In the Kitchen with Grace

For the past year Grace has been my helper in the kitchen.  (And by “helper”, I mean actually giving me a hand as opposed to making messes and calling it help.)  This year along with her school curriculum she asked to have a cooking class as her elective.   I still don’t let her use a knife by herself or take things out of the oven but the rest is up to her.  Our first recipe is from her book:  Kids Cooking – A Very Slightly Messy Manual

My mother-in-law passed this book on to us at the beginning of the year and we are enjoying reading through and cooking together.

Our first recipe was Buried Treasure Muffins.

Since Chris and I are really working on our health and trying to watch what we eat, Gracie and I adapted the recipe (just a little) from the one in the book.

Even with the adaptations the muffins turned out great.  The “buried treasure” part comes in by adding fruit or jam as a filling.  Grace decided on banana, pear, and cinnamon as her treasures.  She believes cinnamon makes everything taste better.

Buried Treasure Muffins

1 Cup whole wheat flour

1/2 Cup quick oats (or wheat germ)

1/4 Cup agave (or sugar)

1/4 Cup cooking oil

3/4 Cup vanilla almond milk (or whatever you have)

1 egg

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Fresh fruit, jam, coconut…(your  “treasure”)

Preheat oven to 400F and line your muffin tin.  Stir together flour and oats, baking powder and salt.  If you were to use sugar add it here.  Since agave is in liquid form we added it later. In a separate bowl, break the egg and mix with milk and oil (and agave).  Then get your filling ready.  Add the liquid mixture to the dry mixture and stir.  The batter will be lumpy.  At this point add your fruit.  We added one mashed banana and one chopped pear along with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Put in muffin tins and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

Yum!

 

Gladitudes

I’m joining Gretchen (whose Gladitude post spoke to me):

• School is almost out…counting today, we have two days left.  I love the end of school because I love the beginning of school.  I love the anticipation and planning for the next year…and summertime is FUN.
• I feel better.  My health overhaul is working and I’m starting to see and feel the results.  I’m thankful that my family has not rebelled at the food I’ve been serving them…My husband has even joined me this week.
• I drove somewhere new yesterday.  That’s always a big deal for me.
• I cut my own bangs and they’re not too bad.  It’s almost time for a trim but I’m leery of trying again.  I think it may have been a “first time’s a charm” kind of thing.
• Our sweet friends had a baby boy last week.   I love babies and I can’t wait to meet him.
• The internet has been spotty around here.  Apparently, our internet company is having statewide issues, so I’m glad it’s working today.
• After having a day like Alexander on Monday, I’m grateful for new mercies and that the Lord forgives when I whine and complain…which happens more often then I want to admit.
• I have my very own Jillian Michaels (except a lot nicer and not nearly as yell-y).  Plus, she’s family and I love her.
• This Friday we are having a Greek feast to finish out our school year and the kids have made their own Olympic events.  I really hope they don’t ask me to run a marathon…

Thanks for stopping by, friends.