Cooking
High Protein, High Fiber Oat Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies
When you are a nursing mom and your baby starts to wiggle and grow, sleep through the night and seems to want/need more breast milk…..this delicious cookie may just do the trick.They are easy to make and can be stored in the freezer for a quick nutritious treat. Remember to use Brewer’s yeast and NOT nutritional yeast. This delicious lactation cookie recipe is similar to the other one we tried but uses whole wheat flour for more fiber and has extra protein with the addition of more peanut butter to the dough. You can add an extra bit of fiber by adding raisins. Watch out because your husband and other family members will be sneaking these when you are not looking -they are that delicious. For more information on herbs and nutritional supplements that can improve your milk supply if you are a nursing mama click here. Here are two other recipes that we have tried-one a bar and one a cookie and we also added brewer’s yeast to our favorite bran muffin recipe.
Ingredients
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 Tablespoons water
2 Tablespoons of flax seed meal
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups of whole oats (not instant or quick oats)
1 ½ cups chocolate chip
½-1 cup raisins optional
4 Tablespoons Brewer’s Yeast (NOT nutritional yeast)
½ cup peanut butter (we used Trader Joe’s natural)
Stir the flax seed meal and water together in a small bowl. Blend butter and sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time and add vanilla and blend until fluffy. Measure flour, baking soda and salt into a small bowl and pour into mixer. Blend on medium speed until mixed …
Read MorePeach-Blueberry Cobbler
Hot summer nights are a perfect time to serve up some homemade cobbler. My favorite combinations of fruit for cobbler are peach-blueberry and strawberry-rhubarb. This week I was visiting my youngest daughter, Bekah, in Clovis and picked up a big box of fresh peaches-nothing like a peach cobbler made with fresh peaches from the Valley. We had taken the children blueberry picking a few days before so I decided to make a peach-blueberry cobbler tonight to serve at a gathering tomorrow evening. I will warm it up tomorrow and serve it with fresh vanilla ice cream. YUMMY!!!
Cobbler Ingredients
4-6 cups very ripe peaches, peeled and sliced
2 cups fresh blueberries, rinsed
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup sugar
Topping
2 cups whole grain baking mix (you can use whole wheat flour and add 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder)
1 ½ cups oats
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
½ cup brown sugar
1 cup softened butter
¼ cup plain greek yogurt
Peel and slice peaches. Mix with rinsed fresh blueberries. Add lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar and stir well. Pour into a 9×13 glass pyrex pan. In a large bowl, mix together baking mix. oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and softened butter. Stir until butter is mixed in and then add yogurt and stir until crumbly. Sprinkle on top of fruit and if desired sprinkle some cinnamon sugar on top.
Bake in a 375 degree oven for 45 minutes until bubbly and topping is golden brown. You can use 6-8 cups of peaches to make a delicious peach cobbler if you do not have blueberries.
This is the baking mix I used and it turned out so delicious!
This is my new recipe stand where I can place any cookbook I am using right in front …
Read MoreCrockpot Chicken – 3 Ways
As a mom of two littles, easy and healthy dinners are a must!
I love using the crockpot and love even more when what is in the crockpot can make a few different meals.
Recently, I made Crockpot Chicken using…
Organic Chicken Stock from Costco
3 packs of Chicken Breast (6 chicken breast total) from Costco
No Salt Chicken Seasoning from Costco
…and put it on Low for 8 hours. It was ready before the 8 hours so I adjusted it down to about 6 hours when the chicken was easily pulled.
The first night, I used it on the *best* homemade pizza recipe from Kerry’s Baby Bear Stew Cookbook!
The next night, I added our favorite BBQ sauce from Trader Joe’s – Organic Kansas Style BBQ Sauce – when reheating the chicken on the stove for BBQ Chicken Salad. It was a very simple meal with the Spring Mix from Costco and cut up veggies like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers. We also had zucchini and squash on the side.
Since we still had more bbq chicken leftovers, we did BBQ Chicken Quesadillas the next night- Grated cheese, a corn and black bean mix, bell peppers, optional jalapeños and guacamole, and the bbq chicken! I did mine more taco style and used the new TJs Corn & Wheat Tortillas which was delicious!
And, surprisingly, we still have more chicken! 🙂
What are your favorite ways to use crockpot chicken night after night?
…
Gluten Free Oatmeal Breakfast Bites
Here is a great option for a healthy and delicious grab and go breakfast. Wonderful to have on hand for a mid-morning snack or take a platter to a mom’s gathering or bible study. There are so many ways to jazz up these yummy oatmeal bites. I made a fruit and nut variety and a chocolate chip, pecan and coconut variety.
Ingredients
3 cups gluten free rolled oats
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
3 eggs
⅓ cup honey
¼ cup coconut oil melted
1 cup coconut milk (you can use almond milk as well)
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add ins-⅓ cup of any of these-chopped nuts, chocolate chips, raisins, any kind of chopped dried fruit, unsweetened coconut
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch square pan and line with parchment paper.
Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl stir eggs, honey, melted coconut oil, milk and vanilla.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until mixed together.
Add your choice of mix-ins. Stir well.
Press into greased pan and spread evenly.
Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and firm in the center.
Cool and cut into bite sized pieces.
I cut my batch into 36 small pieces because i am taking them to a breakfast buffet but you can cut into 12 larger bars.
- 3 cups gluten free rolled oats
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs
- ⅓ cup honey
- ¼ cup coconut oil
Trader Joe’s Favorites March 2019
We LOVE Trader Joe’s!
I love it because it has great, healthy options for meals, snacks and treats (my favorite dark chocolate!!) at great prices. The kids love it because we buy their favorite snacks, they have tasters and they get stickers at the end of each trip 🙂
Here is a list of some of our most recent favorites with some added “Oldies but Goodies in there, too!
Dry Roasted & Salted Mixed Nuts (50% Less Salt)
- I love having different kinds of nuts around the house when I need an afternoon snack- such a healthy snack
- I usually prefer unsalted but this mix is not too salty
- A little pricey but lasts for a while if it is used as a pre-lunch snack or afternoon pick-me-up
- TJ’s has great to-go trail mix options in small grab-n-go bags, too
Cheddar Rockets
- These are a definite go-to in our house
- Much less salty than goldfish
- They go fast so if you don’t go to TJs often, grab an extra box!
Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers - ORGANIC
- The kids LOVE this snack and I like that it has a little more substance than some other snack foods
Organic Spicy Avocado Hummus - ORGANIC
- So good and versatile – can eat with chips, crackers, pita chips or as a spread on a sandwich or burger
- Not too spicy but has a great kick
100% Whole Wheat Middle Eastern Flatbread - This has become a staple in our house
- We like to eat it with melted cheese in the panini maker, rolled up with turkey, dipped in hummus, or as a side to many different dishes
- Good source of fiber
10 Minute Farro - Delicious and healthy side dish
- Really only takes 10 minutes to make
- Cooking it in chicken broth or chicken stock adds a
Applesauce Yogurt Cake
Once again, I am baking away for something to serve at a bible study luncheon or a gathering at our home for fellowship and prayer time. This applesauce cake recipe is an adaptation of a good old standard family go-to cake that has been updated with more nutrition and more spices and a better overall consistency.
1 ½ cups white or whole wheat flour
¾ cups coconut flour
½ cup almond flour
1 ½ cups sugar (white, brown or coconut)
2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 3/4 cups applesauce
1 1/4 cups yogurt (see notes regarding fat percentage)
1 egg
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 325ºF. Grease a 12-cup Bundt pan.
2. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, mix applesauce, yogurt, egg, oil and vanilla. Add to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
4. Pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake for 60-65 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
6. Cool 30-45 minutes or longer before turning it out onto a cooling rack. Before turning it out, you might want to run a paring knife around the center circle to loosen it a bit.
What is your favorite easy to make snack cake recipe?
- 1 ½ cups white or whole wheat
High Protein Chewy Nut Butter Granola Bar
We love to eat healthy in our family and we are always looking for ways to sneak healthy ingredients into our snacks. We also sometimes need to have some easy on-the-go ideas to grab and go that everyone loves…but healthy ready to go snacks can be pricey. And like our family you might also be tired of paying high prices for protein bars that your kids won’t eat. So for those of you who are looking for options we have a recipe for you to try! This is easy and healthy and delicious!!!!!
Ingredients
2 cups oats
½ cup coconut
½ cup natural peanut butter (almond butter, cashew butter or sesame seed butter)
¼ cup honey
2 Tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla
⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 Tablespoon Cacao Bliss (or any brand organic Cacao powder)
2 Tablespoons whey protein powder
¼ cup mini chocolate chips
You can use quick oats or whole rolled oats. If you want to use the whole rolled oats you might want to blend just a bit in the vitamix or blender. Combine oats with remaining ingredients and mix until all ingredients are blended together evenly. If your mixture seems a bit too gooey you can add a bit more oats. Press into a lightly greased 9 inch square pan and refrigerate for an hour. Cut into bars or squares and serve. If you have any leftover….you can individually wrap them and refrigerate until ready to eat.
Our Picky Ricky Review on this recipe is missing because Picky Ricky claims to be allergic to peanut butter….HAHAHAHA! Next time I will make these granola bars with ALMOND BUTTER and I will get him to try them and will update this recipe with his review. POOR Picky Ricky!!!!
High Protein Apple Muffins with a SURPRISE
So before I give you a new family favorite muffin recipe…….I have a surprise……..Since Poppa Rick has been thinking about some new ideas for how he is going to ease into retirement…he came up with one job that he DEFINITELY wants to pursue!!!! So with the full endorsement of all the Growing Weisser gals, I have officially hired him as our official Growing Weisser food critic. His “Food Critic Corner” review with a one to five star rating system will officially be called; “Picky Ricky’s Recipe Review”. So stay tuned for his star review and other tidbits of info coming your way from “Picky Ricky”!!! His first review will be included at the end of this blog post.
Now that you are privy to the surprise…here is a fun recipe to pack a protein powerful punch early in the day. Our adult kids and grandkids LOVE muffins so we are always looking for ways to pack our homemade muffins with more protein, more fiber and less processed sugar. In this recipe we tried using more natural sugar and a high protein flour mixture to make a delicious and more nutritious apple muffin. Kodiak Cakes mix is made with 100% whole grain wheat flour and 100% whole grain oat flour and has a protein blend added that boasts 14 grams of protein in a single serving of pancakes, waffles or muffins.
Each muffin has about 135 calories and 6 grams of protein. The only thing that would make these muffins better is if you sprinkled some homemade granola on top before baking.
You can use another brand of high protein pancake or waffle mix if you prefer. You can also substitute (homemade) apple butter for the unsweetened apple sauce and then just skip the maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and nutmeg. …
Read MoreThe Gift of TIME
I was reminded this weekend that kids spell LOVE………TIME!!! Spending time with children is one of the very best gifts you can give. I had the privilege of babysitting my 3 grand daughters this weekend. They love to talk about their lives and engage in conversation. They have so much to share and often times are competitive as we are talking and interacting (all because they have SO MUCH TO TELL!) They love to be silly! The best thing I have observed as they are growing up is that my time is NEVER wasted on them. They value the time I spend with them. They love the attention and they love having me be a part of their lives.
I make it a priority to listen attentively, ask open ended questions and try to challenge them to work out their differences rather than solve their problems for them. I see them practicing the things we talk about regarding kindness and sharing and showing true love to others by serving and caring. Time is one of my most precious commodities and I will never pass up an opportunity to be an influencer in the lives of my grand children if I am invited to spend time with them.
Children are like little sponges. They listen and usually try to obey..(even when they act like they haven’t heard you when you ask them to stop playing and get ready for school or bed). I try to find out their newest passions and always ask what they are learning in school or in their friendships, clubs or at church. When I invest time intentionally listening to them with out judgment or correction, they are eager to tell me what they are thinking and what they are learning. There is a time for correction …
Read MoreSweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
We LOVE cinnamon rolls in our family!!! This recipe is a show-stopper!!! We had a blast letting Sophie and Garrett (both 2 years old) help make the cinnamon rolls. We made three pans full so that each family could take a batch home to bake for Thanksgiving morning.
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
½ cup warm water (100-110 degrees)
2 ½ teaspoons yeast (1 packet)
½ cup butter
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooked sweet potatoes
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
2 beaten eggs
5 cups whole wheat flour or Kodiak Cakes baking mix (@kodiakcakes)
Filling
1/3 cup melted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1/8 cup milk
Dissolve yeast in warm water. (I add 1 teaspoon honey to help yeast start rising)
Set aside.
Beat 2 eggs in a small bowl.
Place 1 cup of cooked sweet potatoes into mixer and mix until smooth. Add salt.
Heat almond milk on medium heat until just bubbling. Remove from heat and add butter and honey.
Pour milk, butter and honey mixture into sweet potatoes in mixer bowl and beat slowly until combined.
Add eggs and mix thoroughly.
Add whole wheat flour or Kodiak Cakes baking mix. Mix until blended and then knead by hand or on medium speed for 5-10 minutes. Dough is very sticky. Cover bowl of dough for 2 hours so it can rise.
While dough is rising, make filling by mixing butter, sugar and cinnamon.
Divide dough into ½ and roll each piece into a large rectangle. Spread each rectangle with half the filling. Roll up and cut into 12 cinnamon rolls. Repeat to make a total of 24 rolls.
We were baking with Sophie and Garrett who wanted to help roll the cinnamon rolls so we took small …
Read More