Six Week Bran Muffins

No don't worry... these muffins don't take six weeks to make. The batter is good for six weeks in the fridge in a covered container. My mom made these all the time when I was younger and I had been craving them for weeks! I know you might think, a bran muffin? ew. Just try them. They are delicious for breakfast especially heated up in the microwave for a few seconds with little butter or margarine on top... mmm... Not to mention my toddler and husband love them!



Here is the recipe directly from my mama!

Six Week Muffins

2 cups Bran Flakes Cereal

2 cups All Bran Cereal

2 cups boiling water

1 cup dates chopped

3 cups flour

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp salt

5 tsp baking soda

4 eggs beaten

1 cup oil

2 cups sugar

1 quart buttermilk

1 cup chopped nuts (your choice)

2 cups Bob's Red Mill Wheat Bran

Directions:
In a large bowl, add 4 cups of the two bran cereals and the dates. Pour the boiling water over and set aside. Sift dry ingredients together. Blend the oil and sugar, then add the beaten eggs. Fold into the hot bran mixture, the dry ingredients and the buttermilk. Fold in the last 2 cups of the bran flakes and the nuts.

Grease and flour the muffin tins. Bake at 400 degrees for about 15-18 minutes. The un-used batter may be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to six weeks.

NOTE: Sometimes I use raisins, but I do prefer the dates as they mix in better. You can also find prechopped dates at the store, which are really easy. Smiths Marketplace

used to have them in the healthfood area where you can measure them out yourself and they were a lot less expensive buying them that way.

These are the 3 types of bran you need in the recipe just to help you out. I found the Bob's Red Mill brand in the health food section. Also, I omit the nuts when I make them only because I worry about my daughter choking on them.

And sorry about the lack of posts as of lately. I've been trying new recipes but nothing share worthy. I keep finding duds for some reason.

Oatmeal Applesauce Pancakes

I have been on a mission lately. What is that mission you ask? To find foods my now one year old {eek!} baby will eat. Now that we're moving out of the baby food stage I've been terrified! Don't ask me why but it's been really stressing me out. I'm a working mom so it's important to me to find a healthy quick breakfast to fix my daughter in the mornings. Especially one she can feed herself while I'm getting ready without too much worry from me that she will choke on it. That's where Oatmeal Applesauce Pancakes step in! I know you're thinking making pancakes in the morning is not quick! Well I am here to tell you that you are correct! That's why I make them ahead of time and freeze them. Pop them in the microwave and voila! Quick and easy breakfast!



Oatmeal Applesauce Pancakes
from Allrecipes

1 cup flour
1/3 cup quick cooking oats
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup sour cream
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk

Directions:
Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon together. Set aside. In another bowl combine applesauce, sour cream, egg, vanilla extract and milk. Once the wet ingredients are well mixed together pour in to the dry ingredients and mix it all together.

Scoop about 1/4 cup of pancake mixture on to a griddle heated to medium-low heat. Cook until golden brown on both sides. Turning once. Serve with maple syrup and butter, peanut butter or mashed up bananas smeared on top.

*Special notes: this batter is pretty thick. I used the bottom of my measuring cup to help spread the pancakes out on the griddle. Also the recipe called for milk but I used soy milk with great results since that's what we drink in these parts!

Pumpkin Smoothie

We've been drinking a lot of smoothies lately. I recently got the book, The Food Bible. It's all about how the book can cure different ailments by the food you eat. Under the section I'm following I need to be consuming eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Which isn't too bad. Fruits and vegetables should be a big part if any diet. Everything I read always comes down to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less animal product.

Well I opened up a huge can of pumpkin purée and so we started having pumpkin smoothies. So good. I don't know why I waited so long to have one. It's really like eating pumpkin pie.

3/4 c pumpkin purée
1 frozen banana
1/2 c milk
Handful baby spinach {I always throw spinach into my smoothies, you can't even taste it. I've even done carrots and red pepper}
1/2 t cinnamon
1/8 t nutmeg
1/8 t ground cloves

Place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. If you like it more liquid add more milk and if you like it thicker add ice cubes or add less milk.
Drink with a straw. Yum!