Black Bean Brownies

Need a chocolate fix with no sugar and with lots of fibre?  Look no further!!  My sis-in-law Laura makes these all the time.

1 1/2 cup black beans
2 TBSP cacao powder
1/2 cup quick oats
pinch of salt
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
1/4 cup coconut oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup choc chips

Preheat oven to 350F.  Place all ingredients except choc chips in food processor until well blended.  Stir in the choc chips and pour into greased muffin tins or a greased 8*8 pan.  Cook for 10-15 min.

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

I actually make these muffins quite often.  They have no sugar, butter and oil, and they actually taste good!   I mean for sure they are not your normal banana muffin with a cup sugar, but honestly I think these are delicious and such an awesome, healthy snack for the kids!

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tsp coconut oil (optional)
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare a muffin pan by inserting paper muffin cups.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a medium bowl, mix together egg, honey, applesauce, and mashed bananas.
4. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until moistened. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Fill each muffin cup about 3/4 full.
6. Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into muffins comes out clean.

Sarah's Chili

This is Sarah's recipe.  I have been making my chili for Brad for the past 9 years and he just doesn't like it!  I love it.  It is full of tomatoes and yummy spices, but none of my family eats it.  We went to Sarah's for dinner and had her chili and Brad and the boys were in love!  So i have to post because this will be our families recipe from now on!

3 pounds ground beeg
1 Cup of BBQ sauce
2TBSP Worcestershire sauce
2 TBSP sugar
2 medium onions
2 cups ketchup
2 tsp. salt
2 cans kidney beans

Brown hamburger.  Add diced onion and cook until tender.  Add kidney beans and remaining ingredients.  Serve with lettuce tomatoes and cheese.  (we put ours on bakes potatoes).  Thanks Sarah!

Banana Crumb Muffins

I've tried plenty of banana muffin recipes, but this is by far the tastiest... all of the deliciously crispy sugar on top might have something to do with that. YUM! :)

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1 teaspoon baking powder 
• ½ teaspoon salt 
• 3 bananas, mashed 
• ½ cup white sugar 
• ¼ cup brown sugar 
• 1 egg, lightly beaten 
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil 

Topping: (A MUST!!!)

• ⅓ cup packed brown sugar 
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 1 tablespoon butter 

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1½ cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugars, egg and vegetable oil. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Salsa Chicken (Slow Cooker)

Brad loves Salsa chicken, and he loves my old recipe, but it is not my favourite. I really only make it for him!  And then I found this recipe, which I live much better and it is done in the Crock Pot :)  I found it on pinterest.  Here is the address:Salsa Chicken  Anyways enjoy :)

I know this dish probably doesn't look that appetizing but you have trust me on this one. In fact, I think you should bookmark this page if you like the following: chicken, Mexican flavors and your slow-cooker. This is the very popular (at least in the food blog world) SALSA CHICKEN!

Who knew chicken breasts + can of cream of chicken soup+ taco seasonings + sour cream could be so good. I know I sure didn't. I had seen this recipe so many times but it just did not sound that appealing. Of course, everyone raved about it, hence it's popularity.


Well, I'm so glad I tried it too b/c it really is so tasty....and easy!! If you have already made this dish, please feel free to leave your review below. THANKS!

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup (I used the cream of chicken)
1 cup salsa
1 package taco seasoning (I used 1 Tbsp of my homemade taco seasoning)
1 cup sour cream
cilantro, for serving (optional) (I also added a little shredded cheddar-jack, black beans and scallion on top)

Directions:

Put chicken, soup, and salsa in slow cooker. Sprinkle taco seasoning over everything. Cook on low for 6 hours. If shredding the chicken, pull the breasts out and shred; return back to slow cooker. Stir in sour cream and heat just until everything is combined.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quick Bread

 

Adapted From Table of Seven Blog

I am getting tired of my regular old banana bread: so three cheers for this recipe!

Ingredients:
1-1/3 cup flour
2/3 oats, rolled or old fashion
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1 egg
3 TBSP, melted butter
1 cup buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9 x 5 loaf pan.   In a mixing bowl, whisk together, flour, oats, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and chocolate chips.  In a separate bowl, mix egg, butter and buttermilk. Stir wet ingredients to dry indgredients.  Bake for 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted comes out clean.

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Pears, Baby Spinach and Chick Peas in a Maple Vinaigrette

Quinoa Salad Recipe with Pears, Baby Spinach and Chick Peas in a Maple Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
1 cup organic quinoa
Sea salt
2 good handfuls of organic baby spinach leaves, washed, drained
1 large ripe pear, washed, stemmed and cored, cut into pieces
1/2 cup chilled chick peas, rinsed, drained
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
A handful of pecans, pan toasted and salted to taste

For the Maple Vinaigrette Dressing:

4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons golden balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons pure maple syrupInstructions:
Place the quinoa in a saucepan or a rice cooker. Add 2 cups fresh water, and a pinch of sea salt. Cover and cook on a low simmer until all the water is evaporated and the quinoa is tender- roughly 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and dump it into a large salad bowl.
Add the baby spinach, pear, chick peas, and chopped parsley to the quinoa and fluff.
Whisk together the vinaigrette, pour it over the quinoa salad and toss gently to coat. Season to taste with sea salt and ground pepper.
Just before serving, add the toasted pecans and lightly combine.
Makes four main course servings, six side dish servings.

Pam's Lasagna

I was in Utah last week staying with my sister and my other sister-in-law, Pam was there.  She is an AWESOME cook, so I had her write down some of her favourite recipes.  This is one of them!

Our kids favorite lasagna (Pam)
1 onion
3 cloves of garlic
random vegetables in fridge (to hide in the sauce..so your kids don't know they are eating them!)
1 Tbsp veg oil
1 pound italian sausage
1 can of crushed tomatoes
1 jar of spaghetti sauce (prego or whatever)
Italian seasoning, basil, oregeno or thyme
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/4 cup chopped spinach
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 egg
Mozza cheese for the top


In food processor:
1 onion in food
3 cloves of garlic
any additional random vegetables you have in fridge ie. turnip, celery, carrots etc.

Cook:
in pot with 1 Tbsp. veg. oil
once onions are translucent add 1 pound italian sausage

Then:
once meat is cooked add:
 spaghetti sauce (prego or whatever)
1 can of crushed tomatoes (I put my tomatoes in the blender)
Flavor with italian seasoning or basil, oregano, thyme,
taste the sauce and add salt and pepper to taste.
turn down heat and let simmer for 15 min.

In  a large bowl mix cottage cheese or ricotta cheese with chopped fresh spinach, 1 egg and 1/4 c. parmesan cheese.

In casserole dish put a little of sauce on the bottom than layer noodles, cottage mix, spaghetti sauce and mazzorella cheese. Repeat the layers. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 mins. Uncover and bake for another 15-20 mins.

Cesaer Dressing

This is my Mom's tried and true cesaer dressing recipe!

1 egg yolk
salt and pepper to taste, a few shakes
1/4 tsp. mustard powder
a couple shake of worchestershire sauce
1 clove of garlic, chopped

mix ingredients together with fork
Then add 6 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp of lemon juice

*add the olive oil very slowly while you stir the other ingredients.
It should be thick until you add vinegar and lemon juice

prepare one head of Romain lettuce, add 1/4- 1/2 c. parmesan cheese and croutons.

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

This one is soooo good too!! Crock Pot Sante Fe Chicken came in first place for Ziplist's most saved recipe in 2012 (they have over 800K recipes). 


Skinnytaste.com

Ingredients:

• 24 oz (1 1/2) lbs chicken breast
• 14.4 oz can diced tomatoes with mild green chilies
• 15 oz can black beans
• 8 oz frozen corn
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 14.4 oz can fat free chicken broth
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper (to taste) (this makes it REALLY hot-especially for kids.  I would start with a 1/8tsp)
  
• salt to taste

Directions:
Combine chicken broth, beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, scallions, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, cayenne pepper and salt in the crock pot. Season chicken breast with salt and lay on top.  

Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in. Adjust salt and seasoning to taste. Serve over rice or tortillas and your favorite toppings.

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

This is supppperr yummy and easy too.  I am TOTALLY into crock pot recipes right now. Except the crock pot I have right now cooks everything in super speed.  Does anyone have a good crock pot they bought recently?  If so, what kind is it?  Anyways:  Here is the recipe.  I got it from YourHomeBasedMom click for the link.  Thanks!

Ingredients

• 6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 2 chicken breasts (about 2 lbs total)
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 C onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 C honey
• 1/4 C ketchup
• 1/2 C soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 4 tsp cornstarch
• 1/3 C water
• 1 Tbsp sesame seeds
• 3 green onions, chopped

Instructions

• Put chicken in crock pot. Season with salt and pepper
• In a bowl combine onion, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce, oil and red pepper flakes.
• Pour over chicken
• Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2 hours
• Remove chicken and shred.
• In a small bowl combine cornstarch and water.
• Pour sauce in crock pot into a sauce pan and add in the cornstarch mixture.
• Stir to combine over medium heat. Cook for about 10 minutes or until thickened. Stirring often.
• Pour over chicken.
• Serve over rice
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions.

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