiled eggs with string cheese and fruit – I like Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel seasoning on my hard-boiled eggs.

10. Waffles especially at hotels – Yum!

 

Some other contenders for the top 10 list are:

Overnight Oatmeal

Pancakes

Oatmeal
What are your top breakfast foods?

Have a magical day!
Traci

Posted in Bread and muffins, breakfast, Pumpkin, Recipes, write 31 2017

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins – Blog Post #10

Posted on by traci

I love the flavors of fall – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves.  All of those flavors make my taste buds sing.

Hubby laughs at me buying all of the pumpkin flavored goodies.

When I got up on Saturday, I was craving pumpkin muffins.  Since I’m eating gluten free, I can’t just go to Panera and get myself a muffin.

So it’s up to me to bake my own muffins.

I googled gluten free pumpkin muffins and found this recipe.

I adapted the recipe by using regular milk with apple cider vinegar to get the lift she discussed in the recipe.  She also suggested adding chocolate chips which I did.  Yum!

Since I added the chocolate chips, I was able to get 10 muffins out of the batter instead of the 9.

I enjoyed my muffin with butter and a mug of pumpkin spice coffee.  Delicious!

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

  • Difficulty: medium
  • Print

Ingredients

– 1 & ¼ c. all purpose gluten free flour

– ¾ c. brown sugar

– 2 tsp. Baking powder, double acting

– 1 & ½ tsp. Pumpkin pie spice

– ½ tsp. Cinnamon

– ¼ c. nutmeg

– ¼ tsp. Salt

-1 c. pumpkin puree

– 2 eggs

– ¼ c. softened butter (½ a stick)

– ¼ c. milk

– 2 tsp. Apple cider vinegar

– ¼ to ½ c. chocolate chips

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a muffin tin with wrappers or grease the muffin tins.
  2. Combine flour, baking powder, and spices in a large mixing bowl.  Set aside.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, beat eggs.  Add to dry ingredients.
  4. Add the butter, pumpkin puree, milk, and apple cider vinegar to a bowl.  Mix.  Pour into the dry ingredients.
  5. Using an electric mixer, blend until combined.
  6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  7. Fill the muffin cavities ⅔ rds full.
  8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tops are browned.
  9. Enjoy!

 

Source:  Dishing Delish

Happy eating,
Traci

 

Posted in breakfast, easy, Recipes

2 Yummy Do It Yourself Cream Cheese Flavors – Cinnamon Brown Sugar and Strawberry

Posted on by traci

Cinnamon Brown Sugar Cream Cheese

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

-1 tub of WHIPPED cream cheese, room temperature

-1/4 c. brown sugar

-1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Directions

  1. Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl.
  2. Add the brown sugar and cinnamon.
  3. Mix with electric mixer until blended.
  4. Enjoy with bagels.

 

Strawberry Cream Cheese

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

-1 tub of WHIPPED cream cheese, room temperature

-1/2 c. diced strawberries (cut into tiny pieces)

-1 Tbsp. sugar

Directions

  1. Cut the strawberries.  Place in a bowl.  Sprinkle with sugar.  Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
  2. Place the cream cheese in a mixing bowl.
  3. Add the strawberries.
  4. Mix with electric mixer until blended.
  5. Enjoy with bagels.

Posted in breakfast, Granola, menu plan monday, Recipes, slow cooker, Write 31 2016

Dear Tanya (10/3/16) – Menu Plan Monday – Slow Cooker Granola – Day 3

Posted on by traci

On the days I have a recipe that I’ve tried previously, I’m going to share a story or another letter to my sister.

Dearest Tanya,

I don’t know if you know how much I do miss you. There is one song that I listen to that has lyrics that reminds me of you. I listen to the song and then just cry.

The lyrics that remind me of you are:

“I need a family to drive me crazy.”

“We’ll have tiny boxes for memories.
Open them up and we’ll set them free.”

“But I’ll keep your secrets, if you keep mine.”

“You are the memory that won’t ever lapse
When twenty five years have suddenly passed.”

“Take my picture and the you laugh
Cause I hate the way I look in photographs.”

“Keep the memories, but don’t live in the past.”

“You are the sun in the desolate sky.”

I just discovered the song right before you died and it speaks so much to me and how I feel about you.  I know how much you hated me taking photographs of you.  Those photos are now precious in my eyes.  I see laughter and joy in your face in many of them  I wish you knew how blessed of a life you had Tanya.

Right before you died, we got a Quaker Parrot.  His name is Password.  Todd named him so that is why he has that name.  Anyway, he was hatched on Will’s birthday.  This week he decided to start talking.  Instead of screeching, he’ll start to say beak bump.  So funny!

Give everyone a hug for me.

I love you!

Love your annoying sister,
Traci

Menu Plan Monday – Week of October 3, 2016

mom-whats-for-dinner

I’m going to follow the A Week of Meals – Slow Cooker Version this week.

sunday

Crock pot Chicken, Black Eyed Peas, Rice, Pumpkin Pie

monday

Sweet and Sour Chicken, Rice

tuesday

Tacos

wednesday

Taco topped baked potatoes, Raw Veggies

thursday

Monterrey Chicken Quesadillas, Left Over Veggies

friday

Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Sandwich

saturday

You are on your own

and

Date Night

day-3

Now onto the recipe for the day – The Wee One loved this granola.  He couldn’t stop eating it when I made it for him.  In fact, he asked me to make it for him when he joins Boys Scouts and goes on a backpacking trip. He’s planning ahead.

I didn’t know that you could make granola in the slow cooker.  When you don’t want to warm the oven, this is a good option.  Warning though – It does take a while for it to get done.  But if you have a lazy day where you are not going anywhere, this would be a great recipe.

I apologize because I’ve gone through all of my files and cannot find the picture I took of the slow cooker granola.

Slow Cooker Granola

Stars of the recipe:

  • 5 c. old fashioned rolled oats
  • ½ c. slivered almonds
  • ½ c. shredded unsweetened coconut
  • ¼ tsp. Salt
  • ⅔ c. honey
  • ⅓ c. coconut oil or butter
  • ½ c. peanut butter
  • 2 tsp. Cinnamon
  • 1 Tbsp. vanilla
  • 1 c. craisins

Steps:

  1. Grease the slow cooker crock.
  2. Add the oats, almonds, coconut, and salt.
  3. In a large microwave safe measuring bowl, combine the honey, coconut oil or butter, peanut butter, cinnamon, and vanilla.
  4. Microwave for a minute.  Stir.  Microwave for 30 more seconds if necessary in order to make sure the ingredients are melted.  
  5. Pour the liquid ingredients over the oats.  Stir to make sure all ingredients are coated.
  6. Place the lid on the crockpot, leaving it slightly vented.
  7. Cook on high for 2 hours.  Stir the granola every 30 minutes to assure it doesn’t burn.
  8. After 2 hours, spread the granola on a large baking sheet.  Add the craisins.  Then let it cool.
  9. Store in an airtight container.
  10. Enjoy!

Adapted from Barefeet in the kitchen

Printable Recipe Card

happy-slow-cooking-1
Posted in Bread and muffins, breakfast, Recipes

Cake Mix Donuts – Foodie Extravaganza (July 2016)

Posted on by traci

This month’s theme is donuts.  I have some favorite donut shops around the area – Bill’s Donuts and Abbey’s Donuts are two of our favorite donut shops.  Plus Tim’s (aka Tim Horton’s)

Sometimes though it’s fun to make your own donuts at home.  I have several recipes for donuts on my blog.

Continue reading “Cake Mix Donuts – Foodie Extravaganza (July 2016)” →

Posted in breakfast, Breakfast for Dinner, Recipes

Snickerdoodle Waffles

Posted on by traci

It was a lazy Saturday.  The boys had gone from place to place the day before so I told them they could sleep in.  The first one up was the Imaginative One.  So I asked him what he wanted for breakfast – waffles or pancakes.  He decided waffles sounded delicious.

Continue reading “Snickerdoodle Waffles” →