Muffin Monday: Sweet treats - Buttermilk Cinnamon

Ingredients:

1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature

2/3 c. sugar
1 egg

1 1/2 c. WW all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground clove

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

toping: Cinnamon sugar made from 1 Tbs cinnamon and 8 Tbs sugar and melted butter to brush muffins


350°F. Oven prepare muffin pan (I make 12 mini muffins with this recipe)

combine the butter and sugar and beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the egg and beat well

In another bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cloves.

Add wet to dry and stir until moistened batter will be lumpy

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling each 3/4. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean,15 to 20 minutes.

Muffin Monday : Savoury Breakfast- Sausage and Cheddar

Sausage and Cheddar

Ingredients

2 cups WW all-purpose flour
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
4 sausage links, cooked and cubed
1 small red pepper diced
2 tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon cayenne Powder (optional)
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/4 cup coconut oil

In a large bowl, combine the first eight ingredients. In a another bowl, beat the egg, milk and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

Granola

Ingredients
(This recipe can easily be halved for smaller batches)

6 cups of old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup whey

3/4 cup honey

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 cups of "additions such as coconut, raisins, cranberries, banana chips, dried pineapple, any dried fruit really, nuts, seeds...use you imagination!

Directions

1. Mix together all of the above ingredients - except for the additions.

2. Cover the bowl of the sticky mixture, and let it sit out on your counter overnight. (Let it sit for 7 to 30 hours.)

3. Mix the oat mixture, and spread it out on a large baking pan.

4. Bake at 300 degrees for 15 minutes, then stir the mixture, then bake it for another 15 minutes.

5. If the mixture has turned light brown or golden, then it's done. If not, then mix it and put it back into the over for 15 more minutes.

6. Pour the mixture into a bowl, and mix in the additions. Let it cool.

This is so good and good for you! I like to make yogurt parfaits by layering yogurt, granola, and fruit. It is also good eaten like boxed cereal

Sanity Sunday!

Sunday is Preparation Day around here! I often joke that I would love a Sunday for every day of the week but Alas! I have to make due with the one that I have.

During the school year I have noticed that a routine has evolved while I was unaware. It happened out of necessity. There are a few things I need to take care of on Sundays or I am guaranteed a stressful week. In order to avoid this, I need to make sure I have:

• A week's worth of outfits for everyone


• Healthy School snacks for the week (often requires baking something)


• A menu plan for the week including breakfast, lunch after-school snacks and dinners


• Healthy School snacks for the weeks

Having these things in place maintains the harmony of the house. This week I am making an Apple Spice Cookies (see recipe below) and cutting up veggie sticks for school snacks. For after school I have cheese and crackers, bagels and yogurt cheese, fresh fruit slices and yogurt dip for the children to choose from.

My Menu plan for the week is:

• Roast Pork with rutabagas, sweet potatoes, green beans and coleslaw


• Pork Fried Rice


• Sweet and sour Chicken Thighs with buttery egg noodles and spinach salad


• Potato Leek Soup and multi-grain buns


• spaghetti with marinara sauce

Of course during the course of this day we also plan some good quality family fun! On this day we plan to go for a toboggan on the hill in our neighbourhood. On that note I better get to it! I have a busy day!

Happy Sanity Sunday everyone!

Apple Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup coconut oil
3/4 cup honey
2 eggs
2 cups flour (can be spelt, or whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves and nutmeg
2/3 cup apple juice
1 cup chopped walnuts (I will omit these for use as school snacks)
1 cup shredded apple
1 cup raisins (soaked for 20 minutes in water to soften, drain well)

Method:

Preheat your oven to 375F. Grease Cookie sheet or line with parchment paper. Smooth the coconut oil and sugar. Add the eggs and combine fully. Slowly add the flour, baking soda and spices, combine until smooth. Add apple juice and stir again. Stir in nuts, apples and raisins until well combined. Drop cookies onto sheet with a big spoon.
Bake for 12 minutes.

Christmas/Yule Countdown - Week 2

As promised, here is my list of Prep for this week. This week we have one of my favourite activities! Christmas Lights Across Canada. This is when they turn on the christmas lights at Parliament Hill for the first time. It really is magical! After the ceremony we we head to the Byward Market for a hot chocolate and a beaver tail- Don't know what that is? Stay Tuned!

Gift n Giving Week: : November 28- December 4

To Do This Week

• Write and address one-forth of the Christmas card list
• Finish all catalog shopping. Record tracking numbers and save receipts.
• List all gifts to make Jot down needed Materials and add them to the master shopping list
• Work on “To Make” gifts. You must make one-fourth of your gifts each week.
• Set up wrap and mail center.
• Reserve baby sitters for December nights out.

To Buy This Week

• Continue gift shopping
• Buy materials and supplies for “To Make” gifts

Yule/Christmas Countdown!

I have decided to blog about my Yule/Christmas prep to help me stay on task.

I break my Holiday prep into 4 stages: Organization, Gifting, Cooking, and Celebrating. This plan is inspired from what I learned from Flylady.net and Organized Christmas (To give credit where it is due) I have a list for each week. It contains action items and a shopping list. I have all of these list in my Holiday Preparation Planner. My planner is made with a Pocket Folder. I will post a picture of it shortly. Here is an excellent example of what I am talking about.

This weeks List (I will post them on Monday from now on

Get Organized Week: November 21 - 27

To Do This Week;

Spend 15 minutes each day this week to get organized for Christmas.

Set up your Christmas Countdown Organizer in a notebook or binder.

Make a holiday calendar.

Begin at the beginning: review your family’s holiday traditions. Record your findings on Holiday Traditions* page.

Start a Master Gift List*: Record purchases and home-made gifts

Begin a Christmas Card List.

Are you traveling? Make Travel arrangements and reservations this week Will you host house guests? Make arrangements for overnight guests.

Arrange for family photo sessions for Holiday gifts or cards.

Make a holiday budget*.

Divide Christmas card list into 5 groups. Write and address one group this week.

Print Master Shopping List for errand days.

Set up Holiday House Work Plan. Post Chore Check List; determine who is responsible for what chore.

Check Holiday wardrobe for family. Put to buy items on list.

To Buy This Week:

Christmas cards or supplies for Christmas Letters

Postage Stamps

Begins Christmas shopping Divide master list into 5 sections Buy one section a week. Wrap gifts as they are purchased. Keep a running total of gift expenditures on budget form.

Purchase any holiday clothing needed for family members

Today I am going to love myself

Today I will start the day with a little prayer


Please grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.

I will not berate myself for falling behind or pressure myself to catch up. I will instead, live in the moment.

I will enjoy my family because that is what is most important to me.