Butter Pie Crust

On Christmas Eve, we made a new crust with BUTTER! It was oh-so-good! Pumpkin pie is the family favorite, it was gone fast, which means it was pretty good!

Butter Pie Crust
2 c. flour (I used spelt flour)
1/4 t. salt
2/3 c. cold butter
4+ T. ice water (I used lots more than this, but I don't remember the exact amount)

Combine flour and salt in a large bowl. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter or two butter knives until mixture resembles course crumbs. Sprinkle ice water over mixture. Stir with a fork until just moistened.

yum, doesn't that look delicious!?

sorry, I couldn't resist!!

hot chocolate

temperatures are dropping and it's time to make hot chocolate! This recipe is super easy to make and so good (not to mention nutritious!).

* get a pan big enough for desire amount of hot chocolate
* in the pan add 1/2 c. honey and 1/4 c. cocoa
* stir together and melt on medium heat
* add 10 c. milk
* stir together and warm through
* if it gets that thick scum on the top, just scrape it off, it's not poisonous!

if you want to make a smaller amount:
* stir together 1/4 c. honey and 1/8 c. cocoa
* add 5 c. milk and warm

ENJOY that wonderful feeling that comes from drinking hot chocolate!

peanut butter granola

This recipe is SO easy to make, and so tasty... it seems that as soon as I make it... it's gone!! We got this recipe a couple of years ago from a dear, dear friend... and it is SO yummy!!!!!! Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Granola

5 c. oatmeal (not quick)

5 c. rolled six grain (if you don't have this, just use more oats)

2 c. coconut flakes

1 1/2 c. rapadura (or brown sugar)

1 t. salt

3/4 c. peanut butter

1 c. coconut oil (or other oil)

1/2 c. honey

2 t. vanilla

Directions:

* mix all dry ingredients together except the salt (I find it mixes better if you add it to the wet ingredients)

* combine all the other ingredients... be careful not to heat it too hot, as you don't want to damage the oil

* stir heated mixture into dry ingredients

* place on dehydrator trays

Cooking Instructions:

* dehydrate until crispy, usually 18-24 hours

* Cool and store in glass jars.

* I don't have the directions any more for cooking in the oven, but I think you just cook it at 350 degrees until crispy (about 1/2 hour ?), and you need to turn it every so often.

Do any of you have any delicious granola recipes... we need some more!!!! If you do, please send them my way!!

rhubarb strawberry muffins

This spring our very generous neighbor brought a huge bundle of rhubarb (my mom said it could be my wedding bouquet, hehe ;), which my dad promptly made into Rhubarb Crumble. Then I decided that I’d make some muffins with the left over, and here is the recipe!! This was my very first attempt with this recipe, and I changed it (just like I always do!) but they turned out so well for an experiment! My dad actually came into the breakfast table as he was getting ready for work (armed with a bag) and said "This is a ROBBERY!!"... he must've liked them!!

Rhubarb Strawberry Muffins

In a large bowl, add and combine well:

2 eggs

3/4 c. honey

1/4 c. oil

1/2 c. plain yogurt

1 t. vanilla

1 3/4 c. chopped fresh rhubarb (remember to only use the stalks, the leaves are poisonous!)

1/4 c. chopped frozen strawberries (I might add more, as you only OCCASIONALY found one!)

In a smaller bowl, combine well:

2 c. flour (1 1/2 c. ww, 1/2 c. mixed)

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/4 t. cinnamon

Combine wet and dry mixtures and fold together gently until just mixed. Spoon into prepared pan. Bake at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on rack.

raspberry cream cheese muffins

hmm, what can I say about these muffins... I just LOVE cream cheese, and so to have muffins with cream cheese is just ideal! They are sweet, creamy and just so delectable!!

Raspberry Cream Cheese Muffins

2 c. flour

1/2 c. Rapadura (or brown sugar)

2 t. baking powder

3/4 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. baking soda

1/4 t. salt

4 oz. cream cheese (home-made)

2 beaten eggs

3/4 c. milk

1/4 c. butter, melted

1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. fresh or frozen raspberries

In a bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, cut in cream cheese until the mixture has crumbs the size of peas. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, butter and vanilla. Add all at once to the flour mixture. Stir just till moistened (mixture will be lumpy). Fold in raspberries. Spoon into muffin tins (2/3 full). Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

pumpkin muffins

I really think that these muffins taste just like the (used to be) delicious cookies that you can buy at the store... moist, chocolaty and delicious!

Pumpkin Muffins

1 egg

1/2 c. honey

1/3 c. butter

3/4 c. milk

3/4 c. pumpkin

1/2 c. chocolate or carob chips

2 c. whole wheat flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 t. nutmeg

1/4 t. ginger

Mix together all wet ingredients. Add all dry ingredients and mix together. Do not mix too thoroughly. Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

banana muffins

These muffins are very good, I just love the blend of carob and bananas, especially when they're warm!

Banana Muffins

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. honey

2 eggs

2 c. mashed bananas

4 t. baking powder

2 t. nutmeg

1/2 t. salt

3 c. flour

1 c. chopped nuts

1/2 c. chocolate/carob chips

Cream together butter and honey. Add eggs and mashed bananas. Mix well. Add remaining ingredients and mix together. Do not mix too thoroughly. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.