When I am not busy taking care of my two energetic little boys, or working on an interior design project~ I play in the kitchen! For the last 15 years, I have been juxtaposing new flavors and ideas; it’s finally time to document my recipes...

I believe in fresh & affordable meals.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Morning Glory Muffs


Why does everyone use Almond Flour in their GF (gluten free) recipes? Time to mix it up a bit!!! This morning I threw a handful of walnuts in the blender. Walnut flour is wonderful! It tastes lil more "earthy" than almond flour- but we like the flavor. My kids don't "flour-discriminate" as long as their bread is coated in butter.  
The glaze on this recipe is a lil more indulgent. But, who doesn't like a buttery  sweet addition to their meal?
Try these muffs. They are simple, easy, and fun to prepare. 

Many parents complain that their kids wont eat whole nuts. I urge them to try nut flour. Give a kid a "cupcake" for breakfast, and DON'T speak a word about the nuts! Prepare the muffins while the kids are busy and then let them paint the "cupcakes" with sugar- butter. I think your kids may eat em?!?


What you need
1/2 Cup Almond Four*
1/2 Cup Walnut Flour*
2 eggs
1/4 Cup unsweetened applesauce
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
2 eggs
Small handful of Raisins
Small handful of Craisins

*make your own flour, put your nuts in the blender and watch them turn to flour!

Prepare
Throw all ingredients in a bowl and mix. No, you don't have to use separate wet and dry bowls- or fluff eggs. Just one bowl and a mixing tool. Coat muffin tins with pam or cooking spray or butter.

Bake on 425 deg for 15 minutes. 

After the muffins come out of the oven, glaze em up!

Glaze- fun for the kids to do!
1/8 cup Earth Balance Butter
Pinch of cinnamon
2 tablespoons sugar (or agave, or brown sugar, or honey)
heat ingredients, and paint the cini--sugar butter on muffins- my kids love to paint their food.


 Wacko for Walnuts: these nuts pack a powerful health punch!


According to new research presented at the 241st meeting of the American Chemical Society, the health benefits of walnuts include lowering heart disease risks. It seems these tasty treats have more and better quality, antioxidants than any of the other nuts tested in study by Joe Vinson, PhD, out of the University of Scranton.
We know that nuts are good for the heart, they not only bring down cholesterol and inflammation they also cut oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
Experts know that antioxidants protect the cells of the body against damage that’s caused by free radicals. This damage can play a part in many health conditions, including heart disease.
Earlier studies have found that walnuts enhance blood flow and improve cardiac risk factors, both beneficial to your heart. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration agrees that eating nuts as part of a heart healthy diet might just lower your risk for heart disease.
The nuts evaluated included almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, peanuts, pecans, pistachios and walnuts. The team found that an ounce of walnuts has more antioxidants than the total of what most people get from fruits and veggies.
A handful of walnuts has two times the antioxidants as an equal amount of the other commonly eaten nuts. What’s more, the antioxidants in walnuts appear to be from 2 to 15 times more effective than those in the other nuts.
When you add a small serving of nuts to your diet, Vinson points out that research finds you’re far more likely to either maintain or lose weight. Nuts are also emerging as having a benefit to brain health.
thanks 2---> www.reallyworks.org