pumpkin applesauce muffins

Fall is here!  It is my favorite season.  To celebrate, I have been baking these Pumpkin Applesauce Muffins (which may be my kid’s new favorite!).  These moist and scrumptious muffins are super low in sugar, but high in nutritional content with pumpkin, applesauce, cinnamon & fall spices…It’s the perfect treat no matter the season!  These are so good on their own, but if you want to top them with a little something, try pumpkin (pepita) seeds, a light dusting of ground cinnamon, chocolate or white chocolate chips.

1 cup pumpkin puree

½ cup applesauce

¼ cup butter, melted and cooled

2 eggs

½ cup brown sugar, packed

1 Tablespoon maple syrup, optional

1 cup gluten-free all purpose flour (I use Glutino)

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

¼ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

¼ teaspoon nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ginger

1.)    Preheat the oven to 350°.  Line a muffin tin with muffin cups.

2.)    In a mixing bowl, mix together the pumpkin puree, applesauce, melted butter, eggs,    brown sugar and maple syrup.

3.)    Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

4.)    Mix until combined.

5.)    Evenly divide the batter into 12 muffin tins.

6.)    Optional: top with chocolate chips, pumpkin seeds or a light dusting of cinnamon.

7.)    Bake for 18-22 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

take a hike!

Looking for another reason to get into Mother Nature?  A walk outside is more than just exercise: research from the University of Michigan has found that being in nature can improve cognitive function!  In one study, an hour long trek in a woody park improved subjects’ performances on memory and attention tests by as much as 20 percent, compared with a walk in an urban environment.  Furthermore, some Japanese research shows that a day spent in the forest can improve immune function and decrease concentrations of adrenaline and cortisol for as long as a week.

Happy exploring!

excerpt from Real Simple

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

natural oven cleaner recipe

Who wants to clean their oven?  Definitely not me!  When something spills to the bottom of my oven it makes it impossible to use without major smoke filling the air--- afterwards I always know that it's time for a good cleaning (a much dreaded task)!  Luckily I have discovered the most natural and most effective cleaner thanks to the book, The NaturallyClean Home.  Their oven cleaning recipe works super well and is completely safe!  Best of all, I typically can cut this recipe in half and with a little elbow grease, get the job done very quickly. 

Steer clear of conventional oven cleaning sprays!  They are extremely toxic and loaded with poisonous and dangerous chemicals!  Try to avoid them at all costs (especially if you have children at home).

This recipe is easy on the lungs and the pocket book!  Give your oven some lovin’ with this quick-to-make recipe:

Serious Oven-Cleaning Formula

½ cup salt

¼ cup washing soda or borax

1 box (16 ounces) baking soda

scant ¼ cup water

¾ cup white vinegar

10 drops thyme essential oil

10 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil

1.)     Combine salt, washing soda and baking soda in a plastic container or glass bowl.  Add just enough water to make a paste.

2.)    Remove oven racks and preheat oven to 250°F for 15 minutes, then turn off oven and leave the door open.  Carefully spread the paste on oven walls with a sponge or cloth and allow to set for 20 to 30 minutes.

3.)    Combine the vinegar and essential oils in a spray bottle and shake well.  Spray the oven walls and wipe clean.  Rinse well.

Note:  If you have a lot of baked-on grease or food splatters, you may want to use fine steel wool to scrub those areas.  Use a bit more salt if necessary.

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

dark chocolate zucchini brownies

If your garden is bountiful with zucchini, we have got a super tasty & delicious way to use them up!   Try treating your family to these dark chocolate zucchini brownies … tender, delicious and chocolatey brownies that have the added health benefit of zucchini (which are high in fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and potassium).

We’ve modified this recipe to make it gluten free, but you can use whole wheat or all-purpose flour if you prefer.

1 cup brown rice flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups zucchini, grated

(1.)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

(2.)  Line a 9x13 pan with parchment paper (or lightly grease and flour the pan).

(3.)  Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

(4.)  Melt 3/4 cup morsels.  Cool slightly.  Stir in butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla.  Stir in flour mixture; fold in zucchini.  Spread into prepared pan.  Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cups chocolate chips over top.

(5.)  Bake for 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky.  Cool completely in pan on wire rack.  Lift brownies from pan and cut into squares.  Store in airtight container for up to 5 days.

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

recipe modified & photo courtesy of all recipes!

Cinnamon avocado muffins

A sweet & sneaky (in a healthy & delicious way) to start your day!

Who knew that avocados would be super tasty in baked goods?  Technically they are a fruit, so it only makes sense to add them to baked goods.  Plus with all of their wonderful health benefits (they are loaded with fiber, potassium, Vitamin A and beta carotene), it’s good to sneak them into your meals whenever you can.  Try replacing them in any recipe that calls for sweet potato or banana… just remember that the baked goods will be less sweet (but just as healthy)!

¼ cup of coconut oil (or butter), melted

1/3 cup of honey

1 egg

1 pureed avocado (or mashed sweet potato or banana)

1 cup plain yogurt

2 cups almond flour

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 cup of mix-ins (chopped walnuts, unsweetened coconut, mini chocolate chips)

1.)    Preheat oven to 350°. 

2.)    Mix together the coconut oil, honey, egg, avocado and yogurt.  Stir until thoroughly combined.

3.)    Add almond flour, cinnamon and baking soda.  Mix until combined.

4.)    Stir in mix-ins.

5.)    Fill 12-14 grease or muffin-lined cups 2/3rds full.

6.)    Bake for 20-25 minutes.

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

have kids play outside!

A recent study in Pediatrics highlights the effects a life lived outdoors has on teenagers.  Researchers at Australia's University of Sydney found that adolescents who spent more time outside were not only healthier but also happier than their sedentary peers, who were more likely to report "feelings of loneliness or shyness".

***  We've written several e-cookbooks {all $1.99} that are quick, easy & guaranteed to bring yummy, fun times in the kitchen!  Pull out the spoons, put on your oven mitts and get cooking with one of our cookbooks.  Get them here!  ***

17 household uses for vinegar

Our good friends at MotherEarth Living compiled a wonderful list of 17 ways to use vinegar around the home!  We loved their ideas and wanted to share them with you!

1. Grease Cutter: Vinegar’s acidity lets it cut through grease with ease. Dip a sponge in vinegar and wipe to degrease stovetops, microwaves, dirty dishes and more.

2. Disinfectant: A natural antibacterial, vinegar makes a great base for any nontoxic cleaning solution. For an all-purpose disinfecting solution, dilute 1 part vinegar in 4 parts water and use anywhere germs are found, such as countertops, keyboards, shared phones, doorknobs and remote controls.

3. Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Clean, disinfect and deodorize your toilet by pouring 1 cup of vinegar around the inside of the bowl. Let sit for an hour, use a brush to remove rings, then flush.